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[queeninthenorth]

If Jeyne had still been inclined to pray to the Seven, she would have thanked the Mother every day that Reynald was a healthy, happy, easygoing baby. Of course he cried and fussed at times as any baby did, but it was almost always due to being hungry or tired and he was easily soothed, unlike his cousin Rickon who seemed to drive his mother to

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[_kinginthenorth]

"He is easy to keep happy, isn't he?" Robb sinks down onto the sand next to her, fresh from his IPD patrol; he's just as in love with Reynald as Jeyne is and it's hard not to see.

[queeninthenorth]

"Yes, he is," Jeyne agreed, leaning over to kiss Robb's cheek. So far not much had been able to distract Reynald from his game, but his father's appearance did, and he said "dddddddddd," and reached over to grab his father's leg. He wasn't close to crawling yet, but he was good at grabbing, and making it known when he wanted someone to pick him up.

[_kinginthenorth]

Robb picks Reynald up and swings him into the crook of one elbow. "Yes, hello, I see you," he laughs, as the baby burbles happily. "Were you playing a game?"

[queeninthenorth]

Reynald babbled and laughed, grabbing at Robb's hair enthusiastically. "I think that means yes," said Jeyne, smiling. "He would have gone on playing it for hours, I think, had you not come along."

[never_atone]

The world, real and moving though it was, looked greatly like a picture on that day. It resembled a vivid painting on most days, but Briony did not always indulge in a stroll along the shore, adding herself to the arrangement. When she did, she frequented the docks most, the place closest to her heart for all the tales that might take sail.

When she saw the setting on this day, however, Briony's heart stopped. She knew the woman's face, of course, not simply because Briony had grown up with her eyes always cast upwards to admire it. Frequently they met in the kitchen, passed each other at gatherings and the like, but something about the timing, the setting, the presence of the child, pulled at Briony's heartstrings so fiercely that the organ did still.

She regained herself with barely a pause in her step, for her body had learned to move without her present many years before. "You both look happy," Briony observed warmly.

[queeninthenorth]

"Thank you," said Jeyne, looking up from their game with a smile. "I've been fortunate to be blessed with a son of good temper and health." It was not said as a boast, but as something for which Jeyne was supremely grateful. Reynald cooed adorably just then, as if on cue, and Jeyne scooped him up and kissed his forehead.

[never_atone]

If only such temperaments could be shared like favors between children of similar mothers, like mirrored eyes and matching tresses. But just because the twins might share this woman's looks, they were entirely their own mother's children. It made for frustration at times, but Briony could not ask for it to be another way.

"That is quite lucky, from what I know of children," Briony agreed, smiling softly at the boy. "I hope it continues into his life. I was perhaps a sweet babe, but a troublesome child."

[queeninthenorth]

Jeyne smiled. "I think sometimes children are meant to be troublesome; it is how we learn right from wrong. If we never did wrong, our parents would have no opportunity to teach us." If she had made a few mistakes in childhood herself, mayhap it would have made her somewhat wiser--but what was past was past and Jeyne would not dwell on it.

"You are welcome to join us if you like," Jeyne invited. "The shade is lovely here and the tide is coming in by bits. I'm Jeyne, of the Starks of Summerfell." She nodded back toward Summerfell, away from the dock.

[giftless]

A sad sort of after effect of all the history-that-was-not-his-own with Robb was that, quite unconsciously, Edmund had distanced himself from Robb's wife, Jeyne. She seemed quite nice, and a rather backwards, boyish sense of competition insisted that she had to, in some way, be equal or better than Edmund. But the truth was he had never let himself get close enough to see for himself. There were always family gatherings, polite exchanges, but Ed felt as though he didn't know the woman at all except as Robb's wife.

And what a horrible thing to be summarized in two words! Edmund, realizing the state of things as he walked along the beach towards the dock, would not let things sit as such. His goal had been the Treader, but with Jeyne and Reynald sitting on the shore, happy as could be, he changed his focus.

"Hello there," he said, smiling warmly, Honour trotting along as a heavy, furry shadow. "How are you two this day?"

[queeninthenorth]

"Good day, Your Grace," Jeyne said, looking up--though it felt overly formal to address her goodbrother so, she did not quite feel she knew him well enough to call him by his given name even after all this time. Though she knew quite well that this Edmund was not the Edmund with whom Robb had been involved, it was still strange; though no matter how strange it was for her it must be even stranger for Edmund, if he had been told of his former self's life.

Despite the strangeness, Edmund was making the effort to be kind, and Jeyne could not hold it in her heart to be at all bitter towards him. "We are well," she added. "Just amusing Reynald with a silly game. Babes are so easily amused sometimes--no, sweetling, you mustn't eat it," she broke off as Reynald attempted to eat a fistful of sand.

[giftless]

Those from Westeros tended more often than anyone to greet Edmund with a title. Edmund could think nothing of it when, say, Davos gave him such respect, but from family it felt awkward and clumsy. It reminded him, foolishly of course, of how desperately he had wished for the White Witch's fulfillment of her promise, of Edmund made prince and king while his siblings knelt before him as dukes and duchesses.

All this could not be explained in passing conversation, so Edmund tried his best to ignore it. Laughing at Reynald's antics helped. "They are," he agreed. "But only if you're lucky with Rickon. Please, call me Edmund, won't you?"

[queeninthenorth]

"All right," Jeyne agreed. "Edmund." Reynald offered Edmund his fistful of sand, but Jeyne discreetly brushed his hand somewhat clean and distracted him again with the seashells. "Rickon is much like his namesake, from the stories I hear. It might be a trial now, but it may be good as well; with such a strong personality it would be very difficult for anyone to take advantage of him when he is older." She was glad that Reynald was an easy baby, but she hoped he would be stronger-willed than she was as he grew.

[piratekingswann]

Elizabeth did not feel that she was avoiding Jeyne after the island trick, they did not see each other regularly after all. It was perhaps a relief not to be confronted with more memories of that incident. Yet when she saw Jeyne and her child beneath the dock - a regular destination for Elizabeth she sighed at the disturbing memories she prompted. But to walk away would be cowardly something Elizabeth abhorred and different as she was from Jeyne in everything but looks she was sure Jeyne was not any more proud of their encounter than she was.

"Hello," she said crouching down beside them a slight distance away and watching Reynald bounce and laugh.

[queeninthenorth]

"Hello," Jeyne answered, as Reynald turned toward her and bounced, smiling. "It's good to see you. Are you well?" It felt awkward, given what had happened when last they saw each other, but Jeyne had found there was little to do to resolve awkwardness than to simply ignore it and carry on.

[piratekingswann]

"Yes," said Elizabeth shifting as she made herself as comfortable she could, the more pregnant she grew the less she felt like herself and she was tired of being uncomfortable in her own skin. But she assumed this was part of pregnancy and did not count as being unwell even if she was inclined to complain. She watched Reynald look at her and bounce a little and that at least made her smile - clearly her odd island inflicted self had made a good impression on the child. "You and Reynald both seem so," she said and he laughed at her.

[queeninthenorth]

"I've been fortunate in that Reynald is a happy child," Jeyne admitted. "And healthy and strong." She looked from Reynald to Elizabeth and smiled. "I think he likes you," she said. Reynald reached for Elizabeth, clearly wanting to be picked up. "You cannot bounce on her, sweetling," Jeyne warned him. "You would not want to hurt her babe."

[playingtheenemy]

Ainsley had been hyper-aware lately of other women and their children and it was as if she was drawn to the woman and her child, a fond look on her face. Her mind was still mired in disappointment that she was still as of yet unable to conceive, but Rollie said patience, so patience it would be.

"Your baby's beautiful," Ainsley praised as she approached. "Girl or boy?"

[queeninthenorth]

"A son, near six months old," Jeyne replied with a smile, as she pulled the blanket away from the shells and Reynald clapped his hands together in glee. "Thank you for your kind words. He is a sweet child; I've been fortunate in that."

[playingtheenemy]

"Six months and a real beauty," Ainsley praised again and stared at the young boy. It felt strange to be finding some innate place in yourself that yearned for this kind of maternal acceptance, but she had found it and she wanted it. "What's his name?"

[queeninthenorth]

"Reynald Jon," she answered. "Reynald for my older brother, and Jon for my lord husband's brother. It is not a custom in my land to give two names, but I know many have done it here and I liked the thought of it. He is Reynald, and I am Jeyne, of the Starks of Summerfell."

Reynald looked up at the lady and said, "Eeeeeh?" Jeyne smiled and smoothed his light brown hair. She wondered if it would take on the reddish tint of Robb's hair.