Storm's End, 282 AC
Stannis is woken up by a ray of sunshine crossing his room in his family's castle. He opens his eyes and closes them right after, dazzled by the sun. He has slept long, way longer than what he usually sleeps. He wraps the blanket tighter around his body and shivers slightly: the weather is cooler lately. He would want to get back to sleep: he feels so tired. He gets to bed early, falls asleep almost immediately, but he does not know a resting sleep. He dreams, all the time, every night, dreams which are exhausting. It is mostly the same dream, every night: he is a stag, and he plays, or follows, or listens to a trout. In the evenings, he feels eager to drift off to sleep and to find again these animals. He perfectly knows what the trout means. Sometimes, as he writes to Aylis, he would like to ask her if she makes weird dreams about stags. But he never dares so. He still enjoys their correspondence, but he still tries to keep her at a distance. Sooner or later, he will have to marry, and so will she. He though can feel in her letters that her feelings have not decreased. But, now, in his room, he shuts his eyes tight, hoping to get back to his dreams. A loud knock on the door makes him startle and groan:
"Yes?"
"It is morning, Stannis", Cressen's voice rings out.
Stannis sighs loudly and opens his eyes:
"I am awake", he says, loud enough so his maester can hear. He sits up in bed, and grabs a shirt to go have breakfast in the Great Hall. Renly and Robert are already here, and Stannis gently strokes Renly's hair as he sits by him, after saying good morning to Robert:
"Morning Stannis", Renly smiles huge.
"Good morning, Renly. How was your night?" he asks his brother.
"Good. And yours? I heard you again", Renly adds quietly after looking around him.
Stannis feels turning red beetroot. It is not the first time Renly says that. Robert stares at them and laughs:
"Stannis dreamt again of a girl!"
Renly giggles and Stannis wishes he could bury himself with shame.
"I do not dream of girls", he honestly said. It was true, that was the worst. Sometimes he wishes he could get out of his own body to look at himself sleeping. Obviously, it would be very interesting.
"You moan and you whimper", Renly asserts and Robert laughs even more.
"At least, it sounds good!" the oldest brother says.
Stannis doesn't reply and he eats the plate the servant has placed in front of him. Renly and Robert keep chuckling and laughing, and he does his best to stop listening to them.
"Come on Stannis!" Robert shouts and brutally slaps his back. "Chase this sternness away! You always look like you're in pain!"
Stannis groans slightly with pain and scowls at him: Robert just laughs and downs a glass of wine. Already. It is just morning. Stannis hates his brother's behavior. He misses the time when they were still boys, playing together, dueling like great knights. They were way older than Renly, who was still a boy, and thus, age had torn them apart instead of bringing them closer. And now, as Robert's marriage with Lyanna Stark is getting closer and closer, Stannis feels he would get along way better with Renly. But what would the boy become? He does not want him to be too influenced by Robert. But, as the eldest, Robert, once he will get married, will push Stannis to get married as well. They will have to live with Robert and Lyanna, and he does not think marriage would calm him down. Maybe Robert would send Renly away, as he has been sent away himself, to be fostered by some Lord. Maybe Stannis could become a knight, to protect his home. He would like that, he thinks, even though he would not be the best fighter. Renly sounds promising, he thinks as he looks at his younger brother walking out to get dressed.
"Have you thought about marriage?" Robert asks him and he is thrown out of his reverie.
"No", he says, feeling already sweaty at the idea.
"Well, you should. You're old enough now, Stannis. Half of our bannermen have daughters who would be perfect for a Baratheon", he swallows a piece of meat and stares at Stannis.
For a Baratheon. But for me?
"Don't worry", Robert says to comfort him as he sees him looking down on his plate. "We will find you someone. You are a Baratheon."
Stannis hardly holds back a laugh: Robert does not understand. He never understood Stannis. But laughing at him will be insulting his Lord, so he just nods and finishes eating. As they decide to go have a ride after breakfast, Cressen rushes in the Great Hall, with a letter in his hand. Stannis stands up suddenly, fearing it comes from Aylis, and that something has happened in Riverrun. Seeing Cressen's face, the message does not bring good news. But Cressen walks to Robert, and not to Stannis. This one almost sighs with relief, before looking at Robert. He can see all emotions crossing his brother's face as he reads the letter. A smile first, when he sees the handwriting. Then, as he hears the first words, shock. And, at last, anger. Fury. Robert wraps his fist around the paper and crashed it furiously. Stannis stares at him: Robert looks down, staring at an invisible point on the ground. Stannis knows he is angry, but, usually, Robert expresses his anger fully: bellowing insults and punching people or things is Robert's way of being angry. Now, he looks calm. Looks only.
"What is it?" Stannis simply asks.
Robert holds his fist at him, and Stannis takes the parchment out, not without difficulty. He leans it on the table to smooth it and reads:
"Dear Robert,
Sorrow and worries make me write to you today. Brandon has received terrible news: Lyanna has been abducted, by Rhaegar Targaryen. We have no idea where she is, if she is still alive. No idea. I had to let you know. Brandon has left for King's Landing. I am scared for him.
I hope I can give you better news in my next letter.
Your friend,
Ned"
By the moment he has finished reading the letter, Robert has gone. Stannis follows him, Cressen right on his tracks.
"Where are you going?"
"Call the bannermen", Robert groans.
"What for?" Stannis stares dumbfounded.
Robert turns to her and yells:
"He has stolen my wife!"
"Are you going to start a war for this?" Stannis retorts calmly.
It has been a while since the demonstrations of Robert have stopped scaring him. Cressen has placed by his side, staying behind him.
"I am going to kill this miserable prince", Robert groans again.
"You cannot do anything, Robert. Please, listen to me, I…"
"You what?" Robert spats and Stannis receives a bit of his saliva on his cheek. He does not move.
"You don't know anything about love, you brat! If you had loved someone in your miserable life, you would react the same way than me!"
Stannis knows it is anger speaking. Anger, and fear. It still hurts him and makes tears birthing in his eyes. Robert stares at him, hoping for an answer, hoping they could settle this with a fight. He would pretend it is Rhaegar, he would beat the hell out of him and he would feel better after that. Fighting and having sex have always been his ways of taking things out. He feels a hand on his shoulder and looks up, surprised: it's Stannis. Their similar eyes stare at each other and Stannis says:
"I don't know how you feel, it's true. But I don't want to lose my brother. I know we are as different as night and day, but I love you. And I know you love me, even if you suck at showing it", he half smiles. Even Robert smiles, not used to see his brother use such words. Stannis says again: "Please, don't do anything stupid. Let Brandon Stark go to King's Landing and see what happens. You cannot risk everything."
Robert looks at him, then at Cressen, who nods slightly. He sighs, lays his hand on his brother's one and smiles slightly:
"What about this ride?"