Prologue 1

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The Following is a non-profit fan-made rewrite of Game of Thrones. Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire is owned by HBO and George R. R. Martin. Please support the official release of the novels and the first four season of the show. The official writing by George R. R. Martin will obviously be much better.

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(King's Landing, The Red Keep)

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As Stannis Baratheon, Lord of Dragonstone and Master of Ships to the king, walked through the Red Keep, sword and sheath at his side, the Lannister guardsmen bowed their heads before him. Stannis felt nothing noticing these gestures, knowing that the people of this kingdom held no real respect or love for him.

Entering the throne room, Lord Stannis passed by several Gold Cloaks and Kingsgaurd. The only one of note to Stannis was Ser Jamie Lannister "The KingSlayer", whom Stannis gave a look that would fill any man with dread as he walked past him. Stannis approach his older brother, King Robert Baratheon, who was sitting in the The Iron Throne and speaking with Lord Jon Arryn, The Hand of The King. "Your Majesty" Stannis said only slightly bowing his head to his brother.

Robert responded only half-heartedly, clearly bored with speaking with Lord Arryn "Yes, what is Stannis?"

"I require Lord Arryn, it is a matter of great importance" Stannis said.

Surprisingly, Robert responded almost jovially "Yes, please take Lord Arryn and his ceaseless chatter off my hands."

Lord Arryn gave Robert a disapproving look, then walked to Stannis. As the two of them walked further and further away, they began to speak. "The better part of two decades and he still seems to have no interest in being king," Lord Arryn said "Maintaining the sewages is important; if neglected, King's Landing will be facing a plague of rats."

"Not the most interesting of topics, but you're right about Robert's lack of a kingly mindset. He is neither an attentive king or a wise king, but he is our king none the less," Stannis said.

"Lord Stannis, what was it you wished to speak with me about?" Lord Arryn asked.

"We must first be in absolute privacy, we will speak in the Godswood," said Stannis.

"As you wish" Arryn responded.

What was only minutes for Lord Arryn, felt like hours to Stannis. As short as the walk between the throne room and The Godswood was, every step Stannis took felt heavier. Oh how he hated entering any place of worship, he almost hated it as much as worship itself. Stannis would then examine the place many held in reverence with an eye of disgust as he check for privacy. Oh how he hated even looking at the titular Godswood. What was a symbol of pure connection to the gods for many, was to him only a tree with a face carved into it. After Stannis was satisfied the two were alone, Stannis began to speak with Lord Arryn again. "The Godswood. Funny, I haven't prayed to the seven since I was a young man," Stannis mused, still looking out at the place of worship.

"I know," Lord Arryn said. "Robert told me of the deaths of your parents. How it birthed a great hatred the faith of the Seven in you."

"Did he now?" Stannis asked rhetorically while turn to face Lord Arryn, his eye burning with anger and hand now cluching the hilt of his sword.

Lord Arryn sensing not only Stannis' anger, but what also must have been his pain, bowed his head. "Forgive me, my lord, that was insensitive off me" Lord Arryn said. "I meant no disrespect."

"Granted," Stannis said, his eyes softening and his grip loosening. "Never bring it up again."

""As you wish my lord. Now, what was so important that you need to talk to me?" Lord Arryn asked.

"First, you must swear an oath me," Stannis said, "Swear to me, and to the seven, that you are indeed loyal to my brother and have his best interest at heart."

"My lord, I raised your brother. Regardless of his flaws, my loyalty will always belong to him" Lord Arryn said, standing firmly.

"Even so" Stannis said, completely unflinchingly.

"If you don't believe in the seven, why do you want me to swear to them?" Lord Arryn questioned.

"Regardless of my feeling toward the seven, you are a believer. If you swear to them here in the Godswood, I know you'll keep it. Now, pledge to me!" Stannis demanded.

Lord Arryn was reluctant for a moment, then proceeded to get down on bended knee and bowed his head before Lord Stannis who now towered over him and swore"I pledge to you, and the seven, that I am loyal to King Robert of the House Baratheon. I only have his best interests at heart."

Stannis drew his sword and brought it to Lord Arryn neck. "Swear that you will keep what I'm about to tell you a secret until I determine it is the right time" Stannis demanded.

Most men would have turn up to see the terrifying Lord who held they're life at the point of a sword, Jon Arryn was not most men. "I swear to you, and to the seven that," Lord Arryn pause for a moment. "Unless it goes against Robert's best interest," Arryn enficized, then continued "I'll keep what you're about to tell me a secret until you determine it is the right time."

Stannis face surprisingly wore smerk."I'm glad that the man who partically raised Ned Stark is careful about choosing his words." He sheathed his sword, "I trust that the same man will be true to his word."

"Of all things, you can trust that. Now what is this big secret my lord?" Lord Arryn asked as he rose.

"Tell me, my dear Lord Arryn, who would be the king in the event of Robert's death?" Stannis asked, his resting stone face returning.

"Prince Joffrey, my lord," Lord Arryn answered, taking a seat on a near by bench.

"Aw yes, the prince. But let's not deny one truth. My brother has sired many children, some older than Joffrey. So why are they not next in line?" Stannis asked.

"You know as well I do, my lord, that they are bastards. Robert would have to officialize them for them to be in line," Lord Arryn responded.

"Exactly. But if bastards arn't meant for the throne, then Joffrey isn't either." Stannis said resolutely.

"What are you talking about?" Lord Arryn asked.

"Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen are bastard children and not even Robert's at that," Stannis said holding firm.

Lord Arryn pause in disbelief, then said "That... That is impossible. Whose else could they be if not Robert's?"

"The King Slayer's!" Stannis said without any doubt in his voice.

"Ser Jamie? He's the queen's brother!" Lord Arryn said in disbelief.

"And Joanna Lannister was Lord Tywin's cousin, and Rhaella Targaryen was King Aerys's sister. So tell me, with that history in mind, does Joffrey resemble my brother at all? Does he not bear a striking resemblance to Ser Jamie?" Stannis countered.

"If this is true, why come to me with this? Why not just tell King Robert yourself?" Lord Arryn asked.

"Even if my brother didn't have a long history of ignoring me and my counsel, I have no proof," Stannis said bitterly.

"If you don't have any proof, how did you learn of this?" Lord Arryn asked.

"A little bird told me. That is why I need you to gather evidence for me. Once you have sufficient evidence, we shall present it to my brother, justice shall be exacted on The Lannisters, and the line of succession shall be upheld, as will my brother's legacy," Stannis explained.

Lord Arryn sat there for several moments before responding. "I think I may have misjudged you. For the longest of time, I only saw you as a great warrior and a man who resented his brother and the world for what he felt he was owed. Now I see your principles, not your grudge, are what's most important to you," Lord Arryn said, his voice showing a new found respect for the middle Baratheon elder.

"Make no mistake, Lord Arryn, no matter what has happened between Robert and I, he is still my brother and my king, and failing that you can count on me up holding the law!" Stannis proclaimed.

"I will help you, but on one condition. My wife and son are here in King's Landing. If I am to defy The Lannisters, I will need protection for them. And my son Robin, take him to Dragonstone and raise him as your ward just as I did for your brother. He will grow into a fine man under your watch," Lord Arryn requested.

Stannis pondered this for a moment. "Very well. I give my word that no harm will come to your family, and that I shall raise Robin Arryn up to be a fine man and a respectable lord," Stannis promised as he stuck out his hand.

Lord Arryn rose and took Stannis' hand. "And I trust Lord Stannis Baratheon to be true to his word."

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Authors notes:

Some of you, book readers especially, might be wondering why I am having the Prologue describe the back story of ASOIAF (most likely incorrectly). Especially since this is long before the deciding change in this what if story. Two reasons, first I want to properly establish that this will be truer to book Stannis' character than whatever that monstrosity the TV Show gave us. And Second, saying "just insert book or show events hear" isn't interesting (even if that will be the case of some parts), and doing it this way allows me to flex my writing muscles and flesh out this story. Beside, outsider art can be fun. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. Special thanks to Eil J. for proofreading this for me and to Macabre Storytelling for his excellent rewrite series which was part of my inspiration to start this story.