Hi guys !

First of all, I wanted to thank you for reading/following/favoriting this fanfic. Please do not hesitate MPing me if you have any ideas/suggestions. I know I may often sound OOC, but I never deny constructive criticism. Also, I'd love to have reviews, so don't be shy ;)

In this chapter, we will slightly get away from Stannis to see another POV. Hope you'll enjoy!

"Men marry because they are tired, women, because they are curious: both are disappointed"

Oscar Wilde

"I will NOT marry this creepy old man!" the young girl yelled.

"You will do as your Lord and father commands. Don't forget where your place is, young lady", a man, way older than her, spat.

Davos was staring at them, embarrassed as seldom. First, because he barely could bear someone calling his King a "creepy old man". Second, because he didn't want to be involved in a fight. He looked at the young girl, his father staring at her as well. In the room, next to them, were young men, with beautiful clothes, and an old woman. What Davos called an old woman, not Stannis's age. She was looking at her granddaughter, shaking her head softly. The eldest man turned to Davos, as if he only noticed he was here.

"So, what is Stannis Baratheon's terms, Ser…?" he asked.

Not even able to remember my name, Davos thought. He smiled as nicely as he could.

"Davos. Davos Seaworth. The King…"

"He's not the King yet, as far as I know", the young girl said, staring at him, her arms crossed on her chest.

"He will be, my Lady. He is the rightful heir."

"Joffrey Baratheon is the rightful heir", she insisted.

"Oh please, darling, be silent", the old woman spat. "Joffrey is as much a Baratheon as I am. Go on, Ser", she nicely smiled at him.

Davos bowed and spoke again:

"His Grace knows your relationships have not always been good. You besieged Storm's End, you were on the Targaryen's side. And then you surrendered to Robert. Stannis is ready to forgive the past and to focus on the future. He wants to build a strong alliance with your house, and which alliance is better than a wedding?"

"But he is OLD. And I don't want to marry an old man", the young girl moaned again.

Davos turned to her:

"As far as I know, you were ready to marry Robert, who was older than Stannis", he argued.

She opened her mouth to say something, seemed to think about it and smirked triumphantly:

"At least Robert was handsome."

"Stannis may not be handsome, but he is the King. Or he will be soon. I heard you wanted to be THE queen", Davos retorted.

He hated when people attacked Stannis. He hardly dealt with it. He touched, as a reflex, his phalanxes, the ones Stannis had cut off as a punishment for being a smuggler. Please, he begged, please bring me luck. Don't let me disappoint him. Davos looked up at the girl: she had not replied, she was looking at him with a smirk. Almost a nice smile.

"You look very devoted to your king, Ser", she said again.

"I am. He is the best man I've ever know", he said and before she had time to reply, he turned to her father, "Stannis proposes also your son Loras to become the Lord Commander of his Kingsguard."

Loras looked up at him and hardly held back a broad grin. Mace Tyrell, though, looked down. Davos knew he had to play on this.

"Lord Tyrell, I have sons too. 7. Thanks to Stannis, they can read, write, fight. They'll be knights one day, may the Gods hear me. I know it's a sacrifice to see one of his children renouncing to get married, have heirs, sons who will carry on your name. But your son Loras is one of the best warriors in the Seven Kingdoms. Stannis knows it. He wants to reward his exceptional gift with what could fit him the best. Your son is born to fight, Lord Tyrell. You know it as much as I do. But you have two other sons who will be able to give you heirs."

Mace was listening at him and he glanced at Loras: he was proud of what Davos said, he could see it. He nodded at Davos.

"Very well. We accept those terms."

Davos closed his eyes for a second, his heart jumping in his chest. It was done. He hadn't failed Stannis. They went on talking for a moment, sharing a cup of wine, until they all agreed that Stannis would come to Highgarden for the ceremony. It has to be done quickly. Mace Tyrell didn't protest when Davos, quite embarrassed, precised that Stannis wanted to be sure that Margaery was still a virgin. She heard that and protested loudly but Mace and Olenna, her grandmother, made her be quiet. They knew it was nothing against her. Stannis was, by nature, a defying man. Davos added that if she was not a virgin, the wedding would be simply cancelled. He silently prayed that she was. Stannis didn't have many suitors. Davos then tried to calm Margaery down, tried to tell her about Stannis's qualities but she walked away from him and started to beg her father, crying. Mace told Davos he could go and he bowed and walked out, still hearing Margaery protesting and crying.

She ran away as soon as she could and locked herself in her room. Watching by the window, she was staring at Highgarden. Her country, her land. Tears were streaming on her face. Why did she have to be born as a woman? Men had all the rights in this world. Women had only the right of obeying. Obeying their father, obeying their King, obeying their husband. Husband… She couldn't believe her father had wanted to sell her to Robert, then he thought about Renly and finally, there she was, sold to Stannis Baratheon, the most sinister man in the Seven Kingdoms. She thought about praying, but she knew it would be useless. Nothing, no one was gonna save her now.