King's Landing, 333 AC, thirty years after

The Queen is awakened by the rays of sunshine piercing through the windows and burning her naked skin. She groans a bit, and turns around, her hand looking for her husband's body. She opens her eyes as she feels the bare sheets, and turns her face to his spot, smiles: he is here, sitting on the edge of the bed, and she admires him, for a short moment. How handsome he still is, this husband. He has grown old, of course: his hair has turned from black as coal as salt and pepper, and the wrinkles have multiplied on his brow. But he is still hers and he turns to her with the same smile than when they have married, so long ago, as the tip of her fingers brush his soft skin. Aylis has turned old too: her hair has lot of white now, and her body is limper than before. But the love and the passion between them have never faded, and it is with the passion of youth that she crawls to him, wraps her arm around him and lays a long kiss on his cheek. Stannis smiles, and grabs the cane which does not leave the side of his bed: his injury during the Great War against the Others has never really healed, and he has limped ever since. He winces as he stands up: his legs are not as strong as before, and he grows tired easily now.

"Are you alright?" the worried voice of his wife rings out in the room.

He turns to her and sadly half-smiles:

"I am old..."

Getting dressed, he turns to her and bends over to kiss her before walking out of the room.

Their family have growned with two other children, born in times of peace: Hugon, in 308 AC, and Mathild, two years later. The sons of Aylis and Stannis have all been fostered in different part of the realm: Doryos in Winterfell, Oswyn in Highgarden, Hugon in Dorne. This is where he has met the one who has become his wife a few years ago, Morgana Martell, the daughter of Quentyn Martell. Shireen has never married, weeping Jon for the rest of her life. Aistan has married the daughter of Garlan Tyrell and Leonette Fossoway, called Anthea. Doryos has been united to Alynne Connington, and Oswyn to Janei Lannister, the daughter of Kevan, in an attempt from Stannis to build a lasting peace with those houses. To his great surprise, his daughter Celony has refused to marry unless it would be with Steffon Seaworth, the son of Davos. After numerous arguments, the King has had to agree with this marriage. And finally, Mathild has married Anderon Greyjoy, the son of Asha. They all have children now, and are happy. They do not need their parents anymore. Aistan is not the king yet, but Stannis gives him more and more power, leaving him in charge of a lot of things, as he enjoys a well deserved semi-retirement. The Queen is happy to finally being able to enjoy her husband's presence at her side, without fearing of seeing him leaving for another battle, or watching him work until exhaustion to rule the kingdom. The realm has been in peace, and prospers, but Stannis knows that it will go on like that with Aistan ruling after him. He has turned into a wise man, more careful and sweet than his father, looking like he has taken all the good sides of Baratheons and Tullys reunited.

Aylis leaves their bed too, and rings the bell so her maids help her dressing up. They soon arrive and they join Aistan in the Great Room to share a breakfast. Their eldest son smiles at them as they get in:

"Happy anniversary, dear parents" he embraces them both.

Aylis smiles huge at him then at Stannis: today is their forty fifth wedding anniversary. Aylis hardly realises she has lived so many happy years by her husband's side. After all, who would have bet on them, when Robert decided to betroth them together? No one, except her. Stannis smiles back at her, and kisses her brow gently, as he has always done. They sit, and enjoy this day together.

At night, Stannis goes to bed early, and Aylis enjoys a late stroll through the Red Keep. When she joins their bedchambers, Stannis is already asleep. She carefully joins him, and leans her head on his chest, as usual. She shrieks, suddenly, she howls, and she sits up, looking, staring at his husband's face: his heart has stopped beating. Incomprehensibly, she straddles him, grabs his shoulders, and shakes him to wake him up. When she ends up realising he will not wake up, she punches his chest, yelling his name, beseeching him to not leave her alone. The servants, and Aistan, storm in the room, the man staring at his dead father's body. He needs a second to come to his mother, and embrace her, weeping the death of the man they admire the most.

Aistan manages to convince his mother to take some rest, but she insists on staying by Stannis' side. He accepts, and gives her the comfiest armchair in the Red Keep, places a blanket over her body, and leaves her with her husband, after a last kiss. At dawn, it is him who comes wake her up and finds her curled up in the armchair, her eyes wide opened staring at Stannis, her hand holding his, but as dead as him. He lets out the exact same shriek than she did, only a few hours ago.

Aistan takes a deep breath as he gets in the Sept, his coat heavy on his shoulders, his wife's hand tenderly held. He looks at the noble forming a guard of honour around them, and smiles, and nods. He glanced at his children, waiting for him by the Septon. His eyes lock Anthea's, and he kneels with her by the Septon. As he lays the crown on his head, he has a thought for his father, and his mother, and closes his eyes a second, before rising and turning to the noblemen gathered here.

"Long live the King!" They cheer.