章 6: Entremets
(Ned Stark POV)
[Flashback]
When my foster father entered my room, I was lying on the bed resting, eager to see the newborn baby while Robert was half drunk Still pouring more wine. Just as he expected, he scolded Robert for drinking too much wine.
Robert looked shocked like a thief while caught red-handed. "Father! How's Lady Rowena? Can we see her?", Robert asked him. Ever the sly drunk, trying to shift lord Arryn's attention away from him and escape his rebuke. But he also could see the real worry in her eyes, so he'd let him off this time.
"Your mother is with Gods now. The birth was hard and she lost a lot of blood in the process. Right now we have to prepare for her funeral. She needs to be readied to be buried."
"How's the baby, father? Is it a boy or a girl?", I asked.
"You are proud brothers of a small brother. His name is Altair and is out of danger."
"Can we see him? Please...", I asked him.
There was something wrong as he didn't say the baby was healthy but Jon was very considerate of me and therefore he allowed it.
"You may, BUT ... you will control yourself and not cause a ruckus."
"... Y-yes father. We promise."
"Good. Then come with me."
Lord Arryn led us through the castle. We were very curious to see the baby. We were fifteen and sixteen years old this year Robert being the older. That meant that there was quite a big gap between them and their so-called newborn brother. Robert and I are like bread and butter, inseparable. We have been very close Since developed together in Vale.
It's going to be hard for a new child to live without his mother. I feel deep sympathy for the boy as he lost his mother as soon as he arrived in this world. As I also lost my mother recently I know how it feels without a mother's love.
"Remember, silence. Your baby brother needs his rest. You have a few minutes.", Jon said once again.
"Yes, Father.", said Robert.
"Ok.", I added
Jon slowly opened the door and let us inside. He entered after we did and silently closed the door. With a wave of his hand, he told us to follow him.
Ned and Robert walked up to the bed and looked at their brother. Robert looked at him for a moment and then shifted his attention to the middle-aged Midwife attending to him.
I walked around the bed and closely studied the new addition to the house of Arryn. He was placed on the bed, unlike what master taught us of newborns being placed in a cradle. He looked fragile and vulnerable, his skin scrunched up and pale as the walls of the castle. His sky-blue eyes shone with intelligence as if observing me.
I wanted to make sure he was alright and grab his hand. I looked back at Jon and he nodded ever so slightly and then grabbed his small hand ever so slightly. He doesn't look good. According to Jon, he was in danger during birth but now everything will be ok. I am glad for Jon as I don't know what he would do if even his second wife and child both died during birth.
[End Flashback]
—————
The circumstances of Altair's birth were chaotic, to put it mildly, and ominous to be frank. As we were preparing for the funeral of lady Rowena and sending letters to Lord Arryn's vassals, king's landing and citadel. We received even more sad news, reports of the destructive storm on the day of Altair's birth and the demise of Robert's parents added to the solemn and sad atmosphere of the castle.
We hurriedly finished Lady Rowena's funeral as we quickly prepared and departed for Storm's end to attend Robert's parents' funeral. Altair was kept in the castle in the care of maids and maester as he was in no condition to survive travelling.
6 months have passed since the arrival of the new member of the house of Arryn. These months were filled with solemn peace and grieving as time slowly healed the wounds in everyone's hearts. My foster father, John Arryn has been worried ever since his birth. Although he tried to appear stoic, I can see the worry about his son's health in his eyes.
I feel deep sympathy for the boy as he lost his mother as soon as he arrived in this world. Both me and Robert know the pain of dead parents. I also lost my mother Lyarra Stark a few years back.
I still remember seeing him after his birth and his sickly nature hasn't changed since. It was said that he is only surviving because of his tenacious will as he drinks all the milk from three maids supporting his health. I often wonder how he is still so thin and frail after drinking so much milk around 6-8 times more than any baby I've heard of.
His eyes are always gleaming with intelligence observing everything while always being wrapped up and cradled by Jon or his milkmaids. He especially doesn't like leaving the arms of his milkmaids.
He often watches me and Robert sparring with the master at arms, knights and squires. I wonder if he will be strong enough to wield a sword someday.
While everyone is worried about him, I see no worries in his eyes as if he is confident about his future or is ignorant of his condition which I highly doubt from his intelligence.
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