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Chapter 46 - The Fourth Child
🕑 Added 2025-08-22 18:00:48 +0000 UTCStormlands
Storm’s End
“Look at our glorious hero.” Elbert teased as he entered the room and took a seat.
“Piss off, Elbert.” Robert grunted from where he was lying face down.
His foster brother grinned, too amused to see Robert brought low. “Come now, don’t say that. None could have done what you did to save your grandmother. Your name will live in legends for ages—well, more so than it already would have been.”
Of course it had taken him literally jumping off a dragon to save his grandmother, but still, even he wasn't invincible.
“My back feels like tenderized steak; I am not in the mood to care whether I am a legend or not.” Once he was healed, it would be a different matter.
Elbert snorted. “Still, it was incredible to watch. Though I have to ask, what was it that you did in the end?" Everyone was curious about how Robert managed to bring Rhaelle back to life.
“I just pushed air into her lungs and pressed her heart from the outside to force it to beat. I learned it from Doctor Korryn.” The good doctor had insisted he learn and had eventually worn down Robert into accepting.
He should give Korryn a reward for it.
“Mayhaps I’ll talk Jon into requesting a doctor for Eyrie too.” His wife would give birth in two months, and with how highly Robert spoke of his doctor, Elbert didn't see the harm in having another hand to assist in the birth.
Especially knowing the fate of Jon's wives.
“Good idea actually, I am sure it will do good.”
“Best I leave you to rest then. Thank you.”
—
Robert didn’t accept any more visitors after Elbert, as he wanted to rest and heal quickly.
Revenge might be a dish best served cold, but Robert didn’t want to wait for it.
Not that there was anything he could do until his back healed, except plan, of course.
Since he was going to the lands beyond the Wall, then at least he would make the most of the trip. His list included killing Castor so the women under his control would be free, though he might have to teach them how to survive on their own.
Or convince the Watch to do so.
He would also try to convince the Giants to bend the knee to him and join Asgard.
It would be cool, having a fifteen-foot-tall creature as a part of his retinue. Especially after donning the giant with a wicked-looking Valyrian steel plate armor.
Since the Children of the Forest would be protecting Brynden, it was inevitable for him to meet one of the last living vestiges of magic, and Robert would offer them a place in Asgard too.
It would be better if they knew the Earth magic mentioned in the Valyrian texts, but if not, it's still better for them to be on the other side of the Wall.
Who knows what the Night King and the White Walkers could do if they manage to kill and resurrect one of the Children?
He would rather not discover the answer to that.
And finally, Darksister.
Robert already had more Valyrian steel than anyone else on the planet, but he had a special idea in mind for one of the two heirloom blades of House Targaryen.
A very special idea.
If he couldn’t find it, then no big loss.
Cressen wanted him to stay and rest for at least ten days, and with the near death of his grandmother, the festivities ended early. The guests had begun to leave, and rumors began to spread, ranging from the gods punishing his grandmother for some reason to the Targaryens employing sorcery to kill a Rhaelle to have a chance at taking her dragon.
The second part was partially correct, since the one responsible for it was a Targaryen, but the why escaped him.
Not for long, of course.
—
Staying at Storm’s End meant he didn’t have any work to do, but Renly was still here with Brienne, and he made sure to spend time with his little brother and the sole heiress of Tarth as well.
Brienne was a responsible child in contrast to Renly’s mischievous nature. She made sure Renly attended his lessons, while his youngest brother dragged Brienne around, pulling pranks and being a little hellion.
Robert couldn’t be prouder.
He also supervised some of their lessons from the side, giving advice where it was necessary. Avoiding any strenuous activity was necessary, and his massive hammer entered that category, so Robert couldn’t help practically.
Still, Renly wasn’t exactly the most talented person with the blade, but at least he was making an effort.
His lessons on other subjects proceeded smoother, and he was shaping up to be an intelligent person, unlike his canon counterpart.
An upside to not having the original, irresponsible Robert in charge.
—
“Brother, brother, wake up.” A whisper woke Robert from his slumber, and the older man looked at the children right in front of his face with bleary eyes.
“Renly, I am supposed to be resting.” It was barely noon, but with nothing to do, he opted to pass time by sleeping.
His little brother didn’t care. “Could you tell us the tale of how you slew the demon, please?”
Robert rubbed his eyes. Perhaps he had taken Renly’s disobedience towards authority a little lightly, since he was supposed to be in the middle of his lessons with Maester Cressen.
“You two are not supposed to be here, and I am sure Maester Cressen is already searching the castle. Go to your lessons, and I’ll tell you the tale after dinner.” It's best to make a compromise rather than outright crushing their eagerness.
Brienne spoke up next before Renly could utter another sound. “Maester Cressen was not at his study, my lord; that’s why we left.”
Robert got up with a grunt, putting his tunic on. “Come, let’s see where Cressen is.”
—
The castle was in a flurry, and Robert finally stopped one of the servants to ask what was going on.
“It’s Lady Cassana, my lord; she is giving birth.”
Fuck. “What? It’s a month early.”
Robert’s tone scared the servant, and she visibly gulped before answering. “Maester Cressen says it's from the fright of what happened.”
“Fucking hell. Take Renly and Brienne somewhere and keep them inside.” Robert ran out, ignoring the protest from his back.
He was going to send Korryn after making it back to Asgard, but he would have to do it now.
Quickly mounting Obelisk, Robert took off.
—
Asgard
“My lord, it relieves us to see you back. We heard…” Tyrion began, having come out to greet Robert after the tower guards saw his dragon in the distance.
“No time, tell Korryn to pack up his bag; he is coming to Storm’s End with me.” Robert interrupted Tyrion, pointing at Sandor, who rushed out to carry his order.
“Is it something urgent, my lord?” With the way Robert was glaring at nothing, either someone was dying, or he would definitely kill someone.
“My mother is giving early birth.”
Tyrion’s eyes widened. “I see.” A woman giving birth in the best possible conditions was a dangerous battle, and in a birth a month too early, troubles would arise.
Korryn came running with his bag, and without even waiting, Robert leaned down to pull him up, barely giving the doctor enough time to hold on tightly to Robert’s shoulders before taking off again.
—
Storm’s End
Rather than landing outside, Robert hovered near the Drum Tower, and ignoring Korryn’s protests, threw the doctor over his shoulder and climbed to Obelisk’s head, entering the tower through a window to reach the lord’s chambers faster.
Without heeding the servants or his father about staying out, Robert shouldered his way through the door and lowered Korryn on his feet.
“Get to work, now.”
“Yes, my lord. Quickly, get me boiling water.” Korryn began to open his bag and take out his tools to approach Cassana, pushing Cressen aside.
The servants looked owlishly before Robert’s thunderous voice sent them scrambling. “What the hell are you waiting for?! Do as he says, now.”
He turned to the irked maester before leaving the room. “Cressen, do as Korryn says.”
“Y-yes, my lord.”
—
Once outside, Robert sat on a chair provided by the servants, seething.
He was going to tear Brynden limb from limb for this.
—
The wait itself was torture for everyone. Servants rushed in and out, bringing whatever Korryn requested, and hours passed in silence, only interrupted by Cassana’s screams of labor.
Steffon was pacing up and down, while Stannis sat gritting his teeth, only calmed by the soothing touch of his wife.
“Do you think your doctor can do better than Cressen?” The aging maester had delivered the three Baratheon brothers, but even with his talents, Steffon knew early-born children did not have high chances of survival.
He had enough dead siblings to prove it.
Robert nodded. “I know he can.” Just Korryn’s focus on hygiene was enough to increase the chances of the baby’s survival, and Elia had said he was one of her best students.
“Good.” His grandmother got up, face-to-face with Robert from where he was sitting. “He might be kin, but if Brynden is truly alive, he must pay.”
There was a dark look in Robert’s eyes, one promising bloody, agonizing vengeance. “I will make him regret the day the Unworthy decided to put his cock in Melyssa Blackwood’s cunt.”
His grandmother squeezed his shoulder, sitting back down to nurse her ribs.
Cassana’s screams cut off for longer than usual, and the Baratheon family rose all at once, waiting for the child’s cries, which did not come.
Fearing the worst, Steffon made for the door, his hand on the knob, before the pitiful screams sent him to his knees.
A collective sigh was heard, and Steffon made to go inside and see his child, only for the door to be opened from the other side, and everyone except Doctor Korryn and Maester Cressen left the room.
Korryn came out minutes later, taking out his gloves to discard them. “My lord, until the child is strong enough, there will be no visitors. Anyone who enters the room must be wearing clean clothes and wash their hands so neither the mother nor your daughter can catch a fever.”
“A daughter? How is she?” Steffon grasped Korryn’s shoulders, and the doctor had to visibly shake him off.
“Weak, as expected, but I am doing everything I can.”
“Can we not see her?” Rhaelle had lost three children to early births and wanted to see Cassana and the child with her own eyes.
Korryn shook his head, putting on a fresh pair of gloves covered in powder. “Not until she is strong enough.”
“But…” Steffon started to object, but Robert pulled him back by the shoulder.
“No buts, old man, no one’s going in, and that’s it.” With the Westerosi customs, that would be nigh impossible without a stern warning.
His father gave up, too weary from waiting and worrying. “Very well.”
“If you excuse me now, I need to watch the mother and the child. In the meantime, we need heated stones to keep the room at a stable warmth.”
“I’ll do it.” Stannis volunteered, finding it better to go and do something to help rather than wait.
Korryn went inside, and Steffon sat down, wrapping his hands around his head.
“She’ll be fine.” Robert consoled his father, who was just as weary, but the furious storm inside kept him burning.
His father sighed. “I hope so, Robert, I hope so.”
—
They continued to wait well into the night, leaving only when Korryn told them to. Dinner was forgotten, and none felt hungry, for the only thing in their mind was concern over the child.
Sleep did not come easy to the lordly inhabitants of Storm’s End.
—
The next morning, Robert got ready to leave after checking his mother’s situation with Doctor Korryn.
The baby was currently sleeping with the mother for skin-on-skin contact so his sister’s body temperature would be regulated, and she would continue to get stronger.
Korryn had also ordered a special food course for Cassana so her milk could be strengthened.
Robert nodded, thanking the doctor and getting ready to leave.
Sitting around without being able to do anything would drive him mad, so he would leave for the lands beyond the Wall, regardless of his bruised back.
Bloodraven had an appointment with death, and Robert would deliver him to the afterlife in an express train of agony.
“You are leaving?” His father asked as Robert mounted Obelisk, ready to leave without even saying farewell.
Robert gazed to the north, where his target waited thousands of miles away. “Yes, the sooner Brynden is dead, the better.”
“Take care of yourself. If half of what you said about the things that lie behind the Wall is true, then this won’t be an easy journey.” He already had one child fighting the Stranger; Steffon didn’t want another in its embrace.
Robert nodded, giving the order for Obelisk to take off.
Comments
Fortunis
Dudes about to see the worst case of burning assholes since god invented hemeroids.
