NOTE: Having often wondered how Stannis would have fared without Melisandre's influence, I decided to try my hand at writing that story. Stannis is far and away my favourite character, yet Melisandre is my least favourite (except Lysa and Axell Florent!) and I wondered if he would be more likely to listen to Davos' usually correct advice without her. This fanfic is going to be Stannis centric, but will include other POV characters and areas of Westeros. I have altered the ages of some characters (primarily the Stark children) to make this story a little less weird and entirely to suit my own ends, so my apologies to GRRM. Finally, this is my first attempt at writing fanfiction, so constructive criticism is most welcome and if you have any ideas feel free to PM them to me. DISCLAIMER – I own nothing, gods I wish I did, but I don't.
Chapter 1 – Davos
He had landed at Dragonstone only an hour ago, in the dead of night, and had already been summoned before his king. Did the man never sleep? When Davos entered the Chamber of the Painted Table, he found Stannis sitting in the chair as if he hadn't moved since he sent Davos to the Stormlands a fortnight ago. Once again, the King in the Narrow Sea was staring at that table, always at the table.
The Painted Table, at least fifty feet long and twenty-five wide at its widest, four at its narrowest, carved as a perfect representation of Westeros as it was when Aegon ruled Dragonstone. The chair where Stannis sat was in the exact position occupied by the island from which the Conqueror, and now Stannis, planned his invasion. Only, Stannis wouldn't be mounting an invasion, no, he refused to call it that, he called it reclaiming his birthright. Many called it folly, Stannis called it justice, and Davos, well Davos did his duty.
"You summoned me, your grace."
Stannis did not move or acknowledge the knight's presence, forcing Davos to try again.
"Your grace, you sent for me."
Though he now replied, Stannis still didn't look up.
"Ser Davos, good news I trust."
"I'm afraid not, your grace. I petitioned the Stormlords at your request, yet most turned me away. Lord Morrigen agreed to send an envoy, who did not deign to show up, and Lord Estermont did meet me, but only for the sake of family, and asserted that he was sworn to the Lord of Storm's End, not Dragonstone. From the rest I heard nothing."
The King's face did not change; the same grim, square-jawed, determined expression stared at the table, always the table, nothing but the table.
"So, my father's bannermen have as little honour as the rest. Does it matter so little to them that Renly is a fool? His prancing horses and pretty armour will not save him from himself. The Iron Throne is mine, by right. Tonight my bannermen will want to know my plans, yet I can offer them nothing but bad news. How long before they too forsake me?"
"Indeed your grace, but at present you cannot back your claim. You need allies, you must press your claim, and to do that you need help."
"And what would you propose?"
"Make common cause with someone who hates the Lannisters as much as you do. Seek out Robb Stark and Lady Arryn – they have the troops you need."
"The Stark boy would steal half my kingdom, and Lysa is practically insane, why should I seek their help? Melisandre says I do not need them, that her god will give me Westeros."
"Because you have only twenty ships and two thousand men, Stark has twenty thousand and the Arryn's maybe thirty, enough to make you King, that is why you should seek them out, and the red woman is not trustworthy, not to my mind."
"I am King, Davos. Do not forget it. I do not need them to make me so, and if I want your opinion on the Lady Melisandre I will ask for it."
"No, your grace, I won't forget. Yet you need allies."
"I have heard your counsel, Ser Davos, now leave me."
"Aye, your grace."
As Davos left the chamber, he noticed that Stannis' eyes had not once left the table in front of him, not during their meeting, nor did it as Davos left. All through the knight's report, the King had been staring intently at the painted representation of King's Landing. Though Stannis had no men, Davos suspected that he had a plan, and if that plan wasn't a suicidal assault on King's Landing then Davos wasn't a knight, and if that plan wasn't the red woman's then he wasn't a smuggler either. Davos chuckled, he knew the priestess's advice almost as well as she did.
That night, the King feasted his bannermen, and as predicted, they asked for his plans to claim the throne. Lord Velaryon called for an immediate strike, threatening to take his men home, while Lord Sunglass advised to wait for a sign from the Seven. Davos shook his head, his King had too many holy figures around him, the least of whom was Lord Sunglass. The red woman sat across from Davos, and appeared to be tormenting old Maester Cressen. She had the old man wearing the fool's antlered hat and the Lady Selyse had called for him to dance.
"Have pity on him, your grace" Davos pleaded. "He has served you well and does not deserve this humiliation."
"Davos tells it true my queen" spoke the King. "Let the man sit and drink."
Now Cressen spoke up, "Aye, your grace, a drink to the Lord of Light and his aid for our King! Would the Lady Melisandre join me in a toast?"
Davos whispered at the maester, "Don't do it old man, you won't see the dawn if you go through with this."
"It must be done Davos, to save his soul. She cannot continue to poison him, promise me I will not do this in vain."
The red woman spoke, "I shall join you, old fool, now have a boy bring me a glass."
"No need my lady," Cressen replied, "I'll bring it myself, even an old fool can do that." He shuffled over to her with two glasses, doing a little jig as he arrived before her, earning a titter from the Queen and a guffaw from Ser Axell Florent. He passed one of the goblets to the priestess, visibly shaking. Davos knew what was in the wine, yet there was nothing to be done. The two were about to drink when the Queen stood and called shrilly, "Allow me to join your toast, Maester, to the glory of our God!"
Melisandre obviously knew what Cressen was planning as well, as she blanched and said "Your grace, I do not think it wise to …"
"Nonsense!" Selyse declared and drank half of Melisandre's goblet before turning to them and saying "Will you not drink?"
"Aye, your grace, I shall", the red woman replied, bowing her head, and she and Cressen drained their cups.
There was a moment of silent tension between them as Cressen stared at the woman, before Selyse collapsed. Davos' son Allard was the first to reach her.
"She's dead your grace!" he exclaimed as Cressen too hit the floor. Stannis vaulted the table and ran to his maester, reaching him in time to catch his last word, "Treachery".
The King rose, his jaw set and face grim. "Take her," he said, "and lock her away, she has killed my wife and oldest advisor."
Davos smiled, "With pleasure, your grace", gesturing for the guards.
She ran towards Stannis, shouting "I did not your grace, it was the maester, the poison was for me!"
"I will have none of your lies priestess, you will meet your god on the dawn."
"No! The Lord of Light will cast you down, my king, do not condemn yourself!" She pushed through the guards and ran at Stannis. "You must give yourself to him fully my king – "
She was cut off mid-sentence by the sword that emerged from her chest. As she bled out and fell to the floor, Lord Celtigar stood over her, blood on his blade.
"Bitch," he snarled, "Let the Seven take her your grace"
Stannis glared at his bannerman. "Lord Celtigar, she was to be imprisoned."
"Aye your grace, and she would have been rescued by one of these fire god worshippers and escaped your justice. I did what needed done."
"So you did, but I'd prefer it if you didn't do it again, am I understood?"
"Yes, your grace."
The feast ended early, and as he left, Davos made a mental note to seek out Celtigar on the morrow, hoping that with the red woman gone, the two of them might be able to help the King see sense.
Stannis' war council met three days later. The King used a method of five councillors and himself gathered at the Painted Table. Of the last council meeting, only three members remained; Ser Davos, Lord Monford Velaryon (who was the primary financial impetus behind Stannis' claim, ad commanded the most ships) and Ser Axell Florent, the Castellan of Dragonstone. The places previously occupied by Melisandre and Maester Cressen were filled by Lord Ardrian Celtigar, at Davos' recommendation (their private meeting having gone extremely well), and Ser Imry Florent. Imry was a young, impulsive man, who had received his new position through Stannis' desire to keep what Florent support he had now that Selyse was dead. The King had shown little grief over his wife's death, but had, unusually spent the previous day with his daughter, Princess Shireen. The poor girl had never had a good relationship with her mother or father and in the last three days had seen more of the King than anyone else.
Davos was dragged from his thoughts by Stannis' cough. "My lords," he began, "let us begin. Firstly, I want the remnants of Melisandre's influence removed before the week is out. I will not give my enemies another reason to criticise me. Ser Axell, that will be your task." The hairy man nodded firmly, having lost his own faith in R'hllor following his neice's death.
"I need allies in this war, gentlemen. The question is where to find them. Any thoughts?"
Ser Imry spoke, "Your Grace, maybe peace with your brother would be profitable, he has the backing of Highgarden and the Stormlords."
"No. There will be no peace with Renly while he calls himself King."
"If it please your grace? Might I speak?"
"Of course, Lord Celtigar."
"It would be more prudent to seek out the Vale Lords; they have yet to declare for any of these other Kings."
"It's a funny trick you do my lord, you open your mouth and Davos' voice comes out. Yet you are right, Lysa's men must be sought. I will offer to foster her son here and betroth him to Shireen, however, I will also write Lord Royce and ask for his support, and Lady Waynwood and Lords Belmore and Redfort."
Davos spoke, "Your Grace, Lysa will never consent to send Robin away, it would be more successful to offer to send Shireen to her."
"Very well then. I will write her and her lords and will send a knight with her as a guardian. I will also send a man to Robb Stark and see if he has his father's honour."
"My King, send my youngest son with the Princess," offered Celtigar, "Andros is a good man, a solid swordsman, with a quick mind and a careful tongue."
"I was going to send Ser Imry, as he is her uncle, but now I feel he would be best suited as an envoy to the Northerners. Ser Andros it will be. Imry, you will carry my terms to Robb Stark."
"What are these terms, your grace?"
"That he will remain King in the North, but will swear fealty to myself and my heirs. In return I promise him justice for his father, and the bones of Lord Stark that they may be returned to Winterfell, once they are in my possession, also, a position on my small council for a representative of the North."
"Generous terms, your grace."
"Save me your simpering, it doesn't suit you, the terms are fair, not generous. You will sail to Maidenpool at first light and go from there to Riverrun, where I believe Stark is camped. Go and make your preparations."
"Of course, your grace," the young knight stood, looking a little shocked at his abrupt dismissal, but bowed and left without protest.
"Now, onto other matters," Stannis returned to the other four men, "I find myself in need of a Hand and commanders. We will sail within the fortnight, hopefully to meet our new allies in the Vale. Lord Celtigar, you have brought the most swords to my cause, so it seems fitting that you lead the vanguard. Lord Velaryon, you shall be my Master of Ships, Ser Axell, you will remain here as Castellan with the soldiers of your house. Davos, you will sail with us, under your new titles, Lord of the Rainwood and Hand of the King, though I shall have to see about a pin for you, Finally, I shall need a Kingsguard."
He had spoken as if these things were of no import, but to Davos, they were very important. A lordship, not claimed yet but in title, and Hand of the King? The knight was dragged from his thoughts by Lord Velaryon's voice.
"Your Grace, might I suggest Ser Triston Tally? He's the best sword of all your forces, and sworn to Lord Sunglass, also maybe consider Ser Lucas Rambston?"
"I will give it some thought, thank you for your wisdom my lords. Now leave me."
As Davos left, despite his mind spinning at his sudden elevation from minor landed knight to Lord and Hand, he could not help but notice that Stannis was once again staring at the Painted Table. However, Davos took some measure of happiness from the fact that the King's gaze had now turned towards the Vale and Riverlands rather than contemplating the red woman's suicidal attack on King's Landing.