King's Landing, 302 AC
« We need to seriously think about what my brother is doing! » Renly shouts in the silent room. Stannis glares up at him, and the young Lord looks down and sits back on his comfy chair. The King has gathered the council as well as Lords who could make it to the Capital during those trouble days. Renly has been one of the quickest to show his support, but Stannis knows he has a very different opinion on things. All eyes are on him now, as he firmly stands up:
"You know I am not a king who ignores or despises the members of my council. I respect each and every one of you, of your advice, which is why I have decided to ask you to vote, in all good conscience. Do not fear upsetting me, and please do not try to vote as you think I would. Do you agree?"
The Lords and Knights nod serious. Stannis stares at them:
"Who thinks we should abandon King's Landing and leave to the Wall to save the Night's Watch?"
Immediately, the mutilated hand of Ser Davos raises. Melisandre's hand follows, shyly. Stannis has no time to replace her, and her vote is needed. Ser Richard Horpe raises his hand too, as well as Lord Royce. Others have taken his boy, years ago. Stannis stares from another hand and sighs: they are eight in the room. Four have voted for the Watch.
"Who votes to stay in King's Landing?" he asks again. Renly is the first to approve, immediately followed by Loras, supposing to be bringing his father's voice. Stannis would have preferred Willas, but Lord Tyrell has told him he has complete trust in Loras' judgment. And, of course, Loras would vote like Renly. The two others voting are Lord Celtigar and Ser Florent.
"Very well…;" Stannis cannot help grinding his teeth. He stands there, the cold gold on his head weighing more than ever. He would give everything he has to become again Lord Stannis, a simple commander obeying his brother. Last time he has to face such a moral struggle was during the Rebellion. Felling their looks upon him, he walks to the windoa and looks over the city. His city. Since he has become King, he has started numerous projects: Tyrion Lannister has thought of a way to clean the city up. He could not have come, his father neither. Stannis has still trouble trusting them but he will need their soldiers, sooner or later. The King doubts, as he has doubted his whole life. Aylis is not here to comfort him, to advice him, to listen to him ranting about everything and anything. He closes his eyes a second, smelling the scent of the town, filled with different essences: the fishes freshly caught, the bakeries' bread, the fruits and vegetables these people have learned to make grow, the scent of the cows, sheeps, goats guided by their shepherds through the city. How could he let them down, promising them to the most hurtful death at Daenerys' hands? But, still, how could he ignore the Watch's message? He suddenly realizes he cannot choose between these parts of his realm: if the Wall falls, Westeros is lost. If King's Landing falls, Westeros is lost. The choice has suddenly turned into a very simple thing: there will be no choice at all. He joins his hands behind his back:
"Ser Davos!" he calls.
The Knight immediately walks to him:
"Your Grace?"
"Send this message to the realm: the Night's Watch is threatened by the worst forces we could imagine. I will need of each house's half of men to fight them."
Davos nods slightly:
"Half?" he suddenly voices.
"The other half will help you defend the Capital" Stannis turns to him.
"Me?" Davos gasps.
"Him?!" Renly blurts. "I am your brother, I should be the one defending the city!" he protests.
"Ser Davos is my Hand", Stannis turns to him. "But not only. He is my tongue, my eyes and my ears. How and why are you more legitimate? Stannis starts growling angrily.
"He has never fought", Renly argues. "He almost lost Dragonstone! Cressen has died because of him!" Renly does not get flustered.
Stannis cracks a smile, a sarcastic one, and takes a few steps to Renly, slowly saying:
"It it because your face is stuck so deep into Loras's arse that your mouth is covered with crap?!"
He has talked very softly at first, but has yelled the last few words. Renly reddens intently and flinches slightly. He looks at Loras who shakes his head discreetly:
"As my King commands", Renly bows and swallows hard.
Davos looks at Stannis, a proud happiness filling his heart and warming it up. The support of Stannis has always meant the world to him. The Kind dismisses everyone except Melisandre and he wraps an arm around Davos's shoulders and whispers so he is the only one to hear:
"I trust you, Davos, but my brother is right. You are not a soldier, but I know you realize your worth. Do not disappoint me, do not lose this bloody town, because if you do, it will not be the only thing you will lose."Davos nods, swallowing hard, and bos respectfully before leaving. Melisandre stands there, a smile roving on her lips. A smile that vanishes when the King orders the guards to take her back to her cell. She tries to catch her King's look, but Stannis stubbornly stares at the city. It is only when he is sure she has left that he stares at her empty chair.
The Red Woman is sitting alone in her cell, staring at the weak flames that cast a small shadow on the humid stones of the wall. She can hear the waves crashing on the rocks and she closes her eyes, letting her heart taking up the pace of the waves. A noise she doesn't expect makes her open her eyes and a smirk appears on her lips: boots clacking on the damp stones. She would recognise this noise between , she remains sitting on the Spartan bed that is her only distraction since she has been locked up here. The boots get closer and closer, ending up stopping clacking. She stares at the flames, hoping for a sign from her god. The fire seems to intensify suddenly and she parts her lips:
"Have you come to say farewell, my King?"
Behind the bars, Stannis swallows hard.
"How did you know it was me?"
The pale face shines with a smile and a laugh rings out in the cell:
"Who else would visit me here? Even the guard who has to feed me is terrified by me and does not speak to me."
Melisandre turns her head to her king: she is not surprised by the way he treats her, just disappointed. Terribly disappointed. Stannis holds her look back:
"I need you..."
She startled at these words: has he ended up being reasonable? She folds her legs back and stands up, taking steps to him. She wraps her hands around two bars and stares at him:
"You need to give all of yourself to R'hllor" she purrs like a she-cat.
Stannis, on the contrary, takes a step backwards. Damn her and her bewitching ways.
"Silence, woman. You have sworn to serve me, and now I am telling you will serve me. I will need magic at the Wall, and I know you have power. You will accompany me", he asserts and immediately turns around to leave.
"My King!" She calls at him and he sighs before looking back at her. Her eyes are red, red like a setting sun, red like her dress, like her hair.
"What?" He growls.
"You cannot have my powers as long as you have not given yourself to the Lord of Light. I am very serious. War implies sacrifice. Will you forget your duty because you do not want to sacrifice something?" She mysteriously says. Stannis stares at her for a long moment and looks at the light shining at the exit of the dungeon. He could leave now, and let her rot here until they leave, but he cannot. He knows he will not find sleep until she tells him exactly what he needs to do. His eyes meet hers again:
"What do I do?" He simply asked and the triumphant smile she has makes him freeze and shiver violently.
"I can give you a son" she says just as mysteriously. Stannis scowls at her: has she lost her mind?
"I already have sons" he reminds her.
She laughs heartily:
"A son worthy of you. A son more murderous than any army in this world. A son who will obey any of your will."
She says those words with such passion and fever Stannis is taken aback and does not know what to answer. Melisandre lets the bars go and unlaces the little piece of cloth holding her dress together, and reveals to her King the power of her immaculate body. She leans on the bars, her nipples sticking out at the fresh air. Stannis stares at her for a second before looking away ashamed.
"But..." she says in a very seductive voice. "A son needs to be conceived"
"Cover yourself" he orders.
"My King..." she starts but he interrupts her.
"I have heard you, Lady Melisandre. I will talk to your suggestion to the Queen."
The passion of her eyes is replaced with fury.
"She cannot understand what is at stake!" She exclaims.
Stannis looks at her lengthily and walks away. Before he is too far to be heard, he announces:
"We leave for Riverrun in three days."
Before she can even answer, he has already disappeared. Melisandre sighs and closes her eyes, praying to her God. Turning to the flames, she sees something in it and gets closer with a frown. Fascinated, she slowly laces her dress up before smiling wider and wider at the images her God is sending to her.
Stannis climbs silently the marches that lead him from the dampness of the cells to the beauty of the Red Keep. He passes by servants and guards, greeting them with a slight nod. With Aylis, he has learnt how to be more affable, but sometimes, his nature gets back on top. He feels lonely here, despite the numerous counsellors he has, despite the Small Council. He misses Aylis, every day that passes tortures him more. He gets in his chambers and immediately gets rid off his clothes, washes himself with a flannel and turns his head to his bed, cold and way too big for him. Soon, he will be with his wife, he will see his daughter, and he will talk to her about the Red Woman. Melisandre, a little voice in his head makes. She has a name, she is not a slave. How will Aylis react when he will tell her he needs to conceive a son with her? He plops on his bed and rubs his face in his hands. He dreads the moment when everyone will know about Melisandre's power: how will people react about him? He grinds his teeth. Damn them. They will never know the immense weight that he carries through this simple golden crown that stands by his bed. A King cannot content everyone, and needs to take the most crucial decisions for his realm. But Stannis is also well served by his Hand, and the small council he has chosen gives him satisfaction. He is tortured by doubts and fear, of course, but somehow, he knows he can sleep quietly. His last thoughts before drifting off to a dreamless sleep go to Renly, and the brat's reaction he had at the meeting. He should know better and starts thinking about making a son to his wife, instead of sulking like a little boy who would not get the new toy he wants. Stannis has hoped his marriage with Talla Tarly would have drift him away from Loras but he has very quickly realised it would never be the case. The years have passed and Tarla has not conceived a child yet, spreading rumours about Renly and Loras, who have not been very discreet either. Stannis remembers how pale Renly has turned when he has told him about his intentions of marrying him. On the spot, Renly has explained himself with the refusal to marry the daughter of an enemy. Or rather a previous one. Stannis has told him the Tarlys have stopped being their enemy when they have bent the knee to him. He knows now it has been a trick, that Renly has not cared about her name, he just wanted to stay single. But a Lord as important cannot stay single. And Tarla would never outshine him. She is the best one for him. Stannis promises himself to talk to Renly before he leaves, and closes his eyes, letting tiredness and weariness taking the most of him.
The day they leave for Riverrun, Stannis leaves to Renly's chambers: the young Lord will go back to Storm's End, and will send half of his army to King's Landing, and the other half to join Stannis on his way to the wall. The Gods know how many men will return from the battles… Thoughtful, Stannis places a light knock on his door and waits for Renly to allow him to come in. Instead, the door opens on a pale Renly, pale as if he has seen a ghost.
"What do you want?" he asks wearily. He clearly does not want to see Stannis. The King clenches his jaw and says as nicely as possible:
"I came to talk to you about Loras…"
Renly makes him getting in and closes the door. Stannis starts:
"You are my brother, you are my blood and I can understand…"
Renly stops him with a gesture of his hand.
"Talla is with child" he says with the same tone he would take to announce someone's death.
Stannis startles but sincerely says:
"Congratulations. I wish you a son."
Loras and I could choose the name, Renly thinks. He nods slowly at his brother:
"Thank you… I would like to be alone, now…"
Stannis nods, and walks back to the door. He has come to tell his brother about the importance of having a child, an heir, but he guesses it is useless, now. Very decorously, he simply turns to Renly, with his hand on the handle of the door:
"Does Loras know?"
Renly looks at him, not even surprised, and shakes his head slowly.
"Tell him", Stannis says before leaving.