A/N - Apologies for taking a bit to post this, but the season has been keeping me busy. Enjoy!
It was one of those rare good days to be alive, I felt. The vote had gone my way, and I was basking in the glow of victory and while a part of me was telling me that something bad was on the horizon, and that it would undoubtedly come soon, I was content to live in the moment.
Especially as the image of Stannis's face replayed itself in my mind as the result of the vote were read out for all to hear. The complete and utter defeat. It would be laughable if politics in Westeros weren't so serious.
Long story short, it was going to take a lot to wipe the grin off of my face as I stepped out of my quarters. Standing outside was the ever-serious face of Ser Barriston Selmy who was spending a good amount of time eye rolling behind my back at my reaction. Still, he'd done it enough that I'd noticed, but at least he was better at hiding it then most.
Especially the lords who'd been on the losing side of that particular vote, and would be doing a fair amount of grumbling to be sure. Here's hoping they'd eventually settle down. Lest they become a problem for the Realm to deal with.
"Good morning, your Grace," greeted Ser Selmy with a nod of his head. "Sleep well?"
"Like the dead," I replied. I paused at his grimace. "Sorry, poor choice of words. My apologies. Sufficed to say, I slept incredibly well. Thanks for asking."
"Will you be attending the Small Council later?" He asked.
"Of course," I admitted. "Outside of the inevitable analysis of who voted which way and I, I have a new Master of Coin to appoint." The temporary replacement was doing fine, but we needed a more permanent solution and I had an idea for that.
One of my first acts had been to appoint my grandfather, Tywin Lannister, as my Hand. That had caused some rumblings, but they were sated when he announced that he would be officially declining for the moment as he had affairs at home to deal with before he could take the post. That being officially dealing with Cersei and her bullshit now that he had the time.
Which was totally fair, as it made my actual appointment slightly less shocking - my uncle Tyrion Lannister was named Hand. That was bound to start the rumour mill going, but what the hell? I'm the King baby, and sometimes, it's good to be the King.
It also meant that I could officially dissolve the Great Council and announce that the royal treasury would no longer be paying the living expenses of the multitude of lords, great and small, that had been temporarily residing in the Red Keep and all around King's Landing. So, if they were going to stay for the coronation, they would be doing so at their own expense, thank you.
There would, however, also be a tournament held to celebrate my coronation, but the prizes were definitely going to be reasonable and not in the tens of thousand of gold dragons. That annoyed more than a couple of the idiots who were expecting the prizes of my supposed father, but that wasn't my problem and they'd just have to deal.
Still, all that aside, I had one particularly important matter to deal with before the Small Council meeting. And that was dealing with the greatest loser of the Great Council - Lord Stannis Baratheon.
"If the two of you wouldn't mind waiting outside," I requested as we reached our destination. Selmy and Clegane had gotten a little tense as they'd approached my solar. Mostly because there were a couple of Dragonstone soldiers standing at attention outside, also looking somewhat nervous at my arrival. "Lets stand at ease everyone! We're all here under guests rights, and I, for one, do not plan on breaching those rights any time soon."
That relaxed everyone… slightly. I sighed as I stepped inside, leaving my guards outside with the rest and prayed to whoever was listening that the meeting would be less tense. Though, with Stannis that was highly unlikely.
"Lord Stannis," I greeted with a nod and a polite smile. "I'm glad to see you accepted the invitation."
The man didn't stand, as was traditional when the Lord of the Seven Kingdom's entered a room, but did acknowledge me with a scowl. A sigh escaped my lips. "Whether you like the result or not, Lord Stannis, you should still respect it. And the fact that I can officially claim the titles associated with being Lord of the Seven Kingdoms."
His frown deemed for a few moments before he appeared to concede and stood, giving me one of the most awkward and smallest bows I'd ever seen. "Your Grace," he greeted begrudgingly.
I gave a small nod and took a seat behind the desk, gesturing for Stannis to sit as well.
"If I may speak plainly, Lord Stannis," I offered pausing for a few moments for an answer. Which came in the form of a brief nod. "I'm going to assume that despite result of the Great Council that you will not be paying me homage in the coming days?"
He shook his head. "Correct… your Grace." You could feel his abject displeasure at using those two words. "While they have voted you the Iron Throne and gave it to you legally doesn't make it yours rightfully."
"From most lords in your position, Uncle, those words would be considered treasonous," I pointed out neutrally.
"You are no nephew of mine, boy," responded Stannis coldly.
"As might that statement as well," I commented equally as neutrally. "Fortunately while you may or may not believe that I'm my father's son, I do. And I don't want the blood of my kin on my hands and am willing to go a long way to keep them clean."
A deep sigh escaped Stannis's lips. "Then would you Kindly make your offer so that I may turn you down and get along with my business. I am only here because it would be poor form to turn down such an offer from the publicly anointed King."
At the end of the day, Stannis was a stickler for the rule of law. And just because he didn't like it didn't mean he could ignore the result of the Great Council's vote, or turn down an invitation from the King. Especially considering he thought his men superior to mine.
"Very well," I started, "my offer is thus - if you agree to offer me the oaths of fealty required by a lord of your stature at my coronation, you can return home Lord of Dragonstone. You will resign your position as Master of Ships for the moment, but once things have settled down, we could discuss your reappointment at a later date."
"I would sooner face the executioner's axe then bend the knee to a bastard," growled Stannis, "Since we're speaking plainly."
The need to facepalm was great, but I resisted it with all the fibre of my being. "Are you actively suicidal? There are many who would consider my offer generous, possibly even stupidly soon. And I'm sure there are plenty of lords out there that would happily advocate for the execution you seem to be in favour of."
"Just because men of lesser principle would do a thing has no bearing on whether I would, and I am not afraid to die," offered Stannis honestly. "Which means we have reached the point in these talks where you start threatening my wife and daughter. Or will that come later?"
"I will not threaten a nine-year-old girl," I objected with more venom than I intended slamming a hand on the table. "And I resent the fact that you would think so little of me, Un… Lord Stannis! Seven hells, they're the reason I'm being so generous at this point. There are enough fatherless Baratheons in this family as it is." I paused, letting that sink in for a moment before continuing. "And before you say that Shireen isn't my cousin, I'd like it on record that your thoughts don't matter on what I believe in this particular instance. What does matter is that I actively give a great gods damn about her continued welfare."
I might not be the most eloquent speaker at times, but I was doing my best to emphasise the points I was making. Besides, he didn't appear to have a response that wasn't as childish and obscene as mine.
There was a short pause as Stannis collected himself and attempted to formulate a response.
"I'll not bend the knee," he said finally. Whatever I thought of the man, he was an honourable man to the last. I had to give him that, if nothing else.
I raked my face with my hands, as I contemplated something resembling a response. "All right. If there's nothing I can do to dissuade you, then here's an alternative. You'll go north and take the Black. You can leave before the day of the Coronation to avoid being the knee without offending anyone, and take whoever'll join you in the Night's Watch. Your daughter Shireen will inherit your lands and titles, becoming the Lady of Dragonstone." I frowned as I added the next part, knowing that he wouldn't like it. "But she'll have to remain here in the Red Keep until she comes of age."
"While a man you appoint rules Dragonstone, you mean," retorted Stannis knowingly. "And later you get to choose her future husband! No, I will not make it that easy for you!"
I let out a grunt of frustration. "Easy my ass!" That rocked the man. He was used to expletives from some of his men, but it wasn't exactly the kind of language you expected at court. Or coming from the scion of a Lannister. "You're just lucky I'm doing everything in my power not to kill you." If I had my way, I would have gotten Sandor in here to slap him around a bit. But I was trying to let cooler heads prevail.
I took a series of deep breaths before continuing. "How about, you appoint the man who rules Dragonstone until Shireen's majority, and your wife gets to choose who Shireen marries. Further, your lady wife will have the option of where she wishes to reside. With all the provisions of this agreement documented, signed, sealed and proclaimed throughout the Seven Kingdoms?"
That way, at least in his mind, the other lords of the realm could keep me to my word. Now, this was either going to make me look weak in his eyes or finally convince him that I bought the story that we were related. It was hard to read the man. "Shireen gets to stay in Dragonstone," he offered with a hint of finality.
"No chance in the seven hells! Many of the Houses who voted for you will see her as the focal point of rebellion either now or at some point down the line. So she needs to kept here to avoid that being the case." I smirked slightly at this juncture. "Incidentally, I hope you're aware of the irony that I'm doing more to keep you alive then you are."
"Perhaps you're more sentimental than I am," he commented.
I shrugged. "That's true enough. And for what it's worth, I have no wish to harm Shireen in any way. Whatever differences we have, and questions of my legitimacy aside, your lady wife and your daughter are innocents. And I will happily bring all of the Iron Throne's resources to bare against anyone and everyone who would seek to do them harm."
I tried to convey my earnestness with that statement with everything I had.
"Do you give your word of honour?" He asked finally after about a minute of deep and silent consideration.
"I would swear it before the Old Gods and the New," I offered.
He nodded finally. It appeared that he was ready to accept that I was earnest in this at least. "Agreed then." There was a brief pause before, "Would I have time to see my wife and daughter before I set out to the Wall?"
"I don't think it would be viable for you to return to Dragonstone," I contended. "But we can have them collected and brought here before the coronation, so that you may say your goodbyes before heading north."
Stannis nodded. "I will have a raven sent immediately, but it would do you well to let whoever fetches them to know that my wife can be…" He paused, "difficult."
I nodded, not remembering Stannis' wife too much from the books. On the plus side it meant that Shireen would already be in the capital and her mother could be sent… elsewhere without issue.
All things considered this had gone well. I just hope it continued to stay that way…