Sorry I haven't uploaded in a while guys. Real life took over and I got a tad bit busy (funny story, I got maced on Saturday), but I should be able to get back to writing regularly. This update is two chapters in one. I decided to have a slight insight on the happenings of Colemon as well as a slight rewrite of 'ACOK: Davos II', which occurs between the time of the failed parlay for Storm's End and Davos smuggling Melisandre down underneath the keep. Hope you guys enjoy.

Colemon II

"No, no. This will not do." Colemon worked late into the night, attempting to perfect the serum that he had been administering onto young Robert. Although there were signs of improvement in the boy's health, the serum was not fully suppressing the shaking sickness that the boy possessed. Colemon drove himself to find a total cure, a serum that would allow the boy to live a normal life. To grow strong, as his brother had.

But with every new formula he came up with, Colemon found himself facing the same obstacle. He could not, in good conscience, test them on the boy. The original serum was one that already had widespread use throughout the Seven Kingdoms, and was a formula he had found long ago in the archives of the Citadel. Including other ingredients into the formula had unknown effects. Without prior experimentation, one of the test formulas could potentially be harmful to young Robert. No. He thought to himself every time he came close to giving in and testing them on the boy. I have failed Lord Jon, I cannot fail the Arryns again.

"Maester Colemon." He looked up to see Nestor Royce in the doorway. The man was massive in comparison to most men, with a grey beard and a bald head. "You have been working far too much."

"Ahh, Lord Royce. Good evening."

"Morning." Nestor corrected him. "The hour is closer to dawn than it is to dusk." Colemon looked out the window of his chamber to see that Lord Royce was correct; the sun was rising above the horizon. Soon, it would take its place above the mountains of the Vale, and illuminate the land.

"So it seems." How did I let the time get away? He had been working by candlelight since the sun had set, yet he didn't feel as if much time had passed. But at the sight of the sun, feelings of fatigue rushed upon him with the suddenness of a wind gust. He chuckled nervously. "Seems I forgot myself."

"You tend to do that these days, Colemon." Nestor came to the chair opposite of him, sitting in it and sharing in the humor. "Worry not, the young lord still sleeps. He likely won't be up for some time. Perhaps you can get some rest before he awakes."

"Let us hope." Since his last seizure, young Robert slept for greater periods of time. His recovery had been stunted by the event, just as Colemon and Royce feared. Lysa's appearance had under-minded all of the work they had done on strengthening the boy, mind and boy, and now they would have to do the work once more. "The boy has been troubled since seeing his mother last."

"Aye. Perhaps we should send her to Riverrun." Nestor stroked his beard. "She wouldn't be able to interfere with our work here. Plus, I hear her lord father, Hoster Tully, is dying. We have the perfect pretext to send her away."

"Yes, but if she is taken captive, then what would we do?" Colemon knew that they could not risk sending Lysa across the Ruby Ford with Tywin Lannister still stationed in the southern portion of the Riverlands, and knew the Freys would want a toll, even if she was the aunt of their king, Robb Stark. "We cannot have the mother of our lords taken hostage, can we?"

"I suppose." Royce said bitterly. "Still, I don't like having that woman around. She's difficult in dealing with. We've caught her wandering the Eyrie too many times already. Even on house arrest, she finds ways to escape."

"She is tricky to deal with, I agree. But we-" Before Colemon could finish, a raven came through his window, landing on the table before them.

"Seven hells!" Lord Nestor cried out, nearly falling from his chair. Colemon was equally surprised that one would fly through into his personal chambers. As he examined the raven, he saw a message attached to its leg. He reached for it, removing and uncoiling it as Lord Royce rose once more. "What is it, then?"

Colemon silently read over it one time. Gods, can it be? He read it once more to be sure before reading it aloud for Royce to hear.

My friends of the Vale, time is short, and I do not risk naming myself in fear of this message being intercepted. You need not write back, for it is far too dangerous. But know that the young Lord Arryn has one ally remaining in the capital. Do inform him is precious cousin shall be kept safe, so long as I can name my prize for delivering her to him.

"Littlefinger?" Royce question immediately after Colemon had read it.

"It's possible. He's smart enough to get someone else to write it for him, this isn't his hand." Colemon threw the letter down on the table and leaned in his chair. Baelish was the sort of man they could not trust. Yet, if it was him, he would play a very useful ally. "But the possibility remains that it is another."

"Who else would write their intention to aid us? Baelish is a Valeman!" Lord Nestor proclaimed. Indeed. Colemon thought to himself as he saw the dawn break over the mountains. That is what worries me.

Davos II

"And where, might I ask, is Lord Olyvar?" Davos questioned the King as he, Stannis and Melisandre made their way back to the king's tent. The young Lord of the Vale had not been present during the parlay with Alester Florent, which Davos found to be particularly troubling.

"Olyvar decided to rest in my tent. He had been up all night preparing for Renly's forces, and was so tired that he did not want to participate in the negotiations." But Davos could detect that something was wrong. Stannis never grinded his teeth nor scowled at the mention of his ward and only ally in the war. Besides that, Olyvar Arryn was not the type to excuse himself from anything of importance. That boy is headstrong. What has happened?

As they made their way into the tent, Davos spotted the sole occupant; as the king had said, Olyvar Arryn was present, sitting in one of the many chairs scattered throughout the area. He had been focusing on a map of the Stormlands and Reach, but as he looked up Davos could see dark circles had formed around the boy's eyes, very similar to those of Stannis.

"Lord Davos." The boy attempted to force a cheery disposition. "I trust your mission to spread word throughout the realm was successful."

"All the more so thanks to you, my Lord Arryn." Davos gave an appreciative bow. "You had already spread word to the Riverlands and the Vale, so I need not have done much in those regions."

"You are too kind. Unfortunately I was not able to convince my cousin to join you." Davos heard the tone in Olyvar's voice sour, but felt no true bitterness come from the boy. "Fear not, I do believe that Robb will see reason once we march on King's Landing. Something that should be done with haste." He added, looking from Davos to Stannis.

"As I've told you before, I cannot leave Storm's End in possession of one of Renly's bannermen." Stannis said through gritted teeth.

"But Your Grace," Davos interjected, attempting to halt a coming argument. "You now have nearly forty thousand at your back. Should we march now, King's Landing will be defenseless. Even if Lord Tywin marches on us, we still outnumber him."

"Onion Knight, do you know how embarrassing it is to have the keep of your house held by an enemy?" Stannis said with a cold voice. "It's an unbearable slight, and I shall see that the fortress of the Stag is not held by a traitor."

"You would do well to get on with it then." Olyvar said, and this time Davos could sense a bitter voice. "Who knows when the Tyrells will get gather themselves and come for vengeance for what you did to Renly."

"It's you I worry about." Stannis spat back. "Weren't you the one who suggested to attack Renly's camp in the dead of night? So why do you trouble me about how I dealt with my own brother?"

"Indeed, I did suggest an attack under the cover of darkness. But there's a difference between attacking in the dead of night with your own men and hiring an assassin to do the trick." Olyvar said grimly. "Much different having to slay the man you want dead than having another kill him."

"Enough of this. You spoke of the Tyrells. I have a mission for you." Stannis took a seat across from his ward, Melisandre to his left and Davos to the right. "You will go to Bitterbridge and serve as my diplomat."

"Madness." Olyvar responded sharply. "They'll skewer me upon arrival because of what you did to Renly."

"Because of what they think I've done." Stannis corrected him. "They only believe that I paid for Brienne of Tarth to kill Renly."

"That woman loved Renly more than anyone. You saw it just as I did." Olyvar objected fiercely. "We both know it was not her. So, who did you send Stannis?"

"It matters not. As I said, the Tyrells are convinced I was behind their death, yet lack proof. You will convince them of my innocence. Should they refuse to listen to you, then you and your men will hold them off as I take the capital."

A suicide mission. "You need not fear, Lord Olyvar." Melisandre spoke. "The flames have shown me that no harm shall come to you. Even while you grasp your false idols, R'hllor cloaks you in his favor."

"A comfort to know, my lady." But Olyvar was not looking at the red witch, but directly into Stannis Baratheon's eyes. Both possessed a cold, deadly stare, and Davos felt as if a battle of wills was being waged within the tent itself. We are divided. Davos thought in despair. He will leave us to join his cousin.

"Will you obey your king, or not?" Stannis challenged through gritted teeth as the two continued to share their heated stares.

Olyvar snorted. "Am I simply a sacrifice on your way to the chair, Stannis? Are the bodies of my men your stepping stones? Is mine?"

"I am trusting you to make sure the Tyrells do not interfere. Your cousin has Tywin preoccupied in the West, which leaves the capital open unless the Tyrells intervene." Davos could detect a vote of confidence through the steely exterior of the king. "You are a better diplomat that most of the fools I surround myself with, and the Tyrells will not treat with Ser Davos, they will want one of higher birth." Davos understood this was not meant to be a slight, but simply a reality. Mace Tyrell would never treat with a low born, anointed or not. "You are the only option."

Olyvar stared for what felt like a long period of time, the sharpness in his eyes never dulling. Finally, he stood. "I'll do this for you, but you will guarantee me a few things."

"You have no right to demand anything from the rightful king." Melisandre warned.

"Silence, woman!" Davos was taken aback by Stannis' tone. He had never heard an angry word thrown at Melisandre's direction before. "Speak them then."

"You will send men to the Red Keep to find and protect my cousin. Should any harm fall upon Sansa, you will forever regret it." Davos tensed up at the warning. He could see both the boy and his teacher we're close to exploding with anger. "You will also not harm Myrcella nor Tommen Baratheon under any circumstances. Should you find them, you will hold them until I show up and obtain custody."

"A ridiculous demand. The children must die, they are impure." Melisandre's voice slithered back into the conversation, almost as if it was whispering into Stannis' ear.

"Did I not command you to be silent?" The red priestess fell silent to Stannis' command once more.

"Thirdly, the Sept of Baelor will not be touched by this foul woman's hands." Olyvar did not need to point to indicate he was speaking of Melisandre. "After the whispers I heard throughout camp, I trust you understand my reasoning for this."

"Of course. Anything else you wish to add?" Stannis responded with iron.

"None. Do you accept?" Olyvar asked back, with just as much steel in his voice as his mentor. He's a mixture of Robert and Stannis, this one.

"I do. Now go." Olyvar did as he was instructed, exiting the tent. Davos lamented at their situation. Even if the Vale supported Stannis, their allegiance was now shaky at best. And should Stannis continue listening to Melisandre, what was stopping Olyvar from declaring for Robb Stark? Loyalty would only go so far, and the boy was still a boy, which meant his patience would run thin eventually. "Ser Davos." The Onion Knight looked over to his king, his concentration broken. "I too have a task for you."

A/N: Some of you wanted sparks. How's that for some sparks?

Many predicted that Olyvar would be sent to deal with the Tyrells. Many also predicted a schism to form between Stannis and Olyvar, and although that hasn't occurred yet, I made sure that their certainly was tension.

As for Colemon, it seems that he and Nestor Royce are caught in a bit of a position. But if you can't trust a Valeman (if it even is Petyr), who can you trust? ...

As always, tell me what ya think. Appreciate the support guys, here's hoping we hit 100 follows/favs within the next few updates. This story wouldn't be as big as it is without you guys. Much thanks!