Thank you all so much for the reviews on the last chapter. It was one of my favorite to write! Enjoy.
...
Petyr Baelish walked down the halls of the Eyrie with Lysa Arryn trailing behind him, "Do you really believe it is a good idea to bring her here? She would be threatening my poor Robin's safety!" Petyr scoffed, "Oh, please, my dear, Robin needs to be cultured more anyways, what is better than bringing his cousin here to tell him stories of her travels?" He paused and turned around to her, "Lysa, my love, do me this favor and allow her to come here. Sansa would be all the safer to be here, further North and further away from the Lannister's. My little birds in the west assured me that her mother and brother were murdered in Frey's company.
" Lysa sighed, still unsure of his idea,
"But what if she tries to take you from me?"
He looked at her and chuckled, "Oh, my! Do not worry of such a thing, Lysa! She is just a child and nothing compared to you." He took her into a hug and listened to her, "I suppose her being here would be safest. Besides, her most of her family is dead now. Catelyn, she is dead and gone along with her husband and children. Sansa must be heartbroken-"
Petyr pulled away, "Heartbroken, yes, but eager to be with family again. Besides, how happy could she be stuck at Dragonstone with Stannis Baratheon? He is the angriest of all the Baratheon brothers."
...
"A courtship? How lovely."
Melisandre looked at Stannis and Sansa, who stood before her arm in arm. Sansa looked up at Stannis and smiled at him before leaning her head upon his arm. The Red Witch nearly gagged at the affection Sansa had for Stannis and the way Stannis looked on her arm. Stannis sensed the tension and removed his arm from Sansa's, "Sansa, dear, why don't you have Ser Davos bring you and Shireen fishing? I know he is the best at catching a good fish or two." Her excitement brought him joy and he leaned down to kiss her cheek before she left.
He looked at Melisandre and she hissed, "How disgusting. You have completely forgot the plan and what is most important." Stannis shook his head, "I have not. I know what I need to do and how to do it-"
"No, you do not!"
Her outburst angered Stannis and he growled, "I am courting her to eventually marry her! I am going to make her my Queen and get my sons from her! What else would you have me do? I am doing this the right way. The way she deserves as a Lady." Melisandre challenged him yet, "I would have you marry her tomorrow, give her sons that very night, and bring your men together for an army!" Stannis shook his head, "The Lord of Light has not requested that of me and we both know that." She became quiet and he urged one, "What is your Lord of Light telling you?" She was quiet for another moment and she then whispered, "I-I cannot say-"
Stannis grabbed her arm, "Then leave me to do things my way." Melisandre shook her head, "You will have to make choices soon, Stannis and you must make the right choices. If you wish to get the the Iron Throne, you must take things by force and do unimaginable things to those you love." He let her go and the look of confusion wiped over his face, "I-I will not harm her-"
"You must not turn soft, Stannis. Never forget who you are."
...
Ser Davos watched in happiness as Shireen cast out another line to the sea pool near the rocks. Sansa sighed, "So now, Stannis Baratheon is courting me, openly I might add, and I am to turn four and ten in just a few days." Davos nodded, "Quite the Nameday it shall be, no doubt. Although Stannis has never been one for celebrating, he will be quite pleased to see you happy." He quickly glanced in her direction and saw her staring out at the sea, "And what is it you would want for your Nameday, my Lady?" Sansa shrugged, "I am not quite sure. I think I would like to go back on main land to see people and trees." She felt as though she offended him in some way and quickly explained, "I enjoy being here, Ser Davos, do not think otherwise, but I am always locked up, no matter where I go."
"I suppose I may be able to request that of the King."
Sansa was overjoyed, for seeing the green grass, the trees, and smelling fresh air instead of sea water would be most pleasant. She watched Shireen pull in her line once more and smiled, "I am quite happy, Ser Davos. The happiest I have been in a long time." They looked at one another and she whispered, "Even after learning of their deaths, he has brought me happiness. I will be safe here."
She sighed once more, "I just know it."
...
"She wants to go on the main land? Absolutely not."
Davos clasped his hands behind his back, "Your grace, it may be good for the girl to have more interaction with others. Besides, it is her Nameday in just a few days-" Stannis frowned, "So I should risk her life to make her happy?" Davos thought for a moment, "Well, yes, except I don't see how you can risk her life by letting her back there for just a few hours. She is a smart girl, your grace."
Stannis nodded, "Yes, smart, but beautiful as well. I fear of her being seen and hurt, does that make me so bad?" Davos bowed his head, "Of course not, your grace." Stannis chuckled, "Let's go down to the beach to see them, Ser Davos. No doubt my Lady is missing me."
...
They arrived on the beach to find Sansa and Shireen running through the water, their dresses bunched up to their knees, kicking the salty water as high as they could as they chased each other. Stannis smirked as he watched Sansa laugh as she tumbled a bit and he took notice of one of his guards watching her as well. He walked to him and growled, "Keep your eyes on the sand, boy, or I will have the Red Witch remove them." The guard gulped and looked down at the sand as Stannis passed him and walked to his daughter and Sansa. Both girls stopped running and quickly dropped the hem of their skirts before curtsying, "Father! Sansa and I caught the biggest fish Westeros has ever seen and then she taught me how to make a sand castle!"
Sansa smiled and caught her breath, "The princess is quite the fisher-woman." Stannis grasped her hand and kissed it, "Perhaps we shall have dinner in my chambers tonight? I wish to speak with you of your Nameday." Sansa looked past him to Davos and smiled, "Of course." Stannis smirked and nodded, "For now, why don't we fish for awhile, hm?" Shireen grabbed her rod and line and handed it to her father, "Please!"
In the tower above them, Melisandre looked down upon all of them with a sneer. She cursed, "He is growing soft on the girl and we cannot have that. He must remain strong and she must learn of what she is getting herself into." She turned and looked at the flames next to her, staring at them as they grew larger.
The Lord of Light promised a throne and Melisandre would make sure he made it there, no matter what.
...
Two chapters in one day? Holy Moly! Petyr does know of Robbs death, but not of Selyse. Melisandre, you will learn later, lusts after Stannis still and I guess you can say shes becoming jealous a bit, but she also wants to make sure he gets to the iron throne, no matter the sacrifice. This was a nice little filler chapter.