The Starks stare at him, but no one dare talking. The King grinds his teeth:

"Speak", he commands.

Jon looks down, and Bran, looking back at Stannis, tells him:

"I was telling Jon about his parents. His real parents…"

"And?" Stannis asks.

Bran opens his mouth to reply, but Jon interrupts him:

"Nothing new, your Grace. I still am a bastard."

Arya looks offended and shouts:

"He's not anyone's bastard! He is Rhaegar Targaryen's son! He could be King if he wanted to!"

"Arya, silence", Jon hisses.

He looks back at Stannis, who is staring at him speechless. Davos is dumbfounded. They have never thought about that possibility. Stannis never truly believed Ned Stark could have cheated on Catelyn. He actually never understood how Robert and he could be friends, as they were so different from each other on many aspects. But, with Jon being Rhaegar's son, things were turning in a complete different way. Stannis did not need the children to tell him who Jon's mother was. How will the Martells react to that news? Lyanna Stark was the one who destroyed their sister's marriage. Unable to say whatsoever for now, Stannis turns on his heels and walks away.

Jon immediately follows him but Davos stops him:

"Leave him alone. You better wait before talking to him."

Jon turns his uncle-looking eyes to the old smuggler:

"Stannis has saved my life. I will never forget that. I do not want to be King. I am not going to betray him for a woman who may share my name, but nothing else with me."

"Jon!" Arya shouts again. She walks to them and stares at her cousin:

"You could be King. You would be a great King"

"This would be treason. And I'm not a traitor. I already betrayed the Night's watch. Not anymore. Please", he turns again to Davos, "tell the King I will always support him."

Davos nods and tries to give him a comforting smile but, deep inside, he knows Stannis is probably furious and very worried about what is going to happen next. Just as he walks away to join the King, even though he doubts he will agree to talk to him, he hears the guards ordering to open the gate. Curious, he joins Stannis outside. His jaw clenched, the King looks dark and moody. The gates open and Davos gasps with surprise. A young boy is walking in shyly, alongside with Loras and Brienne. A simple glance on him and Stannis remembers: he remembers going to the blacksmith and staring at his apprentice, his dark hair, his eyes, and his strength. He was Robert's, no doubt about that. Jon Arryn had realized it too, immediately. He should have killed him, Stannis thought. He was reluctant giving this bastard the name of Baratheon and marrying him to a Lady, but he did not have a choice, really. The Starks were important for him, and, with Arya marrying a Baratheon, Jon would be less willing to betray him. The children have heard the cries of the guard and join the King and Davos soon. Arya first smiles but then pulls a face when she sees who is with Gendry. She recognizes the man. Anyone would. He looks at her too, then at Sansa, pale as death, and a sneering laugh escapes his mouth.

"What is he doing here?" Arya mumbles.

"How would I know, Lady Stark?" Stannis retorts quite coldly.

The little group stop in front of the King and they all bow. He ignores them and grabs Gendry's chin, makes him look up at him, and stares at his eyes. The boy holds his gaze, does not look down.

"Take him inside and give him a room", the King orders after some seconds. Loras nods and takes Gendry with him. They are followed by Arya, who looks one last time at Stannis.

He turns to the man, and walks to him:

"Why did you bring him here, Brienne?"

"Your Grace, he was with the Brotherhood. When I told Gendry why we were here, he said he wanted to fight with us. He is a great warrior; I thought he could be useful to you."

Stannis slightly nods at her.

"You were serving Joffrey. Now you want to serve me. Why?"

"I want to kill my brother. My brother fights for the Lannisters, so I fight for the Lannisters's enemy."

Stannis pulls a face, but says:

"Very well. What happened between you and the Stark ladies?"

"Ladies? One is a Lady for sure, the other one is a wild animal. Nothing happened. I saved their lives, more times than they would admit it", he growls, staring at Sansa who looks down.

"Lady Stark?" Stannis questions her.

"Ser Clegane is right, your Grace. He saved my life and protected my…honor."

Stannis turns to Brienne and asks her to take Clegane inside and to give him something to eat. As he walks by Sansa, the Hound tells her:

"I am no Ser"

She looks down again and he leaves with Brienne.

In the afternoon, Stannis walks around with Davos, Renly, Loras and Brienne to look at the siege machines, checking on them, questioning the soldiers on their health. He cannot wait to leave Winterfell for King's Landing. He cannot wait for this war to be over. The soldiers greet him and he nods at them. They end up meeting in the King's room, to talk about the war to come and the last ideas they have on how to win this battle. After an hour, Jon knocks on the door. Davos opens and, when he sees who it is, Stannis tells everybody to leave. Jon swallows hard and looks at him, sit on his chair. The King looks back, differently than before he knew about his parents. They remain silent for long minutes, and Stannis breaks the silence:

"I will write an official decree to make Gendry a Baratheon. Your sister, or cousin, is very persuasive."

"She is, your Grace", Jon nods.

He feels suddenly sad that he cannot call Arya "sister" anymore, or that Robb has never been his brother. But what upsets him the most, is that he is not Ned Stark's son. He has always been proud of that, even if he knew Catelyn hated him, even if he knew he would never be Lord of Winterfell. During the day, he has walked down in the crypt, to look at the statue representing his mother. He would have loved to know what she looked like. Bran had told him about her, but it was not the same. Now he knew her name, he missed her more than ever.

Stannis purses his lips before saying:

"Lord Snow… Now is the time you have to choose between me and her."

Jon knew who he was talking about. My aunt, he thought.

"I know this news have probably upset your world, everything you believed in. I am not a cruel man, Jon Snow. If you want to leave and join her, so be it. But on the battlefield, I will kill you. If you want to stay, if you still want to fight for us, know that I will show no mercy to Daenerys Targaryen. As for Gendry, I will give you the name of Jon Targaryen, and you will rule Dragonstone, have a wife. Lyanna Mormont, why not? She is still young, I know, but you are too. Well, you have time to think about that. But I need an answer now."

Jon stares at him, and kneels in front of him.

"This is too much honor, your Grace. I remain loyal to you. I know who saved me from the Free Folks, who saved my sister. It was not Daenerys Targaryen."

"Stand up, boy. This is not too much for you. You are a Targaryen, you deserve to have what will belong to you. You can leave. I heard what I wanted to hear", Stannis replies, still sit on his chair.

Jon bows and leaves the room. He closes the door behind him, leans on it and a relieved sigh escapes his lips.