Game of Thrones: A Blessed Union

Chapter 3 of my Game of Thrones story, enjoy.

Reviews

Veridissima: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it; yeah, I know what you mean :)
SweetImagination15: Thanks; well, this chapter won't focus so much on the birth, rather the major events that happened during that year.

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.

Chapter 3: Dark Wings; Dark Words

Catelyn Stark smiled; it was now two-hundred and eighty-nine years after Aegon's Landing. In that time she had watched her family grow and flourish. Robb was now four; he had started his lessons with Maester Luwin as well as taking swordplay lessons from Ser Rodrik Cassel. This worried her; especially since Jon had also started taking the same lessons; while she knew it would never happen intentionally, Jon might end up hurting Robb. It was at times like this she was glad she now had a daughter. She smiled; Sansa was only two but already the perfect polite lady. She would need someone to teach her daughter some of the more important duties of being a lady however. Luckily Ned had already thought ahead and spoke to a Septa called Mordane. She had accepted the task and at times when Catelyn couldn't, she took care of Sansa and taught her everything she would need to know. The children truly were a delight; a spot of colour in the midst of Winterfell. It wasn't just her and Ned, or Septa Mordane and Maester Luwin who watched over them. Old Nan, the oldest inhabitant in Winterfell, had also taken a role in helping raise the children. They all loved her stories, although some of them were quite scary, especially for Sansa. Still, it was clear, much to Catelyn's relief; that despite her initial fears when she first arrived, all of Winterfell had accepted her and her children with great affection.

Still worried but unable to watch any further, Catelyn turned away from the training yard and made her way to her husband's solar. On her way she passed Sansa and Septa Mordane; who was helping Sansa learn her letters. Sansa looked up and smiled. Catelyn nodded and indicated for her to continue focusing on the lesson. Sansa did so and Catelyn continued up to the solar. She knocked and entered the room; she stopped at the threshold when she saw her husband seated behind his desk; Maester Luwin stood next to the next and both looked grave as Ned read a letter he held before him. They had both looked up when she entered.

"Ned, what's wrong?" She asked; worried.

Ned sighed and stood up. "We just received a raven from King's Landing. It's a serious concern."

Maester Luwin nodded. "It is said, dark wings, dark words. That is certainly the case now."

Cat felt cold fear grip her heart. Finally Ned revealed the contents of the letter.

"It seems Balon Greyjoy has risen up in revolt; proclaiming himself King of the Iron Island and seeks to move against the Iron Throne."

It was Catelyn's worst fear; she thought after Robert's Rebellion things would be at peace, or at least any uprisings would occur in the south, away from them. But the Iron Islands could threaten the entire shore of Westeros and as a result; all the Kingdoms were in peril. As she feared, war had come again.

She also knew what this would mean; with war coming and with so many threatened; her husband would be leaving, to fight alongside Robert again; this time going to the Iron Islands and the seas to fight the Greyjoys and their infamous Iron Fleet. Maester Luwin left and Cat turned her attention fully to her husband.

"My lord; I am worried. I feel like some great danger could be waiting there." She explained. "What if, what if you don't return; what will happen to me and the children I…"

Ned stood up and took her in his arms. "Cat, please, do not fear. I know there is danger, but I have already seen to it that you and the children will be taken care of if I die."

Cat nodded slowly and did her best to calm down. As she did so Ned continued to speak.

"I assure you however, there is nothing to worry about." He remarked. "I will return; I promise you Cat, I will return."

She nodded and they kissed; her fears were only partially absolved. However it was enough for her to relax. Her husband was to leave to take part in the war tomorrow; she would do her utmost to ensure his last night before leaving was a memorable one.

This had been the second time war had forced her husband to be apart from her. It was also the second time that, after Ned left for war, Catelyn discovered she was pregnant. She had written letters, sending them to her husband; informing him first of the pregnancy then of its progress. She also told him about how the other children were doing and how affairs were being handled in Winterfell. He had replied a few times, too few for Catelyn's liking but she understood. Robb and Jon seemed to understand, more or less, why there father was away; but it was harder on Sansa. She cried and continually asked for her father; but all Catelyn could do was try and comfort her as best she could. Her pregnancy ended in a slightly messy birth which produced a child who, as she had hoped, took after Ned in terms of hair and eye colour, predominantly Stark traits. However, contrary to what she had hoped, the child was a girl; whom she named Arya Stark. She wrote to Ned the day after and informed him of the birth and about Arya. Arya, Catelyn noted, could not have been more different than Sansa; even from the earliest days; she rarely cried, but in some ways seemed more aggressive. She now had a new fear however, her fear of Ned dying in the battle had returned, stronger than ever. For now, if it happened, it would mean Arya would never meet her father. She lived with the fear for a month until finally she received a letter from Ned, her heart lifted. The Rebellion had been put down and he was coming home. He also announced that he was bringing Balon Greyjoy's eldest living son with him as a ward.

So it was that Catelyn was finally, happily reunited with her husband. She was introduced to Theon Greyjoy and in turn, introduced Ned to Arya. Once again Ned had been forced to ride away to battle and she had to watch him go. But once again he had returned to her; she prayed, both to her own Gods and her husbands; that something like this would never happened again.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.