A/N:
*GLaDOS from Portal voice* Oh. It's you. It's been a long time. How have you been? I've been really busy being dead. You know, since I last uploaded two months ago. Okay. Look. I know I uploaded consistently for two months then just stopped. I apologise. It was a cobination of things, mainly my focusing on my original writing that I hope to get published one day. That led to losing motivation in general and hitting a wall. I began work on what was the 33rd chapter and got a decent way in before realising that I needed to change the order of it and the two chapters following it, one of which is this one. Another reason for not posting for so long is Netflix. I was sucked into watching Anne With An 'E' then Rick and Morty then IT Crowd then Narcos. I even decided to begin work on a YouTube review of Anne With An 'E'. That isn't done yet as of writing. I've been switching between projects in this space of time and I hope to return to a consistant rate of uploading for this story, it just won't be as frequently as before. Anyway, I think we can but this dry spell behind us. For the story. For the characters. You wonderful readers.
Davos
Lord Guncer Sunglass arrived on Dragonstone with five cogs filled with soldiers and workers that he wanted to put to work in the mines. The Lord of Sweetport Sound was the first to follow Lord Velaryon's example in swearing fealty to the new Lord of Dragonstone. Davos welcomed Lord Sunglass with the closest thing to a great feast that could be mustered, thanking him for accepting a new liege lord and king. The men were put to work immediately and the five cogs were sent out to help patrol Blackwater Bay.
Lord Sunglass' promise of fealty opened the flood gates. Lord Duram Bar Emmon of Sharp Point followed soon afterwards, bringing with him a supply of extra soldiers and nothing more. He reasoned that he didn't want to force his smallfolk to leave their families and home while winter was upon them. The choice was met with no complaint from Davos. After that, the only lord of the Narrow Sea that needed to swear fealty was Ardrain Celtigar of Claw Isle.
Davos was in the mines observing when a messenger came to him with the news that Lord Celtigar had made port on the island with fifteen ships in total. When he reached the docks to greet the arrvial, the group of ships was made of three cogs, ten galleasses and two galleons. Workmen unloaded the galleons & cogs of supplies, soldiers and workmen. Lord Manderly had neglected to turn up at the docks, no doubt he was in the Dragonstone organising the shipment of dragonglass set to depart on the morrow. Lord Ardrain was a tall man, dressed in white and red and red-brown. Strapped over his back was an axe, from what Davos could tell.
When the Lord of Claw Isle reached Davos, he dropped to one knee and said, "I apologise for arriving so late, my lord. I did not want to risk the lives of my people. I feared that if I swore fealty to you, Cersei would bring sword and fire down upon my people, but it seems she is too occupied with Arya Stark in the Riverlands and the Dragon Queen in the south."
Davos smiled. "It's good of you to come here, Lord Celtigar," he said, bringing the lord to his feet. "What resources have you brought?"
"A hundred workmen, fifty or so soldiers, ten empty galleasses for you to use to transport dragonglass and this," Celtigar answered, pulling the axe from over his shoudler. The steel head looked razor sharp and rippled in the grey light of the late morning. Flakes of snow landed on it to contrast with the nearly black colour. "It is House Celtigar's valyrian steel weapon and a weapon that can be used against the White Walkers if King Jon is to be believed."
Davos nodded. "He is."
"Then I'll remain on this island to head north with you when the time comes." He put the axe back over his shoulder. "I have brought one more thing for you. A blacksmith."
Davos frowned. "A blacksmith? Plenty came with us from White Harbour and they're only here to repair to repair mining equipment. All the dragonglass is going to be smithed when it reaches Winterfell."
"Well, this blacksmith is very eager to meet you," Celtigar said with a smirk. The Lord of Claw Island faced the galleon he'd walked off of and waved. Davos squinted at the bow and saw a man who'd been waiting at the rail back away to climb down the stairs of the forecastle. The same man was soon descending the gangplank. Davos could tell it was the same man because of his body shape and pace. He had lanky, black hair, broad shoulders and was well muscled. When Gendry reached the two lords, Davos' mouth fell open.
"Lord Davos," Gendry said bowing with his head.
"Gendry," Davos replied, stunned. "You've been with Lord Celtigar all this time."
"I kept rowing, like you told me. I landed in King's Landing but decided it would be best to leave, so I went North, staying in the Crownlands, doing smithing work in every other village as I went, not wanting to stay too still for too long. I was working close to Claw Isle when news reached the village that you had made port on Dragonstone."
"So he came to me, asking if I'd be coming to the island," Celtigar put in. "When I told him it was a possibility, I allowed him to come with me if I did and gave him a place in my castle smithy."
Davos shook Celtigar by the hand. "You have my thanks, My Lord," he said.
"You are most welcome Lord Davos."
Davos took Gendry up to the fortress and gave him a room after introducing him to all the other lords on the island. From then on, the young blacksmith joined the efforts in mining dragonglass and repairing equipment. He also spent time with Davos, learning. The Lord of Dragonstone had it in his mind that the King in the North would make use of the last known son of Robert Baratheon, bastard or no: not that it was likely to matter to Jon. Davos was thinking that, once the right time came, they could let the lords of the Seven Kingdoms know about Gendry. The last time the realm was truly at peace was when his father was on the throne. Perhaps they would take a Baratheon bastard as their ruler over the trueborn Lannister that had destroyed the Great Sept.
Over the weeks Davos not only concerned himself with the mining effort, but also talking with the other lords on Dragonstone about defending the island. Euron Greyjoy's visit had confirmed that Cersei was paying attention to what they were doing on Dragonstone. Once he returned to King's Landing, Greyioy could have began preparing to attack. If that happened, all the ships and fighting men would need to be ready at a moment's notice.
There was also the matter of the fleet making it's way to King's Landing from Dorne. The latest reports that had travelled north through the Stormlands and Crownlands were saying that the fleet would leave Shipbreaker Bay soon. Davos had decided long before that when the fleet entered Blackwater Bay, he would have ships escort them to the fortress where he would speak to the Yara & Theon Greyjoy about lending ships to their aid in return for a good word in Daenerys Targaryen's ear. Lord Manderly expressed a dislike in treating with Greyjoys but accepted that the fate of Westeros would possibly be made better as a result of it, so he voiced no further grievance. The Lords of the Narrow Sea all thought that it would be beneficial to the goal of bringing the realm together to fight the White Walkers. By aiding Daenerys Targaryen's effort to take King's Landing, their would be the possibility that she would listen to a request for help. Needless to say Davos had dedicated teams of ships to patrolling the waters around Massey's Hook for when the fleet got far enough north.
What came as quite the surprise was when two lord of the Crownlands arrived on the island, asking to see the Lord of Dragonstone. Davos quick marched from the mines to the fortress, his movement fueled by immense curiosity and sharp paranoia. What if they are bringing a message from Cersei? What if they are warning of an attack soon to come? What if? What if? Many 'what ifs' raced through Davos' balding head as he made the journey along the stoney, snow covered roads of his island.
The two lords were waiting in the throne room. On of them was fair of face with greying, neatly combed hair. He dressed like a lord, wearing a blue tunic and black breeches. Two black warhammers crossed over a white saltire emroibered over his left breast. The other was dressed more like a soldier, with plate armour over his legs and a chainmail shirt on his torso underneath a fine, ermine surcoat that bore three chevronels. Both lords were joined by two men wearing their colours, armed and armour. The lord dressed like a lord was the first to speak:
"Lord Davos," he began in a very smooth voice. "My name is Lord Renfred Rykker, the Lord of Dunskendale."
"And I am Lord Gyles of House Rosby," the other lord said.
"And what purpose has brought you to Dragonstone?" Davos asked with his Lord's voice which he had gotten used to using since setting down on Dragonstone.
"To ask about your King," answered Lord Renfred, "so that we might decide whether or not we wish to swear fealty to him."
Davos felt his brow furrow as the confusion set in. "Why would you want to swear fealty to King Jon?"
"Because, Lord Davos, Cersei is a mad women," Lord Gyles said, "and Daenerys Targaryen is a foriegner who hasn't spent a day of her live in Westeros since she fled this island as a babe."
"Lord Rykker, didn't your family fight for Aerys?"
"Yes," Rykker answered. "But as Lord Gyles said, Daenerys Targaryen is a foriegner. I daren't trust the rule of someone who doesn't know Westeros. Your King is the only other option present to us."
Davos nodded, accepting the answer. "Very well, let us discuss your swearing fealty over some refreshment."
The three lords sat themselves down on a table in the throne room. Weak wine, hot bread and sliced cheese were brought for them to eat, as well as some cold meat. They ate and drank as they spoke together; the Crownland lords asking questions and the Dragonstone lord answering them.
"Is it true that King Jon rose from the dead?" Lord Gyles asked. "The rumours have made their way south and reached the ears of many people, highborn and lowborn alike. I've heard tell from my patrolling soldiers that the smallfolk think your King some sort of holy being brought back to the land of the living by the gods."
"He did rise form death," Davos replied, as confidently as he could. "I know it might be difficult for you to believe, but I promise you, I saw him lying dead on a table only to see him sitting up the next time I went into the same room, alive as ever." Both lords squinted at the answer, looking more confused than shocked or suspicious.
"How?" Lord Rykker asked.
"The Red Woman," Davos answered plainly, feeling a stab of anger at even the thought of Melisandre.
"The one that became Stannis' shadow?"
"The very same."
The Lord of Duskendale leaned back his chair, body loose and eyes wide. "By the Seven." He sipped his wine before straightening himself out. "How good a king is Jon Stark?"
Davos smiled. It was good to hear a southern lord use 'Stark' instead of 'Snow as Jon's last name. "You had best ask Lord Manderly for the fairest opinion," Davos told Rykker, pointing to the fat lord who was standing at ease close by.
Lord Renfred to looked at him. "Lord Manderly?"
"From the few weeks I was able watch him rule first hand, I would judge that Jon Stark has the beginnings of any great king," Lord Manderly said. "His voice was far-reaching and could quiet a hall filled with squabbling lords. The decision he made were smart and well reasoned." Manderly looked at Davos. "He knew who were the best people to have by his side advising him." Davos smiled and gave a nod.
"Anything else?" Rosby prompted.
"No person went without being heard when King Jon held court or a meeting of his bannermen. Those who had something to say were given leave to say it, no matter how small the matter was."
Both the lords allowed themselves half-smiles at all Manderly had told them. "Very well," Rosby said. "I will swear my allegiance to King Jon Stark."
"So will I," Rykker followed, "but I will swear to him in person rather than through his Hand, if you do not mind Lord Davos."
"Not at all," Davos accepted.
Lord Gylse Rosby, Lord of Rosby, pulled his steel arming sword from its scabbard and laid it at Davos' feet, swearing fealty to the King in the North and the Narrow Sea. He rose, sheathing his sword, before asking, "What is the first thing you will have me do, Lord Davos?"
Davos thought for a moment before answering, massaging his chin as he did so. The answer came to him: "I want you to return to Rosby with haste. When you get there, you will send as many soldiers as you deem necessary to meet up with Daenerys Targaryen's army before it engages King's Landing. They will deliver a letter to the Dragon Queen written by me. Once the letter is delivered they will do as its contents orders them. After they have been sent on their way, you will return here."
"Why would you send soldiers to the Dragon Queen, my lord? She may simply imprison them for being sworn to a different ruler."
"I doubt she will."
Rosby frowned before nodding. "Very well my lord. I will leave the moment you put the letter in my hand."
And the letter was writted quickly, in as nest a hand as Davos could manage:
Queen Daenerys Targaryen,
I am writing to you in order to begin a mutually beneficial relationship. The soldiers that have delivered this message to you are yours to order in your attack on King's Landing. Know that as well as sending you these extra men, I am lending help to your fleet led by Theon & Yara Greyjoy by given them ships of my own to bolster their number. I pray that these additions to your forces are enough for you to consider refraining from attacking Dragonstone once you have taken King's Landing. You have a potential ally in the King in the North. As his Hand, I would be more than happy to begin forging that allegiance with you.
I await your reply. Have a copy of it sent to both Dragonstone & Winterfell.
Davos Seaworth,
Lord of Dragonstone and Hand of the King in the North