It seems I cannot write longer chapters, even if I wish so.
I would also like to apologize for the long wait but this was half-written for a while, I was just busy (and a little unispired, I must admit). But I come bearing gifts, one tiny one to be exact and you'll see it at the end of the chapter. Hopefully you'll let me know what you think about it.
Chapter 40 : Children of the Bear
The days of the travel had been exhausting, not only because of the distance, but thanks to the weather. The snow kept on falling as they rode to the coast and later, while they sailed to Bear Island, the sea had not been gentler.
What caused a big impression on Dany was the Wolfswood. She recognized it even if she had never been there. In her dreams about Robb and Iagan, she had seen those ancient trees and felt the cold and silence of a place that had survived for centuries, through winters and summers.
Overall Iagan behaved better than most babies would under those circumstances, but he constantly asked about his father. The two of them had already a bond stronger than iron. She was only able to soothe him with promises that he would be back soon, that it was only for a short time that they would be away. Some nights she wondered if those words served her instead of her son.
"My sweet boy," Dany cooed as she held Iagan in her arms, helping him to get some sleep. "My little dragon."
His soft breathing tickled her neck as she covered him in furs. Iagan was holding to her as if he knew he had to protect her, just like she did with him.
"Is he hungry?" Ser Barristan asked while approaching them.
Dany shook her head softly, not to disturb her son. "He's fine, and so am I. How much longer until we arrive?"
"From here, I'd say a few more hours. The sea is good for sailing to Bear Island."
Good? She looked around and saw the grey waves, the sea jumping to almost reach the sky. It was nothing like the Narrow Sea under the sun. In fact, she had not seen a ray of sunshine since they had gone north The Neck. But she guessed the gloom fit the North and its solemnity. It certainly matched her mood.
It was incredible because since she had gained her freedom from Viserys and then Drogo, she had not felt like she needed anyone. Yet, when she was away from Robb and Iagan, something felt amiss. She knew she could have been queen without them. She was strong enough to do so, but having Robb and his tenacity, his loyalty and secret tenderness only served to keep her stronger. Iagan had become both of their rock, a powerful reason to keep fighting.
Ser Barristan pulled a fur and covered them both, Dany and Iagan.
"We'll be there soon, Your Grace." The old knight smiled kindly at her, that sad and small smile that reminded her of a time when Ser Willem Darry took care of her. She barely remembered the man, but she had always longed to feel that again; like someone cared. Of course, Robb was looked at her with love, but it was different; she and Robb were one, and Iagan was proof. Ser Barristan's loyalty waited for nothing in return, like a father would.
Without noticing it, she dozed off while snuggling Iagan tight to her chest.
"Mama?" Iagan called, waking her from her restless slumber.
She opened her eyes in time to see the shape of the island. They were quite close now, and she finally felt her chest breathe with more ease. This was not home, but with Dacey it would be quite close to it.
-o-
Iagan walked by her side with little steps as they entered the castle, after being welcomed by Lyanna, a young girl who looked much like Dacey, her sister. During her introduction, Lyanna told them she was the youngest daughter of Maege Mormont, and quite proud of her and her sisters.
"She's been in a bad mood since her return," Lyanna muttered for Dany. "She has never been the one who has wanted children, that was why Mother took her with her. I guess the Bear thought otherwise."
Dany said nothing. She was unsure of what Dacey had told to her family about the child she was expecting, and she had no right to ruin things for her in case she had decided to keep it a secret.
When the strong woman that used to hold a mace and fight fearlessly appeared in front of her with a large and round belly, Dany could not help but to smile widely at her and throw her arms around Dacey's neck. Last time she had seen her, she had been hurt, and now she was standing on her feet. So much had happened since then.
"My friend," Dacey murmured as she returned the hug. But soon she saw the little boy and grinned. "My Prince."
Iagan blinked at her with his big and deep blue eyes.
"Is he not big?" Dacey muttered amusedly. "I've missed so much since I came back here."
"So have I," Dany murmured, placing a hand gently on Dacey's prominent stomach. She smiled at her friend, but immediately noticed that the woman was not returning the smile and instead looked worried and distant. "What's wrong?"
"Has he come with you?"
The question was barely over a whisper. Dacey refrained from using Jaime's name or even make a small reference to him. Dany doubted she had told anyone who the father of her child was; just like most Mormont women did apparently, Dacey would say her child had been fathered by The Bear.
"He went to The Wall with Robb. Our King wouldn't have allowed him to come. He knows nothing about this, but has made questions to me."
Dacey snorted. She knew him well enough to be sure Jaime was not one of sentimentalism. Dany was not aware of the nature of that relationship and wondered if it had just been a partnership to sate their basic needs, if it was nothing more than physical release.
"Has he? Be honest, Dany. I'm not easily offended. I can hold my own." Her voice was harsh, full of sarcasm. She expected nothing from him, maybe because he never promised anything.
"He asked for you once," Dany responded honestly, taking Iagan in her arms and letting him look around the place with those big eyes that always seemed aware of everything. "And I said nothing, like you asked me. That does not mean I agree with your decision."
"I will not let him dishonor my family." Dacey almost growled, covering her belly with possessive hands as if protecting her babe.
"That child you have inside you is too powerful. When you give birth... things will change for us if their allies find out."
"If the Lannisters find out about it, they will try to kill me and my child," Dacey hissed, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
"He will not allow it."
"He will try to do it himself," Dacey sentenced with a stony voice, an attempt to mask her pain.
Dany said nothing back and only held her gaze.
For all she knew, Dacey could be right. Jaime was still a Lannister, even if he was paying long overdue debts to her. Once he considered them paid, he could turn on them and even if Robb was still keeping an eye on him, the result could be disastrous. Even so, Dany thought she had seen a change in him, and perhaps Dacey had something to do with that. Perhaps a child would be the one thing to cement that, since this one he could finally call it his own.
-o-
Just like in Winterfell, days in Bear Island were mostly cloudy, but the wind blew strongly which forced Dany to once again don her hooded cloak. She could not spend her days locked inside the small castle, not when her heart and mind were elsewhere.
She had received the raven letting them know about the victory at The Wall, about how everything was right. But nothing was said about what happened between Stannis and Robb, about the tension between their armies. She could very well imagine it was not an easy place to be at the moment, and she constantly thought about her husband and the possible outcomes.
Robb had decided to destroy Stannis as soon as the man showed any sign to break their truce. That was why he had taken so many men with him, acutely aware that Stannis strength was at sea, where he was more knowledgeable and comfortable.
She only hoped their plans could work.
"Mama?" Iagan tugged at her cloak as he let himself fall on his behind on the muddy ground.
She laughed at him and his tenderness. No matter what great future awaited him, and what legends could be told about him in the future, he was still a babe and behaved as such, playing with mud and laughing at small things. She wanted that. She wished for nothing more than for him to have what she did not; a normal childhood in which he would feel loved and cared for.
"Do you want to play with me?" Lyanna asked as she approached them, quickly taking Iagan's pudgy hands in hers and helping him to stand.
Dany joined them in a very simple game of hide-and-seek that only served to entertain them at the sound of Iagan's laughter.
"Your Grace!" Ser Barristan interrupted the game suddenly and Dany feared the worst when she heard the urgency in his tone.
Had they received a note with awful news? Had something happened South while the worried about the wildlings?
When he reached them, Ser Barristan looked at Lyanna and then at her, smiling a bit when he spoke again. "Lady Dacey is about to give birth."
-o-
It was little what Dany could remember of Iagan's birth. It had been so different in the crypts of Winterfell, in the darkness with the musty smell surrounding them and the cold. It was hard, that much she could tell. But she also had been lucky enough to have Robb there, even if Iagan was a battle-born child.
"Push harder!" the midwife ordered as sweat ran down her forehead and her short and chubby hands forced Dacey to plant her feet firmly on the ground.
Dacey held the rope attached to the ceiling with both hands, growling each time she pushed. Giving birth squatting seemed to help with the torturous labor, but only strong women could do it given how tiring it was to be in that position for so long.
Dany watched as Dacey's knuckles turned white while she screamed.
Irri was the one who placed wet towels on Dacey's face, while every woman in the room spurred her on.
"Harder!"
"I know!" Dacey screamed back with utter fury and Dany wanted to laugh, but luckily for her, she did not.
"Your child is almost here," Dany whispered while looking at her friend's face, trying to keep the calm, trying to ease the tension. It seemed to work as Dacey breathed more deeply before one more grueling push, before the cries of a baby became louder than any other noise.
"It's a girl!" Lyanna shouted excitedly.
"A girl like it should be." Lyra added, other of Dacey's sister.
Dacey soon plopped down on some cushions and panted for a moment before she was ordering to the midwife to hand her her child. Her babe for her to hold and meet after months of waiting.
Only one look at the girl sufficed for Dany. The babe had a tuft of light hair and her eyes were open wide as if she were looking for something or someone. Those eyes were green and bright, full of pride even if she had just arrived to the world.
She was her father's daughter.
"Dacey," Dany whispered, but stopped herself before saying anything more when Dacey started sobbing while holding her child, sobbing and cursing the man who had been responsible of the creature she held tight against her chest.
"Her name will be Berit," Dacey whispered, burying her nose in the soft hair of her daughter.
Dany looked up and gestured for Lyanna to approach her. "Send a raven to The Wall for the King in the North and tell him Dacey's daughter has been born. He'll want to know."
"And tell him to share the news with her father," Dacey told in a strong voice, unwavering in her decision. She looked at Dany, her chin up in defiance. "If I have to kill Cersei Lannister with my own bare hands to keep my daughter safe, I will do it. If I have to kill the Kingslayer, so be it."
She placed a hand over the one holding Berit, and smiled, firmly nodding. "You're not alone. We won't let anything happen to her."
To Daenerys's surprise, there was no shock in the faces of Dacey's sisters. They were only happy for the new addition to House Mormont, not caring if they had to fight against others to keep her safe. It was family like she had always imagined it.
Since that moment the emotions turned to be lighter, just studying the small babe. Berit was very loud with her demands as she proved it when wanting to be fed and complaining when she was being cleaned. But she very much enjoyed being held by her mother and her sisters, and also Dany who cautiously showed her to Iagan.
"This is Berit. Isn't she pretty?" Dany asked him.
"Ber?" he muttered in awe as he tried to touch her with hesitance and fear, but to Iagan's and the rest's surprise, Berit's tiny fist grazed his nose, startling him and making the others laugh.
"I think she's just like her mother," Lyra commented while the laughter quieted down. "Scaring boys already."
They all chuckled some more, enjoying one peaceful moment before news about what was happening at The Wall reached them, before the Seven Kingdoms changed their views about the war all because of one tiny girl born in Bear Island.