Heyo! I'm back!

It has been more than a month since I updated the story, but my job kept me busy and I was ill for almost two weeks, as I injured my backbone in the work, so it was impossible for me to write anything since I updated Dany's POV.

First of all, thanks to all of those who followed, favourited or reviewed the story, specially to the last ones. Your support is much appreciated!

It's not the first time I tell this, but please, if there is something you don't like about the story, you can leave a review with the respect I deserve as a writer and as a human being, PM me or just stop reading. I know that not everyone will like this story, it's impossible, but if I receive another review like "OMG you're retarded and a complete dipshit" again, I will just remove the review. It doesn't help anyone if you just disrespect me in such a way, it only discourages me from writing and updating. That doesn't mean that I will delete those reviews where people doesn't like the story, in fact, there are a few of them posted, but I won't stand for disrespectful people anymore. I hope you understand me.

Let's not delay this any further.

Davos II

At least, after all the suffering and setbacks, something good happened to him. Once the storm eased, a gentle breeze helped the Black Betha on his way northwards, out of the Lannister vessels sight and to safety. Even if Winterfell and Dragonstone hadn't been allies, no direct conflict had happened between them, and northerners valued their honour, they wouldn't harm any child, even if she was a princess. The worst possible thing they would do was marry her off to a landed knight or minor lord, but as long as it put her out of danger, Davos would accept it.

They sailed fast and swiftly, as the wind accompanied them. In less than a week, they briefly stopped at Gulltown, seat of house Grafton, in order to resupply, leaving the city in less than three hours.

Almost two weeks after that stop, Davos felt unsettled. When he was a smuggler, he had been in Gulltown more than once. It was probably one of the easiest harbours to dock when you knew who to befriend or avoid, but he had never seen the harbour like that. More than thirty war galleys were docked in port, being supplied by armed men and sailors alike, and the insides of the city were much the same. The Vale was preparing for war, and considering that, along with Dorne, it was the only kingdom who had declared neutrality in this war, Davos was rightly concerned. After all, should the Vale join the fray at the side of the Lannisters, the Starks would be doomed. And if Robb Stark died, Shireen would come next.

However, his thoughts were interrupted, as the wind changed abruptly and almost broke the veils of the galley. Looking up, he noticed that they finally reached the Bite, their last step before White Harbour.

The seas there were treacherous, almost like the ones back in the Stormlands. The stormy weather and the rocky shores weren't good companions when one needed to sail swiftly.

"Lower the sails! To the oars!" voiced his son behind him. He turned back and smiled at Maric. His son had proved his value to him and to his deceased king, and he was a captain whose men loved and respected. But his smile soon faded when he remembered his other elder sons.

Dale was everything a father wanted from a firstborn. Loyal to fault, clever and dutiful, he had been at his side since he became Stannis squire, counselling him and giving him his support. After marrying, Stannis had gifted him with the command of the Wraith, a warship with more than fifty sailors aboard. His ship had been the first to enter the Blackwater rush, even before his own and Salladhor's one. He could vividly remember how his ship turned to ashes when the wildfire engulfed the bay in green flames, cremating everyone inside it, before reaching his own.

Allard had been the warrior of the family. Even if he wasn't a bad sailor, he had always felt comfortable around a sword, earning a place in King Stannis own guard, who he had worshipped since he was a child. He disembarked with him and assaulted the beach in front of the mud gate, killing enemies like a knife through butter until a unlucky arrow had found an aim on his neck.

But of all his children, it was Matthos who pained him the most. The only one of his children who had converted to the Red god, and the one who was at his own vessel when the battle for King's Landing took place. Mere seconds after seeing the ship of his firstborn explode in green flames, both he and Matthos had been sent flying from the hull. He hadn't seen him or his corpse since then.

Hiding his grief, he went back to the cabin to check how the princess was.

She couldn't understand why Davos loved the sea so much. Staying in the deck was way too dangerous for her, so she was forced to stay inside the small cabin for the entire trip. Eventually, Davos or Maric would come to visit, but she spent alone most of her time, as they both had duties to attend. She didn't mind being alone, after all, she had been alone most of her time in Dragonstone too, but at least, she had the Maester and her books.

She wasn't overly surprised when Davos knocked at the door and entered the cabin.

"Good morning my princess" vowed the former smuggler "I hope you slept well"

"As well as possible, Ser Davos. I have the most comfortable bed in the ship, but this isn't a castle after all, isn't it?" smiled Shireen. She had grown fond of Davos after all the years he had been at her father's side.

"We have just reached the Bite, my princess. It's the last part of our trip, but also the most dangerous. Some of my old colleagues had drowned in its waters, so please.."

"Don't worry Ser, I won't go out of the cabin unless you tell me too" replied Shireen. Davos smiled fondly at her and made his way out, but he was stopped by her.

"Something is troubling you, ser" asked Shireen, whose deep blue eyes were now fixed with Davos ones.

Davos lowered his head, holding his tears. "A father shouldn't outlive his sons, my princess" answered the old knight, whose broken voice saddened her.

"I know nothing about the grief you must be suffering now, but I will never forget that your sons fought and died for my father, Ser Davos. It's impossible for me to bring them back, but if I can do anything to soothe your pain, please let me know" said Shireen. She got up from her bed and hugged him fiercely, surprising the knight.

After all, how could she let the man she considered as a second father suffer in such a way?

"You're too kind for this cruel world, my princess."

The white, thick walls of White Harbour could be seen from afar. Davos made a sigh of relief, the most dangerous part of their trip was almost over.

"Maric! Set the sails with our sigil and prepare the crew to dock once we arrive at port" yelled Davos to his son, who nodded and started to distribute the tasks to his men.

As they were approaching the city, and with the mermaids of the Manderly banners now visible, he remembered the last time he was in the city.

It had been a long time, too long that more than half the people he had met in the city were now with the Seven. Two years before the Rebellion, his somehow friend Salladhor had assaulted a Braavosi ship and reclaimed all his goods. It hadn't been an easy task, even for him, as the Braavosi guarded their ships fiercely, but all the jewels, silks, spices and other goods made it worth. But even all these goods paled compared to the small Valyrian steel knife he had found. Saan's original plan was to keep it, until he realised that there was something carved in the simple wooden handle of the knife. A sigil of a man nailed in a cross.

Doubtless to say, nor he or Davos knew who the owner of the knife was, but he would surely pay a good price to recover it. After some investigation, they found that it belonged to house Bolton of the North, and arranged a meeting with the knife's owner in the city.

It had been Davos work to enter the city unseen, as Salladhor's head had a good bounty on it. Davos set the terms of the trade, telling to the hooded man with pale eyes to meet Saan in the outskirts of the city.

He never met the man again, and he didn't want to, but Salladhor left the North being one of the wealthiest pirates in the whole known world.

It wasn't long before they dropped the anchor in White Harbour's docks, but before he nor any of his men could disembark, a dozen of soldiers were in the docks waiting for them.

"I am Ser Marlon Manderly, cousin to Lord Wyman Manderly, Lord of White Harbour. What business brings a ship of Lord Stannis army to the Kingdom of the North?" voiced the tall man with a Manderly mermaid on his chest, whose grey eyes and hair gave him the appearance of a fearsome warrior.

"My name is Davos Seaworth, and I don't come here as an envoy of King Stannis but to beg for the protection of the North and its king."

"I know you, Ser Davos. And not only the stories about how you saved Storm's End during the Rebellion. Why would you seek the protection of the North with your survival instincts and the loyalty you have for your king?" asked the Manderly suspiciously

"He isn't asking the protection for him but for myself, ser" told a girl's voice behind him. Davos closed his eyes and sighed before turning around, where he saw Shireen looking and smiling at him. She turned his head to the Manderly knight and spoke.

"I am Shireen Baratheon, firstborn daughter of the deceased King Stannis Baratheon, and I beg for your help to shelter me against the people who would see King Robb's head and my own on a spike".

Marlon looked at the girl in awe and saw the famous greyscale scars on the little girl's face. Nodding at Davos, he escorted him, Shireen and 4 of their men inside the city and towards New Castle.

Despite the war, White Harbour flourished. Merchants from the North, the Vale and Essos could be seen all over the place, and the city held a beauty she hadn't seen before. They eventually arrived to New Castle and entered the Mermaid Court, where Lord Wyman Manderly was waiting for them.

"Lady Shireen, welcome to the city of White Harbour, the most beautiful and prosperous city in the Kingdom. What brings you to my halls?"

"My Lord" curtsied Shireen "My father, blessed in his memory, sent me and Ser Davos to seek the protection of King Robb Stark. My home has been sacked and occupied by the Lannisters, and my father and his loyal men slaughtered" said the young girl to the worried face of the Manderly.

"These are grave news indeed…" now that Stannis is out of the game, the Lannisters can field all their men against us.

"You and your companions shall have my hospitality. I will send my fastest raven to the king and he will decide what to do. For now, eat this bread and salt and join me at my table at dinner, I would like to hear what has happened in Dragonstone with more detail."

"We will gladly accept your generosity, my Lord" said Shireen before leaving the court and being guided to her new quarters.

Finally, they made it.

So here we are!

It wasn't the longest chapter nor the one with more action, but I wanted to write some interaction between Davos and Shireen, and also to write something about Davos old adventures as a smuggler.

I eagerly wait your reviews and hope you liked it!

See you soon!