It was harder to breathe, knowing that anything could happen within that battle that was occurring in King's Landing. Everytime i tried to breathe, tried to remain my composure, the more I was giving shallow breaths of fear and worry about whom was going to be hurt or whom was dead. Everything to me was hanging in the balance, all because of the fact that this war could either gain or end all that I wanted and needed in my life.
So I paced, going back and forth in my tent in hopes of ending the endless thoughts and romping that was occurring in my head. With the men who stayed behind in the shadows of the forest, I was no able to sit still or be calm since everyone I knew was off fighting the South with the enemy. Rickon was asleep in my tent with me, since we were sharing now and the rest of the group as on patrol and looking out for anything unusual or immediate. I watched Rickon from my spot, Shaggydog with him on the bed and they both were fast asleep, having me see that he too was also scared. Once the group left for both the woods and the sea, Rickon tried to hold back the tears that were harboring in his eyes. He was trying to be strong enough for me and for the soldiers who were watching over us. But I convinced him to lay down and rest, knowing that he needed it since he too was too scared for our siblings that were off to war.
I walked over to my sheath and bow, throwing the strap to the sheath over my shoulder and placing my bow on my back against the sheath. I had no intention of shooting anyone, but I needed to feel something that would bring me back to the reality of my own thoughts. I was sued to holding this weapon, it reminded me of Brennon and how he took care of me. it reminded me of the countless times I would have to use it to spare my life.
Going out of the tent, I heard Astrid run up to join me as I walked through the camp we were at, seeing the soldiers walk around with weapons at the ready, watching me for a mere moment before going off to their regular locations on watch out. The cool air was against me, me in my common dress that I made and my weapon strapped to my back. The walking made me clear my mind as I went along the camp line and found myself near one of the cliffs that looked onto the sea. Our camp was near the cliff, along the edge and it made me see the black waters in the tinted blue night. But my eyes were seen on the Southern part from what I found, having me see over the line of trees that were far in the distance, and the tint of orange and res coming from the top.
"The battle, Milday." I heard behind me, having me look and see that it was Brennon. He walked over, his sword at his hip and wearing his regular tunic and pants. He looked like a leader, though his attire never really showed it. I was used to him in his armor and how he looked so stoic, but he was the closest thing I had to a father now. Noticing how he looked so different since I first met him in King's Landing, when my father introduced the both of us together. Since then, I have learned to trust him with my life, and know that he was someone who would kill for me.
"Any word on how it's going?" I asked him, seeing him shake his head and stand next to me on the cliff.
"Not too much has been said since the battle has begun, though from what we gather we are doing good on our side." Brennon explained as he crossed his arms in front of me, looking over at the battle that was happening over the hill. Without even thinking about it, both of my hands were now resting on my swollen belly, wrapping around it as if I was protecting myself, or my children to be honest. Twins, it was still reeling in my brain that I was not only carrying one baby but two. I was beyond filled with the fact that I was going to be a mother, and now that joy multiplied. Everything in me was shifting, shifting into a new good course that could be plentiful and blessed.
"I offer my congratulations on the news of your children." Brennon said to me, having me look from my stomach over to him, seeing a sincere smile on his face and his stance now gentle and soft compared to his leadership stance and face. I smiled back, not realizing that I felt a sting of embarrassment that was coming through to my cheeks and my body.
"Thank you Brennon, your friendship means a lot to me." I replied, seeing him nod his head, "I only wish this blessing in my life happened later, after the war." after I said that that to him, I saw Brennon watch me now carefully, having me feel his gaze as I looked on myself to the sea and thought about it more.
"It is still a blessing, Milday, given the circumstances that we are in." Brennon reminded me, "I have no doubt that this war will end in our favor."
"But at what cost?" I asked aloud, having me get the feeling of fear coming over me again as of before, "At the cost of the other Houses at our aid? Even my own sibling's lives?" The thought of them doing this, for me and my sake, though the North was a bigger reason for this war. But I knew that my life was still part of the reason for this war.
"You are worth this battle, Nora Stark Baratheon." Brennon said to me in almost a vow of a tone, having me finally look over at him and see him watch me now as a protective father more than anything. I felt it from his gaze, how he was trying to show that what we were doing was worth the risk, "Your siblings are willing to make sure that you stay alive and have a good life, since they have only thought of you dead all these years." I looked down once more, seeing my arms around my stomach and having me close my eyes for a moment or so. Brennon had a point, my siblings all thought I was dead, all these years, and they were not going to let me be taken away from them again.
"And I know as well, that Gendry will not let you suffer at the hands of the South." Brennon said through the air, having me pause my thoughts and actions before I looked over at him again, "There is no doubt in my mind that he too is fighting for his own life, and for the life of his family. Don't ever think that this is all about you, Nora. Although you play a significant role in this, we will have the North come back from its depths." I smiled at him, since I beyond glad there was another person voicing out what I was feeling the past few days and weeks even. There was no doubt in my mind that I felt more ease in that moment, from a old and trusted friend. He would never lie to me to make me feel better about a situation.
"Ambush!" We hear behind us, having the both of us look within a second and hear rustling around and people shouting. Something went wrong, very wrong, and my heart dropped. We were bering attacked at our own camp. I threw my bow out from the sheath and grabbed a arrow, loaded it as both Brennon and I broke into a run. Astrid bolted in front of me, her ears low and her teeth barring. I promised Gendry I would stay safe and out of harms way, but I was not going to let anyone hurt Rickon, whom was only there with Shaggydog. Was he hurt? I had no idea at that point, but I needed to find him and keep him safe.
We ran back to the camp, having me see both our men and the Gold Cloaks, only about 30 of them fighting us at the camp. It made me feel rage within me as I saw the Gold Cloaks there, fighting our men and wanting to end us all. Astrid was already knocking down one Gold Cloak and ripping his limb off as I ran over to the tent where I hoped Rickon was. The flap was open, having me run as fast as I could and get into the tent.
There was nothing, not at first. I heard nothing, and I scanned my eyes to see there was blood on the floor, a pool of it near the bed. Rickon was not in the bed, and I felt a scream about to escape my mouth when I heard another sound: a muffling pain. I looked over to the other side of the bed, my bow loaded and the arrow ready for a release as I walked over slowly, expecting the worse since I thought it was Rickon there on the floor, dead.
But I was wrong, I saw a mangled body of a Gold Cloak guard, his face covered in blood and a knife sticking out of his cheek, he was long gone dead at the moment and I sighed in relief, but still confused as to where Rickon was and if he was safe.
"Rickon?!" I yelled out, having me see them a movement under the bed, having me look down and see a mop of dirty blond and red hair poke out. Rickon hid under the bed, having me look down at him getting up slowly, his face was still a bit pale.
"Did you kill him?" I asked him, bring down my loaded weapon and motioning to the dead guard member. He nodded his head, coming up to stand in front of me. His hands, from what I was seeing, were covered in blood and sweat.
"I told Shaggydog to go out and help fight them, but then he came in and was about to kill me." He started explaining, having me then see he was about to loose his breath and his mind from what he just did. I would too, if I was his age and looking back on my first murder. His innocence was long gone then, having me place my bow behind me in the sheath and walk over briskly, placing my hands on his arms and rub them in a soothing manner.
"Rickon." I said to him in my calm tone, having me see him look up at me with big eyes and I squatted down to his level with a bit of difficulty from my pregnancy, "You defended yourself, and nothing more. He was going to harm you, but you made sure he didn't. Rickon, you did nothing wrong, and I'm beyond glad you're safe." I pulled him into a fierce hug, having me feel him hug me back and tremble a bit in my embrace. I wanted him to know, to fell what I was doing, that what he did was the best thing he could do. I kissed his curls, pulling away and smiled down at him.
"We're going to stick together, we're a pack remember?" I asked, seeing him nod his head and sniff once before I smiled at him, ruffling his hair again and slowly getting up from the squatting position, one hand on my belly and the other on his shoulder. He grabbed my arm in support, having me then grab my bow once more from the sheath and a arrow to get it loaded.
"Rickon, Nora!" I heard behind us in a tone of fear, having us both look at the opening flap of the tent and walk over to see who was calling for us. But a Gold Cloak ran into the tent, having me see Rickon run behind me as I shot at him, hitting him in the neck and seeing him stagger to the floor. I grabbed his arm, pulling him away from the now two dead Gold Cloaks and over to the opening of the tent, having us see darkness once more as we saw all that was happening around us in our camp. Most of the Gold Cloaks were dead as I saw the Brotherhood Without Banners slaying them left and right. It was in our favor from what I saw, and I then within a instant a arrow flew past me so close that I felt the wind brush against my skin. The arrow hit the tent, sticking out like a sore thumb as I then felt Rickon pull me over to him.
"Nora!" He said in fear as I then looked in front of me and saw the Gold Cloak with the bow in hand, having me load and then aim at him before he could do it himself with all of his armor. I shot at him, finally getting him in the shoulder between two of his armor pieces and then hearing a growl over to my right, his left. With the arrow sticking out from his shoulder he looked over at the noise, as did I, and I saw it was Shaggydog, standing on top of a corpse of a dead Gold Cloak. He jumped, stretched out in midair as he pounced on the soldier and killing him with just a huge amount of force from his paws.
"There you two are!" Brennon ran over, seeing that I and my bow out and his face melted into concern and worry. I sighed in annoyance, placing the bow back on the sheath on my back and holding up my hands in defense to him. Shaggydog ran over to Rickon, staying close to him as Rickon grasped his fur with his small hand.
"I'm not doing anything stupid, Brennon." I reminded him, seeing him only roll his eyes and nod his head.
"Fine by me." He replied, "Come with me, all o the guards should be dead by now so let's head to King's Landing." Both Rickon and I followed him through the camp, having me look back and forth and see the Brotherhood Without Banners men walking back and forth through the camp to see if there was any surveyors from Kings Landing. Although they came to come and try to stop us, they were dead quickly and without any problems. It made me feel much better.
Before we could reach the horses, I was pulled back suddenly and a arm went around my neck, having me be pulled against some kind of body, having me see then Rickon and Brennon look around and Brennon pull out his sword to point at whom was holding me hostage. I was about to yell out for them to help, but a knife was placed against my neck and I stood still, knowing that with one move I could die from this. Shaggydog growled, standing in front of Brennon and Rickon with his black fur and green eyes.
"One more move from either one of you, I slit her throat and take her body to Cersei." The man behind me in a growl, having me squirm a bit from a harshness of the sound in his voice. I had to think of a way to get out of this, but then again if I would bring harm to myself, it would almost mean to the two children I was carrying. But then the arm around my neck was gone and I heard a huge scream in my ear. I ran away from the man, whom I saw was being mailed by none other than Astrid. My breath was taken, feeling more and more appreciation to having my own direwolf who saw me apparently in danger. As soon as the man was dead, Astrid looked up at me, her two toned eyes were big and hopeful as to see if she was full of hope and wonder if she did the right thing. I smiled at her, reached down to ruffle her hair.
"Good girl." I could think of no loyal direwolf than Astrid. Since the moment I saw her as a pup, she was so close to me and my heart, never once leaving my side nor did me ever betray me. I watched her as she pressed her nose against my belly, having me smiled as her cold nose touched the swollen belly and it made me realize: She knew. She knew of my unborn children, some how some way she did. I was forever thankful for her.
"Come." I heard behind me, having me feel Astrid nuzzle against my hand at my side as I saw Brennon look at me with determination, putting his sword back on his hip.
"To King's Landing."