CHAPTER 22

Lyra made a wish that Styr, the Thenn destined to be Mance Rayder's lieutenant, die from eating the next human he would consume. That was her twentieth person on her list of twenty one, with only Walder Frey left on the list. She wished Walder Frey to choke to death on a piece of meat.

Lyra said to Jorah as she walked over to him, "All twenty one people on my list have been dealt with."

Jorah said sitting on a log looking up at her, "Does that mean we live for a while?"

Lyra held the baby, leaned down and lightly kissed him and said, "For now, my sweet Jorah. I love you so much." He smiled and sat her down on his lap. She giggled.

He said, "You look so motherly with that babe in your arms. I can't wait to see your belly swell with my boy in it."

Lyra said, "I want you there to hold my hand as I bring your son into this world. I want him to see his father's face when he opens his eyes for the first time. You will teach him and my sweet little Jassin to be good, fair and strong men when they grow up. They will be proud of their father, like I am." Jorah was looking at her with adoring eyes. He kissed her passionately. He loved her so much that his heart ached.

Jorah said softly while holding her and Jassin, "You make me so very happy, Lyra. I can't wait to get you back home and finally marry you."

She smiled, caressing his face and said, "I can't wait either, Jorah my love."

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A few days later, when Jorah and Lyra reached the Wall, Lyra created an ice bridge. They crossed to the other side of the river, which took a while because of its width. They made camp because their guards hadn't arrived yet. Lyra and Jorah settled in and she wished for a few nights of wood for when the men came with the wagons. She sat down to cook and made them fish stew after filleting the fish and feeding Crystal her portion of fish for dinner. She wished for powdered milk and more flour to add to her bag of dry food and spices. The dry vegetables and potatoes and carrots made it hearty and the broth rich.

Jorah was eating and said, "I really like this fish stew. It has such a good flavor. If you cooked for me all the time I wouldn't complain ever. This whole trip has been good food from your hand, Lyra love. I see why your men said your ship was happy with the food. You could pick up anything you wanted from port to port." Crystal chuffed at Lyra for more stew.

Lyra took the bowl and refilled it with stew for Crystal. She sat the bowl on the ground patting Crystal's head and said, "It was easier being able to pick up supplies and spices when traveling. Saffron was my most expensive spice and in the highest demand. When we sailed to Asshai and Yi Ti, my hull was never empty. I made big profits selling ship loads of Saffron especially in the Westeros ports. Mostly King's Landing."

Lyra said smiling, "I had a merchant in Myr try to get me to marry him once. I was getting a good reputation as a merchant. I think his idea was that he could use my name if we were married to push his goods at higher turnover and profits in his pocket."

Jorah asked looking at her, "So what did you do?"

She giggled and said, "I found out he had three wives already and he treated them like slaves. I told him I wasn't interested, but he got belligerent because I was a woman alone talking to him in my cabin. He thought he could just force sex from me. I had to break his nose, make him lose a couple teeth and force him to leave my ship at sword point with a missing small finger. I told him he should be happy I didn't cut off his cock instead."

Jorah said decisively, "Would you have considered marrying him if he wasn't such a cruel man?" He was just wondering if she ever thought about marrying anyone else.

Lyra chuckled and said, "Not ever. I do not want a man with wives already for one thing. I'm a selfish woman. He was not a handsome man to me. Most of all, I knew I would never be with a man I wasn't attracted to or would settle for the likes of him. I guess I was waiting for you to come back into my life." Jorah smiled at her.

Jorah asked with an underlying hesitation, "Do you think you will regret or miss the sea and being a merchant, when you become Lady of Bear Island?"

Lyra stood up and straddled his lap because he was done eating. They had the baby between them being he was around her neck in the sling. Lyra wrapped her hands on both sides of his face and caressed his lips. She whispered, "I'm living on an island surrounded by sea and bound to use my ship at some point. I'm filling orders and manifests of goods when we get back, so still being a merchant in a way. Most of all, I get to come back to the island pregnant, with a child in my arms to love right now and marry the most handsome man that I fell deeply in love with. What more could I ask for?"

He looked in her eyes with his arms holding her and said, "You humble me with your devotion. How did I get so lucky to get you to love me? I thought I might never see you again when you walked away with Tywin Lannister that day. My hopes were losing ground every year that passed. When I saw you in Winterfell, I just couldn't stay away. You were everything I wanted, even with our big lioness and now our orphaned boy, Jassin. Your love and care is all I will ever need from you."

Lyra said, "That reminds me. I saw Tywin in Lannisport on the way to Bear Island. He sent his guards to get me and bring Crystal and I to his study. He was upset on the way we left things and he wanted me back."

Jorah stiffened and asked, "What happened?" She felt him stiffen under her.

She caressed his face and said softly, "Nothing of course. I told him I was going to marry you and I was on my way to Bear Island. We argued a bit but I made him understand that I was so very in love with you. He offered marriage to me but I told him no and that our time is over. We left on good terms. I saved his life a year before the tourney. That's how he knew me. I don't regret it because it was the right thing to do at the time. I told him when I left, maybe someday he could return the favor."

Jorah asked, amazed at her, "Tywin Lannister owes you a life debt?"

Lyra giggled and said, "Yes, but it sounds so mysterious when you say it like that." The baby cooed in her coat. She reached between them and softly rubbed the soft little baby cheek. Jorah smiled and marveled at her sweet ways with the baby, just like her lion.

Jorah said, "It's just that I bet there is nobody out there in the world that he is indebted to but you. Their family motto is 'A Lannister pays their debts'."

She smiled and kissed the baby's cheek and said softly, "I know. It will open a door one day, I hope." Jorah kissed Lyra's cheek while caressing her face.

That night in their tent they made love. Jorah curled up with Lyra wrapped in his arms with the baby and Crystal. It was cozy and warm nestled in their own little world together.

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The next day at around midday as they were eating a meal, they caught sight of the wagons and men. Lyra made the ice bridge and the men and wagons crossed over. Lyra was glad to see them and patted and shook their hands asking if the journey went safely. Jorah watched and was always amazed how she treated others with kindness and respect.

That evening they all had a good meal in the big pot that Lyra made and she sang songs for everyone.

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After the ship docked at Bear Island, Lyra had everything with her that she needed for the baby in a big bag on her shoulder. Her men were loading her and Jorah's belongings into a wagon with their leftover food stuff Lyra had kept together after cooking for the crew too on the way back. Crystal was standing next to her.

Jorah put his arm around her as Maester Dameron approached. The maester said, "Welcome back, my Lord and Lady, the shipment was reported by Deepwood Motte to have arrived yesterday. You need to send your ship to pick it up, Lady Wyldwood." Lyra walked away to speak to the captain with Crystal following.

Jorah asked, "What else is going on?"

Maester Dameron said, "There was a message sent from your father. It said that the supplies came and overstocked some of their store rooms. He said he was appreciative and he sends you and Lady Wyldwood… *cleared his throat* …his love."

Jorah smiled and said, "My father and Lyra bonded while we were there. He is quite fond of her."

The maester said, "I see."

Lyra walked back over to them and Jorah slipped his arm back around her. She said, "The captain said that they can leave right away as soon as I can give him the manifest for the goods. When we get to the castle, I'll send one of my men back with it." The baby cooed in her coat. The maester looked puzzled at her.

Jorah said smiling at Lyra, "Let's go home and get you two warm." He kissed her.

The maester asked surprised, "Is that a baby?"

Lyra said giggling, "Why yes, he was abandoned and Jorah and I have adopted him into our home to raise as our son. He will have a little brother real soon now to grow up with." The maester was astounded and had his mouth hanging open. Jorah took Lyra over to the horse his steward had just led up to the dock. He lifted her up with the baby in the saddle.

Lyra said to Crystal, "Crystal, baby, follow me." The lion looked up at her. Jorah mounted behind her and placed his hand on her belly where his child was growing. They went to the castle.

Lyra said seriously, "When it comes time to educate our boys, he better not treat Jassin any differently. I want them both educated and trained the same. He's not a bastard child so he is very much our son too. I know your first born will inherit but Jassin will not be left out or made to feel slighted in any way. He will save our lives as part of what's to come. I will help him deal with his abilities."

Jorah nuzzled her neck and said, "You're a good woman and mother, Lyra. Nobody can say anything different. Our boys will be loved and know they are and yes, Jassin will be his protective big brother with all the love, education and training given to him." Lyra kissed him under his chin. He adored her cute little ways of affection.

Lyra said softly, "I love you, sweet Jorah." He smiled and hugged her a bit tighter to his body.

He said softly in her ear, "I love you too, my beautiful girl."

When they got into Jorah's rooms, Lyra went over to the bed and checked the baby's diaper. It was time to feed him again so she gave him a bottle. She was sitting on the bed with her legs up and her boots off. Crystal climbed on the foot of the bed laying down crosswise. Lyra had Jassin in-between her legs. She was admiring him and was looking at his little hands and sweet little face while talking to him softly. She didn't know that Jorah was just sitting in a chair watching her after starting and stoking the fire.

Lyra said gently, "You're such a beautiful little boy with pudgy cheeks and such perfect little lips. I can't wait to steal all your kisses when you get older, Jassin. You're a good little boy." She watched as Jassin was trying to watch her face as she talked to him. He was very little at only nine days old and was bearly focusing on her. After he was fed and burped he started falling asleep as she laid him down.

Lyra said softly, smiling down at him, "You just go to sleep, my little one, and grow big and strong." She caressed the baby's face and leaned down kissing him.

Jorah got up and sat on the other side of the bed. He picked Jassin up and was studying him looking and touching his hair and hands. He said softly, "He is a handsome little boy." Lyra caressed Jorah's face as he held the baby.

Lyra said softly climbing up next to Jorah and wrapping her arms around them both, "He is going to need his father to help him understand the world and know how to protect himself and others. You are a good person to learn that from because you are a very good man, my sweet Jorah. Jassin will show you how to be prepared for when Joran is born."

Jorah looked at her and said, "Joran?"

Lyra said softly, "Yes, just like his father's name. Both our boys have names that start with the letter 'J' because they belong to you and me." She kissed Jorah's cheek. He liked how she was bonding them all together as a family. He loved that. He kissed the infant and smiled looking at him.