Choices Chapter 5

Choices   Chapter 5

When he returned to their tent Karcia was waiting for him.

"How was the council meeting?" she asked, as she flitted about the tent.

"Long, but informative."

"Did you get anything to eat?"

'I'm not hungry. Karcia there is something I wish to discuss with you." She came and sat across from him.

"Karcia, how would you like to stay here in Pentos?"

"Are you staying in Pentos?"

"No. I would continue to travel with the Khalasar."

"Then no, I shall not stay here" she said as she got up and paced.

"It would be safer for you and the baby."

"No, Jorah the Andal."

"But why not consider it?"

'No, we belong with you" she insisted. She seemed quite upset at the thought of them being separated, perhaps Daenerys was right.

"Do you love me, Karscia?" She didn't answer him and wouldn't looks at him. He went up behind her putting his arms around her, to still her restless pacing, and prevent her from leaving, she always ran when she was agitated.

"Do you love me, Karcia?" he asked again.

"Yes" she said so quietly that he barely heard her. Then she began to cry, great heaving sobs that shook her whole body. He turned her in his arms and cradled her against his chest. He did anything he could to comfort her. He rubbed her back, he made sweet promises in her ear. Her crying hurt him, almost like a physical pain. When she was spent he picked her up and carried her to their bed, where he held her once more.

"Why were you crying, dearest?"

"Because I'm not supposed to love you. I knew from the beginning that you were in love with someone else. Now that you know, you will run from me."

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here. We have a war to fight, a child to raise, and because I love you, too." She looked at him unbelievably. He decided the best way to convince her was to show her. So, he kissed her, like he had never kissed her before, with his whole heart.

The end

(chapter 1) (chapter 2) (chapter 3) (chapter 4)

GLIMPSE OF AFTER

She was finally feeling better, and her head was clear. Then they told her about Glen's death.

"When?"

"A few days ago. We didn't want to tell you right away, to give you time to recover"

"No" she said, cutting Rick off "when exactly did Glen die?" Rick and Daryl exchanged looks.

"Five days ago" answered Daryl. Five days, the timing was right, but it wasn't real. Rick kept talking, but she wasn't listening, her thoughts were in a different place.

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Over the next few days she started making forays out of bed. Rosita said she needed to take it easy, but she couldn't stand to sit still for so long. When she ventured out Daryl would hover, afraid she would get hurt again. She did laundry, which turned out to be more exhausting than it should have been. Daryl made her sit on the couch afterwards, he sat on the chair near her, the two of them sharing the silence.

Maggie entered the room. It was the first time Carol had seen her. She looked terrible, there were dark circles under her eyes, she was pale and she seemed to radiate a profound weariness.

"I'm so sorry, Maggie." Maggie nodded her head in acknowledgment, and eased down on the other side of the couch. Carol knew what it was like to be without words.

"Why did you ask when Glen died?"

"Maggie..."

"Rick said you wanted to know specifically when Glen died, why?" Carol sighed.

"It's going to sound strange, I don't want to burden you with it."

"I want to know" Maggie stated, looking at her intently. Carol didn't know how to begin to explain, but she had to try.

"When I was out, I was having this dream. I was in this peaceful meadow, and Sophia was there, she was so beautiful" her voice cracked, and Daryl reached over and grabbed her hand. "The girls were there too, Lizzie and Mika, all three of them pulling me along. Sophia was talking, telling me everything was okay now, that I could stay there with them. In the distance I could see people sitting at picnic tables, they were laughing and smiling, like they were having a party. I saw Merle," she smiled at Daryl, "Dale, Andrea, Lori, Beth and your Dad." She continued, looking at Maggie.

"Suddenly Glen was there, standing next to me. I knew that wasn't right, that he shouldn't be there. He said to Sophia 'Your Mom's not ready, yet. You need to let go', they released my hands, everything started to fade away, and then I woke up." Carol brushed the tears from her cheeks, Maggie was doing the same.

"What day was this? That you had this dream."

"The same day Glen died." Maggie broke down then, sobbing. Carol wrapped her left arm around Maggie as she cried on her shoulder. Daryl still tightly held her right hand. The three of them stayed there a long time, riding the wave of grief.

(A03)

Choices   Chapter 4

The council meeting was wrapping up, finally. The horde was currently encamped outside Pentos, and had been for several weeks, preparing for the trip across the Narrow Sea. This meeting like many before it was about where to make landfall in Westeros, and which noble families, if any, would be receptive to Daenerys. They were dismissed, everyone made their way towards the exit.

"Jorah, can you stay behind for a moment' asked Daenerys. They waited patiently for the others to depart.

"Jorah, what are you thinking?"

'I actually think Tyrion's idea has merit. Landing near Storm's End makes the most sense given the amount of people we need to transport. Plus, without Stannis or Renly the Stormlands are week and leaderless."

"Thank you for the advice on strategy, but that is not what I meant. You seem distracted lately. Is there something disturbing you? A problem I need to be aware of?" He was about to tell her no, when she asked "Is it Karcia?" He was surprised. He had never told Daenerys about his relationship with Karcia. The shock must have shown on his face, because she smiled at him.

"Come now Jorah,you of all people should know it is almost impossible to to keep such a secret in the Khalasar. She sleeps in your tent every night. It seems some of the men have taken to calling her 'Jorah's Khaleesi'."

"I'll see that it is stopped."

"Why? She may not be the Khaleesi, but she earned her title as much as I did. So, is she the problem?"

"She's not a problem Khaleesi, but there is a decision I have been wrestling with."

"If you share it with me perhaps I can help you with it." It felt strange discussing Karcia with Daenerys. It was like Karcia had been his special secret, but he guessed she had never been a secret at all.

"Karcia is pregnant with my child."

"Congratulations." He let himself smile.

"I had all but given up on having a child of my own. Imagine a son to carry on the Mormont name."

"Or a daughter, another she-bear of the the north."

Or beautiful like her mother." he said, more to himself than Daenerys, but she heard him none the less.

"So, I assume this decision concerns the child."

"Yes. I am thinking of leaving Karcia here, in Pentos. The child and her will be safer here, and when the war is won I'll send for her" Daenerys furrowed her brow "You disagree?"

"It is not my place, but there are a few things to consider, she will not receive a such a warm welcome here, and may in fact be resented. I am not blind to fact that my giant Khalasar, as it has traveled across Essos, scoured the land, and the dragons hunt far and wide. Many will be glad to see the back of us. If Karcia stays behind she may bear the brunt of that anger. Secondly, we don't know how long this war will last, it could be years. Are you willing to wait three, four, even five years to see your child for the first time? Jorah, I intend to win this war, but there is a possibility that I won't, so we should all grab what little happiness we can, while we can." She had given him a lot to think about.

"What does Karcia think about this?"

"I haven't discussed it with her yet."

"Well, that should probably be your first course of action." He nodded his head in agreement. As he turned to leave.

"Jorah" she called softly. He turned "Do you love her?"

"I don't know."

"Why don't you know?"

"I think you know why" he said, staring at her intently.

"Jorah, you're my dear friend, and consider you almost like my family. That is a kind of love, but not the love you need." He could see she was sad that she couldn't be what he needed. It was in that moment that the scales fell from his eyes, and the image of his silver queen faded. In her place was Dany, his friend, and a girl he once loved.

"I think she loves you."

"How do you know?"

"Because, she looks at you like you are her sun and stars." This brought a smile to his face.

"Thank you, Daenerys" he said as he exited the tent.

(chapter 1) (chapter 2) (chapter 3)

One day she’ll remember, remember everything that happened, the good, the bad, those who survived and those who didn’t. 

She needed a hero, so that’s what she became.

Choices   Chapters 3

Jorah did not see her for two days. His anger had long since burned away, now he was just worried about her.

He saw her on the third day in early evening, she was carrying a bundle of firewood.

"Karcia" he called. she turned at the sound of her name, when she saw who it was it looked like she wanted to turn and flee, but she didn't. He jogged over to her. She kept her bundle between them.

"Karcia, I was worried. Are you alright?"

"Yes, I have been staying with a friend."

"A man friend?"

"Yes" he felt a bolt of jealousy shoot through him "and his wife and three children." Relief washed over him.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you."

"I'm sorry too. Perhaps we can continue this somewhere more private." He came to realize that they were drawing their fair share of interested stares. He took the bundle out of her arms and placed it on the ground, than he took her hand and lead her through the camp, back to their tent. Once they were alone and standing face to face she couldn't seem to look at him, she looked around and than began to pace.

"Jorah the Andal, I don't know if you noticed lately, but I am different."

"Different?"

"Quick to smile, quick to anger, quick to be jealous. There is a reason for this" she took a deep breath "I am with child." Jorah's legs grew week. He sat on a wooden stool, the only thing other than the bed and floor to sit on.

"My child?" He asked, half question half statement. She faced him, looking him directly in the eyes.

"Jorah the Andal, you are the only man I have been with. The first lover I have had in many years." A child. He didn't know what he felt, shock, confusion, fear and happiness. Karcia sat down on the bed facing him, her face solemn.

"Are you not happy?"

"I am afraid" She looked off in to the distance, she seemed to be deciding something "I was pregnant once before, with the Khal. I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. He was perfect in every way, except one leg that twisted inward. Do you know what my people do with babies not considered normal?" she asked in a detached manner. He nodded, any babies born with deformities were left in the wilderness to die.

"I begged the Khal not to, I said in time the leg may heal, but he would not listen. When he took my son from me I screamed, and screamed. Later the women would tell me they had never heard such screams, like a tormented animal. Afterwards I prayed to the Great Stillion, I prayed that he would not send me another child. He answered my pray, for I never again bore a living child for the Khal. But now..." He got on his knees in front of her, his hands caressing her face.

"Please listen to me, I am not the Khal. No matter what happens I will never abandon our child, I will defend them with my dying breath if need be." She gave him a sad smile, her eyes filled with tears, and he pulled her into a desperate embrace.

(chapter 1) (chapter 2)