Chapter 5: A Blessing from the Gods
Mereen
A small man was sitting in front of a woman with silver hair and deep purple eyes. She was so beautiful it hurt to look at her. He smiled a sad smile and reached for a goblet and poured wine into it and took a deep drink and sighed closing his eyes. His heart was heavy and his head was pounding. He needed a bath and some sleep yet here he is in a foreign country sitting in front of a fallen ruler.
"Have you decided yet? If I am worthy of your service." Daenerys Targaryen said looking at the man in front of her. Tyrion Lannister. The brother of the man who killed her father. The reason why she had was forced out of her country. Why she was forced out of her home.
"Have you decided if you are going to kill me." Tyrion said looking at her in the eyes.
"That would be my safest option." She said and he nodded.
"I can see why you would do that. That was what your father would do." He said and Daenerys looked at him with cold eyes.
"And what would your father done?" She asked and he snorted
"My father had no love for me. He made sure that I knew that." Tyrion said. Even though he betrayed his family. People who hated him it hurt.
"I know what my father was and I know he earned his nickname. But why did you betray your family." Tyrion looked at the Queen and smiled sadly.
"My nephew was a sadistic idiot who liked to preferred to torture animals than rule. My sister was a viscous cunt who saw enemies everywhere and my father was a power hungry fucker who would sacrifice anything even his children to get what he wanted. I never planned to survive the war my Queen. I merely made a deal to save my nephew Tommen and niece Myrcella. They were innocent in all of this. It was merely an accident that I am here and then my dear friend who helped me broker the deal thought you were worthy to meet." Tyrion said and she looked at him without blinking.
"Varys. The Spider. The Person who spied on me for Robert Baratheon for years. The one who ordered an assassination attempts on me." She said leaning back on the chair.
"Yes that is the one. Although the actions were not honourable it was for his survival. He was probably also the reason you are alive." Tyrion said and Daenerys looked at him.
"You trust him." Daenerys asked.
"Yes oddly enough I do. He is the reason my niece and nephew are alive and well and protected. Him and my brother although he is dead." Tyrion said.
"Your brother. The person who killed my father." Daenerys asked.
"Yeah that is the one." Tyrion said taking a gulp from his wine.
"Maybe I should kill you after all." Daenerys said leaning forward looking at Tyrion.
"As you wish. I protected my last living family. I had an interesting life my Queen and if your final wish is to kill me I will not oppose this." Tyrion said downing his drinks.
"I am not going to kill you." Tyrion looked at the Queen in surprise.
"I want you to advise you still can speak in complete sentences." Daenerys said taking the goblet from him.
"Advise you on what?" Tyrion asked looking longingly at the goblet.
"On getting what I want." Daenerys said standing up.
"Oh the Iron Throne. Maybe you should try wanting something else." Tyrion said and the Queen looked at him with a death glare and Tyrion closed his eyes.
"There is more to the world then Westeros. Here for example. You saved hundred thousand lives. Why not stay here and continue this. Maybe this is where you belong." Tyrion said hoping that he will heed his advice.
"This is not my home." Daenerys said and Tyrion sighed.
"House Targaryen is gone. Who will support you?" Tyrion asked the Queen.
"The common people." She said and he nodded.
"Let us be generous and say that this will happen. What happens next. Here you only had the support of the common people. How was it without the support of the rich." Tyrion said and The Queen looked out of the window.
"I have a large army and three large dragons." She said and Tyrion chuckled.
"Yes you do but they do not buy or scare people to love you. You need more than that. Who says that after the throne is yours there will not be rebellions. One was already won against your family." Tyrion said and Daenerys looked at him.
"Why do people support Stannis Baratheon and Rob Stark then?" The Queen asked looking out of the window again.
"People support Stannis as he is married to Margery Tyrell the family who feeds the whole country. They know if he is gone so is the food and they fear him and he is a great commander. Robb stark is a honourable man. Just like his father and he was loved by many. A little more rash but honourable still. He was the only one who fought in the war and did not want the Iron Throne. He just wanted to get his family back and make sure his people are free from the Throne you want so much. My best bet would be to ally with him. He will not take your claim." Tyrion said and Daenerys looked at him
"It seems like you almost admire him." Daenerys said and Tyrion nodded.
"I do. A boy of six and ten beat my father and became the King in the North. He had a lot to shoulder and he prevailed. He was the reason my niece and nephew are alive. Stannis would have killed them but Robb let them live." Tyrion said and smiled sadly. He leaned back on his chair and closed his eyes.
Winterfell
Elaine walked through the courtyard to go to see Measter Luwin. She needed to speak to him about an urgent matter. It had been three moons since she came to Winterfell. Four moons since she was married and became Queen. Her new house was different. Much colder but very beautiful. People were different as well. Where she grew up although the temperatures were warmer people were cold to each other. There would sell you out as quick as they would help you. Here it was the very opposite. People were warms and nice. What Sansa explained to her that with the upcoming winter the common people were now moving to Winter Town just outside the gates walls. This is where they had the best chance at a survival during the harsh winters
Elaine loved her new family as well. Although she missed Roslin and al of her sisters back at the Twins she had two new sisters right here. Sweet Sansa reminded her of Roslin so much. She was delicate and as a proper lady. In Arya Elaine saw herself. She was wild and restless. Just like Elaine. She gotten along with her the most. They whispered in the shadows.
Robb was as cold and the weather here. He never spend much more then few hours at the castle, he woke up at left at dawn and was back before the sun set down. He was always busy with his bannermen and ruling his lands. He was building more roads for better transportation and making sure that more ships are being build for the White Harbour to help with the trade. He wanted to make the North more accessible and Elaine commanded him for that.
Elaine was left to rule the castle and her people. She spend a lot of time with Catelyn who helped her to know her people and her castle. She performed her duty as the Lady of the Castle. She was also performing her duty as a wife. Robb and Elaine shared separate bedrooms and although they were next to each other they never slept together like they did at Riverrun. Rob did his duty and left for his chambers. Elaine tried to talk to him yet he gave her one word answers. He was stubborn she will give him that yet Elaine patience was wearing thin. She was fine being in a loveless marriage but his Robb was behaving was like a toddler throwing a tantrum when he could not get his toy. He was punishing her for something she had no control over and Elaine feared she will explode soon enough. She was not known for her patience.
Elaine stood before the door to Measter Luwin's chamber where she knew the old man was. She knocked and he opened the door and looked surprised she was there.
"Your Grace what are you doing here." He asked.
"I needed to speak to you Maester Luwin. It is urgent." Elaine said and he let her in.
"You should have sent for me Your Grace. I would have come to you. You did not need to trouble yourself with walking here." the Old man said and Elaine chuckled.
"It is quiet alright Measter. I do not mind coming here. I could use the exercise." She said and the man looked at her and chuckled.
"What is the urgent matter that you needed to discuss." the older man said and Elaine fidgeted with her hands and looked at the man in front of her. Her cheeks red from embarrassment.
"I have not have my moons blood since a week after my wedding. I was never regular my moons blood would sometimes not come for two three moons at a time that is why I did not think it suspicious. But the last moon I have been feeling very tired I have been ill a few times and my emotions were all over the place." She explained it to Maester Luwin and he looked at her and smiled a little.
"If you are with child my Queen that is good news. The crown will soon have a Prince or a Princess." Maester Luwin said and Elaine smiled but it did not reach her eyes.
"I know Maester Luwin. I know what my duties are. I am scared. Many women die in childbirth. I want to see my children grow up. I wish they would grow with at least one parent that will love them." Elaine said before she checked herself and stopped. The Maester looked at her with pity in his eyes and that angered her. She did not want his pity. She did not want anyone's pity.
"The war has changed the King. He was a sweet boy but the war made him a man. A hard man. He had to become the person to do what he had to do. I do not believe that Robb is capable of not loving his children. Once he see their sweet faces he will love them beyond believe." Master Luwin said and Elaine smiled sadly.
"I hope so. I really do." Elaine said and the Master did his checks to see if she is pregnant. Elaine's heart was beating. Maester Luwin looked up and smiled at her confirming she was with child. Elaine touches her stomach and smiles softly at the though of the babe growing inside of her. She will be a mother now as well. She always wanted a babe of two. She dreamed they were raven haired but that dream was crushed. Her children will have auburn hair like her husband and her King. She is a Queen and is about it become a mother.
"Are you alright Your Grace." Master Luwin asked her and Elaine nodded. She looked at the man who was looking at her with warm eyes.
"I am well just in shock." Elaine said. She felt conflicted. She did not love the man she was with child with she did not feel much for the child yet. She felt nothing right now. She felt empty. She saw her father wife hating their children just because they hated her father. She did not hate her husband. She did not particularly like him but she did not hate him. She just did not want to hate her child. She could not. Elaine shook her head. Off course she will love her children. She will make damn sure that she will. This child will be her pride and joy.
She left the chamber and walked to her husbands solar. She found him there writing a letter. He did not even look at her when she entered.
"Who are you writing to?" Elaine asked and he looked at her and sighed and threw his quill down. He looked at her with a frustrated look and Elaine just raised her eyebrow and looked at him challenging. She was done with his bullshit. Her eyes were hard and challenging and Robb saw that. She saw him battling with himself before he slumped on his chair like he was defeated and looked up at Elaine.
"Some of the Lords from the South do not want to trade with us. They believe that as we are our own country we need to fend for ourselves. They refuse to send grains and cattle to us. With the winter coming we wont be able to fend for ourselves. Not on the rations that we have. " He said and Elaine sighed and sat in front of him looking at him.
"That is because the Southern Lords are not like the one in the North. They are selfish and would rather look after their own people not outsiders." Elaine said.
"I know what the Southern Lords are like I fought them. I beat them. I know how they think." Rob said on a loud voice making Elaine look at him with a shake of his head.
"Yes you fought and beat them husband but I lived with them all my life. They will not give you something without having anything in return and I am afraid that they do not wish anything that the North has to offer besides one thing." Naida said her tone hard but the voice level. She dealt with angry and entitled men most of her life at the twins
"What is the think that they want fro the North then wife." Robb said and Elaine crossed her arms and looked at Robb.
"Daughter." Elaine and and Robb finally understood what she meant.
"Every Southern Lord wants their daughter to marry a great Lord. Family ties makes you powerful in the time of need. They could help you win a rebellion like your father and king Robert did so long ago. You and my father and Stannis won this rebellion." Elaine said and Robb looked at her with a cross look.
"And how did your father help me win this war wife. He sat in his castle all the war." Robb said with an angry voice. Elaine looked at Robb with an angry look. Her eyes dark with anger her bottom lip quivering.
"Yes he sat in his castle. He is old what use would he be in a battlefield. Yes me may made you promise to wed me before you crossed the bridge but without you crossing your bridge you would not even be able to leave the neck. He was the one who paid for this war. Before you killed all of the Lannisters and took over their gold you had no money to continue this war and feed your soldiers my love or have you forgotten that." Elaine said and Robb stood up and flipped over his chair. He paced in front of the window and rubbed his neck in anger. She was right Robb thought. Lord Walder did sponsor his war. Send money and food for his soldiers. He was the reason they went that far and he resented that. He resented that he needed that man's help to win the war.
You have no ties to the South. Well you have a Southern wife but my family was not of import to the rest of the Realm. We only hold the crossing. You need more ties from the South. I am sad to say that the best way to build alliances are through marriage. My family although wealthy have not got much to say. You need a powerful family." Elaine said and Robb looked back at her his eyes still held a little anger but he had a clear mind now.
"And who would be that family." He asked.
"The Tyrells. They feed most of the county. The heir to Highgarden is still unmarried. You have a sister that is off marriage age. Propose a marriage. You have the Southern Crown on your side, they have their part of the North there and the Tyrells will send us food. Anyway I do believe that the Queen was planning a betrothal between her brother and your sister before when she was still in Kings Landing and your sister was agreeable to it." Elaine said with a small smile. Robb looked at her with narrow eyes.
"My sister was agreeable to it as she wanted to leave King Landing any way possible. She might not be so agreeable now." Robb said and Elaine narrowed her eyes back at him.
"Well ask her then. She is you sister and she needs to marry eventually." Elaine said her voice was hard and the tone did not allow challenging. Rob pinched the bridge of his nose and looked like he was complementing the idea. Elaine looked at him with a smug face. She knew it was a good idea. As much as she hated to admit that she was her father daughter and her mind was always ready to plot an idea or two.
When Robb looked at her he looked defeated. Robb understood that his wife was not a timid woman that will do as she was told he and sing and dace and birth children. She was smart and she knew the way that the Lord though. She made smart decisions and he understood her council was valuable. This was the first time he saw his wife as a person rather than his wife. He saw her as a woman that was different than any other one that he knew.
"I will ask her." Robb said and closed his eyes.
"Something else is bothering you?" Elaine asked and Robb looked at her. He was battling himself to tell her or not. She saw him fighting that battle again. She was a little insulted that he did not trust her.
"I have many propositions for my brother to marry as well. Rickon will move to Dreadfort and rule the lands there. So many to chose from." Robb said and Elaine nodded.
"Your sister will help you to get connection in the South. Rickon can help you to get connections in the North. Marry him to a Northern house. Show them your gratitude to your bannermen." Elaine said and Robb looked at her impressed and Elaine chuckled at that.
"I might dislike my father but when it came to politics he was good. He knew what he had to do to make sure our family were better after the war. He was cunning and I inherited that I am afraid." Elaine said and Robb shook his head but there was a small smile on his face
"Why did you come here." Robb asked and Elaine looked at him with a serious look
"I am with child." She said and she saw Robb take a huge breath and blew it out. He slumped down on his chair and looked at Elaine.
"Are you well?" Elaine asked worried that her husband was not ready. Well neither is she and her reaction was not better.
"Are you well?" He asked and Elaine nodded.
"I think I am. We knew this was going to happen sooner rather than later. You need an heir." Elaine said and Robb nodded.
"I am glad. The castle needs a reason to smile again. It is not been the same since Bran left. My mother never smiles now and Arya blames herself. The babe is a blessing from the Gods." Robb said and Elaine smiled at him a little. She knew Robb took that very hard.
"Well I will leave you now so you can go back to your work. Write to Highgarden ask the Lord if he will accept the betrothal." Elaine said and Robb nodded as she left.
Moons flew passed and she was getting bigger. Her pregnancy was easy. She felt a little sick at the beginning and she felt sleepy but it was I was easy. Easier than she thought. She was eating plenty. She took the time to get to know more about the North and its people. She liked her new home. She easily adapted. She loved Arya and she gotten will with Sansa. Catelyn was involved in her pregnancy and was helping her through. She was very grateful for it. Elaine needed help as much as she hates to admit it.
She was in the Royal nursery with Catelyn preparing it. It looked beautiful with the crib already waited for her new baby. She was a week or two away from giving birth and she wanted to get everything ready. Her fears that she would hate her child disappeared cause as she felt her babe move for the first time she never felt any grater love then that. She could not wait for the child to come to this world. She wanted to meet whomever she had inside her.
"This is the crib that Robb was sleeping when we came to Winterfell after the war. He was a lively babe but inly crying when he was hungry. Then Sansa slept in that crib. Crying day and night. Demanding my attention. Then Arya slept in here. Then Bran. They were my easiest children. They barely cried at all. Not even when they were hungry. I had to come in here and feed them. Rickon. Ah my boy. Oh he was a angry little red thing. I still remember their little faces. My children. My pride and joy. I hope that the crib will serve you as well as it did not me and that you will have many beautiful children sleeping in that crib." Catelyn said with tears in her eyes. Elaine looked at her and smiled her own tears pooling in her eyes. The two women hugged each other when the door to the chamber burst opened an Sansa came running through the door with a bug smile on her face.
"I am betrothed mother. I will be wed to the heir to Highgarden." Sansa said and Elaine looked at her and smiled. She knew that this will be a great match. A beauty like Sansa cannot be hid away in the cold North. A beauty like Sansa deserves a beautiful home. Like Highgarden. She will be happy there.
"Oh Sansa." Catelyn said and started to cry. Sansa lost her beautiful smile and come over to her mother.
"Are you not happy for me?" She asked and Catelyn wiped her tears.
"I am happy if you are my love. I just do not want to lose you. It is a sad day when I have to say goodbye to you and you will be so far away." Catelyn said and Sansa hugged her.
"I know mother but it is time. I am ready to be a wife and a mother. I want to have what you and father had." Sansa said and Catelyn smiled,
"You will be a beautiful wife my love." Catelyn said and Elaine smiled. She was about to say something when the sound from her mouth turned to a grunt as the babe kicked her hard in the stomach. She touched her stomach and the babe kicked and kicked hard until she was doubled in pain clutching at her stomach and whimpering in pain. The pain moved to her back as well and Elaine fell to her knees.
The two redhead saw her and moved to help her up as Elaine cried out and clutched her her stomach as one long pain hit her.
"The babe. It is coming." Elaine said and cried out again and she felt two women taking her off the floor and started to walk.
"We need to get you to a bed chamber." Catelyn said and Elaine nodded and walked with them. It was the longest walk of her life. They had to stop a few times as the pain hit her. On the way she felt water dripping down her leg. Once in the bedchamber her handmaidens saw her and helped her to out of the dress and to the bed where she lay the and screamed in pain.
"Get the Maester. He needs to be here. Tell the King as well. He needs to know." Catelyn said and they nodded and left before she looked at Elaine who looked at her with a scared look in her face.
"There is nothing to be scared off. You will be fine." Catelyn said and Elaine nodded.
Maester Luwin came to the chamber and looked at his Queen and smiled. He looked over and examined her. The babe was not ready yet.
Elaine laboured for the rest of the day and for the whole night. By morning time she was exhausted but it was time. She felt the need to push.
"My Queen the babe is ready to come. You need to push once the pain come. A big push Your Grace." Maester Luwin said and opened her legs. She grabbed onto the sheets and onto Catelyn hand and she screamed as she pushed with all her might her whole body trembling with the force. She fell on the bed and took a breath when with another scream she pushed. Hard again. Tears were falling down her face mixing with her sweat. Her hair was stuck to her face and neck. When she fell down to the bed this time she felt like all of the energy left her body. The whole room was spinning, there was ringing in her ears and her vision blurred.
"I can see the head. A brown head my Queen. Just some more pushes and the baby will come." The Master said and Elaine shook her head.
"I cannot. I have not got the strength." Elaine said breathlessly and started to cry.
"You must Your Grace. There is a lot of blood. If you do not push you and the babe might die." The older man said and Catelyn took her hand and wiped some of the sweat from her face with a cloth.
"Elaine you must push. You must or the babe will die." She said and Elaine nodded. With all of her might she pushed again and again. The pain was blinding her. She felt like she was barely there but she pushed with all she could until in the distance she heard a babe's cry. It was a beautiful cry and she smiled through the tears. She fell in the bed exhausted. Her vision blurred. Blackness taking over her.
"A daughter Your Grace. You have a little Princess." She could hear before blackness took over her and she was there no more.
Well there we go. Robb has a daughter. Do you think he will be happy with that? Well poor Elaine had to go through a traumatic birth. She is a smart woman and not one that will be silenced and take Robb's bullshit and he needs a wife like that. At least the spoke to each other for more than five minutes. Tyrion is alive and at Mereen. And so is the youngest children. Myrcella and Tommen. The children had nothing to do with the war and Robb was not going to kill them and Tyrion talked hi way out of dying heh. They will have a role to play in the war to come do not worry. Hope you enjoy this story and will review and read on.