A/N: Last Robb POV chapter, there is one more before the end which I haven't quite finished with yet. Tomorrow I'm off away, it's that time of year when I pitch a tent in a field and enjoy a weekend of music! I will try and post the last chapter before I leave if I get it finished, if not it will be Monday :)
Thanks: KristeenW, January Raines, everyone else who follows & anyone else who's reading.
Victorious Return
Ailsa was as giddy as a child when we left King's Landing, she flat out refused to ride in a carriage, she wanted to be at my side and she also knew a carriage would add time to our journey. I had tried to protest that she was with child but she and the Queen had ganged up on me, the Queen had ridden a horse through the entirety of her pregnancy and the fate of her child had had nothing to do with her actions. It was natural, she told me, the Dothraki women had done it for thousands of years and they had healthy children all the time. Ailsa had stared me down until I had agreed, not since I was a child and Sansa and Arya had talked me into helping them climb a tree had I felt so bullied.
"Stop frowning," she said from my side as we rode down the King's Road.
"I didn't realise I was," I told her honestly.
"You should be happy, every second we are closer to them," she said happily.
"I am happy," I told her, "but I will be happier when we get there safely"
"So will I," she agreed.
"Are you feeling alright?" I asked her for what would likely be the thousandth time.
"Robb I would tell you if I wasn't, do you really think I'd risk this baby?" she questioned me.
"No of course I don't, I just worry I can't help it," I explained.
"I know," she smiled, "but everything's going to be fine now, it's over, we won"
"Yes," I smiled back, "yes we did."
The journey to Riverrun wasn't bad, when it did rain it was light, the only heavy storm coming one night in the second week, but we were safely tucked up in our tent then, our attentions focused elsewhere as the rain lashed down. Ailsa had just passed the fourth month of her pregnancy when we spotted Riverrun looming up in the distance, the look of sheer glee in her eyes made my heart swell as we rode ever closer. Her smile didn't leave her face as the Tully banners came into sight on top of the ramparts. We were minutes away now, minutes away from our babies. I couldn't wait but I knew Ailsa was ready to burst, she had hated being away from them, I knew there was no way she would ever let me send them to be someone else's ward. Not that I wanted to, my mother had always insisted we stay at Winterfell when my father suggested us being fostered elsewhere, she had wanted us close, and I wanted the same for my children.
She was off her horse before I could help her down when we clattered into the courtyard, picking up her skirts and running to the door of the keep as it opened wide. It was half laugh half scream when she saw Ned toddling out, his eyes lit up when they saw her, his arms reaching up to her at once, shouting for her. She dropped to her knees and caught him in her arms at the top of the steps and I walked up behind her as my mother brought Alienna out, a tight grip on her hand. "Papa!" she shouted up to me and Ailsa looked up at her words. "Mama!" she shouted then when she noticed her mother, looking between us like she wasn't sure who to go to. I laughed at the look of confusion on her face and dropped down next to Ailsa, holding my arms out for Alienna to come and embrace both of us.
"I've missed you," Ailsa was saying over and over as she kissed first Ned and then Alienna, alternating between the two of them before they grew annoyed and protested at her affections. "I love you," she told them both then as she ceased smothering them with kisses.
"Love you Mama," Ned said back to her.
"Mama," Alienna simply said, a huge smile on her face.
"Papa!" Ned shouted at me then, shoving Alienna slightly so he could get to me.
"Careful," I told him lightly, steadying her with one hand and pulling him to me with the other.
"Sorry," he said quietly as I held him close.
"It's alright," I told him, kissing the top of his head, "I've missed you"
"Miss you Papa," he said and I kissed him again, tears swimming in my eyes.
We stayed at Riverrun for a week, Ailsa only letting the children out of her sight when it was time for them to go to bed. She still felt guilty for leaving them for so long, I knew better than to tell her not to dwell on it, she wouldn't listen. I could only hope that she would be more content when we were back at Winterfell, her time would be close by the time we got home. We had heard that the weather was bad along the road to the North, the snows having fallen deep already. It would take us months to get home, even longer because I insisted that we would rest each night in inns, I wouldn't have my wife and children in thin canvas tents in such freezing temperatures. I did suggest staying put at Riverrun until Ailsa had the baby but she and my mother had refused, it would be even more dangerous to travel with a new born. Our only choice was to leave as soon as possible and hope we made it back in time for her to have the baby at Winterfell and not in an inn somewhere.
Leaving Riverrun had been easier than leaving King's Landing, we weren't as close to the Tully's as we were to the Queen and Jon. Ailsa had wished Roslin well, my Uncle's wife was due to give birth at any day and her nerves were starting to heighten, Ailsa assured her she would be well and that there was nothing better than holding a new born child. I was so proud of her on the journey, I knew as she grew bigger with child that her back started to ache and she was more tired than usual but she never complained once. Usually when we stopped at the inns at night we would share a room with the children, she liked having them close and that way we knew that they were warm enough. The temperature was dropping more every day as we went steadily further North.
One night we had a room to ourselves, Ailsa was six months pregnant now and she was exhausted, my mother had insisted on looking after the children for us and I had agreed before Ailsa could protest. In truth I was worried about her, I hated that she had to travel like this, and I hated that we were not even half way to Winterfell yet, at the pace we were going she would be dangerously close to having the baby when we arrived home. I had been hoping we'd have at least a month to prepare, but at the moment we would be lucky if we even had a week. She walked slowly in from her bath, her face looking pained as she rubbed her lower back.
"Come here," I beckoned her to the bed and she obliged me.
"Have I missed dinner?" she asked me as I slid her robe away and massaged her back firmly.
"I'll get them to send you something in a while, are you hungry?" I asked her.
"A little," she said, groaning a little as I continued my work, "that feels so much better"
"Have I got the right spot?" I questioned.
"Yes … you're just perfect," she sighed in satisfaction.
"I'm worried about you," I told her.
"I know you are," she said, "it's taking longer than you thought isn't it?"
"We are less than three months away from you having the baby … if it keeps on like this then I don't even know if we'll be home in time," I confessed.
"I don't care where I have the baby Robb, so long as he's healthy," she said.
"He?" I questioned.
"Or she," she said, "… but I have a feeling our Tristan is in here," she patted her stomach.
"Is that so?" I smiled, moving one of my own hands to her stomach, feeling the baby move after a moment, I loved feeling it move, it reassured me beyond belief.
When she reached the eighth month of her pregnancy I was ready to tear my hair out. Ordinarily we would be two days from Winterfell, but the snow was deep, up around the knees of the horses and the carriage Ailsa was in with my mother, Rickon and the children would get stuck seemingly every five minutes. It was during one of these moments that Ailsa finally lost her temper, she was bored, the children were bored and she was completely and utterly exhausted.
"I've had enough!" she screamed at me, climbing down from the carriage as the men dug it out again.
"I'm sorry! I can't do any more!" I said pleadingly.
"How far away are we?!" she demanded.
"I don't know," I said, shaking my head.
"If it were just the horses how long?!" she persisted.
"Five days, a week maybe," I shrugged desperately.
"Then we're riding. Leave this stupid damn thing here!" she shouted, slapping a hand on the carriage.
"Ailsa … you're eight months pregnant … the children …" I started but she shut me up with a look.
"I can ride," she said firmly, "Ned can ride with you and Alienna with your mother"
"Ailsa it's freezing!" I protested.
"There are a mountain of furs in there!" she screamed, pointing almost accusingly at the stuck carriage, "Wrap them up! Damn it Robb, I will not give birth in that damn thing! I want to go home!"
"Alright!" I shouted back, coming to rub my hands soothingly up and down her arms, "alright."
I didn't know who to be more worried about as we rode on, our pace still slow but uninterrupted. My eyes moved between Ailsa on my right and my mother and Alienna on my left, Ailsa seemed calmer now we were making more steady progress and she assured me she was warm enough. My mother would nod at my silent question about Alienna every time I looked at her, she was bundled up tightly in furs, her face pressed against my mother's chest as we rode on. I would press my lips to Ned's forehead every few minutes, making sure his skin was still warm, when he fell asleep I held him even closer to me, pulling the furs even tighter around him. If any one of them got ill I would never forgive myself, I didn't think I had ever been more fearful in my whole life. When I wasn't looking at them I was straining my eyes to the distance, just waiting for the moment I would see the shape of Winterfell looming on the horizon.
When I saw the turrets and walls coming into view in the distance four days later I could have cried in relief, Ailsa did, she was almost hysterical but she refused to let me stop our progress so I could comfort her. I had to settle for riding my horse as close to hers as I could, reaching out to take one of her hands, wishing they weren't gloved so I could feel the warmth of her skin. She eventually calmed down but I was still worried about her, as soon as we reached Winterfell I would demand she went to see the Maester, I was not going to let her argue with me, she was going so he could check that both she and the baby were alright.
"Don't even think about it," I said warningly when we finally rode into the courtyard. She had been about to dismount her horse by herself and I wasn't having it, she shot me a look of annoyance but she stayed still where she was as I handed Ned down to Arya. "Take him straight inside, mother, will you take Alienna and stay with them while we see the Maester?" I asked my mother then.
"Of course I will," she agreed at once, giving Arya a one armed squeeze as they walked into the keep.
I helped Ailsa down then and to my surprise she didn't protest at me taking her towards the Maester's tower, her steps slow and careful as we ascended the winding staircase.
"Your Graces!" Maester Luwin greeted us happily when we walked in.
"Maester Luwin," I responded as Ailsa sent him a small smile.
"How are you your Grace?" he asked her concernedly.
"Tired," she said heavily, "ready for this baby to come"
"Can you check that's she's alright, that the baby is alright?" I asked then.
"Of course," he agreed at once, gesturing for her to go behind the screen.
We waited a few moments until Ailsa called that she was ready, I went with the Maester; I didn't want to leave her alone for a second. Her rounded stomach was exposed, furs draped across her lower body and I saw her chest rising rapidly and I knew she was just as nervous as I was. Maester Luwin put the instrument he used to listen to the baby's heart to her stomach then and I took her hand as we waited, hardly daring to breathe.
"Perfect," Maester Luwin said after a few moments.
"Truly?" Ailsa checked.
"Truly," he smiled and I almost laughed out in relief.
"Thank you," she breathed, tears in her eyes as she pulled her shift back down.
"I would advise plenty of rest for yourself your Grace," he told her sternly then.
"Yes, of course," she nodded as she rose up to pull her dress and furs back on.
"You have my word she won't be lifting a finger," I promised.
It felt so good to be back in our own bed, in our own familiar rooms surrounded by our own familiar things. I was content as I lay there, Ailsa wrapped securely in my arms, sleeping soundly. One of my hands rested on her stomach as I waited for sleep to come, feeling the nudge of the baby against my palm every now and again. I smiled when I felt it, the baby was strong, it would have to be, it would be a winter child, and everyone was predicting a long winter.
Ailsa's pains started not a week later, we had just had dinner and were walking back up the stairs to our room when she bent almost double, clutching at the wall for support as her other hand went to her stomach. I helped her up to our room and called for my mother at once before I went to fetch Maester Luwin. When he was with her I went in search of Osha, she had been such a comfort to Ailsa during her two previous labours and her miscarriage.
"Is it the Queen?" she asked me when I burst into the kitchens and shouted for her.
"Yes," I nodded, my hands shaking as I tried to take a breath.
"Don't worry your Grace," she soothed me, "she will be well looked after"
"Thank you," I managed and she patted my arm tentatively before leaving the room.
"Get me! As soon as she delivers!" I shouted after her, hurrying behind in her wake.
"I will," she promised, pausing for a moment, "where will you be?"
"The nursery," I said and she nodded before rushing on.
The waiting was unbearable, Ned and Alienna were sleeping in cradles side by side, tucked up warmly as a fire roared in the corner. They looked unbelievably peaceful and I was so envious of them as I twisted my hands together, trying to ignore the pounding of my heart. Every now and then I could hear her cries coming from the room next door, I wished I could be with her but it wasn't proper. Only women and the Maester were supposed to be there, I had only been allowed in with Alienna because something was wrong. I prayed and prayed to the Gods that no one would come for me with panic in their eyes, telling me to hurry, that the Maester was worried.
The hours ticked by and no one came but still I kept praying, my head in my hands as I begged the Gods to keep them both safe. Alienna stirred in her sleep then, a shuddering sigh pulling my attention to her as she shifted around in her furs for a moment. I watched as she settled again, her little fists clenching slightly before she stilled, soft snores coming from her. I couldn't help but smile, she was my precious girl, my miracle I had been terrified of losing, I loved her and Ned more than I could even comprehend. Ailsa had given me them, she had gone through months of carrying them and hours of agony to bring them into the world, and now she was doing it again. I dropped my head back into my hands and resumed my prayers, they had to be alright; they just had to be.
I was in some kind of stupor when the door to the nursery opened, it took me a moment to register Osha walking towards me as I looked up. She smiled at me then and I jumped up.
"Is she alright?" I asked at once.
"Tired but happy your Grace," she told me.
"The baby?" I questioned.
"Perfect," she beamed, "the Queen is waiting for you"
"Thank you," I said gratefully.
I saw my mother come out of our rooms as I approached and she beamed at me when her eyes settled on me, pulling me into a quick embrace.
"Congratulations Robb!" she exclaimed as she let me go.
"Boy or girl?" I asked then, realising that Osha hadn't told me.
"See Ailsa, she'll tell you," she smiled at me.
I did as she told me then and pushed open the door of our rooms. Ailsa looked up at once and sent a breath taking smile my way as she gently rocked the bundle of blankets in her arms.
"Tristan," she told me as I approached and I dropped onto the bed next to her at once.
"You really are always right," I told her, cupping her face gently and pressing a kiss to her lips.
"He has your hair," she said when I pulled away and moved my eyes to my new son.
"He'll have your eyes," I told her certainly and she beamed at me.
"Hold him," she urged me and I took him from her at once.
He did have an auburn tint to his hair I noted as I rocked him gently, his eyes blinking confusedly at me as I gazed down on him. A son. Another perfect son that my perfect wife had borne me. I looked to her then and saw her smile sleepily at me, her eyes heavy as she kept them on me and Tristan.
"Drink your Milk of the Poppy," I urged her.
"Wake me if he needs me," she said and I nodded as she reached out for the pain relief.
"I love you," I told her, "thank you … for him, for everything."
A/N: Awww, baby boy, hope you liked. If I don't update tomorrow you'll all get a chapter Monday :)
