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

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[starkfish]

After making sure Sansa and the baby were settled, Catelyn had gone to clean up and dress. She was tired after a night awake, but she had a granddaughter and a daughter to see to, and likely a fair few visitors to expect throughout the day.

She returned to Sansa's room once she was presentable, wanting to get another look at mother and child before sharing them with the island at large. "You look tired," she commented from the door with a knowing smile.

[lifeisnotasong]

Sansa had never been more tired in her life but she smiles at Mother and shifts Eddara gently. "Very," she said. "I knew it would hurt, I did not know it would be such hard work." She glances down at Eddara and smiles, "but worth it."

[starkfish]

"Yes," Catelyn agreed, to all of it. She moved to Sansa's side and smiled down at the tiny perfect baby. "She's beautiful."

Her eyes raised to Sansa's then, and she gave her a small smile. "Would you like me to brush your hair?" It was in part to make her more presentable, but it was also...amends for the rift that had grown between them, even if that rift had been shrinking every day.

[lifeisnotasong]

"Oh yes please," said Sansa who really did dread to think what her hair looked like after the night she'd had. It wasn't at all important really considering what she's been doing but Sansa liked to look nice. She didn't want to show Eddara up by appearing a state when everyone came to see her. Not when Eddara looked so perfect and beautiful. "I'd like that very much." She smooths one hand over Eddara's soft downy hair, "she has hair just like ours," she said happily.

[starkfish]

Catelyn smiled and picked up a hairbrush, carefully beginning to tease the tangles out of Sansa's hair. "Yes," she agreed, though the hair could change as the babe grew, just as the eyes could.

[lifeisnotasong]

Sansa should not be able to feel such a child again when she is cradling one of her own, but Mother brushing her hair takes her right back to being a little girl at Winterfell. "Did I have lots of hair when I was born," she asks. She knows not all babies do but Eddara does and she wonders if she gets that from her or Kialan.

[starkfish]

Catelyn smiled softly, her eyes drifting half-closed as she thought of Sansa as a baby. "Oh, you had a fair amount," she commented quietly, the brush running in long, slow strokes through Sansa's hair now, smoothing it and making it shine. "Not quite as much as she does, though." She paused to rest a tender hand on the tiny head, smooth back the thick, red hair.

[lifeisnotasong]

Sansa is glad to hear that, maybe Eddara will have even more lovely hair than Sansa does. That would be nice. Eddara yawned and blinked at her grandmother's hand. "She keeps yawning," said Sansa staring at little in wonder, as she did at everthing the baby did. "But she doesn't seem to want to sleep."

[starkfish]

Catelyn laughed softly, continuing to brush even though it was done now, Sansa's hair thick and smooth. "She'll sleep when she's ready--and scream when she's finished," she added with fond amusement. "Would you like me to plait it?" she asked, gathering Sansa's hair in her hand and tugging gently. A plait would keep it out of the way and likely keep Sansa cooler while she was abed.

[lifeisnotasong]

"Yes," said Sansa, "please." A plait would keep neat and stop Sansa's hair which was ever so long from getting in Eddara's face. "She hasn't done a lot of screaming yet," Sansa said, thinking outloud. She had cried when she was born but then so had Sansa and it had taken a moment for her to hear Eddara's crying over her own shrieks. "I have all that to look forward to I suppose."

[starkfish]

With a nod and a deft hand, Catelyn divided Sansa's hair, smoothing it once more before beginning a simple plait down the back. "Enjoy the peace while it lasts, Sansa dear," she cautioned quietly. "You'll soon wish you'd never heard a screaming baby in your life." But she wouldn't be alone. Catelyn would help bear the responsibility of raising the babe, and with more joy than she could express. It was nearly as good as having another child of her own, and far more practical, despite the unfortunate circumstances which had led to this moment.

[lifeisnotasong]

"I could never wish that," Sansa said at once, "not even if she cries all the time, Mother. I love her." Sansa paused a little because Mother surely knew that. "I was so scared when it started early," she admitted. "But the doctors said she is healthy so I shall be grateful for that." Eddara shuffled her little feet and then decided to prove how healthy her lungs were. Sansa shifted her gently and smoothed one hand over Eddara's back, rubbing in soft soothing circles. She began to hum a hymn softly under her breath hoping to calm Eddara.

[starkfish]

Catelyn just smiled knowingly at Sansa's profession. She'd discover soon enough that loving a child didn't preclude desperately wishing, in the early morning with a screaming babe in arms, that they'd simply give their mother a few moments' peace.

"You're both well, and that's what's important," she agreed. She'd been a bit concerned herself when the pains had begun early, but first pregnancies could be unpredictable, and the...doctors on the island seemed quite competent in their practise of healing. As the child began crying, Catelyn smiled ruefully, but it filled her with a warm rush of pride to see Sansa handling the child, calming and petting her as a mother should.

[lifeisnotasong]

Sansa cuddled Eddara gratefully to her, they were both well and that was what was important and she should remember it. "I was glad to have you there as well," she said feeling foolish because it was an obvious thing really but there had been a time when Sansa had not been certain if she could have asked her Mother (or even if Mother would have wanted to help her.) With Eddara calmed slightly, she turned to look up at her Mother and smile gently. Eddara squirmed and Sansa turned her attention back to her at once. "That's your grandmother," she told Eddara softly, "we both take after her."

[starkfish]

No one could be unmoved by such a moment, and Catelyn smiled down at her daughter and new granddaughter, filled with gratitude to the Seven for giving her this moment, this moment of peace and happiness after all of the strife and horror her family had been through.

She finished the plait and tied off the end, then kissed the top of Sansa's head and got to her feet. "There," she said briskly. "That's much better."