There was never a moment in Sarah's life when she doubted her father and the duty that he had. He had a duty to the people of Westeros now. They deserved the rightful King. He had a duty to his wife. He had a duty to his daughters. Sarah never thought it possible that her father would forget that. She never thought that he would break his sacred vows.
Yet he did.
Sarah had been summoned to see her father on one particular evening. His brother Renly had just declared that he was the rightful King to the Iron Throne. Sarah had done a double take when she heard that news. Her brow had furrowed and her head had shaken back and forth.
Renly most certainly was not the rightful King. She wondered why he would have gone against Stannis. She was well aware that the pair of them didn't get along, yet that was no cause to fight each other.
Sarah wandered the corridors after making sure that Shireen was getting along well with Don in the library. It seemed that her sister had a new admirer. Then again, Sarah considered it difficult for no one to enjoy spending time in her sister's company. Shireen was a sweet child.
She paused outside the door to the small council and took a second before she knocked on the wood. There was no answer and Sarah's brow furrowed as she listened with intent. She could hear the knocking of wood and she knew that there was someone in there. Perhaps her father was distracted? Sarah wouldn't blame him. He had a lot to handle at that moment in time.
Turning the handle, Sarah pushed the door open and stepped inside of the room. The sight which greeted her caused her jaw to drop and her eyes to widen. She could scarcely believe the scene which was unfolding.
Stannis looked up from where he stood; his jaw tightening as he saw his daughter stood at the door. How long had she been there?
"Sarah." Stannis whispered his daughter's name.
Melisandre remained sprawled on the table, her legs parted wide as Stannis remained in between them. The Fire Priestess turned her head to the side and saw the girl, no look of remorse on her face as she did so.
"Clearly you didn't need to see me this evening," Sarah said, amazed that she had found it within her to manage a coherent sentence.
Stannis fiddled with the laces of his breeches, managing to tie them as his daughter turned on her heel and stormed from the room. He called after her whilst Melisandre moved from her position on the table. She reached for her robe and draped it over her body.
"Sarah! Come back here!"
"She will not listen," Melisandre replied, looking to the flame of a small candle. She should have seen this. This was the first step towards the demise of Sarah Baratheon.
"Damn you, woman," Stannis growled to Melisandre. "I have sinned. I have broken my vows...Selyse..."
"She shall understand," Melisandre promised Stannis. "She could not give you what you need. You do not need to fret, my King. All shall be well."
"How can it be well?" Stannis snarled at her, his hand running down the stubble that sat prominently on his chin. "My daughter has just seen me with you. She will tell her mother. I know that."
"You go and find her," Melisandre urged him. "I shall speak with Selyse."
"No!" Stannis snapped. "I want you nowhere near her."
"There is no time for that, my King," Melisandre said, sweeping from the room as Stannis looked over his table of the Seven Kingdoms again.
He only hoped that all of this hassle would make him the true King one day.
...
Sarah sat outside in the courtyard, her head in her hands as she tried to forget the sight that she had just seen. She was still struggling to believe that her father would do that. How could he be an adulterer? All of her life had been spent with people telling her that she had a duty. She had a duty to perform. She never once thought that her father was an exception.
"Sarah."
Stannis's voice managed a gruff whisper as he saw his daughter. She lifted her head up and glowered at her father.
"How could you?" Sarah wondered from him. "Mother...she...she has stood by you through everything..."
"I did not do this to shame your mother," Stannis promised his daughter. "I did this...you wouldn't understand why I did this."
"Try me," she dared him with a snarl. "I'm not Shireen, father. My nineteenth name day shall be soon. That is nineteen years that you have spent with mother. What do you think she will say when she finds out?"
Stannis shifted from one foot to the other with discomfort.
"Lady Melisandre is with her as we speak."
"Poisoning her mind, no doubt," Sarah said, moving to stand on her feet. She began to move away, pushing past her father with brute force. Stannis whirled around and grabbed hold of her arm, pulling her back to him. She struggled for a few moments before the truth tumbled from Stannis's mouth.
"It was a moment of weakness," Stannis whispered to Sarah. "I don't know why I did it...she promised me a son...she promised me the Iron Throne..."
"How can she give you a son?" Sarah wondered. "Even if a babe was born, people would find it suspicious if the child was to have fiery red hair."
Grinding his teeth together, Stannis glowered down at his daughter.
"You should have knocked before entering."
"I did," Sarah responded; her chin jutted out as she did so. "You seemed to be too busy with the Red Woman to notice me. Why would you do this? You do not need her. She will alienate you from everyone-"
"-I already have some men," Stannis cut her off. "Ser Davos recruited them this morning. He is doing his duty by me, Sarah. Like you should be doing."
"I do," Sarah interrupted him. "I do everything that you ask me. I object to it, but I do it."
"You need to stop objecting," Stannis warned her. "It will not help you."
"You need to go to mother," Sarah suddenly declared. "You need to tell her what you have done. You need to apologise to her. I know that she is not well...but...she is your wife, father."
"And look how the King treated his wife," Stannis snarled back. "He whored around in front of her."
"You are not the King," Sarah responded. "And we both know that the Queen has not acted perfectly."
"Sarah-"
"-My King."
Both of them turned around to see Ser Davos stood there. He bowed at the waist in front of them and looked to Stannis.
"What is it, Ser Davos?"
"I need to speak to you. I have scouted out the best pirates, but there have been concerns," Davos responded. "And concerns over your brother."
"I see," Stannis replied and looked to Sarah. "Go to your chambers. I shall be there later on this evening."
"And mother-"
"- I shall deal with your mother," Stannis cut her off and turned on his heel to walk back with Ser Davos.
Sarah looked around the dark courtyard, the only light coming from the torches on the walls as the statues of dragons peered down at her from every nook and crevice. She ground her teeth together and moved back inside, purposefully heading towards her chambers. It was only when she got there did the anger inside of her rear its head again.
Her mother was perched on the edge of her bed, a blanket around her shoulders as Melisandre stood by her window, lighting her candles to illuminate the room.
"Sarah," Selyse said; a small smile on her face as she patted the space on the bed next to her. "Come and sit with me. We can explain all that has just happened."
Sarah felt the urge to ask if her mother was jesting, but Sarah knew the Lady Selyse. She never joked about anything. It was not in her style.
"Your mother is right," Melisandre replied. "I have told her everything that she needs to know. She understands why your father had to break a vow. It is all for the good of the realm."
"You cannot believe that, mother," Sarah replied, not looking at Melisandre as she watched her mother. Sarah's eyes widened with fear as she watched her mother for any sign of emotion. But there was nothing. There was no sign of betrayal, no sign of pain and hurt. There was nothing but admiration.
"It is the Lord of Light who makes these decisions, Sarah," Selyse spoke. "Everything happens for a reason."
"But-"
"-There are not buts," Selyse said, standing up and looking at her daughter with a harsh stare. Why could Sarah not see what was happening? Why could she not understand anything that was going on? Selyse had done her best to make Sarah see.
She had tried.
"Your mother understands, child," Melisandre responded. "I only wish you could have her faith."
Sarah kept silent and she shook her head. Her mother's mind had been made up. Selyse ran her hand down her daughter's dark head and forced herself to smile.
"It has been a long day, my love," she whispered. "You should rest for tonight. I shall speak to you tomorrow when your head is clearer."
Selyse said nothing more and swept from the room, Melisandre slowly following her. The Red Woman's gaze locked with Sarah's and a small smile played on her face. She would need to be careful around the young Baratheon.
...
The consequences of Stannis's actions came a few days after he and the Lady Melisandre had been together. Sarah had heard of how her father had been to treat with his brother. Apparently Renly had refused to bend the knee, and he now had the support of the Starks with him.
Sarah had been roaming the castle like a shadow. She kept herself hidden with her head down; listening to any sound she came across for information. Her father had been distant, burying himself in plots with Ser Davos. The Lady Melisandre had been by his side, willing him on about what he should do.
It was only on that night when Sarah stood at the balcony did she see Ser Davos rushing down to the shore of Dragonstone. She wondered what he was doing but she thought no more of it. She leaned against the stone pillars and turned to look up at the dragon carving that was glowering down at her.
The sea was calm and the moon shone its light over it, illuminating it and causing it to look like it didn't belong somewhere as dull as Dragonstone.
She pushed herself from the balcony after a while, knowing that the night was well and truly upon her. Yet she did not go to bed. She found herself unable to sleep until she hit the point of exhaustion. No one questioned her being out of bed at night.
...
"I saw you the previous night."
Ser Davos turned around the moment he heard her voice. He looked to Lady Sarah as she slowly sauntered over to him. The smuggler had stood on the beach for a while, looking out to the sea and where he had been the previous night.
"Where were you going?"
Davos kept silent as Sarah stood next to him, her boots sinking into the wet sand she stood on. She arched her brow and turned her head to the side, looking at him before she took in his pale complexion. He had bags under his eyes and his hands were shaking as he ran one down his chin.
"Davos," Sarah said, her hand resting on his shoulder. "What is it?"
"Nothing, my Lady."
"I've known you too long, Davos," Sarah whispered, her voice harsh. "Do not lie to me about anything."
Davos gulped, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he took her hand from his shoulder and squeezed it before allowing it to rest by her side again. She turned around, standing straight in front of him and blocking his view of the sea.
"Is it her?" Sarah whispered. "Has she done something?"
"The Red Woman?" he checked.
"Yes," Sarah said. "I do not trust her one little bit, Ser Davos."
"That makes two of us," Davos responded. "I think she is leading your father astray...I think she is...she is using some kind of magic."
"What makes you say that?" Sarah whispered, keeping her voice low. "Magic is a serious thing, Davos. That is if it even exists."
"It does," Davos interrupted her. "I have seen it, Lady Sarah. Last night...I..."
"What is it?" Sarah continued to push him. "Davos, I have seen her with my father...intimately...I...there are bad things happening here, Davos. I know it and I am worried about it."
Davos allowed a brow to arch on his forehead.
"You saw the two of them?" Davos checked. "Are you certain?"
"It is an image that will never leave me alone," Sarah promised him before she placed her hand on his upper arm, slowly curling her fingers around it. She took a second before she inhaled sharply. "She promised him a son."
"Seven Hells," Davos mumbled gently, turning his head away and realising now how she had spawned that shadow. How it had come from her. He didn't know if he could tell Sarah. He didn't want to alarm her. Yet it seemed she already was alarmed.
"I know," Sarah agreed numbly. "What has she done, Davos? Father needs to be warned of her. He needs to know that he does not need her God of Light."
Looking around, Stannis took hold of her arm and walked with her down the stretch of beach, the birds crowing above them as he spoke in a hushed tone.
"Your father told me to take her to a smuggler cave," Davos whispered to Sarah. "He told me to do it and so I did it. I took her with me and...and she...her stomach was swollen, Lady Sarah."
Sarah's gaze narrowed in concentration as Davos shook his head back and forth, trying to push the image from his mind. He didn't want to think about it. He didn't know if he could handle to think about it.
"Pregnant?" Sarah wondered. "But...how?"
"Your father," Davos said. "That is not the point though. It was what she gave birth to...it was dark...a shadow...it crawled from her and disappeared...to where...I do not know."
Sarah shook her head back and forth.
"How is that possible?" she wondered. "A shadow? Why? Where has it gone?"
"I do not know," Davos said. "I tried to talk to your father this morning. He wouldn't hear any of it, Lady Sarah. He wouldn't listen to me about it. The Red Woman has shown him things that he now believes in. He burnt the Old Gods. He is doing her bidding now. We have to stand by him through this."
"How?" Sarah dared to ask. "How can we stand by him when...when we do not understand what is happening?"
"Because he is your father and he is my King," Davos said as if it were simple. "We have to do the best to protect him from her ways as much as we can."
Davos released Sarah then, walking away from the girl, knowing that he had told her too much. Sarah remained where she was, looking out to sea before she turned her eyes back to Dragonstone. She had done her best by her father. But now he was using some kind of magic. Dangerous magic.
Sarah glanced over the tall castle and the dragons that glowered at her and she knew that she had to get away with Shireen. She had to leave.
...
A/N: Thank you to anyone who is taking the time to read this, and I know some of you just want Jaime and Sarah to be reunited again, and that will be happening in the next chapter or so. Pretty please stick with me until then. Thank you very much!