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Damn this castle. Why did it have to be so fucking big? He didn't know how long did he spend climbing up these twisting stairs, but by the Seven they needed to move the Maester's chambers. He was starting to understand why Stannis hated this place.
The Maester often nested himself within the Sea Dragon Tower. It was where the rookery was after all. Davos had no inkling of the mysterious strength that Cressen seemingly possessed to be able to climb these stairs everytime he needed to attend to his duties.
He was on the verge on wheezing when he finally stood before the chamber door. That was when he heard the loud conversation from the other side and a young maiden's tittering.
"You should have seen my- "Davos felt himself lurch forward towards the door. He had entered the room awkwardly. The two occupants staring at his ungraceful landing on the messy instrument ridden floor.
"My lord Davos!" The Maester said alarmed as he rushed by his side.
"I'm quite all right Maester Cressen. That was my own fault." Davos said chucking as the old Maester tried to pick him up.
"My Lord Seaworth." The young maiden stood and curtsied like a proper lady should. She seemed uncomfortable by his presence.
"It's alright milady." Milady damn it he's been trying hard to drop that.
"My lady would you honor Ser Davos with an introduction?" Cressen asked with a smile.
"Certainly. My name is Shierle Swyft, one of Lady Cersei's handmaidens." The girl looked she had just recently reached maidenhood. She wore a fancy but muted dress that was in the color of cream with several long strands of ocean blue embroidered into the seams. She wore a small sapphire brooch on her right shoulder that was in the shape of a crying cockerel.
She herself was a beauty; but, not beautiful as one would use the word when describing the Lady Lannister, she served. She had a small heart shaped face with thick pale lips, punctuated with several light freckles. Given a few more years she would have been quite the fetching wife.
"What brings you to our good Maester lady Shierle?" Davos had come here for other reasons, but found the time to entertain the young maiden. Learning more about who served her was a step towards knowing more about Lady Cersei.
"Well my lord I thought it wise for me to learn more about Dragonstone and its environs considering we're going to be guests here for half the year." She gave a lovely smile. Davos couldn't resist smiling back. She seemed to be a kind lass.
"Although it seems that plan went awry. The kind Lady Swyft was about to the tell me the tale of how her good friend had accidentally ate horse dung." Maester Cressen was being quite vulgar.
"Maester! We have a Lord in our presence!" She exclaimed in unbelieving surprise.
"It is no worry my Lady. I assure you I have heard filthier tales." Davos gave her a mischievous wink to which she blushed in response.
"Lord Davos I've almost forgotten to mention, why are here? Do you wish for my counsel?" Davos nodded as the Maester reminded him, looking towards Lady Swyft.
"Lady Shierle, I am glad that you've happened to come on by. Tell me what do you think of a potential match between Lord Stannis and your mistress?" Davos felt wretched for putting the girl underneath their attentions. She fidgeted slightly so it seemed she was unused to it.
"Well my lords I do not think I have the insight to comment." She said carefully.
Davos sighed.
"You've served with Lady Cersei for quite some time aye? Considering her demeanor how do you think she'd match with Lord Stannis?" She looked alarmed as he mentioned demeanor.
"I'm sorry Lord Davos I cannot help you." She looked down at the floor in shame.
"Do you think it a terrible union then?" Davos questioned, he was being too cruel to the girl; but, he needed to know for Stannis' health.
"All I can see is that when Lady Cersei dreams of her shining knight she would not see Stannis Baratheon." Shierle said with a sad smile.
"Why are you so adamant about the betrothal Lord Davos?" The Maester asked.
Davos looked at the Maester, then at the young Swyft maiden and then back at the Maester.
"Stannis is acting strangely." Davos was certain he may regret saying this in the presence of a handmaiden of Lady Cersei; but, he had the naïve view that she would keep quiet.
"Should I take leave my lords?" Lady Shierle was quick enough to know when her presence would be needed elsewhere.
"No need my lady. I do not feel you would be an unwelcome aid here. For this I need the assistance of a woman, maybe a woman's advice is what can save Lord Stannis from this path." Maester Cressen raised his brow.
"You've noticed it as well? The Maester spoke quietly.
The young Swyft girl remained silent, aware that she was privy to a conversation a woman of her birth and status should not be privy to.
"Stannis has stayed here stubbornly for almost half a year now. Ever since he freed this place from Targaryan hold. He refuses to leave unless Robert himself comes and asks for him." Davos explained.
"That would be difficult." Cressen commented.
"It is; believe me I have tried many times." Cressen raised his brow once more.
"Was that why you left for King's Landing? To sway the King to welcome his brother back?" Davos looked at his eyes, nodding silently.
Cressen sighed, a deep tried sigh. He was an old man now Davos noted. Very soon he would have needed to retire to the Citadel and let a younger Maester tend to Dragonstone; however, Cressen was loyal just like he was. He would be with Stannis until the very end.
"Stannis acts as if he was exiled here. Nothing I say can make him listen to reason." The Maester said.
"I fear he suffers from illness." Davos' eyes widened in alarm. Lady Shierle as well.
Tales of Stannis' resiliency had circulated around the land. He had after all survived a year's siege of Stom's End. To think in the end, he was only just a man.
"What kind?" Davos asked grimly.
"A sickness of the mind. A great melancholy has befallen him. I have found him staying up late within the Chamber of the Painted Table just staring at Storm's End. He is not eating regularly. I dread what would happen if he continues." Davos pinched the bridge of his nose. This far worse than he had originally anticipated.
"Does this not stem from King Robert then?" Lady Shierle became scared quiet as both men looked at her.
"Lady Shierle is right. King Robert has grown ever more distant not only with Stannis but with everyone close to him as well." Davos noted.
"Lady Shierle do not be afraid. We would appreciate your insights as well." Maester Cressen smiled at her.
Shierle Swyft opened her mouth, but closed it.
"I'm of the mind that our King's isolation began with what happened between his grace and his Stark wife. Mayhaps it's maiden's gossip; but, it's what men both small and lord speak of. "She said finally after finding her courage.
"That is true, elevating Lord Stannis' burden through his brother may not be our best course of action. Which I why I came here." Davos looked at Lady Shierle once more.
"Can Lady Cersei distract our Lord Stannis until we find a permanent solution?" Maester Cressen guffawed.
"Forgive me for my impudence Ser Davos. I could have sworn you uttered distract and Stannis in the same sentence." He said while bowing, even now he chuckled quietly.
"All is forgiven. I would have done the same if you spoke mine words." Davos tried to suppress his own laugh as well.
"I do not believe this is a laughing matter my lords. You speak of my Lady whom I serve with loyalty." The sweet demure Shierle had disappeared for a short moment.
Davos sheepishly scratched his neck. While Maester Cressen straightened himself.
"We did not mean any offense." Davos muttered.
"It's alright. Indeed, I believe Lady Cersei needs distraction as well. Would the lords be surprised if I were to inform you that the Lady Lannister hates this place?" Davos and the Maester gave her a look. As if she was saying 'The sunsets at dusk' or 'King Robert is a whoremonger'.
"Although I have to warn you. If by distract you meant courtship than you will not find success. Lady Cersei has already set her eyes for someone else." Shierle bit her lip saying that. Davos was of the mind she was trying hard to hide something.
He did not find a cause to press on her.
"That's right. I doubt Stannis has any interest in romantic love. Can you tell us your understanding of what distraction is?" Davos shrugged at his words.
"Frankly anything that gets his mind off his brother or this place. It's risky but it's the only path we can take for now." Just then Lady Shierle's eyes widened in realization.
"Has a thought struck you my lady?" Maester Cressen spoke out as he noticed her look.
"I am unsure if I should tell the lords this; but, two days prior Lady Cersei and Lord Stannis had a minor encounter within the chamber of the painted table." Davos looked at Cressen who shared his bewildered look. They had talked in private?
"What time did this occur?" Two days prior would have been their initial arrival. When did they have the time for a private chat?
The lady looked out to the window, looking at the sea.
"First the lords must promise me. If the Lady Lannister knew of this, I would be severely chastised." She begged with frightened eyes.
Davos was fighting with himself. He hated this sort of skullduggery but Stannis had left him with no choice.
"I vow that Lady Cersei will hear nothing of this, Cressen?" The Maester nodded his head, echoing Stannis' response.
She gave them a relieved smile.
"Well. In the words of Lady Cersei, she had chanced upon Lord Stannis late at night. She had dared to explore the halls of Dragonstone and through chance met the Lord of Dragonstone within the chamber of the painted table. I hesitate to continue for Lady Cersei spoke many ill words about the good Lord Stannis." Davos waved his hand for her to go on. He had heard many mockeries of Stannis Baratheon so it was nothing new.
"She spoke of how he was such a scary brute. About how he just stood there and took her witty japes. We tittered of course, we had to. She said he lectured her about duty and how ultimately he was a foolish man of no significance whose greatest achievement was a potential betrothal to a Lannister wife." Davos clenched his fists, imagining Lady Cersei speaking those words made his blood hot.
"Yet oddly she spoke highly of him as well." At this Davos raised his brow.
"She called him a good man. "Aye she might be arrogant but Lady Cersei was right in calling Stannis a good man but was that really praise?
"Cersei never uses a good man the way most would. She thinks it an insult, a jape at those who she thinks are self-righteous and ignorant of world's harsh truths. Yet when she called Stannis a good man. I heard envy in her voice, respect even." Davos stroked his beard.
"I should not be telling you this my lords. Even if you swore in secrecy not to tell; however, I have known Lady Cersei for some time and never have I seen the face she had when she called Stannis Baratheon a good man." Lady Shierle had an excited look in her eye, as if she was regaling a tale of romance.
He did not have the heart to dash such imagination.
"I do not think it will end the way you think it does Lady Shierle. I doubt the Lady Lannister would fall in love with Stannis just because he is a good man. There are many good men in Westeros. I also doubt Lord Stannis would reciprocate those feelings if such was the case. He is a strict man whose expectations of what a wife is would be fulfilled by few women." Lady Shiele's earlier enthusiasm was slightly dented. She did not seem willing to let her hopes perish.
Still, in any normal circumstance Stannis would have told Cersei to return to her chambers. Then again Stannis would not normally spend the entire night sulking.
They were about to continue discussing a way to placate the lord and lady they served when they heard hurried steps. A harried household guard forced himself him. Out of breath and wide eyed.
"Milord Davos. Lord Stannis is meting out justice." He gasped out.
Davos held the man by the shoulder, assisting him as he tried to catch himself.
"Be more specific man." The pig nosed guard took one last deep breath.
"He's facing off Ser Emett Bar Emmon in a trial by combat!"
"Ser Davos. It seems you've missed all the fun." Lady Cersei said as she saw the flustered face of the Onion Knight. They were seated above a palisade dug into the earth like a pit, located within the courtyard in Stone Drum's shadow.
Stannis had this impromptu fortification built, another disturbing change in Stannis' behavior. It's quickly found name described what its purpose was.
The Bitter Stag's Gallows.
The handmaidens by Lady Cersei's side were present, Lady Shierle included. All of them were equally young, none older than fifteen if he ventured a guess.
The one directly seated next to Lady Cersei wad a 'plump' woman. Davos found it inaccurate to call her fat, she was on the precipice and if she wasn't careful she would find herself not fitting most of her clothes. Her dress that was tailored in sky blue and sunflower yellow was expertly crafted to accentuate her curves. Her face was oval shaped with a button shaped nose and thin but luscious lips. She had sparkling blue eyes that were fixated mesmerized by the battle below. On her golden Lannister like hair was a triangular hairpin passing through a sun.
After her was a tall and large woman garbed in a dress of earthen colors, surprising for Westermen. Her hazel hair reached only her chin and she had a tall face with a long bony nose, her cheeks were full and she had a strong jaw with barely visible lips. Her brown and fixed on him, she had caught him staring and her scowl suggested she didn't like it.
He quickly looked to the third and final handmaiden.
She was small but emanated an intimidating presence. She wore a veil that covered her face and wore a dress made of lace colored in the night. He did not know where she was looking at. She seemed more like a Silent Sister than a noble lady.
Lady Cersei had an interesting entourage that he could admit.
What was more interesting was the fight below. It had already began and from what he gathered it involved the Lord of House Bar Emmon. Ser Emett had allegedly raped a smallfolk woman, one widowed early in life with no family. Her plight was brought to his attention by a knight of House Celtiger. Ser Emett did not have the patience for Stannis' deliberation and directly called for a trial by combat.
The Lord of Bar Emmon was garbed in a silver tinted plate armor. It's vambrances had scales crafted into them; the rondels shaped into swordfish; a tabard bearing the sigil of Bar Emmon stained in blood and mud; and on his head was an armet helmet with a sculpture of a flying swordfish on its top. It was needlessly ornate.
Stannis on the other hand wore plate armor that was more plain utilitarian, in the color of dull steel grey. It bore no signs of his House colors or sigil. The only thing of note was his burgonet helmet which had two small antlers jutting from its crown.
"You are injured Lord Emett. Surrender now and be judged for your crimes." Stannis' muffled voice spoke out.
The Lord of Bar Emmon yelled out, attacking Stannis Baratheon with a great sword in an overhead strike. Stannis easily sidestepped it and tripped him with the bastard sword in his hand.
He fell head first into fresh mud, struggling to get up. Lady Cersei tried to stifle a laugh.
Davos breathed out in annoyance, he had missed most of the fight already. Emett Bar Emon dropped his weapon and his threw his helmet away. The Lord of Bar Emon was not a handsome man. He had a fat nose and thick rough lips with full cheeks and a sharp jawline. His bare skull was glistening with sweat and speckles of blood were on his chin and lips.
"Do it then." He dared with a mocking smile.
"Have your justice! Show to your bannerman they you value the lives of smallfolk more so than theirs!" He declared dramatically.
Some of Stannis' bannerman had remained two days after the feast, likely trying to curry favor with the new Lord of Dragonstone.
Davos even spied some among them in the seated crowd.
"Come." Stannis gestured towards a young looking smallfolk girl who was standing beside the stair that served as the pits exit.
She walked with fear as she stared at the kneeling Lord of Bar Emon. Ser Emett eyes widened in shock.
"Why is she here?" The girl had reached Stannis' side.
"This is the woman that you have raped. With the testimonies of your fellow knight and the strength of just arms you have been found guilty of defiling the property of your Lord and of breaking your knightly oaths." He turned towards the girl, nodding his head silently.
Davos was confident he knew what was going to happen next.
Stannis gave the girl a dagger from his belt. He whispered something into her ear. The peasant girl lunged at Lord Emett, stabbing the dagger furiously into his neck. Screaming and crying with every jab of the blade.
There were gasps and cries of alarm among the audience. Only Davos remained calm. He took a glance at Lady Cersei who's mouth slightly dropped in surprise.
After the smallfolk girl was done Stannis raised his hand.
"Guards! Take this woman away and hang her for the murder of a noble lord." Soon guards descended, clasping iron chains on the bloody girl who just stood catatonically, with a serene and content smile on her face.
"He's hanging her? When he told her to do it?" The plump handmaiden of Cersei asked out with a horrified expression.
"She had killed her rapist. Why kill her too?" The tall woman asked in uncomfortable confusion.
"So cruel…." The veiled woman spoke with a sweet high-pitched voice.
They didn't understand. This was Stannis' justice. This was true justice. Most likely Stannis had informed her beforehand that this would have been her fate.
Good deeds did not wash away the bad. Bad deeds did not sully the good.
This was the same justice that had been given to him. He wore it around his neck, the pouch that had the finger joints taken from his left hand.
They couldn't understand.