You held your head in your hands, the weight of the world upon your shoulders as you tried to think of a way of how to cope in such a dark and sad world. You looked back to the days where you held onto hope for the future and saw a world that could prosper and hold great things for everyone but now it felt almost impossible to see the world in such a way.

A gentle hand upon your shoulder shook you from your pessimistic thoughts.

"What is wrong, my love?" Eddard asked, concerned by seeing you stuck in your thoughts.

"Nothing," you said dismissively. "Do not fret."

He gave you a quizzical look. "Do you speak the truth?"

You let out a sigh, knowing it was almost impossible to lie to Eddard, him knowing you better than you knew yourself. Your head shook as you looked down to your swollen stomach, not wanting to make eye contact with him.

"Westeros has been ravaged by war and Winterfell isn't free from that pain. So many lives were lost, and our people continue to suffer in the aftermath. I feel a fool for not being able to help our people when they need us. It hurts me deeply to think that we live in comfort when so many people in our kingdom and beyond are suffering every day."

Eddard gave you a sympathetic smile, kneeling down beside you so that he was at a similar level to you so that he was able to gently take your hand within his.

"You have already done so much for our people, you have been more than any of them could have ever wanted. You opened an orphanage within the walls of Winterfell to take in all of the children whom have lost their parents in the war and are helping find them families. You have taken on so many servants that there isn't enough work for them all, just so our people have steady income to support themselves and their families. You have done more than many women in your situation would do and that isn't taking into consideration that our first child will be here any day," he said softly. "You just need to focus on yourself for now and prepare for our child to enter this world. The rest of the kingdom is repairing but there is nothing more you can do for now."

You paused. Although you had done many things to work for positive change for your people, you didn't feel as enough had been done.

"Y/N, you must remember your worth," he smiled. "You are everything to me and to the North; you needn't worry about anything. Focus on yourself and our baby for now."

"If I must," you sighed. "I will just have to make sure you do the work for me."

He chuckled at your comment. "I wouldn't expect anything less.

~*~

Written by Charlotte.

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