Personal Update:
...
I am not happy with this. This section right here has been the biggest pain in my ass so far. As you know I have been releasing mini chapters instead of actual chapters. The pervious two were suppose to be one whole chapter. But as the days rolled on, it was taking too long to write this and since I wanted to release something for Christmas, so I released the first mini chapter. Then I was still stuck on this of weeks, so I broke what was left in half and released the first part as another mini chapter, which meant the rest would be a mini chapter as well. Then, after I made that promise to have the season 3 content done by March 15th, I got a case of swimmers ear and then after that I got sick. As you can imagine, that slowed me down tremendously. And you know what, I am worried that if I hadn't made the decision that I have, I would have been stuck even longer. If you haven't seen the update I made to chapter 11, I have decided to ax the Theon's part of the season 3 content. You see, the parts of this story I hate most are where I am just doing what the show or the book, and Theon's bits were more or less just what happens in the book, just worse. So instead I am just going to describe what Theon's part was going be before we getting into the chapter. That might be lazy, but trust me, it is better than the alternative. As it stand, this chapter is still not great. The only reason I am not cutting this section entirely is because I need to introduce a character, hit some character beat, and explain where one particular is going to be. This is the most unhappy I've been with a chapter since chapter before chapter 4, but I still need this and I'll never get this story done if I waste anymore time on this part, so here it is. I am deep sorry to those of you have stuck this out for this long, especially since I have even more bad news. Since I have 4-5 chapters left to write of this era, I will not be able to hit the deadline I set for myself. I will still finish the season 3 content by the end of March, but because of how sick I was, I won't be done with it by the 15th like I promised, I am sorry. I know all of you aren't reading this story to hear about my personal life, but if I didn't get all of that off my chest, I don't think I would have been able to continue.
Just, thank you to everyone who actually gives a shit about this story. Some how I have gotten 8 more follows and 4 more favorites since the last release, and that means all the world to me. So if this story is ever going to live to what I wanted, this section just needs to be done. So...
Ramsay continued to torture Theon by sawing off the two outer toes on both of his feet while grilling about the deaths of the two boys, the three ironborn, and Kennelmaster Farlen, which he already knows about. When Theon has a moment where he says this is happening to him because of his crimes against Robb and his treatment of Asha and he deserves it because of those things, Ramsay, just like in the show, says this is only happening to Theon because it amuses him.
Now lets get into the real chapter.
...
Mini Chapter: A Building Fury
...
(Dragonstone)
...
It had been some time since the Dragonstone courtyards were alive with the sounds of children at play. As two cousins played together, it brought warmth to the hearts of the onlookers. Those onlookers being Queen Selyse and Ser Davos, the ones who brought them out to play.
"Oh no, the giants have broken through the gate" Edric said.
"Quickly, fire the catapults, it's are only chance" Shireen said.
"Yes Your Majesty" Edric said. 'Boom Sprash Crash' Edric made sounds for the battle.
"And what exactly is going on here?" Stannis asked sturnly as he walked up behind Davos and Selyse.
"It is what it looks like Your Grace, children at play" Davos said.
"Do you think of me as a stupid man Ser Davos?" Stannis asked.
"Of course not Your Grace" Davos said.
"Then why are you describing what I can see instead of why it is happening?" Stannis asked.
"Forgive me Your Grace, and forgive me again if I've over stepped my boundaries" Davos said while taking a knee. "Considering the words we exchanged, I thought there would be no harm in letting the boy get some fresh air in the courtyard. Had I known that the Queen had taken the Princess out so she may play in the sun, I would have done so at a later time. But since they were already together, we decided to let them play together".
"You agreed to this?" Stannis asked Selyse.
"Regardless of Ser Davos' actions, Shireen is still a child. A child bound for the throne, but child none the less. She ask the boy to play and he accepted. I did not wish to upset her, nor did I wish for her to become difficult" Selyse said.
"She be more difficult when she asks where he went" Stannis said with a darkness in his voice. He turned back to Ser Davos. "As for you. Children at play doesn't bother me, but Edric Storm is still far from a guest. Make no mistake, I brought him here for a purpose. Even with Joffrey dead, I am no closer to the throne. If the Lady Melisandre's word holds true, his blood maybe the key to my victory. That makes him a tool, and a tool he will remain until I am sure I have no need of him. Until such time, Shireen can't be thinking of him any differently then she would a dock worker. Nor should you be treating him as anything other than a tool. Am I clear?"
"Yes Your Grace" Davos said. "I have no intention of undermining you".
"And yet, you seem to have a knack for it Ser Davos" Stannis said. "Now get up". Davos stood up. "When they have finished their game, haul Edric back to his room. He is to never again speak with Shireen and no one shall make a decision concerning him without speaking with me first. Is that clear"?
"Yes Your Grace" Davos said.
"After you have returned Edric back to his room, meet me in the war room" Stannis said. Then the king took his leave. Davos and Selyse turned back to the children. In-spite of Stannis' disappointment in him, the sight of Shireen happy made him smile.
"The archers have taken the last of the giants down Your Majesty. We've won" Edric said.
"We could have never made it without their bravery, and yours good Ser knight" Shireen said.
"You do me to much honor Your Majesty" Edric said.
"Perhaps now we can LOOK OUT, the giant king has arrived!" Shireen shouted.
"Gods protect us" Edric said in response to the large man entering into their game. The man was dressed in fools clothes and is obese with tattoos all across his face.
"Fum fie diddle, only the dragon can slay me. I'll smash through your gate and turn your guards in mush, but the crow that shares a name with an archer of red shall give me a push. With the leadership of the dragon at the wall, the brothers shall make me fall, but not before the blood of the stag shall makes the flower wilt, the kraken skewered, and the wolf little more than a pelt" the large man said.
...
(Later, in the War Room)
...
Ser Davos entered the War Room to find Stannis brooding, as usual.
"Shireen and Edric have been returned to their rooms Your Grace" Davos said.
"Good. Make sure you keep them as far a part as possible" Stannis said.
"Your Grace, please tell me you do not intend to sacrifice the boy?" Davos asked.
"I have no wish to" Stannis said.
"But are you considering it?" Davos asked.
"I am considering all possibilities to win this war" Stannis said.
"Permission speak freely Your Grace?" Ser Davos asked
"You may" Stannis said.
"Have you gone mad Your Grace?" Ser Davos said.
"You have little regard for your own life" Stannis said
"Quite little Your Grace, verging on none. But I do have high regard for you. And in the time I've known you, you've never be one to believe in destiny or fate. Yet here you stand, contemplating burning your own nephew based on a witch's promise that prophecies, gods, and black magic will win a war for you" Davos said.
"Then tell me how to win a war without any men. Even if Melisandre succeeds in rallying the Brotherhood without Banners to me, I will still be at war with Houses Lannister, Tyrell, Stark, Greyjoy, Arryn, and all their collective bannermen. How many boys will suffer under the boots of the Lannisters? How many men will lose their heads if I don't take the throne?" Stannis asked.
"What is the point in taking the throne if you lose yourself on the way?" Davos asked.
"If your so worried about me, then find me an army. As of yet, the houses you have rallied to don't have enough men to make a church choir" Stannis said.
Actually Your Grace, while speaking with the princess, I may have found a way to get you your army" Ser Davos said.
"What hope does my campaign have if we are outsourcing idea from children?" Stannis asked.
"It wasn't her idea, but you vastly underestimate that girl. She taught a forty year old smuggler to read. She is much smarter than I" Ser Davos. There was a pause. Then if you looked closely, then you would have seen the ends of Stannis' mouth tilt up.
"Then maybe I should make her my Hand of the King" Stannis said. Ser Davos breathed a sigh of relief. Stannis was ready to listen to idea.
...