Note: 90% books, 10% show

Disclaimer: A Song of Ice and Fire is owned by G.R.R Martin. This is a strict non-profit venture.


It was not the pain that bothered him, it was easier to be dealt than the feeling of starvation. Nor was it Cressan's methods in relieving his ailing wounds. Cressan was old but his knowledge of the medical arts was not dampened by his age. The Firemilk was effective in healing his bruises, though it might have weakened him enough to prevent him from participating in the morrow's grand melee.

It wasn't the panicked begging for forgiveness from Lord Ardrian Celtigar that bothered him either. Stannis Baratheon found it more annoying that he thought him dumb for not realizing how easily it would have been for one to mistake him as just a mere hedge knight when he wore full plate and used a blank sigil.

Nor was it the outcome of the tourney, he knew he was never the most skilled of jousters, indeed he was surprised he managed to unhorse the great Salmon Knight himself. After Ser Brus Buckler he had thought he would be incapable of doing such a deed, that Buckler boy had a strength that was surpassed only by Victarion Greyjoy.

No it was the mischievous smirk on Davos' face throughout Cressan's tending. That constant queer smile that had never left since he had arrived within their tent.

"Would you like to share what has amused you so Ser Davos?" Davos still continued smiling, showing no hint that he had even heard his request.

"She still wears it, that wreath of flowers that you crowned her with, I daresay she might even sleep with it." By her he assumed he was referring to Lady Cersei Lannister.

"Is that cause enough for the queer face you make?" Davos incline his head by an inch. His eyes falling on him, searching for something.

"I'm surprised you would participate as a mystery knight. The story of Ser Nameless who unhorsed the famed Salmon Knight would be a tale for seasons to come, the part where he reveals himself a prince and crowns the beautiful Cersei Lannister as his queen of love and beauty I wager would be a constant in the minds of young maidens who fancy such a thing to befall them." Stannis never liked it when Davos wasn't being direct.

"Get to your meaning Ser Davos." The Onion Knight sighed.

"Why did you do it? Why put so much effort in concealing your identity and crowning Lady Cersei?" Stannis did not believe that was what had made Davos so amused.

"I didn't have time." Davos acknowledged him with dumbfounded confusion.

"Didn't have enough time?" Stannis might have needed to explain himself more clearly.

"I barely made it here through horse. The plate armor is not mine but of a smith down in King's Landing. By the time I arrived the tourney was about to begin." Davos' confusion remained still.

"So you hid your identity simply because you did not have the time to say otherwise? If that's the case, then why crown Cersei Lannister?" Stannis did not understand the meaning of his question.

"Why?" Davos nodded his head in affirmation.

"She's my betrothed, to choose another would be cause for scandal." That didn't satisfy Davos.

"You made a grand show of it. What you did was not something Stannis Baratheon did, that was something Robert would have done." Stannis would have been angered by the comparison if any other man did so. Not Davos, the man was his shield and hand. He was also right.

"I don't know." Stannis spoke dully.

"You don't know?" Davos only got more confused as the conversation continued.

"I figured since it was her nameday then it would only be prudent if I made spectacle out of it." The more Davos spoke of it the more Stannis realized that this wasn't typical of him. He was not the kind to partake it such dramatic gestures.

"You wanted her to be happy in her nameday?" Davos' smile returned which vexed Stannis tenfold than what it originally did.

"Want her happy? What makes you say such a thing so suddenly?" Stannis winched as Cressen started wrapping the linen around his torso.

"Mayhaps the Lord Stannis did it to mollify the Lady Cersei?" Cressan had elected to join the conversation now that he was just about down tending to Stannis.

"She has never liked Dragonstone nor him, so maybe this was simply the Lord's way of making her more comfortable of him being her husband? Maybe even unknowingly?" Davos contemplated on what the Maester said.

"I suppose." Davos was starting to be convinced, but not fully.

"I do feel it is inaccurate for you to say Lady Cersei doesn't like Lord Stannis however." Now that took Stannis by surprise.

"On what grounds? She had earlier made it very clear to me that she despises me." Davos shook his head.

"A woman's words are fickle things. What she says is different from what she truly feels. I think in the recent weeks the Lady Lannister might even grow fond of you Lord Stannis." This was the first time Stannis heard of such a thing. The lioness no longer angry of the stag? How droll.

"I will believe otherwise if she were to admit it." Still he was not going to be entirely trustful of Davos when it came to Lady Cersei. The lioness has proven to be a deceptive little minx.

"That might not be a time faraway my lord. Just keep it mind, she wears the crown constantly now. I would say it could be because for vanity's sake, but the smile she wears. It is a smile from the heart. I truly feel that she might even adore you for doing such a thing." Stannis was uncomfortable at the prospect of the Lady Lannister 'adoring' him.

He didn't want her to 'adore' him just because of some wreath of flowers, he didn't want someone's affections if it were for such shallow things.

Yet.

To have someone be affectionate of him. It was a rare thing for him to have, he only knew a handful of people who honored him with their affection.

He wouldn't admit it, but seeing the face on Cersei Lannister when he put the wreath of roses on top of her golden mane.

He couldn't help but smile as well.

Why were women such strange and vexing creatures to comprehend?

They were mercurial and as chaotic as the waves, yet with just a smile they can make men do foolish acts.

Curse the gods for giving them such terrible powers.


The festivities were far and away from what Dragonstone had held. A dozen lords and knights were feasting together, all the whilst speaking rowdily and stepping near the line of what proper decorum would allow.

Davos was by his side, conversing with a minor lord of the Crownlands. Stannis himself had found himself speaking to Ser Brus Buckler.

"Once again I apologize my Lord. To your credit I didn't expect you to unhorse me in such a manner." Brus Buckler was a young man full of vigor and strength. He had a heroic look to him, strong jaw, strong thick nose and a long scar lining his bald scalp.

His was a common face within the Stormlands.

"To your credit I didn't expect it as well." Stannis was ever an honest voice; he truly did not believe he would have been able to withstand the Buckler's overwhelming blow.

"Mine thanks for the kind words Lord Stannis. My kin would scarcely believe that Lord Stannis Baratheon of all men would speak praise of my skill." Ser Brus was a glib man, not the sort who takes conduct too seriously. It was both refreshing and frustrating.

The knight took out a bite from the lamprey pie that was served as the third course, there were three more courses until the night ended.

Stannis couldn't help but ask.

"What news of Storm's End?" Ser Brus chewed silently at that question, a lot more morose now. He seemed to understand the cause for Stannis' sudden question.

"Lord Paramount Renly Baratheon is being tutored as expected. I hear he's squiring under Lord Bryen Caron." The Lord of Nightsong?

"He's been very eager in finding for Lord Renly a wife among his many daughters." Bryen was an ambitious sort, the marcher lord had been very obvious in his desire of attaining more power for himself.

Last he heard he was trying to acquire support from the other lords in his bid to stake a very weak claim on the former lands of House Connington.

Ambition was a sweet poison that often men would drink in succor even knowing the fact it killed.

"Who rules in Renly's name? I heard there was a change in regents." At that Ser Brus Buckler gave him a smile.

"Mine cousin Lord Ralph Buckler. He managed to usurp the position from the Lord Estermont. There's tension within the Stormlands Lord Stannis Baratheon. Lord Renly does not inspire much confidence among his bannerman." Stannis expected half as much, his brother was a frivolous wastrel who preferred to lark at pretty clothes than learn the duties of rulership.

"It's a tragedy that King Robert had chosen him instead of you as Lord Paramount of the Stormlands." Stannis' eyes narrowed , Ser Brus had paused in his small feasting, now looking nervous at the very dangerous looking Stannis Baratheon.

"That's a very bold statement Ser Brus." His voice was low and harsh. Like tumbling stone during a thunderstorm.

"N-No offense my Lord! Simply the musings of a daft knight." Brus tried to save face in his transgressions, knowing fully if Stannis was inclined he could have had him flogged or worse.

"Keep your musings to yourself. The King would not take kindly to such gossip talk." Stannis warned.

"But it's talk that is common among the Stormlords, mine tongue is not the first to speak of such things. I hear the first among the voices was your grandfather and he's been doing all he can in ensuring you become the Lord Paramount in Renly's stead." Stannis had heard of his grandfather speaking out against the appointment of Renly to the lordship. He thought them rumors, unfortunately it didn't seem to be the case.

"It seems I may need to write a letter to the Lord Estermont then." Ser Brus took a sip from his tankard of ale.

"To ask for his support?" Stannis shook his head.

"To ask him to desist." Ser Brus seemed at first surprised, but then had a smile on his lips.

"It's true then what they say about you my Lord." Stannis did not understand the meaning of what he said.

"Who are they that you speak of? What do they speak of me?" Ser Brus chuckled.

"The Stormlords, they say that Lord Stannis Baratheon worships duty like it was of the Seven." Stannis was unsure if that was praise or scorn.

"Worry not Lord Stannis. The Stormlords are fond of quarrel, but they know where their duty lies."

Stannis sincerely hope they did.

It would be a lie if he said he didn't covet Storm's End.

Yet he would not have approved of gaining it through any other means than through Robert directly.

Robert would know that he still had a second brother.

Ser Brus Buckler had excused himself when a certain golden haired maiden approached them.

"Lady Cersei Lannister, a happy nameday do you." Ser Brus spoke with courtesy.

"Ser Brus Buckler, your bout against my betrothed was most impressive. He was barely clinging to his saddle after your hit." Stannis couldn't stop staring at the laurel atop her crown. She was still wearing it?

"Such praise honors me greatly Lady Lannister. Would you mind if I excused myself for the moment?" He glanced back towards Stannis Baratheon, giving him a smile that he had earlier seen in Davos.

Were all the men here queer in the head?

Cersei agreed as Ser Brus slinked away like some sort of snake. She took her seat by his side, no long avoiding his gaze like it was such a poison thing.

"The feast has been so far to my satisfaction, Ser Davos had done a splendid job." She spoke with her typical haughty Lannister tone.

"Ser Davos has a gift for such things." Stannis saw no need to flower his speech needlessly.

"Indeed he does. Yet the grand revelation you made was a moment not many would forget, I'm curious as to why you did it the way you did." She stared at him, eyes longing for something.

Stannis relayed to her what she told to Davos. Not wishing to repeat this conversation once more.

"So this was a mere accident? A whim subject to chance?" She sounded offended. He did not know why.

"You did not plan for such a thing? Did you even intend for me to have this crown?" Why was she so on edge?

"I did not expect to win, nor to arrive in a timely manner. But the crown, it was always meant for you." She blushed at that. Was she angry that he had intended her to be his queen of love and beauty? Mayhaps Davos was wrong when he said she approved of it.

"W-Why?" Her breath was getting erratic.

"Tis your nameday." Such a simple answer didn't satisfy her.

"Is that all?" Stannis was unsure as to what she meant.

"Normally a man who crowns his queen of love and beauty intends to court her." She spoke annoyingly, mindlessly prodding the lemon cake before her with a fork.

"Are we not betrothed?" She stared at him with sad eyes.

"Are we truly?" Stannis couldn't make sense of her.

"You said earlier than you didn't approve of this match, and if you had your say it would be severed." She spoke with a melancholy he couldn't comprehend. Did the thought of the betrothal being rendered void scare her?

"Yes. I did." She stopped prodding the lemon cake, staring at it idly.

"Please don't." She spoke so softly that he almost didn't hear it amidst the noise of the feasting hall.

"Don't?" She stared at him now, with eyes as hard as his.

"Don't break the betrothal, even if Robert would allow you to do so. Let it come to pass." Stannis stared at her, trying to figure out if she was hiding any ulterior motives.

"Why?" Cersei stared back towards her handmaidens, he followed her gaze as they saw Lady Shierle and Lord Gerold have an argument several places away from them.

They saw Ronnet Connington and Nerissa Banefort sitting closely to one another, the Banefort girl leaning on him on a closer inspection.

They saw Ser Myles Mooton as he conversed with Melessa Crakehall, she was laughing at something he had just said. Her earlier apprehension now gone as he reveled in his japes.

They saw Leonella Lefford incessantly tittering with a nervous and haggard Criston Celtigar.

She saw them and had a soft smile.

"It's your duty." Stannis didn't like it when she used his own words against him.

"I promise I shall give you as much children as you want, that I will run your household faithfully and ensure your line grows stronger." So much promises, yet she hadn't done anything that made him believe them.

"I remember distinctly you saying you hated me." Cersei cringed, a wretched frown on her lips.

Stannis Baratheon was confused as to why he didn't like seeing such a frown.

"I recant that statement." She whispered out.

"Why? Is it because of the pretty flowers on your head?" She recoiled at what he said. An incredulous look on her face.

"You think me petty enough that a wreath of flowers is all it took to change mine mind?" Stannis wasn't expecting such an answer.

"Yes." Her face contorted into pain, Stannis felt like he had done a grave misdeed.

"I am a lioness, stag. My whims are not for you to know." She bitterly spat out as she bolted out. Leaving him by his lonesome.

"Stannis, what did you do?" Davos asked once he had had noticed how Cersei stormed out.

"I think I may have made a mistake." Stannis felt he had been making many mistakes ever since he had played host to the lioness.


He had scoured the entire castle for her, it was a troublesome thing. A scorned woman was one of the most vexing creatures on Westeros to deal with, there was no single proven method in taming them, more subject to chance than skill.

It was fortunate then that he finally found her within a balcony jutting out the central keep of the Celtigar seat. Just near the stone railing.

She still wore that stupid crown of flowers as she stared towards the night sky. Her scarlet gown was shining dazzlingly under the moonlight.

Stannis Baratheon saw no need to conceal his footsteps. He cared naught if she were to flee once more, he would simply find her again.

He stood right beside her. In the darkness much of her face was covered, even then he still saw the tears.

"Am I foolish?" Lady Cersei asked dully.

Stannis remained quiet.

"Am I foolish for being so enraged by what you said? Even if I had done nothing to dispel such notions?" Her voice was cracking like broken glass.

"No." She stared downwards at the sea.

"Why not?" Stannis thought the answer obvious.

"I am not a man of tact. Any other man would have said the words I said with more courtesy." Cersei laughed softly at that.

"Lord Stannis, your bluntness is one of your greatest virtues." He thought she was japing, she wasn't.

"Please never say anything with tact." She smiled at him, it was a beautiful smile. A smile that made him feel a strange warmth deep down.

There was a long silence between them.

"I have a gift." Stannis said out awkwardly in an effort to break it, as if he didn't know if this was the appropriate time to say anything.

"A gift?" Cersei regarded him with curiosity.

Stannis retrieved the sheathed dagger around his sword belt, he handed it to her.

"I had in commissioned in King's Landing, a work of the famed Tobho Mott himself." Mott was a smith who learned his art from Qohor. He was a master of both weaponsmithing and armorsmithing, he had recently become more of a friend than a mere acquaintance. Stannis had become his 'raven' of sorts, the smith needed a discrete method of sending back letters to his homeland and he apparently trusted Stannis with such a duty. In return he would offer his services at a large discount.

Cersei unsheathed it, seemingly marveled by its make.

The pommel was made of gold, fashioned into the head of a lion; the grip was wrapped with thick dried leather; the guards in the form of paws. The blade itself was razor sharp, tinted with a dark red metallic hue.

It was a fine but expensive blade.

"When did you have this made?" She said in awe of it.

"A week after your arrival, before Lord Gerold Dayne became my squire." Cersei stared at him with eyes unbelieving.

"That soon?" Stannis nodded.

"I had known earlier how your nameday would coincide with your stay here; hence I prepared the necessary coin to fund this tourney and to commission this gift." Cersei's jaw dropped slightly.

"T-This tourney. It was funded by you alone? Not by the Celtigars?" Stannis nodded again.

"W-Why?" There were tears welling in her eyes. Stannis couldn't help but be annoyed by how ungrateful she was. Was this not enough?

"You are my honored guest, it is my duty to ensure you are being accommodated." Cersei was openly weeping now.

"Is this not enough?" Stannis just looked as she cried further and further.

Then something he didn't foresee happen.

She hugged him.

He felt her head on his chest, the tears streaming down her cheeks onto his leather jerkin.

He stood there dumbfounded, unsure on what was going on.

"I'm sorry Lord Stannis. What I'm doing is completely out of the bounds of proper etiquette, but I can't show my thanks in any other way." Thanks?

She stepped back, wiping off the tears with the sleeves of her red dress.

"This is the best nameday I've ever had." Stannis couldn't believe those words. This can't possibly the best nameday she's ever had. The Westerlands would have far more grander tourneys than this, with a hundred dashing knights and all the lords of Westeros in attendance. Not this sad affair attend by a handful of lords, none of the lord paramounts were attending. Indeed her own family were not here to celebrate it.

She regarded her dagger once more. A big joyous smile on her face.

"That dagger is no mere mantle piece. I fully intend to teach you how to use it." He told her as she ran a finger down the edge.

Stannis had found himself unprepared for this. He was expecting a tantrum, not … adulation.

She held the blade as if it was something else. She treated it like it was some sort of ancient Valyrian treasure, or the crown to the Iron Throne. He didn't understand why she would love it so.

She then gave him a smile like no other.

Every bit of her famed beauty was concentrated into that single smile. It was a smile of both joy and sadness, of both relief and anxiety. It was a smile that would ever haunt him.

"I would love that my Lord Stannis." A dark and terrible feeling had gripped his stone heart, making it beat more than it normally would.

He couldn't understand the warmth that was now building deep within him.

He couldn't understand and he couldn't' fathom it.

He never felt anything of its ilk for so long.

The last time he felt this way was in the presence of his parents.

Cersei Lannister was a dangerous woman.

Nothing had made him feel fear in such a manner.

Not Robert.

Not the power of the entire Reach.

Nor even death.

Stannis Baratheon was terrified of Cersei Lannister.

Terrified of the implications of all this.