The Mother gives the gift of life,

[lifeisnotasong]

When Sansa woke, it was pitch dark outside and she'd been so deeply asleep it took her some time to realise what had woken her. She snuggled into her blankets and a moment later had an answer when a pain rippled through her abdomen. Oh, she thought, that again. She reluctantly sat up and tried to remind herself that she had read false labour

Comments

[_kinginthenorth]

Wolves are pack animals through and through, especially where pups are concerned. Grey Wind is woken by Lady's distress, and already tugging lightly at Robb's splayed arm with his teeth when Sansa staggers back inside.

He wakes with a start, and for a brief scattered moment his eyes are pale and wild in the darkness. Being woken by a wolf's teeth is never a sign that all is well, after all.

"What is it?" he hisses, at his wolf or at anyone, sounding more alert than he feels.

[lifeisnotasong]

"Robb?" said Sansa feeling relief at the sound of his voice. At least he seems to be up so she doesn't have to really disturb anyone by waking them. Not that she may have much of a choice for long as she bites back a exclaimation of pain. "Robb, I need you to go and get a doctor."

[_kinginthenorth]

Robb sits bolt upright at that, yanking his arm back out of Grey Wind's mouth. "And bring them back here?" he asks, just to clarify, because he knows they've talked about this before but he's really not all that awake yet.

[lifeisnotasong]

"Yes!" said Sansa who quite forgot about her intent to not wake the rest of the household so keen was she to let Robb know it was urgent. "Right now Robb!" She wipes at her face uncertain what it is she can feel there and is surprised when her hand comes away damp. She hadn't realised she was crying.

[_kinginthenorth]

Grey Wind beats Robb to the clinic, even allowing for having to stop and wait for someone to open doors. He trots in quite determinedly and lets out a loud, commanding bark as Robb skids across the floor to join him.

[claire_fraser]

It was rather late, but I was in the clinic, as I was quite unable to sleep. The clinic was quiet and was mostly empty save for Dr. Wilson and myself, so it was with some surprise that we looked up to see Sansa's brother and his wolf burst into the room. "Is it Sansa?" I asked at once, thinking that she was likely the only reason for him to be in such a hurry.

[real_buzzkill]

"She's not due for another two weeks," Wilson said, anxiously looking up from a stack of files and over to Robb Stark, whom he'd never formally met. "How close were her pains coming when you left?"

He knew this could be another case of false labor, but it could also be the real thing. Sansa was so young.

[_kinginthenorth]

"I don't know," Robb snaps, not sure how he's supposed to have any idea what's going on inside Sansa's body. "The wolves woke us up and she said to fetch a doctor. That's what I'm doing."

[lifeisnotasong]

Once Robb has left and Sansa had woken near on everyone else and been helped upstairs, which took some time in her utter panic, the pains seem worse and closer together. She wants to get in bed and curl in on herself and wish this away, to make it two weeks from now so she does not have to fret about the baby being early on top of everything else. She doesn't though, she changes out of the stained nightgown. (Foolish as this is, there will only be more mess, she knows that.) She sits in the rocking chair dizziness making standing seem unappealing. She eyed the books again though of course it was far too late to be reading up on anything. It was happening now. In between pains she felt strange and detached like it was happening to someone else. Then it happened again and it was made unbelievably clear it was. Then Lady poked her head in the door and Sansa felt strangely relieved. "Where have you been?" she said. Though if Lady had followed Robb did that mean the doctor was here. Sansa heard footsteps on the stairs and struggled to

[onceaqueen]

"Sansa?" Susan asked, poking her head round the door just behind Lady. "Lady came and woke me, she was very persistent, so I came straight away. Is it the baby?" She'd been told so downstairs, but she asked anyway.

[lifeisnotasong]

Lady looks smugly between them as if to say look what I remembered. Sansa feels foolish and relieved at the sight of her friend, she'd been so panicky when she told Robb to get a doctor she hadn't thought to ask anyone to get Susan. "Yes," she said. "And it's definite this time."

[onceaqueen]

"Oh my goodness," said Susan, making a huge effort to contain her excitement. It was difficult, for she was both worried because it was a little early and excited that they'd all get to finally meet Sansa's child, but everything she'd read had told her Sansa would need someone calm and steady with her. "Your father said Robb's gone for the doctor. Is there anything you need until they get back?"

[lifeisnotasong]

Comforted by Susan's presence Sansa tried not to let herself panic. Panicking would not help and it might even upset the baby, the baby who would be here soon. Sansa was going to be a mother tonight, not two weeks hence, tonight. She'd thought the child might come late even because she'd read it was common for the first child to be so. She'd thought she would have longer to prepare and though she's made clothing and has everything she needs she does not feel ready to be a Mother. She looks to Susan and opens her mouth to say something, a courtesy or a trivial comment. Anything to take her mind off it. She might even ask Susan for a story as if she has not been demanding enough to drag her to Summerfell in the middle of the night. Then another contraction happened and instead of words Sansa felt her breath leave in a small gasp as she stuggled not to double over. Just as it passed there was a noise from downstairs. Not that it was easy to hear over the alertness of the direwolves. Sansa hadn't meant to cause such a fuss.

[claire_fraser]

After speaking briefly to Sansa's parents, Wilson and I went upstairs to Sansa's room. I could tell that she was in the middle of a contraction when we arrived, so I waited until she had relaxed again before I spoke. "Hello, Sansa," I said, putting my things down and moving over to her. "Your brother came for Dr Wilson and I, and we came as quickly as we could. How are you doing?"

[real_buzzkill]

Wilson checked his watch and marked the time so they could get a good idea how deep into labor Sansa was. He knew this could take hours, but there wasn't any reason to frighten Sansa right now. He set the armful of linens down and moved to the head of the bed to smile at Sansa. "Didn't I tell you the wolves would know when it was time?"

Then he covered her legs and belly with a clean sheet, folded to the right size. "You're doing well so far," he said in a reassuring voice.

[lifeisnotasong]

"Alright so far," said Sansa, to Dr. Claire, hoping if she says it it will be true. She looks between Dr. Claire and Dr. Wilson and is very grateful to Robb, two doctors are better than one surely. "My waters broke," she said. "So I knew it wasn't like last week." She listens to the racket the wolves are making. "And it hurts more," she adds feeling silly because of course it does that's normal.

[lifeisnotasong]

Sansa should sleep she's sure, she did not last night and she does not know that she will tonight given that she has a new child. She's sore and achy and messy and exhausted. But Eddara is wide awake and though she's been dressed now and made her first attempt at nursing she does not seem inclined to sleep. And Sansa won't while Eddara won't. Besides as tired as she is she feels filled with adrenalin and she cannot tear her gaze away from her daughter. She's all red and scrunchy and Sansa cannot see herself or Kialan in her yet, except in her soft downy hair which is perhaps a shade lighter than Sansa's. Her eyes are blue but Sansa knows that can change. She is singing to her softly when she hears a noise at the door and she realises belatedly that while Eddara looks just perfect, she herself is a mess. Normally this would bother her but she can't let it today. She can't be anything but thrilled.

[starkhand]

Ned had spent most of the last few hours not very far from Sansa's door, but he did not dare go in until Catelyn had assured him that it was all right to do so. Once she had, however, there was nothing that would have stopped him from seeing his granddaughter.

"Hello, sweetling," he said, bending to kiss the top of Sansa's head. "I hear you did well." He could not take his eyes off the small bundle in Sansa's arms, and reached out a hand to touch her tiny little head with his palm. I'm a grandfather, he thought, quite dazed by the idea.

[lifeisnotasong]

Father probably had heard Sansa doing well though she knew that was not what he meant. She glaces down at Eddara's tiny squirmy form, and she knows deep down inside that Eddara is the most perfect thing Sansa has ever done. "I did," she said suddenly full of pride. "She's wonderful."

[starkhand]

Save for Robb, Ned had been present for the births of all his children. He remembered how it felt to see them for the first time, to hear their tiny cries and know that they were his children. This was much the same, but in a different way; knowing that this was his grandchild touched him so deeply that he did not quite know what to say. "She's beautiful," he managed, his voice uncharacteristically unsteady.