The Children of Spring

Rickon II - Will She Die?

The enemy gave them no rest, there were, at least, two skirmishes everyday. They had no time to rest and to prepare for another fight. It was exausthing and it was cutting them down. They did not have the numbers and they had few commanders. They had thought several times of raising the white flag, for it was their people who was suffering, it was their people who was dying, it was their people who mattered. Still, they knew that they could not back down by then. Winterfell was counting on them and so were the people in camp. It seemed that, after 17 years, the people had forgotten what was war, it seemed that the word did not make sense in their minds anymore. However, they knew that it was not that. Last time, they did not have someone depending on them, this time they did. They could not leave them alone. They had to make it back and they had to end this war, there and then.
Rickon knew the situation was more difficult than ever and that they were outnumbered. He was afraid that he would never make it back home, to Winterfell, to his parents, to Jeyne and to Gerion. That could not happen. They had to win. Rickon knew that Brandon was afraid too and knew that the two of them were probably the only ones who were able to think straight by then. The camp was a mess. The nurser tents were filled up to their limits. Joanna was worst as the days went by, Rickon knew that his aunt was being very strong, most of the people who were poisoned by that venom died within two days, acording to the maesters, some were able to make it to the fifth day, still that was it. The maestres could not understand how the poison worked or which poison it was specificaly, only its kind, which made things even more difficult.
One night, Rickon decided that he had to have a serious talk about the situation he and Brandon were in.
"Bran, are you awake?" Rickon asked.
"I am now." Brandon said sleepy.
"We need to talk." Rickon said.
"We're talking." Brandon said a bit anoyed.
"I'm serious." Rickon said seriously.
"Fine. I'm awake. What is it?" Brandon said.
"This is bad, you know it is. And it's getting worst." Rickon said seriously.
"It can't get much worst than what it already is." Brandon said concerned.
"It can. They have the Golden Company still hiden. They are trying to cut us down. We have to get them to show it somehow, we have to get them to back down, at least, until uncle Jon arrives." Rickon said.
"How are we going to do that?" Brandon asked.
"I don't know. Anyway, that's not what I wanted to talk about. We have to keep it together." Rickon said.
"I know. They're a mess, aren't they?" Brandon said sadly.
"I'm afraid they are. It will pass, we just have to help them." Rickon said.
"What if it is too much?" Brandon asked.
"What do you mean?" Rickon asked confused.
"I mean what if we can't do that? Aunt Joanna is getting worst and I don't want to imagine what uncle Pod is going through. Aunt Dany is really worried about Rhaella and it's clearly just not that, there's more to it that we don't know. We don't know where uncle Jon or uncle Sam or my parents are. They can be arriving or they can still be in KingsLanding. That leaves us and aunt Brienne. And she's doing a hell of a job, but this can't be easy. So what if we are not enough?" Brandon explained seriously.
"We have to be. We have to find a way." Rickon said determined.
"That's really hard to do, Rickon." Brandon said looking at his cousin.
"I know, but we are the last chance they've got. They would go through hell for us, they did it once before we're born. Now it's our time, Bran. They were heroes and that's what we'll be. Do you remember what aunt Dany said before the first battle?" Rickon asked.
"'You are the sons and daughters of the heroes of the Long Night'." Brandon answered remembering.
"There you go. Besides, we've got each other." Rickon said looking at him.
"Yeah, we've got each other." Brandon said smiling.
"We're in this together, all of us. Even if we're away from each other." Rickon said, remembering their words. All of their cousins, his brother and his sister, knew the words. It had been Jenny who had invented them and it was their motto. None of them ever thought they would use it someday, it was just a joke for them not to feel left out. It was not a joke anymore, by then, it was true. And they needed it more than ever.
"Guess, it's not a joke anymore." Brandon said.
"Guess, it's not." Rickon said. I'm so glad Jen came up with it all those years ago, Rickon thought.
The next day, there was a war council like everyday. None of them knew that this was the day in which everything would change. It was clear that none of them could get enough sleep. If we could, it will still be the same, it just sucks, Rickon thought sadly.
"Well, we know how they're going to attack. They always attack in the middle. If we blocked the way out of the woods, maybe it'll get us some time." Brienne said.
"Maybe. But we need to send small grups to attack, because if they get at us with full strenght... we don't have the numbers." Pod said, he promised Joanna that he would assume her place as Master of War and that was what he would do, even if it was hard for him to do so.
"I can't help you with Drogon. They want his power. I'll stay with Joanna." Daenerys said sadly.
"Alright. We'll work it out, don't worry." Pod said.
"Until now they've been coming with maybe one third of their strenght, what if they decide to use their full stenght? We don't know anything about the Golden Company." Rickon said, thinking.
"If they do that, it'll have to be us to back down. Unless, we'll attack first. But..." Pod said thinking.
"It can be a trap. And we'll be caught." Brandon said.
"We'll have to hope for the best, then." Brienne said.
"Any word about Jon?" Pod asked
"No. There were no ravens..." Daenerys said sadly.
"It shouldn't take long by now." Rickon said.
"He'll be here soon." Brandon said and the council was over.
They were leaving the tent, when Brienne said,
"Pod." He stopped and turned back. Rickon heard it and stood near the tent to hear what that was about. He knew that he should not do that, however he was worried.
"Yes?" Podrick said.
"Are you alright for this?" Brienne asked concerned.
"What do you think?" Podrick said a bit angry, but not unkindly.
"That's not what I was asking, I know you're not, I'm asking if you are alright enough to fight." Brienne said.
"I have to be." Podrick said seriously.
"That's not the answer I was hoping for." Brienne said.
"I wish I had another answer, really I do. But that's the only answer I have." Podrick said seriously and Brienne nodded. Then they both left the tent. We have to win this, Rickon thought and then he went to find Brandon.
The horn blew and they went to the positions.
Rickon and Brandon were in the front line with Brienne and Podrick. We have to get them to show the Golden Company, Rickon thought. Then they started to attack, Podrick and Brienne went with two grups of thirty men to try to stop some of them, before they got to the edge of the woods. However, after some time, there were some men coming back.
"What is it?!" Rickon asked concerned.
"They come with more men today! We're holding them, but not for long!" one of the men said.
"I have a plan." Rickon said to Brandon.
"Which one?" Brandon asked.
"We flank them by the sides. They'll be trapped. And that way, they'll have to show the Golden Company. If we can't afford to loose men, neither can they." Rickon explained.
"Are you sure? We're not commanders, Rickon." Brandon asked concerned.
"We are now. It's our best chance. We'll lead the attack. You go right, I go left. We meet in the middle." Rickon said seriously and Brandon nodded determined.
"Alright, soldiers! Fourty men with me and fourty men with Bran! The rest stays here, in case they'll break through! We'll flank them by the sides! These men are foreigners and they are threatening our lands! Our kingdoms! Our families! These are brave men, but we are braver! Let's go kill the bastards!" Rickon said with a voice of comand that he did not even know he had. The soldiers cheered. Some of the men had fought in the Blackwater Bay and that speech was every bit his father's speech on that day.
They followed the plan, Rickon went left and Bran went right, after few time they had them surrounded. They went to the middle then. When Brienne and Podrick saw them, they were confused at first, however then they figured out their plan. They fought and fought and fought. The enemy realized that they were trapped and at last they revealed the Golden Company. It was on the other edge of the woods. As soon as, the Company was going to attack, a dragon was heard. Uncle Jon!, Rickon thought. Finally!, Brandon thought. They had a chance. The Golden Company retreated. And after they finished them up, they retreated as well.
Only when they arrived to camp, they realized that the Unsulied had arrived as well as Jon and Ser Davos and as well as Sam. As soon as Rickon and Brandon arrived, they got out of the horses and Pod and Brienne came to them.
"You did very well back in there. You saved us. Thank you." Pod said.
"I thought it might work, but I didn't know if it would." Rickon said honestly.
"You took the risk that's what is important." Brienne said.
"We're glad to help." Brandon said.
"Are you two alright?" Pod asked concerned.
"We are, don't worry, uncle Pod." Rickon said and then they heard,
"Payne!" It was Jon. Podrick went to him when he heard him.
"They had enough for one day. Let's go." Brienne said to Rickon and Brandon and they went to where the others were as well. On the way, Rickon saw that his uncle Jon hugged his uncle Pod and for the look of it seemed that he told him that someone had arrived, Rickon hoped it was Sam. Then Podrick went to Joanna's tent, at least, it was what it seemed to Rickon. Still, for the first time in a very long time, Rickon saw a bit of hope. We're getting there, Rickon thought.
When Jon saw them, he asked,
"Hey. How are you doing?"
"We're fine." Rickon answered.
"They did a very good job today in the battlefield." Brienne said.
"Really? I'm so glad to hear that." Jon said smilling and Rickon and Brandon smiled.
"You should rest. We'll talk later, alright?" Brienne said.
"Alright." Brandon said and then he and Rickon went away, but not too far away.
"Daenerys told you?" Brienne asked.
"Yeah, she did." Jon said looking down.
"How are you doing?" Brienne asked.
"It's supposed to be me asking you that." Jon said.
"It's Rhaella they have and it's your sister that is missing." Brienne said.
"And it's Joanna who's dying and it's Jaime that is trapped in Winterfell. But, answering the question, I don't know what to do. I have to think. And you?" Jon said.
"I don't have an answer for that. This is a mess, we've beaten them today. But it won't take long for it to start again." Brienne said.
"I wasn't talking about the battle." Jon said.
"I know Joanna since we're 18 and Pod since he was 17. It's just not fair. None of them deserve this. And Jaime went to Winterfell and he and Tyrion already lost a sister, I don't want them to loose another. I don't want to loose my best friend." Brienne said.
"Neither do I. Joanna is trying to hold on, I know she is, Dany said that most of the people died in 5 days, Joanna is like this for three weeks by now. She'll get through this." Jon said.
"Is Sam there?" Brienne asked.
"Yes, he'll work it out." Jon said and then they went to the tent.
Yes, he will work it out and we'll help them, Rickon thought and looked at Brandon and realized that he was thinking the same.
Later that day after eating something and resting a bit, Rickon and Brandon went to the tent. When they entered, Sam was there as well as Daenerys and a woman that they did not know.
"Hey." Rickon and Brandon said as they entered.
"Hey, lads. I hadn't seen you yet." Sam said smiling.
"We had to eat and to rest a bit before coming, uncle Sam." Brandon explained.
"Rickon, Bran. This is Missandei of Naath. Missandei, these are Rickon Lannister-Stark and Brandon Stark-Baratheon." Daenerys said.
"Nice to meet you, my lady." Rickon and Brandon said.
"Nice to meet you too." Missandei said.
"How is she?" Rickon asked Sam.
"She is... stable for now. I'm trying to find which poison it is." Sam said.
"Is there anything we can get you?" Brandon asked.
"Well, I need a weapon of them to remove the poison." Sam said.
"We'll find it." Rickon said right away.
"Where are uncles Jon and Pod and aunt Brienne?" Brandon asked Daenerys.
"They went to eat something." Daenerys said.
"We'll be right back." Rickon said.
"Be careful." Daenerys said.
"Always." Rickon said and then he and Brandon went carefully to the battlefield.
"I found one." Brandon said and Rickon went to him.
"Good. Uh, put it in here." Rickon said handing him a bag and Brandon did as he said.
"Good, let's get back." Rickon said when they heard someone. They hid behind the trees.
"They have two dragons now."
"We have the princess and that Gerion Lannister. He must worth something."
"We don't know where the other kids are."
"No one can get in the House of Undying. And the Free Cities are in chaos."
"I hope you're right." And then they realized that they had gone away.
Rickon looked at Brandon and he was equally confused.
They went back to camp as fast as they could and they gave the weapon to Sam.
"Where is uncle Jon?" Rickon asked.
"They're in the council tent, why?" Daenerys asked.
"We heard some of them talking. It might be something new." Brandon said.
"Let's go." Daenerys said and then she and Rickon and Brandon went to the council tent.
"What is it?" Jon asked seeing their faces.
"We heard two of them talking. They were concerned because we had two dragons now. But they said that they had Rhaella in the House of the Undying?" Brandon said.
"It's their temple." Daenerys explained.
"They don't know where the others are, still they said that the Free Cities were in chaos." Rickon said.
"They have to find Daario." Daenerys said.
"If what came to Naath is true then he's leading the resistence. They'll find them." A man that they did not know said.
"This is Grey Worm, he's the comander of the Unsulied. Grey Worm, these are Rickon Lannister-Stark and Brandon Stark-Baratheon." Jon explained.
"Nice to meet you." Rickon and Brandon said.
"Likewise." Grey Worm said.
"They're afraid that's good." Brienne said.
"Yes, at least, we have something." Jon said.
"They said something about some Gerion Lannister. They had him too." Rickon said.
"That's impossible. He's dead." Pod said, Joanna had told him about her uncle Gery and had told him that he had been lost in the sea for years now and was presumed dead.
"They lost his trace, maybe they caught him." Brienne said.
"After 26 years?" Pod asked.
"You don't know when did they catch him." Brienne said.
"You're talking about my father's uncle Gery? The one Gerion is named after." Rickon asked confused.
"Yes, he lost himself in the sea. Or maybe not." Brienne said.
"We have the advantage for now, at least." Jon said.
"Bran, a letter came from Storm's End." Daenerys said.
"What did it say?" Brandon asked concerned.
"Your parents are in Pyke. Eliot Pyke took the Iron Islands and made them prisoners, but he doesn't know who they are. Your brother and your cousin Joan are going to get them back, with the help of Yara Greyjoy. She is a friend of the crown." Daenerys explained.
"That's great. They're going to get them back." Brandon said relieved.
"They will." Jon said. Then the council was over.
Later at night, Jon stood on watch over Joanna, after managing to convince everyone that they should rest. He needed time to think and a quiet place to do so. He did not know what to do, he wanted to go save his daughter, however he did not know where to start looking. He also did not want to leave camp, because the situation was very complicated and they needed him, besides his best friend was dying. She had saved his life and by then he could not save hers.
Suddenly he heard,
"Stop thinking so loudly."
"What? I'm not- you're awake!" Jon said surprised.
"It happens... sometimes, when the fever is lower." Joanna said, showing some difficulty.
"I don't know what to do." Jon admitted.
"They're gone, Jon. You don't know where they...are. W-we have to... trust them. Besides... they need your help here. We're a pretty hot mess. Rickon, Bran and Brienne are... probably... the only ones who are thinking straight right now... they can't do it alone." Joanna explained.
"She's right. We need your help here. They have our daughter, they can't have you too." Daenerys said, entering the tent.
"Are you sure?" Jon asked.
"I am. This is what we can do now. Rhaella is their family, is one of them and they'll never stop until they find her. We have to trust them." Daenerys said.
"Alright. I'll stay." Jon said, after a while of reflexive silence and with a resignated tone of voice.
"That's great. Can you... tell Pod to come here, please, I have to... talk to him." Joanna said and they nodded and few moments later Pod was there.
"Hey." Joanna said.
"Hey. How are you feeling?" Pod asked concerned.
"I'm fine... given the circunstances. And you, love?" Joanna said.
"I just want you to get better, love." Pod said.
"I'm trying. I will never stop trying. I love you, Podrick Payne. I will always love you." Joanna said, taking his hand.
"I love you too, Joanna Lannister. Please, don't say goodbye. Promise me, that you'll get through this. I can't live without you." Pod said.
"I promise you that I'll try. You... can do anything... I've never had a mother... I'm glad our children had one and... I will do everything I can... to get better for you and for them. Be strong, Pod. For me. For Jenny, Marianne, James and Thomas." Joanna said, almost crying.
"I will. Just keep on living. Keep on trying." Pod said and then he hugged her and kissed her forehead. He knew that she had gone to sleep again. He did not tell her about her uncle and about the letter he had recieved from Marianne, because it would be too much to take in.
"Good night, love. Just come back to us." Pod said and he stood there a few more time watching her, before ending up falling asleep as well.
The next day, Sam managed to find a cure for the poison and gave it to a lot of people, however the cure helped the persons in which the poison did not spread for a long time. In Joanna's case, it had already been three weeks, Sam gave her the cure as well, still it was up to her and to her body to accept it and take advantage of it or to refuse it. There was nothing else, he could do and that was a step back for everyone. Eventhough, they knew that she was strong, it did not make things any easier.
One day, Rickon and Brandon went to see their aunt, for there had been no more battles in the past days and the environment had been more calm.
"Hey, uncle Sam." Rickon said.
"Oh, hey. How are you?" Sam said.
"We're fine, for once all seems to be more calm." Brandon said.
"Is she getting better?" Rickon asked concerned.
"I hope so. I gave her the cure, still I don't know if it has any effect." Sam said.
"Did she have any more delusions?" Rickon asked worried.
"No, the fever is low today." Sam said.
"One day, when we were on watch, she did not even have fever and then suddenly she had a temperature spike and it started going up and up and she started to have a delusion." Rickon explained and then they heard Joanna said something.
"Damn it, Rickon! You had to talk!" Brandon said.
"I'm sorry! I didn't know!" Rickon said.
"Calm down, both of you. It's just because of the fever, it can be a small one." Sam said and they nodded. They went to where Joanna was and Sam started to try to low the fever.
"She's burning with fever. Bran, can you get me that wet cloth, please." Sam said and Brandon did as he said. Sam put the cloth on Joanna's forehead.
"Can...it be?... it all... points to that... Gods... I can't believe... I'm... pregnant..." Joanna said and Sam realized which one was the memory.
"Uh, what?" Brandon said confused.
"Rickon, Bran. It's for the best if you wait outside. This is not a good memory. It's a very bad one." Sam said seriously.
"No. I'm not leaving her. It's our choice. We stay." Rickon said seriously, he would not leave that tent unless it was absolutely necessary.
"He's right." Brandon said.
"Don't say, I didn't warn you." Sam said and they nodded.
"I have to get out of here! Right... now!" Joanna said. The fever was increasing fastly.
"You're not there..." Sam said calmly.
"Where?" Brandon asked.
"KingsLanding. This one is from when she discovered that she was pregnant of Jenny." Sam explained.
"Where exactly is she?" Rickon asked confused.
"It's complicated. A lot of things, bad things, happened back in the day." Sam said. A lot of shit, you mean, Rickon thought.
"And... there's no fucking way I'd let her know that... I'm pregnant." Joanna said, her breathing was increasing as well.
"Uncle Sam, who is she talking about?" Brandon asked worried.
"Cersei. She's talking about Cersei." Sam said at last. That doesn't make sense, Rickon thought.
"I'm going to get us out of here, little one! I promise..." Joanna said.
"It's not lowing. She has to calm down." Sam said.
"It's alright. Jenny is safe." Rickon said as calmly as he could however it did not work.
"You're going to meet your father and... uncles... and aunts... Come on, come on, come on!" Joanna said almost screaming and Sam knew that the only person she would listen to was Podrick.
"Go call your uncle! Now!" Sam said and then Rickon and Brandon started running. There was going on a meeting about politics, Rickon and Brandon did not find it very interesting and they had escaped that one.
As soon as they entered, Rickon said,
"Uncle Pod, it's aunt Joanna!"
"Uncle Sam said to call you!" Brandon said and then Pod started to run to the tent. Everyone went after him. Please, let this end up well, please let this end up well, Rickon thought while running.
They entered and Podrick went to her as Sam said,
"She needs to calm down."
"Come on, come on, come on! I have to get out of here! We have to make it to Winterfell! This not good for the baby!" Joanna said. Rickon did not know what to think, it was just beyond terrifying. He did not know which one was the memory, still it seemed like hell. He looked at Brandon and he was even more confused than him, therefore Rickon put a hand in his shoulder and he looked at him and he nodded. Seeing their reaction, Brienne put her hands one in each of their shoulders and whispered to them,
"They'll be alright." Daenerys looked at her and nodded and she nodded back. Then Daenerys took Jon's hand, she knew that Joanna was like family to him, just like she was to her. The only difference was that she had saved his life.
"It's alright. You're not there anymore, love. It's over." Pod said to Joanna, taking her hand.
"I'm never going to see them again. I'm never going to see my children again." Joanna said, she was crying by then. It passed to the present, Rickon thought in shock.
"You will! Listen to me, Joanna, please, listen! Focus on my voice, love. You'll see them again. You will!" Pod said as calmly as he could and holding her hand tight with both hands.
"I have to get out! She can't use me as a human shield!" Joanna said in the same tone again. It could be seen that Podrick was already in despair. Jon went to him and put a hand on his shoulder. And he tried again,
"She's dead! She won't do anything anynore. You aren't there! Joanna..." He never let go of her hand and finally, she was calming down.
"I have..." Joanna said more calmly.
"It's alright, love." Pod said looking at her.
"Pod..." Joanna said and he kissed her forehead and then said,
"I'm here. I will always be here." Then he got up and looked once again at his wife, she was asleep and it seemed peaceful again and there were a lot of people in that tent that cared about her, therefore he left as fast as he could.
"Pod!" Brienne said going after him, however Rickon said,
"I'll go."
"Are you sure?" Brienne asked.
"I'm sure." Rickon said and then he went to find his uncle. After searching almost the whole camp, Rickon finally found him. He was sitting near a small lake on the southner edge of the woods. Rickon went to sit beside him.
"Hey, uncle Pod." Rickon said.
"Hey, Rickon. Sorry, I stormed out that way." Pod said, it could be noticed in his voice that if he had not been crying at least he had been close to it.
"It's alright. We understand. I know that probably this is the last thing you want to hear, but are you alright?" Rickon said.
"I don't know... Actually, I do. I'm not." Pod said, there was no point in hiding it anymore.
"If you want to talk about it, I'm here." Rickon said. His uncle looked at him and he nodded. Then Pod looked at the other side of the lake and started,
"Since the moment I met her, I knew that she was the strongest person I had ever known. And, yet, for almost all the time, I was always afraid to loose her. She was always getting crazy ideas, or suicidal ideas, as your father calls it."
"Why did she have them?" Rickon asked a bit confused.
"To save people. She went to get an army to fight in the Blackwater, she went to find her brother without having the slightest idea where he was, she fought a Dothraki in single combat to prove her honor, she jumped in a frozen lake to save Jon, she fought five walkers so that we could win the war, she... she did all of that. But it was different." Pod explained.
"How?" Rickon asked.
"All those times, she could fight. She always fought, she had a sword in her hand. Even when she let herself get caught to stop a war, not even knowing that she was already pregnant of Jenny, she could fight. And now..." Pod said. She was in a dungeon, that was the memory, Rickon realized.
"She can still fight." Rickon said.
"I hope so, but I've never seen her like that, I've known her for 23 years and we've been married for 17 years and I've never seen her like this. Not even when she and your father and Jaime had to help their sister to die. Not even then, she was like this." Pod said, without even realizing it. They helped her to die, why?, Rickon thought.
"She'll get better." Rickon said.
"The last thing Jenny told me before going after Rhaella was 'please, take care of mother', she knew something was going on. I said that I would and I'm trying. There's just nothing more that I can do. It came a letter from the Rock a few days ago. Mary says that there is a situation, but she would solve it. And that... she knows. She told me to be strong and asked me to tell her news. She doesn't deserve to be going through this, none of them deserve it. I hope that Thomas and James don't know, because... it's enough that me and Mary know and that Jenny suspects it. They need to focus, right now. I wrote back to Mary, I said that her mother would be alright and that we'll be home soon. I hope that's true." Pod said, he was trying really hard not to cry. Rickon just hugged him and his uncle hugged him back.
"That's true. You'll see." Rickon said.
"Thank you for being here, Rickon. I don't know what to say." Pod said, after the hug.
"You don't have to say anything, uncle Pod. I've always admired you and aunt, you know. My parents always said that yout two are very strong and, as the days go by, I'm even more sure of it. Anyway, I just want to say that, this time, aunt may not be fighting with the sword, but she is fighting with her body and her mind. Most of people died already, but she didn't. I think that it should give us hope." Rickon said honestly. Pod looked at him and smiled.
"I hope that we are up to your expectations. And I think you're right, Rickon." Pod said and Rickon smiled.
There was finally hope.