Part 2

her eyes were sparkling, like the snow that fell in his home. she was dangerous, lethal, yet so irresistible.

"Oh," Vitoria gasped, clutching her stomach. She opened and closed her mouth for a moment trying to wrap her head around the fact that this was actually happening; the cramps had surprised her as she held onto the swell of her stomach, her other hand clutching the reins tightly.

Rickon looked up as their horse stopped on its tracks, he tilted his head curious as to why she had made it. He shifted his body until he could look at his good-sister.

"Vi?" Rickon asked curiously, he was counting down the days until the baby was born and he did hope that they would see Robb before that happened. He remembered when Artos was born, he had been very scared when he heard Vitoria screaming and for that reason, he had not been able to forget it. No, the baby would have to wait a bit more before coming. They definitely needed Robb for that. They had been on the road for weeks now and Rickon had done his best to be brave like his brother would want him to be; he missed his siblings and his mother.

There was no sign of Bran joining them and Rickon had no idea what had happened to him after they had left Winterfell; Maester Luwin had promised to help him escape and he hoped that it had worked.

"Baby is just kicking very hard," Vitoria said reassuring the four-year-old, he didn't need to know that she thought she was actually going into labour at that moment. The last thing that Vitoria wanted was to scar him for life, she couldn't imagine how much longer they had to travel and her pains weren't regular enough to cause them any real worry, in any case.

"We need to keep moving," Emmett insisted wanting to keep moving, he was sure that they could travel a bit longer before they needed to set up camp for the night.

Nearly two days had passed since a serving maid had burst into his chambers and told him his wife's childbirth pains had begun, but he still did not know if he had another daughter or a son. Robb was shocked Vitoria's labor was so hard, for her pregnancy had been relatively easy. Whenever Robb was in their rooms he could feel the tension. Everyone was thinking what no one would say: Vitoria might die in labor. No one had told him that there was a chance he would have to chose between Vitoria's life and their child's, but he knew that if Vitoria didn't deliver in the next few hours it was very likely. He didn't know how to choose. How did one decide whether to save your child or the woman you love?

Robb's doors burst open and a breathless messenger appeared. "Princess Vitoria…"

Robb stood at the boy's words. What was wrong with Vitoria? Robb stormed past the boy and ran to Vitoria's chambers, ignoring the curious looks of the visiting bannermen and servants he passed. Robb's mind suggested everything that could have happened to Vitoria.

Vitoria could have given birth to a stillborn. Vitoria could be sick. The baby could be ill or dying.

Countess possibilities swarmed his head, but one was so bad he felt physical pain. Vitoria could be dying or already dead. Robb made the decision then, that he would choose Vitoria. He would save Vitoria.

Robb burst thought the doors and looked at all the faces in the room. They all shared the same expression of joy and relief. Robb stalked over to Maester Vaith. "What happened? Is Vitoria alright?"

"Princess Vitoria is well and your…" He was cut off by a baby crying. Robb looked up at the sound.

"Is that…?" Robb couldn't find the words to ask. Maester Vaith had said Vitoria was well. Did that mean their baby was also healthy?

"Yes, that is your healthy son."

"A son?" Robb whispered. Maester Vaith only nodded. Robb couldn't believe it. He and Vitoria finally had their son. "Can I see them?"

"Princess Vitoria is very tired and will need much rest."

"She's well you said."

"She shows no signs of sickness and her spirit seems strong, but she will need time to recover. The birth was hard and I had to stitch her opening back together, due to the harsh entrance of your son into the world. The babe was not positioned correctly, so she lost a lot of blood during the delivery and will need time to allow her body replenish it and recover her energy."

"I wish to see her." Robb knew what Maester Vaith was telling him, but minutes ago he had thought Vitoria may have died and he wouldn't leave until he saw with his own eyes Vitoria was alive and well.

"Yes, milord."

Robb walked into the birthing chambers. He wasn't prepared for what he saw. There was blood everywhere. Lexa, Rena and Luna were all wearing bloodied gowns and sporting dark bags under their eyes. But he only had eyes for Vitoria.

She was in her bed, clearly too tired to be moved or even changed, since she was still wearing her nightgown — which was streaked with more red than he was comfortable with. Her hair was wildly spread against her pillow and her skin looked terrifyingly pale, having gone from her usual bronzed glow to nearly alabaster. It was obvious she was exhausted from labor, but she still looked content. Robb walked over to her and sat by her side.

"Vi?" Robb whispered. Vitoria's eyes fluttered open.

"Our boy," she murmured with a weak smile. Robb smiled at her and laughed softly, taking her hand in his and pressing a kiss to it.

"Our boy," he repeated smiling.

"Artos."

"Artos?"

"Like your ancestor, who defeated the wildings. He looks like a true Stark," Vitoria whispered, looking towards her ladies. Robb followed her gaze. He looked back at Vitoria before approaching her ladies.

"My lord," they all muttered together. All curtsied except Rena. She was holding his son.

"Give him to me," Rena walked over and placed his little boy in his arms, though calling him little might be a stretch since he was almost twice the size the twins had been as newborns. Robb cradled his son. Artos smiled at him with his grey eyes half-closed. Robb was captivated. Vitoria was right, their son looked just like a Stark with the traditional long face, dark hair and pale skin. Robb tore his gaze away from Artos' face to look into Vitoria's eyes, the expressions of both parents gleaming with happiness.

Angrily, Robb brushed away everything in his path, destroying his tent and make-shift office in the process. He felt hot tears sliding down his cheeks as he collapsed onto his knees, hugging himself.

She wasn't supposed to have died. His children were supposed to be alive. He should be holding her in his arms, feeling the kicks of their child as it grew inside her womb.

In a few weeks, they would have welcomed their newest child. He would have been there, he was sure. No matter what the maesters or the midwives said, he would have been there next to her, supporting her as she fought the battle to birth their babe.

Emmett turned around to move towards the camp when suddenly he found himself being disarmed and tackled to the ground; the small clearing was surrounded by soldiers. Lexa looked around concerned, she couldn't see anything that told them who had caught them and she feared that it was the Lannister army; she crouched down in front of Vitoria trying to block her from sight, while taking her dagger onto her hand in case it was needed.

Vitoria held her breath, fear consuming her that this would be her end; they were surrounded by an army and there was no telling who they had just stumbled upon. There was only one army that would see them safe and Vitoria prayed that this was that army, her eyes swept the line until she started to spot faces that she recognized.

"Send word to the King," Greatjon Umber ordered recognizing the woman instantly, he almost couldn't believe that she was here and this would certainly change the tide around their camp. They had all believed that Queen Vitoria had been murdered when Theon had taken Winterfell, her children slaughtered with her. And, yet, here she was before them now, clearly pregnant and with four small children huddled close to her.

Vitoria gasped as another pain shot up her body. She gritted her teeth and hoped that this was going to be okay; she looked to Lexa who was starting to relax. Emmett was allowed back to his feet and it was clear that their journey was now at an end. They had made it to the Northern Camp.

"Let's get them back to camp," Greatjon Umber ordered, seeing the clear discomfort his Queen was in. With her pregnancy so far advanced, even he as a man of war knew that she needed rest.

Just as they entered camp, everything seemed to change as for the first time in several months Robb saw his wife.