CHAPTER 25
Lyra had visions of Khal Drogo who died just like before and of Daenerys losing her baby in blood magic by the witch. In the vision Daenerys Targaryen is growing angry and bitter about the struggle she is going through. She didn't have Jorah there to advise her on what to do and where to go. His guidance seems to have kept her grounded but she is not like that this time. Her anger is more out of control. Lyra was worried that she was going to become a tyrant.
More visions of Stannis were coming to her in droves as she slept or when she would look deeply in the flames of the fireplace in their bedroom.
'She saw a red comet in the sky on Dragonstone and a maester, holding a torch and running down to the beach. Melisandre can be heard speaking in the distance.
Melisandre said in a grandiose way, "Lord of Light, come to us in our darkness! We offer you these false Gods!" Maester Cressen approaches a group gathered on the beach, burning some effigies. Melisandre is speaking to them.
She called out, "Take them and cast your light upon us. For the night is dark and full of terrors!"
A group of people around her in unison say, "For the night is dark and full of terrors." Maester Cressen reaches the group and hands his torch to another man.
She continues, "After the long summer, darkness will fall heavy on the world! Stars will bleed!"
Maester Cressen said to Davos, "We need to stop her!"
Melisandre says, "The cold breath of winter will freeze the seas!"
Davos looked over at Stannis and said, "Not now." He could see him consumed in watching her.
She said, "And the dead shall rise in the North!"
Maester Cressen walks forward, interrupting Melisandre and calls out, "All you men were named in the Light of the Seven! Is this how you treat the Gods of your fathers?! Are you so eager to spit on your ancestors?!" After a long silence, Melisandre approaches Cressen and caresses his face.
She said smoothly, "You smell of fear, fear and piss and old bones. Do you want to stop me? Stop me." After a moment, Cressen begrudgingly stands aside.
Melisandre continued, "In the ancient books, it's written that a warrior will draw a burning sword from the fire! And that sword shall be Lightbringer! Stannis Baratheon, warrior of light, your sword awaits you!" Stannis approaches one of the burning effigies as everyone else looks on. He pulls a sword out from the base and carries it high, to applause. When he sticks it in the sand, the crowd kneels.
The crowd of people chant, "Lord, cast your light upon us!"
She said, "For the night is dark and full of terrors!"
Stannis said, "For the night is dark and full of terror!" Stannis then walks away, almost forgetting to bring his wife with him. The rest of the crowd gets up to leave moments later. Davos and Cressen stay behind for a moment to talk.
Maester Cressen said worriedly, "This woman will lead him into a war he cannot win."
Davos said, "Stannis is our king. We follow where he leads, even if we don't like the path."
Maester Cressen scoffs and says, "King. Since that boar killed his brother, every lord wants a coronation."
Davos said soberly, "I don't serve the others. I serve Stannis."
Maester Cressen said cynically, "As do I, but loyal service means telling hard truths. He's surrounded by fools and fanatics, but he trusts you, Davos." Davos picks up the sword and inspects it. He continues, "If you tell him the truth…"
Davos asked, "What's the truth?"
Maester Cressen looks crestfallen. Davos walks away with the sword. Maester Cressen looks up at the burning effigies.'
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'On Dragonstone she sees Matthos read out a letter for Stannis to proofread, as they and some other characters sit around a table.
Matthos Seaworth, Davos' son, said reading out loud, "And I declare upon the honor of my house that my beloved brother Robert le-"
Stannis said dryly, "He wasn't my beloved brother. I didn't love him, he didn't love me." Matthos looks up.
Davos standing nearby said, "A harmless courtesy, Your Grace."
Stannis said bitterly, "A lie. Take it out." Matthos scratches 'beloved' off of the letter, and then continues.
Matthos said reading, "That my brother Robert left no trueborn heirs; the boy Joffrey, the boy Tommen, and the girl Myrcella, being born of incest between Cersei Lannister and her brother Jaime Lannister. By right of birth -"
Stannis said nastily, "Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer. Call him what he is." Matthos adds in 'the Kingslayer,' and continues. Davos notices Maester Cressen slip something into his own glass of wine.
Matthos said, "And her brother Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer. By right of birth and blood, I do this day lay claim -"
Stannis said flatly, "Make it Ser Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer. Whatever else he is, the man's still a knight."
Matthos added 'Ser' to the document and continued, "Ser Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer. By right of birth and blood, I do this day lay claim to the Iron Throne of Westeros. Let all true men declare their loyalty." Stannis nods approvingly.
Stannis said with authority, "Send copies of that letter to every corner of the Realm, from the Arbor to the Wall. The time has come to choose. Let no man claim ignorance as an excuse."
Davos said, "Your Grace, the Lannisters are the true enemy. If, for the time being, you could make peace with your brother…"
Stannis snapped, "I'll not make peace with Renly while he calls himself King."
Davos said, "Well, many have already declared for him; Mace Tyrell, Randyll Tarly."
Melisandre said arrogantly, "Stannis does not need to beg this lord or that lord for support. The Lord of Light stands behind him."
Davos looked at her and snapped, "And how many ships has the Lord of Light got in his fleet?"
She stuck her nose in the air and said, "He has no need for ships."
Davos said condescendingly, "I'm sure he doesn't, but we do if we're going to war. If not Renly, Your Grace, try to join forces with Ned Stark. He hasn't declared support."
Stannis ranted, "I don't care about Lord Ned Stark he has never mattered to me. We were fine with each other but not close friends. He asked me for loads of useless glass under Dragonstone of no consequence is all he ever asked me for. I've always served thieves according to their desserts, as you well know, Ser Davos. Renly most of all, they're all thieves. They'll bend the knee or I'll destroy them."
Maester Cressen stood up and said, "I owe you an apology, my King. My duty is to serve. You have chosen the new God over the Old Gods. May the Lord of Light watch over us all. Shall we drink together?"
Davos whispers to Cressen, "Don't." Maester Cressen stands up with the drugged glass of wine, and walks over to where Melisandre is sitting.
The maester hands a cup of wine to Melisandre and said, "A cup of wine to honor the one true God."
Melisandre stands up. Everyone at the table reaches for their own wine glasses. Cressen takes a sip of the drugged wine and offers it to Melisandre. Davos nervously watches her take the glass. Cressen begins to stumble and bleed from his nose. Melisandre drinks a large portion of the wine. As he falls to the floor dead, Davos and many others stand up. Melisandre appears unphased by the poison.
She said stoically, "The night is dark and full of terrors, old man, but the fire burns them all away. Your Grace."''
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Lyra knew he was going down the exact same path of more like a fanatical warlord than a King and the red priestess was fanning the flames literally and using sex magic along with the blood magic on Stannis, the fool.
She wrote Ned Stark to warn him that Stannis may come knocking on his door for him to bend the knee to him being king. She said he is desperate for his bannermen to fight for him because he doesn't have the numbers in his army strong enough to overthrow King's Landing or his brother. She explained that she didn't think he was in the right frame of mind but being a fanatical religious warmonger. He has a red priestess whispering things in his ear, using sex magic on him, blood magic on him and her religion to manipulate him into thinking he is the rightful king. First thing he would do is make the red priestess' religion mandatory before burning down all remains of other religions. He doesn't have the other kingdoms in support of him and will draw everyone into a war that he can't win. King's Landing should be left alone at this time.
Lyra decided to go to Winterfell with Jorah, for the Harvest Feast this year at the Stark's, and bring their children with Crystal. She loved making the trip and she was only going to be six months pregnant then.
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It was early in 299AC, Jorah and Lyra's baby girl, Joanna, was born. She had light brown hair different from her blonde haired green eyed brother, Joran, who was a mix of his father and mother. Until she turned three they wouldn't know what her permanent eye color would truly be.
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Sure enough Stannis sent out letters about the illegitimacy of Tommen or Marcella as heirs to the throne and plans to pursue his claims to the throne. Davos Seaworth, knowing Stannis was outnumbered by Renly 1 to 20, urges Stannis to make peace with Renly or even Ned Stark to fight against King's Landing, but Stannis stubbornly refuses. He argued that his priestess had assured him of his success without extra help.
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It was mid year 299AC, when Renly Baratheon was murdered by a shadow through Stannis the red priestess, Melisandre, as it had happened before the battle between them. That was when the Tyrell's pledged support to King's Landing again with the deal of putting Margaery Tyrell as Tommen's queen. Tywin Lannister agreed to it as Hand of the King.
Lord Stark had talked with Lyra about these events at the Harvest Feast. She explained that is why she wanted him to stay out of it. She said switching sides would be foolish at this time.
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Everything happened quickly from there. When the time came at the end of 299AC, Lyra had sent a raven to Tywin Lannister warning him that Stannis was going to attack Blackwater Bay and to be prepared with more troops from the Tyrell's to force them back. She also wrote a letter to Tyrion Lannister, telling him to secretly suggest the use of wildfire on Stannis' ships in the harbor when he attacks. She told him it would be at the Mud Gate.
Once the battle happened, Stannis was driven back realizing that they were outmaneuvered and outmanned by Tywin Lannister, so the battle failed.