CHAPTER 10. JUSTICE

WINTERFELL

Stannis awakens on a cot, his mind is fuzzy and he can barely move. After several tries to sit up he finally manages it. He rubs his eyes and stretches, then he notices a young woman in front of his cell. "Who are you?" Where am I?"

She stands with her hands behind her back. There is a predatory look to her and Stannis had seen that look in the eyes of battle hardened warriors, killers, and murderers. He had seen it fighting the Iron Born and in all men he faced in battle. "To answer the first question…My name is Arya Stark…As for the second question Winterfell's dungeons…" Stannis tries to stand, but he falls back to the cot. "The drug takes time to wear off…Try not to move too much…"

"I am the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm…Heir to Iron Throne and the Prince that was Promised…I demand you release me at once…"

"Impressive titles…but they mean nothing…I destroyed your supplies…Stole your gold and kidnapped you…By now the sell-swords you hired have gone their own way…They will probably head for White Harbor to seek passage back east…My brother sent a Raven to Lord Manderly asking him to pay the Sell-swords to fight for us if they do that…"

"What do you want?"

"You have nothing to offer me, but your life…You marched across the North and declared war on us…"

"Your brother calls himself the King in the North…That is treason…"

"Only in your eyes and any fool who wants to sit on that ugly chair…My brother…was asked to be King…Like our brother Robb before him…You…You are Stannis the Stern…You have a right to the Iron Throne I will not deny it…But a man who would use Blood Magice to get that throne does not deserve to be King…A man who rejects the gods of his fathers and burns his subjects in the name of a foreign god does not deserve to be King…"

He sighs, "Is this a trial?"

"No! You have much to answer for…" Arya looks to the right, "You can come out now…"

Stannis narrows his eyes at the new comer, "I know you…"

"You should…I was with King Renly Baratheon when you met him to negotiate…I am Brienne of Tarth…and in the name of King Renly I demand to face you in single combat…to avenge the innocent blood you spilled."

He grunts, "So what if I win then what?"

"You are free to go your way…and if you ever set foot in the North again I will kill you…" Arya looks at Brienne, "But I seriously doubt your chances of winning…"

"And when do I fight Lady Brienne?"

"Three days from now…After you regained your strength…"

"I look forward to it…"

They leave him alone, "Thank you my lady…"

"Thanks isn't necessary…"

SER DAVOS

It took another two weeks to reach Winterfell and Davos lost three men to the cold. During his journey the snows let up and he is able to travel much faster. They hunt squirrel and rabbit for meat. One day they spot a dear and is able kill it for food. They arrive at Winterfell a day after Stannis awoke in the Dungeons.

"Who goes there?" A guard asks.

"I am Ser Davos Seaworth…Hand of the King to Stannis Baratheon…I have come to negotiate on behalf of the Royal House Baratheon…"

"Open the gates…"

Davos rides into the courtyard and is greeted by a Maester, "I am Maester Walken…Welcome to Winterfell My Lord…" He leads Davos to the main hall. "Your Grace may I present Ser Davos Seaworth…Hand of the King to Stannis Baratheon…"

Davos bows, "You need not bow to me Ser Davos…You are not one of my subjects…"

"Still a man should show respect to a King your Grace…I have come to negotiate the release of my King Stannis Baratheon…"

"Ser Davos…Stannis' deeds are well known to me…He used blood magic to have his own brother killed because he was a threat…I have also heard stories of him and his red Priestess burning people on Dragonstone…He killed Ser Courtney Penrose to get his hands on his nephew Edric Storm…What happened to Edric Storm Ser Davos?"

"Your Grace…He is alive and well. I helped him escaped on pain of death…"

"Is this the kind of King you wish to rule over the seven Kingdoms Ser Davos?"

"He is a better choice than the Lannister Bastards your Grace…I do not agree with the choices he has made…"

"It's over Ser Davos…" Rickon says interrupting him, "If I were you I would go home…Stannis has lost…"

He sighs because the young King's words hit at the heart of the matter. "What will do to him?"

"In two days he will face lady Brienne of Tarth in single combat…If he wins he will be allowed to go his way and do as he pleases…"

"May I see him?"

"Of Course…Almond take Ser Davos to the dungeons and allow him to speak with Stannis in private."

The soldier salutes and leads Davos to the dungeons as commanded. "You have a visitor…"

"Ser Davos…" Stannis says sitting up and walking to the bars of his cell.

They wait until the guard leaves, "Have they abused you my King?"

"No…I am fed and allowed a bath…What of my daughter and wife…Are they safe?"

He sighs, "On their way back to Castle Black…"

"And the army?"

"I am sorry Your Grace, but the Wind Blown have abandoned us…As soon as they learned about the gold they departed…Gone to White Harbor…"

Stannis sighs, "This is a catastrophe…"

"I failed you my King…I am so sorry…"

Stannis surprises Davos by smiling, "The fault is mine…I have made many mistakes…I allowed that woman to burn men who were loyal to me…I had my own brother killed…"

"Perhaps I should not have convinced you to leave the Red Woman behind at the battle of blackwater…Maybe we would have won that battle…"

"We both made mistakes…In two days I face Brienne of Tarth…If I should fall…"

"Do what you can my King to win…Even if you must fight dirty…"

He shakes his head, "When I fight her it will be honorably…I will not stain my last days if these are my last days with another dishonorable act…But I ask you to watch over my family…Especially my daughter…Protect her from her mother…"

He nods, "I will do best my King…"

"Bring me ink and paper…" Davos calls the guard and makes the request. Then Stannis writes a last command giving wardenship of his daughter Shireen to Davos. They stare at each, "You know Ser Davos…Now that I think about it…You are the only friend I have…"

"I am honored Your Grace…"

He sighs, "After all we have been through call me by name my friend…"

"Stannis!"

"Go I will see you in two days…"

"May the…" He hesitates, "…lord of light grant you strength…"

"May the gods old and new grant me the strength and skill…"

Davos spends the next two days fasting and praying for Stannis. He never actually believed in the gods. His son came to believe in the lord of light only to be rewarded with a death by fire. Davos misses his wife and other children and swears that whatever happens he would take Shireen and return home. The day Stannis is to face Lady Brienne, Davos shaves, bathes, and eats alone in his room.

Before the duel is to begin he goes to see Stannis, "I am told you have been fasting and praying for me…" Stannis says.

"I suppose in the most desperate of hours my friend even the most staunch disbeliever and sinner can find faith…"

"I hope yours is rewarded Ser Davos…"

"So do I…My Friend."

"Whatever happens today Ser Davos...I wish to apologize for taking your fingers...And I take back what i said before...Sometimes a good deed does erase a bad one."

"A man must pay for his crimes in life...and because of you my family has a better life..."

BRIENNE

Podrick is in Brienne's room helping her to get ready. They both had eaten and the time is fast approaching. From watching Arya's fight with Ramsey Brienne had decided to forgo heavy army and wear light leather armor. Her grieves and leg braces are metal. She looks at Podrick, "You are unusually quite Podrick…"

"Silently saying a prayer to all the gods I know and don't know for you m'lady…"

"You think I'll fall today?"

"No m'lady, but it doesn't hurt to pray…And Stannis has a reputation with the sword…He is not to be underestimated…"

"I never underestimate my enemies Podrick…It is my enemies who underestimate me…"

"If you fall what will become of me?"

She sighs and grabs his hand stopping him, "I have spoken to Lady Arya…If I fall she will take up your training and as a last request to me the King will Knight you…All I ask of you is that you be a true Knight in every since of the word…Do not compromise your honor for no one…Not Kings, Lords, holy men, or even for gold…Protect those who can't fight for themselves Podrick…And if you must break an oath do it for the right reasons do because the people you serve have lost their way…If ever you need an example of a bad Lord or King look at men like Baelish...The Mad King Roose Bolton and Walder Frey..."

He nods, "I will try My Lady…"

With Oath Keeper belted to her waist Brienne of Tarth Marches out to the courtyard. Podrick is following her with her helmet in hand. Brienne arrives in the courtyard the same time as Stannis and Ser Davos. Rickon, Sansa, Arya, Alyse, and Harrion stand on the porch to watch.

"Stannis of the House Baratheon and Lady Brienne of Tarth come before the gods and men…That justice may be done…They shall face each other this day in single combat to the death…And may the gods grant peace to the loser…" Maester Walken says and leave the area.

Brienne takes her helmet from Podrick, hands him her sword oath keeper and takes another sword. The Valyrian made sword would be a dishonorable disadvantage. She steps into the ring of men who are armed with spears and heavy shields. Stannis sets his face in stone as Davos gives him some last words. Then he steps into the living ring of soldiers.

"Today you shall answer for the unjust spilling of King Renly's blood…"

"I have paid Lady Brienne…and I will pay for that mistake for the rest of my days. If my sword should find its mark…If not I am glad it will be you whose hand I met my end at…"

Both combatants are armed only with a sword. They approach one another, but Brienne stops and places all her weight on her left foot. Stannis keeps approaching. And with a roar from Brienne the fight begins. Stannis is wearing full upper body armor and is better protected in the chest and arms. Is legs are covered in leather.

Both Brienne and Stannis follow the code of chivalry in their duel. They lock swords a mistake on Stannis' part as Brienne is stronger. She headbutts him and slashes him on the cheek drawing first blood. The spectators cheer as Brienne presses her attack. Then Stannis bashes Brienne in the head with a side attack, after eight moves. If not for her helmet she would be dead. Brienne moves away and removes her helm. Blood trickles from the side of her head.

Then she attacks with all her might, backing Stannis up. He counters and manages to knock Brienne's sword from her hand. She grabs him and pulls him back raising her legs and flips Stannis over. Brienne quickly gets to her feet and recovers her sword, but Stannis is slow to rise. "Get up My King!' Davos yells.

"Kill the Stag!" Someone else shouts.

Brienne doesn't move in, she allows Stannis to get to his feet. Trying to match Brienne's strength is a big mistake. Once on his feet he takes a fighting stance. "Ready?" Brienne asks.

"Lets finish it…" Stannis says breathing heavy.

They charge each other and in a dazzling melee of Westerosi style of fighting the two try to gain the advantage over the other. Brienne moves in and blocks an attack with the grieve of her left arm and swings her sword at Stannis' hip. He backs away cradling his hip as blood pours from the wound. Any good swordsman can tell the sword cut all the way to the bone.

Severely injured it is apparent who will win this fight. Brienne moves in again knocks his sword from his hand after five moves. Stannis falls to his knees his sword hand is wrecked and bloody from the blow Brienne inflicted. "You fought with honor Lady Brienne…Strike true Lady Knight…"

With a tear soaked face Brienne drives her sword into his neck and Stannis is no more. Davos enters the ring of men and signals his own men. "Take up his body…" He looks at Rickon, "King in the North I ask that you allow me to burn his body and return his remains to the lands of his father…"

"You may do so Ser Davos…" After all is done Davos and his men leave Winterfell that day. Rickon gives them wagons and enough supplies to last until they reach Castle Black. Arya and Gendry leave Winterfell the next day for the Twins.