"My lords, thank you for your presence!"

Jon Arryn always started the Small Council meetings with this statement. It became quite a staple. Stannis sat on his chair on the right side of the Hand, as usual. Renly laughed:

"Like we have a choice!"

Petyr Baelish, the Master of Coin, retorted:

"You always have a choice, Lord Renly. You could resign your position. I am sure we can find other good legislators in the Seven Kingdoms."

Renly stopped arguing and sat down.

"Now, the problem we should talk about is the levies from the Riverlands. Due to the last year's drought, the agriculture is suffering. Walder Frey sent us a letter asking for a reduction of the taxes by half for two years for his smallfolk."

"Walder Frey would say anything to keep more money for himself."

"I wouldn't say that, Lord Renly. Don't forget that his primary mean of making money is the toll for passing the bridge. That alone makes House Frey one of the richest in the Riverlands. Besides, Lord Walder won't do anything to endanger his House. Do not forget I was fostered at Riverrun and Walder Frey was a primary subject of discussion in the castle every day. So, if he asks for a reprieve for the smallfolk, that means the situation is quite serious."

Jon Arryn concurred:

"You're right, Lord Baelish. Can the treasury accommodate such a request?"

"Hardly, but yes."

"Good. Make it happen. Now, let's talk about the health of our subjects. According to our information, there is an increase in cases of pox."

Grand Maester Pycelle coughed:

"That happens when the people can't contain their... urges. You go to a whore, you have a good chance of getting ill."

Then how are you still alive?

Stannis kept his thoughts for himself and started to grind his teeth. He always decried the hypocrisy of the Grand Maester.

"This is why we need to build houses of healing like those in Braavos in every city."

"With all due respect, Lord Hand, but who would man such places?"

Stannis spoke:

"Your kind, Grand Maester. Let's see... Three maesters would be enough to run a house of healing in a small city like White Harbor. For a larger city like Oldtown or King's Landing, six maesters or two houses of healing with three maesters each."

"An excellent idea, Lord Stannis."

"But... but... Who would pay those maesters?"

Petyr Baelish answered:

"Well, in Braavos, some healers belong to the Red Temple or to other religious institutions. The ones who work in the healing houses are paid by the Sealord from the city's taxes. He allocates a certain sum for the houses of healing each year. There are five cities in Westeros: White Harbor, Gulltown, Lannisport, Oldtown and King's Landing. According to Lord Stannis' logic, we would have three maesters for White Harbor and Gulltown, let's say four for Lannisport and six for both Oldtown and the capital. That means we must pay twenty two maesters. And they would not treat only cases of pox, but other diseases as well."

"I will bring this idea before the king. It's excellent. Now, the state of the fleet?"

Stannis coughed:

"The military fleet is in good condition but there is a problem with the merchant ships. They are not as sturdy as galleys and with those autumn storms ravaging the sea, the traders want to circumvent their usually routes, as they pass straight through storm zones. However, the Lysene pirates are on the prowl in the south. The merchants request escorts."

"And can you provide them with escorts?"

"Our greatest priority are the traders of spices from Volantis and the wine traders from Dorne and the Arbor. The royal fleet can provide seventeen ships for constant patrol in the south but the Volantene must bring their own escorts, at least until they reach Lys. I will send word to the Free Cities that the Iron Throne is willing to sign a contract. They would pay our patrol ships and we will lower the taxes on the goods they peddle in the capital."

"Good idea."

Varys then spoke:

"Lord Hand, there is the matter of the ironborn raiders. Last month, they attacked three Redwyne ships, capturing them, their crews and their wares."

Stannis sighed:

"Redwyne has the largest fleet in the Seven Kingdoms. It is his fault that he is unable to protect it."

"Indeed, but I suppose we should show a bit of consideration for them. We should send a letter to Balon Greyjoy and ask him to control his men. No more raiding, no more reaving. Of course that the ironborn won't listen, but at least Redwyne will stop saying that the Iron Throne doesn't care for the Arbor."

Renly had a point. Surely, attacking the ironborn pirates would be the moral choice but the last war the Iron Throne fought against them was pretty costly, both financially and humanely. Of course, their behavior left much to be desired but the Seven Kingdoms had larger problems than some savages with ships. For now, the ironborn would be tolerated.

"Good. Now, anyone have something to say?"

Stannis arose from his chair.

"I do. I will leave tomorrow for Dragonstone. I believe I will stay there for a month or so. In my absence, Aemon Estermont will be the acting Master of Ships."

Renly started to laugh:

"Good, good! At least cousin Aemon is not a stick in the mud like yourself."

Stannis replied:

"Renly, why don't you go to pick flowers?"

Pycelle and Baelish giggled while Varys stood silently. Renly said:

"That's all you can say?"

Jon Arryn raised his hand:

"Please, my lords. Enough with the provocations!"

After the Small Council meeting, Jon and Stannis departed for the Tower of the Hand where Lady Lysa and little Robert lived. Jon Arryn insisted that Stannis see the boy before they would depart together for Dragonstone in order for the Baratheon to know what to expect. Reaching the Tower, the two noblemen approached a door guarded by two Arryn soldiers.

"How is she?"

"She is still raving about her boy, m'lord. Ser Eddison is with her, guarding her. At noon, she threatened she would set herself on fire if you take the boy from her."

"Mad woman... Let us in."

"Of course, m'lords."

The guardsman opened the door and Jon and Stannis entered. Lysa Tully stood on her bed, her son in her arms and a knight, Ser Eddison Lynderly, at their side. Stannis Baratheon looked at the little pale boy, with brown hair and large eyes that now were close, as he was asleep. Even though the Lord of Dragonstone looked at him with contempt, there was a certain innocence about him. He guessed that any child is innocent while he sleeps. The Arryn's maester, a young man named Colemon approached Lord Arryn, whispering:

"My lords, may I have a word with you?"

Jon Arryn nodded and the three men entered another room.

"What happened, maester Colemon?"

"Today, Robert had another fit. After his mother fed him, she told him that a bad man would take him away from her and he started to shake. He also wet his pants."

The description of Robert's seizure didn't do anything to endear him in Stannis' eyes. On the contrary, he started to regret he accepted Lord Arryn's offer but a word once given, he would never take it back. He spoke:

"And those fits, as you call them, what causes them?"

"We call it the shaking sickness. Some children suffer from it. We don't know exactly what causes it but it seems that stressful situations trigger such fits."

"So we have to keep the boy calm and he won't shook anymore."

"It's not that simple, Lord Stannis. There are days nobody annoys the little lord yet his fits trigger."

"I see."

Jon Arryn turned his face to Stannis:

"Lord Stannis, I hope that my son's situation won't erode your desire to take him to Dragonstone."

"No. Don't worry, Lord Hand. If the need will arise, I will summon myself healers from across the narrow sea to come to Dragonstone too take a look at the boy."

"I thank you but I'm afraid it's futile. I brought even spirit healers from Yi Ti. Nobody managed to help him."

"I can't see how spirit healers can cure a sickness of the body. Maester, have you prepared the boy for tomorrow's journey?"

"With great difficulties. Lady Arryn didn't want me to pack any suits, so I had to do it in secret."

Suddenly, a loud noise was heard from the other room, where Lysa and Robert were sleeping.

"Please, my lady!"

The two lords quickly returned to the bedchamber and saw Lady Tully holding a dagger to her wrist.

"What happened, Ser Eddison?"

"She took my dagger. She moved so fast!"

"Please, my dear, give me the dagger."

"No! You! You and that stag monster want to take my Sweetrobin from me! I won't let you!"

The boy awoken and started to cry as well:

"The bad man, the stag monster!"

Stannis looked at the two with his stern face. He has been called many things in his life but stag monster and bad man never. That was a first.

"Well, if my House's sigil is a problem to you, Robert, then I shall change it. Maybe a teat on a blue field dripping milk?"

Jon Arryn said, almost whispering:

"You are not helping!"

Then to his wife:

"Please, dear. Don't hurt yourself. Think about our son."

Their very annoying and loud son, Stannis may add but he preferred to remain silent.

"I am thinking about Sweetrobin! Who would take care of him? Stannis?"

She pointed at the Lord of Dragonstone. If Stannis' eyes would be daggers, they would have stabbed Lysa Tully long ago.

"Sweetrobin needs his mommy with him, to take care of him, to protect him from evil. I will not have him taken from me!"

"Dragonstone is the best place for him, my love. He will grow up to become a strong leader and a good man."

"I WILL MAKE HIM A STRONG LEADER AND A GOOD MAN!"

"A boy child needs to stay with menfolk, not women. Can you teach him to swing a sword or to shoot a bow? Can you teach him to lead an army and how to lay siege on an enemy castle or can you teach him how to make the best decisions for his people?"

"HE DOESN'T NEED TO KNOW HOW TO SWING A SWORD! He will have his mommy to protect him, to keep him away from evil men."

She hugged her son. In a moment of inspiration, Eddison Lynderly quickly took the dagger from Lysa's hand and had her restrained. Robert started to cry and to shout:

"The bad man kills my mommy!"

Stannis Baratheon then had an idea. It was a long shot but he had to try. He approached Ser Eddison and punched him in the face. The knight of the Vale fell down and Stannis approached Sweetrobin.

"See? He didn't hurt your mother. I stopped him."

"You protected her! You saved my mommy!"

"Yes."

Lysa was shocked:

"He... He is the bad man. He wants to take you away from me!"

"But...but? He saved you!"

Jon Arryn put his hand on his son's shoulder:

"Lord Stannis will take you with him to protect you from the evil men. From the lions. Did you know, son, that the lions want to take you to their lair?"

"R-Really?"

Lysa Tully stopped raving and asked her husband:

"What? It is true?"

"Yes. Tywin Lannister planned to take Robert to Casterly Rock. You do realize, Lysa, that if that would come to pass, our son would be in grave danger? You would want your child to grow with the one who ordered the Targaryen children to be butchered? Do you want our beloved boy to live with the family of the Kingslayer?"

"No! NO!"

"Exactly. Lord Stannis is just protecting him. Besides, after we know our Sweetrobin is safe, you can visit him at Dragonstone whenever you want."

That's something Stannis wouldn't want to happen but in order to maintain the momentum, he had to agree with Lord Arryn:

"Yes, milady. You can come whenever you want to the island."

He then turned to Sweetrobin:

"Do you know about Dragonstone?"

"No..."

"It's an island full of stone dragons, larger than carriages. My castle is above a rock in the middle of the sea. It's like the Eyrie, completely safe."

The boy's eyes started to shine:

"Really? You wouldn't lie to me?"

"Of course not. I'm a Baratheon. We always say the truth!"

"And also, you will meet my daughter Shireen and my bastard nephew, Edric. They will be your playmates."

"Bastards are bad!"

"Not Edric. He is a good boy. He will protect you. He has a warhammer."

"Really? A large one?"

"Yes, just like the king's."

Sweetrobin started to smile and then approached his father:

"When do I go to Dragonstone?"

"Tomorrow, son. You will leave by ship!"

"But can I take mommy with me?"

"Not now, son. We have to make sure you are safe first. Then, I swear to you we will come to visit you!"

Lysa was in tears, but she believed the Baratheons to be a bit more palatable than the Lannisters. At least the stags are not cruel like the lions.

After Stannis and Jon Arryn left the room, alongside Ser Eddison, the stag lord extended his right hand to the knight:

"I'm sorry for hitting you, Ser Eddison. But I had to calm down the child."

"Don't worry, my lord. I understand."

They shook hands and Ser Eddison returned to his guard post near the Arryn's bed.

"Thank you, Lord Stannis. You are a good man."

"Children will believe anything you say to them, if you are convincing enough. How do you think they are so many believers in the gods?"

"I understand."

The two parted ways. Stannis didn't have a good impression of Robert. Too nervous, too spoiled, sickly. He hoped the boy would live long enough to marry his daughter and put a son in her belly. A half-Arryn, half-Baratheon heir to the Eyrie and the Vale could prove highly beneficial in the game of thrones, a game Stannis hated but a game he had to play nonetheless.

Robert Arryn... Heir to the Vale. Maybe Davos will have the patience for you.