Alright, here's the next part! Things are gonna start picking up soon of course now that we're starting Season 1 of the show!
white seprent: They certainly are happy! They finally have their son!
DullReign82: Actually the name Edrick does come from Game of Thrones! The Song of Ice and Fire wiki page has a list of members of House Stark all the way back to the original Brandon the Builder and I looked through it a few times since the Starks have a habit of naming their children after ancestors and Edrick stuck out to me! And though I could see Robb letting Edrick ride on Grey Wind I have a feeling Raya might have something to say about it.
Enjoy!
The sun is up the next time Raya wakes. Just the very action of breathing makes her body scream in protest. She still feels as if she's being torn apart, her body protesting every small movement. She turns her head as the door opens, Robb slipping in. She can hear voices on the other side, Robb closing the door quickly.
"How do you feel?" He comes over to her side, kneeling on the floor beside the bed. "I can't hold them off for much longer."
She smiles. Of course her good-family would want to meet the newest Stark. "They can come in. They should meet him before they get caught up taking care of the king."
Robb nods, helping her sit up and put on a robe before opening the door, letting his family into the room. He goes to the crib, lifting Edrick out before carrying him over to Ned. "This is Edrick Stark. The newest addition to our family."
Robb lets his father hold Edrick, his mother moving to sit beside Raya and speak with her. "He looks just like you, Robb." Ned says, smiling down at his grandson. "I am proud of you, son. You are very lucky."
Robb smiles. "Thank you, father."
"Can I hold him?" Sansa asks, practically bouncing.
Ned smiles. "Yes, but be careful."
Ned shows her how to hold him, both Sansa and Arya looking down at their new nephew. "He's so beautiful." Sansa says.
"And tiny." Arya says.
"You were all that tiny once." Ned says, Edrick starting to wiggle.
"I think he wants his mother again." Robb says, taking Edrick from Sansa, bringing him to Raya. She smiles up at him as she takes him, holding him against her chest.
Bran and Rickon sit on the bed next to Raya, looking at Edrick. Catelyn reminds them to be gentle, all the Stark children seeming to be in awe of Edrick. Raya can see why. He's all Robb: dark hair and bright blue eyes. Raya can't help but smile at him, the same feeling coming over her when she looks at Robb. Love. That's what the feeling is.
"Come now, it is time to get ready to greet the king. You will all be able to spend time with Edrick later." Catelyn says.
Ned helps herd his children out of the room, giving the new parents some privacy. Catelyn promises to send some soup and a wet nurse up to help Raya.
Raya turns to Robb when they're finally alone. "Where is Jon?"
"In his chambers most likely."
"I want him to meet Edrick too. He's just as much a Stark as the rest of you."
Robb nods, a smile tugging at his lips before he descends to Jon's chambers, bringing him up a few moments later. Jon enters hesitantly, Raya offering him a smile. Raya had always been kind to him in the short time she'd been in Winterfell. It's strange to him, but he remembers she has her own bastard brother and understands what it is like.
"Would you like to hold him?" She asks softly, smiling at Jon.
Jon gulps, looking to Robb before nodding. He had only held Rickon once, not in the presence of Lady Stark. Raya helps him get Edrick situated in his arms before she lets him go, letting Jon hold him. He's so small and warm in Jon's arms, every bit of him Robb. There was no doubting he favored his father. Jon can't help but feel a sharp pang of jealousy rising in him as he looks down at the newborn in his arms. He had never dreamed of having a family, his fear of having his own bastard children keeping him from pursuing any woman despite Theon's constant heckling. He had tried once, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He had already decided he wouldn't have a life like that. The girls in Winterfell were constantly looking, constantly following him but he can't bring himself to picture a life with a wife and children. It came so easy to Robb, and already Robb was a father.
"He's beautiful." Jon says, smiling down at the boy. As much jealousy as he feels looking at his nephew, he can't deny the boy's charms already. He's certainly Robb's son. "I'm happy for you both."
Robb smiles, taking Edrick as Lady Stark returns with stew. She pays no mind to Jon in the room, focusing instead on Raya. Jon takes his leave, unable to rid himself of the bitter feeling in his stomach. Robb stays with Raya until the nurse arrives, knowing he has to prepare to greet the king as well. He leaves Raya reluctantly, but in good hands, Raya eating her stew despite not feeling like it but she knows she needs the energy. The stew warms and relaxes her, her body succumbing to sleep once again.
Raya wakes before the King arrives. Robb has just entered the room, Edrick in his crib near the bed fussing. Raya goes to sit up, but her entire body protests and she stills, easing herself back against the pillows. Her entire body aches from the stress of the night before. She had always hated milk of the poppy, but now she would welcome some gladly.
"Don't get up. I'll have the wet nurse come." Robb says, turning to go to the door.
"No." Robb stops short, turning back to his wife. "I'll do it."
"Raya-"
"He's my son. I'll feed him. No sense in letting it go to waste." She can already feel the wetness on the front of her nightgown, her body responding to the cries of her son.
Robb picks Edrick up gently. He's clean shaven now, his hair slicked back as it had been when she'd first met him and for their wedding. She finds she prefers his hair messy. The wild curls and the scruff on his face make him seem older. Robb sits on the edge of the bed, passing Edrick to her. She unlaces the front of her nightgown, freeing a breast for Edrick. Robb watches her smiling softly. He's not sure if she remembers her confession the night before. Or if she had meant it. It could have been said in a moment of bliss, of happiness and joy at the birth of their son. He wants to believe she really loves him, but he does not want to bring it up and risk it not being true.
"Did I miss the king yet?"
Robb shakes his head. "No. He'll be riding through the gates in a few minutes."
"You'd better go, then. One of us has to be there, and your father would prefer it be you."
Robb nods, hesitating for a moment longer. He leans forward, pressing a kiss to her lips before standing. "I'll come back as soon as I can."
Raya nods. "You can send a maid in to sit with me if it will make you feel better."
Robb smiles, nodding before taking his leave, not without a glance back at Raya. Edrick is sucking hungrily at her breast, Raya watching him with a smile on her face. Her son. Her sweet boy, just as she had imagined. She feels love swelling in her heart as she watches him, his big blue eyes, his father's eyes, staring up at her. She shoves aside her fears, feeling the love swelling in her heart as she watches her son.
Nearly the entire castle is there to greet the King, except for the kitchen staff and a handful of maids to help Raya should she need it. Robb is standing at the front with his family, the king's party riding into the gates. He watches them, distracting himself from thinking about Raya and their son. He watches as Prince Joffrey rides in, following his gaze back to Sansa next to him. Sansa is staring at him with a small smile on her face. Robb finds he'd rather be thinking about his wife now. Sansa had been going on about marrying Joffrey for the past month. Ever since their father had told them of the king and his family riding for Winterfell, Sansa had been sure the king would want her to marry Joffrey. Sansa had always been the romantic, dreaming of knights and princesses and happy endings. Robb loves his younger sister, but he wishes she would be more sensible.
The wheelhouse enters next, the King riding in after it. The courtyard drops to a knee as the king rides in, climbing off his horse with the help of a couple stable boys. The King approaches the line of Starks, stopping in front of Ned. He motions for them to stand, the courtyard rising to its feet again.
"Your Grace." Ned bows to the king.
Robert looks over his old friend. "You've got fat." It's silent between them for a moment, Ned giving Robert a look before Robert bursts out laughing. They embrace each other as old friends, Robert greeting Catelyn with a hug next. "Nine years. Why haven't I seen you? Where the hell have you been?"
"Guarding the North for you, your grace. Winterfell is yours."
Robert moves down the line of Starks, stopping at Robb. "Who have we here? You must be Robb." Robb nods, shaking the king's hand. "I heard you got married within the last year. Where is your wife?"
"My lady wife apologizes for her absence, your grace. She gave birth to our son last night and was not feeling well enough to be here."
Robert smiles. "More congratulations are in order, then. I can't wait to meet him."
"Thank you, your grace."
Robert greets the rest of the Starks, the Queen coming forward to be greeted by Ned and Catelyn. Robert demands to be taken to the crypts, Ned having no choice to acquiesce to the demand. The courtyard erupts into movement then, everyone going to do their assigned duties. Catelyn stops Robb, leading some king's men with the royal family's travelling crates to the guest house.
"Go and be with Raya. I expect to see you at the feast tonight."
Robb nods. "Of course, mother."
Robb leaves the chaos of the courtyard, making his way back up to his chambers to be with Raya and Edrick. He would never have left if he had the choice, but he had his duties. He knows Raya wants to do her own, be by his side as his wife, but she can't. She would be relieved to know the king had taken her absence well as his father had said he would. He takes the stairs two at a time, wanting to get back to his wife and his son.
Raya watches Robb prepare for the feast. Edrick was asleep in his crib for the time being. He had only cried a few times during the afternoon, a quiet baby the wet nurse had told her. Robb had spent all the time he could with Raya and Edrick, wanting to be there for them, be there for his son. Raya had sent a raven to the Dreadfort, telling her father of the arrival of his grandson and the king as well. Her father had been pleased when she told him of her pregnancy nine months ago, and he would be pleased to hear she had bore Robb a son.
The sky is getting dark when Robb cleans himself up for the feast. Raya watches as he tries to smooth out his hair. She had mussed it as soon as he had walked through the door after greeting the king. He had laughed, shaking his head at her antics. She had done the same on their wedding night too. Something about preferring the wild curls. Both of them hope their son shares the same curls.
A maid knocks on the door as Robb prepares to leave, coming to sit with Raya and assist her should she need it. Robb knows it's only a matter of time until Old Nan joins them too. She had lived to see four generations of Starks now, or possibly five depending on who you asked. No one quite knows how old she is, but they know she's the oldest in Winterfell. All the Stark children are familiar with her, and now Edrick would be before too long.
Robb kneels by the bed again as Raya feeds Edrick. "I'll try to slip away as soon as I can."
Raya smiles at him. "You don't have to. You can stay as long as you want. Just try not to have too much fun without me."
Robb smiles at her, kissing her head, then Edrick's. "I'll send food up for you two." He kisses her once again before taking his leave, going to the Great Hall for the feast.