"With child….as in….a baby?" Arya asked me aloud in both shock and amusement. I was sitting with her in her room early the next room, waking up as soon as I could and knowing she would be up as well doing her water dance lessons and her daily ride around the area. It was something I too was still drinking in, grasping the reality that I would become a mother soon, a mother to a child, Gendry's child. I told no one else, since the only other person I would tell is coming back from going to the Tyrell's homestead with the others. Arya was the only oner person I could trust with something like this, since I knew she would not tell another soul without my permission.
"The master did confirm it." I replied back to her, seeing her watch me with a amused look on her face as Nymeria's head was on her lap, licking at her fingers and snuggling into her. Astrid was sleeping on the floor soundlessly as I thought about my next move with this.
"So….are you going to tell Gendry?" Arya asked me quietly in wonder, as if I had to think about it myself. I nodded my head quickly.
"Of course I will, but I don't know when. This would happen when we are on the brink of war with the South." I explained to her, thinking about it my head and all that go wrong.
"Not to mention if Cersei finds out you're with child then she'll kill you even more, you and the baby." She reminded me from her spot on the bed, having me instantly wrap my arms around my stomach, the sheer knowledge of what she can do to me now that she knows another heir is living inside of me. Would she stoop that low, be that mean and cruel? Was she not a mother herself? But then again, it was all chaos when it came to her and her children.
"I won't let her touch my child." I said in a low tone, almost quivering. Arya placed her hand on my own that was covering my stomach.
"And you think anyone here in Winterfell will let that happen?" She asked me in a raised eyebrow. I watched her, feeling like a fool for doubting my family for one second. It was fact: the Starks stuck together. Once they all knew about me being with child, I would a bigger target for Cersei and a bigger protection need from my siblings. I sighed, rubbing my stomach for a moment or two before smiling, having me feel a sense of peace about it before looking at my sister again.
"It's funny, Arya. I should be scare about this…but I'm also happy at the same time." I explained to her in almost a dream like tone, having me see her smile in return from my comment.
"As you should be. I think you'll make a great mother." She said to me in her determined tone, "And Old Gods have mercy if my niece or nephew becomes just as stubborn and hardheaded as the father." WE both laughed from that comment, having a sense of peace coming over us as we even thought about it. His Stubbornness, and mine as well, that would make twice as much trouble as we would expect from a little baby.
"I pray to the Old Gods that the baby won't get his thick headedness, or else I would never forgive myself." I joked with her, hearing her laugh and then tap my hand once more. It was good to not only laugh with Arya in this troubled time, but to console with her about this new discovery and all that was on the line. She had the mind of a survivor as well as I did, and she knew that survival was our top priority in this family.
"Go talk to him, I think he will understand." Arya reassured me, having me nod my head in a agreement as we heard a knock on the door. We both looked at the noise, Nymeria's head perking up from Arya's lap and having us all see the door open slightly. I smiled, seeing Gendry poke his head into the room. Arya hopped off the bed as he came in, looking rather sheepish, as if he was out of his element with his wife and good sister in the room.
"I was looking for you, you were in the bed this morning and I thought you got sick again." He said to me as he walked over and kissed my head, having me wrap my arms around him and hold him close. Arya snuck out of the room, Nymeria right behind her. I was left alone with my husband, having me think of how I was going to tell him, how he was going to be a father and we were going to raise a family together, here or in Dragonstone.
"I have something to tell you." I said to him in a hushed tone, since we were already so close and the only people in the room. He looked down at me, his face was showing worry and fear from not knowing what I was going to tell him. I pulled him down, having him sit next to me on the bed and I held both hands in my own, watching his blue eyes.
"Are you still sick?" He asked me in concern, having me shrug in my spot.
"I will be for awhile, but there is a reason behind me bring sick constantly." I explained to him cautiously. He waited, as patient as ever as I then took in a deep breath.
"I saw the Master." I said to him cautiously as he waited for me to keep going. Well, this was it, all or nothing in this situation. So I only prayed to the Old Gods that he would be happy and not angry, though the latter did not seem right.
"I'm with child, Gendry." I said it aloud in a bold tone, as if I was making a declaration of some kind. Well, I was. Gendry sat there in silence for a moment or tow, drinking in what I was telling him and making it worst for me to sit there and wait for what he was going to say. Was he angry? Was he exceed? Was he anything? I had no idea or recollection as to what to do in that moment. So I sat there, completely frozen as I then heard him speak out after a moment of pure silence.
"You're with child?" He asked in a soft tone, so soft that it sounded like it was about to break. I smiled, nodding my head and seeing him have a smile slowly come onto his face. I placed his hands that I was still holding against my stomach, seeing him watch me as I did this action.
"You're going to be a father, Gendry." I explained to him in a shaky tone, almost on the brink of tears as he was watching my stomach, "Tell me what you're thinking, please tell me."
"I'm just…" He trailed off, looking back up at me finally, showing a huge smile on his face and then framing my face gently in his hands, having me not be able to breathe for a moment or two because of this one action that he did with me.
"I would love nothing more than to have this child with you, Nora." He explained to me, moving my hair away from my face before kissing my forehead with such adoration, "This is a blessing, a great blessing for the both of us." I smiled as he held me close to him. We did have to kiss to proclaim our love for one another, we only needed this one embrace with one another. Once we pulled away from each other, he gave me a sweet kiss on the lips and then smiled nervously.
"Are you sure you're with child? Might he have made a mistake?" He asked nervously. having me giggle and shake my head.
"It's a real child, Gendry. I promise. And if you don't think we're ready for this, I was told to get some tea from the Master." I explained, seeing him shake his head and smile back to me in return.
"No no! Gods no, I want this, with us." He said back in a fast pace, "We can have this family, Nora. Seven Hells knows I've wanted to have children with you for awhile now."
"As I wanted the same as well, Gendry." I reassured him, "But I don't want our child to got through this whole war and be in danger." Gendry then stared at me the same stare of leadership, when he would order men into battle or tell them what to do. I saw the same look in his eyes.
"You know I won't let anything happen to you, Nora. I never have, nor will I start letting you get hurt now. And our child." He said to me, placing his hand back on my stomach, "Will be safe with us. I promise you, Nora Stark Baratheon, that no one is going to harm our child while I'm here with you." I nodded my head at him, seeing him pull me close into his arms and resting his chin on my head. I hugged him back just as hard, hearing nothing else but the breathing of my husband and the crackling of the fire in the fireplace.
"The Queen Regiment will want to try to kill me now." I murmured to him, feeling him squeeze my harder into his chest.
"She won't touch you." Gendry replied into my hair. I hummed in agreement.
"Cersei will have to get through a wolf pack in order to touch our child, and I'll kill her before she does that."
"Milday, riders a approaching with the Starks sigma." A worker informed me as I was in the center of the fortress, talking to Coen and other workers about the day and what needed to be done. Davvos took some of the Brotherhood Without Banners with him to the South, to go undercover and tell us all that is happening and to also grab Gaila before any harm would happen to her. I was glad that he was willing to help, and he went too with Stannis's blessing. Stannis himself was getting other Allies that he knew, especially those in Bravvos, to help is get ready for war.
A couple of days after I told Gendry of the news, we both decided to wait for Sansa and the rest of our allies to come home before we made it a announcement to all of the North. I was scared to make the claim to all, thinking that I would then place a bigger target on my back now that I was carrying a heir to Winterfell AND Dragonstone. Our child became a game piece in this war now, and I hated it.
"Alert Lord Snow and Lord Bran at once." I ordered him as I walked over to the main gates, which were being opened and I heard the horses coming from a bit away. I could see the flags overhead the horses, the grey Stark Sigma flying in the grey windy air as I saw Jon and Bran riding over on their horses. Bran had his braces that were attached to the saddle, making him look like he was riding for years and without fail. Summer was next to him, looking on in seriousness as well as Ghost with Jon.
"It's Sansa and the others, coming back from the Tyrell Household." Bran said aloud in a smile on his face. He, like the rest of our family, was glad Sansa was coming back in the North. Jon Dismounted from his horse, standing next to me as we watched from our spots.
"I hope they bring good news." I said to him as I stood next to him and his horse. Placing a hand on the horse's neck, I then heard Gendry and Arya rush up as well with Koda and Nymeria.
"Any word yet from Davvos?" Gendry asked me with interest. I merely shook my head, worry flooding over me as he wrapped a arm around me, pulling me close to kiss the side of my head as the group of riders came into Winterfell. It was a relief that I saw Sansa in the front of the group, her hair was growing out the black that it was before, making her look more like a Tully now then before. Tyrion and Jamie were right after, along with Brienne of Tarth and Pod as well. Allt hat were sent out days before were now back again, making me glad that nothing bad happened or that we didn't loose any men. Sansa got off her horse, walking over to hug Jon with just earnest.
"Where does House Tyrell lie?" Jon asked her as she pulled away from him. I looked to see Jamie and Tyrion dismount as well.
"They will come to our aid." She replied in a smile, having me rush over and hug her close. It was a blessing to know that we had another house on our side.
"It took some convincing on her part." Tyrion said aloud in a small smile, nodding his head to his wife. Sansa looked down a bit, I could see she was trying to hide a smile on her own face, "But she was so close to the now Queen of Westeros that she convinced her to help with the war."
"Not only do we have men, but supplies as well." Jamie added alongside his brother as we all met in the middle of the circle.
"Then we must make haste, get things started with this war." Jon said aloud to the group, having us all watch him, "The longer we wait, the more time we will give Cersei to get her army together."
"He's right." Tyrion added to the declaration, "We need to move out." I pulled Sansa over immediately, having me hear the chatter of the group behind us as they were planning out our way to The South. I was beyond glad to see Sansa once more, the Lady of the North and a good source of comfort for me But it was what I wanted to tell her that made it more exciting.
"I have something great to tell you." I said her in a hushed tone as we were against one of the stone walls.
"What is it?" She asked me in excitement, having me smirk at her.
"How do you fell about being a Aunt?"