"Let me do it right for once,
for the record, let me make a thing of cream and stars that becomes,
you know the story, simply heaven." –Richard Siken
Chapter 9
"It's suffocating in here."
"It's only for a little while. Maester Luwin suggested it. This is your first pregnancy, Mal; it won't be easy for you."
Mal shifted under the heavy furs and blankets. "Lady Stark, is this really necessary?"
Catelyn shot her good-daughter a no nonsense look. "Yes it is, now rest, you'll need your strength when the baby comes. I'll make sure someone brings you dinner and I'll have Arya and Sansa sit with you later." She made to leave the room when Mal sat up in bed.
"Have you heard any word from Robb?" She asked quietly.
Lady Catelyn turned around and gave Mal a soft smile. "He and Ned have safely made it to Torrhen's Square; he sends his love and duty to you and asks that you try to keep that baby in you until he makes it home.
Mal released a relieve sigh before placing her hand on her overactive belly. "I'll try but I'm not making any promises."
Catelyn nodded her head before leaving the room closing the door behind her. Mal let out a huff and fell back amongst the pillows. The last weeks of her pregnancy had not been easy for her. She had trouble keeping food down and was light-headed most of the time. The maester had suggested that Mal go on bed rest in the hope that it'll help conserve her already low energy. Normally, she would be fine with this suggestion since it's what's best for her and her baby's health. But a week ago word had reached Winterfell of a conflict down in Torrhen's Square that needed the assistance of Lord Stark. Being the heir to Winterfell, Lord Eddard commanded Robb to come down with him. Robb didn't want to go but as future lord of Winterfell he had no choice in the matter.
If he doesn't make it before the babe's born I'll strangle him. She thought darkly. She didn't want to stay in a darkened room by herself. She wanted Robb there. To be honest, now that the due date was inching closer Mal was frightened about the birthing process especially now that she was sick all the time.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. A dark curly head of hair peaked around the door. Mal felt a smile grow on her face. "Have you decided on becoming a maid, Jon Snow?"
Jon turned his head to look up and down the hall outside her room before entering and closing the door behind him. "I came across your maid and thought I could bring this to you and keep you company for a bit." He gave her a sheepish smile that reminded her so much of Robb.
Mal gave him a grateful smile as he helped her sit up and placed the platter across her lap. "Thank you, for a moment there I thought I was going to have to spend the last part of my pregnancy in solitary."
Jon gave a small chuckle, pulled a nearby chair closer to the bed, and sat down in it. "I promised Robb before he left that I would watch over you."
"You're a very noble man, Jon Snow. Promising to watch over a moody pregnant woman is a brave thing indeed." Mal teased. Her hormones were getting worse in the last final weeks. At the beginning of her pregnancy little outbursts were few and far between but now it seemed like every little thing set her off. There were many nights where Robb had to sleep in another room because every little thing set Mal off. This little trip to Torrhen's Square must have been seen as a bit of a godsend for him. Although I doubt he would ever admit It.
"Robb was very convincing but please try and save any moodiness for him." Jon joked as he got out of the chair and walked around the room taking in the surroundings.
"Don't worry, Jon; I plan on giving Robb more than a piece of my mind when he returns."
Jon let out a laugh before stopping in front of the makeshift cradle, Lady Stark had ordered it created so the babe could sleep in their room but the actual cradle was in the nursery which was next door to their room. He looked at the cradle thoughtfully before he reached inside and fingered a blanket that lay across the bed.
"A gift for the baby from Sansa and Arya, one of many to tell the truth. Sansa does love her needlework." She informed him.
A small smile graced his face. "Sansa stitched the direwolf. I'd recognize her needlework anywhere." He observed.
"And Arya stitched the sun and spear. She said that it was only fair to have my family's sigil on the baby's blanket. "
Jon smiled ruefully. "Is that what it's supposed to be? I thought it was a chicken."
Mal snorted with laughter. "It does look like a chicken, but when it comes to Arya it's the thought that counts. The fact that she willingly picked up a needle and stitched this herself is a miracle from the gods."
"She must like you a lot." He told her warmly. Mal smiled knowingly, from the time she arrived at Winterfell she could tell that Arya and Jon had a special relationship with each other. They even sometimes finished each other's sentences which Mal thought was completely adorable. It was only natural, she thought, that they should be so close; they were two peas in pod, two Starks in a sea of Tullys.
"The feeling's mutual, I can empathize with her. It's difficult being the younger sister, especially to a sister like Sansa."
"Anyone can feel inferior next to Sansa," he drawled with a slight roll of his eyes. "Arya always be Arya, and I would never want her to change." He said with all the love of an older brother.
"I never want her to change either." she told him sweetly
The pair fell into a comfortable silence.
"Are you excited about your future as an uncle?" She asked him quietly.
He was staring down at the floor and then looked up at her. "It's surreal. Robb and I are the same age. And here he is married and about to be a father and I…" He trailed off quietly.
"Do you want to be married and have a baby too, Jon?" Mal looked sympathetically at him but Jon had already diverted his gaze back to the floor.
"Bastards don't marry or father children." He informed her with a hint of sorrow in his tone.
"That's a load of shit. My uncle's lover is bastard herself and she has borne him multiple children."
"Perhaps I should move to Dorne then?" He joked, but Mal could tell that he wanted to get away from the topic as fast as possible.
"I'm sure you'd receive a very warm welcome from my sister Arianne." She drily teased.
"Have you told your family about the baby?" He moved from his spot at the foot of the bed back to the chair near her.
Mal shrugged. "I sent a raven months ago but I have yet to receive anything. But I'm not surprised we were never really close like you Starks," she saw Jon flinch a little bit but ignored it, "I'll send another when the baby is born. I'm sure my father will send something back for his firstborn grandchild."
"So much hustle and bustle just for a baby, you'd think that you were giving birth to a prince of Westeros."
"Believe me, I would happily hang outside with the rest of you, but the maester has ordered me to stay inside."
They shared a laugh. "If you want I'll send Robb a raven. He'd probably throttle me if I didn't keep him updated on how you're doing." Jon offered softly.
Mal felt tears prickle her eyes. Damn hormones. "Yes, I would like that very much and maybe if I write a little something you could send that with yours?"
Jon nodded before getting out of the chair. "I should get going before someone catches me in here. Lady Stark would not be best pleased if she found me in here with you." He stopped before leaving the room. He seemed to contemplating something before turning around and walking towards Mal. He leaned down and enveloped Mal in a hug.
It wasn't until Jon's arms were around her did she realize how much she missed Robb. The tears that she tried so hard to hold back earlier began to spill out. "Be brave." She heard Jon whisper to her. He gave her one final squeeze before leaving the room.
"Where is he?!" Mal frantically demanded when another sharp pain coursed through her.
"He's about a half a day's ride from Winterfell, my lady. Now please you need to calm yourself." Maester Luwin urged her. Her labor pains had started around midnight and it was currently midday. They had sent a messenger to find Robb and his father. Luckily, they had been on their way to Winterfell when they got the news that Mal was in labor and where now hurrying as fast as they could to make it on time.
Mal practically spat out at maester. "Calm? You want me to be calm? Frankly, maester I don't give a damn about what you want! I want this babe out of me now!" She gritted her teeth and screamed as another contraction pain went through her.
After it was over she fell back onto the bed panting softly. A midwife wiped her head with a washcloth. Her entire body was soaked with sweat and her lower half was covered in blood, a fact that was concerning the maester.
"My lady, you're losing far too much blood. You must relax; your body is fighting the labor which is causing you this entire struggle."
Lady Catelyn looked concern as she watched the maids change the blood-soaked sheets. "How much longer do you think it'll take, Maester? The poor girl has been here for hours."
Luwin shrugged his shoulders. "It's impossible to tell, my lady. All I can say is that she is fighting it and that is making her labor even more difficult."
Mal had become feverish and kept muttering nonsense. Lady Catelyn was fearful for her good-daughter's safety. She looked around the room to where the midwives and maids were muttering in the corner and then she looked over to where Sansa and Arya were dozing off in a large armchair finally she looked over to where Mal was lying in bed: feverish and in pain. "Open those windows, can't you see she's burning up." She snapped to the maids.
"Maester Luwin and I will sit here with Mal. Everyone else out." She barked. The maids and midwives bowed before leaving while Sansa poked Arya awake and pulled her out of the door. Catelyn moved to the Mal's bedside and continued wiping the sweat off Mal's forehead.
"Is there anything you can give her, Maester Luwin?" Catelyn looked sorrowfully at him.
The maester sighed before replying. "I suppose I could give her some milk of the poppy, just a tiny bit. We still need her to be coherent went it's time to push."
Catelyn thought over her options and then nodded when she heard Mal let out a moan of pain. "Do it, perhaps if she's asleep her body will relax."
"Only the gods know, my lady. She's in their hands now."
Mal's mind was swimming but she could hear someone calling her name. Where am I? She felt a sharp pain in her abdomen and then remembered her nightmare of a labor.
"R-Robb?" she called out meekly. A hand started stroking her hair.
"I'm here my love. You need to wake up now." She heard Robb murmur before kissing her sweat stained hair.
She scrunched her face up before opening her eyes. She looked out the window and saw that it was dark out. She slowly turned her head back to Robb and smiled weakly. "When did you get here?" She asked softly.
He returned her smile and kissed her cheek. "A few hours ago, I hear it's been a hard day for you, my little love."
Tears prickled her eyes. "I'm so tired Robb, I don't think I can do this." She grimaced when another contraction hit her.
Maester Luwin made his presence known by clearing his throat. "I know it's been difficult for you, my lady, but it's finally time for push."
Mal shook her head frantically. "I'm sorry, maester I can't do it," she looked at Robb pleadingly. "I'm sorry, Robb I can't do it."
Robb helped sit up and rubbed her back. "You have to be brave, love. Our little pup needs you to be brave. I'll be here the entire time." He promised her.
Maester Luwin settled himself in between her legs which caused Robb to glare a bit. "On the next birthing pain, I need you to push as hard as you can. Can you do that, my lady?"
"I can try." She pitifully said.
The maester offered her a reassuring smile. "No need to fear, my lady. It's almost over."
Mal gathered up her strength and took a deep breath as she experienced another pain. She braced herself and squeezed Robb's hand as she pushed with all her might. A cry of pain ripped through her lips.
"Very good, my lady, a few more pushes, and the babe will be here. My lord, would you like to see its head?"
"No!" Mal croaked out. "Stay up here with me."
Robb let out a little chuckle which infuriated Mal. "Do you find this funny, Stark?! This is all your fault!" She let out another yell and gave another push. After the push she fell back on the bed panting.
"Just one more push, Mal." Robb urged her. He moved from her side to sit behind her to help her up.
She weakly reached for his hands and gripped them tightly. She fought the urge to vomit out of pain, gritted her teeth, and gave one final push. She could feel the child slipping from her body. For a moment the only sound in the room were her own harsh pants. Finally Mal heard the cries of her child and her heart swelled up bigger than she thought possible.
The midwife that was assisting Maester Luwin was cleaning the child and clearing its mouth while the maester smiled widely at the couple. "Congratulations, my lord and lady. You have a healthy and beautiful son."
Mal turned her head to look at Robb and began to cry. Robb's eyes were watering as well as his mouth was gaped open as if he didn't believe what he was hearing. It seemed unreal to the pair until the midwife handed their son to Mal.
With shaking hands Mal held her son for the first time. "He's perfect." She whispered in awe.
Robb's arms came around her and helped support their son. "He's beautiful," he kissed her temple and whispered, "thank you."
Maester Luwin and the midwife cleaned up a bit before leaving the young couple alone to bond with their child. "He looks like you." Mal said fondly.
Robb looked over her shoulder and rubbed a finger over his cheek. "Do you think so?" The boy let out a little whimper and snuggled closer to Mal.
Somehow sensing that the babe was hungry she lowered her shift and moved the baby to her breast, the babe then began suckling at her. Trying to keep her mind off the strange sensation, Mal nodded. "He has your hair." She fingered the little tuff of dark red hair on top of his head.
Robb chuckled deeply. "Tully blood is stronger than most."
She turned her head to look deep into his eyes. "I'm glad for it." She and Robb shared a sweet kiss before turning back to look at the babe.
"Torrhen." Mall breathed out after a few moments.
Robb lifted his head from her shoulder. "What was that, my love?"
She smiled widely and gestured her head to the babe in her arms who had finished suckling. "Torrhen, Torrhen Stark. You raced from one Torrhen to meet another." She softly joked.
Robb grinned before addressing their son. "How about it, do you like that name, Torrhen?"
The babe opened his eyes and let out a loud squeak that caused both of his parents to laugh.
A/N: Well baby Torrhen has finally arrived. At first I really wanted the baby to be a girl, but as I started writing chapters for later events a boy just fit better in the scheme of things, and the name 'Torrhen' has stuck with me since the very beginning. It's sort of maddening how many documents I have saved on my computer/hard drive filled with dialogue, descriptions and plot lines I want to use later in the story. I find myself going through the day thinking about this story. When an idea pops up I have to jot it down wherever I can lest I forget it. It has me really pumped up for the future of this story. Enough rambling though, thank you so much for reviewing, following, adding to your favorites etc. Until next time -SS
Lunar678: I totally think you should go for it. I can never say no to more Robb stories. It's hard work but it's also really fun. I don't regret it at all.