8: Books & Pregnancy

The next morning went without a kink. Sonia still had no clue that Shannon had left during the night, and Will had no clue either. Shannon hid the book between her legs, which made it awkward to walk, but was the only way she could hide it. "Are you sure you are okay?" Will inquired with an arched brow.

"Yes, yes Will. I am perfectly fine. I must've done something in my sleep." She laughed nervously.

"Do you need me to get a maester?" Will asked as they reached the sewing room.

"Oh heavens no! No need for a maester, I will be fine, trust me. Okay? Have a nice day Will I see you tonight. Okay, ta-ta for now." Shannon waved as she rushed into the room and shut the door.

She finally could relax and grabbed the book from in between her legs. She looked and noticed there was nothing that needed to be worked on today. "Well at least I can read you today; instead of being locked in this room being bored to death." She thought out loud.

Shannon sat down in a chair in the corner of the room away from the window, so that no one could see her. She examined the book in her hand. It was about the size of an average notebook, but bound with black leather. The pages were thick and crisp ivory stained. She opened the book and gazed inside. It was empty. Shannon paged through the book feverishly, but all the pages were the same. Nothing. This could not be the book that she had from home. The on from home had spells and words written in it. She threw the book down in frustration. "I cannot believe that, that woman helped me summon a useless book. How am I supposed to learn anything and find a way home now?" She sighed and placed her face in her hands.

The book then slowly opened to the first page. Shannon caught a glimpse of it from the corner of her eye. Something was being written, but by who? There was no pen around, nor was she doing it. She crouched to the ground where she had thrown the book and took a closer look at what it had been written. No need to be so cruel. Just ask.

Shannon's mouth dropped open in awe. She couldn't comprehend what was going on, but she couldn't comprehend much of what had happened lately so she just went along with the madness. "Who or what are you?" She questioned the book.

She felt like a lunatic for talking to a book, but what did she have to lose. No one was there to see her acting like a mad woman. Her gaze never left the page as words began to appear again. My name is Gagltha, The Wise.

"Were you once a person or are a person bound to this book, Gagltha?" Shannon had seen the Harry Potter movies and was wondering if this was going to turn into a Tom Riddle situation.

No. I was created and given life by your ancestors to protect and hold your family's secrets, spells, enchantments, history, and everything else you could imagine.

Shannon was actually quite excited. This was the coolest thing ever. She loved books, and here before her was a book communicating with her. "Why did you look different back home?" Amidst all her excitement she still had questions that needed to be answered.

Every realm has a different level of magical capabilities. The world you are from holds a small amount, and I feed off magical energy. So, in your world I was placed in a hibernation stage until I was brought here.

"If the world I come from has so little magic than why do I remember my parents being able to do magic?" Shannon grabbed the book off the floor and held it in her lap on the chair.

Much better, by the way. Anyhow, your parents were only able to use magic on certain days of the year in that world. I said it had a little, not any at all. They were able to tap into the spiritual energy around them on certain points in the lunar cycle. Often times they would harness enough spiritual energy that they could perform minuet tasks, such as untying knots or sewing.

The mention of her parents led Shannon to her next question. "Did you know my parents?"

Yes, I belonged to your mother, before I belonged to you.

"What was she like? What was my father like?" Her tone was anxious, but then became solemn. "I barely remember them at times."

Your memories will return to you, I promise. You can summon them, and speak with them.

Shannon nearly jumped out of her chair in excitement. "How?!" She then remembered that she had to keep her voice down, and calmed herself down.

With magic of course, but you are far too weak right now to do it. You must practice with basic spells first, and learn how to control and harness the energy around you before you can summon anyone. The only reason you were able to summon Norah is because she is a powerful spirit and practically summoned herself with your assistance. Now here are a few spells to start you out with, and remember just ask.

All of the writing Gagltha had just produced vanished and several pages of spells appeared in its place. Shannon spent the rest of the day reading over them. They were basic meditation spells to help her retrieve her memories and to also gain access to the energy around her. She spent hours practicing before she heard a knock at the door. She quickly rose from the floor, where she had been mediating, and opened the door.

Sonia stood there with a woman, who had long dirty blonde hair and a round stomach. "I hope we are not bothering you. This is Tabitha. Tabitha this is my friend Shannon, that I was telling you about." Sonia introduced the women to each other as she ushered Tabitha in.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Tabitha. I see that you are expecting." Shannon smiled at the woman.

Tabitha seemed like a sweet woman. Her forehead glistened with the sweat from the kitchen, but she still glowed like an expecting mother does. She seemed like she was ready to give birth at any moment, based upon her size and the way she walked. "Yes I am. Sonia was telling me that you wished to see me and that you could help us determine what the babe is to be. It would be a great help, for my husband and I keep arguing on names and it is hard to pick when we do not know what it will be." Tabitha explained as Shannon walked her over to a chair.

"Well hopefully I can help. Out of the few memories I do have, I remember my grandmother showing me this old wives trick. Do either of you have a necklace with a pendant?" Shannon questioned.

Tabitha grabbed hers around her neck and slowly took it off. "I will get this back, right? It is all I have left of my sister." Tabitha inquired.

"Yes, of course!" Shannon exclaimed. "Now give me your wrist. This trick should not only tell you what the baby will be, but how many you will have. This is your first correct?"

Tabitha nodded and gave Shannon her wrist. Shannon grasped her wrist, took the pendant and dipped it six times next Tabitha's wrist, and then hung it over the center of her wrist. The pendant swayed sideways. "It will be a boy." She stated.

Tabitha smiled widely with joy. Shannon repeated the steps over again. The pendant swayed sideways again. "Another boy."

She continued to repeat the steps until she dipped the pendant six times and it came to a dead stop over Tabitha's wrist. "It looks like you will be having five children congrats. Two boys, and three girls. You have your work cut out for you Tabitha." Shannon laughed, as she handed back Tabitha's pendant.

"That was amazing. I have to go home and tell my husband! I hope you are right; my husband will be so pleased. May the Old Gods bless you." Tabitha hugged Shannon and waddled out of the door.

Sonia stayed behind. "That was amazing. Your grandmother showed you that? Was she some sort of sorceress?" Sonia's eyes were big and filled with questions.

"No just a sweet little grandmother. Anyone can do it, here try it on me. Then you can try it on the elderly woman in the kitchen and see if you get it right on how many children they had." Shannon laughed nervously.

Sonia nodded, and she took off her own necklace that had been hidden underneath her dress. Shannon talked her through the steps, and Sonia grew giddy when the pendant began to sway. Sonia repeated it threw more times, and was in even more awe when the pendant stopped. "This is amazing! I cannot wait to show the other women. And look at you, looks like you'll be having three boys and a girl. Hopefully Lord Snow doesn't find out or he will certainly want to bed you, and have you produce his male heirs." Sonia giggled at first then stopped at the awful thought.

"Why would you even think that? That bastard already fucks so many women in this castle one of them will probably bear him sons, not I. I will belong to a strong man, who will love and protect my children and I." Shannon dreamed of her Prince Charming, or possibly Jon Snow coming to whisk her away.

"I've seen the way that he looks at you. He will let no other man touch or look at you the wrong way. It worries me. Maybe we could spread a rumor that you're barren then maybe he will leave you alone." Sonia proposed.

"Or lead to my death quicker than anticipated. How about we just don't mention it at all." Shannon had too much on her mind at the moment to be worrying about Ramsay, so she just decided to push him out of her thoughts for the time being.

Sonia left shortly after, for she had to return to work in the kitchen. Shannon returned to her readings and meditation. Every so often she would get distracted and think to herself about her future family, and how cute her kids would be. She was in a deep peaceful mediation, thinking about her children and her future husband. She could practically see him. He was strong, protective, and handsome. Then all of a sudden Ramsay's face appeared, and jolted Shannon out of her meditative state. "No, no, no, no. That won't happen. That was just a freak subconscious image that came through. Yeah that's what it was." Shannon said to herself, trying to calm herself back down.

There was no way that Ramsay Snow could be the father of her future children. He was malicious and cruel. Besides that, she was going to find a way home soon. At least, she prayed that she would.