The Lord's Chambers at Dragonstone were more sparsely appointed than most in the realm, but he put that down to the man that had, until a few days ago, called them home. Stannis Baratheon was not a man to indulge in what he would consider excesses. Loras had temporarily taken up residence in these rooms while he and Lord Redwyne sorted out what to do about the few remaining people in the castle and they decided who should be named castellan until the King appointed a new Lord to it.

In front of him now were the various reports from his commanders detailing their losses and listing what their remaining strength was. The assault to take Dragonstone had been costly. He had left King's Landing with nearly five thousand men and orders from Lord Tywin to take the castle at all costs. Well, he had certainly succeeded in that, but at the cost of over half his army. Between the dead and those so severely wounded that they would be unable to return to the field in the foreseeable future, he had suffered over fifteen hundred casualties. Add in those that were lightly wounded but still able to fight and that number climbed closer to two thousand. But he had taken the castle.

Of the castle's garrison, most had been put to the sword. A few highborn Knights and Lordlings had been spared to be taken as hostages, but most of the fighting men were dead. So too were the majority of the servants in the castle. The high casualties they had suffered had made his men mad with bloodlust and he had seen no reason to restrain them. Most of the men in the castle had been killed and most of the women, those that were still alive at least, were sure to have bastards in their bellies.

Of the ones taken captive, only a handful were not highborn. Among them was the Maester of Dragonstone, a young man named Pylos. He had been captured while tending to the wounds of a young squire that had been grievously injured. The boy had been spared after the Maester informed the men who captured him that the lad was the squire to Lord Stannis and his father was serving as Hand of the King. Well, perhaps not the true Hand of the King, that was Lord Tywin. But he understood the point that was being made. The boy, should he survive his wounds, would be a valuable hostage to hold against his Lord Father. Hopefully, his son's status as a captive would motivate the man to bend the knee and swear fealty to the Iron Throne.

It had been four days since the castle had fallen and today was the day he had decided he would carry out the King's Justice. Lord Tywin had wanted Stannis alive to make an example of him, but the man was dying. According to the Maester, his burns had festered and were turning. So much of the man had been burned that there was nothing the Maester could do save administer milk of the poppy to ease his pain. And that Loras had forbidden. The man was a traitor and a kinslayer. He would not be allowed to go to his death with his wits addled by the maester's potions. He had inquired about the possibility of moving the man to King's Landing to face King Tommen and Lord Lannister, but the maester had flatly told him that the journey alone would kill him. So Loras had sent off a raven to the Hand asking what Lord Tywin would like to be done with the traitor. The response had been swift and short. "Do your duty to your King" was all it said. Ser Loras had his orders and he would carry them out.

Loras hadn't spoken with Stannis since he had captured him on the bridge the day the castle had fallen. But now it was time for the two of them speak. Rising from the chair he had been sitting in, Loras left his temporary chambers and gave orders for his men to gather themselves and the few prisoners they had taken in the courtyard so that all could bear witness to the King's Justice being carried out. With that done, he made his way down to the dungeons and the cell that the man who would be King had been thrown in. The first thing that he noticed was the stench that was rising up from the man. The smell was revolting enough to nearly make him vomit. The maester had spoken truly. He could smell the corruption rising from Stannis's body. His wounds had turned without a doubt and were almost certainly spreading their poisons through the man's body. In the flickering light of the torch on the wall, he could see where Stannis was slumped on the floor. The blisters along his arms and that that had arisen from his burns were plain to see, and even from where he stood outside the cell Loras could see the puss weeping from those that had burst open. The once white bandages that the Maester had wrapped around Stannis to protect what skin and flesh he had left had turned black with dried blood. The sight and smell of the man could turn the stomachs of even the hardest man, but it was his duty to speak with him all the same.

Stepping up to the bars of the cell Loras said, "Lord Stannis."

Stannis just groaned and slowly turned his head towards where he stood. Loras saw the man's lips move but he was struggling to get any words out. Looking beside him, he saw a water bucket with a long handled ladle in it. Loras dipped the ladle so it was full and slid it through the bars of the cell to where Stannis could drink from it if he so wished. He did. After his first sip, he drained the ladle before starting to cough. Once his coughing was under control, Stannis groaned out just one word, "Daughter?"

Loras stood for a long moment looking down on the disgraced Lord of Dragonstone with cold eyes while he decided how much to tell him. He understood his meaning well enough, the traitor was concerned about his daughter. Finally reaching his decision, Loras said, "She's alive and unharmed. Her guardians tried to spirit her out of the castle through the postern gate but they were caught by Lord Redwyne's men. The men you sent with her fought and died to the last man. She saw none of it for she was unconscious, or so I've been told. She's since woken up and is under guard in her own chambers in the Stone Drum Tower."

Stannis closed his eyes tightly for a moment and Loras could have sworn he saw a tear fall from one of them before Stannis croaked out a reply from lips that had cracked and a throat that was parched from thirst, "Good men. They held to my last command then. My...my squire, Devan?"

After another pause while he considered whether to continue indulging the man, Loras finally said, "Still clinging to life. He's under the care of Maester Pylos. He says that it's an even chance whether the boy lives or dies."

"Good lad, brave. Fought to protect my daughter. Red Priestess tried to...burn her alive...He fought a...a dozen Knights twice his size...to protect her...One favor, Tyrell...Knight him if he survives...He earned it."

Well now, that was interesting. So the boy hadn't been injured fighting his men. And that probably explained how Stannis had been burned as well. Loras simply nodded his head sharply in response before Stannis continued, "Thank you, Ser. You were right. I did kill Renly. Blood magic. I tried to convince myself that I had nothing to do with it, that I was in my tent asleep when he died. But I saw all of it. It was as if I was there in the tent with Renly and put the knife in him myself. The Red Woman had convinced me I had no choice. I wanted him dead for betraying me, but not like that. Not with blood magic."

Loras saw red. Through clenched teeth he said, "You fucking bastard traitor. You murdered your own brother using the foulest means. I hope you're ready to die, My Lord. Because your hour has come."

"Then do your duty, Ser. I am ready to meet my fate."

Loras stepped back from the cell, jerked his head towards the door and the two guards that had accompanied him down into the dungeon stepped forward and opened the cell door. They grabbed Stannis roughly making him scream in agony as chunks of burned and dead skin and flesh sloughed off his arms where they grabbed him. The two men cursed violently at the disgusting mess left on their hands. The next time they grabbed Stannis, they grabbed him under his shoulders where there was at least a bandage to give them something to hold onto. Still, the man's scream was no less anguished when he was hauled upright. But even with a man on either side of him, Stannis was too weak to walk. So Loras ordered him dragged up the steps instead.

Turning towards the stairs, they began the long climb up to the yard. The entire climb, he was followed by the groans, moans, screams and curses of Stannis Baratheon. While some men would have been disturbed by the sounds coming from the man, he savored them. It was no more than the kinslaying traitor deserved. And in a few more moments, he would have the sheer pleasure of removing the traitor's head from off his shoulders. As he climbed back into the sunlight from the darkness of the dungeons, Loras blinked rapidly to give his eyes a chance to adjust. Behind him, Stannis began to groan anew as the sunlight assailed his eyes. Four days spent in near total darkness was nearly enough to blind a man when he was finally brought back out into the light.

Loras grunted in satisfaction at seeing his men gathered to witness the King's Justice being carried out. Upon reaching the center of the courtyard, Loras turned and faced Stannis. Drawing his sword from its sheath, he placed the point in the ground before him and said, "Lord Stannis Baratheon, you stand accused of the crimes of treason against your rightful Kings, Joffery of the House Baratheon and Tommen of the House Baratheon. You have raised your banners against them and made war to usurp the rightful succession. You stand accused of the murder of Lord Renly Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End and your own brother. By your own confession, you have been found guilty of these crimes and condemned.

"I, Ser Loras of the House Tyrell, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, in the name of Tommen of the House Baratheon, First of his Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, do sentence you to die."

Stannis was shoved forward to kneel over the block that had already been prepared for him and Loras roughly said, "If you have any final words Ser, now is the time."

Stannis simply turned his face towards him, spit on the ground and replied, "Do your duty and be damned. Tommen is no true King."

With a single mighty swing, Loras cleanly severed the man's head from his body and watched as the blood spurted from his neck across the stones of the courtyard while his head rolled in the dust. From high up in the Stone Drum Tower, he heard a scream of horror. Glancing up, he swore bitterly. Shireen had watched it all from her balcony. He had not intended for the girl to watch her father die. Turning to several of the men around him he brusquely ordered them, "Send some men up there. See that she doesn't do anything foolish like trying to throw herself off the balcony. I have more work to do here."

While a few of his men ran off to follow his command, Loras looked at the remaining Knights and Lordlings that had been captured and were under guard and told them, "By order of His Grace, Tommen of the House Baratheon, and with the concurrence of Lord Tywin Lannister, Hand of the King and Lord Regent, any man who here and now will bend the knee and swear fealty to the King will be accepted back into the King's Peace. With the exception of House Florent, any man who bends the knee will be restored to his lands and titles. Those members of House Florent who swear fealty will be pardoned of their treasons but must request lands and a keep from their Liege Lord, or any Lord who will take them. Those who refuse to submit will be returned to King's Landing in chains so that the King's Justice may be carried out."

With their King dead and their last stronghold taken, no man that was present saw any sense in continuing the fight. To a man, the prisoners in the yard bent the knee. Loras looked at them with calculating eyes and said, "Those of you Lords and Knights who are the heads of your Houses, you will accompany me back to King's Landing where you will swear fealty to King Tommen. At that time, you will be accepted back into the King's Peace and restored to your lands and titles. Those of you who have bent the knee who's fathers still rise in rebellion, you will be held in King's Landing in accordance with your station as highborn prisoners until such time as your fathers and Liege Lords submit to the Iron Throne."

Nodding to the guards, the men were escorted back into the castle to gather their belongings and prepare for the short voyage to King's Landing. Turning to the rest of his men, Loras told them, "Take what you will from the castle. Most of you will be returning to King's Landing in the next few days. Two hundred of you will be chosen to remain behind as a garrison for the castle until a new Lord is named to hold it."

As Loras turned to walk back into the keep, Lord Redwyne strode up to him and then slowed to walk beside him before saying, "A nasty business that the girl had to see her father lose his head like that."

"It was not my intention that she should see that. But perhaps it will serve as a reminder to her of the price of treason."

"Loras, she's a rival claimant to the Iron Throne. Do really think Lord Tywin is going to let her live for long? As long as she draws a breath, there will be those that claim she is the rightful ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, the same as there are some that claim that Targaryen girl in Essos is the rightful ruler. She's a threat to Tommen just by being alive. She won't last a fortnight in King's Landing and you know it."

"Uncle, that is neither my concern nor yours. His Grace is the head of House Baratheon and therefore it is his decision on what becomes of his cousin."

"Loras, you cannot be that naïve. Yes, the King is the Head of House Baratheon. But he does not have any power. His mother and grandfather have it all. And they will not hesitate to have the girl killed, probably in some easily explainable accident or by having her greyscale suddenly return."

Sighing, Loras looked at Lord Redwyne and asked, "What are you suggesting, My Lord? That we let her go free to spare her life? We would take her place on the chopping block. I quite like my head where it is, Uncle. What good would come of freeing her?"

"You misunderstand me. I don't mean to suggest that we free her. Merely that we take her hostage and keep her safe at either High Garden or the Arbor instead. Spirit her to the Reach where she can be kept confined in comfort. She'll pose no harm there."

Loras could only shake his head at his uncle's suggestion. "My Lord, what you're suggesting is treason. Whether the girl lives or dies is not our concern. Your own sons, my cousins, were held as hostages in the Red Keep when my father declared for Lord Renly, were they not? They were both treated well and have since been returned to you. I have no doubt the girl will be treated likewise. I'll ask Margery to make sure of it. She goes to King's Landing with us." Deciding to change the subject before his Uncle could press the issue further, Loras asked, "Have you given any consideration to who we should name Castellan once we leave?"

"What about Aurane Waters? Yes, the man fought for Stannis, but he bent the knee after the Blackwater. And Queen Cersei seems to favor him. It was only Lord Tywin that stopped him from getting a seat on the Small Council. Put him here as a concession to her and perhaps they'll both thank us for the opportunity we've given him and the consideration we've given her."

Loras thought about for a moment, then nodded. "Done. If he refuses, I'll knight my father's cousin, Garth Flowers, and give him the castle instead."

"I'll see to it. What about that squire under the Maester's care? What do we do with him? He's not highborn, not truly anyway."

"His father is still a Lord. He's been a landed knight and sworn to Lord Stannis for near fourteen years and from what the Maester told me, Stannis raised him to Lordship last year and named him his Hand. That makes the boy valuable. As I understand it, he was sent to the North to try and convince the Northerners to bend the knee in support of Stannis. Well, maybe he can convince them to bend the knee to Tommen instead if he knows we have his son.

"We take the boy with us. Lord Tywin will have final say of course, but I imagine that if his father agrees to come to King's Landing and bend the Knee, Lord Tywin will confirm his Lordship and allow him to take the Black and have his son inherit his lands and titles. Or something to that effect. And from what Stannis told me before I executed him, the lad fought bravely trying to defend his daughter against the heretics that Stannis had gathered around him and asked me to Knight him should the boy live. I intend to do so. Not out of respect for Stannis, but because the boy acted Knightly and deserves recognition for that."

"Very well, Loras. Shall we bring the Maester as well then?"

"No. Someone that can tend the ravens and can send a message needs to remain here in case Euron or some other pirate is foolish enough to try and enter the bay. Speaking of Euron, how long before you can sail your fleet back home to confront him, Uncle?"

"Once we return to King's Landing, I'll need a few days to reprovision. But once that's accomplished, I can sail on the first favorable wind and tide."

"Good. Then let us finish our business here and leave Dragonstone behind. And tell someone to find some tar to dip that head in before it starts to rot. Lord Tywin will want it mounted above the gates when we return."

"What about the body?"

"Throw it into the sea."

Two days later, Dragonstone was falling behind them as the fleet set off for King's Landing. Aurane Waters had agreed to serve as Castellan in exchange for a knighthood, which Loras had grudgingly given him. Ahead lay King's Landing and hopefully an end to the war that had ravaged the Seven Kingdoms.

Author's Note: This is not my favorite chapter, since I don't feel it's as good as it could be. But I really just wanted to get the Dragonstone arc done with so I could focus on other parts of the story. Also, If I kept fiddling with it, I don't think I ever would have published the chapter. Still, I hope you enjoyed it and we'll be returning to the North shortly.