King's Landing, 286 AC
Stannis gets in the Royal room, where Cersei has delivered a baby boy a few hours before. She is resting now, and Robert has just come back from a hunt. Jaime Lannister was the one who stayed with his sister. Always ill at ease with women, and even more with this one, Stannis stands as far as her as he can. Robert is holding the baby, under the look of Jaime.
"Come here Stannis, come see how beautiful he is!" he enthusiastically says and Stannis walks closer to his brother. Robert holds a little bundle, and, as he moves the blanket away from the baby's face, Stannis stares at the newborn: he is very cute, it is true. He is all pink and looks at his uncle with curious emerald eyes. Stannis glances at Cersei, asleep in the bed, then back at the baby, more precisely at his skull. Unlike his father, the baby called Joffrey has blond hair. He has clearly taken after the Lannisters features, and not the Baratheons. Stannis remembers this day when he was just a boy, and that Renly was born: how amazed he has been with all the black hair the baby already had. He smiles slightly:
"He is, your Grace."
"He will be a great king, one day", Robert laughs, and gives the baby back to the handmaids. "Let's have a feast tomorrow, to celebrate his birth!"
Jaime nods, and Jon Arryn gets in in turn, and Robert welcomes him as he would welcome his own father.
"Do you know Catelyn Stark is pregnant again, your Grace?" Jon asks, as he smiles seeing the baby.
"I didn't! How do you know?" Robert beams.
"Lysa just told me. She is supposed to deliver soon", Jon keeps smiling and staring at the child.
"Wonderful!" Robert says. "I will write a letter to the wolf right away!"
There, he leaves and Stannis says to Jon:
"He wants a feast for Joffrey's birth."
"I will organize this", Jon nods and soon leaves, followed by Stannis.
"Can I see you a minute, Lord Arryn?" the young Master of ships asks.
Jon nods and walks to his office: as the Hand of the King, he has his own tower in the Red Keep, called the Tower of the Hand. Jon often rules in place of Robert, when he has drunk too much or is "busy" with the numerous women who share his bed. Stannis despises his brother more than ever: a King should never act as he does. He does not seem to care about his wife, or his kingdom. But he certainly loves the money and the power that comes with being a King. Stannis follows silently Jon, and the old man lets him pass before him when they reach his office. Stannis comes in and sits on the chair facing the wooden desk.
"What did you want to tell me, Lord Stannis?" Jon asks smiling.
"This child is not my brother's child", Stannis whispers, almost as a reflex. Jon loses his smile:
"What are you talking about?"
"You know what I am talking about. This baby is blonde, and has green eyes. He looks like a Lannister, and not like a Baratheon", he retorts.
Jon leans back on his chair and says again:
"Maybe he takes after his mother…"
"None of the Baratheons have. Whatever how the mother looks like, we all look like our fathers. We have always looked like our fathers."
Jon stares at him, Stannis not looking away, and the Hand whispers:
"If Robert is not his father, then who is it?"
"I don't know", Stannis admits. "Are there rumors of the Queen cheating on Robert?"
"No. Not that I have heard of."
Jon stands up and pours a cup of wine for him, and a cup of water for Stannis: he knows the Lord never drinks alcohol.
"You cannot accuse her of adultery without proves."
"I know that", Stannis retorts with a thankful nod as Jon hands him the cup.
"I know they are not fond of each other, but this is very serious. I think Joffrey is just an exception in the Baratheon's lineage. And how is your betrothed?" Jon quickly adds, willing to change the subject.
"She says she is fine in her letters", Stannis nods, understanding the Hand and unwilling to brusque him. His opinion was made, but he could not change someone else's without proves, as Jon told him.
"Has she bled yet?" Jon asks.
"She is eleven", Stannis protests slightly, frowning.
"I heard some girls were sooner than others for this", Jon sips his wine.
Stannis feels a shiver of horror overwhelming him:
"Even if she had bled, I would not marry her now. She is way too young."
"Fair enough", Jon nods in turn.
He looks at the young man sitting in front of him: he has always loved Robert with all his heart, but has also known about his faults. Stannis would be a good advisor to Robert, if only this one was willing to listen to his younger brother. Morally, Stannis is flawless. He does not drink, he does not whore, and the whole capital knows the man is still a virgin, despite being twenty one years old. Some claim he preserves himself for his wedding night with the young Tully, some others say women scare him and that he hates them. Jon does not think they are right. Duty sounds like a very important word in Stannis's life and he has not had many opportunities of seducing women when he was besieged in Storm's End. Accepting to marry Aylis Tully has meant doing his duty, once more, towards Robert who had secretly prepared this marriage with Aylis's father. Many people among the great families of Westeros have mocked him for that. Even Lysa, when they have talked about it in private, has not looked fond of this future marriage, arguing Stannis was too old and that Renly would have been perfect. But, whatever the people think about it, this marriage will happen, and the whole kingdom will be invited. Stannis will probably hate this, Jon thinks, and an amused smile curls his lips. Stannis finishes the cup of water, and puts it back where it was.
"Thank you for your time, Lord Arryn. I have business to attend to", he stands up and nods at him.
"I wish you a nice day, my Lord", Jon nods back and Stannis leaves. Lost in thoughts, Jon keeps staring at the wooden door for a long moment before going back to ruling the Kingdom.