Check Up (Dearn)

[Lena Arryn]

The Lady paramount of the Vale was not feeling her self this morning. She'd awoken from her slumber much earlier than she'd wanted, and after cursing the side of the bed her husband should have occupied she sat up to a wave unsettling nausea. Needless to say pregnancy and grief did not mix.
Unlike her normal routine she took breakfast in bed and then had a bath to try and settle her stomach, it worked but still she felt sluggish and unable to preform her duties to the realm. Thankfully Luthor was available for the morning session of court.

Lena Arryn being tall and strong wasn't used to feeling under the weather and she couldn't imagine this continuing for six or seven more months. It was enough for her to arrange a private meeting with the Maester; Dearn.
Dearn had come to Lena's home upon Maester Luka's old age, he'd cared for Lena's brother Jon and had developed the same disdain for his mother's hovering Lena had, and like most who didn't like Lysa, he took up with Lena. Unlike most who sided with Lena's claim to rule the Vale he did become fast friends with her and the two became ever close.

Striding into the Maester's chambers Lena looked around for Dearn and propped her self against one of the tables looking over a book about herbs to her right. She would never understand all the intricacy of all the things a Maester did, nor did she want to, which was why she was glad to have some one as knowledgeable as dearn around.

[Maester Daern]

Daern was at his washbin, cleaning the mornings outdoor sweat off of his brow. He had gotten up at dawn to gather some herbs and weeds, tend to some of the horses. It had become a habit of his to get up with the servants and gather his plant life before the nobility began their stamping about. So here he was now, in his chambers, getting re-dressed and washed. Hearing his door open and a very familiar sigh he slipped on a shirt, tightened his belt and made his way out of the washroom.

"Ah I thought it may have been you, Lady." Daern said with a rougish smile over at Lena. Easily his closest friend in the House, Daern had taken a liking to the woman's spunk and albeit intense fierceness. Setting a cloth upon the table he began gathering some of the plainer looking weeds off of his table and setting them into a bucket near the far wall. "I'm sure you didn't come here to learn the uses of the rose thorn, so, pray tell, what brings you to my walls?"

He finished, leaning against the table in the main room, a somewhat warm smile on his face. Upon further glance at Lena, he noticed something was off. His brow furrowed slightly as he did a once over on her. She looked slightly slouchy, possibly tired. Standing up he made his way over to her, not breaking eye contact. "Lena...are you feeling alright?" Daern asked, his voice somewhat concerning and stern.

[Lena Arryn]

Of course he'd been out, he was always out in the early morning and that made Lena feel he was very productive, much more so than old Maester Luka had been. Having known Lena all her life made it hard for her to criticize the elderly Maester but he didn't seem to get a lot done in the waning years of his life, it made Lena wonder why the Citadel did't just retire maesters after a certain age.

"I am alright, really." Lena said raising a hand to Dearn to signal she was fine. "It's just the damnable pregnancy."
The Lady of the Vale closed her eyes for a moment and then looked at the Maester; her friend again a bit more weakly this time. "And I haven't been sleeping well."
He'd heard the news, of course he'd heard the news he kept the Ravens. It'd probably heard the news before he'd passed off the parchment to Luthor that Lena's husband Ser Torin Lannister had been lost to battle, no body to be found. He knew there was no love in an emotional way between them, but it was hard to loose a friend none the less. Especially when he'd sired your unborn child.

[Maester Daern]

"Oh Lena..."Daern said in a soft voice, one hand resting kindly on her shoulder. He kept silent for a moment, out of respect for Torin. Daern had never even personally spoken to the man, had only seen him once. He was a Lannister, no denying that. The fact that he had died in battle, at such an untimely moment, made Daern felt even moreso for Lena. She was a strong and proud woman, and she handled her husbands death with ease. It was almost expected of her.

"Well, I can give you some root juice for the sleep. It won't hurt the baby. It will make you sleep..." Daern trailed off. He let his hand slide off of Lena's arm as he looked to one of the open books. He had always been there for Lena in a counselor sense. There to hear her complaints about Torin and everything else. More often than not he agreed, whether he was silent or vocal about it. Giving a low sigh he turned to look woefully over at his Lady of the House.

"I'm sorry Lena. I truly am. We haven't spoken of Ser Torin at all. Not even a breath. That may be what is wearing you down. You can't be your firm and strong self with this knowledge of him..." Daern trailed off, refusing to say the words. "...as well as curing a child in your belly. The thoughts of him are poison to the babe. You have to let out something. Even this thing tripe as speaking of Ser Torin. It will help Lena." Daern finished, looking over at Lena and wanting nothing more than to help her fully.

[Lena Arryn]

She was silent for a long time after he spoke. She knew he was right, but she'd never once wanted to say anything about Torin after he... the words were still hard to comprehend. He was dead. Her husband of just over a year was never coming back to the Vale. In a political sense she felt like she was able to comprehend it, he was gone and as long as she kept the parentage of her child secret and safe she was free of the lions den that was house Lannister. But personally...

"It's so strange, Daern," She began quietly. "So much of the time we were wed I hated him, from the moment he first touched me until I stood in battle against his foes." She remembered the night she returned from that fight. "Then one day he saw me suddenly as his equal, and we were so happy... it was so short lived, one day we were making love overlooking the gardens of the Red Keep, the next I have word that he is gone."
She looked down at her hands remembering the feel of the parchment when Luthor broke the news. "For the sake of politics I can pretend we were never friends, that we never shared a happy moment and so many would believe me. But I know, I know that my child will never know it's father... never know how much he grieved for it's lost sister."

[Maester Daern]

Daern couldn't help but let a little smile play on his lips. He had indeed remembered that short time. She did seem lighter, and dare he say, embracing her feminine side a bit more? His smile was quickly faded away as her words ended. Taking a deep breath he let out a shaky sigh. "If I may ask, how did Ser Luthor take the news?" Daern could only imagine that Luthor took some small granule of satisfaction in Torin's death. Even moreso with Lena's pregnancy.

"Who all knows within the House?" Daern asked in a soft voice. He knew only of himself, Luthor, and of course Lena. He couldn't even fathom what her story would be once the babe came out. An illegitimate child would certainly not be any good for the House either. Many problems arose on the horizon for House Arryn. " We should be expecting a visit from House Lannister no doubt. They will play forlorn and sad to your face, no doubt clawing to get at what Torin left you."

Even saying the name left a somewhat sour taste in Daern's mouth. Between the two of them, it was no secret that Daern had no love for that House. He played nice however, as any Maester should, but he thought the realm could do without them. "We'll have to fit you into a mourning dress. Hide any signs of the babe." Daern noted aloud, his thoughts somewhat racing.

Stopping suddenly Daern looked over at Lena. "Perhaps we should make a small outing. We can go to Red Keep. It may make you feel better? Consider it a requiem for Ser Torin..." Daern ventured too his close friend.

[Lena Arryn]

Lena listened as her friend mused he raised so many good questions and it was apparent why he was a maester fit to give council.
"Luthor took the news in stride, he was there for me but was not overly saddened." She sighed through her nose and sat upward. "The babe must be thought of as a bastard... Tywin Lannister will not let the heir to Casterly Rock be raised by a lone woman in the Vale." She looked to Daern carefully. "Luthor and I think it would be best if he were to claim the child as his, and when the fighting stops we shall have the child legitimized as an Arryn."
Who would stop them? Lena and Luthor were close, and any one in the Vale would help perpetuate that rumor if given the chance. They all had their opinions about the cousins being too close.

"While I understand I must be dressed for mourning, and perhaps that might make me feel as if this grief shall pass, I do not think a visit to Kingslanding or the Red Keep will do me good. They are battle torn and the journey is long, I might be very visibly pregnant by the time we arrived and it would not be good for the Lannisters to know I was pregnant until the babe is born and christened."

[Maester Daern]

Daern's eyes flew open. "You are going to claim the babe under Luthor as the father? Will you not receive much hatred and rumors from the other Houses? I fear for your name, Lady." Daern started, his eyes catching hers, worry laced every inch over his face. A sound gulp made it's way into the room. "Though my thoughts may not make a sound in this House, I highly disagree with that situation. I fear House Arryn may be made a joke upon the land." Daern warned, truly scared for Lena more than anything else.

"Do you honestly think that you can take on Ser Torin's passing, a new babe, and the harsh tongue lashings from every other House in the realm?" Dearn asked, fully knowing he was possibly nearing the edge of his allowed counsel.

Shaking his head at his own question he threw his hands up in defeat. "Lady, you know you have my support but I fear for the child as well. How will you marry it off? To the Horse Lords? They may possibly be the only ones who will not hear of the news if this breaks out.." Running a hand through his lose brown curls he let out a sigh as he leaned against the table, new thoughts running through his head.

[Lena Arryn]

Her hands found Dearn's and she squeezed slightly. "A bastard has more rights then one might think." She said gently. "But your council means more to me than you possibly could know." She let go of his hands for a moment and placed her hands on her own stomach. "But you want what is best for my child, just as I want what is best for him." She didn't know if it was a him or a her, she'd used both interchangeably when speaking about the babe in private.

"I will arrange for you and Luthor to speak on this matter, he is a keep business man and politician, he would be able to give you insight that I can not, and where he fails in moral judgement you will bridge the gap. I'm sure the three of us together can find a solution that not only saves the Vale from becoming the inheritance of the Lannister's but also will save my child from becoming an out cast among his fellow nobility."
Lena smiled sadly at her friend and advisor. "Daern, you are so wise, please understand I do not want to leave the shade of your council."

[Maester Daern]

Daern nodded his head in agreement to Lena's talk of Luthor. A private council would most undeniably be needed. He squeezed her hands in comfort before she let go. He watched as she touched her stomach and had to note the warmth that came from that small gesture. Lena truly did care for the babe that was going to emerge from her. It was a last link to Torin, and she realized that. She treasured it. Daern was sure that child, no matter it's given birth parents, would receive so much love and attention it would be as kind hearted as Lena truly was.

A smile suddenly broke out on Daern's soft features. "As if you could rid yourself of me that easily. I have an Oath to your House, my Lady." Daern said dramatically, bowing low to the ground. As he raised back up again he looked at Lena's bold eyes. "As it were, you have so much dug up on me that I am practically enslaved to you." he stated with a small wink at her.

Taking another deep breath he looked about his wide room. Making a quick 'tsk' about the place he cast her another welcoming smile before puttering over to the woodfire, starting it up again. As he gathered some mint leaves and kava. Grabbing a pot he quickly began to boil some water, throwing in the leaves before turning to Lena again. "Do you wish to sleep the rest of the day Lady? Or shall you be par-taking in your noble duties?" Daern asked, hovering over two buckets. One filled with roots, the other with dry pale leaves. Turning to look at Lena, he gave a smile before she responded.

[Lena Arryn]

Lena knew he was on her side and that made her happiest of all. She wished she could have taken Luthor and Daern with her to Kingslanding when she'd gone to act as a balm when things had been rough between she and Torin.
Though perhaps having only him to cling to had been what had made her see him as a friend, not having any one to save her from her misery. Perhaps she would not trade those happy days, perhaps she wouldn't even trade the unbearable ones.

"I will try to tend to my duties this afternoon, while Luthor is good with coin he grows bored very easily and tends to make decisions that I would not normally make." Upon going over an account in which a farmer had come to the high seat when his neighbor's son deflowered his daughter Luthor had made the father of the girl pay the son coppers for embarrassing him in front of the vale, to be fair to Lena's name the boy had to pay double that in fines to the father.

[Maester Daern]

Daern nodded his head in agreement and took a ladelful of the hot water, mint, and kava, pouring a generous amount into an iron goblet. Taking half a handful of the pale leaves he set the goblet on the table before crunching the leaves all atop the liquid. Lifting the glass to Lena he noted it was not boiling hot, barely hot at all actually, making it easier to drink. " Here. Drink. Mint for taste. Kava for your nerves. The leaves are for your performance today. They will allow you to have the nerve to stay up with the rest of the folk. The moment you need sleep I expect you to come to me. You will need the root juice to act against the leaves." he explained as Lena took the goblet.

"And Lena...remember you are with child now. That babe will take over your life for a few short months. I understand that you do approve of bending to one's will, but you will need to in order to give life to the child. You need to eat, far more than you may be used to. Anything you want you have to tell the servants to fetch. And rest will be a required feat for you to preform. No late night horse riding. In fact you will be banned from the horses in the later seasons." Daern noted, fully expecting a rebuttle with force that only Lena could serve.

"With that being said, when House Lannister arrives, you may have to quell the babe's hunger and need for sleep. Come to me anytime you feel the child's urges starting to flare. We can't have those crafty Lannister's catching up to you/" Daern continued, watching Lena closely. He feared his forebodings were falling upon Lena's deaf ears, but he knew she would come to his line of sight eventually. " All that being said, you are my first full term woman with child from the beginning. I expect these next seasons shall ride along with many surprises." Daern added quickly, before turning to the cauldron over the fire, ladeling himself some hot kava and mint tea.

[Lena Arryn]

Lena took the mixture and inhaled a whiff of the refreshing mint listening to what the Maester had to say about it's effects. She took a long sip nodding as he spoke. Then he began to speak in the way of a maester, talking about her pregnancy and the toll it would take.

"You expect me not to ride?" Lena said almost laughing. "How then shall I see to my duties in the vale?" she expected a carriage but she could hardly see her self riding around while some one pulled- though to be fair she also could not imagine being full bellied pregnant on horseback either.
He continued talking about sleep and eating Lena felt she could deal with those things in time, even fooling the Lannisters when they came- assuming she wasn't so large she could not wear her usual clothes.

"Maester Daern, i am thankful that you are here with me. I do not know what I would do if I was go through this alone... not again." She had confessed to him when she'd arrived about how she'd thrown her self from the horse in the earliest stages of her last pregnancy, he had scolded her but she knew that while he didn't understand how she could do that to an unborn child, that he understood she hadn't known how completely developed an unborn babe of three months could be. He was prepared to keep her secret, he was prepared to help her reconcile that mistake with this blessing.

[Maester Daern]

"Of course you cannot ride. After the next season you will be so swelled that having the horses back upon your nethers very well cause you so much pain that you will not be able to bear it. That pain has no comparison in all the realm. I once read a recording of a barbarian woman who was so insistent upon her daily ridings that she split herself wider." Daern explained, no doubt adding a little flair for the dramatic to scare her some more.

Daern gave a knowing and soft smile as she told of her past fears. "That is why I am here now, my Lady. You come to me with any fears you have about the child. Any feelings. Any movement." Daern said with an almost stern setting.

Moving back to be beside her, he place a hand softly on the side of her arm. " All politics aside, I do care for you Lena. You know that and you also know that I am merely a few steps away from you at all times. I'm here as a Maester, yes. But foremost, I'm here for you. Just remember that." Daern wrapped up with full sincerity. His eyes never left hers as he meant every word. Lena was easily Daern's closest friend within the House. Closer than any of the other Maester's had become in the Citadel.

[Lena Arryn]

When he spoke of the barbarian woman Lena's eyes widened with shock. She couldn't imagine how painful that would, only that it would be painful. She wouldn't admit it but it did make her think twice about mounting a horse any time soon.

Then his tone changed again as he addressed her fears, Lena had no idea what common women or barbarian women did with out Maesters who knew of these things to calm them down. Lena of course had never had a mother to ask questions of and while Scepta's had done much of her female education they were never married and had little to with her once she was grown. Maesters were certainly the better choice, all the knowledge of a sage and in the case of Daern all the earthy friendliness of a brother.

"I know you are hear for me Daern, I don't know what I'd do if you were not just a step away. After all who else will turn to when Luthor's hounding grows incessant and I want to give in." She teased him trying to lighten the mood.