I felt my feet moving me, but my mind was in another place. My body was walking towards Godswood, Astrid right behind me, but I was too busy thinking about Gendry and how he was lone in the Great Hall with his Uncle, Stannis Baratheon, discussing his well being and what will happen to the both of us. Something inside of me wanted to run back and get Gendry away from him, fearing that he would be killed once more. But another part of me, the rational highborn part of me, told myself to stay away and let him take care of himself. Gendry was strong, and for him to take on Stannis would be nothing really. He could lift him over his shoulder as if he was a feather. No, Gendry was a grown man, a Ser now, and he knew how to handle himself.
Taking a few steps into Godswood, I paused, taking in a deep breath of the nature and the trees around me. It was bringing me back to the moment I was here some time before, for the first time. The cool crisp air against my fair skin, the sight of the red leaves in the great tree before me, and the scent of the wood in the wind that was blowing towards me. Astrid whined for a moment, having me look down at my companion. Her two toned eyes, bright and haunting in the white snow, were huge in wonder as to why I stopped. I smiled down at her, nuzzling her fur on her face with my fingers and hearing him whine against my touch. We were both so in touch with one another, her being my extra eyes and ears when I needed them, along with a comforter and protector when I knew Gendry was not there. Astrid was a part of me, from the moment I saw her as a pup, even before when she was haunting my dreams with visions and sights. I loved her, and I was a part of her as well. She must of sensed my uneasiness, and I soother her with my gentle strokes against her nose and face.
"He's fine, Astrid. I can feel it." I reassured her, then looking in front of me and walking over to the main tree that was in the middle of the forest. Feeling so small compared to the tree, I took a moment against the trunk and pressed my hand against it, closing my eyes and feeling a prayer coming over my lips before I could stop it.
"I pray to the Old Gods to protect my family in this time of trail and fear. Keep us safe, give us wisdom and peace." I murmured to myself, as if I was talking to my mother and father. Was I talking to them? It felt so, since I then felt at peace after saying that prayer. MY heart no longer filled with fear and worry, but with curiosity and wonder as I sighed and opened my eyes once more, facing the face in the tree. My father looked upon this tree once, I could see it in my mind. He would sit here at the roots, sword in hand, and talk to the Old Gods for advice and wisdom in times of trouble. I wondered if any of his prayers were answered.
Astrid growled behind me, having me look carefully and see whom she was growling at. It was Davvos, having me see him watch me with hesitant eyes and a slow stance. He was now staring at the wolf whom was protecting me, Her ears low and her stance was rigid. I saw the fear in his eyes, and I never wanted that for a friend and savior. Davvos was a savior after all, since he did save Gendry and myself from certain death.
"I didn't mean to disturb your prayers, Milday." He said to me in a hesitant tone, holding up his hands and having me see the one hand with no fingers on it. I watched him with a small smile, having me then nod my head at him to show that it was no trouble at all. Gently I placed my hand on the top of Astrid's fur, then having me see her loose her rigid stance and her growl, standing up straight again and her ears back to normal. She turned her head at me, seeing what I wanted from her next. I stroked her face, seeing her lick my fingers and then panting with her tongue out, back to her playful mode.
"She's quite the animal." Davvos commented to me, having me look up at him and see him walk over some more as Astrid trotted away to a part of the forest that was a clearing, chasing someone on the ground and giving Davvos and I some room to talk.
"I found her as a pup while I was escaping Kings Landing." I explained to him, seeing him smile at me and look at me up and down with his eyes.
"It's good to see you again, lass." He explained to me finally, his tone showed relief to me as I nodded my head in agreement.
"And you as well, Davvos. You saved my life, along with Gendry's. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you." I confessed to him in a sincere tone. But he shook his head.
"I only did what I thought was right, since my life has been filled with wrongs and failures. It was my decision to make a good choice for once." He replied back in a shrug, but I could tell he was trying not to be too proud of what he did. I merely smiled, showing my loyalty and my sincerity to him.
"I find it hard to believe that you are not a good man, Davvos." I said back in return. He sighed, rubbing his beard a bit with his fingers as he walked closer to me, looking up at the Goswood tree and placing his damaged hand there as I did.
"My one loyalty is to Stannis now, since he has showing me mercy. I see him as the true king." Davvos explained as he peered up the tree, looking with eyes of curiosity and wonder.
"I had no care of worry as to whom sits on the throne." I confessed back to him shifting a bit in my spot and looking down at the dress I was wearing that day.
"You don't?" Davvos asked me with a questioned look.
"All my life I only feared of surviving, and now my only concern is my family." I said back to him, seeing him think to himself before I folded my fingers together, seeing some of my auburn hair fall in front of my face. It was moment or two of silence, having me think back to all that I went through, where I have been and what I have seen, and the points where I thought I would die. It was so simple, me trying to stay alive, and not knowing my life was far more valuable than I have ever known.
"Did you know who I was, before you met me?" I asked him, looking over at him and seeing him stare at the tree, lost in his thoughts, "You knew of the lost Stark Child, did you not?" Davvos passed, looking ahead at the bark of the tree before closing his eyes for a mere moment.
"All of Westeros knew of you, and they knew of the great importance you would bring to not only your family, but all of the North as well." Davvos explained to me, running his fingers on the bark of the tree and his voice sounded more haunting than soothing, "In some places, you were a mere myth, nothing but a story mother would tell children to keep them from running off in the night. But to others, you were so real that they still believed you were alive. Including the Queen, since she was still convinced you were hiding out in the wild."
"And Stannis?" I asked him a curious tone, having me want to push it farther and see what he was going to say.
"He had his suspicions. His brother, King Robert, would talk to him from time to time about the Queen and her obsession to finding you and killing you. Stannis, like his brother, tried to lay the issue to rest and not think about you alive. He too was convinced that you were long gone, back in the Old Gods with your family, but it wasn't until the Red Woman came into his life that it all changed." Davvos explained, his voice going bitter when the Red Woman was mentioned in the conversation. My stance changed to more hesitant and scared.
"The Red Woman." I repeated, having me see him make a fist against his side.
"As soon as she came into Stannis's life, she was poisoning his mind into thoughts of finding you, thinking that you would bring him closer to the throne. She thought of your blood as something to bring him power, along with Gendry's blood." My eyes went wide as I heard my husband's name. But Davvos only shook his head, releasing the bark of the tree from his fingers and then looking down at his crippled one, having me do the same.
"I have already paid my dues with Stannis, loosing my fingers in the process." He explained in a grave tone, "And I don't intend on disobeying him ever again. He is the true king in my eyes."
"And I am not here to tell you otherwise." I reminded him, seeing him look up at me with interest in his eyes, "My only concern is my family. We ave no need of being on the throne, only to stick together since we were almost killed off by the South." I felt pain in my voice as I said it, since people were under the belief that we were a threat to the throne. I never wanted the throne, and I doubt Bran wanted it either. We only wanted safety for our family. Davvos then smiled, having me watch him in disbelief as he spoke up in a lighter tone.
"You amaze me, lass. You're not the same little girl I saw in the dungeons many moons ago." He explained in a grin to me, having me see warmth on his face as he said it to me. I couldn't help but smile myself from the thought of me, long ago, in the dungeons. I was scared, confused to why I was there, and alone with nothing led to hold onto. But I then saw DAvvos's face there as well, having me hear his story and his hope in me.
"Perhaps it was the faith in a damaged man that and me realize my value." I hinted at him in suggestion, seeing him smile back and give me a small bow in appreciation. I walked over to him, wrapping a arm around his own and we both walked together out of Godswood back to the fortress, having a moment of peace between the both of us. Astrid followed after us, giving us room with her quick but quiet feet.
"If we are going to go to war with the South, I only ask for one thing before we enter King's Landing." I said to him as we made our way back to the busyness of the fortress in front of me. Davvos looked at me as if he would look at Stannis, with determination and a servant's heart.
"What is it that you need done, Milady?" He asked me, tapping my hand that was on his arm with his damaged one, having me look up at him with a serious look on my face.
"We need to get Gaila out of Flea Bottom." Davvos and I paused, looking at each other with a serious look on each other's faces.
"Gaila?" He asked me with confusion.
"She's still there. Gaila was the one who told me of my lineage and saved helped Gendry and I escape. I don't want her harmed or killed in this battle." I explained in a pleading tone, "Once she is out of harm's way, then we can go into war. But I won't take a step in that place without knowing her whereabouts."
We'll retrieve her and bring her here, of course MIlday." Davvos said to me, nodding his head at me with earnest. I sighed in relief, knowing that Davvos would help in the retrieving of Gaila and making sure she is safe, "We can go in undetected and rescue her from Flea Bottom."
"Thank you Davvos." I thanked him, seeing him smile at me in return to show his genuine nature.
"Of course, Milady."
"How long have they been in there now?" I asked nervously as I bit my nail in worry, pacing back and forth in the forge where Arya and I were waiting for Gendry. After meeting with Davvos and getting his blessing of rescuing Gaila, I went to find Arya and I heard nothing from Stannis and Gendry. So I waited with my sister and our direwolves, whom were asleep together on the floor of the forge. The fat that Gendry was still not here yet with me. I wondered what else were they talking about. Was it his lineage? Did Stannis finally realize that he was his true nephew and he needed to take care of him.
"For quite awhile." Arya replied in a shrug of her shoulders, holding Needle in her hand and practicing her water dance once more in the open forge. I sighed, running my fingers in my hair and I tried to count to ten over and over again in my head.
"You can trust your husband, Nora. He knows how to take care of himself. He is a stubborn bull after all." Arya insisted with me as she dove into a invisible target with Needle.
"Technically he's a deer now." I said in a snort, having me hear Arya laugh from her spot.
"And you are now too, Baratheon." Arya commented to me, having me roll my eyes and wave her off in return.
"I'm still a Stark." I said back in return, seeing her look up at me and then see the nervousness on my face. I was too wound up from the fact that Gendry and Stannis were alone in a room together, talking about who knows what.
"Nora, take a deep breath. He can handle himself against Stannis." Arya said to me in a tone that was fitting for a sister instead of a friend. I smiled nervously, having me see her smile back in return before going back to her training of the water dance. I watched her, getting my own off the worries of my husband and back to my sister. These moments between the two of us, me watching her practice or her watching me mend dresses and clothes. It was a normal routine for us, being in each other's presence and company.
"Gendry," I heard from Arya, having me see her stop her steps and look past me. I whirled around, seeing my husband walking over to me with a surprised look on his face and Koda right behind him and staying with his master's pace. He was coming in a brisker pace, as if he had something incredible to tell me. I walked out to him as well, meeting him right in the front of the forge. Koda passed the both of us into the forge to his sister and mother.
"What is it, what did he want?" I asked him in a rushed tone, thinking of the worst that happened to him. But I didn't see anything bad happen on his face, it was actually opposite. I saw a nervous grin on his face, something I never thought I would see on his face. I took a step back from seeing this, thinking that this is some kind of trick,
"Gendry?" I asked him aloud in wonder. I then saw him look right at me with a serious look on his face, taking my hands in his and having me feel the warmth in his hands.
"Stannis Baratheon is willing to give us Dragonstone." He said to me, having me almost loose my balance from what I just heard, having me look at him in pure shock on my face.
"Dragonstone." I repeated out loud, as if this was some kind of dream and I had to make sure this was a reality.
"Yes." Gendry said in shock as well as I, "If he wins this war, he would give us his old fortress." I stayed silent for a moment or two, having Gendry watch me as I drank it all in. Stannis wanted to give us his old home? It didn't sound like him, nor did it feel right. It might of been something that he was trying to do in order to get back on our good graces, or he might of realized Gendry's true lineage and what he earned because of who he was, and what we were. We were family now, and it was safe to say that I would have to call him my Uncle.
"What did you tell him?" I asked him cautiously.
"I told him I would let him know what you and I decided." This time I looked back at him in shock. Gendry told him to wait? Stannis Baratheon, or all people? I titled my head to the side in wonder and confusion.
"Why did you say that?" I asked in disbelief. He chuckled, having me even more confused with him as he carefully framed my face in his hands.
"Because you and I are married, and you are my best friend first and foremost. I don't want to agree with this unless you want this as well." Gendry said to me, having me raise a eyebrow at him from his own decision.
"You're wanting my opinion on the matter? What happened to the stubborn bull I married?" I asked in a joking tone, though this was a weird situation with Stannis and his "gift" to us. Gendry only rolled his eyes as he wrapped both of his arms around me. I felt him kiss me lightly on the lips, his hold on my tightened around my dress as I giggle against his closed lips.
"I'm still stubborn." He replied back to me, having me roll my eyes in retaliation, "You want me to prove it to you?"
"You're going to have to, since I'm not one to be fully convinced so easily." I replied back to him, giving him a playful shrug and hearing him laugh, pulling me into a warm embrace and hugging me close. Dragonstone is a big enough headache for me to handle on my own, since my new Uncle was either trying to win me over to make amends, but we had a new situation to come about.
We had a war to plan.
The next few days were a bit rough for em to get through. Several mornings were met of us getting sick, for no reason, and having to stop my sick stomach from being shown to everyone. My head was spinning, but my stomach was the worst. I could breathe in the wrong thing while walking with Gendry on the grounds, or even try and eat in the morning while breaking fast, but I would still be sick and not be able to eat. Arya was a bit concerned, not seeing me eat while breaking fast and then throughout the day. As stubborn as I was, saying I was not hungry, I really was but I would be constantly sick.
"You need to see the Master." Gendry urged me as he saw me get sick once more outside the Winterfell walls on a ride with him in the late afternoon. I tried to hide the sickness on my face when we went riding, but after a moment or two of us riding, like he would always do, then we and to stop since I was sick against the wall and having any food I had else in my stomach. I hated being stubborn with my husband, but after his constant bickering and his constant worrying over me, I finally took out my heels from the ground and nodded in agreement.
"Fetch the Master."
I slipped back on my gown, sitting at the edge of my bed and fiddling with my fingers back and forth on my lap, in hopes of wondering what is wrong with me. As soon as I saw the Master, he asked me ally hat was happening with me. After informing him of what was happening with me, he examined me to make sure I had no real sickness to be worried about. Throughout the process, I was worried that it would be something that I didn't expect to happen so soon after I was wed to Gendry: Me with child. I wanted children with Gendry, I couldn't picture anyone else to be a father to my children, let alone to have children with for the rest of my life. But this was just timing, since we were on the brink of war with the South and the last thing I wanted was to bring a child into this crucial time with Winterfell.
The Master returned into the room as I braided my hair once more, trying to compose myself as he walked over to stand in front of me. The thought of me having a child, at this point, was not the best option at all for me. But it could be something else, some kind of sickness that came through from other people. But I realized that it was not the case, since the Master looked down at me with a stern look on his face, knowing who I was and what was at steak.
"Milday, you are with child."