Chapter 44

As she helped her dress, Pia informed Sansa that Lady Roslin had gone to the birthing bed, late the night before. The babe was coming a few weeks earlier than expected, though Pia told her that was common and that the midwife did not seem to be worried about the health of the babe. It had been fortunate that Sansa herself was expected to go into labor any day, so the midwife was already staying at Casterly Rock awaiting the arrival of Jaime's heir.

Sansa was excited about the arrival of her babe, but she was also beginning to feel a bit scared as the time drew near. She was afraid of giving birth and that she wouldn't know how to be a good mother. She remembered when Rickon was a baby, but she'd still been a little girl. And Rickon had not been her baby. Soon, a tiny, helpless creature would be placed in her arms and she would be responsible for its care. She was terrified that she would do something wrong. That she would make a mistake. She wished that her mother was willing to help her – to give her advice and show her how to take care of the babe – but Sansa had accepted that her mother was not interested in helping her. At least I have Jaime to help me take care of our babe and learn to be a good mother.

After breaking her fast with Jaime and Arya, Sansa waited for them to head toward the practice grounds before she made her way to Lady Roslin's bedchamber. She knew that the midwife was with Roslin, but she thought Roslin would like to have a friend with her in the birthing chamber – since she had no family at the Rock. She didn't have a mother or a sister here to be with her. Though, Sansa had to admit, she was afraid that witnessing her friend in labor would only increase her own fear about giving birth.

As Sansa neared the birthing chamber, she saw her uncle Edmure sitting on a bench outside, his guards waiting at the end of the hallway. I wonder if Jaime will actually come into the birthing chamber with me. He had said that he would, but Sansa knew it was shockingly improper for him to do so. Though, Jaime does delight in being improper. Sansa was frightened enough of giving birth, that for once she didn't care about propriety. She wanted Jaime to be with her.

Edmure stood as she neared him. "How is Roslin?" she asked quietly.

He shrugged his shoulders, though he appeared anxious. "She started having labor pains early last night. I haven't been told anything since the midwife went in there. That was hours ago. I'm told childbirth is generally a bit of a mystery for the father," he said with a wry smile.

"Would you like me to go inside? I could come back out and tell you what's going on."

"I wouldn't wish you to trouble yourself."

She smiled. "It's no trouble. Lady Roslin's mother is not here and…I don't want her to be alone. I imagine she's frightened."

"Your mother is in with her. Cat had the same thought as you."

"Oh," Sansa said quietly. She's forgiven Roslin for her part in the plot to kill Robb, then. But she won't forgive me for loving my husband. Sansa pulled her hand away from the door, suddenly uncomfortable and having no wish to bring any sort of awkwardness or argument into Roslin's birthing chamber. She could see Edmure regretted saying anything about her mother being with Roslin during her childbirth. "Would it be all right if I waited here with you?" she asked quietly. "If you wish to be alone, just tell me and I'll leave you to your solitude."

"I'd appreciate the company, Sansa. Let me help you." Sansa allowed her uncle to help her take a seat beside him as she twisted her fingers together nervously. "Are you feeling well, Sansa? You and the babe?"

"Yes. I hope it arrives soon. I'm very excited to see what it looks like – if it looks like me or like Jaime."

She heard Roslin scream in pain and her eyes widened. Oh, gods, perhaps I don't wish for labor to come. "Perhaps you shouldn't hear this, Sansa," he said quietly. "I'm sure it sounds worse to us out here than it is in there." She hoped he was correct. It sounded awful.

"Do you know, will the babe be all right? Coming early?"

"The babe has not come so early to be concerned." He looked at her curiously. "Roslin tells me that your babe should come any day now."

She nodded, though she was a bit distracted by what she imagined was going on in the birthing chamber. "It's kind of my mother to help Roslin through the birth. It's nice for her that my mother has forgiven her and…welcomed her into her family," she said quietly. More to herself than anything.

"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings by telling you Cat was in there."

Sansa shook her head. "It's all right. It's not your fault. She'll never accept my marriage to Jaime. No matter what I say. I suppose I need to accept that she doesn't want to be my mother anymore."

"I don't think that's true, Sansa."

"She only wants me as her daughter if I turn away from my husband. I can't do that. Not even for my own mother."

Edmure sighed. "I'm not so blind that I don't see the affection between yourself and th- between yourself and Jaime. He loves you very much, it seems. And I know you love him. I can see how much the both of you are looking forward to the birth of your child."

"We are." Sansa ran her hand over her belly to comfort herself. The baby was moving all the time now. Jaime liked feeling the babe move even more than she did. When they were in bed together, he would lie awake for hours, moving his hand over her belly, feeling their child move.

"I appreciate all you did to bring Roslin and I back together. I have tried to speak to your mother about you and Jaime. She's rather stubborn."

"It's all right, uncle." She turned and looked at him, meeting the blue eyes that were so like her own. "You remind me of Robb," she said quietly.

"And you remind me of Cat, when she was your age. Your brother, Robb, was born at Riverrun, during Robert's Rebellion. Ned and Cat had hastily married after Brandon's death and then Ned was off to war, leaving her at Riverrun. She was all alone when she learned she was with child. She birthed Robb alone – without your father there. Ned didn't meet Robb until he was nearly a year old. You were the first newborn he held in his arms."

"I know," she said quietly.

"I'm not saying that she loved Robb more than the rest of you but…there was a special bond she felt with him because he was all hers for so long. I wasn't allowed to see Cat after Robb was…slaughtered in front of her. But I saw what they did to him and…she was quite traumatized by it. I expect that is why she is having a difficult time with his death. She needs to blame someone and she blames Jaime. She blames all the Lannisters."

And me as well, it appears, Sansa thought. "I'm a Lannister, uncle."

"I didn't mean you. Cat loves you."

She and Edmure sat in silence listening to Roslin scream in pain until finally the sounds of a baby crying filled the air. Sansa looked at her uncle in excitement. He smiled at her and she could see that he was emotional about the birth of his child. The door opened and Sansa met her mother's gaze. She was visibly startled to see Sansa sitting there beside Edmure. They had not spoken in weeks, not since Sansa had ordered her mother's guards to return her to her chambers.

She saw her mother's eyes flick to her hugely swollen belly – recognizing that the child would be coming any day. Lady Catelyn soon recovered and turned her attention to Edmure. "You have a daughter. And both she and Roslin are perfectly healthy. You can go in now, and meet her."

Sansa smiled to herself. It seems Roslin's prayers for a girl were granted.

Edmure all but ran toward the door, but stopped abruptly, turning to Sansa. "I'm sure she'd like to see you, Sansa. Roslin likes you very much."

Sansa met her mother's eyes and struggled to her feet, as her guard approached and took her arm to help her. "I'll return later to see Roslin and the babe. Congratulations, uncle. I'm certain she's very beautiful." Sansa looked at her mother once more before allowing her guards to escort her from Lady Roslin's bedchamber.

…

Sansa hesitated outside the entrance to the prison cells where Jaime was holding the Northerners that had been taken captive at the Red Wedding. Something had compelled her to order her guards to escort her down there. Perhaps it was seeing that her mother had accepted Roslin and Edmure's marriage - at least enough to assist her in her childbirth – but would not accept Sansa's marriage to Jaime. If her own mother would not accept her now that she was married to Jaime, she knew that the Northern Lords could prove even more difficult to win over.

Sansa knew, if any of her children were ever to hold Winterfell, the seat of the North, Sansa would first need to win the loyalty of the Northern lords. She and Jaime had spoken of it before, and she knew he was right that they wouldn't bend the knee just because she was Ned Stark's daughter. She would have to show them that she truly was a Stark. She would have to show them that she was still a Northerner and that she belonged in the North. Winterfell was her birthright, but she would have to show them that she was worthy of it.

Her child would be born soon, and Sansa felt a pressing need to address the men whose loyalty was necessary to rebuild Winterfell.

"Are you certain you want to do this, Lady Lannister? We can take you back to your chamber. Lord Lannister would probably prefer that," one of her guards murmured, with worry.

"I'll be fine," she said, taking a deep breath and standing tall, forcing any expression of nervousness from her face. She strode into the dungeons and, as she remained hidden, looked at the cells ahead of her. She could see that Jaime was treating them well, though they were still prisoners. The men were housed in several large ccells. They had been provided bedrolls and furs to sleep on, and firepits to keep warm. She knew Jaime was treating them better than they had treated him when he was their prisoner at Riverrun. And she knew he was treating them well for her sake.

She recognized some of the faces from feasts at Winterfell, though she did not know many names. The most recognizable to her was Greatjon Umber, who had traveled to Winterfell quite often. She had noticed him when she was a little girl because his loud, gregarious manner was so different in comparison to the icy reserve of her father.

She rested her hand on her belly, and reminded herself that she was doing this for her child. Sansa held her head high and walked into the dungeon and stood in front of the cells, waiting for the Northern lords to notice her presence. It didn't take long.

"Lady Lannister," the Greatjon murmured, causing the others to fall silent. "What brings you to your husband's dungeons?"

"I wished to see how all of you were being treated. Now that Robb is…gone…I am Lady of Winterfell and your welfare is my concern."

"You are Lady of the Rock," one of the lords she didn't know said, with an accusatory tone.

"I am," Sansa said quietly, forcing her voice not to shake. "But I am also Lady of Winterfell. For now."

"I see the Kingslayer's put a lion in your belly."

Sansa forced herself to stay calm. "The child I carry is a wolf as well. You all swore fealty to my brother Robb. You named him your King. I don't ask that. I only ask that you not deny my children their birthright. That you help me, when the time comes, to rebuild the North."

"The North will never bend the knee to the Kingslayer's son, my lady."

Sansa felt her blood heat as they continued calling Jaime "Kingslayer." She began quietly. "I did not know, that you all were so fond of Aerys Targaryen. He murdered your liege lord. My grandfather, Rickard Stark. And my Uncle Brandon. I should think you would all be grateful that my lord husband put him down before he could murder anymore innocents."

"Lady Sansa –"

"Jaime Lannister may be my husband, but I will always be a Stark."

Sansa began to feel nervous. She worried that she was messing this up, and turned her eyes away from the Lords, glancing to where her guards waited. Instead, she met Jaime's eyes. He was leaning in the doorway, watching her. He smiled and nodded in approval for her to continue. His presence – his support of her actions – gave her the strength to turn back to the Lords.

"Does your husband know you're here, my lady?"

"My lord husband does not keep me locked away as a prisoner, Lord Umber."

"Why are you here?" Lord Umber asked. "What do you want of us?"

"Jaime tells me that you agreed to return to the North, when the war is over, to help rebuild Winterfell. Do you plan to uphold your agreement?"

"Are you calling us oathbreakers?"

"No. But I hear your grumblings…sneering that I am a Lannister and that my child is a lion cub. I suppose I'm here to see if who I have married has made you forget who my father was. My husband could have left you to rot at the Twins, but he did not."

"Aye, because he wants Winterfell for his own son."

"His second son…my second son…will inherit Winterfell. It will be his birthright. Even though he will be Jaime Lannister's son."

"What do you expect of us? Your husband is an oathbreaker. He committed treason."

"Didn't King Robert as well? He overthrew the king, with my father's help. Is that not treason?"

"They did it for your Aunt Lyanna. To avenge the death of your uncle and grandfather."

"I see. Did you ever wonder, if perhaps…Jaime had just as good of a reason for his betrayal of the king?" The men were silent after that comment. "I can't speak to the past, but I can tell you that if weren't for Jaime, there would not be any Starks left to rule Winterfell. I know I would not have survived being a hostage in King's Landing if it weren't for him. And I expect Arya would have been killed by the Queen, had Jaime not concealed her presence here." She could see the surprise of the men in the cells before her to hear that Jaime had chosen to protect Arya in defiance of Cersei. "This is a time of war. And that means…forming alliances you may not ordinarily form."

Sansa met their eyes. "You asked what I want from you and I want your loyalty. I want your oath. I remember when…I heard of my brother Robb's death. When I was told of the Red Wedding. They did not just kill my brother…Walder Frey sought to kill the North. As did the Ironborn. They need to learn that the North Remembers. They need to learn that the North is wild and untamed and they cannot kill it. They need to learn that, while they fear Winter, we thrive in it. Winter is coming. It will be here any day. And when it is safe to travel to Winterfell I will need your help. If they succeed in dividing us. If the lords of the North are in rebellion against the Lord of Winterfell…they will defeat us. They will win." Sansa took a deep breath. "I'm here to ask you for your loyalty, as your Lady of Winterfell."

She glanced over at Jaime again and saw that he was proud of her. "Well done," he mouthed, so they would not hear.

She looked at the lords expectantly. "I'll help you, Lady Sansa," Lord Umber said, falling to one knee. "I'll help you rebuild the North, and get your revenge on the Freys and the Ironborn." One by one, the other northerners vowed to help her and bent the knee.

"Thank you," she murmured quietly, turning to leave them before she began to shed tears. She slowly walked out of the dungeons, her heart racing and threw herself into Jaime's arms as he closed the door to the dungeons behind her.

"I should be angry that you came down here," he said, though he was smiling. The tears of nervousness and fear that she had valiantly held back were beginning to fill her eyes as she tightly clung to Jaime, resting her cheek against his chest. He ran his hand over her hair. "I'm proud of you, Sansa. That was well done. Your father…I believe he would have been proud of you as well."

"Do you think so?"

"I do, sweet girl."

"I could not have…I could have said all that, were it not for you," she whispered, looking up at him. "I could not even have faced them were it not for you." Sansa had always been far too shy and far too proper to ever challenge anyone. And Joffrey and Cersei's brutality had made her even more meek and afraid. Jaime had made her feel safe and he had given her confidence. She could never thank him enough.

She felt him kiss the top of her head as she closed her eyes and let him hold her. I'll see Winterfell again, she thought. They'll help me rebuild it. The northerners and Jaime. Once day, I'll go home again. I'll return to the north with my husband and our children.

….

To answer some of the questions posed in your reviews…yes, Sansa will give birth soon (in a couple chapters), and I expect we will see Jon Snow down the line (haven't actually written that far, but he's in the plan). Thank you so much for all of the reviews…over 400! Amazing. As always, I want to hear your thoughts and I've tried to incorporate those comments/requests that I could without drastically altering my plan for the story.

Next Chapter: Sansa and Jaime try to induce her labor…