Chapter XIX
7 months later...
Sandor was working, enlarging one of the castle wings, when Sir Gerald came running up to him.
- It has already begun!Sir Sandor ... you must go to your rooms ... The midwife is with the Lady and says they are coming.
Sandor quickly stopped what he was doing while receiving best wishes from the Castilians who worked with him. He headed there, more nervous than he had ever he got to the door, two maids told him he shouldn't come in ... but he didn't pay any would have to kill him to prevent him from being with Sansa right now.
He threw open the door and saw the midwife between his wife's legs, while two of his maids stood beside her.
Sansa sweating terribly, she smiled.
- I told you that he would not be left out...
The midwife, a woman with a few years of experience and life, turned and looked Sandor up and down.
- You yourself ... but please do not faint ... I have seen very cruel warriors who have not endured a childbirth ... If you fall to the ground ... I am not going to go to help ... I leave it to your discretion.
Sandor looked at her as if he was going to kill her and went directly to Sansa's side, kissed her forehead and took her hand.
Sansa contracted her face at that moment and dug her nails into him.
- Very well my Queen ... let's go for the first one ... I can see his head ...
Sandor looked at the old woman as if she saw a ghost.
- First?
Sansa biting her lips nodded.
- Didn't you know? .- asked the amused midwife. -... My Lady, these things are said.
Sansa with her head thrown back, broken with pain and exhausted, without letting go of her husband's hand, she only managed to say:
- Sandor, there are two ... two are coming ... she told me last week ... that's why I told you they were coming soon ... Water!
One of the maids came requesting with a sponge filled with water that he passed over her lips. Sandor took a few quick breaths ... Two! At once!
- Sandor say something! .- Sansa yelled next to her -... Oh, all the Gods!
This time apart from screaming, she screamed ... she screamed with all her might, while Sandor heard something wet dripping from Sansa's body and the shrill cry of a baby filled the entire room.
The midwife picked it up, while the new mother flopped down on the pillows. One of the maids approached Sansa and wiped her off with a sponge while the other helps the midwife with the baby.
- He's a beautiful boy ...
Sandor paralyzed, he could only see how the midwife wrapped him in a thin blanket and gave it to him.
- Take it! .-he ordered him-. Get out of bed ... My Lady has not finished yet ...
Sandor had to react so that the boy did not fall to the ground, because the old woman did not wait for him to be ready. He took it as he could, looking around. Sansa smiled and asked him to come over to her.
He was afraid to move ... he had nothing clear that that little thing, that he screamed so much, was not going to fall.
- Come on man! Show it to the Queen ...- ordered the midwife, while she put her hands back into Sansa's entrails.- The nurse will arrive in a moment, to give milk to your son. She was not in Winterfell, but I have already sent a rider to fetch her ...
Sandor went to the bed and sat next to her Sansa, trying to remember what she had been explaining to him about how to care for a newborn. Above all, it was always holding his little head ... and that's what he did.
Sansa carefully lowered the blanket from her son's face and both two could see him clearly ... The intensity of him screams had diminished and now, he was limited to making small noises as tried to open her eyes and moved his little hands. .. Sandor couldn't help counting his fingers.
- Ten ...- he said without realizing that he was saying it aloud.
Sansa smiled at the expression on his face. The one who was one day one of the most bloodthirsty men in the country, was totally overwhelmed ... At that moment, she again noticed another immense pain that threatened to split her in half ... She forgot everything, except to hold on tightly to the sheets, re-bend your legs and start pushing.
The midwife yelled at him:
- So my Lady, so!The other one is coming ...!
Sandor barely had time to stand up when his other son came out of Sansa, wet and bloody, and fell into the hands of the midwife.
- It is done! It is done!
Sansa fell back on the bed, knowing she could never go through something like this again.
- What is it this time? .- she asked the midwife, her voice broken with fatigue.
- Another boy.
The maid washed him, placed him on another blanket and waited, with him in her arms, for Sansa to be a little upright in he gave it to her.
- Here you have My Queen ... take it for a while while the mistress arrives ... The midwife and I are going to clean what remains inside you, then we will wash you, change your clothes and let you rest.
She looked at Sandor.
- Sit with her Sir children seem a little small, but when two come it usually happens ... - she looked at him and smiled-... but they seem healthy and strong ... Everything will be fine...
Sandor sat with Sansa and leaned her back against the headboard of the closed his eyes.
Sansa dropped her head on his shoulder.
- Why didn't you tell me that two were coming?You know I don't like surprises.
Sansa took a deep breath.
- Yes, I know ... but I did not know how to do it ... and finally, you were going to find out anyway ...- she looked at her children who rested in the arms of both, while they continued to move. Already the oldest with his eyes wide open -... but, don't tell me they are not wonderful ...
Sandor looked at them both, turned slightly and kissed Sansa, who despite having undergone one of the most exhausting experiences of her life was radiant ... or at least, it seemed so to him.
- They are ... it seems incredible to me that they are partly mine ... but without a doubt they are ...- he delicately touched the small nose of the one in his arms- ... but now we have a problem ...- he told Sansa.
- Which?
- We only have one name ... The oldest was this ... Is he going to be Eddard?
Sansa nodded.
-... and this other one, if it's okay with you, I want his name to be Theon...
Sandor scowled at her.
-That damn bastard who almost killed Winterfell and who gave it to Ramsay.- he said incredulously.
Sansa shifted uncomfortably, not only because of what the midwife inside her, but because she knew it was a complicated decision.
- Yes, it's true.- she told him, and Sandor noticed the melancholy in her voice- ... but you don't know what he went through ... and in the end, he risked everything to save me ...
He was a manbroken who gave everything for me ...Sandor noticed how little Eddard took his finger ... he was surprised at the strength of him, but continued to weigh what Sansa had told him.
- But that name can bring you unpleasant the two of you went through ...
Sansa nodded again.
- Yes ... it can but I think it is more of an act of redemption, and the reminder that every man can redeem himself if he wishes with all his might, despite his fears and limitations ...
Sandor with her free hand drew her closer to him and kissed her again. He sighed. They too had had their own particular redemption...
- Okay ... Eddard and Theon .- he said accepting her down he did not care ... They would be part of him and that was what counted ... and now that he had them with him, he knew that what he had signed with the Council to interfere as little as possible in hislives, it was going to be completely impossible, which promised glory days ... he laughed with amusement, imagining future situations.
Sansa looked at him strangely.
- What are you laughing at?. -she asked him.
He was going to tell her but then the one who was going to breastfeed her children arrived. The midwife took the children from their hands to give them to her and threw Sandor out of the room.
- The Queen must be washed!She has to be presentable to introduce her children!
Sandor was about to protest, but he thought twice when he saw her face. He'd better go get a couple of barrels of wine... Winterfell had a lot to celebrate.
A few months later, when the twins were beginning to take their first steps, a horseman arrived in Winterfell.
He was carrying a letter for the Queen and two saddlebags filled with something that weighed considerably and kept moving.
The rider was taken to the Queen's chambers, where Sandor came with his little ones in his arms, who were unable to separate from him. He left them on the floor playing, on top of a blanket and approached Sansa.
The newcomer was a member of the free town and he brought them a note from Jon, and a couple of gifts for the children. He put the saddlebags on the floor and opened them. Two small wuargo cubs came out and automatically began to run around the room. One was snow white and he was black with many white spots...
- What the hell! .- Sandor went after them before they hurt the children ... but it was not puppies were immediately left with them, hugging them as if they were rag dolls.
-Don't worry, Sandor ... They won't hurt them ...- she said, amused, remembering the day they found her wuargos.
Sansa took the letter, broke the seal, and began to one sent by Jon retired to rest and regain strength, before returning to the North.
"My Queen, I hope you will excuse my daring in sending you those little cubs for the children. When they were born, I couldn't help but think that I had to do it. They are children of Ghost, as you can see, and I am sure they will be so them, as he has been to I. I have allowed myself to name them: Stains and Snow.
I wish you all the happiness in the world, I'm trying. Sybil helps me do it.
Yours, Jon ... "
Epilogue
20 years later...
"Even though I'm sitting, writing, here in our room, I can still see the northern sky through the window. You know what I used to like to do ... sit here with you by my side and watch the clouds rise. they closed, they went from light gray to dark gray and it started to rain ... Right now, it's starting to do so.
A lot has happened lately. All of them pile up in my mind, preventing me from assimilating them one by one, that is why I have decided to sit down and write to you ... The mere fact of "talking" to you relaxes me and gives the right meaning to things. You were always the stick that I leaned on, good and bad ... you were always by my side ... and now, sometimes, I think I didn't tell you enough. I'm sorry, my love, I hope you were able to forgive me ... but, let's stop preambles, and let's go to the reason for this writing.
You know, that today you left 5 years ago ... and still as I promised, I have not been able to forgive you. Each of these 5 years has been a little torture for my soul. I see you in every corner of the castle and I feel you by my side, always. Your smell, your touch, I even hear your breath. At first I thought it would go away, but it has not been like that...
I could never imagine that I could love someone so much, like that I loved you and I love you. And I constantly curse the damn disease that took you away from me so soon. As much as you wanted to console me by telling me that it was something that had to happen and that you already owed him a lot ... I still don't accept it. I wanted more time with you; I needed more time with you...
When we got married we undertook an incredible adventure through thick and thin and now, seeing everything from the perspective of the years, I can only say that it was the best thing I have ever done ... It was the happiest 15 years of my life.I had it all ... Reigning in the North in a moment of peace, being with you and raising our children, that miracle that still amazes me.
And in part, I wanted to talk to you about our children.
My brother Bran, has retired from the throne of King's Landing ... According to him and visions, his moment is over.
A few months ago I received a raven from King's Landing. Your friend, the damn dwarf, who has been a faithful friend all this time, and who still wants me to marry him ... Yes, I know that you are able to rise from your grave before that happens and I have it very of course, he told me, that Bran had called the council together to tell them he was abdicating ... and that they should think of a replacement.
One possibility was Tyrion himself, but he does not want ... He is old, according to what he says, and considers that he contributes much more to the Kingdom being what he is ... Another option was Jon, but he does not want to either. He is happy with the free people, and he is happy with Sybil, and with her three children. He does not need more and besides, he feels that he has to remain vigilant ... you never know what can be awakened further.
By the way, Arya is back to stay. She is a little tired of going here and there looking for her destiny, when she has always known that was here, and also feels that she has to make an attempt with Gendry .. I told her that he was widowed a couple of years ago ... and he wants to see if he still loves her... I'll tell you about it. Poor Gendry what awaits him as he says no!
She misses you a lot too... She didn't want to miss your funeral and I don't know which of the two cried the Stark girls owe you a lot, Sandor, never forget it.
And you will tell me at this moment, and how does all this affect our children?I'm going there:Tyrion has proposed Theon as heir to the throne.
What do you think?
You know perfectly well that when Tyrion took him to spend time there it was for something. He has never stitched without thread, and I think he was preparing him for it.
Theon knows the fortress like the back of his hand, he knows the town, he doesn't have to tell you about the trouble he's gotten into, running away with Jamie, to enjoy the freedom it gave them to mingle with the people. Everyone in that city knows them ... and they are more than friends, brothers ... and Jamie, if everything continues like this he will end up being the head of the golden guard, replacing his mother ... You had to see them. Jamie is just like his father ... and Theon, in these five years that you are not here, has become you, but with blue eyes ... The only thing he has inherited from me ... At twenty is great, strong, passionate, brave and for a few days ... the King in the South.
Surprised, right? You should have seen him. Immense. You would have been tremendously proud of him, because besides, you were on his mind the whole time. You were his teacher ... in everything. You can't imagine what he misses you.
I know the responsibility that comes with it but it has Tyrion and Bran, who leaves but remains as counselor and three-eyed raven, Sam, Brienne and Jamie.I'm sure he'll do the right thing ... or at least he'll try.
I just got back from there, that's why she couldn't stop looking out the north window of our South exhausts me and more if it is hot like you remember the long and terrible winter that it did when the children were born? ... How can we forget it! ... We believe that after these years of tranquility it can return ... In the wild lands they believe it and we must listen to them, forever.
The fact is that on the return trip, I have been thinking and I believe that the time has come for me to retire too ... I feel that new threats are looming over us and I feel old enough to face them. Eddard is ready to be the new King in the North.
He was born for it, is a cross between my father and he looks like me, but everything else is his ... I admire his temperance and his practical sense of things ... Since you left he has been my right hand ... and in this case, with the consentof Council...
In the next few days, I will speak with the Council and him.
It is his time and mine, is to help him ... and I promise you, I will not succumb to Tyrion's attentions. My heart is and will always be yours..."
Sansa put the feather on the table and slowly went over what she had written. She carefully brought the blade to her lips and kissed it gently. She put it back on the table, got up, and picked up a white cloak from her bed. The cloak that Sandor left on that distant day when he went looking for her. The day he was forever clinging to her soul. She put it on her shoulders and walked over to the window.
Apart from the overcast sky of Winterfell, from there she could see her husband's grave under the weed tree that had witnessed their life never wanted to bury himself in the crypt ... he was not a Stark ... and he also wanted the sky, which he came to love, to be his ceiling ... Sansa understood this and had asked her children that when the moment, bury her next to him.
She once red hair was now completely white, and the wrinkles that marked the features of her face indicated that little by little she would be approaching that moment ...
... meantime, she would witness how her children were going to rule the two great kingdoms of Westeros and that promised to be tremendously entertaining ... She was sure that she would have a lot to tell her husband...
... but that, is already that other story that has not yet been written.
END
Author's note: I want to thank all those who have read this story. To those that you liked and to whom you have written a comment. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being part of Wounds ... part of this alternative history of our dear Sandor and Sansa, waiting for Martin to give us the final version ... Aryantha.