waking up isn't so hard to do... Who: Genna, Gwyn, their nurse Beth, anyone else interested in Gwyn waking up What: Gwyn waking up When: Morning, Day 24. Where: Maegor's Holdfast, Gwyn's sickroom
Genna's insistent pleading had led lessons to be delayed in favor of a visit to her sister. Beth Cassel who had been the twins' nurse from infancy was not one to keep them apart, though she herself was ragged with worry over Gwyn and for Genna who was so little like herself it was as if she too was lost. It was unsettling, and Beth's prayers were that her charges would soon be back to normal and that this sojourn south would be short. Beth missed her Northron home and disliked the south with its maze of corridors and streets and shadows looming with malevolence. Not to mention the courtiers whose eyes were like daggers and the ladies with stares as warm as Others' and just as kind. She'd begun to see those same expressions in Genna's eyes and it worried her- the way the remaining twin acted a perfect angel in public but once doors closed she became willful and unpredictable.
Nonetheless, she had rewarded Genna's pleas more because she too wished to check on Gwyn than out of hope that Genna's promise to behave would hold true. Lord and Lady Stark might have a word with their daughter sometime about keeping her promises, she thought a bit sourly. Last time she'd promised that, Beth had spent half the day washing paint out of priceless Myrish hangings and sweeping up china that had doubtless been the life's work of artisans. The fact that the other servants had assured Beth she'd actually missed the worst of the tantrums was hardly reassuring.
At least they'd arrived in Gwyn's room without any great misadventure and Beth waved the sleepy serving girl currently holding vigil off to her rest. "She's stirred a bit more the last day or so but nothing more," the girl said as she took her leave.
"We can stay til your lady mother arrives," she told Genna, who was already ignoring her. Beth sighed and took a seat, getting to work on the embroidery which was properly Genna's lesson but Beth had long since despaired of convincing the girl to get it done.
Genna had climbed onto the bed and curled up next to her twin, a book of stories in her hand. "I found a book of tales yesterday," she explained. "In the library. They've got history in them but the pictures are pretty. Queen Alysanne... and Jaehaerys the... Con-cil-ator. But this ones' better. It's Sheira Seastar and she was very beautiful and she had lots of lovers and one of them was even her own bastard brother who--"
"Genna Stark, that's not appropriate for a young lady," Beth said sharply.
"You're very quaint, Beth, but everyone has a lover," Genna said with a dramatic eye roll. "This is court, after all."
"Court or not, that's shameful. No decent lady talks of such things, and certainly not a princess."
"Well Aunt Lyonora had one. How else did we get Ned? And SHE's a lady."
"Yes, and your lady aunt is unmarried and probably always will be with that scandal."
"Not if father's king. She can get married all she wants if she's a king's sister. ... Father might even have to marry her."
Beth's jaw dropped as well as her embroidery. "What?"
Genna sighed and explained in a tone only an exhasperated six-year-old could manage, "Kings marry their sisters."
"Oh, mother's mercy," Beth muttered. "Your father is not a Targaryen."
"He's partly one or he wouldn't be Regent."
"Yes, well... not all kings married their sisters. And your lord father is married already to your lady mother, who you might do well to remember a bit more often." Genna only shrugged at the mention of her mother as if it were a minor inconvenience.
"Kings can have two wives. Aegon the Conqueror did and Daenerys had two husbands."
Beth frowned. "That's only... only rarely... sweet mercy, child. The things you come up with... I don't think your lord father has any notion of marrying his sister."
"But he might be king and that's different."
Beth shook her head in despair. "Go to and read your sister a tale."
"I was trying to," Genna muttered with a huff and opened the book again. "Anyway, where was I? Oh, Sheira Seastar and her--"
"Genna, stop bouncing." The voice was rough and barely above a murmer but Genna heard it just the same and stared down at her sister for a moment in pure shock. It took her longer than it ought to have to realize she was looking down into gray eyes the color of her own.
"You woke up," Genna stated blankly.
"Uh-huh. Thanks. Water?"
By the door, Beth stood up too quickly, knocking the chair over in her haste. She poured a glass and put it to Gwyn's lips, letting the child take a couple small sips. "Gwyn, sweetling? Are you--" she put the glass down and put a hand to Gywn's forehead. Still a trace too warm... Oh, heavens. Lord and Lady Stark...
"Genna, fetch your mother and the Maester... QUICKLY, child."
Gwyn let Beth ease her back down on the pillows but cast a confused glance at her twin. "It's been weeks and weeks, Gwyn," Genna explained with a bright smile. "I'll be right back!" she yelled as she raced into the hallway and straight toward her mother's rooms. Nearly there she caught a page not too much older than herself by the sleeve. "Fetch the Maester to Gwyn's room this instant."
"LADY KAELYN!" Genna called as she threw the door of Kaelyn's chambers open and ignored the shocked exclamations from the maids. Genna had no time for that right now. "Your grace, come quick come quick! Gwyn woke up! MOTHER! Gwyn woke up! I'm getting father!" She only caught the barest glimpse of her mother's shape somewhere by another doorway before she dashed back out again and ran for the council chamber where she was mostly sure father would be having boring meetings before his judging and king stuff in the throne room later.
The Whitecloaks outside the door proved she was right. "I've GOT to see my father, please," she said as she skidded to a stop. The knights gave her an odd look but shook their heads.
"No one but the council's allowed in just now, princess. In a few minutes they'll be done," one explained kindly.
"No. He has to come now. Gwyn is awake and that's important and he's got to know right now."
"She's... she woke up?" the other asked in disbelief. At Genna's nod he put his spear up. "Come on, then, the King can let the council wait for once." The guards pushed the doors in and Genna darted between them before they'd parted enough to let a grown-up through.
"Father, Gwyn's awake!" she announced to the startled table of men. She bobbed a belated curtsy but focused on her father. "Um, my lord king your grace, Gwyn woke up just now and she's all right. I got Lady Kaelyn and I told her I'd tell you too." Not awaiting a reply, Genna only turned and ran straight for Gwyn's room again.