310 AC
Shireen Baratheon
At twenty and one, the eldest child of the heir to the Iron Throne should have been hounded by dozens of lords and knights over marriages.
Not her.
Shireen had lived her life sadly. Her mother never loved her. She knew that she had wished her to be born a son for her father. She died when she was young. The stillborn child that took her life? Ironically, would have grown into a son.
Not to mention the greyscale. It hadn't been her fault that a child's doll was laced with it. But the judgements of Westeros are harsh, and harsher still on the women.
Only a handful of people treated her with any amount of kindness or respect. Her father loved her. Of that, she was sure of. She had asked him once if he was ashamed of her. Her father never smiled or gave her gestures of kindness. But his answer forever warmed her heart. And as she grew older, she matured and saw the reality of her father's life. She learned of the histories when he was once a young man himself…the hardships he endured for both her uncles. He may not have smiled, but her father loved her, of that, there was no doubt.
Her uncle Renly had always been friendly, if put off by her. She didn't blame him; most were by her appearance. But the occasional toys and later, letters, that he would send still made her smile.
Her uncle, the King, had once been too drunk to ever notice his 'own' bastard children, let alone her. But after the Lion's War, he had changed. He was not friendly with her as Renly was, but he would often gift her with short lessons or teachings to think on. He had even gifted her a blade on one of her namedays. Only for her father to snatch it away later. She didn't blame him, she didn't know how to use a blade, and if she was honest with herself, she didn't truly wish to learn. But she appreciated the gesture, nonetheless.
Davos Seaworth had become something of a surrogate father combined with uncle. When she was much younger, the knight had served something of a father role to her, while her father was too busy running Dragonstone or serving on the small council. She had taught the kind man how to read and write when he knew not how. She knew that it had been her lessons that he passed onto his own sons. She couldn't have been prouder when her uncle issued a royal warrant, raising Davos from a knight to a fully-fledged lord.
Although she had only seen him on a few occasions, she remembered the previous Hand of the King brightly. Eddard Stark had been a busy man. Running the realm while managing a rebellion as well as still receiving reports from his home in the North. Yet, on the few occasions they would interact, he had always been kind. Always looking into her eyes, never holding gaze on her scars.
Other than these few, the rest of the realm gawked at her, spoke behind her back. Had she wished for a marriage at one point, yes. But if she waited this long, she could surely wait longer.
At first, she had thought of the handsome Robb Stark. Heir to the North and a kind man as his father was. She blushed uncontrollably when she later learned he was already married. At one point, she knew that the small council was in talks about sending her to wed the King's godchild, Lord Robin Arryn, though that never went through.
But besides marriages, the one matter of whispers that truly infuriated her, was the talk of her potential succession. Shireen was a shy young girl, only growing more confident as she grew older. But she was never known for her temper. But when she first learned of the talk of her potential succeeding her father, she captured the spirit of the Baratheon fury like no other.
She had no wish to sit that monstrosity. She had seen what it had done to Uncle Robert. She knew of the past under the Targaryens. And frankly, it looked hopeless. If history was anything to go by, it looked to be nothing more than a thankless job that sycophants would claw at until the person who sat the throne died.
Her wish? Marry a kind man. Settle a quiet home. Live in peace. She would support her father but would not succeed him, She had insisted to one of her appointed handmaids. 'Twas not an issue of sex. Even if she had been born a son. She would sooner abdicate for a younger sibling. She was already too aggravated with court life already.
No…she would leave the 'honor' of sitting the Iron Throne to her younger brother. In truth, half-brother. But she didn't see it that way. Her stepmother, Princess Myranda, was lovely. And certainly the young Raymont was as well. Though, all noticed that if father ever entered the room, he would plaster his face with the most serious, six-year-old, face he could muster.
He never thought it was enough and believed that father was disappointed in him. But Shireen had lived long enough. She could see the way how their father's face relaxed. Not a smile. Never a smile. But it was the closest thing to a smile that Stannis Baratheon could call on.
She felt for little Raymont. He was surrounded by giants of men. But no other young boys. When he was even younger, he had her, and their younger sister, Morgana. But as he grew older, it became apparent that he needed other boys. It was untoward for young ladies to spar with a young boy after all.
Which is why she found herself in her father's private study. As Hand of the King and the Prince Regent, he had a more stately study. For more private discussions and those that centered on family, he elected to use a smaller, private room.
Seated in the chambers were herself, her father, and her stepmother. Lord Davos also stood next to her father.
"Earlier, this past moon, I received a raven from Lord Stark of Moat Cailin. He extended an offer to host Raymont as a ward. To live among other young lordlings and sons."
She watched her stepmother tense. "And why-" Princess Myranda began. "-is this the first time I am hearing of this?"
Her father didn't respond to the challenge. "Because it hadn't been serious thought until now. Regardless, I have been advised by the small council, including Lord Davos-" He turned to glare at the man. "-to send my son north, to Moat Cailin."
"Father, will they only be Northmen there? I have argued for a long time that Raymont needs fellow companionship. Strictly politicking however, it would be ineffectual if only they are Northmen. Baratheons and Starks have held onto a friendship now spanning close to three decades."
"Lord Edwyle hadn't originally planned to, but if I am to accept, I will do so with the provision that he accept a number of other young men from the rest of the realm."
"That is quite a number of boys, father. Lord Arryn fostered only two. But for a single lord to foster a dozen or so, maybe more?"
He waved her concerns away. "If he agrees to the provision, I will see that he receives a stipend from the royal treasury, to offset the cost of a higher number of wards."
"He is still my son." Myranda interrupted. Evidently annoyed at how the conversation already seemed set in stone.
"As you have already said." Her father replied flatly.
"Raymont needs friends, I do not deny this. But he is a Prince of the Blood. He belongs here, in King's Landing. If he so requires the bonds of friendship, let us invite young boys here." She stressed.
"And what will the people say? Baratheons are known for their outward lives. Raymont will need to travel at some point. Otherwise, the realm will begin to question whether or not he is truly prepared to succeed father." She calmly counseled.
"I like this not." Princess Myranda started. "But, if it is to happen, I can think of worst places to send my boy then a castle in the North."
The room seemed to settle. Until her stepmother snapped her head to Stannis. "But, no more of my children. If Morgana needs companionship, we'll invite young ladies here. And that, is final!"
Shireen had to admit, she was often impressed by her stepmother. She was not a cruel one as in the stories. But she was undoubtedly a Royce of the Vale. She did not entertain foolishness. Regardless of where it came from.
Observing her father; he didn't seem intimidated or put off by his wife's words, but it appeared he realized it was a fight not worth battling. He simply nodded.
"Very well."
Edwyle Stark
"The Prince Regent has accepted our offer. Prince Raymont will travel north in a moon's turn. However, the Prince Regent has demanded that a number of wards from the south be accepted as well."
Roslin seemed worried. "Can our coffers handle the weight of both construction and a dozen or more boys?"
"No need. Prince Stannis writes that a royal stipend will be sent to us. It will follow Prince Raymont north. We are to write to the small council if the stipend is found to be insufficient."
"Does he write on who else will travel with the young Prince?"
"He writes that Steffon Seaworth, youngest of Lord Seaworth's sons will join. Along with Jon Egen, son of Ser Vardis Egen, Castellan of the Eyrie, Gunthor Hightower, Alyn Blackwood, and Qarlton Buckwell, heir to the Antlers."
"Five? Dorne and the Westerlands are noticeably absent."
"Aye, I understand his reasonings. Regardless. A second raven has come in from the Crossing."
Roslin's mouth turned to a frown. "And what does my Lord brother report? No doubt more of the rats of our father are scurrying for favor?"
"Nay. It's from his youngest son, Ser Walton."
"Walton? What's he doing writing the ravens?"
"What are your thoughts on him? Is he to be trusted?"
"Well, of all of Stevron's sons, he is definitively the best. That being said, he sees himself as a sort of savior. Insisting on power to help others, not realizing that it may lead to the same behavior as my late Lord father."
"Nonetheless, he writes that the King stayed a night at the Crossing but has since continued northward."
"So soon? I don't blame him for not staying longer of course." Edwyle was aware of his wife's…feelings of her home. "Will he be able to make it through the Neck?"
"After the raven from my uncle, Lord Tully, I sent a message to Lord Reed, requesting that his Crannogmen keep an eye out for the small royal party."
"That's good. I'll ensure that quarters are prepared for the King and his party. I will also ask that Ser Godric double their efforts to finish the stables. Temporary stables as we have are not fit for Prince Raymont, let alone the King."
He nodded in agreement before changing the subject. "How's Ron?" Asking about his son brought a smile to both the parents face.
"Ronnel-" Roslin had always insisted to call him by his full name. "-is doing well. I told him last night of all the new friends that will come to the Moat to keep him company."
"It will be good for him. Seeing his cousin Samsyn will do wonders as well."
"Which got me thinking…"
Edwyle turned when he heard the sensual tone in her voice.
"Oh?"
"Certainly Ronnel will need siblings to keep him company long after our guests leave." She purred.
"Of course dear wife. To not give him siblings would be an injustice." He played along.
He didn't have to for long though.
Roslin jumped on him.