A Different Course of Action

by Dovah-wolfbear64

(Canon divergent AU. No Others/White Walkers. Some characters OOC) Jon Snow does not take the black after being selected as a steward, so leaves the Wall. Robb meanwhile marches past the Twins to engage Tywin Lannister head on, thus ignoring the Freys. How will the game of thrones go with this different course of action? [ON HIATUS, READ PROFILE FOR MORE INFO]

14. The Fallen Stag

Author's Note: Update 2 of 2. We will start at the Eyrie with Theon before we go to the Stormlands to see what's up with the Baratheon brothers.

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Chapter 14

The Fallen Stag

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Theon

The last couple of days have been eventful, and not in a good way. Theon remembered the look of worry on Eddard's face when they were told that Catelyn had fainted when her sister had killed herself after finding the boy lord dead in his room. He followed the man who was a second father to him as they made their way into the Moon Tower. I must be the first Ironborn to set foot inside the Arryns castle, he had thought then as they walked to the lord's bed chamber. When they entered they found Catelyn on the ground with Maester Colemon and some guards around her. Eddard went to her first before looking at his good-sister and nephew, but Theon had seen them first and felt his stomach lurch. He has seen dead bodies before, even witnessing the King when he was still Lord Stark carrying out the King's justice on deserters and other condemned men. He has even killed people himself, and a part of him enjoyed the killing. But those killed in front of him or by his hand were all men grown; what he saw in that room was horrifying beyond comprehension. Lady Arryn lay in a massive pool of blood, her dress ripped to bloody pieces around her belly and stained red with her blood. Her son however had one single gash across his throat, and the top part of his shirt was red. He too had lain in a pool of blood. Theon remembered helping to carry Catelyn away from the room, but after that he remembered little apart from Eddard sending him off to get some rest. Instead of resting Theon had pilfered some ale from the kitchens and had gotten drunk to the point of being sick.

Catelyn had awoken yesterday and had spent the day with her husband, leaving Theon free to do as he wished. All he did though was practice his archery, spar with a couple of the guards, and then have a few drinks. He found that he was missing Robb's company, and to his surprise he missed Snow's company as well. Never thought I'd ever miss being around his solemn mug, he thought. During the ride to the Vale he had considered asking Eddard why he was keeping him close to him instead of leaving him with Robb, but in the end he decided against asking that. And with what happened the day before yesterday he decided against asking him for the foreseeable future.

Theon was walking along the corridor to go to his guest room when he heard some laughter coming from the far corner. He had just finished eating dinner not that long ago and found himself with nothing to do. Just this morning Eddard had called for a week of mourning for the boy lord and his mother, despite the fact that Lady Arryn had admitted before killing herself to killing Jon Arryn. Theon had asked the King about the admission and was told that Lady Arryn's words had brought more questions about what Lord Baelish was up to. Theon was told that he would not be needed for the rest of today but he would be required from tomorrow as normal. So now Theon found himself walking over to the corner where the laughter was coming from. He turned the corner and walked down to where he saw an open door. He approached the door slowly until he was close enough to peer in, where he saw one of the household knights pulling his clothes back on while a woman lay naked on her side with her back to the door.

"And then I remember when the little lord would run about and pull his lady mother's arm and demand to be fed there and then, causing Lady Arryn no end of embarrassment judging by how red she would go," the woman said. The knight laughed as he pulled on his breeches and began to lace them up. After a moment the laughter stopped and the woman sighed. "He was a sweet little boy," she said solemnly. "Poor of health and quite a little terror from time to time, but sweet nonetheless. He didn't deserve to die like that." Theon stepped back so that they would not see him if they should move.

"He was a little shit," the knight said, earning a gasp from the woman. Theon was quite surprised at the bluntness from the man. "Don't give me that look love, he was. The last few months were a bloody nightmare for us all. I was quite fed up with his tantrums, and gods did I want to give him a clout seeing as his lady mother wouldn't. Still, he didn't deserve to die that young, and certainly not that way." Theon began to inch away from the door and go back the way he came.

"He was a handful, you're right," the woman said. "But still, life must go on I suppose. But who'll be the new Lord of the Eyrie?"

"I don't know," the knight spoke. The two were quiet for a short while so Theon began to move around the corner. Just as he had moved around it he heard the woman speak again.

"Did you notice that the Stark King has brought his captive Ironborn with him?" The question made Theon pause. His cheeks burned at being called a captive, even though he knew that that was what he was, but all the same he was intrigued to know what was going to be said.

"Is that who that dark haired lad is?" the knight replied. "Gods I thought he looked familiar. Balon Greyjoy's last son?" The woman giggled, a sweet sound that was full of sin.

"Mya had been giving him looks according to Mhartha," the woman continued. The knight made a grunt of surprise at that.

"I thought Mya was taken with that Redfort boy? Mychel was it?" he asked.

"Well from what Mhartha told me the boy took her maidenhead not that long ago," the woman said. Theon was about to inch closer when he heard the distinct click of the door being closed, and soon he heard nothing coming from the room. Bloody typical, he thought with a huff. Theon began walking again with the aim of finding his guest room, all the while lost in his own thoughts. Who could this Mya be anyway? he wondered. Is she a whore or a servant? Does she live here in the Eyrie or does she live at one of the waycastles? I need to see if I can...

"Excuse me?" a voice said from behind him. Theon turned around to see a young man standing behind him. He looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old, and had sandy hair and blue eyes. His face was clean shaven and he looked nervous. "I'm sorry to bother you but I'm afraid I am lost. I'm trying to find the King you see, and Lady Waynwood said that I am to find him and speak with him." It took Theon a little while to realise who he was.

"You're Lady Waynwood's ward, are you not?" he asked him. The boy nodded his head.

"Y... yes. Yes I am. My name is Harrold Hardyng. I am a distant cousin of Lady Waynwood. She has raised me at Ironoaks since I was very young." The young man gave a smile to Theon and reached out his hand to him. Theon was quite taken aback by this, but he recovered quite quickly and shook his hand.

"I am Theon Greyjoy," he told Harrold. "Lord... ahem, King Eddard's ward." He returned the smile to Harrold as they let go of their hands. "I was on my way back to my guest rooms but I can take you to where the King is." Harrold nodded his head, looking somewhat grateful.

"That would be very good of you ser," he said. Theon chuckled slightly as he turned around to lead him to the King.

"I'm not a knight Ser Harrold," he told him honestly. The young man looked a little bit shocked by that.

"Oh. Well, neither am I, yet," he said. "I'm still a squire, although saying that Lady Waynwood has told me that I am to start squiring for someone else."

Theon led Harrold along the hallways to where he knew Eddard to be staying at. They took half an hour to get to the room in question, and they spent their time talking about various things from fighting to drinking, and eventually women. Harrold seemed to have a strong desire for women much like Theon had, and to his surprise he also said that he has a bastard daughter. They were talking about their preferences when it comes to women when they finally came across the hallway that led to where the King was staying. A dozen guardsmen in Stark colours stood at attention along the hallway, all with shields held ready and with their hands gripping the hilts of their swords.

"Well, here we are Harrold," Theon said. He led him along the hallway until he came to the door where a tall broad shouldered man was standing. "We are here to speak with the King," Theon told him. "He is waiting for Harrold Hardyng here." The guard looked at them and nodded before opening the door and walking in.

"My King, Theon Greyjoy has brought Harrold Hardyng to see you," the guard said.

"Thank you Derik," the King responded. The guard stepped aside and allowed Theon and Harrold to enter before closing the door behind him. Both of them stood still until they were told to take their seats. When they both sat down Eddard looked up at them. He was dressed in black today, just as Catelyn was when Theon saw her earlier. His bronze and iron crown was no doubt secured in its case, and Ice rested on the table nearby. "So, you are Harrold Hardyng?" he said after nodding to Theon.

"Yes, your grace," Harrold said.

"And do you know why you are here?" Eddard asked. Theon looked at Harrold and saw him shake his head.

"Lady Waynwood said that I was to speak to you, but she would not say why," he admitted.

"Because you are to be my second squire," the King said. Theon blinked at that, looking at the man with a questioning look. Second squire? Who was the first? he wondered. As if reading his mind Eddard spoke further. "Young Theon here is my first squire, being my ward since the end of the Greyjoy Rebellion," he said. Theon felt a twinge of bitterness in him then at the reminder of why he was sent away to Winterfell. It could've been worse, he told himself. It could've been the Dreadfort or Casterly Rock you were sent to. "According to some of my lords, as a King I should have two squires. Personally I do not see the point, but a lot of my lords are insistent on me taking a second squire. Therefore I shall be taking you on as my second squire." Theon looked back at Harrold who was looking shocked at what he just heard.

"I am honoured, your grace," he replied. "Though I must admit I am wondering why you would take me as a squire." As am I, Theon thought as he looked back at Eddard.

"Like Theon here you are the heir to a kingdom, and as such it is considered important that you squire with someone who can give you the lordly education that you need," the King said. Theon looked at him with wide eyes then. While it was true that Theon was the heir to the whole of the Iron Islands, Harrold was only a member of a House of landed knights. How can he be the heir to a kingdom?

"You must be mistaken your grace," Harrold responded. "I am only from a minor House sworn to House Waynwood of Ironoaks. My family are no more than landed knights. My cousins through my father's brother and myself are all that is left of the men of our House." Harrold fell silent then as Eddard fixed him with his stern face, his 'lord's' face as it were. The first time that Eddard had used that look on him Theon had fallen silent within a few seconds of seeing that look. He was quite glad that he was not the only person who was not of Eddard's family to fall silent when receiving that look.

"Your grandmother was the sister of Jon Arryn, who was Lord of the Eyrie and Defender of the Vale of Arryn," he said. "You have Arryn blood in your veins lad. With my nephew Lord Robert dead, lordship of the Eyrie passes to the next Arryn. The only Arryns left are those who live in Gulltown, and they are considered to be unworthy of carrying on the Arryn line. You are the next best choice. Your great-grandfather Lord Jasper ruled the Vale before Lord Jon. You have a claim to the Eyrie. You will be my squire until you have seen your eighteenth nameday, but before that you shall be wed to a lady of the Vale and have children to carry on the name. Kneel before me in the High Hall of your ancestors, pledge your fealty to me, and I shall name you as Lord Harrold Arryn." Theon looked at the King with wide eyes, finally understanding why Eddard was naming Harrold as the new Lord of the Vale. Eddard's intelligence was something that Theon always envied about the Northman, that and his love for his family.

While he never treated Theon the same way he treated his sons the man always gave Theon respect and kindness, and as with his own children he always showed a firm hand towards Theon whenever he got himself into trouble. He was a far better father than old Balon Greyjoy, Theon's true father; he had two older sons (who died during his failed rebellion ten years ago), and so he all but ignored Theon. The only family that Theon missed were his mother Alannys Harlaw and his older sister Asha. There were one or two other people from Pyke that he missed, but none more so than Dagmer Cleftjaw, an old raider with a fearsome reputation who taught Theon as a boy how to fight, as well as teaching him riding and boatman-ship. Dagmer was the old master-at-arms at Pyke, or at least he passed for one, and Theon as a boy referred to him as Uncle Dagmer on account of him having a female Greyjoy ancestor four or five generations back. I wonder if he still has all of those rings of his? he wondered. The gold and silver and bronze, all set with sapphire and garnet and dragonglass. Rings he claimed the old way, by paying the iron price.

Theon looked back to Harrold, snapping himself out of his thoughts. The young man looked quite astonished by what Eddard had told him, his eyes wide and mouth agape. Theon felt like telling him to close his mouth but decided against it.

"My... your grace, that is... uh, I mean, I... I really don't know what to say," he finally managed stumble out before looking down at his hands. Harrold looked like he had aged a lot just by hearing the news.

"It's never easy to accept Harrold," Eddard said. "Trust me, I know how you feel." Harrold looked back at Eddard, as did Theon.

"You do?" he asked. Eddard nodded his head.

"I was only a year or so older than you when I learned that my father and brother were killed by the Mad King," he replied. "I was the second son of the Lord of Winterfell, and then all of a sudden I was the Lord of Winterfell myself. It took me months to get accustomed to the sudden change, and even today I still find myself wondering what the hells I am doing." Theon heard a snort of a laugh coming from Harrold, who immediately cleared his throat.

"Sorry your grace, I don't mean to be disrespectful," he said. Eddard merely smiled in response to that.

"That's quite alright Harrold," he said. "It will take some time getting used to, and even then you may find that you have days where you wonder what is going on. I will give you until the end of the mourning period to get yourself used to this change, and then I'll have you swear your oath to me." Theon glanced at Harrold who nodded his head in response.

"Of course your grace," he said.

"Now then, you may take your leave and get some rest. I will be speaking with Lady Waynwood and the others to determine a suitable bride for you and we will speak with you on the matter after you have sworn your oath." Harrold made to stand, as did Theon, before Eddard spoke again. "Theon, could you remain for a moment please?" he asked. Theon looked at the King before nodding his head.

"Yes your grace," he answered as Harrold stood up.

"By your leave, your grace," the young man said with a bow before leaving the room.

As Harrold left the room Theon looked at his foster father and captor, who regarded him with his usual stern look. Since the day he returned to his family Eddard has seemed to be a different person than the lord who had left to become Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon. He seemed a lot more stern than before, and perhaps a little bit ruthless. Theon was not sure what to make of this sudden change in the man, but a part of him was nervous.

"For nearly ten years I have raised you at Winterfell Theon," he began after a minute of silence. "You have slept under my roof, eaten and drank from my table, and sparred and learned with my sons. But I feel as if I have neglected your education by not teaching you about your homeland." Theon sat back in his seat, a little startled by this admission.

"Well, your grace..."

"What have I recently told you about addressing me when you are alone in the room with me?" he interrupted. Theon sighed slightly, smirking as he did.

"To only address you by title when announcing myself and when leaving after being dismissed," he answered. "I apologise, Eddard, but I find that old habits are difficult to shift." Eddard smiled at him as he folded his arms in front of his chest and leant back into his seat.

"You are not only the last son of Balon Greyjoy, but the future Lord of the Iron Islands," he told him. "As a lord you will be expected to keep your fellow Ironborn in line, especially during peace time. And the only way to do that effectively is to learn about being Ironborn. With the Seven Kingdoms splintering under the domain of multiple kings your people will start to get ideas in their head about returning to the old way of reaving coasts. That cannot happen." Theon nodded his head, bringing a hand up to scratch his chin as he thought about what Eddard was telling him.

"My father might use this war to attack anyone," Theon spoke then, looking back at the King. "He would be foolish to attack the North though, especially with me still by your side. But he could well attack anyone else if you were to tell him to." Eddard grunted in response to that, his eyes looking down at the table in front of him before looking back at Theon.

"Of that I must confess I am not too sure," he said, and Theon felt a cold feeling in his gut then. "Just last night I received word from Seagard that the Iron Islands are preparing for war, but their target is not known. I would send you straight back to your father, but something tells me that doing so while we are at war in the south would not be good. You father has no love for me, and some of my bannermen have expressed that they think that Balon Greyjoy would happily attack the North if I were to send you back just now." Theon gulped at the words, feeling uncomfortable with what he was hearing. While he was certain that his father would not dare attack the North while the Starks still held dominion over it, a part of him suspected that Eddard was right. "To that end I have sent word to Ser Helman Tallhart to send four-thousand men back north and to command his brother Ser Leobald to begin patrolling the Stony Shore. I have also sent word to Bear Island and Deepwood Motte to have them increase patrols around their nearby coasts, as well as sending word to the Flints of Flint's Finger telling them the same. From the Flint Cliff and Cape Kraken to the shores of the Rills and the Stony Shore, Sea Dragon Point and Bear Island I intend to have regular patrols keeping an eye out for any Ironborn should your father decide to forsake you, or should he be usurped and replaced by another Ironborn lord who wants to attack the North." Theon nodded his head slowly when Eddard finished speaking, feeling a sense of dread as he thought about what he said.

"If my father, or another lord from the Iron Islands, were to attack the North, would you do as King Robert had once expected of you?" he asked slowly after nearly a minute of silence. "Would you kill me?" Eddard looked at Theon with those grey eyes of his, boring into his very soul or so it seems. Upon looking him in the eye Theon noticed that his eyes seemed soft, not hard.

"No Theon," he finally said. "You and Robb have a good friendship. Robb looks at you as if you are a brother to him. That alone makes it impossible for me to kill you. For that to happen you would have to put me into a position where I would have no other choice but to kill you." Theon let out a deep breath then, relief surging through him. "I will not put you at the front of battle unless I am fighting there myself. I cannot risk your life unnecessarily Theon. But you are a keen eyed archer, which is good because you are barely adequate with a sword." Theon chuckled at that, as did Eddard.

"You're right there," he said. The two men fell silent for a short time before Eddard stood up and walked over to the door.

"Now then, I have far too much work to do, and very little time to get it done," he said. "And you could do with getting some rest. Go and have some food before resting Theon. Starting from tomorrow I want you to go to Maester Colemon at midday for as long as we are here and ask him to teach you what he can about the Iron Islands, from each of the islands and their castles to the people who live there, both the small folk and the nobles. I will speak with him before we leave the Eyrie and ask him what he is teaching you so that when we return to Riverrun I can have Maester Vyman continue with your education." Theon gave a slight frown at that particular instruction.

"I know about the islands and some of the Houses there Eddard," he said, a slight hint of defiance in his voice.

"It never hurts to go over what you already know lad," he replied. Theon opened his mouth to answer back but stopped himself, realising that Eddard was right. "Now, off you go Theon." Theon walked out of the room and into the hallway.

"Okay then," he said, slowly accepting Eddard's instruction. "I'll see you later then, your grace." Theon gave a slight bow before walking off down the hallway. He's right, he's always so bloody right, he thought as he wandered down the hallway back to his chambers. Still, as annoying as it is, I'm to do it from tomorrow, so I can have some enjoyment before then. Now, let's see if I can find out who this Mya is.

---

Renly

Renly looked out at the camp that was set up outside of Storm's End. He was furious with Stannis for laying siege to his home, the very castle where they both grew up. Their mother, Lady Cassana, had given birth to both of them in that castle. Stannis held off the forces of the Reach when Lord Mace had organised the siege of Storm's End during his brother's rebellion. He and Stannis had both endured the siege and starved together there for months. And now Stannis was the one laying siege to the castle. I bet that if he was capable of enjoyment then he would be enjoying every minute of this, he thought bitterly. Renly shook his head slightly as he heard footsteps coming behind him. Looking over his shoulder Renly saw Loras approaching him. His best friend and lover had a glum look in his eyes. He still feels torn over what to do about us, he realised, feeling guilt pooling in his stomach.

"The men are all assembled and ready your grace," Loras spoke stiffly. Renly winced slightly at his tone.

"Good Loras," he answered. "I hope Stannis is feeling as irritable as I am just now." Loras grunted out a poor attempt at a chuckle.

"We have been approaching his camp slowly for just over a week now so he's probably been driven mad by our deliberate slow advance," he said. "Plus he is probably trying to figure out how he is going to deal with Lord Stark." Mentioning Ned made Renly feel uneasy; he had received word a fortnight ago now that Ned had not only returned to his wife and eldest son who were at Riverrun, but had now also become known as the King in the North. Renly felt unsettled by this revelation. He was surprised by the news and even angry about it, but Renly knew that he could not blame Ned. After I left him to the Lannisters he probably wants nothing more to do with me apart from setting down terms, he thought. Oh why couldn't you see reason Ned? It would've been so much better for all of us if you did. Now we will probably end up at war with each other. What would Robert say if he saw us as we all are now?

"We shall worry about him later Loras," Renly said. "For now let us walk back to our command tent."

Renly and Loras walked alongside each other to the tent where the lords of both the Reach and the Stormlands had gathered for the war council. His remaining Rainbow Guard had all gathered inside the tent, and he saw his lords all stood waiting to speak with him. Renly walked up to the table and saw the map on it with wooden markers for the various Houses that were assembled. He knew that Ser Cortnay Penrose was inside Storm's End, holding the Baratheons seat as its castellan, and had a decent sized garrison within. Stannis had the support of the Houses sworn to Dragonstone as well as his Onion Knight, Ser Davos Seaworth, and some sellswords too. At best Stannis had four-thousand men. Renly had with him the might of the Reach at his command, with his good-father Mace Tyrell having summoned many of his lords, including both branches of House Fossoway, House Tarly, House Rowan, House Oakheart and many others. On top of that he had many Stormlords under his banner, including House Dondarrion whose lord was currently fighting alongside the Northmen and their allies. Lord Beric's cousins had declared for him and assumed control of Blackhaven, denouncing Beric's lordship and calling him a traitor. Renly had with him many thousands of men, in excess of thirty-thousand just now, most of them cavalry.

"My lords," he spoke, his voice calm and full of confidence. "What is the situation just now?" He looked over to Lord Randyll Tarly, who he appointed as his master of war. Mace may have claimed to have been the mastermind behind the siege of Storm's End during Robert's Rebellion as well as his only defeat at Ashford, but it was the planning of Lord Randyll that saw the Reach triumph over Robert and threaten Storm's End.

"Your brother has encircled Storm's End completely, by land and sea your grace," the Lord of Horn Hill spoke, his voice stern and unyielding. "Stannis's forces are heavily outnumbered by our own, but as he was during your brother King Robert's war he is too stubborn to yield. His men are dug in, ready to defend against us, but if he is lucky he would withstand us for no more than half an hour." Randyll Tarly stood up straight and had his hands held behind his back, his eyes grim and focused. He looked at Renly with a firm stare that would have made Renly nervous had he not seen him look at people that way before.

"His ships are enough to prevent any supplies from entering Storm's End the same way that the Onion Knight was able to during the rebellion," spoke Ser Marcus Dondarrion, the new Lord of Blackhaven. The knight had short red hair and a clean shaven face, and seemed to have a serious look all of the time. Despite that Renly liked Ser Marcus, and found him to be a level headed person. Although that still did not make things easier for him; if Lord Beric should return to reclaim Blackhaven Renly would be torn between the two men. He would probably support Ser Marcus in the end though, as what he has done to Beric is the same as what Renly is doing to Stannis. "If Lord Redwyne can get his ships to Storm's End then he can shatter Stannis's paltry fleet and end his blockade."

"Lord Dondarrion, my cousin will not mobilise his fleet while his sons are still being held by the Lannisters in King's Landing," Mace said, sounding frustrated.

"He has his daughter, does he not? And his cousins as well," Ser Marcus pointed out.

"Plus those two lads of his are idiots anyway," said Ser Edric Dondarrion, Ser Marcus's younger brother. Ser Edric looked very similar to his elder brother, but with longer hair and a neatly trimmed beard. "He should put his hopes on his daughter rather than his sons. She seems to have her head on straight, though saying that it seems to be the case with the granddaughters of Lady Olenna." Renly shot a glare at Ser Edric; of the two brothers Renly cannot stand Edric, who he sees as rude and arrogant. Mace stares at the young man as well, his cheeks burning with fury at the blatant insult. Ser Marcus strikes his younger brother over the head and dismisses him from the tent, his tone full of anger. Ser Edric walks out with an arrogant smirk on his lips.

"I apologise for that remark from my brother my lord," Ser Marcus spoke. "He does not think through his responses properly." Mace was still trembling with fury but he was able to calm himself enough to answer.

"So long as your brother apologises himself I will ignore his words Lord Dondarrion," Mace said. Renly cleared his throat before leaning on the table.

"Anyway my lords, what hope does my brother have of surviving our assault?" he asked.

"None your grace," Randyll answered in his stern voice. "His only hope is to yield to you and declare you as his King." Renly smiled at that.

"Good," he said. "If he surrenders then I will accept and when the war is done I will ship him off to the Wall. I'll take my niece in and raise her. Or rather I'll have her raised by someone capable of doing so. His wife I'll give to the Silent Sisters." Some of the lords hummed in agreement with him. Renly looked at the gathered lords and looked at them all. Most had indifference in their eyes at his words while one or two seemed accepting of it. A handful looked uneasy with him, but he expected that. "Stannis is my elder brother. He might accept that he cannot win against me now, but what is to stop him from plotting against me after I have taken the Iron Throne? It is far better to be safe than sorry I say." A cough from the far side of the table drew Renly's attention to Ser Bryan Fossoway of Cider Hall.

"Your grace if I may?" he asked. Renly nodded his head to the knight, who then continued speaking. "Once we are done with your brother Stannis and have taken the Iron Throne how do you plan to deal with the traitor Eddard Stark?" Renly felt dread at being asked that question by Ser Bryan. Over the last few weeks Renly decided that the Fossoway knight has no love for him and seems to pick topics of conversation that make Renly feel uncomfortable. Ser Bryan also knows that Renly held Ned in high esteem. "With him declaring himself as a king he is now a traitor who needs to be reined in and dealt with."

"Strip him of his lands and titles and send him and his eldest son to the Wall," someone said.

"Take the heathen's head and make his son give his firstborn son as a ward to you your grace," said another.

"NO!" came the voice of Randyll Tarly. Renly looked at the man who looked at everyone in the room with hard eyes. "We do that and we might as well condemn ourselves to a brutal war that we have no hope of seeing ended. The North will not bow easily to King Renly."

"They are no more than savages Lord Tarly," someone called out, but Renly had no time to find out who.

"Savages who managed to capture Tywin Lannister," Randyll shot back. The lords fell silent then, and Renly took the opportunity to speak.

"Lord Tarly is right," he said. "The Northmen are savage in battle, but they are an honourable people with a strong sense of nobility and duty. They can also be quite fierce in their support of House Stark. If we were to try and kill the Starks and force them to their knees we would not solve the problem with them. We would only make things worse. No my lords, the best thing to do is to treat with them, and if we cannot win them over with words them we will hold a trial by combat with Lord Stark and beat him into submission. If we do that then he would be honour-bound to accept the result and his people would also accept the result."

"A noble idea your grace," Ser Bryan said. "But what if you're wrong about them accepting the result?" Renly glared at the knight, tired of the man's presence.

"They will accept the result, and then..."

"You grace!" a squire shouted as he stormed into the tent, interrupting Renly. "Lord Stannis has sent word for a meeting with you out in the field. He wants to discuss terms." The gathered lords started to murmur with each other while Renly looked at the squire, quietly relieved at the interruption.

"Well then, let's go and treat with my brother then, shall we?" he called out.

Renly left the tent with his Rainbow Guard behind him, as well as Mace and Randyll, along with Ser Marcus and a few others. He ran up to his horse and climbed up into the saddle, making sure his sword was secure and quickly checking his armour to make sure that it was not loose. Loras mounted his horse at the same time as Brienne and Ser Robar Royce. When everyone else was mounted Renly rode out, riding towards the edge of the camp. Once there he saw his brother's banner fluttering in the distance. Upon the banner was the Baratheon stag with a fiery heart behind it. So he has taken with his Red Woman's faith, he thought. Renly urged his horse on to the banner, his guards and lords close behind. After five minutes of riding he stopped his horse no more than five yards away from Stannis. His elder brother sat atop his horse, looking as grim-faced as ever. He had his Onion Knight with him as well as the Red Woman. There were also a handful of others too, but Renly paid them no mind.

"Stannis, is that really you?" Renly began, smirking at Stannis as he spoke. His brother ground his teeth as he always did before responding.

"You know it's me Renly," he spoke, voice as grim as his face.

"Was just wondering, I almost did not recognise you, especially with your banner," Renly replied. "I'm glad you have found faith brother."

"Enough of your japes Renly," Stannis ground out. Renly smirked even more, pleased that he was getting on his brother's nerves.

"No, I'm being serious, I am actually glad that you have found faith. The banners will also make it easy during the battle, it would be a bloody nuisance if we had the same banner, make everything confusing for all of us," Renly quipped. Stannis glared at him, his hand tightening into a fist.

"We are here to discuss terms Lord Renly," the Onion Knight said. "Not trade insults." Renly looked briefly at the former smuggler before looking back at Stannis.

"You wish terms Stannis? Well here are my terms," he said, looking his brother in the eye. "I propose that you dismount, bend you knee, and swear me your allegiance." Stannis's response was to grind his teeth again. Why does he always have to grind his blasted teeth?

"That you shall never have," Stannis finally answered. Renly gave him a smile as he shifted in his saddle.

"You served Robert, why not me?" he asked, although he knew what the answer was likely to be.

"Robert was our elder brother, you are the younger," Stannis snapped. Renly smiled even more at his response, knowing that he was getting Stannis angry.

"Younger, bolder, and far more comely," Renly said.

"And a thief and usurper besides," Stannis retorted. Renly shrugged his shoulders.

"The Targaryens called Robert usurper," Renly pointed out. "If he could bear the shame then so can I." Stannis seemed to become more angry, his nostrils flaring and his cheeks reddening with rage. "Come now Stannis, there's no point to this folly. You are outnumbered, severely at that. I don't wish to see you dead." That was not entirely true, but of course he could never admit that. "If it comes to battle your lines will be overrun in the time it takes to blink. You only have a daughter to carry on your line. Selyse has failed to give you a son in all the years of your marriage. Margaery however will have no problem with giving me an heir." Stannis scoffed at that.

"We both know your wedding was a mummer's farce," he spat. "Only a year ago were you scheming to make the girl one of Robert's whores. I can only imagine how eager she would've been to seize the chance of being just that if nothing else." Stannis's words made Renly angry. While he had intended to get Margaery into Robert's bed in a bid to remove Cersei and her children he had never sought to have her be treated no better than a common prostitute.

"A year ago I was scheming to make Margaery Robert's Queen," he snapped back before taking a deep breath to calm himself. As he did he noticed something that made him uneasy; Stannis was smirking, although with his stern face it looked more like a grimace.

"Are you telling me that you actually bedded her?" he asked with what could well have been amusement in his voice. Is he actually amused by that? Renly wondered. "It matters little in the end. I will not yield to you Renly. The Iron Throne is mine, by right. I am Robert's eldest trueborn heir, Cersei's children are bastards born of incest with her twin brother the Kingslayer."

"Yes, we know that already," Renly cut in. "I received Ned's letter which revealed the truth of the matter."

"The law is clear Renly," Stannis continued as if he had not been interrupted. "For the love of the mother who birthed us I shall give you until dawn to bend the knee to me and remove your crown. Do this and what I have already offered you will still be given. I will allow you to rule the Stormlands as the Lord of Storm's End, give you a seat on the small council and I shall name you as my heir until a son is born to me. As Selyse is more than likely unable to grant me a son the chances are you will be King one day, and any son you have with Lady Margaery will be King after you." Renly sighed in annoyance then. He looked at his brother and shook his head as he moved his hand to reach inside his cloak. As he did Stannis brought his sword hand to the hilt of his sword ready to draw. Renly smirked at his brother's nervous display as he pulled out a peach.

"Come now Stannis, no need to be so suspicious of people all of the time," he responded. "Would you like one? All the way from Highgarden. You've never tasted anything so sweet I promise you."

"I did not come here to eat fruit!" Stannis barked out with a scowl. Renly only chuckled as he took a bite from the peach and chewed the soft fruit.

"A man should never refuse to taste a peach," he said when he was finished. "He may never get the chance again. Life is short, Stannis. And as the Starks always say, winter is coming. If you don't see sense and stand down winter will come for you much sooner than it should." Stannis's eyes widened in anger at Renly. After a moment though he urged his horse to move to the side.

"We shall see Renly," he said. "Come the morrow, we shall see." With that Stannis rode off, followed by the Onion Knight and most of the others. The Red Woman though just sat atop of her horse and looked at him, a strange look in her damnable red eyes.

"You should have knelt to your brother Lord Renly," she said. "King Stannis is the Lord's Chosen. Sleep well Lord Renly, for the night is dark and full of terrors." With those words said the Red Woman rode on after Stannis, the rest of Stannis's party following her. Renly sat there on his horse, a nervous shudder running up his back as he wondered what the woman could have meant. Probably just trying to intimidate me, he finally decided when he urged his horse to ride back to his camp.

"Let's return to camp and finalise preparations," he said.

The next three hours were spent discussing the preparations for the battle that would take place tomorrow. Renly sat and listened to the lords as they discussed the tactics that they would use for dealing with Stannis's rather small army. Thankfully no one bothered to bring up Ned and his Northmen again, though one look at Ser Bryan told him that the knight was tempted to bring it up again. After the discussions were finished Renly dismissed the lords and told them to go and have their supper. Everyone left the tent and Renly was left with only his Rainbow Guard to keep him company. He dismissed all of them save for Loras and Ser Emmon Cuy, who he orders to stay outside. Robar Royce walks out while speaking with Bryce Caron, while Brienne walks ahead of Guyard Morrigen and Parmen Crane. Ser Emmon steps outside the tent, leaving Renly and Loras alone. Renly approaches Loras, who was looking anywhere but at him.

"Loras," he whispered softly as he stopped beside him. "Speak to me." Loras looks at him and for the first time since meeting him Renly sees a look in the man's eyes that shocked him; a look of utter betrayal.

"Bad enough that you chose to take my sister's heart, but now you wish to destroy her by carrying on with me?" he spat quietly, his voice shaking with anger. Renly was stunned by the sudden venom from Loras. "I see how she looked at you when you sent her away to Highgarden, and I saw how you looked at her." Renly sighed as he looked down at the ground beneath them.

"Loras please," he started.

"No," Loras cut in. "I won't allow it. She is my sister Renly. I may love you and Seven save me I'll never be able to stop loving you, but I won't let you break her. Especially not for me." Renly was a little stunned by this.

"Loras," he said a little bit more firmly. "I have no intention of breaking Margaery's heart. I do not ever want to do that. I do care about her, maybe not as much as I care about you..."

"And that's it," Loras interrupted. "That's just it Renly." A lone tear slipped from Loras's eye then, trailing down his cheek. "You care for me more than anything, and it... it hurts me knowing that despite everything that we have done, after everything we have shared... that it will stop you from treating Margaery as she deserves to be treated. I love you Renly, but I don't want to be the cause of my sister's heartache." He was crying now, softly so as not to draw Ser Emmon's attention, but all the same it hurt Renly to see him so broken. You stupid, useless, pitiful excuse of a man, Renly chastised himself for what must have been the millionth time since marrying Margaery. He grabbed Loras and pulled him into a close embrace, wrapping his arms around him.

"I would never willingly hurt her Loras," he told him. He let Loras calm down a little bit, waiting for him to get his tears under control before he continued. "When we see Margaery again, I want you to sit down with her and talk to her, okay?" Loras pulled back from the embrace and looked Renly in the eye. "You are worried about causing her heartache. Well she was worried about doing the same to you. It has not been easy just sharing your sister's bed let alone doing... doing the things that you and I have done. It's been fucking hard for me. I've been torturing myself day and night since I wed her about hurting you both, and it just... it just..." For the first time in a long time Renly had no idea just what to say. So instead he pulled Loras back into the embrace and held him tightly.

"I'm sorry Renly," Loras whispered. Renly put a gentle kiss to the side of his brow.

"Me too Loras," he said. He pushed him back gently and looked him in the eye. "Now dry your eyes up and go and get some rest. You'll need it for the battle, not that you'll get the chance I don't think. By the time you get your blade free from the scabbard Stannis will likely be trampled into the dirt. That'll give him a proper reason to look grim, won't it?" Loras laughed at the light hearted jape.

"Yeah, it would," he replied after a moment. Loras sniffled as he stepped back and stood up straighter, trying to look proud and ready for battle. "Just tell me one thing though Renly. Do you love her? Do you truly love her?" Renly sighed as he looked at Loras, trying to think clearly before answering.

"Honestly? I do not know," he said. Loras seemed to be pained by the answer but all he did was take a deep breath and look off to the side. When he looked back at Renly, there was a look of resignation in his eyes.

"She loves you," he said. "When you sent her to Highgarden, she looked at you the same way I look at you." Renly felt himself tense up at that. He closed his eyes and let out a low sigh.

"When we see her again, we'll sort this out, okay?" Renly said. Loras nodded his head after a long moment.

"Okay," he replied. Renly nodded his head and turned to walk out of the tent.

"Go and get some rest Lord Commander," he said looking over his shoulder to Loras, who looked at him briefly before laughing slightly. The sight made Renly smile as well, and then he left the tent.

As Renly stepped outside he looked from side to side, taking in his surroundings. The tents that were gathered all around were swaying slightly in the breeze. The air was a touch muggy, and it was not that dark yet. Still summer after all, he thought. How many more years will we have before autumn arrives I wonder? As Renly took in his surroundings he listened to the sounds of the encampment; men laughing as they drank together and played games of dice or cards; the odd argument over who will have first blood tomorrow; old seasoned men-at-arms giving advice to summer knights who have never seen anything more than a melee at a tourney. There was even the sound of the odd woman throughout the camp, from washer women cleaning clothes and cloths to serving girls delivering drinks and giggling along with the rowdy japes of the men. There was even at one point the sound of a man and woman enjoying each other. Hearing that had made Renly think of Margaery, and he felt a slight twinge of pain in his heart. Shaking his head he turned to look at Ser Emmon who was stood off to the side.

"Let's go Ser Emmon, shall we?" he said.

"Of course your grace," the knight said. Renly walked along the camp with Ser Emmon behind him. As they walked by the tents they saw the odd man-at-arms walking into view and bowing to him respectfully, giving him encouraging smiles. The sight made him smile, knowing that no matter what else would happen in his private life he always had the love of the people. Robert had his charisma, and that is one thing that I can claim to have gotten from him. What do you have that can compare to that Stannis? As he walked along a young looking woman with dirty brown hair that reached her waist approached him. She held her skirt up as she rushed over to him, stopping just a couple of yards away from him.

"Many pardons yer grace," the woman said. "But Lord Tyrell has asked if ye could meet with 'im in private." Renly was surprised at that, thinking that Mace would be more concerned with stuffing his face with food and drink just now.

"Well then, let's go to his tent," Renly said. The woman shook her head.

"Am very sorry, but he said to take you to another tent," she said. "All milord said was that it were urgent that you meet with 'im where spies would not think to find ye." How strange, Renly thought.

"Very well then miss. Lead on."

Renly and Ser Emmon followed the woman as she led them further away from where Renly's tent was located. He watched the woman as she navigated around the tents, stopping to allow him to catch up with her. They continued to walk for quite some time until they arrived at a tent where there were numerous supply crates gathered around.

"Just in this tent yer grace," the woman said. Renly looked over his shoulder to Ser Emmon who nodded his head, his sword hand gripping the hilt of his sword. Renly turned around and entered the tent, looking around. Inside there were many crates, all arranged three crates high, each individual crate no taller than waist high and only just as wide as Robert had been. The woman stepped in front and led them through the crates, which Renly realised were arranged like a maze. After a couple of minutes of wandering Renly began to wonder if there was a reason why Mace chose this place for a clandestine meeting. After another minute Renly looked over his shoulder to find that Ser Emmon was no longer behind him. How the... where could he have gone? And how did I not hear him no longer following me? He turned around to face the young woman who was now facing him fully.

"I don't suppose you know where my guard could've gone?" he asked the woman. All she did though was giggle.

"Oh, I think he must've taken a wrong turn in here," she said in a sweet sounding voice. "It'll take him a minute to catch up with us, more than enough time." As she spoke she slowly removed the top part of her dress, exposing quite an impressive pair of large round breasts. She let the dress slide down her arms, revealing her smooth belly. When she took a step forward the dress slid further down, letting her lithe legs show, as well as the mound of hair that was above where her sheathe was. Renly gulped, his cheeks going red with embarrassment.

"My goodness," he managed to say, earning a giggle from the young woman who was now completely naked from head to toe save for a ribbon that was tied around her right thigh. Her hands travelled up and down her body, her fingers gliding over her skin.

"Do you like what you see your grace?" she purred, her voice seductive. Renly felt more embarrassed than he had ever felt in his entire life.

"Well now... um, I don't think... I'm a married man," he managed to say. "I swore vows, and I am nothing like my brother." The young woman pouted at him as she took another step forward.

"Ah, a man who loves his wife, such a shame," she said before looking over his shoulder. "Oh, looks like your friend finally caught up." Now feeling beyond embarrassed Renly turned around to see Ser Emmon staggering towards him, his hands grasping at his throat as something dark ran down his armour. When Ser Emmon dropped to his knees Renly realised that it was blood gushing out of his throat. When Ser Emmon fell onto the ground Renly saw a man in dark clothing wielding a dagger in his hand. The man stared at him with a murderous intent in his eyes. Panicking as he realised what was happening, Renly turned around to flee. However the young woman was now less than a foot from him with her right arm raised above her head. By the time Renly realised that she had a dagger in her right hand it was too late; the blade sliced into his throat, the sharp steel cutting his skin and entering his windpipe. Renly gasped at the searing pain that engulfed him before he tasted hot iron in his mouth. He dropped to his knees, the woman looking down at him with sickening glee in her eyes. "Oh dear, poor poor poor Renly," she said before leaning closer to his face. "Lord Baelish sends his regards." Renly's eyes widened even further as he realised just what was happening.

In the next instant the woman pulled her dagger out of Renly's throat, and then he toppled over as he felt his blood running down his chest. He gurgled as he hit the ground, clutching at his opened throat as he watched the woman wrap the dagger in a cloth. He watched as she pulled her dress up over her body, covering herself up before looking back towards Ser Emmon's killer. The man stepped over Renly as he lay dying, his blood seeping through his fingers. He watched as the woman leaned up and kissed the man on his lips before the two of them walked around the crates, disappearing from his darkening view. As they left Renly coughed and gasped, blood splashing onto the ground beneath him. As he lay there, his vision failing, he thought of those he was leaving behind, and he felt despair course through him. No... no... Loras... Margaery... no... no... this is not... not... Littlefinger, you... bastard, were Renly Baratheon's last thoughts as his heart stopped beating and his eyes no longer saw.

---

Davos

The camp of Renly Baratheon was in utter chaos. When he woke up this morning Davos was expecting today to be his last day of life. He had urged Stannis to speak with Renly instead of fighting him and reach an accord, but Stannis as always just held firm to his decision to stand his ground and fight. An hour before the sun came up Davos woke up and left his tent to find Stannis, who was up wide awake with his squire Devan, Davos's fifth son, stood next to him. Davos's four older sons Dale, Allard, Matthos and Maric were all aboard their ships just off the coast as part of the naval blockade of Storm's End. For the next hour they saw to the preparations of the upcoming battle, making sure that everyone was fully prepared and ensuring that the earthworks to slow down Renly's knights were done. Then when the sun came up they waited. After two hours of waiting nervously for Renly's vanguard it became clear that something was wrong, so Stannis sent scouts to the camp. When they returned nearly an hour later they reported that Renly's army had raised peace banners and were waiting to speak to Stannis.

Davos rode alongside Stannis as they entered the camp of Renly's host. As they rode many men-at-arms and knights were bending the knee to Stannis, proclaiming him as King Stannis. The Houses of the Stormlands had declared for him, and so did some of the Reach lords too. Apart from Davos and Devan, Stannis was accompanied by Lord Ardrian Celtigar of Claw Isle, Lord Duram Bar Emmon of Sharp Point, and Ser Gilbert Farring, whose cousin Ser Godry has not returned from his failed mission to take Eddard Stark. The arrogant fool is probably dead if that's the case, Davos thought. Also with them was Mellisandre, Stannis's Red Woman. Davos averted his eyes from her, not trusting the woman at all; he did not like her overzealous belief that her faith was the only true faith, he was uncomfortable by her actions of burning the sept on Dragonstone as well as the godswood, and he was wary of her influence over Stannis. After riding for twenty minutes Davos saw a Reach lord on horseback approaching them. The man wore a breastplate of grey steel and had a greatsword sheathed on his back. He had no hair on his head at all aside from a short bristly grey beard. Upon his breastplate was the image of a huntsman with a bow in hand facing left; the sigil of House Tarly.

"Lord Tarly," Stannis called out to the man who bowed his head briefly.

"King Stannis," the older man called out. Randyll Tarly was known to be the Reach's most capable and brilliant battle commander. He was the man who defeated Robert Baratheon at Ashford during the rebellion, the only defeat that King Robert had suffered.

"You call me King, but only yesterday were you calling Renly by that title. I see no sign of my brother, where is he?" Stannis spoke loudly. Lord Tarly looked grimly at Stannis before he answered.

"King Renly has been murdered your grace," the man said. Davos looked at Stannis and saw that he did not looked at all surprised, and when he looked at Mellisandre and saw the slight smile on her face his eye narrowed. Did she 'see' Renly's death in her bloody visions? Or did she have a hand in it? he wondered.

"How was he murdered, and by whom?" Stannis asked, prompting Davos to look back at Lord Tarly.

"He had been lured into a supply tent where he was stabbed in the throat," the lord said. "He was accompanied by Ser Emmon Cuy, who was also murdered. As for the whom, it seems that my liege lord was responsible." Davos was surprised at this, and by the look on his face so was Stannis.

"Why would Lord Tyrell murder Renly?" Stannis asked, his shock evident. "If I remember rightly it was his daughter that my brother married after he was crowned, which he supported as well I might add."

"I find it to be shocking as well your grace," Lord Tarly said. "However a servant girl reported seeing a man fitting Lord Tyrell's description walking away from the supply tent where your brother's body was found carrying a cloth that looked to be stained dark, as if it had blood on it." Davos cleared his throat as he looked at Stannis who turned to look at him questioningly. Realising that he wanted to ask a question Stannis nodded his head.

"My lord," Davos began. "This servant girl, would she tell King Stannis himself what she saw?" Lord Tarly looked at him indifferently before nodding his head.

"I can have her brought to you so you can question her your grace," he replied.

"Have her sent to me immediately Lord Tarly," Stannis spoke in his commanding voice. The Reach lord bowed his head and rode back.

Davos dismounted his horse along with Stannis and the others before making their way to a tent where they waited for the girl to be brought to them. They were joined by some of the lords and knights who until this morning were sworn to Renly. One of them, Lord Bryce Caron, knelt to Stannis and pledged his fealty there and then. Stannis told him to rise and asked where Lord Tyrell was, to which Lord Caron answered that he was being held under guard in his tent. As Lord Caron spoke a man who looked similar to him, but a little bit older and with pox scars on his face, approached and knelt to Stannis as well.

"And you are?" Stannis asked the knight. Lord Caron went to speak but was interrupted by the knight.

"I can answer for myself Bryce," the knight said as he stood up. "Apologies for my brusqueness your grace. I am Ser Rolland Storm, Lord Caron's half-brother."

"And my best knight," Lord Caron added as his sibling rose up.

"Ser Rolland," Stannis spoke. "I have heard much about your skill at arms. I trust that you will fight ably against my foes."

"Without hesitation your grace," the knight answered just as Lord Tarly entered with a young woman with waist length dirty brown hair following him.

"Your grace, this is Elayne," the lord said. "She claims to have seen a man fitting Lord Tyrell's description." Davos looked at the girl who seemed to be quite... sly, perhaps. There was an air of deviousness about her that unsettled him.

"What did you see last night?" Stannis asked her. The girl dipped into a wooden curtsey with her head dipped.

"I was walking around camp yer grace," she spoke, "when I saw a man leaving one o' the supply tents. He looked around while stood at the entrance before walking off, all the while wrapping something in a cloth that seemed ta be dark, as if with blood. As he walked away he held the cloth in 'is hand, walking away from the tent. I thought nothing o' it until word spread through the camp o' King Renly's murder. When I heard where 'is grace's body were found I approached Lord Tarly and told him what I saw last night." Davos frowned at the girl as she gave her testimony. She seemed quite calm for someone who was giving damning evidence against a highborn lord. Almost too calm, he thought.

"This man, what did he look like?" Stannis asked. Davos folded his arms as the girl spoke.

"He had a wide belly your grace," she answered. "His hair was dark and curly, though I could not tell if it were brown or black as it were late in the evening when I saw 'im. He also 'ad a beard that were a triangular shape. That's about as much as I can tell ye, I'm sorry it's not much your grace." Turning to look at Stannis, Davos saw him clenching his jaw hard as he slowly nodded his head. He seemed satisfied by Elayne's evidence, which Davos was concerned about.

"Thank you for your testimony girl," Stannis said. "You may go." The girl gave another curtsey before leaving the tent. After she left Stannis turned to Lord Tarly. "Was this cloth found Lord Tarly?" Stannis asked. Davos looked at the lord who nodded his head.

"It was found inside Lord Tyrell's tent by his son Ser Loras," he answered. "It was wrapped around a bloodied dagger, which I believe was used to kill your brother with." Davos's eyes widened at this news. If it is true that Lord Tyrell killed Renly then that will be crushing for Ser Loras, he thought. But the question remains, why would he kill him? What would Lord Tyrell gain from killing his daughter's husband?

"Your grace, may I have a word?" Davos asked his King. Stannis looked at him and nodded his head, walking to the far side of the tent so that the others would not hear what Davos was going to ask. "Something is not right here," he told Stannis, his voice quiet. "Why would Lord Tyrell murder Renly? It doesn't make any bloody sense."

"Do you think that someone possibly framed Lord Tyrell?" Stannis asked. Davos nodded his head.

"Unless some evidence were to show up proving his guilt I would say that it is highly likely that he is being wrongly accused of murder," Davos answered. Stannis grunted in response, folding his arms in front of him as he thought about what Davos said. After a moment he turned around to face Lord Tarly.

"Has anything been found to prove Lord Tyrell's guilt aside from the dagger?" Stannis asked.

"I have sent my men to scour the camp for any further evidence," Lord Tarly answered. "If they turn anything up..."

"LORD TARLY!" a voice shouted from outside the tent. At the shout everyone left the tent, walking outside to see a dozen knights gathered. One of them approached them, bowing his head.

"What is it?" Lord Tarly barked out.

"My apologies my lord, but your son Dickon discovered a letter that appeared to have been torn up and he believed that it has something to do with King Renly's murder," the knight spoke. "He is waiting for you at your tent, shall I bring him to you?"

"That will not be necessary ser," Stannis spoke then. "We shall go to young Dickon and see for ourselves." The knight bowed to Stannis as Lord Tarly turned to face him.

"Of course your grace," he said.

Lord Tarly and his knight led Stannis's group to the tent where his son was located. It took them ten minutes to get there, but when they did Davos saw a plain green tent with the Tarly huntsman in red decorating it. They entered the tent to find a boy about the same age as Devan who was stood over a table with several torn pieces of parchment that he was clearly putting back together. When Lord Tarly spoke to the lad he turned around and almost immediately bowed to Stannis.

"Your grace," he said, his voice quite firm for a young lad.

"We have heard that you have found a letter," Stannis stated. Dickon nodded his head rapidly.

"I found it not that far away from Lord Tyrell's tent your grace," he answered. "As you can see it is quite torn up, but I was able to make out some of the words on it, including Lord Tyrell's name." Davos raised a brow at the boy; he seemed quite enthusiastic and was pleased with his discovery. The lad's eager to please people, but I think he wants his father's praise more, he thought as he watched Lord Tarly approach the table. After a few moments the lord looked down at his son.

"How on earth did you manage to get the letter back together in the right places?" he asked, eyes wide with astonishment. The youth looked down at the ground, and when he spoke he had a nervous tone to him.

"Sam taught me how to solve simple puzzles before he left for the Wall, father," he said. Looking at Lord Tarly Davos could have sworn he saw a look of distaste at the mention of the name. Is Sam a relative of theirs? he wondered. Lord Tarly grunted after a moment.

"I never thought that he would ever prove useful for anything," the lord said. He then looked at the letter and read it over before looking at Stannis. "Your grace, this letter is from Lord Baelish, Joffrey's master of coin. The letter reads that he is thankful of Lord Tyrell's pledge of assistance and that he shall be rewarded for his loyalty after he has dealt with Renly. He goes on to say that he will let him decide how to deal with Renly." Davos looked back at Stannis and saw the look of cold anger in his eyes. Stannis ground his teeth as he walked closer to the table and read the letter himself. After a moment Stannis stepped back.

"I always told Renly to never trust the Tyrell's," he said. "I never thought that this would happen." Davos watched his King look down at Dickon Tarly. "You have my thanks for your assistance young Dickon. And you as well Lord Tarly. But the question remains, where does the Reach stand?" Davos looked at Lord Tarly who took a step back and looked at Stannis carefully, as if taking the measure of him. After a long moment the lord bent the knee to him.

"I cannot speak for all of the Reach your grace," he said, his head bowed. "I fought against your brother King Robert at Ashford during the rebellion. I laid siege to Storm's End while you defended the castle in your brother's name. King Robert was worthy as are you your grace, but my own liege lord it shames me to say is unworthy of my fealty. House Tyrell are shamed by Lord Mace's actions, and I will not be bound to their will anymore. I pledge my sword to you your grace, and my life too if the gods should demand it. I ask for nothing in return your grace." Davos was quite surprised by this sudden turn of events, and by the looks of it so was Stannis.

"I accept your fealty Lord Tarly," he stated loudly. "Now I command you to prepare the camp to assist in ending the siege of Storm's End. Have my brother's body brought forward so I can prove to the castellan that Renly is dead." Lord Tarly stood up and bowed to Stannis before leaving the tent, calling his son to follow him.

As Lord Tarly left Stannis told Devan to gather the pieces of the torn letter and to follow him outside. Davos helped his son to gather the pieces and the two followed their King as he led them back to the tent where they had waited for the witness. Davos was still sceptical of the girl, but this letter seemed to have both Stannis and Lord Tarly convinced of Lord Tyrell's guilt. Devan put the letter back together again on the table piece by piece and then read it himself. Davos was thankful that his son had taken to his studies well, including his lessons on reading and writing. Devan had learned his letters alongside Stannis's daughter, the Princess Shireen. The little girl was staying put at Dragonstone where she has grown up all of her life, locked away by her mother Queen Selyse. As an infant Shireen had been afflicted with a deadly sickness called Greyscale, which leaves its victims with cracked skin that was grey in colour and had the feel of stone to it. Shireen had a Greyscale scar covering her left cheek and the upper part of her neck. She was a quiet girl who kept to herself, no doubt as a result of being locked away.

"How good is your reading father?" Devan asked him, drawing Davos back to the present. Davos chuckled slightly, ruffling his son's hair.

"You know I can't read son," he said. "Go on, what does the letter say?" Devan looked down at the letter again and took a deep breath.

"It reads, 'To Lord Mace Tyrell, I thank you for your pledge of support and assistance to the rightful King. His grace King Joffrey is pleased that you have seen reason and are committed to ensuring that the traitors Stannis and Renly are brought to justice. He has agreed to consider taking your lovely daughter Lady Margaery as a potential wife, as well as reward you appropriately for your services. By his authority you are permitted to deal with Renly as you see fit, so long as you assist in crushing Stannis when the time comes. We are in your debt my lord. Lord Petyr Baelish, master of coin to King Joffrey of the House Baratheon', and all of the other titles." Devan snorted after having read the letter out loud. "Makes me sick just reading that," he said after a moment.

"The abomination is desperate," Stannis barked. "His advisor's have played a smart game this time by playing on Lord Tyrell's greed. They won't be able to use the same trick with me." Davos hummed in agreement as he turned to face Stannis. The letter was indeed damning, as was the presence of the dagger in Lord Tyrell's tent. But the girl's testimony still troubled Davos, as was one other thing.

"Your grace, one thing doesn't sit well with me," he said after thinking about it. Stannis looked at him, back straight and hands behind his back. "The knight who was with Renly. How could Lord Tyrell manage to kill both men? Either he would have killed Renly first and then gone for the knight who would've cut him down, or he would've killed the knight first and then attacked Renly, who would've called out for help and drawn attention. It just doesn't make sense to me." Stannis regarded him with a frown before he nodded his head.

"I agree," he said. "Either Lord Tyrell is being set up to take the blame, or he had help with killing Renly." That made sense to Davos, but it did raise the question of who could have helped Lord Tyrell with killing Renly and the knight who guarded him. As he was about to speak a knight with the Fossoway apple on his armour burst into the tent.

"You grace," he said breathlessly. "Forgive the intrusion, but my cousin Ser Bryan has been found dead." Stannis glared at the knight, clearly annoyed at the intrusion.

"How is your cousin's death important to me ser? Did he have anything to say in regards to my brother's death?" Stannis spoke with a loud voice, his tone full of anger. Davos could not blame him, but he felt sorry for the knight at the same time.

"I am sorry your grace, but he has killed himself it seems, and he has left a letter confessing to his part in murdering King Renly." Davos was stunned by this news.

"Is this a jape ser?" Stannis growled.

"No your grace," came the reply, before the knight held up a roll of parchment. "This is the letter that he has written." Stannis looked to Devan and jerked his head towards the knight. Devan wandered over to the knight and took the letter from him before reading it out loud.

"' To whomever finds this letter. This is my confession. I have committed a grave sin. I helped my liege lord, Mace Tyrell of Highgarden, in murdering our King, Renly Baratheon. I helped by killing Ser Emmon Cuy of his Kingsguard, slitting that noble knight's throat and thus allowing Lord Tyrell to murder our King. I had allowed myself to assist a kingslayer under the false belief that he would allow me the right to marry his daughter, the beautiful Lady Margaery. However I was deceived. I allowed my own liege to manipulate me and only now do I realise my actions to be a grave sin worse than base treason. My love for Lady Margaery was known to Lord Tyrell, and he used it to convince me to commit the treason that I was part of. I have since learned that Lord Tyrell intended to wed his daughter to Joffrey the False King. I can never forgive myself for what I have done, and I know that my love shall never forgive me. May the Seven who are One judge me accordingly. Ser Bryan Fossoway'." Devan handed the letter to Stannis who read it himself.

"Very well then, there is nothing else for it," Stannis said. "I thank you for informing me of this ser. You may leave, and inform Lord Tarly that I want Mace Tyrell to be brought before me."

"Yes your grace," the knight said before taking off.

"Ser Davos," Stannis barked. "What do you make of this letter?" Davos thought over the contents of the letter. Everything seemed rather convenient with what has happened.

"It's a little too convenient your grace," he decided as always to be honest. "This letter and the one before it, the girl's testimony, and the dagger. It could be that Littlefinger has planned this rather well. He did send that letter that was torn up, what's to say that he did not send the men to carry out the deed?"

"A dead man's confession and the word of a girl who saw someone who looked like Lord Tyrell, as well as the dagger that killed my brother found in his tent and a torn letter of correspondence from Baelish that was found near his tent," Stannis stated through clenched teeth. "That seems compelling to me."

"The written word of a dead man might not be his word your grace," Davos said bluntly. "The evidence could be planted. I know you strive for justice, but you must consider mercy for the man. He may very well be innocent." It was then that the wretched woman chose to speak.

"If he is indeed innocent then he will have no problem telling the truth in front of his lords and his grace," Mellisandre said. "If he is guilty then he will show his guilt with his fear. An innocent man has nothing to fear after all." Davos glared at the woman before looking back at Stannis, who looked at Mellisandre intently before looking back at him.

"Order a scaffold to be set up with as much wood as can be spared," he ordered before turning around. Davos felt a shiver run the course of his back then as he knew what Stannis was ordering.

"Your grace," he tried, but Stannis just walked out of the tent, followed closely by a smiling Mellisandre. That damnable woman.

Several hours later the scaffold was built with a central post. Many men gathered around as the moon rose up in the night sky. Davos stood beside Devan, a surge of anxiousness washing over him. This felt wrong to him; he was not certain of Lord Tyrell's guilt. He reached up and grabbed the pouch around his neck that held the finger bones from his left hand. At the end of the rebellion Stannis had awarded Davos with a knighthood and some land on Cape Wrath, as well as letting him choose Seaworth as the name of his House. This was a reward for smuggling in various foodstuffs into Storm's End after breaking through the Redwyne blockade, mainly vegetables including turnips, cabbages, carrots and onions. However Davos had to pay a price before he could be rewarded; the first joints of each finger on his left hand were cut off as punishment for his past crimes. He was a smuggler by trade after all, and a criminal cannot be rewarded for service to a lord unless he has paid the price for his crimes. Davos had agreed to allow the punishment so long as Stannis wielded the blade that took his fingers. Davos has kept the bones of his severed fingers ever since, saying that those fingers brought good fortune to his wife and sons.

"You cannot do this!" a voice shouted loudly. As everyone looked to the source of the noise Davos sighed. He saw Lord Mace Tyrell being dragged by two Baratheon men-at-arms, with Lord Tarly behind him. "I am the Lord of Highgarden! My daughter is the Queen! Unhand me at once damn you!" The men stopped before the scaffold where Stannis stood beside Mellisandre. During the afternoon as the scaffold was built half of the host had been marched to further besiege Storm's End while the rest of the host stayed at the camp. Everyone who remained had pledged fealty to Stannis, but some had gone. Most of Renly's Kingsguard had fled, including Ser Robar Royce, Brienne of Tarth and Ser Loras, while the Dondarrion brothers marched south to Blackhaven.

"Mace Tyrell," Stannis stated in a loud, clear voice. "You stand accused of murdering my brother Renly Baratheon. Did you kill my brother?" Lord Tyrell blinked stupidly at Stannis, struggling to get free of the grasp of the men-at-arms who held him.

"A... absolutely not!" the lord yelled. "He was my... my Margaery's husband, my... my King... the only King worthy of me! I never killed him. Never!" Lord Tyrell stammered out his denial, sweat gleaming in the firelight as it poured down his brow.

"A witness saw you leaving the tent where my brother's body was found," Stannis continued. "Ser Bryan Fossoway took his own life out of shame, leaving a letter confessing his guilt in assisting you in killing Renly. A bloodstained dagger and a torn letter from Lord Baelish thanking you for pledging yourself to Joffrey were also found. What say you to that?"

"L... lies!" Lord Tyrell sputtered. "Ser Bryan is lying if indeed he did write that letter! And whoever this witness was who saw me is mistaken! And who... whoever put that dagger there is the one who murdered Renly, but tha... that was not me! Never me!" Mellisandre stepped forward then and reached out to Lord Tyrell, stroking her hand down his cheek. The lord flinched at her touch, trembling with fear.

"You quiver with fear Lord Mace," she spoke. "What are you afraid of? Is it me you fear? King Stannis? Or do you fear that the Lord of Light has seen your treacherous nature? You are afraid because you are guilty." Davos frowned at that, not liking what the Red Woman was playing at.

"I care not what your Lord of Light says!" Lord Tyrell spat. "And I am... am not guilty of anything! Your grace, I fought against your House during the rebellion because the Mad King ordered me to, but I... I did not relish it! I have put the past behind me in the interest of peace! I ha... had no reason to kill Renly, he was a good man! A good man!" It seemed that the lord's words were falling on deaf ears as Stannis nodded to the men holding Lord Tyrell. "Wait!" he shouted as he was dragged to the scaffold. The men-at-arms tied him to the central post as he shouted, begged and cried out in fear. The Reach lords that were there seemed uncomfortable with what was happening, even Lord Tarly had a look of discomfort in his eyes. But none of them stepped forward to help their liege lord.

"Gods, I can't watch this," Devan muttered as he looked down at the ground. Davos leant down to whisper in his ear.

"Keep your head up and your face forward," he told him. "Look away with your eyes lad." Devan nodded his head, doing as he was told as Mellisandre began her long speech while a man-at-arms walked over with a flaming brand.

"No, no!" Lord Tyrell yelled, his voice breaking with emotion. "Please, oh gods help me! Help me!" No help will come for you my lord, Davos thought sadly as he looked away. As he did he saw someone stood by one of the tents nearby; it was the girl who claimed to have seen Lord Tyrell. She looked from the screaming lord to Davos and gave a wide grin before turning around and walking off.

"Stay here," Davos told Devan as he decided to follow the girl. "If Stannis asks where I've gone tell him I had to find a tree." If Devan had heard him or not Davos did not know, nor did he have time to know as he ran after the girl.

"NO! NO NO NO NO NO PLEASE!" Lord Tyrell screamed as Mellisandre no doubt set the scaffold alight. Davos could hear her cursed chanting even as he ran after the girl, his dagger drawn just in case he needed it. He saw the girl roughly thirty yards away from where he was, but as he neared she turned the corner and disappeared, forcing Davos to run after her even more. He reached the corner and turned around it and saw her again at the far end, and again as he got closer she would turn the corner and disappear, making Davos run again. This continued for a minute, but after that he had lost her.

"Damn it!" he hissed. "Seven fucking hells!" As Davos looked around him he heard the horrifying sounds of the Lord of Highgarden screaming for mercy.

"PLEASE, OH GODS PLEASE SAVE ME!" he cried out. Davos could hear the poor man even from where he was. "I DON'T WANT TO DIE! HELP ME! SEVEN WHO ARE ONE HELP MEEEEEEEEEEEE!" As Lord Mace Tyrell shrieked in agony as the flames no doubt engulfed him, Davos heard the blasted Red Woman's chanting.

"... FOR THE NIGHT IS DARK AND FULL OF TERRORS!" she called out, her voice distant from where Davos was stood but clear enough even as the lord screamed in sheer agony and terror, screaming for his mother and for the gods to save him. The gods have forsaken you Lord Mace, Davos thought as he heard Mellisandre's chant being echoed by those who believed in her faith. They have forsaken us all I fear, he believed as he came to the conclusion that they had just killed an innocent man.

---

Author's Note: And now we have Renly gone as well as Mace Tyrell too.

To clarify for those who will be wondering 'what the hell?' in regards to Lord Randyll Tarly turning his cloak: the Lord of Horn Hill may have been loyal to Mace but he did swear an oath to Renly, and as far as everyone (apart from Davos) is concerned Mace had murdered Renly after being tempted by Littlefinger. Therefore as far as Lord Tarly is concerned his liege lord has betrayed his King, and I am certain that Randyll would have no problem with seeing justice done upon his own liege lord (a liege lord who has taken credit for HIS efforts during Robert's Rebellion, so that could also be a contributing factor as well). That's not to say that Lord Tarly is comfortable with how Mace was executed nor is he okay with Stannis's new faith. Right now he is focusing on what he can deal with for the time being and will let others deal with what he cannot deal with.

This whole thing is part of Littlfinger's plot to remove Renly and ensure that the more military minded individuals will work to take King's Landing and remove Joffrey and his mother. Baelish also knows that Ned is not likely to bend the knee to Stannis so therefore the war will continue, which works in Littlefinger's interests. Though even I don't think that he would expect Tarly and a few more of the Reach lords to turn their cloak.

Next chapter we will see Robb dealing with the Serretts of Silverhill in the southern part of the Westerlands, and then we will see what's happening in Highgarden when news of Renly and Mace's deaths reaches Margaery. We will also see what happens with Loras and why he was not there with his father in the lead up to his execution. It will be a while until then though.