Thank you for the great reviews on the last chapter. I want to make both Stannis and Sansa a bit more daring in their later interactions. We shall see...Apologies for another late chapter. This is another I have been working on, but my step-father passed away unexpectedly on the 18th.
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Lord of Light
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It took days of planning, but Melisandre was sure that she concocted the perfect way to remove Selyse from the picture. Stannis needed a Queen that was strong, healthy, and able to give him the perfect sons he craved, but unfortunately, his present wife did not keep her duties as Queen. When she was sure of herself, Melisandre met in private with Stannis,
"All the details are written on that parchment. Burn it when you are through."
Stannis slide the note across the table so he could read it, the last words burning into his mind, "Sacrificed." He eyed Melisandre, "Would she believe you?" The woman in red smiled, "Why shouldn't she? I can speak with the Lord of Light, I am told what happens in the future, both good and bad. Selyse would be a fool not to believe me and we both know she does not like to be called a fool." Stannis stood suddenly, shaking his chair as he showed excitement, "And if this works-the girl- she will be mine to take?" Melisandre clasped her hands, "I suppose she would be if you want her and if she is willing. Even after your wife is gone, Stannis, talk to Sansa, dine with her, make her fall for you. From there it will be easy."
"And I will get my sons."
Melisandre was interrupted before she could speak by none other than Davos, "You want to kill your wife to breed the Stark girl?" His face showed sorrow at the words he just heard, but Stannis remained calm, "Leave us. Davos and I have much to speak about."
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"Where did you learn to skip stones?"
Sansa laughed as her last stone skipped over short waves before responding, "We had a small lake in Winterfell near the Godswood. While my father would sit to pray, I would skip stones in the water. He didn't like it so much since it would interrupt his prayer." She looked back at the four guards keeping their watchful eye over them. Shireen smiled, "I never get to come down to the waters. How did you manage to get us here?" Sansa thought back to her conversation with Stannis and remembered how she quietly asked if it would be alright to go to the beaches with the princess. He seemed put off at the idea, but he listened to her carefully as she explained how the fresh air would be good for the both of them. He agreed eventually and she could even still see the small smile he gave her from the corner of his mouth.
"Your father isn't all that bad, Shireen."
The princess sighed as she let the rocks she held in her gown fall back onto the beach, "He doesn't love me." Sansa looked down at the child and frowned, "Why would you say such a thing? Of course he does, all fathers love their children." Shireen shook her head, "Not me." Before either one could speak of it further, a shrill voice screamed out from behind them, "Shireen!"
The two girls spun around, as well as the guards, and Sansa watched in horror as Selyse stumbled down the rock steps, her gown bunched in her hands as her handmaidens followed her at a careful speed. Shireen grabbed Sansa's gown sleeve and whispered, "Don't let her take me back to that room." Sansa nodded and the guards moved aside for Selyse as she made her way to them.
Sansa spoke, "Your grace, I'm happy you could join us outside-" Selyse snapped, "How dare you take my daughter from the castle without permission, you little snake in the grass!" Sansa winced at her words, but she again remembered her manners and tried to explain, "Your grace, please, I had permission from the King." Selyse looked at her with wide eyes as she grabbed Shireen's arm, "The King? No, no, I highly doubt he told you that you could take Shireen from her chambers. She cannot come out here, don't you understand?" Sansa knew she was only ten and three, but already she nearly stood as tall as Selyse, their eyes nearly level as the Queen shouted at her.
"I want you gone, do you hear me? Since coming here you have done nothing but try to tear this family apart!"
Selyse looked at Shireen, "Come with me, now! You are in trouble for letting this harlot use her words to get into your mind!" Shireen looked at Sansa with tears in her eyes and the girl could no longer stand it, "Stop!" Selyse looked at Sansa as she paused her movement, "What did you say? I am your Queen!" Sansa shook her head, "No, you are not, my Queen is my brother Robb's wife. You are nothing to me-"
*SLAP*
Sansa cried out and dropped to her knees while holding her cheek with both hands. As tears came to her eyes she heard Selyse laugh, "You are just a child and children shall not talk to me in such a manner. I suggest you go back to your chambers and stay there until Lord Baelish returns for you." Selyse proceeded to drag a crying Shireen back up the stone steps to the castle and as she disappeared, Sansa remained on the beach wiping away her tears and nursing a bloody lip. One of the guards slowly approached her and questioned, "My Lady, are you alright?" Sansa did not look up, but simply nodded her head. He bit his lip, "Shall I get the King?"
She thought for a moment. Should she tell the King of what happened? He would question her healing lip eventually, so what would be the harm? Sansa finally looked up, "Bring the King to my chambers."
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Davos sat across from his friend and urged on, "Would you breed the child? Your grace, please see reason." Stannis sipped the last of his wine, "She would be my wife, the Queen, and she would be an excellent mother to Shireen. Our sons would be strong and brave, wouldn't they?" Davos could not argue any further, "Your grace, you have thought this through, haven't you?" Stannis chuckled, "Yes, and your argument is now invalid."
"Your grace!"
The two sitting at the table looked at the guard in the doorway. Stannis sighed, "What now?" The guard caught his breath, "The Lady Stark requests your presence in her chambers." Stannis frowned, "Why?" The guard shook his head, "The Queen-she-" Stannis stood and rushed from the room, "Say no more." Never in his years did he see Stannis rush from the room in such a matter, not even when Shireen was born.
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Ending this chapter here to pick up with more goodies later on. I hope you all enjoyed.