Davos I
It was a heavy storm raging outside the walls of Storm's End as Davos Seaworth made his way to the libery. He had enjoyed his time at the fabled castle a lot more than Dragonstone so far, the last time he had been this long inside Storm's End, there was a Tyrell army outside the gates and the castle was inhabited by starving defenders. But any castle would've beaten Dragonstone in comfort, Davos thought.
When he had heard that Lord Eddard Stark's bastard son, a boy of four and ten would be legitimised and be granted Dragonstone in Stannis' stead, he felt pity for him. He didn't know the lad, but he knew that he was of the North, and Dragonstone was not the North. A grim place, Dragonstone was. Built by the Valyrians using dragonfire. Always salty, always dreary. And of course, there were the old Targaryen loyalist noble houses sworn to the old Targaryen fortress he would have to deal with. Velaryon, Celtigar, and Bar Emmon. They will eat him alive.
Stannis Baratheon, dutiful like always, had taken the order very seriously, he had already sent a raven to Winterfell. Recommending Lord Eddard to send his son to Stannis himself or to Lord Wyman Manderly of White Harbour for fostering, to learn about all the things he needs to know before taking his seat as the new Lord of Dragonstone.
He heard Shireen giggle though the door to the library, her laugh could always bring a smile to his face. He opened the door and found her sitting with Edric Storm, King Robert's bastard son and Patchface, Lady Shireen's lackwit fool. When Stannis' father Lord Steffon had bought him in Volantis and brought him home, the ship they were on was struck by a storm and he had gone into the sea, and when he came out he was mad.
''Ser Davos, I was starting to think you've forgotten.'' Shireen said with a huge grin.
''Apologies, m'lady. I was being held up.''
''Tis' alright, please sit. So we can start.''
It had been Maester Pylos who had been teaching Davos how to read letters. The new maester who Stannis had asked the Citadel for to replace the old Maester Cressen, but Pylos and Cressen would now be the Maesters to Jon Stark. So Shireen had volunteered to oversee his progress in reading in Maester Pylos' stead. Davos is still struggling with the letters, but Shireen is a good teacher, gentle and patient. Patchface had waltzed out of the library right after Davos had arrived, but Edric had stayed. Black hair and blue eyes with a strong jaw and cheekbones. He looked very much like the son of King Robert Baratheon.
''Ser Davos, I heard that you are learning how to read.'' Edric Storm said.
''You have the right of it, my lord.''
''Please, Ser. I'm no lord. Edric if it pleases you.''
''Edric.'' Davos smiled softly before continuing; ''I thought i would be more of use to Lord Stannis if i was taught the letters.''
''Very well, Ser. I shall leave you to it then.'' Edric said politely. He turned his head towards Lady Shireen ''My lady.''
He sat down in the libery with Shireen for two hours, before a servant showed up and said that Stannis had summoned him to the Round Hall. Stannis did not show it, but he has been growing restless, as well as many other lords of the Stormlands. His little brother and former Lord of Storm's End had been murdered, with no culprit being caught. And Tyroshi pirate ships have been spotted close to Shipbreaker bay, seemingly scouting. So he was prepared for anything as he opened the door to the Round Hall, a huge table had been placed in the middle of the hall, with a huge map of Westeros and Essos placed atop the table. Stannis was standing by the table, his hands on the table, staring at the map. The Red Woman was beside him and other lords he did not recognize, he did recognize the Florents though, always proud, always bold.
''They will not attack us, King Robert has all but Dorne united behind him. It would be a fools option.''
''I will never succumb to the conclusion that showing caution means paranoia, Lord Alester.'' He heard Stannis answer assertively. When Davos arrived and stood opposite to Stannis' side of the table, their eyes met.
''Leave me, I wish to speak with Ser Davos. Alone.'' Stannis declared and men began to clear out of the hall. When they all left it was only he, Stannis and Melisandre. Stannis threw a raven's scroll at him that landed on the table, Davos took the paper and began to read.
Lord Stannis of the House Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands.
His Grace King Robert invites you and your family to partake in the Grand Tourney and festivities at Harrenhal, which will take place during the next year. It will celebrate the 15th year of Robert Baratheon's victory in overthrowing the Targaryen dynasty.
Your presence during the tourney and the feasting would be greatly appreciated and we look forward to your and your families attendance.
Signed Lord Jon Arryn, Lord of the Eyrie, Defender of the Vale, Warden of the East, and Hand of the King.
''He is to throw a grand tourney?'' Davos thought loudly enough for it to escape his lips.
''Yes, the vultures both in Westeros and across the sea are circling my family and house, and my brother wishes to idle himself with tourneys and hunts and feasts.'' Stannis answered through gritted teeth.
''Are we so soon certain that foreign ships close to our coast means war?'' Davos asked.
''You may not see it, Ser Davos. But I do. I have seen it in the flames, a great conflict is emerging.'' Melisandre said, her red eyes filled with mystery, unsettling Davos a bit.
''Tell me something I don't know, woman!'' Stannis said, almost hissing. He heard the thunder outside the castle almost match Stannis' hidden anger, before he turned his head from the red woman to look at the map.
''My brother has been murdered, someone has wanted him dead for a long time. I didn't see it before, but now I do. Renly had always been a vibrant man, always charismatic, always acting on impulse, for as long as I have known him. But not this last year and a half, all the times he had been bedridden, sick, and weakly, a man of nine and ten. Poison, I am sure of it. Why I don't know, but he must have planned something, because the murderer got impatient.''
''When you are hesitant, my lord. Look to the light, it will guide you from the darkness. The flames will show you the path.'' Melisandre answered calmly.
''I can't speak for the flames, m'lady. But I do know that attacking Tyrosh, and creating the first open war between Westerosi and Essosi with the only cause being 'visions in the flames' will create unrest among the high lords, unrest that Stannis can not afford.'' Davos rebutted.
''We're not going to attack Tyrosh.'' Stannis said firmly.
Davos breathed a small sigh of relief, he did not trust the red woman, nor her flames. And Davos knows about her ability to sway Stannis. He did not think Stannis was so foolish, not one bit. But once Stannis had set his mind on something, he would not waver.
''Renly is dead, murdered. And his grace seems not to care, but I do. I mourn him, whatever our relationship, he was still my brother. This was not the work of The Mad King's son which everyone in the Capital seems so convinced it is.''
''Has R'hllor blessed us with a vision of the culprit?'' Davos asked.
''I have as of yet received nothing about Renly Baratheon's murderer. All I see is glimpses of maidens, glimpses of ships, glimpses of men.''
''Maidens, m'lady?'' Davos asked. Melisandre replied with a smile. Many men would swoon over that smile. She was a beautiful woman, long hair the colour of deep burnished copper, full breasts, a narrow waist, and a heart-shaped face.
''Yes, Ser Davos. Three stripped maidens dancing on a rocky land surrounded by bones, with a tentacled man sitting on a wooden throne.''
Davos looked puzzled after she described her vague vision. But Melisandre simply smiled. ''Worry not, Davos Seaworth. When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, the prince that was promised shall be born again amidst smoke and salt to wake dragons out of stone.''
''I'm sending you on a sensitive mission, Ser Davos. One that must be completed with the utmost care.'' Stannis said, interrupting what else the red woman would say, to Davos' gratitude.
''What do you want me to do, my lord?''
''You're to follow me to King's Landing, and then you're to sail for Myr, with Lady Melisandre.''
Davos' eyes widened for just a second. He seemed to be wrong about being ready for anything when he left his reading lessons with Shireen in the libery, because he did not expect this. ''Myr, m'lord? And what will i do there?''
Stannis did not speak for some moments, looking at the red woman before turning his head to Davos. ''With everything that is happening, the crown is being perceived as weak, and this Triarchy seems to have noticed it, these ships are only the beginning. They are sniffing at us like hounds, ready to pounce. They are planning something, we have as of yet to discover what. That's what you are going to do. You will sail to Myr, you will observe, you will investigate, and you will report back what you see and hear.''
Davos did not speak for some moments, looking at the map on the table. This would be a hard if not an impossible task, he did not know who and what to look for, only that he had to find something. In a land where they spoke tongue he did not understand.
''As you command, my lord.''
Stannis nodded to show his gratitude, before speaking; ''I will stay in King's Landing, I can't ignore Arryn's summons any longer. I will investigate there, and find out what Renly knew, what he died for, who did the crime, and deliver the king's justice.''
The days passed quickly, and soon the day arrived when they would depart. He was in the courtyard when Lady Selyse arrived with Melisadre. Lady Selyse is not a particularly attractive woman. She is as tall as her husband, thin, and has the Florent trait of too-large ears. Pale eyes, a sharp nose, and hair growth on her upper lip, forming a rare sight for a was a loveless marriage she and Stannis had, he and everyone in the seven kingdoms knew. They had little patience for each other and Stannis was not fond of her, neither was Davos. How anyone could like Selyse Baratheon or any Florent, for that matter, is a greater mystery than the Doom of Valyria.
''Are you a man of light, Ser Davos? Have you found the true god?'' Selyse asked when she and the red woman arrived.
''No, m'lady.'' Davos answered honestly, immediately catching on that the lord of light was about to curse him and make him suffer from one of the conversion attempts she and the red woman had made a routine of doing with every man around Storm's End.
Selyse frowned, clearly disappointed with the answer, ''An ungodly man then, I would've imagined that a man from such...'' She paused, looking him up and down before continuing ''...Humble origins would have much more appreciation of R'hllor.''
''I'll keep that in mind, m'lady.'' Davos answered diplomatically. In truth, he was sceptical of the lord of light. The red woman may have won her over, but Davos was a devout believer of the Faith, and nothing would make him change that. He disliked when the red woman made her speeches or made a mockery of his beliefs. As soon as they had stepped inside Storm's End, Lady Melisadre had pleaded with Stannis to burn the godswood and the great weirwood tree as an offering to the lord of light, she had never been inside the ancient castle before yet seemed to sense anything that would be foreign to her own beliefs.
''You should. R'hllor is the one true god, and he has a plan for you, just like he does for me, and my husband. I have looked into the flames, and I've seen it. He will lift the shadow that the bastard laid upon our union from my womb. King Robert cursed us when he defiled our marriage bed on the night of our wedding. But R'hllor will lift the curse and I will bear Stannis many trueborn sons, I know it.''
Seven save me. Your marriage is cursed alright, but Edric is not the reason for it, I assure you.
''Yes, my lady.''
''He will join our lord's cause soon enough, Lady Selyse.'' Melisandre butted in, red eyes glimmering and her lips curved when she looked towards Selyse. Selyse met her eyes and said nothing, for a moment she looked almost mesmerised by her. Before Selyse turned her head towards The Onion Knight, ''May the lord watch over you, Davos Seaworth.'' she said before leaving them alone with the rest of the departing party.
''Where is Lord Stannis?'' Davos asked the red woman once they were alone with the party.
''On his way, sweet knight.'' She paused, and lifted her hand up to touch his chin. ''I'm very pleased that you've agreed to make this journey beyond the sea with me.''
''I do as Lord Stannis commands.'' He retorted, taking a step back to let her hand slip out of his chin. He regarded her silently for a moment. ''Are you good or evil?'' Davos eventually asked, truly interested about what she would answer.
Lady Melisandre just smiled innocently like she always does. ''R'hllor is the source of all good, and I am his humble servant, Ser Davos. I'd like to think that I'm a knight of sorts myself, but I have flaws, like all mortals.''
Davos did not know what to say about her cryptic answer, luckily Stannis had just arrived at the courtyard. He watched as Stannis climbed atop a horse that had been made ready for him by the guards. Davos and the red woman followed suit.
To King's Landing, and onto Myr. He hoped that he would return from this mission unscathed. He did not dare to think of Marya, his wife.I miss made a note inside of his head to see her again when he was done with the business in Myr. Dale, Allard, Matthos and Maric would all be safe in Storm's End, but he had not seen her or his two youngest sons for quite some time. Davos Seaworth still remembered her last words to him before he left for Dragonstone. ''In case you ever foolishly forget, I am never not thinking of you.''
Neither am I, Marya. Neither am I.