"Catch." I said and I threw an apple at Gendry. That man really has good reflexes.
"What are you doing here?" he asked and he took a bite of the apple.
"I just wanted to talk to you. It's been quite some time since we talked alone." I said, and he laughed.
"Yes, I suppose that does happen when you fall madly in love with your husband." He said, and I rolled my eyes. I know that I have been spending most of my time with Robb, but that is precisely why I'm here now. I am going to fix it. I miss talking to Gendry. Especially since we are never really alone. Usually Robb or Arya are with us. Sometimes it's Theon, maybe even Bran. It's been a while since we really talked.
"Ah, you have hurt me deeply." I sighed, and he started laughing." Do you have a minute for a friend?"
"Of course I do." He said with a smile that made me smile too." Should we go for a walk?" he asked.
"Gods no." I answered, and he started laughing." I probably shouldn't be standing at all. Do not say that to Robb." I warned him once I realized that he could make my husband even more worried. Yes, the two of us still worry. He is worried about keeping me in once piece, and I am worried about giving birth.
It will happen any day now. These past few weeks, I have been talking to Catelyn a lot. As a woman who has five children, she is possibly the best advice giver I could have. And I did not like what she had to say.
I will either die, or be in so much pain that I would wish to die. Not that many choices.
It will happen any day now. It could start in a few minutes. And that is why I had such trouble convincing Robb to allow me to walk around Winterfell. Well, to wobble my way towards Gendry and to make him sit with me. That is not exactly walking around. I was lucky enough to have a considerate friend. We sat down on the only two chairs in his work shop. I needed help now, even to sit down.
"You know, he's only worried about you." Gendry said, defending my husband.
"Yes, I know that. And I am worried too. But I still need to move around. I would lose my mind if I was limited to the chambers."
"You are aware that you're going to be staying in the chambers once you give birth, right?" he asked.
"I do." I giggled." And that is the main reason I want to use my time now." I said. If all goes well, I still won't be able to move around too much once the child is born. I keep repeating to myself that this is a true blessing, and I am eternally grateful to the Gods for giving us this child that's growing inside of me, but I have to admit, this is more difficult that I could have expected. No one ever told me that it is this difficult to be a mother. And it hasn't even begun. I will have to raise it to be a decent human being.
"I've been meaning to ask you something." Gendry said, and I nodded." It's about me being the King's bastard." He said, and I nodded once again. Neither one of us ever got used to it, not really. And I am sure he has a much difficult time thinking about that than I do." I get the whole plan, that I will be… well, an asset, and that I won't sit on the Throne once it's all over." He said.
"That is entirely your choice." I said. I have talked about this with Robb and his parents, and we know what we will do, but some things depend entirely on Gendry." If you wish to be King, you have the right to be one. And if that is what you decide, we will fight for it. It may be slightly more difficult for us to convince Renly to join us if we only offer him the position of The hand of the King, but we would never go against your wishes." I said. If he wants to be the King, we will fight for him. He deserves it more than Joffrey ever did, or ever will.
"I do not want to be King." He reassured me." I was just wondering what will that make me." he said.
"You will be the King's true son who didn't want his ass on the Throne." I said, and he smiled at me." I am sure we will be able to negotiate with Renly about your future as well. He wouldn't want to keep you unsatisfied if you do have the right by birth. I am sure you will end up with a nice big piece of land where you could rule. Even if I would hate to see you leave the North." I added. I am selfish when it comes to Gendry, and I am not afraid to admit it. I do not want him to leave me. But if that is what he wants, I will accept it. With a heavy hart, but I will accept it. The most important thing is that he's satisfied.
"I would much rather stay here Elena." He said, and with those words, my heart melted." I don't care about land and money. I was actually hoping you would tell me that I will be able to choose myself a wife. I suppose a King's son has better options than a blacksmith?" he asked.
"I am sure he does." I said, a little taken aback by what he just said. Never before has Gendry mentioned anything about marriage. Not to me at least. And I am still under the impression that we talk about everything. I keep no secrets from him, and I always thought that he didn't keep them either.
"So, a lady from a noble house will be able to marry me?" he asked. I sighed.
"Gendry, where are you going with this?" I asked, and now he was the one who sighed." If you want to tell me something, just tell it. No one will know of it." I said. It feels so strange to see him having second thoughts about trusting me. I thought he knew better than that.
"You might tell Robb, or you might tell her, and that would…" he started, but I interrupted him.
"Gendry, for Gods's sake!" I said, almost yelling." I will not run off to Robb and tell him a girl has caught your eye. And not just because it will be impossible for me to run. I love the man, but I don't tell him your life stories when he can't sleep at night." I said. And once I finally shut my mouth, I realized what he had told me. He is afraid that I might tell HER. I know her. And I think I know her very, very well." It's Arya, isn't it?" I asked in a low voice. I'm not surprise about his feelings. I'm surprised he realized it!
"Yes." He finally admitted." And I do not… I know she's younger than I am… I will wait until the time is right. That is, if that is even possible. And I know it's not, why would a family give their daughter to a King's bastard who is working as a blacksmith. And I see no reason why she would want to…"
"Gendry, shut up." I said, and he finally stopped speaking. A big smile was on my face." I will help you. I will do all that I can to help you, and so will Robb once I tell him. I will tell him when the time comes." I said once I could see that Gendry was about to attack me for saying that I will talk to Robb about it." And he is not blind. We all aren't blind. What you two have is true, and we see it." I said.
"That does not make me feel any better." He said. I started laughing. I have never seen Gendry so scared." Do you think that Lord and Lady Stark will agree?" he asked.
"When the time comes, yes. They know you are a kind man. And you are Robert's son." I said.
"And what about Arya?" he asked, and I giggled.
"You should find that out for yourself." I said, and he looked at me in disbelief." Hey, if you can ask for my trust, so can someone else. My head is full of information that I can't tell anyone else. I'm tired of being everyone's confidant." I said. Although it really is tiring to know so many secrets, it makes me happy to see that people trust me. And I do not plan on betraying their trust.
"I'm sorry. I won't try to find out anything from you." He said, and I nodded. We smiled at each other, and at that very moment, I felt sudden movement. The baby moved." Are you alright?" Gendry asked.
"I'm not sure." I said, gritting my teeth. It hurt. Oh, and now it hurt again. I need to use the toilet before it's too late." Gendry, I think it's starting." I whispered.
"What's starting?" he asked, completely confused.
"The snow? Dear Gods, the baby is coming Gendry, that's what's starting!" I yelled. It was mostly because of the pain, but his stupid question didn't help me much.
"Oh dear!" he said and he jumped out of his chair." What should I do?"
"Help me?" I asked, and he finally came over to help me get on my teeth." I must say you're not good under pressure." I said.
"Oh shut up, I never was in this situation, was I?" he asked. I couldn't even respond. I just needed to go to the toilet, very badly. I have heard of this, Catelyn herself has told me about it. The last thing I want to do is to wet myself in the middle of the courtyard." Where are we going?" he asked.
"Catelyn. Elisa. Robb." I said. That was all I could manage to say right now. We made our way into the castle, and I was silently thanking the Gods for saving me from what could have possibly been the most embarrassing moment of my entire life. But the pain is getting the best of me. I could barely walk.
"Elena!" I heard a voice. It was Catelyn. She ran towards us." Is it starting?" she asked, and I could only nod." Gendry, help me take her to her chambers. Then go and get Elisa and one of the healers or Maestar Luwin." She said, and they helped me climb up the stairs. Gendry was almost carrying me.
"Robb." I said. I cannot manage more than one word at a time.
"He's with Theon. They're hunting." Catelyn said, and my heart dropped.
"HUNTING?!" I yelled, my blood now boiling. I have a feeling that the baby didn't like my screams." Send someone for him, I beg of you. I know he can't be with me, but I'll feel a lot better if he's at least near me." I said. I found the strength to speak, because I don't know if I can survive this without him. I am aware that he won't be able to hold my hand. That would be breaking some sort of tradition. But I will feel a lot better if I know that he is at least in the castle, and not in the middle of the woods.
"Gendry, please, see to that." Catelyn said, and he nodded.
We barely made it to the chambers. Well, that's what it seems to me. Gendry left at once, and I was left alone with Catelyn. No man is supposed to see this. Not unless he's a Maestar. And even he won't be here for the birth itself. It has to be a woman. If all goes well, the healer will be the same one that helped Catelyn deliver all of her children, including Robb. Yes, if all goes well.
…
It is all happening so slowly. I feel like it's been hours since it started. By now, the whole of Winterfell knew about it. Only my husband didn't. Wonderful, just wonderful.
The pain was unbearable. And yet, I kept my screams inside of me. I know that I have no use of them. I would rather bit my lip so hard that it will bleed, than scream from the top of my lungs, like I wanted to. It would only scare everyone around me. It is bad enough that I'm petrified.
All of the things that haunted me ever since I learned that I am carrying Robb's child now feel on top of me. Everything, every single worry, every single sleepless night, it all ambushed me.
Will I live? Or will I die? Perhaps I will live long enough only to hold my child. That is more than my mother ever got.
Two healers were with me, and Catelyn was walking in and out of the room. She was informing the whole family, and she was waiting to see if Robb has returned. She knows me so well.
Elisa was here too. She was the one who held my hand. And no gold will ever be enough to repay her for this. I am honestly scared that I might have broken her hand. Still, she gives me encouraging words and lets me hold her hand like I am holding on for my dear life.
"My lady, I can see the head." One of the healers said." We need you to push now." She said. I kept my mouth shut, but I wanted to yell at her that I have been doing exactly that for the past few hours. But I didn't say a word, and I pushed, once again, with all the strength I had in me.
"You are doing well Elena." Catelyn reassured me with a small smile. "Better than I ever did." She said.
"Your screams really were terrifying my lady." Said the healer who helped her while giving birth.
"Well, just because I don't scream doesn't mean I don't want to." I said, and I took in a deep breath. And I pushed yet again. Catelyn left the room, possibly to tell them that I am still very much alive.
"We're almost there my Lady. Keep pushing." Said Catelyn's healer and I almost laughed because of the irony. Almost there! She said that to me hours ago! They all lie, people always lie! Robb promised me that he will be here, and he's out with that son of a bitch, hunting and having fun. He's a liar!
"Aaaa!" I yelled. My anger made me lose control. I managed to shut myself up once again.
"He's here." Catelyn said, and I didn't even notice her return to the room." He's waiting with the rest of them." she reassured me with a small smile." And he told me to beg you not to kill him." She said.
"Oh, he knows me well." I said, and I even managed to laugh. Only for a split second." I would have killed him if he didn't manage to get here in time. He's only just a little bit late!" I ended with a yell, since I felt pain that was even worse than the pain I felt all along.
I was on the verge of fainting, I could feel that. This was it. I'm losing my strength. I'm going to die.
"Catelyn, if something happens…" I said, my voice barely a whisper.
"Elena, nothing bad will happen." She reassured me, grabbing my hand that Elisa wasn't holding.
"Tell him that I love him." I continued.
"Elena, now is the perfect time for you to shut up!" Elisa said, and I looked at her in complete surprise." You're not going to die. Keep yourself together for fuck's sake. You're a Lannister and a Stark. And you are stronger than you know. Just keep pushing." She said. I was completely blindsided. She never spoke to me in this manner. Probably because she is not allowed to do so. But I will not hold that against her.
She is right. I need to grab a hold of myself, and do this. It has to end, one way, or the other.
So I kept pushing.
"Almost there my lady!" The healer yelled, and I gave one last pushed, followed by a scream. And the pain slowly decreased. I was still hurting, but not like I was before. That can only mean one thing." It's a boy." The healer said, and I started laughing and crying at the same time. I could not see him, but the notion that my son was out there made me feel very much relieved. He made it." A healthy, strong boy. Just like his father was. He will be as strong as Robb is." The healer said. I could hear my son cry.
"And Elena." Catelyn added, and I smiled weakly at her.
"I want to hold him" I said.
"My lady, we first need to make sure you are alright." The healer said. I suppose I don't have a choice.
"Elisa, go and tell Robb." I said, and she nodded. I needed Catelyn by my side now.
I was still weak, but not like I was before. I might not die after all.
"All is well my lady." The healer told me, and she smiled at me." I must say, this is one of the easiest deliveries I have ever witnessed." She said, and I laughed. I was sad too. Sad to know that I made it, and my mother didn't. But she made it long enough to give me a chance to live. I am here because of her.
"Can I hold my son?" I asked, once again, and this time they allowed me. They handed me a small creature in a blanket. He was not crying anymore, but I was. I was crying and smiling at the same time.
He is a beautiful baby. The only thing I could tell is that he had dark care, and judging by his earlier cries, a good pair of longs. My son is alive and healthy.
"He looks just like Robb." Catelyn whispered. And I was more than happy about it. I was hoping for a son that looked like his father. Catelyn was very much there when Robb was born. She must be right.
"Elena?" Elisa asked from the door and I looked away from my beautiful baby." Can he come in?"
"He'd better." I said, and as soon as I did, Robb barged into the room. In all this time, I have never seen him so confused. He didn't know where to look. At me or at the small baby in my arms.
"My love, are you alright?" he asked, and I smiled.
"More than that." I said, and he smiled, but I could see that he was still confused and maybe even frightened." Come, don't you want to hold your son?" I asked, and as soon as he heard those words, a huge smile was on his face. He slowly sat down on the bed next to me, and I handed him his son. I was looking only at Robb's reaction. He looked so dumfounded that I almost started laughing. It was like he never held a child in his arms. But there was also joy and pride in the look he was giving to our son.
"What should we name him?" he asked, now looking at me.
"Rickard." I answered, without second thought.
"So you did think about it?" he asked, a small smile on his face.
"No thought was needed. We will honor your grandfather. Our son will be a true Stark." I said. I could hear Catelyn sobbing. But I only looked at Robb. I have never seen him being so… content. Happy.
"Thank you, my beautiful wife." He whispered, and kissed my forehead. I laughed.
"I am pretty sure that I'm hideous right now." I said. I am afraid to imagine what I look like right now.
"You're always beautiful to me." he said. How does he do that? How. I just gave birth to our son, and I'm barely keeping my eyes open, and yet, his words, his smile and his eyes managed to light a fire inside of me. No one could love someone as much as I love him. No one." Isn't your mommy beautiful, hmm Rickard?" he asked, and we all laughed. I will never be this happy. Nothing will ever be able to beat this.
Say hello to Junior :) Hope you enjoyed it. New chapter will be up in a day or two :)