Authors note: SO most of this is based off some videos I saw on youtube, about whether the seasons are scientific or magic in Westeros. I learned some rather interesting information about how subtle but alive magic has been. So, some of this may seem super fantastical and so unreal, but so was Melisandre giving birth to a black smoke demon thingy that killed Renly. So, I decided to take what I saw and come up with something different to bring things sort of into a circle? Well. you shall see what I mean soon enough. Anyways, review review review! It keeps me motivated.
Chapter 23: The Cave Part one
Sansa disappeared into the wild brush of Valeria, the ruins around her speaking to her along the way. Whispers surrounded her as she made her way, feeling the pulsing light tethered to the strange feeling in her belly. Her friends followed behind her, trying to talk her out of this, for there were many dangers. Valeria was said to be toxic from the destruction and doom that fell upon it, but it would appear one small path remained open for the day that what laid inside Valeria would finally be needed.
Not far behind her Jon and Ser Davos led several men after Sansa and companies trail, wondering what led the new bride of King Jon's to wander into such dangerous territory. Jon feared the worst. But at the same time, he felt something strange, the same feeling he felt at Dragonstone, almost a belonging, like he belonged there.
Arya tried repeatedly to reason with Sansa, but there was no way to do so, Sansa was almost as if she was not there… possessed by something else. The overgrowth of the once beautiful city grew wild and untamed as it over took the old ruins of what once were cities, homes, and buildings. The group was in awe at the beauty. Magic swirled around them, buzzing in the air, so surreal and alive.
It seemed they followed Sansa forever in her journey when she brought them to a cave. Sansa turned to look at them and smiled, "I have always followed my faith, prayed when I needed, seeked solace in prayer, and did what I always thought right. One day I stopped praying. I stopped believing. I Stopped hoping. But I now know there is more to this world then what my despair had deprive me of, so I must go and seek redemption, but I will not make you follow me for I do not know what I will find. I only know this is what I must do."
The others looked at each other as Sansa entered the dark cave, only her faith and hope to guide her, Arya was the first to follow her sister with Brienne, always loyal to the end, but not long after the other followed suit. Sansa led the others deep into the cave where a light finally began to show. Within the center of the cave laid a old Dragons layer, filled with beautiful treasure.
"Look, Arya," Gendry said lifting a sword, "Valerian steel…"
"Dragon glass too!" She exclaimed as she grabbed a handful of beautiful shiny black stones the glistened like black diamonds. They watched as Sansa kneeled in the center where a beautiful pond rested with a small waterfall from the ceiling as she began to pray.
"Everything we need to fight the white walkers, it's here," Brienne turned in astonishment as she observed the cavern full of steel and stones, beautiful gowns, blankets, golden cups. It appeared this was where the Valerians left tributes to their gods before everything was destroyed.
Sansa let out a load moan in pain as she fell forward onto her hands and knees, one hand finding its way to her belly to cradle it. It wasn't long after that a scream escaped her lips, startling her companions. Brienne was quickly to her lady's side as Arya watched for a moment, unsure of what was happening.
"What is it Lady Sansa?" Brienne asked crouched beside the woman she vowed her life to.
"The babies, I think," she moaned crying out in pain, "sweet mercy it hurts! Make it stop, please!"
"Oh shit…" Arya dropped the golden crown she had been playing with as she stared at her sister and stumbled towards Sansa as she asked Brienne, "have you ever delivered… babe…babies?"
"No, you?" Brienne asked nervously.
"No… but I remember watching mother helping out occasionally with birthing of the ladies in the castle, mostly servants who had no one."
"Then I suppose you have more knowledge then I Lady Arya," Brienne tried to rub Sansa's back and sooth her as she continued to cry out.
"Uh… Sansa," Arya said squatting next to her sister. She then looked to Gendry and The Hound, "I need some of those cloths and blankets please…"
"Of course," Gendry said as he gathered as many things as he could along with The Hound. Arya made a small bed and pillow for her sister.
"Here, Sansa, try laying down," Arya shook nervously, her nerves getting the best of her, she knew that birthing a baby was not easy for most women with a proper midwife there, most died, and Sansa was birthing two babies with no midwife. Arya wished Jon was there, she knew he would never forgive her if anything happened to Sansa.
"Arya," Sansa whimpered as she laid down at her sister's request, her stomach cramping and twisting in pain as it prepared for the arrival of the children within her.
"Yes, Sansa, I'm here," Arya tried to control he voice, but it shook uncontrollably, "Gendry get me something to cover my… my sister with!"
"I'm scared," Sansa's eyes were full of tears as her lips trembled, thinking of Jon's mother and how she died, how their father was the only one to console Lyanna as she died, "promise me… promise me Arya. Promise me they will be okay, you will make sure they are no matter what."
"Of course, I promise," Arya tried to not let her eyes tear up, she was strong and never cried never showed her emotions, but she was truly frightened. She had so little family left. Sansa let out another gut wrenching scream as she gripped Arya's arm hard, "Hound…"
"Sandor," Sansa corrected through gritted teeth.
"Breathe Sansa, breathe… deep breaths," Arya said as she looked back at The Hound. In a mocking tone she continued, "Sandor, could you please hold Sansa's hand so she can squeeze it off rather then my arm?"
"Aye, your little arms already so small and breakable, what a pitty it'd be," Sandor snarled as he sat beside Sansa. His eyes moved from Arya, changing from irritated to a strange kind of compassion Arya didn't expect The Hound capable of when he looked at Sansa, "how's Little Bird doing?"
"It hurts so much," Sansa cried, trying to strong as her small hand found his large hand. He winced as her hand squeezed his, and at that moment Arya could see he loved Sansa, she was probably the only person he ever loved.
"Aye, Little Bird, did you think pushing a baby out would be a picnic?" He said with a small chuckle, hoping to make her smile, "you'll be fine, your strong."
"Owwww!" Sansa screamed out again, squeezing his hand so hard he flinched, causing a small snicker from Arya. Arya collected water in a golden bowl and some towels, at the corner of her eye watching as The Hound took his free hand, and smoothed it over Sansa's hair to comfort her.
"You just hang in there, Sansa," he seemed to struggle saying her name, a fear in his eyes.
"I can't have them, not now, not without Jon," Sansa cried closing her eyes wondering where her husband was.
"Dontcha worry now just lay back and keep on breathing," Sandor said quietly.
"Sansa, you will be fine," Arya said as she laid the water beside her sister and gently wiped the sweat from her sister's forehead. It seemed like forever this went on, until finally they heard feet echoing down the cavern. Arya stayed with Sansa as Sandor got up to join Brienne and Gendry as they stood ready to protect their Queen.
"Your Grace," Brienne was the first to say as she fell to a knee and bowed as Jon emerged with his crew.
"Brienne, where is…" Jon acknowledged Brienne as he finally then spotted Sansa on the ground with Arya beside her.
"How long has she been like this?" Jon asked as he ran to her, falling to his knees beside her.
"Jon," Sansa cried, her wet hair sticking to her sweaty red face. He could see she was in a great amount of pain.
"Her contractions are really close together, but it's been a couple hours now of this," Arya said looking to Jon, "the babies just don't seem to be coming out."
"Thankfully I've been unfortunate enough to have to aid in a few births in my time," Ser Davos admitted with a sigh, knowing it was usually frowned upon for a man to be present for any birth, "the most successful ones have actually been in the water. Perhaps we can have her grace rest in the water for a little to help with the pushing?"
"Aye, of course," Jon nodded looking to his wife, "let's get you into the water…"
"Okay," Sansa whimpered, her arms clinging around Jon's neck as he lifted her into his arms taking her into the water. Arya was behind Sansa letting her rest against her, as Jon was beside her with Davos. They were not far into the water, enough they were able to sit down or kneel but she was mostly submerged.
"Do you mind if I see… you know… the queens… down there," Ser Davos looked more uncomfortable than ever before as Jon watched her advisor blankly trying to decide whether her modesty was even a question over her life.
"Whatever it takes," Jon snapped as he took Sansa's hand in his, his other hand stroking her hair as he whispered how much he loved her.
"Alrighty your grace, you need to push," Ser Davos said as he sat in front of her open legs, Sansa let out another holler of pain as she pushed as hard as she could. Sansa panted exhausted in pain, "Again…"
"You have to push Love, you can do this, you're so strong," Jon shook as he stared deep in her eyes, Sansa nodded watching him back, her perfection, her soul mate, her true love, and she pushed, she pushed for him, for their children, for everything they built, "good, good job Sansa."
"I see the head," Ser Davos said with relief as Sansa pushed again, exhaustion beginning to take her. Finally, they heard a cry and out came their first child, a little boy. Jon looked at the boy for a moment and smiled before looking back at Sansa.
"You did it love, a beautiful boy," Jon couldn't hold back the tears that shed from his eyes. Laughing with Sansa who seemed to relax for a moment as she leaned into a silent and terrified Arya. Davos took a black and red blanket from Gendry and wrapped the babe, handing him to Brienne. Sansa pushed back against Arya as she let out another scream her hand clutching her stomach, pain rippling through her.
"Jon! It hurts… I can't!" she screamed trying to get up, as if she was done with birthing.
"Sansa no," Jon said grasping her, helping Arya secure her down, "you aren't done yet…"
"I'm so tired," Sansa cried exhausted. The pain so overbearing and painful that Sansa was overwhelmed.
"I know," Jon said stroking her face, as he gently laid a kiss on her cheeks.
"It hurts so much," she continued. He just nodded his understanding, he knew deep down he could never make her do this again.
"You can do this, I know you," he encouraged smiling at her, a Jon like smile, the kind she loved and adored.
"Okay," Sansa said unsure as she prepared for more pain and to push. Sansa let out another scream as she squeezed Jon's hand, pushing as hard as she could the remaining human being within her. Jon looked to Ser Davos who had a horrified look on his face, he then looked to the water which seemed to have gone red around her, she was losing too much blood.
"Do something!" Jon demanded of Davos who was way out of his element.
"You gotta keep pushing, we gotta get her out now," Ser Davos demanded of Sansa. Jon looked to Sansa who had gone quiet, her eyes closed.
"Sansa?" Jon asked his face slowly dropping. She stirred a little but then stopped moving all together, "Sansa!"
"Jon?" Arya asked nervously not wanting to look at her sisters face who had gone from red with exertion to pale white.
"The baby your grace, she is stuck," Ser Davos said with a shaky voice. Jon looked up slowly at his advisor his face white and mouth open in shock and confusion, "Arya I need you here, I need your small hands…"
"Jon," Arya said teary eyed as she looked at her brother, he may not have been her birth brother but he was her brother none the less and the pain on his face crushed her. Jon just took Sansa into his arms slowly.
"Sansa?" he asked quietly, his free hand moving her limp face around, "Sansa… Sansa!"
"I need you to reach inside and grasp the babe firmly, she can't breathe and she is stuck," Ser Davos said to a wide eyed and terrified Arya.
"Fuck!" Sandor hit the wall with his fist before leaving the cave to go release his anger. He couldn't see anymore, he couldn't acknowledge the loss of his Little Bird.
"Oh Gods," Arya fumbled as she shakily stuck her hands up inside of her sister to grasp the baby who was trying to get out, "I got it!"
"Good, good job, now pull her out slowly but do not hesitate as she is losing air," Ser Davos looked at Arya intensely and then when she was looking back down he looked to his King who watched them with a blank stare.
It felt like forever but within seconds they heard the second cry of a little girl. Davos let out a sigh as he sunk back against his feet, Arya holding the crying naked child in her shaky blood covered hands – horror stuck on her face. Brienne quickly handed the crying baby boy to Gendry who had been silent in shock, and then was quick to take the crying new baby girl from Arya's shaky hands. Arya's eyes locked on her lifeless sister.
"Sansa – they are here," Jon's voice broke as his fingers brushed at her face, "wake up. You can wake up now…"
"Jon," Ser Davos stood and walked to his king, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"No!" Jon yelled pushing his hand from him as he pulled Sansa's body further into his, his face burying into her wet tangled red hair, desperate sobs as he yelled, "No! Sansa! Wake up! It's time to wake up! Gods' please!"
"Jon…" Arya cried crawling to him, placing her head in her sister's lap. Jon tried to hold her head up as it kept falling over, her body unmoving.
"The children should feel their mothers skin, at least once," Ser Davos said softly to Jon who cried cradling his wife.
"She's going to wake up! Just wait!" Jon yelled, rocking her, "She's just tired…"
"No, your grace – I'm afraid she won't," Ser Davos hated saying this, Arya's sobs growing deeper, "what would she want you to do – "
"She would want you to protect the babies," Arya sobbed looking up at Jon. Jon couldn't move or think, his body frozen as if he too had died – in a way he had. Losing Sansa was a loss he never felt before, he had held Ygritte briefly when she died and his heart had sunk, but his love for her could never compare for the love he felt for Sansa.
Authors note: So sorry to leave it here… had to give a good cliff hanger! Anyways, review review review! =D You are all so awesome and I appreciate your support.