At my intake of breath those blue eyes I was so used to seeing from the Stark children and little Eddard peered up at me. Even though they shared the same eyes Jon Snow's seemed to tell me everything; he had seen a lot within the last year. There were things he had seen that no one dared to dream about, things no one dared to speak about without feeling different; he had seen things children get told about by their nans as bedtime stories. The things he had seen were thought as legends.
"Evie, this is my brother, Jon." Robb interrupted my thoughts as he gestured toward the man cradling Eddard gently within his arms. I knew without Robb having to introduce us that his was indeed Jon Snow; I smiled at Jon but kept my eyes on Eddard as he stared up at his uncle. What was my son thinking as he stared up at this strange man he was just discovering?
"My Grace it's an honor to finally met the woman my brother married." Jon muttered dipping his head down in the usual sing of respect one would give to a royal; a sign of respect I didn't feel comfortable accepting.
"Don't call me your grace Jon, I am simple Evie, nothing more nothing less." I told him rolling my fingers into my palms as I itched to take Eddard from his arms; I had an urgent need to hold my son close to my chest. It may have been because within in the six days of his birth he had hardly left my arms.
"I told you she wouldn't like it Jon, she prefers Evie over everything else." Robb laughed at his brother as he wrapped his arm around my waist and pressing his lips to my temple; Robb was not ashamed to declare our relationship to those around us. I wasn't either but I still liked to remind him that we had been married for a near nine months now and he may be displaying out intimate affections to the public; that made me uncomfortable.
"Right I'll have to remember that the next time I address you." Jon muttered more to himself than me or Robb. He shifted his arm bring Eddard closer to his chest as he peered down at the babe before looking back at us. "You really have a gift when it comes to children; he has the Stark's looks." Jon told us giving us a soft smile as the possible same thought ran through my mind as it did his; and apparently Robb's as he let out a low chuckle.
"Did you just give yourself a compliment Jon? A hidden one at that but a compliment none-the-less." I asked my good-brother not able to keep the smile from my face; I felt comfortable within Jon's presence within the first few minutes of meeting him. I had as belief that if he chose to stay or visit again he would fit in without sticking out; Jon was already part of this family.
"It may have been." He admitted laughing deeply as Robb laughed along with him. As Jon's chest lifted with his laughs Eddard seemed to dislike the feeling and let out a sharp cry; one that had me reaching for him. "It seems he wishes for his mother." Jon said allowing me to take Eddard from his arms and hold him against my chest. When Eddard turned his face toward my breast I knew then that it wasn't from discomfort in which he cried out but hunger; my boy was hungry.
"He wants a feed, Robb I'll be in our chambers." I muttered kissing Robb on the cheek before looking over to Gendry. If I wished to leave this hall without being stopped by the village people I would need the help of Gendry; he had decided to stay on as my personal guard. Gendry rushed to my side, quickly and quietly led me through the growing crowds and toward the stair which would then led me to the safety of my chamber.
Once we reached the wooden door that separated us from my chamber I gave Gendry a small smile before telling him there was no need to wait outside as I may take a nap when I settled Eddard down. He left with a quick smile muttering something about Arya coming up later to see Eddard before dinner. I wanted to be away from people for a few minutes; it was too much for me down in the hall with all those people crowding around.
Today was possibly the only day I actually felt like a Queen and that was because of the large amount of strangers in my home wanting to see me and Eddard; they wanted to see their Queen and Young Prince.
"I do hope we grow used to things around here Eddard." I whispered down to my son as I loosened the ties on my dress and brought his lips to my breast.
GOTGOTGOTGOT
Eddard had fallen asleep shortly after feeding and was now curled up in his warm furs in the middle of the bed; I wanted him close to me. I couldn't put him down in his bassinet for it felt like he would be out of my reach, one day I knew I would regret lying him in the bed because it was going to become a repetitive thing; the bond between us felt stronger when I was able to sleep next to him.
A soft knock on the wooden door brought me from my thoughts and I slowly sat up careful not to knock Eddard as I did so; I didn't want him to wake now because I knew he would be in a grumpy mood. Eddard Stark took after his father more than one would think; they both had a tendency to get grumpy when woken, and they both got restless when hungry.
The knocking at the door became more persistent and I sighed deeply as I rubbed my eyes wiping away the sleep that had been consuming me before I had been interrupted. As I stood by the side of the bed I looked down at Eddard before scooping him in my arms so I could settle him in his bassinet; I didn't like the idea of him lying in the middle of my bed without me by his side. Once I was sure Eddard was safe and wrapped warmly in his furs I ran my fingers against his forehead and over the black tuffs of his hair before setting over to open the door. Arya probably thought it a good idea to pop up now; she probably got tired of all the commotion downstairs and wanted something to do before dinner.
My hand grasped the door knob and I tugged the heavy door expecting to see Arya there with some snack she had sneaked from the kitchens; I came to my surprise when it was a hooded man instead.
The man was hidden well and I couldn't see past the black hood he had covering his eyes, but I could see them gleaming at me from the shadows the hood cast; they were a taunting, glistening blue. They were nothing the like the blue I was used to seeing every day when I peered down at my son or looked lovingly and my husband; no these eyes were dangerous.
My staring only lasted a few seconds before the man barged into the room pushing me harshly to the floor as he did so; the wind was knocked out of me as I fell to the floor. The man sent a kick to my stomach causing whatever air I had left rushing out as I coughed to fill my lungs, with a quick sneer the man turned to the bassinet where Eddard was crying out as if he knew his mother was being hurt. As the man took his slow steps toward the bassinet he pulled out a sharp, glowing dagger that shone in the dim light of the burning fire. If the breath hadn't already left me then it would have then; this man was here to kill my son.
"Regards from Cersei Lannister," the man growled out flicking those glistening blue eyes in my direction before looking back over to the bassinet. "She plans on ending this bloodline tonight." He spat before taking a few more steps closer to my son. Those words processed in my brain before my eyes widened as I realized what he said. He was going to kill Eddard and then me; Cersei Lannister wanted this bloodline to die. She wasn't going to get that if I could help it.
Within the six days of Eddard's life he had already nearly died and that was before he was even born, if I could prevent that from happening again I would; even if I died trying. I wasn't going to let Eddard be harmed because of some stupid bitch that thought she owned the thrown.
I was on my feet before I could think about it, my next actions weren't thought about either and I didn't think twice about what I was doing; this was my son I was protecting.
As the man drew closer to Eddard and his bassinet I launched myself on to his back covering his eyes with my hands hoping it would put him off for a few more minutes until I could think of something better to defend Eddard. The man grunted and sent an elbow into my side hoping it would force me to let go of him; there was no hope in me doing that. I took the elbow to the side with a hiss of pain but I didn't loosen my hands, I wasn't going to give up on Eddard.
"Greywind!" I called out hoping that where ever he was he would be able to hear my call and come rushing. I seemed almost pointless but if there was something I could do it was to call on the direwolf.
"Your stupid mutt won't be able to reach you in time." The man spat turning away from the bassinet and pushing his back into the wall; my body slammed into the stone with a crunch. As the pain shot through me my hands released from his eyes, dropping to my sides as the pain spread up my back; tears filled my eyes but I know I had to fight on.
As his body stepped in front of me once again with his dagger shining in the light I felt a fury fill my bones which made me forget the pain running up my back. This fury helped me stand on my feet, using the wall to push off and charge into him; the man stumbled forward slightly before turning to face me where he then pushed me down to the floor. His right arm swung forward and the dagger cut into my left arm quickly, releasing a small scream from me which was drowned out by Eddard's growing scream; my son needed me and I wouldn't let this man get in the way.
The man turned his body away from me but made sure his eyes were still watching me as he lifted his leg and sent it pushing into the bassinet that held Eddard. It was as if I was watching everything in slow motion; and yet I still couldn't stop it from happening. The bassinet rocked towards us and then quickly away tipping on its side at a steep angle before coming back to face us and slipping off its feet landing with a crack on the floor; Eddard stayed in the bassinet but I feared for him as he stopped crying. Hopefully those thick furs he was wrapped in would have softened any damage and prevented him from getting hurt.
A fire grew within me as the bassinet hit the floor and I looked away from Eddard's form curled up in his furs still resting in the fallen bassinet, to the man standing above me; he was looking down at Eddard with a fierce, horrifying smile. He wasn't paying attention to me and that gave me a chance to hurt him without his resistance; he wouldn't know what hit him until after I had at least caused a bit of damage. I quickly crawled over to the man making sure to do so quietly before latching onto his hand that held the dagger; with a fast and unthinkable move I pushed his arm into his side.
The man screamed out in pain as we both felt the dagger pierce through his skin and embed itself deep into his side; hopefully it did some damage. I let go of the dagger as he reached to pull it out grunting in pain as the blood coated his hands; he turned to face me raising the bloody dagger in his hand as he took those fateful steps in my direction. This was the end of me; this was where I actually leave the world.
A growl ripped through the stilled silence stopping the man in his tracks to take a quick glance at the open door; a glance I would share with him. Greywind stood there his hunches raised ready for a fight; within those seconds Greywind looked deadly and I knew he had heard me call. Before the man could take another steep Greywind had launched himself across the room and was sinking his teeth into the man's neck ripping his throat away from the rest of his body. The man dropped to the ground choking on the blood that would drown him, his fingers released the dagger and he looked at me begging to save his life; it took seconds before he stilled.
"Good boy Greywind," I whispered crawling to him so I could run my fingers through his fur; it didn't bother me that his muzzle was covered in the wet blood of the dead man. As my hands touched his fur I then noticed the blood cover my own hands, probably a result from stabbing the man in the side and the blood dripping down my left arm. My eyes flew over Greywind's body and landed on the fallen bassinet, where they then hovered over Eddard's still form; I crawled past Greywind until I was kneeling in front of my son. I didn't hesitate when picking him up and I quickly unwrapped the furs, tears already streaming down my cheeks; a sob escaped my mouth when I saw his flickering eyes looking back up at me. Eddard was okay, he wasn't dead and he would be fine as long as he stayed in my arms. I brought him against my chest allowing my tears to wash over his face, I completely forgot about the blood washed over my hands. I was pulled away from my tears when Greywind's wet, blooded nose pressed against my cheek; I was thankful toward the direwolf for saving my life. "Greywind go to your master." I ordered him softly knowing Robb would realize something was wrong when Greywind turned up with blood around his mouth. "Bring him to me." I begged the direwolf running the hand that wasn't supporting Eddard over his head quickly before nudging him in the direction of the door.
When his tail turned the corner I dropped my head back against Eddard's face letting the tears consume me once again. I had nearly lost my son again but this time it was because of an attempt on his life. Cersei Lannister was going to get what she deserved and I hoped it would come from my hands.