I slowly regained my strength with Jojen by my side the whole time. Theon mostly avoided me, he was still sullen and mourning the death of what he thought was his son. Jojen and I mourned, but we understood that there was nothing to be done. My father had commissioned a stone carving of the child to be made so that we could hold a private funeral to say goodbye.
It was hard for Jojen to pretend as if he did not know of my pregnancy. He couldn't be at the funeral for his own baby. I knew it hurt him greatly, no matter how hard he tried to be strong for me. After the funeral, my uncle Loras pulled me aside. "Lehna, a letter has arrived. It's not good. I know you're going through a difficult time, but I need you and Theon to join us in the Small Council."
I nodded and motioned for Theon to follow us. In the shadows, I made eye contact with Jojen. He had chosen to sneak into the funeral. I touched the iron necklace that had been magicked to let him know to watch where I was going and listen to what was happening.
When my husband and I got to the tower, we were met by grim faces. "Princess," my father spoke. "The new leader of the Sparrows disappeared after your collapse and we have not been able to locate him. I am sorry." My heart clenched. That man was responsible for the death of my baby.
"And there is worse news," Loras tossed a letter onto the table. "The Targaryen girl has her army and she is almost upon us."
"How? How could she possibly have raised an army and made it onto Westeros soil?" My arms gripped the table. Daenerys was not going to take my people from me, not if I could stop her.
The quiet Varys picked up the letter and began to read over it. "It says here she made it to the Wall and continued south to Winterfell. She's gotten the support of a few lords, but many refuse to trust her because of her heritage."
I heard Theon take a sharp breath. "Winterfell has been taken?" I placed my hand over his because I knew how much Winterfell meant to him. It was his true home. No matter how much he tried to deny it, he knew in his heart that Winterfell was home.
My mother gave him a strange look. "Yes," she said slowly. "Daenerys may have lost two of her dragons, but she still has the largest one. The Red Keep is a mighty fortress, but it hasn't seen a dragon in centuries. I don't know how long we can last."
I finally spoke. "We are going to fight until the last man." Everyone started arguing at once, telling me that I was being foolish but I refused to listen. "I want everyone in the castle to defend it. Every person of able body will be armed. I will fight alongside my people. Daenerys will have to take the Iron Throne from my cold dead hands."
All the eyes in the room looked at me as if seeing me for a strong, powerful woman for the first time. "Let her come." I spat. "I believe we're done here," I turned and left the room, not waiting for Theon to follow. I could hear his boots on the stones behind me.
"Lehna!" He called. Suddenly his strong arms wrapped around my waist and twirled me to face him. In my passion, I found myself kissing him, taking my frustration out on his lips.
He pulled away and held me close. "Are you sure you want to do this? It's going to be dangerous."
I nodded, breathless. "I have to do this, Theon. This is my kingdom."
"I love you, Lehna." He looked into my eyes and suddenly I remembered the necklace around my neck. I whirled around and saw Jojen standing in the hall, eyes full of pain. He made eye contact with me for a split second before storming off.
"I have to go, I'll be back soon," I called and ran after Jojen. My mourning dress swished around my legs as I ran down the twisting halls. An arm reached out of a dark corridor and pulled me into an all too familiar body.
"Lehna," Jojen's voice was low and husky. "What in seven hells do you think you're doing?" His eyes were searing into my soul, cutting my heart in two like a scythe. "Did you forget that you loved me?" His cold voice cracked slightly with emotion.
"No, I swear it. I love only you," I clung to him desperately.
"Didn't look like it," he seethed.
I leaned up and whispered in his ear, "Then let me prove it." I wrapped my hands around the back of his neck and connected my lips with his. I laced my fingers in his hair and his hand snuck around my back to pull me closer. Jojen turned and pinned me against the wall with his body. His hands released my back to hold my face.
"Not here," I whispered.
"As you wish," I could feel his lips form into a smirk against mine. When I opened my eyes we were laying on Jojen's bed and he was above me. I smiled at him, relieved to be able to let go of my worries and grief to be with the man who had my heart.
[Ahhh I'm so sorry it's been a month since I updated I totally forgot about this story I will try to finish it as soon as possible!]
