His lordship comes home
Lord Stannis returned home a moon ago and he declared that he wished to stay. Since then, Theon has spent every free minute of his in the lord's solar or in the Chamber of the Painted Table, becauseā¦
"You'll become Lord of the Iron Islands one day," Stannis Baratheon said on the first occasion.
And he was the kind of man with whom Theon did not want to disagree.
"You have to learn how the politics of Westeros works."
So Theon is sitting there while Lord Stannis and the constantly scowling Ser Axell are talking, while Lord Stannis reads and writes his letters, while he just stares out the window, or maybe he is forming plans in his mind.
Theon is listening and learning⦠and he is bored. Mostly bored.
Lord Stannis was enraged when he arrived at Dragonstone. Our is the fury, as the words of House Baratheon said. And he definitely embraced that fury in those days.
"Robert wanted to give that damned chain to Renly. Mainly to avoid having to give it to me."
But for now the fury turns to bitterness.
"Ser Kevan is an acceptable choice the position of the Hand," he admits feigning indifference, when a raven comes with the announcement from the capital. "He is nothing more than his brother's mouthpiece, but he is capable of doing what Jon Arryn did."
And he is not Renly, at least, Theon adds in thought.
"He will hold the realm together for me."
Surprised, Theon jerks up his head.
"For you?" He cannot help it, the question slips out of his mouth.
Ser Axell glares at him. He is even less thrilled about Theon's presence than Theon himself. Unfortunately, none of them can get Lord Stannis to change his mind. Though Theon would not even dare to try to.
"I'm Robert's heir." Lord Stannis states somehow challenging.
Because of the tone, Theon must reply. "After Joffrey and his siblings," he says squirming. It feels as if Lord Stannis is testing him.
And it feels like he has failed. The lord's expression shows that it was the wrong thing to say.
But how could it be?
