Wife of the Wolf, Husband of the Sun

Chapter Forty.

Jaime had to admit that he did not expect much from White Harbour, he had heard of it before but it was a city that he had never expected to truly to ever see in his entire life. His father had very little interest in the North and he would likely have never consider betrothing him or Cersei to any northern son or daughter, not even if they were Starks.

But now here he stood on the docks of White Harbour, he still wasn't much impressed. The maester had always told him that it was the smallest of all the cities in Westeros but it seemed even smaller than Lannisport. It didn't help that it was the coldest place that he had ever been, he wasn't sure how anyone could live here and considering her delicate constitution he couldn't even begin to fathom how Elia managed to live her.

And yet the Dornish princess seemed happier then he had ever seen her before, she smiled more brightly when she saw street urchins playing their little games or when she went to the stales to examine the catch of the day. He honestly half expected her to take off running through the streets, laughing and singing like a princess from a song he heard when he was a child.

And he would not begrudge her that, she was home, near enough at any rate and before too long she would be reunited with her husband and she would have their children and if she was wise she would never venture south of the Neck ever again, or at the very least not until the King was dead. Which would hopefully for all of them, not just his family and hers but all the seven kingdoms would not be very much longer.

It seemed an odd thing to think about, the death of a king. It was always something that everyone knew would happen eventually, a king was still just a man after all and the stranger came for them all in the end but for some reason it always seemed to be more of a shock when it happened to a king. A king always seemed like he would live forever and ever until one day they wouldn't.

Aerys had been clinging to life, digging his sword like nails into it and refusing to take them out. Jaime couldn't be sure how the old wretch had been managing it, he was close to the age of his father and while his father was not an old man he wasn't called the Old Lion because he was in the spring of his youth after all. But it wasn't just a matter of age.

The first time he had seen the King when he and Cersei had arrived in King's Landing, he had been shocked. He had briefly thought that perhaps someone had taken a peasants grandfather and had dressed him in royal finery and placed him atop the Iron Throne as some sort of foolish jest but no, this man was the king. He had not done well with hiding his shook, not like Cersei had.

Court was just a battlefield, and this time it was his sister who wore the armour and it was her who wielded the weapons. Thought knowing Cersei as well as he did he knew that she would always have preferred to train with sword and lance and mace but every day that they had spent at court a small part of him always wished that he had some of lessons that Cersei had, it would have made him feel a little more certain of what he was to do.

The king had been in awful shape, his clothes were finely made it could not be denied but they hung off his wretched body, skeletal thin as it was from denying food or drink for so very long and the rich purple of his clothes had been stained brown in several places from where his blood had dried due to the blades of the iron throne biting into his skin. The throne had rejected him, as some would say not that any of them would have the courage to do anything about it.

It was not just his body that was wretched but his mood was a terrible thing to behold as well, the only difference between a good day and a bad day for him seemed to be if someone was getting burned alive in front of the entire court. He could still remember the screams of the poor boy who had been tied to a stake and burnt for the grievous crime of being hungry, the smell was still stuck in his nose.

Jaime shook his head and refused to think any more about the King, the capital, the Prince or Cersei. It would only make him angry and today was a good day, they had finally arrived and he did not wish to ruin it for Elia. It was strange but it made him feel good to know that something he had done had made her this happy, he had brought her back to the North.

Of course, as much as he hated to admit it, it was his fault that she had been forced away from her husband in the first place. Maybe it just felt good because he felt like he had gone some way to mending the wound, at least somewhat at any rate. He wasn't sure if Elia had truly forgiven him or not, they had not honestly spoke about the tourney since the night that he had shown her to the Stone Garden and while she had thanked him for the gesture she had made it clear that she was still not quiet ready to forgive him.

Still, through out their journey to the North she had been talking to him more and more with each day that passed and she had insisted to his father that he be part of the group that took her back to the North.

He wasn't quite sure why he wanted her forgiveness, it had been the king who had done this and he had done this to the both of them and he had only been done what Cersei had asked of him, admittedly in a round about sort of way but that way kept her alive. If he had done as Cersei had asked then Elia would be dead right now. He shouldn't need forgiving.

But he wanted to be, at least a little bit. He hated that it was something that he had done that had made the Dornish woman so miserable, that it was something that he had done that had made her ready to throw herself and her babe into the waves that crashed against Casterly Rock just so she could get away from it all if his Lord Father wouldn't give in to her demands.

He stepped towards her, she had decided to sit down on a barrel to try and catch her breath, and Elia turned her face towards him and granted him a smile that could out shine the sun. "Ser Jaime, isn't it beautiful?" She asked in a voice that made it clear that she had already made her mind up about the city and was only asking to be polite. "I always wanted to visit White Harbour, I admit that this was not the way that I imagined that I would do so but I am here at any rate. I always assumed that I would be staying longer but in the end, it's a only a stop on the way."

"Winterfell is still a way off, I am still surprised that you haven't given birth yet." He muttered as he glanced down at her stomach, he couldn't begin to imagine how it must have felt. To be able to do all she had done and do it while she carried a babe inside of her, Jaime didn't think that he could ever be close to being that strong. "I don't like the idea of you riding the rest of the way there."

Elia sighed heavily, glancing down for a few moments before she looked back up. "I know, I have been fortunate indeed. At the very least in this regard, the idea of riding now seems like the worst of tortures now. I must stay in White Harbour, but I want Ned to be here when it happens. I must send word to him as soon as possible, at the very least he will be on the way."

"Well, then we will need to find a raven which we do not have." Jaime said as he gestured his head back towards where the ships were docked, his father had made it clear that he was not to send any ravens until they arrived at White Harbour. "The only place there will be any ravens will be in Lord Manderly's keep."

"Which I do not think will be much of an issue for us to deal with." Elia said and when she saw Jaime frown she tilted her head to the side and Jaime turned to see at least thirty men dressed in shining silver armour march into the harbour. The armour was clearly of fine make and clutched in their hands, instead of spears and glaives they held shinning tridents.

As soon as his father's men saw them all of them came rushing though none of them drew their arms, one of the men in silver armour approached. He was a tall man who was stout in body and his helm resembled a head thought Jaime could not say who it was meant to be. The man took of his helm and revealed a man who was handsome enough with a blond flowing beard and quiet young, though he was older than Jaime. He had bright blue eyes. "Ser Jaime Lannister, I am Ser Marlon Manderly. Commander of the White Harbour garrison and cousin to our beloved Lord Wyman Manderly. He would ask what business the Lannisters have in White Harbour, your family is not well loved in the North ser."

"This is a port city, is not? Where various goods are traded? My lord father ordered that I accompany this latest shipment of goods as a gesture of good faith that House Lannister does not support the King's decision, though we must respect it. There are some kegs of ale, a few barrels of wine, bolts of silk and spice from across the Narrow Sea and, while she is not a good, a Dornish Princess." Jaime held out his hand and helped Elia stand up from the barrel she had been sitting on, the way Jaime had been standing had blocked the woman from view.

"Princess Elia?" Ser Marlon breathed in disbelief, he looked as though Jaime had just shown him a still living mermaid, singing sweet songs and swimming about in the water as easily as any fish could do so. "Forgive me for not noticing you, my Lady. All the North has heard what had happened to you and Lord Eddard in King's Landing, we are at your service."

"I thank you for that good ser, if you are truly at my service then might I beg a favour from you? I wonder if you would please take me to see Lord Wyman. I must beg a favour from him." Elia said, each word perfectly chosen.

"Of course My Lady, if you would wait but a moment I will see to it that a litter is arranged for you." He turned to yell at two of his men and both of them scattered to go and fetch a litter for her. Ser Marlon turned back to them and addressed Jaime. "I think I speak for us all when I say that I thank you for returning Princess Elia to the North, Ser Jaime. I assume you'll be casting off on the morrow?"

Jaime opened his mouth to answer but in truth he didn't know what the answer to that question was himself, he had been sent to see Elia home and he should be heading back but a part of him did not wish too. At least not yet, he wasn't sure why that was. Perhaps it was simply that he wanted Lord Eddard to see that he had brought his wife home, he wanted the man to thank him. To see that he had done something that he could not.

Yes, that was it.

"I think I shall be staying just a bit longer Ser Marlon, I was charged with the Princess Elia's safety after all. I was charged to see her safely back to her husband and when that is done, and not before, I will return to Casterly Rock." Jaime could hear muttering behind him from his men, the men of the Westerlands were not built for this sort of climate and many of them would want to return but aside from that none of them wanted to keep their Lord waiting any longer than they had too.

Ser Marlon frowned and Elia looked confused but neither of them said anything, soon a litter arrived and Elia was helped inside of it and the two men who had brought it began to carry it through the streets of White Harbour with Jaime, Ser Marlon and both their men following behind them.

It did not take them all too long to reach the New Castle and Jaime was glad of that, it had been an upward climb and it felt as though his legs were going to fall off. At least going back down would be easier, or at the very least he could hope. Elia stepped out of the litter as soon as it was lowered to the ground and she was able to glance around the courtyard for a few moments before both she and Jaime were ushered inside the great hall.

It was certainly the most interesting hall that he had ever been in, it was not a small one to be sure and painted on all the walls it seemed were all the creatures of the sea. Starfishes and crabs and whales and dolphins and sharks and squids, one mural showed a merman with a crown on his head and a trident in his hands doing battle with a great Kraken.

In the centre of the room, atop a raised dais, sat quite possibly the fattest man that Jaime had ever seen in his entire life. His clothes barely seemed to contain him and how he had managed to climb the platform to sit the chair was beyond him. He had the same blond hair and blue eyes as his cousin and he was not bad looking, in his way. Jaime also knew that some wouldn't mind the extra weight.

"Cousin, you've brought lions into the Merman's court. Why?" Lord Wyman's voice was deep and bellowing and Jaime could see that for all the man clearly lacked the self control to put down lamprey pie he clearly did not lack for intelligence as his eyes focused on Jaime. "Not that I am unhappy to have such company in my hall, I am simply wondering what could have possessed Tywin Lannister to send his son and heir this far way from the den?"

"An important matter, my lord." Jaime said as he gestured towards Elia. "This is Elia Nymeros Martell, a princess of Dorne and wife to Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell. Returned home safely."

"By the old gods and the new." Lord Wyman breathed and he heaved himself up from his chair with a groan and stepped down from the raised platform to get a closer look at Elia. "Princess Elia, it does my heart good to see that you are well and returned. We met very briefly at your wedding, though it pains me that we did not speak longer."

"And it pains me that I never got a chance to dance with you, Lord Wyman." Elia said with a smile and Lord Wyman turned as red as a tomato. "I am glad to be back in the North, I wonder if I met beg something of a favour from you."

"You need only ask."

"My time grows nearer and nearer, it could indeed by any day now. I wonder if I might impose on your hospitality and stay in White Harbour until I have had my child."

"Of course my Lady, and as soon I as I am certain that you are settled, word will be sent to Winterfell as soon as possible that you are here."

"Thank you my lord, that is very kind of-oh." A strange look suddenly passed over Elia's face, like she had suddenly forgotten completely where she was and what she was doing.

"Elia? Are you alright?" Jaime asked he reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder, that seemed to have shaken Elia out of her stupor and she looked at him with her dark eyes now as wide as saucers. "Elia?"

"Oh dear, I am afraid that instead of saying that I would birth any day now I should have said any moment. It's now, it is happening right now." Every single person in the hall stared at her in a stupor and Jaime felt as though he had been dunked in a bath filled with ice water. Elia groaned and then let out a shriek as her legs buckled and Jaime had to move quickly to stop her from falling to the floor.

"Marlon, fetch the Maester! Now!" Lord Wyman bellowed and the knight did not need to be told twice as he turned and ran out of the room, Jaime swung his arm under Elia's legs and picked her up. She was clutching his doublet so tightly that her knuckles were turning white and she was biting her lip to stop herself from screaming. "Follow me, she should be in a bed!"

Jaime followed Lord Wyman, but not before ordering his men to stay where they are. Elia was not going to give birth with half of the garrison of Casterly Rock watching. Thankfully it did not take them long to reach a large guest chamber, a fire was roaring inside and as soon as Jaime placed Elia down on the bed the Maester came in to the room.

"When did the pains begin?" He asked as he hurried over to Elia's side, placing the flat of his palm to her forehead for a few moments before he began to feel her ankles.

"Just before Marlon was sent to get you." Lord Wyman answered and Jaime was glad of that as he honestly thought that at the moment he would not even be capable of speech.

"I see, the midwifes have been sent for as has the septa but for now my lords I am afraid that I must ask you to both leave the room." Lord Wyman nodded and turned to leave and Jaime was about to follow him but before he could take a step he felt a hand clamp around his wrist and he looked down to see Elia, her eyes wide with fear and panic.

"Don't leave me, please don't. Ashara was supposed to be hear with me." She began to cry, tears rolling down her cheeks as her voice began to break. "Ned was supposed to be hear with me, Jaime please...I beg you, don't leave."

"I won't." He answered, he did not even need to think about it. The vow had slipped out like it was nothing, but it was everything.

"Ser Jaime, this is a woman's trial. A man who is not a maester has no place in it. Now, come along. She is in safe hands." Lord Wyman was about to place his hand on Jaime but he stepped out of his reach.

"Princess Elia has asked me to stay, I am a knight and a lady has asked me a favour. I will not leave her side until she tells me otherwise, I will stay here my lord. What are you prepared to do to keep me out?" Lord Wyman glanced between him, the Maester and Elia before he let out a sigh and turned to waddle out the room, shutting the door gently behind him.

"If you are staying, then try and keep her as clam as possible." The Maester commanded and Jaime nodded before he dropped to his knees and knelt in front of Elia, offering her his hand that she could use to squeeze if she had too. Elia took it with a smile, one that sadly did not last long as a scream broke through it and Elia squeezed his hand with such force that for a moment he thought that every single bone in his hand had been broken.

What happened next was not something that Jaime truly wished to dwell on, maybe that was why men were not often allowed to attend the births. Maybe they were not strong when it came to this thing but despite what he felt he would not leave her. When the Septa and the midwives arrived there was an argument and they all insisted that Jaime left but Elia had screamed and sobbed and clung to him and that was the end of that.

He truly didn't know how long they had been in that room for but the babe still had not come, the sky outside the window had turned dark and the fire had to be built again at least twice. His knees were aching and Elia looked so very small and pale in that bed. "I can not do this. Oh gods, oh sweet Mother font of mercy I can not do this."

"You can." Jaime answered firmly but Elia simply shook her head back and forth and sobbed.

"I can't. I can't."

"You have too, because if you don't then you are going to die and then your baby is probably going to die and do you want that? No, you are quite possibly one of the strongest people I have ever known. I've known men who wish they could have half your strength, half your courage. Now, you can do this. Do you understand?" The room had gone silent and Elia stared at him like she had never seen him before but after a moment she nodded.

It seemed like hours later when finally, with a loud scream from Elia and a muffled grunt from Jaime as he felt the bones in his hands bring grinding into dust, a tiny cry filled the air. The maester was there to cut the cord that connected mother and child and one the midwives wrapped it in a soft wool blanket. "It's a boy, my lady."

Elia was exhausted but as soon as she heard those words her eyes shone with a twinkle and she was about to say something when suddenly she shrieked and the Maester was at her side one again, looking in between her legs before he rose to look at her face. "I am so sorry my lady, I know that you are tired but I am afraid that we are not quite done here."

"There's another one?" Elia breathed.

"There is indeed."

Elia breathed through her nose and looked at Jaime. "I can do this."

"No doubt."

The sun was just peaking through the clouds when finally another cry filled the air, the babe was wrapped in a similar blanket that their brother had and the midwife smile. "Another boy my lady."

As soon as both of the babes were properly clean they were handed to Elia who took them both and held them close to her, Jaime looked down at them and smile. They had olive skin like their mother but theirs was a tad lighter which he had to assume was due to their father. They were both as bald as old men and their eyes were shut so he could not tell what their colour was.

He turned to look at Elia and she was looking down her sons with what could only be described as an expression of true love on her face as she used her free hand to brush a finger over one of the babes nose.

Jaime did not think he had ever seen something so beautiful in his entire life.

Oh.

Oh no.

Oh no no no.

He was so fucked. He was a dead man.

Was it bad that he did not mind?

End of Chapter Forty.

This was exhausting to write, I hope that you all appreciate that. I know that a certain decision I made in this chapter might prove controversial but if you don't like then you don't have to read. Keep in mind, this doesn't mean anything and this is still a Ned/Elia fic first and foremost.

Next chapter will be a Ned chapter, will have a small time skip and will finally feature the reunion of Ned and Elia.

Please leave a review, a follow and a favourite and as always constructive criticism is welcome.

One more thing before I go, I can't promise I'll use them but if you have any suggestions for names for their sons then I will consider them, leave them in a review or drop me a PM.

Love,

Doctorwhofan12345