2. A Stag over a bloodied Wolf.

Stannis Baratheon was fuming at his castle in Dragonstone. He was the chosen one, Azor Ahai, his Red Priestess had told him time and again. Yet, he never got what he deserved.

After Robert's Rebellion he should have been given Storm's End, but alas, he was not. His brother had seen it fit to grant the Baratheon House to his younger brother Renly. After Robert's death, he should have become King. If Robert's children were indeed the product of incest between the Queen and her brother, he should have been the rightful heir. Yet, nobody had seen it this way, and the few ones who had, had perished. Even his own attempt at the Iron Throne had failed miserably when he tried to invade King's Landing in the ill-fated Battle of Blackwater Bay where most of his army had gone down in flames.

His brother Renly had met his just deserves for trying to usurp his rightful place on the Throne. The other usurpers, the Young Wolf, the Bastard Joffrey Waters and the Kraken Balon Greyjoy had also succumbed to Lady Melisandre's prophecy. How was it that he was not King yet? How was it that his Kingdom had been divided in two? How was it that a bastard boy sat on the Iron Throne in King's Landing and the brother of the Young Wolf sat in his throne in the North? It should all be his by right, but he had nothing.

"A Lannister bastard born of incest has taken my rightful place in King's Landing and the young brother of a usurper has taken part of my Kingdom. And what do I do? I sit here in Dragonstone waiting for your flames to give me a sign" Stannis raged at Lady Melisandre. "You swore I was Azor Ahai, but I do not see it. I'm not sitting on the Iron Throne. Your flames showed you our victory at Blackwater, but it was our ships and our men who went down in flames. What do you have to say now?"

"My Lord, Your Grace," Melisandre replied standing by his side "the flames do not lie."

"Well, they have not proved truthful either" he retorted.

"It may take some time, Your Grace" she continued sliding her palm slowly down Stannis's cheek, "time and patience. Your time will come." She placed her other hand on the other side of his face and kissed him on his lips. His mouth remained closed. "Maybe Blackwater Bay was not meant to be, but it happened for a reason."

"What reason besides losing most of my army and my ships?" he spat back at her.

"It has brought us here to rethink our strategy, my Lord, to show us the true meaning of Patience. Victory cannot be achieved in one stroke. Maybe the flames will give us another sign."

"Or maybe I should show your flames a sign" he replied, his tacit threat lingering in the air.

"My Lord, Your Grace, you should not rush into decisions" she said in a sultry voice and started undoing the laces on the front of her robe.

Davos, who had been a silent witness to this exchange decided to intervene.

"Your Grace," he started after a soft cough "maybe you should consult with your wife. I'm sure Lady Selyse will have answers for you." He knew Selyse would have no idea of strategies and war, but his words had the desired effect as Stannis stepped away from the Red Priestess and she started tying the laces again.

"Do you believe in the flames, Ser Davos?" she asked the Onion knight.

"Not really, my Lady. I do believe King Stannis to be the rightful heir to the throne and I will not rest until I see him crowned."

"What do you think I should do, Ser Davos?" Stannis questioned him.

"We should maybe retreat for a few months to regain our strength and then come back."

"Retreat where?"

"Maybe we should just stay here in Dragonstone until we can strengthen our forces once again" Davos replied cautiously.

"I need to think about this. I would prefer to be alone" Stannis said putting an end to the conversation. "My Lady, Ser Davos" he nodded and prompted them to leave his solar.

.

Stannis was at a loss. Could this really be the end of his plight? Stuck in this god-forsaken rock with his wife and daughter. He loved his wife, not in a sexual or romantic way, but in a more dutiful way. Selyse was his wife and he would do well by her, and he truly cherished their daughter Shireen and doted on her. They deserved to be Queen and Princess of Westeros, it was their right as much as it was his. When he visited his wife's chambers and told her of the standstill they were at, she tried to console him the only way she knew. She started untying his pants and his breeches and pressed her body against his. With an impassive face, he let her untie her own dress and guide him to the bed. He could feel her hands on his chest and between his legs, but it was another hand he kept picturing, a hand engulfed in flames lit by the red light of a ruby. He took no pleasure in the marriage bed with Selyse. For all the companionship and mutual goals they shared, passion was not something they considered important. And it was not Selyse's plain unremarkable face he saw when he climaxed but a pale white face with piercing eyes, full red lips and bright fiery hair.

.

It was past midnight when Melisandre visited Stannis in his solar.

"I've had another vision, my Lord"

"Pray tell" he said.

"I saw you in a field of white. Cold vast white."

"Snow perhaps?" he pondered. "The North?"

"A battle" she continued placing her hands on his shoulders. "I saw you, my Lord."

"Did I win?"

"I saw a wolf and a stag. A stag standing over a wolf. Blood on the snow under the wolf. Fire behind the stag"

"I kill the Starks!"

"The flames do not lie, my Lord" she whispered to his ear pressing her cheek to his.

"My decision is made" he proclaimed stepping away from the Priestess. "We're marching to Winterfell!"

"We need an ally in the North" she continued. "We need a way in and reinforcements."

"Any one in mind?" he prodded.

"The Boltons, my Lord. They despise the Starks and have gone behind their backs before. Roose Bolton betrayed and killed Robb Stark, and his bastard son Ramsay ransacked their home, Winterfell. Now they stand powerless as the Starks reclaim their place in the North. I am sure they will be willing to lend you a hand, for a price."

"I could name Bolton Warden of the North when this is all done."

"A small price"

"Good idea. Let me call Davos so we can pen a letter to Lord Bolton."

"No need to wake up Ser Davos, my Lord. I can help you."

She proceeded to grab ink and a parchment, placed everything on the table and Stannis started to write.

"To Lord Roose Bolton, future rightful Warden of the North …"

TBC