This is by far the most controversial chapter I have ever written for any fanfiction or original story. Pls don't string me up and sacrifice me to R'hllor lol.

Word of mouth was that Dragonstone suited the King's younger brother the best. The gloomy and dark atmosphere went well with the man's serious and dry nature, and it was a place Stannis Baratheon preferred.

It was only a half-truth.

Stannis had a fondness for this place, but it was not because of how dark and gloomy it was. There was just something about the place, about its high towers and architecture that eased Stannis' mind, and made the worries of the world seem so small.

It did not happen immediately of course. At first, he was resentful of it, to be given the smaller and poorer Dragonstone while Renly was given Storm's End. Stannis always believed that the slight was because Stannis failed to capture the Targaryens during the Rebellion, he resented it even. Still now there was resentment about the choices, but Dragonstone had warmed up to him.

But right now, none of what appealed to Stannis about Dragonstone was of use.

"The gods see all, and in time they will dispense justice. My Septa used to say that, but it is only now that I see and understand the wisdom in her words" Selyse prattled on.

Stannis stared at his wife a moment. To think the same woman would have burned the effigy of the seven had the events of the future not been revealed to him and he'd made sure to stamp that nonsense out of her. Melissandre may not have stepped foot here yet, but there were one or two priests and priestesses who'd journeyed here.

"You are now the heir, as you should always have been. You'd make a better King than Robert, a man of duty and honor, you'd never fail."

"Robert is my brother and our King. Do not speak ill of him."

Selyse lowered her head and was obedient.

Stannis had been in Dragonstone when the news of Cersei's imprisonment had reached him. Stannis did not remember being here when he was whisked away into the planes of wherever it was that he'd seen the future. Then again, he had been gone a long time, it was expected that he'd forget one thing or the next. Even if not a minute had passed between him being taken and returned.

"The Gods are smiling down on us, husband. First our daughter's miraculous cure and now this. The gods are smiling down on us" Selyse said with a grand smile.

But Stannis' expression had not changed.

That was a surprise he'd awakened to, though he it happened he had been terrified.

Shireen's scream could be heard by all and for a moment Stannis thought that his daughter was burning. He had been the first one there, shouting about water being brought to the Princess's chambers. Shireen had not been burning, she had not been hurt in any way. The scream was that of shock and delight, Stannis later realized. All because the scars of Greyscale that Shireen had been left with had vanished. The marks on her face and neck had cleared up. It was as if she had not been affected at all.

"Where is our daughter?" Stannis asked.

Selyse's excitement dimmed. Even after the miracle, Selyse had not yet warmed up to their daughter.

"She is in her chambers. She has asked for food to be brought up there for her" the woman scoffed. "You spoil her husband. She should be down here and following proper etiquette. Give me some time with her and I'll-"

"She is my daughter and she will not be put through anything such as that" Stannis cut his wife off sharply, though there was little in terms of his facial expression changing.

Stannis stood and Selyse lowered her head.

"I will go and see her. Do not wait for me."

And with that, Stannis walked out of the great hall, just as the servants were bringing in the food.

-x-

Stannis knocked twice on the door and took a step back. A gentle voice from inside gave him consent, and Stannis walked in.

Shireen's chambers were bare and simple, lightly decorated but filled with books. The girl loved to read and the Maester of Dragonstone was all too happy to oblige the girl he found sad-looking. She was reading right now as well, pouring over some book that looked older than the girl herself.

"What are you reading?"

Shireen stiffened, something Stannis did not fail to notice.

"It's a book Maester Pylos found in the Library at my request. Rhaegar Targaryen had said that there should be books on dragonlore and whatnot in the library and you did not get rid of it. I got curious."

Stannis had forgotten about that.

He took a step forward and peered over his daughter's shoulders. There were images of dragon eggs drawn on the pages, the words fading and the page close to crumbling. It was not in the best of states, and no doubt soon the whole thing would crumble to nothing.

"Careful" Stannis warned gently.

"I am" assured Shireen. "But perhaps I can ask Maester Pylos to transcribe these books. So when Daenerys comes she can learn from the words of her ancestors."

Not the worst idea.

"I will tell him to do so."

Shireen nods but does not look at her father, her back still turned toward him.

Stannis held back his sigh and took a seat on the bed, close to the table but still far enough to afford her the space she wanted.

"Have you found anything else?"

This time, Shireen turned around. It was still jarring for Stannis to look at the face of his daughter and not see the Greyscale marring it. So clear and bright…

"There was a diary, not in the best of states. It's either by Daenys or some other Targaryen with a 'Dae' in their name. There was mention of great calamity and some darkness. But the diary is too far faded to make any sense of."

Stannis nodded. He'd only half heard what his daughter said, too focused on the fact that Shireen was not looking at him as she spoke.

The man felt his chest constrict painfully. Shireen had never not looked at him for anything, be it for help or just to smile.

"When I woke that morning, I thought I had dreamt it all. That whatever I saw myself doing was some twisted nightmare my mind conjured for me" Stannis whispered. "But then I heard you scream, saw your face healthy again… and the fear in your eyes when you looked at me. That was when I knew that it was no dream, that whatever I had seen, were things to come. The man that I had become… the man that my greed for the throne turned me into…"

"The throne is rightfully yours, father. It was not greed but duty" Shireen said.

"Was it? If it was duty and maybe even for the good of the realm, I'd have joined Renly and helped him get the throne. I'd have avoided going down the dark path that I'd gone down."

"It would still not make it right. You come before my uncle, nothing could change that. And you are also a man who would do what is right, nothing would change that either."

Those were mere words. Stannis could tell that his daughter was holding herself back and trying to comfort him. Even now she was thinking of him, after what he'd done to her.

The man fisted his hands in anger but quickly inhaled and exhaled to calm himself.

"You are not comfortable here. Be it because of your mother who still refuses to treat you how you deserve, or I who you saw do terrible things to you."

"Father, no, I-"

"It's alright to admit it, Shireen. What I have done, there is no forgiveness for it, no penitence for it."

"You haven't done it" Shireen spoke, her voice gentle. "Maybe in some twisted future because of what happens to you, you become a person you no longer recognize or relate to. You know it was wrong… so I know you can be better. You won't do it this time, I know you won't."

If Stannis were a more emotional man, he was certain he'd have cried from relief at the confidence in his daughter's words.

-x-

Stannis watched from the large window in his solar as the ship carrying his wife and daughter sailed for King's Landing, slowly drifting into the horizon, inhaling the wine in his cup stoically. It was the highest accessible tower in the Castle, giving him a good view of the yard below, a small glance at the fishing village and the sea beyond.

The King had summoned him to King's Landing, to sit as a judge during the trial of Queen Cersei Lannister. It warmed Stannis to think that his brother still had faith in him to name him a judge, much like how it warmed him that his daughter still believed in him.

Even when he didn't believe in himself.

So many nights since his return, he'd wake up in cold sweat to the memory of seeing him burn his daughter, to the screams of Shireen as she begged him to save her. He'd remember every minor detail, the expression on his face, the way Shireen's face went from her usual innocence to horror and finally betrayal when she'd met his eyes and knew he'd do nothing. He'd been the one to condemn her to that fate, and he'd just stand and watch her burn! And for what? He'd die a foolish death anyway. His men abandon him and his wife kills herself in grief.

All of it was his doing, because he'd allowed himself to be swept up by dark magic and the sweet promises of a promiscuous witch.

Stannis walked over to the large desk he usually worked on and poured himself another cup of wine before he inhaled this one as well.

He knew that in the position he was in now, he'd do the same thing if the circumstances ever led to it. That in the name of duty he'd burn all he held dear and near and then crash. There was no changing the nature of a man, he knew it better than anyone. It was why he'd punish even the most honorable man for his vices, and reward the least honorable for his virtues. A man was as a man was on the inside, no matter the shell they wore and the masks they adorned. There was no changing that.

Stannis saw no hope for himself.

He inhaled another cup of wine and placed his cup on the table, before walking back to the window. Stannis did not worry for the safety of his family, because Ser Davos was with them. That was a man he knew he could trust no matter what. He knew that the letter would reach his brother safely and without tampering because it was Ser Davos to whom he had given it.

Stannis tried to find the ship on the horizon, but he could not. It had sailed beyond his sight, far from him.

And then he took a step forward. The wind was against him, pushing at him to probably stop him. But the ground below was fast approaching. Stannis closed his eyes and waited for what was to come.