Davos

Ser Rolland interrupted the Small Counsel meeting during a report the King requested from the Maester Pylos on the "efficacy" (Stannis enjoyed using words that brought furrowed Ser Axell's brow in confusion) of the glass gardens in providing stores being rationed for winter. When Storm came to the entryway, the King motioned for him to enter. Everyone knew when he leaned to whisper to Stannis what the news was about. Their Queen was in labor.

The King listened with his usual scowl and then nodded as a sign to Ser Rolland to wait for him. "I am away to Maegor's Holdfast to await the arrival of the new prince or princess," Stannis announced to those assembled.

"I look forward to celebrating the news of my latest grandniece of grandnephew," Ser Lomas returned enthusiastically. "I have a bottle of Dornish Red for the occasion and will bring it to the Map Room for those who would join me."

"What possibly could be celebrated about a princess?" Ser Axell replied in a huff and then cleared his throat when Stannis stared daggers into him as he stood and the rest of them stood in response. Despite having reversed his decision on banishing Ser Axell for previous comments regarding Queen Sansa, Stannis had made it well known that it was at the Queen's behest and against his better judgment. Davos was surprised that reversal included keeping him on the Small Counsel as Master of Whispers and suspected Sansa had much to do with that, as well.

The room waited quietly while the King made his former good-uncle as uncomfortable as possible and then turned his attention to Davos. "I trust you to resolve any issues that do not need my attention and bring those that do to the Map Room where I will reside after I visit the Queen."

Once the King had departed, Davos asked Maester Pylos to continue his report. The meeting continued for another hour before Davos dismissed them. He first sent word to the Training Yard to ensure Devan knew to look to his younger brothers and that they might be alone for supper, and then he made his way to join Stannis in the Map Room. To his surprise, he found Marya waiting just outside in the hallway.

"I thought I might find you here. I asked to be sent for when the King leaves Sansa," Marya reported, kissing his cheek when he approached her. "You missed an interesting commotion. Sansa told none of us her labor had started and was managing to endure it without a grimace or even the most minimal groan. Poor thing knew the King would be sent for immediately if she whimpered or broke her routine." Marya was animated in the telling of her story and Davos listened indulgently as they entered the Map Room and sat down, "So, when the King arrived, Maester Dion told him that the Queen had been in labor for hours and was very tired, and needed to rest. Well, you know him best and you can imagine how he took that news. I looked around hoping you would come running any second to save the poor maester."

Davos wanted to laugh, but withheld his response while he ensured that Stannis did not injury Dion in any way. "No," Marya assured him with a grin. "However, the maester's hearing may be a little faulty for a few days. I felt sorry for him for it was Sansa who tried to withhold her pains from him to begin with."

"Maester Dion's mistake was not in telling the King she had been in labor for hours, but that he could not go in to her. I assume he brooked no more argument?" Davos asked in amusement.

Marya laughed and Davos marveled at the knowledge that such a little thing as the sound of her laughter could still please him so. "Sansa, who could hear him, sent Shireen out to ask for him before the King got as far as throttling or beheading the poor man. He's been with her since. I left Maester Dion and Shireen waiting for her and asking to be sent for when he left."

Looking around to ensure no one was close enough to hear him, Davos still lowered his voice. "The first time you intimated that he had come to love her, I thought it a fanciful wish on your part. As one who looks on him as a brother, I am genuinely thankful he not only feels so strongly for her, but that it is returned. As his Hand, I fear the vulnerability it brings my King."

Marya gave him an indulgent look he recognized as one that usually preceded telling him how and why he was incorrect. "King Stannis was most vulnerable when he, and those around him, felt he had no vulnerabilities. I once told the Queen if anyone was invincible, it was the King. Perhaps you cannot be truly invincible if you have a vulnerability, yet in most cases it would be sufficient to have far less vulnerabilities than your opponents, would it not?"

He considered arguing that it only took one exploiting one vulnerability to cause great harm and while he told himself he wouldn't because this wasn't the time for it, Davos considered it was more likely he avoided it because she probably had a sufficient argument in rebuttal. He also did not want to have Stannis walk in on a conversation that was so obviously about him.

"So, my very wise wife, do you believe our Queen will deliver the realm a prince or a princess?"

His change in subject was greeted with a knowing smirk, but Marya went along with it. "I was convinced Steffon and Stany were both going to be daughters and that Alysane would be another son."

"Exactly," he teased her, "If you said it would be a princess, I would know another prince was about to be born."

Marya started to retort with something Davos was certain would have put him in his place when their king walked in. Both stood to greet him. "How is our Queen, Sire?" Davos asked while Marya quickly curtsied and laid a hand on Davos' arm as she made her way to the door.

"Bearing her pain well," the King remarked, strain evident in his eyes as he acknowledged Marya's curtsey with a nod. "I am sure she will be glad to have you with her, My Lady." Davos understood all too well the fear a husband felt at this time.

Marya left them and once the King was seated, Davos immediately began to distract him with an agenda of minor items he had been saving for this occasion. Within the hour, they were joined by the King's uncle, Ser Lomas, and his cousin, Ser Andrew Estermont. Davos was grateful for their presence in helping pull Stannis' mind from the Queen, although it was obvious they were not making a good job of it. The King did answer them appropriately and intelligently, but his eyes barely left the door.

When Prince Steffon was being born, Princess Shireen had come back and forth between the Queen's bedchamber and the Map Room with reports. This time, the reports were not as often and were delivered by the Queen's primary guard, Ser Aedan. The first time, he informed them that the Princess had sent him at the Queen's request and, just as before, the message was merely to tell Stannis that Sansa was sending word that all was well. Davos and Lomas would exchange a look each time, a sort of private acknowledgement of appreciation at how well Queen Sansa knew her husband. She might not be able to make the birth come any faster, but she knew the next best thing was to ensure he was kept informed.

It was the appearance of Princess Shireen, looking serene, but pleased, that caused everyone in the Map Room to breathe a sigh of relief. Several others among the Counsel had joined them, including, Ser Axell Florent. "Your Grace," she addressed her father, "It is time for you to come meet my sister."

Stannis greeted the news with a scowling nod to his daughter and all stood as he did. He briefly allowed the congratulations from those in the room before motioning for Davos to join him in his departure. Davos was amused at how fast his King made his way to the Queen's apartments. Doors were opened for them at every turn until they were both in her bedchamber. Davos had lived this scene before, but it didn't make it any less precious to observe. Queen Sansa held a swaddled child in her arms and smiled at her husband as he approached. "You said you wished for another daughter."

"I said I would like this one to have your hair. Does she?" Stannis asked, peering toward the babe.

Sansa grinned, "It seems you cannot be born a Baratheon without being black of hair. It is as it should be."

The King started to reply, but seemed to think better of it. He sat on the edge of the bed and peered closer at the new princess in her mother's arms.

Marya joined Davos at the foot of the bed as they observed the family of four. "Have you decided on a name for the Princess?" Davos inquired.

"Shireen reserved the name Careen for a future sister," Sansa informed them in a voice that was happy, but betrayed her exhaustion.

Shireen moved to sit next to Sansa on the side of the bed opposite where her father sat. "If I am still allowed to select her name, I believe my sister should be named Catelyn. As you say, Father, she does not have the Tully hair, but I do believe she will have the Tully blue eyes of her mother and grandmother."

Everyone's eyes left the newly born babe to focus on Shireen. Stannis beheld his oldest daughter with his proudest scowl and Sansa with a gratitude that made her eyes water. "Thank you, Shireen," the Queen whispered hoarsely and received a smile in return.

"Now if everyone will allow, I would like the Queen to rest," Stannis ordered. "I will stay with her to see that she does so." He gave both Davos and Marya a scowl-less look that conveyed his appreciation for their roles in this day, but addressed Maester Dion with words to that affect as they were all dismissed and Davos closed the door behind him.

Marya and Davos walked Shireen to her apartments; Davos listened while the two ladies recounted some of the events of the birth that he tried purposely not to hear. Both were treated to a hug from the girl before she closed the door behind her.

"Shireen so wants to be a mother," Marya remarked once it was just the two of them making their way back to the Tower.

"But let us hope she will first marry before that happens," Davos said as a matter of conversation, not because he thought it would be otherwise.

"I had hoped she would form an attachment to Devan," Marya returned with a sigh. "But she retreats from both Devan and Edric more and more. "

Davos hated to disillusion his wife. "It will not be Devan, nor will it be Edric. The King would agree to either if he felt it was her wish, but he would be talked out of it by the rest of the Counsel. She will be used to either create a new alliance or firm up a shaky one."

"I know," Marya replied sadly. "Promise me one thing, Davos. Promise me Alysane will be able to marry for love . . . as we did."

Davos laughed heartily. "My Sweetling, our daughter had best learn to wield a sword as that is what it would take to keep her father and brothers from gutting any knight, lord, butcher, or baker she might wish to marry."