A/N : forgot to thanks the new readers and the ones who have favorited this story ! Don't be shy, leave a comment, even though,as a reader, I know sometimes you forget, or don't feel like it! As for the last chapter, I totally forgot Stannis used something else than his sword. My bad!
Riverrun, 283 AC
The children are reunited in the Great Hall of the castle, waiting impatiently for the return of their father. A whimper rings out in the castle and Aylis turns to Catelyn, holding a little burden in her arms. The little girl smiles brightly, and Catelyn sits down to breastfeed her baby. Aylis sits by her, looking at the small mouth wrapping around Catelyn's nipple and suckling eagerly. Cat strokes the baby's head slowly, while Lysa stares at her, and Edmure looks away with a wince of disgust. Aylis stares also, fascinated. Catelyn had delivered a few weeks ago, and the baby has been strong from the start, yelling loudly as Maester Luwin had guided him out of his mother's womb. Catelyn had been so happy it was a boy, and has called him Robb. Aylis has thought it was a tribute to Robert Baratheon, Ned's best friend, but Cat has said it was an old Andal name, and the reason why she has chosen it. She added what Robert had done was monstrous and Aylis had looked down. Robb is a sweet baby, and she couldn't help but think about Aegon Targaryen when she looks at him. They don't need to have their father back to know what has happened in King's Landing…
Tywin Lannister has reached the city with twelve thousand men, and Aerys has thought he has come for him, and indeed he has. Not the way the old king thought, though. As soon as the gates have been opened, the Lannisters has sacked the city and two Lannister's men have killed the royal family: Elia Martell, her daughter Rhaenys and her son Aegon. The tale of their death has given shivers to the four children, even Edmure. How Ser Gregor Clegane and Ser Armory Loch had rushed in the nursery where the royal family has hid, how the least one had dragged Princess Rhaenys from under her father's bed and has stabbed her, half a hundred times. Cat has held Robb tighter when she heard that, and had cried when they were told about Aegon, smashed against a wall by Ser Gregor, in front of his mother. And then, Elia Martell, raped by Ser Gregor when his hands were still soiled with the blood and brain of her baby boy, and then killed in turn, her skull smashed just like her son. People said Robert would never be forgiven for this, nor would Clegane, Lorch, or Tywin Lannister. Aylis understands them, but cannot help wondering if the real guilty of all this is not Rhaegar, simply. He would have stayed with his wife and their children, he would have waited for Aerys's death, and nothing would have happened. But nothing can be changed: the Targaryens are dead, except for Aerys's wife, sneaked out of the city before the sack by Aerys, with their last son Viserys. No wonder Robert will want to kill them all as well. Robert, who has claimed the throne as his, and who has not suffered any opponents: Ned would never want to be King, Jon would follow Robert blindly. The Baratheons had also some Targaryen blood through their grandmother, so there had not been a real discussion. Robert has become King Robert of House Baratheon, First of his name.
Lord Tully and his brother Brynden get in the Great Hall. The two men hug the children tightly, except for Lysa, who moves away with a groan when Hoster's arms embrace her. Lord Arryn is with him, and Catelyn looks around:
"Where is Ned?" she asks them, afraid of hearing bad news.
Hoster only notices the small burden she holds tightly against her breast. He beams and looks at his oldest child:
"Catelyn…" he walks closer to her to look at the baby. He gasps a bit when he moves the cloth away:
"He looks like you, dear", he smiles hugely and motions Jon Arryn to have a look.
"Very sweet", Jon smiles slightly and turns to Lysa, who looks away wincing.
"Father, where is my husband?" Catelyn asks again, insitantly, fear starting to grab her guts.
Hoster gives a glance towards Aylis, standing by his side:
"The war is not over, Catelyn. Robert is on the throne in King's Landing, but Dorne remains a threat. And your husband is on his way to lift the siege of Storm's End."
Aylis's heart skips a beat. Stannis…
She does not say anything, not willing to be mocked again, but deep inside, she feels overjoyed and her heart hammers so hard in her chest she feels it's going to explode.
"Lysa, you will leave with your husband, first for the Eyrie, but not too long. Jon is the Hand of the King, and thus his place, and yours, is in King's Landing. Also…."
His face turns angry and he groans:
"Your uncle Brynden has chosen to leave with you and to serve the Eyrie."
The children stare dumbfounded at their uncle, but Lysa smiles brightly, and Brynden does not look sad at all. Edmure looks like he's the most shocked by his decision: he has always admired his uncle and is sad to not have to see him every day.
"When will you leave?" he asks with a trembling voice.
"In a fortnight. Time to gather all of Lysa's belongings", Hoster replies and Edmure rushes on his uncle and hugs him tight.
"I don't want you to go", Edmure sobs against his uncle's chest.
Brynden's large hands stroke the boy's hair gently, and he kneels down in front of him.
"We will see each other again, alright? You could come and visit me."
The little boy wipes his tears away:
"Re-Really?" he stammers.
"Yes, really", Brynden softly says and hugs him again. The boy wraps his arms tightly around his uncle's neck.
"I'll miss you, uncle Brynden."
"I'll miss you too, Edmure" Brynden whispers in his ear.
Several weeks later, the whole family is gathered again to say goodbye to Catelyn, leaving to join her husband in Winterfell. Lyanna Stark has been found, dead, by her brother, and the quarrel that has occurred between Robert and him over the death of Rhaegar's children has stopped, due to their both sorrow. Robert has not wished to marry again, but Jon Arryn has insisted that a kingdom need an heir, and Robert has finally agreed to marry. Jon has proposed Cersei Lannister, Tywin's young daughter, to ensure the alliance between Baratheons and Lannisters. Jon Arryn still is defiant of the Warden of the West, and prefers to have him by his side.
Lord Tully comes in Aylis's room one day, and told her to get ready to leave to the capital, to celebrate Robert's marriage. He precise that all of the actors of the Rebellion will be here, including her sisters. Aylis jumps with joy at the idea of seeing them again and also realize she will also see Stannis again. She chooses her most beautiful dresses, and hardly manages to sleep through the night before their departure to King's Landing.
A/N: nope, I have not forgotten about the siege, this will occur in the next chapter, but I had first an idea about how their marriage will be announced and then another came to my mind so that's why I'm writing this. So, next chapter will be Storm's End, and then we will travel a lot more, King's Landing, Dragonstone, and then again, Essos, Highgarden and stuff. Stay tuned, please leave reviews, the best is (I hope) yet to come.