At Dragonstone…

Shireen Baratheon was in a happy mood. When she delivered the letter to Ser Davos Seaworth, informing the Onion Knight of her cousin's decision to pardon him, the bars to his cells were flung open and she immediately embraced the old man. Davos had never seen the teenage Baratheon girl so happy, but he felt a wave of relief wash over him as he hugged her back. Now that Davos was released and his past deeds erased, Shireen helped teach the Onion Knight to read as she promised.

In her chambers, Davos read scroll after scroll—though judging by the expression on his face, he still had a hard time making out the words. Shireen watched in amusement as she flipped another page of her book, trying not to laugh.

"'To his lordship Stannis Baratheon of Draygon— Dragonstone!… euh, in-in… invaded—'," he stammered, "'inv— invit— invited! to the name day celebration for… Rylene Florent on the first nigit—'"

"Night," Shireen corrected him.

Davos shook his head. "'First night of the full moon,'" he looked at Shireen. "Why is there a 'G' in night?" he asked.

Shireen shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. There just is."

"Well, your father's not going to go to that."

"I'm glad you're here."

Davos smiled. "Me too, child. Kinda surprised you asked the King himself."

"Daveth's my cousin," she pointed out. "All I had to do was to just ask for a favor to get you out of the cells and I got it. I knew from the beginning you were no traitor."

"You've a much tender heart; more so than your father, believe me."

Shireen stood and walked over to her table and returned, bringing over the book she was reading moments earlier. "Here! This book my cousin gave me is so much better than these boring scrolls. It's called An History of Aegon the Conqueror and His Conquest of Westeros. You could read about Balerion the Dread. They say you can still see his skull in the dungeons beneath the Red Keep," she said in excitement. "I'd like to see that someday. Maybe I'll ask Daveth to show 'em to us the next time we go to King's Landing!"

"Ah, but your cousin the King's a busy man. Got a lot on his mind. The King does not have time for such drudgery," Davos reminded her. "That and I've been trying to stay out of those dungeons my whole life."

Shireen tried to hide her disappointment, even as she watched the Onion Knight reading a more recent scroll.

"'To all the lords and knobble men of Westeros'—"

"Noblemen," she corrected him again.

Davos shook his head. "'Noblemen of Westeros, the Night's Watch…'" his eyes examined the letters before his tone of voice grew quieter yet very serious, "'implores…'"

Shireen lifted her head up, his ears perked up when she heard Davos' last statement.

"What is it?" she asked slightly concerned.

*BOOM-BOOM, DING-DONG!*

Davos and Shireen raised their heads up in unison at the sounds of bells ringing from King's Landing some several miles away. The Onion Knight felt his nerves twitch and a swirl of uncertain suspicions form in the pit of his stomach. Rising up from his seat, Ser Davos motioned Shireen to stay put while goes to investigate. Dragonstone had never seemed so dark and fearsome. He walked slowly, his footsteps echoing off black walls and dragons. The Stone Drum loomed huge ahead of him. The guards at the door uncrossed their spears as he approached. Upon opening the doors, Davos spots both Stannis leaning against the Chamber of the Painted Table with his back faced to him.

"My lord Stannis," Davos stepped forward.

If Stannis was surprised to find him at the Painted Table, he gave no sign. "If you're here about the bells, then that means the infamous trial by seven is over. The traitor Littlefinger and Cersei Lannister are set to be executed within the fortnight," he said. "And when Melisandre returns with Robert's bastard boy, we're to depart to White Harbor."

'Who…?' Davos looked puzzled. "Why White Harbor?" he asked.

"Apparently my nephew the King has… 'requested' us to deliver supplies, weapons and conscripts to the Wall, at the behest of his councilors led by the Imp," Stannis rose from his seat and walked along the table, past Oldtown and the Arbor, up the Shield Islands and the mouth of the Mander. "Dangerous man believes there's bound to be trouble and somehow persuaded Daveth to go through with the plan."

"And the boy?"

Stannis ground his teeth. Before he could answer, on que Melisandre enters the room with Gendry in tow along with several of Stannis's guardsmen. They had just recently returned from the voyage to the Riverlands. Gendry, looking at the soldiers, lowered his head and shook his head slightly.

ooOoo

Several days ago…

Gendry stood with Bodrin and Anguy in the Riverlands, the youth often interacted with Anguy and less with Bodrin. He believed the old man to be deeply disappointed in his decision to join the Brotherhood Without Banners despite his warnings. Although the lad believed in his decision, Gendry couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt at the look of Bodrin's eyes. The old man looked out for him ever since the bloodbath at King's Landing and smuggled him out of there before he was next.

"Hey, old man…" he tried to speak to him.

Bodrin didn't move. "I warned you not to join up with the likes of them, Gendry. Yet you chose to do it anyway."

Gendry felt defensive. "I was my choice to make. They protect people! I can make a difference here. How many more innocent lives must be lost before the nobles stir up trouble again?"

"And how many vagabonds does it take to start trouble?" he countered. "Rich, poor, young, old… it doesn't matter what social status ye are or who starts a conflict, lad. It doesn't discriminate. The War of the Ninepenny Kings taught us that."

Gendry felt his lip curl upward, feeling frustrated at feeling like he was being scolded again. But before he could even argue, the sound of approaching footsteps and hooves cut their conversation short. Both he and Bodrin saw Thoros of Myr and Beric Dondarrion approach with a woman in a red cloak following behind them. Behind her were ten soldiers bearing the sigil of a crowned black stag encased with a fiery red heart.

Whilst Gendry looked in curiosity, Bodrin felt increasingly uneasy.

"Forgive me, lad," Beric apologized.

In that instant, Gendry felt himself being wrestled by two soldiers and being led to the cart. Despite struggling with his strength, the lad couldn't shake them off.

"What are you doing?!" he exclaimed.

Bodrin rapidly shot straight up. "Unhand the boy this instant!" he barked. "Beric, have your men release Gendry!"

Beric shook his head mournfully. "I'm sorry, old friend. But we serve the Lord of Light, and the Lord of Light needs this boy."

"Did your fire god tell you that," the old man fumed angrily before turning to Melisandre, "or did she whisper orders in your ear?"

Gendry still struggled against his captors, his face pressing against the cart. A sense of betrayal and anger rose in him. "You told me this was a Brotherhood!" he called out to them. "You told me I could be one of you!"

Beric didn't answer as Melisandre approached the boy.

"You are more than they could ever be," she told him. "They are just foot soldiers in the great war. You will make Kings rise and fall."

Her words didn't seem to fit the message; Bodrin somehow believed that Gendry was in even more danger from this woman and those who followed the Lord of Light. Gendry's face grew unsettled and felt defeated; he heard Bodrin move quickly to approach him before being held back by Anguy and Thoros. Despite their disagreements, the old man still sought to protect him as the soldiers handed over two heavy bags of gold to the Brotherhood.

"You backstabbing…! Unhand him, you witch!" Bodrin yelled at Melisandre as more soldiers moved to restrain him. "Touch him and I swear you'll all regret it!"

Beric stepped forward. "I don't want to give up the boy either, old friend. But the Red God is the one true god. You've seen His power. When He commands, we obey—"

"I don't care you have to say!" Bodrin snapped at him. "The old Beric Dondarrion I knew fifteen years ago would never have gone through with this!"

"One day you'll understand," he told him.

As the cart was beginning to be move away, Bodrin fought against the soldiers who restrained him until he felt himself being released. Before he could rush to grasp Gendry, he felt cold steel sticking into his gut—stopping him in his tracks.

"Nnugh," Bodrin gasped, looking down at a small dagger piercing him.

Gendry's eyes widened as he was being led away. "NOOO!" he screamed, watching helplessly as he watched Bodrin slowly slumping to the ground clutching his gut, the old man reaching out with one hand.

"Gendry…" Bodrin spoke weakly before losing consciousness. 'Forgive me, Gendry. Forgive me, Your Grace. I failed you both…'

ooOoo

Gendry still felt despondent, even within the presence of a highborn lord; his first meeting with Stannis Baratheon, Lord of Dragonstone. Although he would have felt nervous, Gendry still couldn't shake the thoughts of Bodrin from his mind. Was the old man dead? Did he somehow manage to survive? He received no word from anyone from the Riverlands or from the Brotherhood Without Banners.

'Damn them all…!' Gendry cursed himself.

Stannis turned away from Davos and approached Gendry. The lad was tall for his age, but Stannis still towered over him, jaw clenched and a frown upon his face. Gendry lowered his head to bow, but Stannis cupped the boy's face and brought him back up to gaze at him. His eyes examining up and down, Stannis released his grip.

"Half Robert, half lowborn," he quipped.

Melisandre turned to her escorts. "Show the boy to his chambers. Have the maids draw him a bath and find him some decent clothes."

The guards nodded and took Gendry away, leaving Stannis, Melisandre and Davos alone in the room. The Onion Knight felt a growing sense of unease as he watched them taking the boy away.

"What do you mean to do to him?" Davos asked.

Melisandre looked at him. "There is power in kingsblood, Ser Davos," she told him. "At times a great gift requires a great sacrifice."

'She's going to kill him,' Davos shook his head. "You're not going to burn a boy," he sharply told her. "Last I heard the King forbade any of your sacrifices from happening again."

The Onion Knight had hoped that would sway Melisandre from going through what she had planned, but the red priestess merely smiled.

"The King is not above the Lord of Light or his laws."

"That doesn't mean we should start burning whomever we displease or on a whim's sake. Is there a difference between murder and sacrifice?" he turned to Stannis. "My lord, I know the look on the lad's face before she took him away. He's from Flea Bottom. If what you just described about him is indeed true, then the boy just happens to be your nephew and the King's half-brother."

"What is the life of one bastard boy against a kingdom?" Melisandre pressed. "The darkness will come and devour all men, women and children unless Lord Stannis triumphs."

"He's done no harm to anyone. The lad has Lord Stannis's blood in his veins."

Stannis looked at both his advisors. "So did Renly, as does Daveth," he reminded them. "But we don't get to choose our destiny, yet we must do our duty, no? Great or small, we must do our duty."

"You're not a man who slaughters innocents for gain or glory, my lord," Davos reminded him. "When my son Matthos was five, he said to me 'I don't ever want to die'. I wanted to say to him 'You won't, child. You won't ever.' I hated the idea of lying awake in the dark alone and afraid," his face grimaced. "Fairy tale or no, I think mothers and fathers made up the story of the gods because they wanted their children to sleep soundly through the night. To give them a life better than the one they themselves had."

Stannis listened, but gave no emotion. "And who's to say which god is real and which isn't? When the truth is laid bare in front of you just as your iron bars were?" he pressed.

Davos shook his head. "I can't see the future in the fire as she or you could, my lord, but I would advise you against such a notion. Not after you see this," he said as he fumbled inside his cloak and drew out a crinkled sheet of parchment.

It seemed a thin and flimsy thing, yet it was all the logical reasoning he had. Stannis took the parchment from his hand and turned away to read it.

"A raven arrived earlier this morning, my lord. Bore a rather urgent message," the Onion Knight continued. "It's from Maester Aemon of the Night's Watch. Their Lord Commander Jeor Mormont is dead. Took a ranging party consisting of 300 men north, but they never made it back. Two lads did, though. Samwell Tarly and Joffrey Baratheon. In their report, they described that what they saw beyond the Wall, it's coming for all of us."

"I exiled Joffrey to the Wall when he continued to disobey me, not because of the truth regarding his true parentage but because he was a cruel, sadistic and evil little shit—by all accounts worse than the Mad King. I've neither forgiven nor forgotten that," Daveth's words rung through Stannis's head.

The Lord of Dragonstone re-read the letter from the Night's Watch over and over again before handing the parchment over to Melisandre and looking back at Davos.

"When did you learn to read?" he asked.

"Matthos taught me before he died, so I could be of better service to you," Davos answered. "It's… possible that the earlier request from the capital asking us to make a delivery to the Wall could be a result of that, though I cannot say for certain."

Melisandre threw the parchment into the center firepit, watching as the flames grew larger and burned more intensely. Stannis joined her and turned to look into the flames as well; as Melisandre looked into the flames, she spoke just as her ruby began to glow brightly like a red star at her throat.

"All these acts of insurrection means nothing. The true war lies to the north. Death marches on the Wall," she prophesized. "If the Young Stag himself cannot stop him, then it'll be up to you to do so, Stannis Baratheon."

Davos stepped forward. "We've got more than 2,800 cavalry, 10,000 infantry, 20 siege equipment plus 200 ships and men who know how to sail them. And with the additional support of armament, food and volunteers reinforcing the Night's Watch, the battle will end in our favor and garner more support. But we'll need to convince this lord and that lord to fight for you and carry out the King's decree."

"He's right," Melisandre agreed. "You'll need the Onion Knight as well. He has a part to play in the war to come."

Stannis steadied his cloak, his hand gripping the pommel of his blade as he watched the sunset in the distance. "For once the fire god you like to mock so much agrees with you," he said. "Send out every raven to every house along the Crownlands. You're in His army now."

Chapter End

Author's Note: A rather short cameo detailing the events surrounding Stannis Baratheon, though the next one will involve Jon Snow and the inevitable Battle of Castle Black. Perhaps we'll see what happens when the Baratheon forces march on the Free Folk army led by Mance Rayder with the additional boost of men, supplies and weapons that could tip the scale in their favor. And what of Gendry's thoughts when Bodrin tried to protect him from behind sold off? But what do you guys think about Bodrin's fate? Do you want him to come back at some point? Let me know in the review section and keep passing on suggestions.

alexaguamenti: Another great chapter! Thanks for the update!

Kat Morgan: Wow! Quite a bit happening fast now. Great chapter!

Morgan: Loving how everyone wants Melisandre to burn. I find her character intriguing.
As for Bodrin, I am curious to see more of him. I enjoy the way you write your characters as well as how you write the canon characters.

Bosma17: I would love to see Melisandre burn herself as offering to her red god great story by the way I really love it

chase manaena: wow

RHatch89: Awesome update :)

―Thanks.

ZabuzasGirl: Kill Stannis. please get rid of him and the Red Lady. Also, Stannis should be executed for treason too. He knows how angry Daven got with his other siblings.

mpowers045: Well at least Bodrin can reunite with his family in the afterlife

The Last Kenpachi: I hope Davos is willing to stab Stannis or Melisandre if necessary. The woman is a crazed zealot and Gendry doesn't deserve death so *please* tell me you aren't going to kill him.

10868letsgo: Oh that red witch should be the one to BURN! If she wanted to serve her Red God than she should offer herself.