The tale of Ice and Fire

Chapter Eighteen

Lannisport, 284AC

They had sailed for almost two months, taking breaks in small ports across Dorne, the Reach and finally Lannisport. The had avoided the Stormlands altogether, in order to avoid the conflict, and opted to get more supplies in Tyrosh.

Davos' business was profitable, more than ever, since he was able to sell all of the merchandise he had bought in Tyrosh all across Dorne and the Reach.

Kedric had grown more and Jaime had thanked the seven that his colouring had favoured his mother's. The child had a lovely pair of grey eyes and a head full of black hair.

Jaime sighed, wishing Iclyn could be there with them to see Kedric grow, but the gods were cruel, and had taken his mother in the birthing bed. She hadn't even had the chance to hold him, before her heart had stopped beating.

“What are you thinking?” Aiana asked Jaime. The two had forge a tentative friendship and had vowed to raise the little prince together, always to remind him of his courageous and beautiful mother, that had died giving birth to him.

“The princess.” he answered. Iclyn was the only thing the two had in common, except for Kedric, and it was still a sore subject for both of them.

Aiana shifted her gaze to the horizon, where the could see Lannisport, they where almost there. “We had it all planned, you know? She knew the risks were higher since she had  been deemed barren at a young age, blue we all thought she would pull it through.” the handmaiden said, reminishing her friend. “She knew she couldn't give birth naturally, since her body wasn't built for it, but she never gave up hope.” she continued, while staring ahead of her. Jaime had shifted his gaze to the young woman and saw a small tear gathering in the corner of her eye. 

“One day, she went to the library to research alternative methods and didn't came out until she found this old tome. She said she had heard of this procedure, where the expecting mother would be cut open to give birth and sew back  together. I though it was barbarian, but she was convinced it would work. She had me and the Maester practicing every day, first with pillows and then with farm animals, we would snuck out the keep for a few hours to practice and no one would notice. She was so sure it would work that me and Maester Crelan both started to believe it ourselves.” She close her fists so tightly that her knuckles became white.

“Maybe if we hadn't she would still be here with us.”

Jaime turned in Aiana's direction and hugged her. “You can't predict the future. It was the gods will.” Aiana stated sobbing, crying her eyes out, letting go of all the fear and sadness she had bottled up the past few months.

They stood there for a few minutes, embracing and comforting each other, until a happy squeal interrupted the peaceful moment. They let go and turned to the source of the sound, to see little Kedric smiling happily in Marya's arms.

“Sorry to interrupt, but this little guy wanted to see you two.” she said, while the baby made a grabby motion in Jaime's direction. The young Lannister heir smiled and complied to the baby's demands, taking him into his arms.

“Kedric! I've missed you, little wolf. Have you been a good boy for Marya?” he asked, knowing very well the boy was still too little to answer back.

Kedric smiled contently before yawning and slowly closing his eyes, knowing implicitly that his was safe in Jaime's arm.

Casterly Rock, 284 AC

The trip from Lannisport to Casterly Rock hadn't been a long one, since it lasted merely a week. Normally it would take less than three days to cover the same amount of road, but since they were travelling with a newborn they took their sweet time to arrive, not wanting to jeopardize the baby's health.