CHAPTER 24

Six months had passed and Lyra was soon having her baby. Jorah had been following her around during that time doing anything to make her more comfortable. She was at first having him make love everywhere they could get away with it. In the stables coming in with hay in their hair and in the woods while hunting away from the other people out there. They would run down the halls chasing each other laughing and find a broom closet to have sex and scare the maids. It was happening all over the place in store rooms, cellars and everywhere. People in the castle were talking like the people on the island about them. They said that never was a time they saw their Lord Bear so very happy in his life, until Lyra Wyldwood, now Lady Bear Mormont, came into his life.

Everyone was happy and thriving, everyone had work on building docks, fortifying their defenses and improvements. Bear Island was replenishing with all of the supplies and tools coming to the island. They were even building ships.

Maester Dameron came to find Jorah who was a complete wreck over her giving birth. He was filled with fear of her dying on the birthing bed like his first wife. He knew he just couldn't go on without her, even if he had both his sons to raise. Jassin was becoming more active and very cute at seven months old except when he suffered cutting teeth. They lavished him in love and gave him plenty of water and leather chew toys.

Jorah entered the room and she was having labor pains panting and trying to focus. Lyra had read books on childbirth and saw a good friend of hers giving birth and went to a few Lamaze classes with her when her husband couldn't be there. As Jorah sat next to her on the bed, the pain eased up.

Lyra said to Maester Dameron, "You know when the baby comes, if you cut the tissue carefully at the back where it's thin a little bit to keep it from tearing, you can sew it up later with a few stitches and it will heal faster than letting it tear or get infected?"

The maester asked curiously, "How do you know that?"

Lyra said looking at him, "I've seen it done in other cultures by midwives. The woman heals quicker." The pain hit hard and Lyra cried out and was panting and squeezed the crap out of Jorah's hand.

The maester said feeling between her legs with his sleeves rolled back and cleaned, "You're almost ready. Do you want me to do that cut?" Lyra nodded. He had the midwife get a needle and thread soaked in rum.

When Lyra was ready to push, the maester cut the tissue and the baby's head came through easier. The maester was amazed and made a mental note to include the procedure in a report to the Citadel. Jorah was ashed every scream that came from Lyra.

Lyra pushed again as the maestro and midwife helped get his shoulders pushed through. The maester said to push one more time and the baby came out. The maester announced a baby boy. The cord was tied and cut. The midwife took the baby upside down away because he was already crying. She went to clean him up.

Once the afterbirth came out, the maester began cleaning her up and sewing her up, which burned from the rum. Jorah was so happy his exhausted wife was alive and so was his son. He leaned over and kissed her clammy forehead.

Lyra said softly in her exhaustion, "Look, Jorah. We have another sweet baby boy. How lucky we are."

Jorah said softly, "You are my lucky star, Lyra. Thank you for giving us another son to love. I'm so proud of you, my love."

Lyra said softly, "They are going to keep you busy and young, Jorah." The midwife brought their little boy to them. The baby had light colored hair and blue eyes, Lyra wondered if he would have blonde or light brown hair. Perhaps, blue or green eyes too.

Lyra said, smiling looking at him, "Look, Jorah, he has your nose." Jorah chuckled and touched the baby's little fingers in a fist. The baby opened his fingers and gripped his father's little finger"

Jorah said smiling, "He's got a strong grip. He'll be a strong sword fighter."

Lyra said, "Joran and his brother, Jassin, are going to be good sparring partners. Their father will teach them how to be warriors and knights." Jorah wrapped his arms around Lyra and Joran.

Jorah said kissing her, "You give me so much my cup overflows. I'll be happy when you're fully healed, my love." Jorah stayed in the room with both of his sons and slept next to Lyra as she would feed their boys. Jorah would feed her and himself too.

~~~~~~~

Time was marching by and it was 298AC. Lyra had her three and four year old boys. She had been watching through her dreams, visions and the seer crystal from Old Town.

She had intervened in Jon Arryn's life because his wife was a threat to him wanting to poison him, even oddly enough, without Baelish's influence. Lyra had warged into a cat and startled Lysa Arryn, before she could act. That caused her to fall through the Moon Door one day while she was staring down through it in her madness talking to herself. A few months later, John Arryn retired to go back to being the Warden of the East, Lord Protector of the Erie and raise his son. In his place, Tywin Lannister is asked to be Hand of the King when Lord Eddard Stark declines the offer due to her telling him not to do it.

Lyra knew Lord Ned Stark would be the uniting force as Warden of the North. He had been mass producing weapons for years now. He had been sending several wagons loads of weapons to Lord Commander Jeor Mormont and had several communications between them. So far they were ahead on those things and preparing. She got a letter from Jon saying that he was going to take the Black and be like his Uncle Benjen. She told him it would be tough living there and to watch his back and train hard, but she will always be proud of him.

At the end of 298AC, King Robert died of a goring of a boar just like before but not being poisoned. Tommen ascended the Iron Throne to be guided by Tywin Lannister.

Stannis started his preparation to try to take the throne by being influenced by the Red Priestess Melisandre. Renly was starting his rallying of support for his claim to the throne.

Daenerys Targaryen was talked into marrying Khal Drogo by, not her brother, but by the Magister of Pentos, Illyrio Mopatis. He convinced her to build an army to take to Westeros and by marrying Khal Drogo would be a start. He also made his own backdoor deal with Drogo for profiting himself. Daenerys ended up on the same path just not by her brother. She tried to help the girl but others had dug their claws in and it is the same so far in that regard.

~~~~~~

Lyra was sitting on the floor playing with her boys as Crystal laid in front of the fireplace on her side watching them. They had been playing ball outside with Crystal and now were on the floor in the common room. Their mother started a tickle game. They were in a pile giggling when Jorah walked in the room and smiled big watching his family being silly.

Jorah said, "What's this? Is my lady being attacked by two little hungry bears?" He went and grabbed Jassin and put him under his arm on his hip. Then he grabbed Joran and put him under his other arm. The boys were giggling like crazy.

Lyra got up off the floor and straightened out her dress and hair. She sauntered up to Jorah and said seductively, "Oh Jorah. You're my hero saving me from such silly little bears." Jassin did a little boy growl like a bear. Suddenly, Joran copied him doing a growl. Lyra and Jorah laughed as Lyra kissed him.

Jorah said smiling, "It's time to feed my hungry bears." He carried both boys on their sides giggling to the Great Hall to eat. He knelt down sitting them upright, kissed his boys and patting their butts as they went to their chairs climbing up on them. Crystal walked by nuzzling the boys making them giggle. Jorah stood up and pushed in Lyra's chair. He sat next to her and kissed her.

Lyra said, smiling and winking at him, "I have a surprise for you tonight." The servants came in with hot food and a platter for Crystal they sat down by Lyra and the boys on the floor.

Jorah asked grinning, "Are you going to give me a hint, my love?"

She smirked and said, "It's a secret, well for now." He smiled and poked her in the side making her giggle. The boys giggled too when their father played with their mother making her giggle.

He said inhaling, "Good, I can't wait." Lyra was watching the boys eat and helping if needed. They were very smart little boys and liked doing things for themselves.

After dinner, Lyra laid with Jorah and the boys on the floor with pillows. Maege, Lyra, Lyanna and Jorelle sat on the couch and chairs listening to Lyra tell tall tales and spin stories of far away places. They all found it a tradition of entertaining them while asking and answering questions from Lyra.

That night when the boys were tucked in their room together, Lyra and Jorah were alone in bed together. Lyra said, climbing on top of Jorah straddling his hips, "Do you want to hear my secret surprise, Jorah?"

He loved looking up at her leaning over him. She tasted oh so sweet to him. Jorah said softly, "Of course, my beauty." He caressed her face, rubbing his thumb over her lips.

She said leaning into his ear laying on his chest, "I'm going to have another baby and this time you are getting a little girl." His arms went around her body and he closed his eyes. He had never been so very happy with anyone like she was with her.

He said softly full of emotions, "I have never been so happy in my whole life until you came to Winterfell and loved me. You have blessed me with everything. Now I get a baby sized Lyra to love." She kissed him deeply. He was lost in her love.

He believed that she was his gift literally from the gods sent from another world to make him so very content and change his life. The last four years had been the best years of his life so far and here she was still giving to him. He rolled her over and made love to her before falling asleep in each other's arms.