Chapter Thirty-Eight

~Arryn~

Ralof carried Milly to Dorthe's bed managing to bounce her head off the doorframe, a smile on his face. I had worried he would never smile again. He had to carry her because he was the only sober one amongst us.

"Your maid is delightful." Sigrid told me. "Though she's a bit of a lightweight isn't she?"

I laughed. "She is. She's young, give her a chance."

"So when do I get to meet Jordis?" Sigrid asked slyly. I suddenly remembered.

"Soon. We must marry soon." I slurred out.

"Oh? And why is that Arryn?" Sigrid asked, her smile wide. She was on the edge of her chair.

"She is going to give me a child." I grinned back. Sigrid squealed.

"Oh how wonderful!" She giggled.

"What's wonderful? You're wonderful." Alvor asked, making eyes at his wife. A blush seeped into her cheeks but she ignored it.

"Arryn and his betrothed are welcoming a child soon!" Sigrid related happily.

"Congratulations lad! We should celebrate!" Alvor roared.

"I think there's been enough celebration for one night." Ralof laughed, returning to the room. He kissed the top of Hadvars head before sitting down and taking his hand. "Sigrid are you sure Dorthe won't need her bed?"

"She's off with your nephew somewhere." Sigrid said, waving her hand. "They've taken to camping. There's no harm in it so long as the nights stay warm."

"Hadvar used to like camping." Ralof stated, sending the taller man a sly smile.

"Oh no." Hadvar realized suddenly. "No camping!" He told his aunt emphatically.

"I trust the boy." Alvor said with a shrug.

"I trust his fear of you." Ralof countered with a laugh.

I joined in his laughter. Alvor just smiled. "You feared my uncle?" Hadvar asked suddenly. "The bridge! That's why you.. You ass!" Hadvar accused. Sigrid and I tilted our heads in confusion.

"What?" I asked. Alvor burst into laughter.

"That Shayle girl!" He choked out, red in the face.

Shayle. Shayle. That name sounded so familiar. Then it hit me. "She's the girl who told me she caught you two kissing!" I exclaimed. "Ralof, you told me she was just trying to get back at you for turning her down!"

Ralof scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah. I thought Alvor would gut me like a fish for corrupting his boy." He admitted sheepishly.

"You avoided me for a month!" Hadvar yelped angrily. "I thought I had done something wrong." He pouted.

"Oh Had. I remember that! You moped around the house, looking at the door like it held your fondest desires." Sigrid said in surprise. "Alvor, why didn't you say anything?" She scolded.

"Say what wife? That some girl had told me that she caught Hadvar kissing the millers brother? It didn't seem important. Whelps kiss a lot of people." Alvor said dismissively.

"Poor Hadvar was miserable! I would have talked to him about it!" She insisted shooting her nephew a sympathetic look.

"He was sixteen! I was waiting for him to act like a man and work for what he wanted!" Alvor replied sternly.

Hadvar looked horrified at this exchange. Ralof looked as amused as I felt. I winked at Hadvar and looked up at Ralof.

"Where were you for this month Ral? Hiding from Alvor?" I teased.

"Perhaps I was otherwise occupied." He said with a slow smile. He caught sight of Hadvars face. "I wasn't." He assured him quickly. "I was moping inside the house."

"I don't believe you." Hadvar huffed irritably.

"There's never been anyone else." Ralof said softly, his eyes boring into Hadvars.

"Never?" Hadvar asked in surprise.

"Never." Ralof leaned over and whispered something into Hadvars ear that made Hadvar turn pink.

"Awwwwwww!" Sigrid squealed, looking delighted beyond restraint.

"Arryn wasn't so loyal." Alvor laughed.

I grinned. "Those days are behind me." I said, scratching my chin innocently.

"You have no idea how many mothers hated you." Sigrid giggled, taking a swig of ale. "That flame haired beast was in my daughters room!" She imitated in a shrill voice.

"And then I had my heart broken by Gerdur." I laughed. "That put a stop to my beastly ways. I pouted for ages."

"Because she was smart!" Sigrid insisted. "Hadvar!" She yelled suddenly.

"What?!" He yelped.

"How is your leg?" She asked, not any more quietly.

"Oh." Hadvar sighed. "Still hurts a bit but the potions Jordis gave me helped a lot. But I'm tired. I'm headed to bed." He struggled to get to his feet, but between his injuries and the ale, he didn't get far.

"I'll help you love." Ralof said, lifting Hadvar to his feet. "Night all." He called as they descended the stairs, Ralofs arm wrapped around him.

"Bed would be good." Alvor leered at his wife.

"Arryn? Take care of my nephew." Sigrid ordered, ignoring her husband.

"I will. I promise." I swore to her. "I'm going to get them all back home and once Hadvars leg is better, he and Ralof are taking my family back to Solitude. Jordis wants to be near her Ma."

"It's best to be around family when you're in family way." Sigrid agreed. "I think that's the only thing I regret about Ralof." She mused. "I would have so loved for Hadvar to be a father."

"He still could be. The orphanage in Riften is full up of little ones that need a family." I said.

"That's true." She agreed. "Do you think they'll marry?"

I contemplated that. "I see no reason why they wouldn't." I decided.

"Is it odd for you? To see them like this?" She asked. Alvor grumbled irritably and stomped off to bed. Sigrid ignored him.

"Sometimes." I admitted. "I'm not used to it. But I've never seen them happier. I've never seen anything so sad as when Ral thought Had was gone. I was sad but Ralof, he looked as if he had died inside."

"That was truly horrible." She whispered. "I used to jump every time someone came to the door during the war. I'd see Gerdur and she would just look at me. She knew what I was feeling, no matter what side they were fighting for." She sighed. "And then one day, Ralof was back and he wouldn't even speak to us. I confronted Gerdur and she told us what Hadvar had done. I couldn't believe it."

"The war tore many families apart." I agreed.

"And then you showed up, Hadvar in tow." She said with a smile. "And you fixed everything. Ever the hero."

"They tell me it's in my blood." I said with a small smile. She smiled back.

"Goodnight Arryn. Thank you. For everything." She said, rising. She stumbled a bit and made her way back to her room.

I sat at the table for a few minutes more before I sighed and made my way downstairs.

Hadvar was fast asleep on Ralofs chest. Ralof was laying up against the wall, his arms wrapped around Hadvar. He looked up at me when I walked in the room and smiled.

"'Lo Ryn." He said softly.

"Can't sleep?" I asked, falling into the unoccupied bed.

"Don't want to. What happens if I wake up and he's gone?" He replied, tightening his grip on Hadvar.

"He won't be." I assured him.

"I can't risk it. I can't lose him. Not again." His voice raised slightly, betraying his fear. Hadvar started. He looked up at Ralof with sleepy eyes, propping himself up on his elbow.

"Ral?" He asked.

"Yeah?" Ralof asked, brushing his thumb over Hadvars cheek.

"Lay down." Hadvar ordered sleepily. Ralof slipped further onto the bed until his head rested on the pillow. Hadvar settled himself back onto Ralofs chest and sighed in contentment. "Love you." He murmured.

"I love you too Had." His arms circled Hadvar and held him close.

I snuffed out the candle.