"Wind & Words"

The Birth of Ice & Fire

Jon

     "Tyrion do you have any updates on how the sewer system reconstruction is coming along? I'd really like the smell of this city to improve before the birth of my child."
Tyrion smiled and answered his King, "I know you would like it done before the Prince's birth but Kings Landing was in horrible shape thanks to my sister. I have spoken to the carpenters along with the stone builders and they have informed me that it should be completed within the next month Your Grace. No sooner I'm afraid the Prince will be here before they've completed. My apologies."
  Jon rolled his eyes, "I understand make sure the workers have plenty of food and water to keep up their strength. The dragon pit plans are almost done being drawn out to begin in a few months. Also, the Queen wants to rebuild the orphanage here in Kings Landing along with Winterfell's."
   The council men glanced around to the Master of Coin Ser Podrick Payne. He cleared his throat, "Your Grace with the reconstruction of the new sewer system, the dragon pit and the sept I'm afraid we won't be able to fund the North's orphanage."
   Jon smiled but continued, "The Queen has made contact with her allies in Meereen, a ship is coming with gold she saved for the rebuilding of Westeros. So we will have more gold to keep rebuilding what needs to be done and enough to save for the crown's future generations. Meereen is still wealthy with their trades and my wife was clever enough to keep half of what she's bringing to rebuild here. The crown is more than compensated with gold incase anyone else is concerned with the finances."
   Jon watched as all the council members glanced around shocked at each other with what he had just stated. It was almost noon, he was hungry and ready to have a meal with Dany. He had been on throne duty since the early morning hours listening to the people of Kings Landing complain, or state issues about their problems and a few would come just to thank him and the Queen for caring about them. Jon was also making sure that all the people had food, setting up soup kitchens in the streets had truly improved the stealing and murdering. Things were going well and Daenerys was happy the people were taken care of. They had also began receiving a few gifts for the prince from the kind people.
Jon had been doing Throne duties alone for the past month because Daenerys was exhausted walking around carrying their child. He gladly accepted both of their responsibilities so that she could rest and remain comfortable until their child was born. They had been occupying The Red Keep for three months and their son was due at anytime.
  Jon exhaled and rubbed his temple, "If there are no other matters to discuss, I adjourn this meeting for next week. Let's all depart for some food shall we?" He smiled at all his council members and they all rose after him and bowed. He walked out and the rest followed his lead towards the dining hall. But Jon went straight to his and Daenerys' chambers.
  When he made his turn down their hallway towards his chambers he heard laughing. The unsullied guarding their doors stepped aside, Jon opened the door. When he entered he saw Daenerys laughing with her best friend and advisor Missandei.
   "Good Afternoon ladies, what is so funny?" Jon asked smiling at both of them, making his way to his very pregnant wife. Daenerys was returning his smiled and was happy to see him.
  "Oh Jon you don't want to hear girl talk."
Jon leaned over, kissed her forehead then he picked up a strawberry from Daenerys plate and gulped it down.
"Actually I wouldn't mind, I've been listening to Tyrion for the past two hours speak of land laws and sewer systems. I happily welcome women's banter, what was so funny?"
Jon sat down next to his Queen and she scooted her barely touched plate to him. Jon looked at her with concern in his eyes. "Why didn't you eat more Dany?" Daenerys made a face and answered him, " I ate a few bites of meat, it was delicious but then when I took a bite of the fish I threw up. It didn't settle well so I ate the grapes and a few strawberries. I'm fine, today I'm not hungry anymore. Although I'd love a cherry tart." Jon chuckled at her while he hobbled down the left over meat, blood sausage and fish with his hands. Missandei and Daenerys laughed.
"Well if it pleases Your Grace I'll depart, Dany I'll be back to run your bath and rub your feet with oil later, if that's alright?" Missandei asked her Queen.
  Daenerys nodded smiling but when Jon swallowed his mouthful of food he interjected.
"Actually Missandei if you don't mind I'd like to be alone with my wife tonight. I'll take care of her bath and her feet. I'd like some quality time before our child is born. You may have the night off, I gave Grey Worm his night off as well." Missandei smiled at her King and Queen, Jon watched as Dany was giving her friend a sly glance.
  "As you wish Your Grace." She responded to Jon and exited their private chambers.
Jon turned to face Daenerys smiling while he took another bite of potatoes, "What was that look about Dany?" She smiled at him, "What look? I don't know what you're talking about."
Jon laughed, "You know what look. Alright keep your girly secrets." He continued eating his lunch when he watched Dany's faced turn to concern then she asked.
  "Jon I need to tell you something that Missandei informed me about while we had lunch." While Jon chewed he nodded his head for her to go ahead. He watched as she was trying to find the words. Jon swallowed his last bite and placed a gentle hand on Dany's.
  "What is it Dany, is it the baby, is everything alright? It must not be something good, you can't even say it. It's the baby isn't it?"
Dany shook her head, "No Jon, the baby is fine it has nothing to do with our child. This is something from my past...I need to tell you something about—. Oooohh, ouch!" Dany grabbed her belly and stood up in pain. Jon stood up, grabbed her arm to steady her so she wouldn't fall. Then they both looked in shock as water fell to the floor from between Daenerys legs. Jon was frozen in shock staring at the liquid on the marble floor. Dany's groans broke his state of shock.
"Ouch, uh this hurts so much! The baby is coming, he's coming!" She yelled at Jon, "Tell the guards to call the Maester. Now Jon!"
Jon shook his head and bolted towards their door, opened it and commanded the guards find Maester Samwell. One of the unsullied guards ran to find he Maester and Jon went back to Dany's side.
  "What do you want me to do Dany, my love tell me." After Dany squeezed his hand so hard he thought his fingers were broken she mumbled. "I need to change into a night dress, please get one for me in my wardrobe and help me put it on."
Jon nodded, helped her sit on their bed and ran to her wooden closet. He fumbled through her drawers and found a cotton white night dress, grabbed it and helped Dany put it on. When she was laid out on the bed Jon sat by her side holding her hand as they waited for the Maester to arrive.
   Daenerys groaned, cried and squeezed his hand, gritting her teeth in pain as she pushed. "You're doing wonderful Dany, the Maester will be here any moment." Jon reassured her but Dany just squeezed and focused trying to take the pain. She was sweating and Jon wiped the sweat beads from her brow. It was then that the door swung open, Sam, Gilly and Missandei came in with a wooden cart full of viles, large water basins, rags and cloth.
"How long has she been in labor?" Sam asked.
"About twenty minutes Sam, her water broke and I sent the guards for you right away." Sam smiled and nodded at the information.
Missandei ran to Dany's other side after she put the basin down, Gilly was damping the rag cloths with water from the basin.
"Dany are you alright?" Asked Missandei.
Jon watched as Sam went over to the cart and began adding things into a brass bowl.
"Yes, I'm fine Missy. It's just very painful. Gilly will the pain increase or is this as bad as it gets?" Dany asked full of concern. Jon also turned to Gilly wondering if his wife would be in more pain. Jon was very nervous he had no idea what he should do or if Dany would be fine. She was in so much pain and she was trying to hide it. He could tell she wanted to scream but she was holding back. Gilly turned around to the Queen and answered as she placed a cold cloth on Dany's forehead.
"Your Grace, it gets worse but you're strong. You're the mother of dragons, a baby shall be easy for you. I'll be here to help you through it along with Jon and Missandei. Just wait and see once your baby is born the pain will be worth it and you will no longer remember it. You are strong and you can do this."
Gilly's words were so encouraging Jon's nerves eased and he could tell Dany took her words to heart. Jon watched his Dany swallow and focus as the next contraction began. Sam came over with the brass bowl of his concoction. Jon stopped him as he lowered it and told Dany to drink. "What is that Sam?" Sam chuckled, "It's only vinegar and sugar Jon, it's to try and ease a bit of her pain and safe for the baby. Your Grace, Missandei and Gilly are going to rub rose oil on the flanks of your body to try and help with the pain as well. If that's alright with you?" Daenerys nodded, "Yes that is fine thank you for trying to ease my pain Sam." Jon helped Dany drink the concoction Sam had made for her.  Sam smiled and gave instructions to Missandei and Gilly to rub the rose oil on her and then to stand back and give her space he would need them to assist him.
"Sometimes screaming helps, Your Grace." Gilly advised her. Dany smiled and nodded. "Holding back doesn't help, you need to let go and push forward so the baby can come quick. I know it will hurt but once you hold your baby it won't hurt anymore, remember that. I'll be right here if you need me." Gilly continued rubbing the oil on Daenerys' side, Missandei followed her lead. They both moved to the water basin and Sam told her to push as Dany clenched Jon's had without mercy.
"Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!" Dany cried through gritted teeth focused on pushing and getting the baby out as soon as possible. She seemed desperate to rid herself of this agony. Jon winched at his hand being crushed by his wife's tiny hand but he refused to show pain because he knew it was nothing compared to hers.
Jon patted the cool damp cloth on Daenerys perspired red blotchy forehead, cheeks and neck. "Your doing great Dany, soon he'll be in our arms my love." Jon told her and she smiled at him tired and pained.