Sweat poured down the back of Davos's neck as he galloped up to the familiar sight of Storm's End's massive outer curtain wall. He was not an excellent rider; a boat would've been the preferred method of travel.

However, in this instance riding was quicker than sailing and Lord Stannis had ordered him to ride speedily to Storm's End with two others. It seemed that after a conversation with the king, Lord Stannis had changed his plans on arresting his wife. Lady Baratheon would still be charged with adultery, but in King's Landing instead of Storm's End. According to Lord Stannis, the king suggested luring Lady Baratheon to King's Landing as a guest in the wedding. She would have no reason to suspect trouble in that way.

The portcullis slowly rose and Davos rode into the courtyard. "Lord Seaworth! Lord Seaworth!" Maester Jurne was running towards him, gasping for breath and red in the face. "You were not expected!"

"I know." Davos dismounted from his exhausted steed. He pulled a letter from his pocket and handed it to the maester. "This is from Lord Baratheon."

Maester Jurne opened it. His eyebrows rose. "Forgive me Lord Seaworth, but I find this…odd. You rode here to escort Lady Baratheon and her children to King's Landing for Prince Orys's wedding?"

"It is Lord Baratheon's orders."

"I…see. You will leave tomorrow at dawn? Lord Baratheon had written that he expects to see you and his family at King's Landing for the ceremony, and it takes at least five days for you all to ride there."

"That is correct, Maester." Lord Stannis estimated everything to the point. At a time like this, Davos wondered if Lord Stannis planned everything exactly like he would in a time of war. Chances were, he would. "Lord Baratheon is quite keen to have his lady wife and children with him in time for the wedding."

"Lady Baratheon will not be pleased, Lord Seaworth."

Lady Baratheon was never happy. Davos nodded. "Lord Baratheon gave me ah, instructions on how to deal with her. Forgive me Maester, but I must inform Lady Baratheon and the children now. To give them time to pack." Maester Jurne gave an understanding nod and Davos set off to Shireen's chambers. Informing all the Baratheon children of the wedding could wait; taking that significant book from Lady Shireen's room could not. Before Davos could knock on Lady Shireen's door, Devan who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, called out, "Lady Shireen is not in there, Father! She's in the library with Lord Steffon and Lady Cassana! She goes there with them every day after breakfast!" Davos stared at him in surprise. Devan grinned sheepishly.

"What are you doing here?" inquired Davos. "Shouldn't you be training?"

"Why are you here Father?"

"Lord Stannis's orders." Davos paused. "You should pack. You'll leave at dawn tomorrow for King's Landing with me, Lady Baratheon and her children. Do you know where your older brothers are?"

Devan frowned. "Um…Dale has returned to the Rainwood and Maric is already at King's Landing with Lord Baratheon. Allard and Matthos are still here. Do you want me to tell them to prepare to leave for King's Landing too?"

Davos nodded. He thought all his sons as sons, not soldiers, but they would be helpful in distracting the Baratheon children at King's Landing if Lady Baratheon was to be arrested the moment she set foot in the Red Keep. Davos suspected it'd happen. Lord Stannis was patient, but in his own way. When it came to justice, he would not wait. If a rapist was caught, Lord Stannis would have him gelded a few minutes after he confessed; if a poacher was captured, Lord Stannis would cut off one of his hands swiftly and without hesitation; and an adulterous woman?

"Will Lord Baratheon be alright with us attending the wedding?"

"He will not complain aloud if he's displeased," Davos replied. Especially when his mind was occupied with dealing with the Lannisters. "I will see you at supper. I must go and find Lady Shireen." Changing directions, he went to the library.

As Devan had told him, Lady Shireen was sitting at a table with the Baratheon twins, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "Lord Davos!" she said, spotting Davos at once. Lord Steffon and Lady Cassana turned and smiled at him. "I thought you were at King's Landing with our father. Is he here too?"

"Your lord father sent me here," said Davos, smiling back at them. "He's a busy man at King's Landing, being the Hand of the King and all that." How can I ask the Lady Shireen about the book with Steffon and Cassana here? "Your cousin's to be a husband soon," Davos plunged ahead. Might as well tell them the wedding first. "I am instructed by your lord father to tell you that all of you will be guests. Would that not be exciting? However, you must be ready to leave tomorrow at dawn. It's quite a journey to King's Landing hence the early start."

"Will I attend too?" said Shireen nervously.

"Of course," Davos assured her. "You're Lord Stannis's eldest daughter. You're required to attend your cousin's wedding!"

"I wish Father told us earlier…" murmured Lady Cassana. "We don't have a lot of time to decide what to wear."

"You both have plenty of pretty dresses," Lord Steffon pointed out. "It will not be very difficult to select a few for the wedding celebrations. It wouldn't matter if you wear the same dress that you've worn before. No one would notice. Besides I believe it is the bride who will be the centre of attention."

Lady Cassana responded to him. Taking the opportunity, Davos turned to Lady Shireen. "Milady Shireen," he said softly. "Do you still have that book your father gave to you before he left?"

Lady Shireen nodded. "Father wants it now, doesn't he?" Leaving the twins in the midst of a conversation, she left the library with Davos. "Father told me that I have to protect the book," said Lady Shireen, glancing around cautiously. "He told me that it is very important and if it ended up in enemy hands, it will be very bad. Did you come here to collect the book?"

"Yes milady," said Davos truthfully.

"My father never told me why he needed the book protected. In my rooms too! If he feared the book would disappear, why not keep it in his rooms? Why did he not take it with him?"

"Every powerful man has enemies at court milady Shireen. If one of your lord father's enemies take that book…" Davos shook his head. "It is better that you do not know milady. Much better."

"That is what everyone says to me." Lady Shireen looked gloomy. "Even Devan said that to me once. By the Seven I'm fourteen! Must I still be kept in the dark in matters that Steffon probably knows about?"

"Your brothers and sisters do not know about the book," Davos assured. "Only you were told to protect it." They reached her chambers.

Lady Shireen seemed thoughtful. "I've never been to King's Landing," she said, opening the chamber door. "I have never left Storm's End before. People are nice to me now though. They talk to me more and I am no longer confined to my room all day. I was given flowers too." She blushed. "Evening stars and roses. The roses were from my cousin Ser Andrew Estermont's newest squire Zachery Frey. It had been nice of him to give me flowers."

Davos smiled, but felt a twinge of uncertainty. It was nice of this Zachery Frey to pay attention to Lady Shireen, but what if it wasn't genuine kindness? What if he wished to woo Lady Shireen only because she was Lord Stannis's eldest child? Lord Walder Frey would cackle with glee at the match.

"I will return with the book," Lady Shireen promised. She went to the chest at the foot of her bed and dug around for a second. Davos waited patiently near the doorstep. It wasn't long before Lady Shireen handed him the large, heavy book. It was already wrapped in two layers of brown cloth. "Father never told me why he wanted that book hidden in my room," said Lady Shireen quietly.

Davos cradled the book in his arms as if it was a precious babe. "I cannot say," he said uncomfortably. He hated not giving Lady Shireen the answers she craved, but he had sworn to keep the Lannister matter secret. The small councillors were aware of it, as were the king and Lord Lannister and maybe even a few lords and ladies of the court, but the Baratheon children were not. It was not Davos's place to reveal any of the Lannister matter to them and he intended to keep it that way – even if it was Lady Shireen who wanted to know.


"Onion Knight! I insist we rest in a castle before we journey any further! Onion Knight! Are you even listening to me, you insolent fool?"

Davos slowed down and turned his horse around to face Lady Baratheon who was turning out to be irritating and unwanted company. Instead of riding a horse, Lady Baratheon chose to travel in a big, lavishly decorated wheelhouse with Lady Cassana, Myrcella and Tommen. The elder boys were allowed to ride as was Lady Shireen. "She doesn't like to look at me," Lady Shireen had explained when Davos dared himself to ask. "She oft says I belong in Dragonstone with the other dragon gargoyles rather than in Storm's End."

"Onion Knight!" Lady Baratheon shouted imperiously, sticking her head out of the window. "Do you not hear me?" Davos pulled his horse into a halt and said as calmly as he could manage, "Lord Baratheon wants us in King's Landing. He does not want us to dwindle, milady. Besides, we are almost there." He glanced at Lord Steffon. "Unless milord wishes to stop for a short rest?"

Lord Steffon shook his head. "Father expects us in King's Landing. I don't want to keep him waiting. We can rest when we get to King's Landing."

Davos nodded. "We will keep riding then." Ignoring Lady Baratheon's grumble, he urged his horse to trot on. Usually Devan would ride with him, but he'd chose to ride beside a cloaked Lady Shireen. Lady Baratheon only allowed Lady Shireen to ride on the condition that her face was hidden by her cloak's hood. It was quite a hot day and poor Lady Shireen endured the heat. Steffon rode nearby with their brother Robert and Allard and Matthos rode behind them. Riding silently behind the wheelhouse were four of Lord Stannis's most trusted men.

"…I cannot wait to see my cousins," Davos overhead Lady Shireen say. "I hope my cousin Orys will be happy with his bride."

"What of you my lady? Will you be a bride one day?"

Davos glanced discreetly at Lady Shireen. Her cheeks were pink. "I don't think so," she said so softly Davos almost missed it. "Unless my father desires for me to take the path of matrimony, I will be satisfied living the rest of my life at Storm's End as an unmarried woman. If my brother finds me a burden, I am confident I'll be accepted into a motherhouse to be a septa. If I do take that path, I might be the one teaching Steffon's children when the time comes."

The Onion Knight felt a pang of pity towards Lady Shireen. She was no beauty, but what was beauty compared to her sweet nature? He shook his head. It would be centuries until knights and lords choose their wives due to their kindness and virtues than their beauty and wealth. His thoughts turned to his own wife. Marya had always been patient with him – more than patient. Lately, Davos had spent a great deal of time at Stannis's side, whether it was at King's Landing or at Storm's End. It was much more time than Davos spent with his family.

"Lord Davos," said Steffon, riding up to Davos. "Please forgive my lady mother for her earlier words. She is only a little cross. We've been riding for almost four days with very little rest. She is stifled and bored I believe."

"Thank you milord," said Davos, smiling at him. "People have said much worse words to me before." He watched him stare silently ahead. "Milord?" Davos said a bit cautiously. "Is there something on your mind?" He'd never had a deep chat to the heir of Storm's End before.

"Shireen," said Steffon promptly, glancing at Shireen who was talking happily to Devan. "She's never been to King's Landing before. My lord father calls court a den of wolves. Lords and ladies can be cruel to those…those like Shireen and our uncle Tyrion. I once asked him how he wasn't affected by cruel words. Ser Davos, do you know what my uncle said to me?"

"No milord. What did he say to you?"

Steffon Baratheon closed his eyes for a moment. "Uncle Tyrion had thought for a moment," he remembered. "Then he said, 'I'll never forget what I am. A dwarf. I am a dwarf. The rest of the world won't forget it. I wear it like armour, and it can never be used to hurt me.' He then grinned at me and said, 'only fools judge other people by their appearance.'"

"Wise advice. I would have said the same thing milord. Lady Shireen is strong, milord Steffon. Mere words will not harm her."

"I am her brother. I want to protect her…I am not sure how to. I cannot just go to those who insult her and declare my intentions to duel for her honour. My lord father will think me an idiot."

Davos did not agree aloud. "From my knowledge milord Steffon, I do not think your lord father believes in knights in shining armour. He would want your sister to try and bear the rudeness as he does – with stoniness."

Steffon didn't look so certain. "What if she cannot my lord?"

"Have faith in Lady Shireen," counselled Davos. "She's stronger than you think. I'm certain of it, milord Steffon."


A swarm of butterflies fluttered violently in Davos's stomach. He hadn't felt so nervous since…since he evaded the Redwyne fleet's blockade of Shipbreaker Bay to smuggle onions and salted fish into Storm's End. When he sailed, it was during the dead of night. Anything could have happened; capture, execution or death by drowning being only a few.

Making his way to Maegor's Holdfast behind Lady Baratheon and her children should not cause butterflies to flap wildly in his stomach. Maybe it's because I am aware it is a trap, thought Davos as they approached the drawbridge. Stannis had ordered him to lead Lady Baratheon into Maegor's Holdfast where the arrest was to be made. Must the children witness it? Davos pondered sadly. All six of them are innocent. None of them deserve to watch their mother's arrest. There was no use – or any time – in telling Lord Stannis Baratheon. Currently his first concern was to ensure the arrest of Lady Baratheon. His children's emotional state meant naught much to the stern Stannis Baratheon.

"What are we doing here Father?" asked Allard, his brown eyes flickering from the Kingsguard knight at the end of the drawbridge to Davos. "I do not think that my brothers and I are um, welcome here."

"This is Maegor's Holdfast," Devan informed Allard. "We are in the heart of the Red Keep. It contains the king and queen's chambers."

Allard looked at Davos. "I don't think we should go further Father. Perhaps it'll be best for Matthos, Devan and I to go to your chambers maybe?"

"Milord Steffon," said Davos, seizing the opportunity to possibly save all of the children from the pain that awaited them. "Why not take your siblings to ah, visit your royal cousins? They must be excited to see all of you."

Lady Baratheon stopped, turned and frowned at him. "My patience with you is wearing thin Onion Knight," she said sharply. "If you wish to keep your tongue, I suggest you refrain from giving bad advice to my children." She turned again and continued making her way across the drawbridge. As Davos followed, he noticed his hands shaking.

"Are you afraid of heights, Onion Knight?" said Lady Shireen softly.

No, Davos wanted to say. I'm afraid you and your siblings will break when you all see your lady mother arrested. "Aye," he forced himself to lie. "A little milady. A little." He purposely glanced down at the dry moat lined with a bed of formidable iron spikes and managed a shudder.

"Do not look down," advised Lady Shireen. "Look straight ahead at that knight of the Kingsguard. Can you see him Lord Davos? Don't look down. Can you please tell me which knight of the Kingsguard he is?"

"Ser Brynden Tully," murmured Davos. It must've been Stannis's suggestion to put the Blackfish on guard at the drawbridge in case Lady Baratheon managed to run from the Queen's Ballroom to the drawbridge. The Strongboar of Crakehall a westerman was probably posted somewhere else, and Garth Greysteel, Ser Balon Swann and Ser Barristan the Bold nearby. Even though the royal wedding was in a day's time, the Lannister threat was great and the king, the queen and probably every member of the royal family were followed almost everywhere in the castle by no less than two guards.

"The Blackfish?" Shireen gasped, her eyes growing wider. "He is a hero! Robert spoke about him many times! Him and Ser Barristan the Bold!"

Davos chuckled. "Heroes and knights of the Kingsguard milady." He didn't feel any better as they came closer to Ser Brynden Tully. Does the Blackfish know that Lady Baratheon is about to be arrested? Of course he would know. He would have gotten an inkling if it at least.

"You're the Blackfish?" Lady Shireen inquired, looking up at Ser Brynden Tully with fascination like all the young squires do. Ser Brynden looked back at her. He seemed bemused. "Aye my lady. And you are?"

"Shireen!" snapped Lady Baratheon, already hovering near the door. "We have all had a long journey in a short time." She glared at Davos. "Onion Knight here is insisting my husband requests our presence before we can settle in our rooms as all civilised lords and ladies do. Do not test my patience, Shireen. Come along or I will change my mind and send you back to Storm's End."

Shireen bowed her head and meekly followed her siblings and mother into the heart of the Red Keep. Davos nodded at Ser Brynden before entering with Allard, Matthos and Devan. Davos could not fathom why Lady Baratheon's arrest was to be made in the Queen's Ballroom. Surely Lady Baratheon would be suspicious as Stannis would usually request her meet him in the Tower of the Hand. Perhaps in fourteen years of marriage, Lady Baratheon still didn't know her husband well.

Silently, Lady Baratheon led the way to the Queen's Ballroom. Davos could not help but look around with interest like Lady Shireen and his sons did. He'd never had the occasion to set foot in the Queen's Ballroom. It was only half as big as the Small Hall in the Tower of the Hand. Everywhere Davos looked, he saw himself in the many beaten silver mirrors behind the wall sconces. The walls were panelled with richly carved wood and high arched windows sat along the south wall. Lord Stannis stood with a few men in the middle of the Queen's Ballroom. Above them was an empty gallery. When Davos saw Stannis, he wanted to tell his sons to take all the Baratheon children and run to the other end of the Red Keep. Lord Stannis wouldn't understand. Knowing him, he would probably retort, "Better for all the children to see the truth with their own eyes rather than hear it in rumours from the other lords in this pit of snakes."

Was it? Was it better for children to see the truth with their own eyes?

"Lord Husband," said Lady Baratheon irritably. "You summoned us. Without a word of warning, you ordered us to leave Storm's End to come here. What is it? It must be important if you wouldn't even allow me to rest."

Lord Stannis stared at her coldly. "Lady Cersei of House Lannister," he said as the four men behind him stepped forward. One grabbed Lady Cersei and held her still as another clapped her in chains. The Lannister lady shrieked with rage. "I'M YOUR WIFE!" she screamed at Stannis. "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?"

"You are under arrest," Stannis said calmly, untouched by her shouts of anger. Davos snuck a glance at the Baratheon children. Steffon was staring at his father, wide-eyed and in shock; Cassana and Robert too seemed to be alarmed; Myrcella and Tommen huddled together, scared; and Shireen had also froze on the spot in astonishment and fear. "You are under arrest," Lord Stannis repeated stonily, "on the grounds of committing incest and adultery." He looked at the two men Cersei Lannister was sandwiched between. "Take her to the dungeons where she'll stay till the day of the trial." His gaze moved to Davos. "Lord Davos, come. We've got a number of matters to discuss."

"What…what about your children milord?" Davos heard himself choke out.

Lord Stannis stared at him. "The queen's waiting for them," he said at last. "All of them will remain in the king and queen's care until the trial is over. Then some of them will return to Storm's End. Come, Lord Davos. We have the trial to ready ourselves for. Once the wedding is over, I will finally have justice."


I actually thought earlier this week that I was writing too slow again - turns out I had an extra chapter ready the whole time! Yes, there will be a Daenerys chapter (2 chapters' time). I planned one earlier except I wasn't happy with it so I'm writing a new Dany chapter now. I needed to get Cersei to King's Landing around the time of the wedding hence this chapter.

BigStevie, I was thinking of having Jon lost beyond the Wall actually. He was to be connected to Ygritte somehow (that was the original reason for writing her in), but I'll decide more about Jon later on. I'm always interested in hearing your ideas :)