Over the next several days, Aurelia tried to maintain a cool, unaffected demeanor, particularly in Stannis' presence. Though she had revealed little, she thought it was still too much.
Stannis was mostly preoccupied with planning for the journey, but he still dined with Aurelia each night, most nights they were alone. One night, when Stannis' declared his intention to assist the Wall, and leave within the week, was the night after his first dinner with Aurelia. Ser Davos had been there, along with Selyse and Shireen, and Melisandre. Aurelia's interactions with the priestess, though limited, made her see why Catelyn had urged Aurelia to get close to Melisandre. Yet Aurelia could not bring herself to fall in line with the woman's ideas on religion, nor politics, nor her treatment of Stannis. Thoughts of Melisandre having Stannis under some sort of spell vanished and instead Aurelia sensed the woman had learned how to use her charms, body, and faith to turn each of her desires, or the Red God's designs as she might have said, to something related to Stannis' destiny. Aurelia could see how Stannis became wound in her trap.
It didn't help that the red woman's stare latched onto Aurelia from that first night, a mixture of curiosity and a predator sizing up another being to decide if it is ally or prey. Aurelia masked her uneasiness with a cool attitude to Melisandre, neither menacing nor demuring.
Tonight, Aurelia was seated beside Melisandre, both of them on the right side of Stannis. While Stannis and Ser Davos were engaged in conversation, Selyse looked sullen as Shireen went on about some of the histories she was currently studying.
"I have not had the opportunity yet to tell you how glad I am you will be accompanying us to the Wall, my lady," Melisandre said in smooth tones. "Your presence on the journey will give us time to get to know one another. Though you will not be with us for the whole journey."
Aurelia turned to look at her. "What do you mean?" She knew Selyse and Shireen were to stay at Eastwatch until battle was done, but thought herself to be going with the army.
"I have seen it in my fires. You must go before the army, before myself and King Stannis."
"As what? Your envoy?"
She smiled, cold and vague. "Not exactly."
Aurelia glanced to Stannis, still deep in conversation with Ser Davos. "And King Stannis knows this?" She asked of Melisandre.
"Indeed. He will ask your opinion. I suggest you tell him, well, what you will."
Aurelia was about to speak again when Ser Davos stood from the table.
"I am sorry not to accompany you, Your Grace, but if that is your order-"
"It is," Stannis replied.
Davos nodded. "Then I should prepare at once. Your Grace," he bowed. "Ladies," he said, giving a small bow to each woman present, and a small smile for Shireen. He strode out of the hall, and all eyes turned to Stannis except Melisandre's. She took a sip of wine and smiled.
"Your Grace," Selyse began.
"I need him elsewhere," Stannis said before any of them could ask the question. "A king's hand may not always be at the side of the king, but must be available to do the work of one. I cannot be in two places at once." He glanced around at them all. "You're all dismissed."
They rose and curtseyed. Moving toward the door, Stannis called again. "Lady Aurelia, stay for a moment."
Aurelia froze, then turned and nodded, moving back to the table. The last she saw of Melisandre, the woman was closing the door on the two of them and Aurelia's mind filled with questions.
"Your Grace," she said as she went to take her previous seat. Stannis motioned for her to take the seat to his direct left, where Ser Davos had been seated. She moved around him and then sat down.
A long silence passed as Stannis gazed at her, then turned his head to gaze at one of the lit candelabras in the room. Aurelia sat and waited for him to begin, but her nerves were fraying.
"Your Grace," she tried after several minutes.
"I didn't want to send him, but I needed to. You'd think he would understand."
"I'm sure he will, Your Grace."
Stannis finally looked at her. "And Melisandre says we must send you ahead of the army to the Wall. On your own."
Aurelia nodded.
"Why do you think that is?"
"She said she saw it in her fires."
"I know what she said. I want to know what you think."
Tread carefully, Aurelia whispered to herself. "I cannot think what I might do for Your Grace by going ahead. However, it may be of benefit to see - to scout the state of the Wall prior to your arrival."
"I have men who could do that."
"Then perhaps it is because I know the north lands, some of the men who will be at Castle Black, and the lady saw something in her fires that shows I will help turn their families to your cause."
Stannis huffed. "The cause of my legitimacy as the rightful king-"
"Should not come into play, I know, Your Grace. I am only surmising what could be lady Melisandre's reasoning, or interpretation of her visions, if you will."
"Then you have no desire to go before our party?"
"Not unless Your Grace tells me I must."
"And if you must, you do not fear for your safety?"
Aurelia gave a cold smile. "I fear for that every moment. Location makes little difference to me."
Stannis regarded her for a second. "Very well. You will travel with us until Eastwatch, and then you will go ahead, south of the Wall, until you reach Castle Black. Take no unnecessary risks, keep to the roads, but more importantly keep out of sight until you reach Castle Black. We will ensure you have provisions and weapons to get you to the Wall."
"And what am I to do once I reach the Wall, Your Grace?"
Stannis eyed her, as though he expected her to object to the whole scheme. Then, he sighed. "Whatever you find yourself compelled to do, so long as it is not to create dissent for me, or tell of my arrival. If something should befall my army on the journey, I do not the Watch believing they are dependent on our service."
"They already are, Your Grace."
"We shall see," Stannis said coolly. "Lady Melisandre has been vague as to your purpose, and as you seem to have little notion to fight following her whims, you can receive those vagueries as they are presented. Perhaps by the time we reach Eastwatch the lady Melisandre will have divined a more specific purpose, or you will have gained more sense. That is all."
Aurelia nodded and rose, curtseying politely. "Your Grace," she said, leaving him still seated at the table, gazing at the flickering candles.