Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones or anything related. It belongs to George R.R. Martin, the creator of this wonderful universe and David Benioff and D. B. Weiss who created the show.
02x08: The Prince of Winterfell.
Chapter Thirty-Four: Heir to the Throne.
"Sanira?" Robb breathed in awe of the fact that his wife was here, he couldn't take his eyes off her and like the breath had been taken from his body; he stared in wonder at the fact that she was alive and so was their unborn child. It had never occurred to him that the rumours of her murder might not be true, Robb had never thought that they might just be rumours and he was glad that he had been wrong.
Sanira's brown eyes snapped to Robb and tears filled her eyes at the sight of her husband for the first time in months; she had never thought that this day would come so fast. Roose Bolton stared at the scene before him, this was not what he had been expecting and he was surprised that Theon hadn't dealt with the problem in hand.
Not wasting a moment, Robb moved towards his wife and wrapped her up in his arms; he held her close not wanting to let her go for even a second. It had been too long since they had last seen one another and Robb had never thought that he would get this chance again; he had spent weeks thinking that Theon had murdered them.
Sanira relaxed into the hug for a moment, she had missed him so much and she had thought that it would be longer before they would be reunited in such a way. A sharp pain made Sanira gasp and she closed her eyes knowing that this was not how she had pictured their reunion; she was going to have their baby soon and she doubted that they would have to wait long.
"What is it?" Robb asked concerned that his wife had been hurt, he held her by the shoulders and searched her face trying to work out what was going on. Aiana wished that she had someone in her life like Robb, she was so happy for her friend and she was sure that they were a lot safer here than they were anywhere else.
"Baby is coming," Sanira hissed trying to catch her breath, she took a couple of deep breathes knowing that this was certainly going to put a damper on their reunion; she had no doubts that this would change things. Robb swallowed thickly, his blue eyes moved down to the bump that she carried and found it hard to believe that this was happening now; his child was going to be born in the middle of a war camp.
"Take Rickon to my mother," Robb ordered before sweeping down to pick Sanira up so that he could carry her to his tent; he didn't know how long they would have until the baby arrived but he wasn't taking any chances. Rickon was ushered towards the tent where Catelyn was being held, Shaggydog following after him as he disappeared into the camp while Robb headed to his own tent.
Aiana followed loyally knowing that she could not leave her friend to go through this alone, nothing would prepare Sanira for what came next; there was no telling how long the labour could take. Entering his tent, Robb hurried to set Sanira down on his bed wanting her to be comfortable; he wasn't sure what to make of this but hope that their child was going to be okay.
The tent flaps moved and Talisa warily stepped into the tent, she felt uneasy about being here but she was sure that as a healer that she could help in some way.
"I can help," Talisa offered stepping into the tent followed by two silent sisters that followed the Stark army during their war for freedom. Talisa had sought them out when she had heard that Sanira had been found alive and was in labour; they might have dealt more with death but she was sure they would know how to help now in some way.
Robb nodded to the healer, he was hopeful that the child wasn't going to give them too much grief.
"I wish to help," Catelyn asked relieved that Robb had come to her when she had asked to see him, she had thought that she would be ignored after what had happened; he hadn't spoken to her since she had released Jaime Lannister. Rickon was sleeping soundly in the corner, he had been exhausted when he had been reunited with his mother and Catelyn was so happy to have another of her children with her.
It had saddened her that Bran was not with them and Catelyn had many questions about why her second son had not travelled with the others south. Robb raised an eyebrow at his mother, he'd had no idea why she had summoned him until now and he wasn't sure if he could agree to that request after what had happened.
"Sanira is going to need all the help and support that she can get," Catelyn insisted remembering the night when Robb had been born, she had been in Riverrun waiting for Eddard to return from war and she had been so frightened on her own. Her own mother had died in child-birth with Edmure Tully when Catelyn had been a little girl and Catelyn doubted that Arlenna would have prepared Sanira for such a moment.
Robb stared at his mother for a moment, he had no idea what to do and the fact that he couldn't be at his wife's side right now made him anxious. Taking a deep breath, Robb nodded his head agreeing to his mother's wish to be with Sanira at this time; he signalled for the guard to take her to his tent, he would not let up on her punishment after what had happened.
Catelyn offered her son a weak smile before she left the tent, Rickon would be fine sleeping and she was sure that she would be back before he woke. Leaving the tent for the first time in a while, Catelyn kept her head held high as she was lead towards Robb's tent; she could feel the stares of the men around her and many of them distrusted her now.
It didn't take long for them to reach the tent where Sanira was giving birth, Catelyn didn't waste a moment before stepping inside; her eyes swept the room taking in the four women that were already inside. Aiana was doing her best to comfort her lady and cool Sanira down while Talisa and the two silent sisters continued to prepare for the birth of the child.
Sweeping across the room, Catelyn took her place next to Sanira and took the younger woman's hand; she had been the same age when she'd had Robb and she recalled how difficult the birth of her first child had been.
"It is okay," Catelyn reassured while Sanira groaned in pain, she clutched at her good-mother's hand almost glad to see her with everything that was going on. Talisa kept her head down knowing that Catelyn didn't like her, Lady Stark had never made her feel welcome and Talisa often wondered if she feared something might have come of the friendship that had formed between her and Robb.
"It hurts," Sanira whimpered trying to take deep breathes, the pains were getting closer together and she had a feeling that her child wasn't going to waste anymore time in coming into the world. Talisa and the silent sisters worked quietly while they waited for things to move forward, it was going to be a long night and the child was going to change things for this army.
Aiana was silent while she dabbed Sanira's head, she was tired and she just hoped that this labour wasn't going to take too much of her strength.
"I know," Catelyn reassured with a small smile, she had complained all the same when Robb had been born; it did not get any easier with the births of Sansa, Arya, Bran and Rickon. Sanira closed her eyes as another contraction hit, she gritted her teeth hoping and praying that it would all be okay.
Bouncing his knee, Robb tried to ease his nerves as the night seemed to drag on and it slowly approached dawn; he was surrounded by several lords who had all wished to stay and he was grateful for that. He felt like pulling out his hair, Robb wanted nothing more than to march back to his own tent but that wasn't possible; instead he would have to wait here until he was called for.
The tent flaps opened and a soldier walked inside, he was sweaty and the group of lords all turned to look at him as he entered; he stilled not expecting to see so many people in here.
"What is it?" Robb asked wishing to hear good news, he was growing tired of waiting and he feared that with the poor conditions around them that something might happen to Sanira. The idea of his wife dying after they had just been reunited scared Robb, he was worried that they could be ripped apart after spending so long separated because of the war.
"The Queen, Your Grace," the soldier said bowing to his King, he had been sent by the healer and he was sure that it was news that Robb and the lords would want to hear. The tent fell silent as everyone focused on the young soldier, they had all been waiting to hear what was happening with the Queen and the unborn child.
"What is it?" Roose Bolton asked leaning forward, he was sure that Sanira would deliver a daughter or even a still born after everything that had happened to her. Ser Rodrick had been quick to inform them of everything that had happened after Theon had attacked Winterfell; it had been an interesting tale that seemed to have worked well to protect the Queen.
"She has delivered a son, my Lord," the soldier informed them, he had been surprised by the news and there were no doubts that the camp would be in celebration of the news. Robb couldn't help but stare at the soldier as the news sunk in, he had a son and he had never thought that he would hear that news when this had all started.
"A prince? We could not have asked for better news," Rickard Karstark announced clapping Robb on the shoulder while the others started to congratulate the King at the news of his son. The throne to the North was secure now, if anything were to happen to Robb then the throne would pass to his son; they had everything that they could have hoped for and more now.
Roose Bolton was silent while everyone around him seemed to celebrate the news, he was unsure what to make of this and the camp would be celebrating the news for days now that it had been made known. Quietly getting to his feet, Robb excused himself from the tent and started to head towards his own; he was stunned by the news that he had just received.
It didn't take him long to reach the tent and Robb was surprised to see the silent sisters already leaving; he nodded to them before moving towards the entrance. Stepping inside, Robb's eyes looking around the room and smiled at the sight of Sanira resting in bed; she looked better than he had thought after giving birth.
Catelyn carefully stood from her place beside Sanira, she moved away so that Robb could meet his son; she was surprised that Sanira had done so well and she was proud of her. Already sounds of celebration were breaking through the camp and Catelyn doubted anyone would sleep after the news that a prince had been born to the King and Queen in the North.
"Robb… come and meet our son, Karlon," Sanira insisted with a smile as she looked up at her husband, she had thought long and hard about the name before making her decision. Robb slowly moved forward to see his son for the very first time, a smile growing on his face at the Stark name he had been given.
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