STANNIS

DRAGONSTONE

The ancient castle of Dragonstone sits on an island and is considered one of the most impregnable fortresses in Westeros. The Castle has five towers, a narrow stairway that leads up to the main castle. The fortress sits high off the beach so the only way to assault it is from the stairway. Archers can pick off any opposing force. The fortress served as launching point for Aegon Targaryen all those years ago when he decided to conquer Westeros.

Stannis Baratheon; the second son of Steffon and Cassana Baratheon rules the island fortress. Stannis the stern as many refer to him, because of his attitude and unyielding resolve when it came to justice, the law, and life in general. Even though he held Storm's End and led the assault against the Greyjoys when they rebelled against his brother. All people speak of is Robert's victories against three armies in one day. His brother's victory over Jon Connington in the Step Stones and killing Rhaegar Targaryen on the battlefield.

Like Jon Arryn Stannis knows about Cersei and her children. He owed no loyalty to his brother Robert. A fool in Stannis' eyes; as the two have never been close. From the day Stannis learned of Cersei's treachery he had been planning his ascension to the Iron Throne. Then a priestess by the name of Melisandre came to Dragonstone. The Red Priestess as many called her had converted Stannis' wife, Uncle, brother, and many others to the faith of the lord of light.

Stannis himself still held to the New gods and the faith of the Seven. Both his wife and Melisandre had been trying to convert him. Stannis didn't believe until Melisandre started calling him the Prince that was Promised. Destined to rule the world and bring an end to the long night. "The Game is afoot my Lord." A spy in Robert's court says to Stannis in his solar.

"How so?"

"First Lady Arryn and Petyr Baelish tried to poison Jon Arryn…Their plan was foiled by the Spider. Lord Arryn annulled his marriage and Baelish was executed. King Robert sent a message to Lord Stark…He wants to betroth his son Prince Joffrey to Lady Stark of Winterfell…Lord Arryn sent a messenger by ship North. We believe this messenger was sent to warn Lord Stark."

"What of the Queen?"

"She is nervous…So much so that she has asked her brother to buy the loyalty of the City Watch."

"With Baelish dead…" His voice trails off, "If Baelish is dead who has been named Master of Coin?"

"No one the Hand is handling it himself…He seems to believe that Lord Janos Slynt is on his side."

"How was the imp able to pay off the Gold Cloaks?"

"Lord Arryn gave him all of Baelish's businesses…The brothels. Lord Tyrion seems to flourishing with his new businesses."

That is when his wife bursts in with Lady Melisandre. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Leave us!" Lady Selyse orders to the spy.

The man looks at Stannis and he nods, "It is happening isn't it?"

"What?" Stannis asks.

"My Lady allow me." Melisandre says placing a hand on her shoulder, "Someone tried to kill the Hand of the King didn't they?"

"How did you?"

"I saw it in the flames my Prince…The time is now. In the east, she who was born of the storm has married a powerful Dothraki Warlord…Here…The crowned Stag seeks to marry his lion cub to the wolf in the North…We must act now."

"Listen to her my husband…She speaks for the lord of light."

He sighs, "I must convince Renly to support me. He is the key to the Stormlords. They love him and my idiot brother has named him Lord of Storm's End over me."

"Get me the boy Edric Storm…And see how King's blood works in our favor."

"First you must burn the idols." Selyse says. Many people servants and soldiers alike living on Dragonstone still hold to the faith of the seven.

"I will think about it."

"You must!"

Melisandre raises her hand silencing Selyse, "We serve at your command my King." The two women leave.

The plan is to use blood magic to kill Robert, announce to the seven Kingdoms the Queen's treason and take the Iron Throne. And even though Stannis hates his brother for bedding a woman in his wedding bed the day he got married. He in all good conscious cannot have his brother killed for the throne. Stannis has one friend in all the world. Though he would never admit it; there is only one man he would confide in and that is The Onion Knight Ser Davos Seaworth.

Before he became a Knight Ser Davos was a smuggler. During the war, Storm's End was under siege; Ser Davos snuck through the fleet and entered the Castle with much needed supplies. Many saw Davos as a hero, but that did not stop Stannis from punishing him for smuggling. He did Knight Ser Davos for his actions.

After learning about the Queen Stannis returned to Dragonstone and ordered Davos to smuggle his spies in and out of the Red Keep. "My Lord you summoned me?" Davos asks entering the solar.

"Yes sit down." Davos was an honest man and always told the truth no matter what. It was one of the things Stannis admired about him. So he tells Davos his plans and the plans Melisandre and his wife have.

"Well My Lord…I have always known about the Queen and her children. Any fool with eyes can see that those children are not King Robert's. But no matter what Robert has done to you, he's still your brother."

"I know that…But if Jon Arryn tells him. Robert may decide to take another wife. If that happens and she gives him a son."

"Either way there would be a war. Especially if Robert kills Ser Jaime. Lord Tywin would not take kindly to that."

Stannis grunts, "Tywin would be crushed by the combined might of the Starks, the Tullys and House Arryn."

"There must be a way to get what you want without having to kill your brother."

They have mid-day meal together then Davos leaves to take care of business for Stannis. A few days later a raven arrives from a spy in the Riverlands. Lord Stark is heading to King's Landing alone. Stannis summons Melisandre. "I told you." She says after hearing the news. "We must act now…"

He sighs, "Is there time to get the boy?"

"No, but it can still be done if you are willing."

Stannis consents and gathers his household on the beach to burn the statues of the seven. "We offer these false idols to the lord of light. Lord of light save us. For the night is long and full of terrors" Some repeat her words and those who do not refuse to speak.

"Stop this madness!" Maester Cressen yells running through the crowd on the beach.

"It is not madness old man." Melisandre says. "It is the will of the lord of light. Far too long these false idles and priests have blinded man."

"You men were all born in the light of the seven! How can you forsake the gods of your fathers?"

"Enough Maester Cressen…We have seen the truth. The lord of light is the one god." Selyse says.

Later Stannis meets privately with Melisandre, "You say it is the Lord's will."

"It is…If you had acted when I said to act we could destroy all our enemies. Now the hour is late, and the night falls."

"What must I do?"

She sighs and walks away removing her robe and garments, "We don't have time to fetch the boy, but if you give yourself to me. I can do what must be done."

"I…I…am married." He replies staring at her naked body. Stannis' marriage to Selyse is an unhappy one. The two found love once, but Selyse lost their first child; a son. Then she lost two more sons. Finally Selyse gave birth to a daughter they named Shireen. And they were happy for a while; until Shireen was infected with Greyscale by a merchant's trick. Shireen was saved from the horrible disease, but it left her face scarred. As time passed by Stannis and Selyse grew apart.

"There is power in King's Blood…Watch and see yourself become King." Against his conscious Stannis makes love to her in the map room. After he summons Ser Davos and as he waits for his return Stannis goes to see his wife. "I have something to tell you."

"You don't…I already know. It is our Lord's will…"

Stannis looks at her, "You know?"

"Soon you will be King over all of Westeros. You will save us from the long night and rule the world." When Ser Davos returns and Stannis sends him on a mission with the red woman as he calls her.