Chapter VIII

A/N: Last chapter sure was fun. Loved writing Rhaegar making an ass of himself! There will be some time jumps in this chapter. Mostly filler. Enjoy the chapter! SSD

The trip back to Storm's End was much less nerve wracking than the trip away from it. She had finally found her sea legs, and was enjoying the wind.

Runa was still nauseous at times, but that was more likely due to her current health condition. She'd picked the right time to tell her husband the news. Robert had barely let her out of his sight since she told him. Which she had definitely appreciated in the Capitol.

Announcing her condition to the large crowd had worked nicely in keeping Rhaegar away from her.

But it might not work for long. For all I know, he might be the type of man that sees this as proof of my fertility, and just wait to strike when I am not paying attention. I will suggest to Robert that setting up more frequent patrols in the Stormlands might be a good idea so that any of the Targaryen minions chances for tomfoolery will be minimized, Runa mused to herself.

"Looking forward to returning home, wife?" It was Robert.

"Yes I am. I don't want to return to King's Landing any sooner than I have to. That city… is poisonous to all that live in it," she murmured before heading into his arms.

"I would not have wanted our child born there, Runa," her husband soothed.

"I do not want any of our children born there," Runa replied as she burrowed further into her husband's arms against the wind.

"Maester Cressen will check you over as soon as we are settled," Robert said, "I don't want anything to happen to you or the babe."

"I would like that." Runa answered.

Ros was waiting with Runa for Maester Cressen to arrive. They had been talking about Rhaegar's continued advances on Runa despite her clear disinterest in the man.

"The man must not have ever heard the word "no" from a woman," Runa said.

"Perhaps he thought you would be as pliable as your cousin," Ros said.

"Lyanna wanted to escape the marriage, and was willing to take any means offered to her to do so, even if it meant a war. Not that it mattered to her. All that mattered to her was that she got to do what she wanted to do, and damn everyone else," Runa snarled. "Let's not speak of her anymore and of more pleasant things."

"Agreed. Are you nervous about being examined?" Ros inquired.

"I know it needs to be done. Both Robert and Stannis have nothing but good things to say about the man, so I will give him the benefit of the doubt for the moment."

Almost as if he had been summoned, Maester Cressen appeared. It was time.

Everything was back to relative normality. The Baratheons were settled back into Storm's End. There was much to work on. And the 100,000 gold dragons he had won in the joust would go a long way to helping that.

There were some repairs that Storm's End needed, along with repairs to the Kingsroad. This could now be done without incurring debt to the Iron Bank.

Money aside, Robert was also happy that his wife was already carrying his child. Cressen had examined her a few days ago, and said that Runa seemed to be in good health and that her nausea would be over soon.

Runa was getting more involved in running Storm's End and was more comfortable with everyone. She was especially involved in getting supplies for a potential siege. His lady wife had been adamant about that.

He went looking for her, and found her in the library with Maester Cressen and the master at arms of Storm's End. Robert just stood and watched, since Runa seemed to be in her element. Moments later, the business was done, and the other two left the room from another door.

"Robert, I didn't see you there. Is there anything I can do for you?" his wife inquired.

"I was just wondering something. You seem to be particularly worried about a siege," Robert started as he walked into the room.

"The Stormlands are surrounded by three potentially hostile areas: Dorne to the south, the Crownlands to the north, and the Reach to the west. And there are families here in the Stormlands more loyal to the deluded dragon than the Baratheons. Those families would need little inducement to rise up against you, with little warning, catching us off guard. I do not want Storm's End to fall to a siege, not while I can do something about it!" Runa made to put the maps away where they belonged.

"Here, let me help you with that," Robert stated, taking the maps up off the table and took them to the higher shelf.

"Thank you, they were a little high up," Runa answered before saying, "You know, your daughter Mya?"

Robert paused asking warily, "Yes."

"If she needs to come in the event of her mother dying, she will be more than welcome here. She should know her roots," Runa declared.

This was better than he could have hoped for. Most women would not have wanted a bastard child with their own children. Runa was clearly not most women.

"You just surprised me. And you are not worried about our coming child interacting with her?" Robert inquired.

"No. Our child will know his or her older sister. As will any more of our children yet to come," Runa stated.

Things were moving along in preparation for Ned's wedding to Ashara Dayne. It had been three months since returning to Winterfell from the coronation, the castle had been in a flurry of activity.

Some were surprised that Ned was getting married before Brandon. But Hoster Tully was being a pain in the ass about every minor detail of the arrangement.

Ned will make me a grandfather before that bloody idiot of a trout finally agrees! Rickard mentally snarled. He was already going to be a great uncle in less than four turns of the moon. Not for the first time, he wished that the Blackfish was the Lord of the Riverlands. He was much easier to deal with than his older brother.

Rickard thought of the latest letter from his niece. She was faring well in the South, with no altercations involving the Septon. Runa and Robert were getting along well. Ros was even making friends with the guards.

Healthwise she was also faring well. She was not having any trouble with the babe at the point when she was writing the letter. With the letter had been her and Robert's wedding presents: two lemon trees for the glasshouses. Those gifts had gone over swimmingly with everyone at Winterfell.

Ashara Dayne had come up with them from King's Landing. She had initially been nervous about the Northern lords, but had won them over with her charm, intelligence, and the fact that the Daynes worshipped the old gods. The last one had been one of the reasons why Rickard had agreed to the match in the first place.

Brandon's future wife would have an uphill battle, especially since Ashara would be more established than her in the North. And likely, more welcome.

A/N 2: Sorry about the long wait. Had a bit of trouble with writer's block. The next chapter should hopefully be sooner, and more interesting. There's a happy event next chapter! Looking forward to seeing what you all think! SSD