Stannis I

Stannis Baratheon, Lord of Dragonstone and Master of Ships to his brother King Robert was staying on Dragonstone, a barren place of rocks and dragon gargoyles, it was not what he wanted for his undying loyalty to his older brother.

He was the rightful Lord of Storm's End, the Baratheon stronghold, as it was his by rights and is was to be passed down to his only trueborn son Jacob, from his marriage to Selyse Florent.

The middle Baratheon had done his duty to the Florent woman, the one Robert decided he married to secure ties within the Reach; they had actual blood relations to the old House Gardener to put the Tyrells in their place.

Stannis had not seen his son, since he returned from Highgarden; he loathed Robert for selling his son to whom he called Lannisters with roses, because he was afraid Lord Mace would use the boy, as a pawn in his own game.

The game of hard for Stannis, knowing snooping around court with Lord Jon Arryn would result in death, as there were more Lannister loyalists, than Baratheon ones in King's Landing.

Stannis had been sitting around The Chamber of the Painted Table; he was trying to think of his next game plan because the events coming will turn out for the worst. Stannis was seething through his teeth when Robert suggested his only son needed to be wed and soon.

Jacob was a headstrong boy, who didn't like being commanded into what to do, but he will be willing to do his duty when it mattered the most. He is being sent to Winterfell ahead of the royal court to stay with the Starks.

Stannis loathed Eddard Stark, for being the brother Robert loved more than him and Renly. He didn't want Jacob gone from him, but it was the king's command, as Jacob needed to forge a friendship with Ned Stark's heir Robb, as a wish fulfilment.

The lord was adamant in commanding Jacob back, as Robert was right about one thing. Jacob was unmarried and needed a wife, but Renly was the Lord of Storm's End and still unmarried, which questioned Renly's suitability to even find a wife.

His wife Selyse was with Shireen, his daughter cursed with greyscale. Stannis was equal to the love he gave to both his children, as he knew Jacob and Shireen will be important in the says coming into the game.

Stannis wed Selyse out of duty and his brother's command, but he didn't love her that much, but after Jacob was born, he showed more affection towards his wife, which improved their relationship and ability to communicate with each other.

The Lord of Dragonstone had no interest in his wife's devotion to the Red God, as he himself was not a religious man, but the Seven did give him a trueborn son, that can take over his duties when he dies and will be a good lord.

The old and wise Maester Cressen was passing by; Stannis had admiration for the man, who took the responsibility in raising him, Robert and Renly when their mother and father had died in Shipwreck Bay.

Stannis had no understood why the maester followed him to Dragonstone, as it was his duty to serve Renly, as the Lord of Storm's End.

He welcomed the elder man's counsel, he suggested finding Jacob was suitable bride from a Great House, but Stannis knew Robert would betroth his son Joffery to Ned Stark's daughter, along with appointing him his Hand of the King.

There were other young ladies suitable for his son, but Stannis wanted to wait until he, Selyse and Jacob were together, to make such an important decision of his son's life.

Stannis knew what Lord Arryn was planning, he caught wind of the truth of his brother's children not being fathered by his brother at all but were bastards born of incest between the Lannister twins, whom one of them being Robert's hateful wife and the other a Kingslayer.

If this was the truth, then Jacob would also be heir to the Iron Throne by rights, as Stannis would be the rightful king after his brother. He had seen Maester Cressen enter the chambers, as he was growing very old and will need a replacement soon but he was dutiful and gave good counsel.

"I see you miss your son, my lord." The maester suggested, he could see it in Stannis's solemn face.

"Why did he have to go he should be here?" Stannis replied in a scowl.

"Your brother, His Grace commanded it."

"At least, it gets him to stop socialising with the crippled Tyrell boy."

"There is no harm in forming an alliance with the Starks."

"It's one of Robert's wish fulfilments; he wants to unite House Baratheon and House Stark together, along with securing a good match for Jacob."

"Lord Jacob has been fifteen namedays pass and has not been wed yet."

"It's difficult to find a match, as my son is more like me in personality."

"Negotiations with House Tyrell will benefit."

"No….the man starved me for a year and I will give him my son to manipulate, no."

"My lord, Jacob needs to marry soon; you and the Lady Selyse cannot protect him from duty"

"You are right….Jacob is willing to do his duty, but the game will tear him apart."

"You underestimate your son, my lord. His fostering in Highgarden would have given him lessons on how to play the game."

"Jacob is my only son…since I cannot have any more with my wife."

"It's most unfortunate, my lord, but Jacob and Shireen are good children."

"They can further the Baratheon line and gain suitable matches."

"I would suggest arranging a betrothal between Shireen and Lord Robert Arryn."

"Why….the boy is sickly and may not see manhood?"

"He is Jon Arryn's only heir, as sickly as he may be."

"There were plans to let the boy foster with me, but his mother rejected those plans."

"You cannot blame Lady Arryn, as she is newly a widow."

"The game still goes on, even in death."

Stannis knew Maester Cressen was right, if Jon Arryn's son had been healthy, then he would have considered betrothing him to Shireen to secure an alliance with the Vale; they had formidable military power and the Valemen were honourable so it would not be a problem.

Securing allies was not easy for Stannis; he was not as popular as Robert and Renly when it came to winning people over, but he knew it was foolish admiration because most people were fools and slaves to appraisal.

Stannis had known Renly was growing to be friendly with Mace Tyrell and his family, which made him suspicious of his brother's intentions, because there was no way Renly will be winning this game, as he already stole Strom's End from Stannis and he will not steal the throne this time.

Jacob was sailing with a group of Baratheon retainers, along with The Onion Knight, Ser Davos and his son Devan, who was Jacob's squire. The former smuggler was forever loyal to Stannis, as he was blessed with the chance to accompany his son to Winterfell.

However, Stannis met with harsh criticism from Ser Axell Florent and most of the other members of his wife's family because they thought Ser Davos was an upstart smuggler, who shouldn't have a place by Stannis's side and Jacob's either.

The Lord of Dragonstone had seen Ser Davos bond with Jacob, as they developed a close friendship through travelling together and Jacob learning how to be dutiful and royal to his house, it grated Ser Axell very much.

Jacob didn't like it when Ser Axell would insult Ser Davos and his family, as he had seen his son be able to command respect and fear among men, and put that man in his place.

Stannis gritted through his teeth, when the old maester or Ser Davos had mentioned Ned Stark, as the man envied the Lord of Winterfell because Robert trusted him, unlike he did his own brothers.

The middle Baratheon feared Jacob being corrupted by Mace Tyrell; it seemed his son had learned how to play the game and how to manoeuvre himself on the game board. Stannis had been impressed with how much of a political strategist Jacob had been, as it was owed to the Lord of Highgarden and his mother.

Stannis had known the dangers of playing the game of thrones, as he was lucky to have escaped when he had the chance. He feared for Robert, as the Lannisters were circling him, like lions around dead prey. Jon Arryn couldn't protect him anymore, either can Ned Stark, a man with no experience in playing the great game.

Jacob's safety was paramount, which was why Stannis had sent a few Florents with his son, as they were cousins of Selyse and she insisted on having them go with their only son to the North.

Stannis was certain Jacob was able to handle himself, when it came to sword fighting, archery and training with his Uncle's war hammer, thanks to Lord Tarly, who spent endless nights training Jacob into a well-rounded warrior.

The idea of Jacob being friends with Ned Stark's son would be good for Jacob, as Stannis was in need of securing allies when the war comes. The Starks of Winterfell had military power and were tough warriors, Stannis wouldn't mind this friendship, as it would please Robert.

Stannis had been concerned when Lord Tywin suggested a match between Jacob and Ser Kevan Lannister's daughter Janei, then he fled from King's Landing because Stannis knew what the old lion was playing, taking his son as a hostage.

The old lion had tried to do the same with Jon Arryn's son, but Lady Arryn was smart enough to flee to the Eyrie with her son. Stannis's son was safe from the grasp of the lions, but he was to enter the den of the wolves of the North.

The Lord of Dragonstone was reminded of his wife's pleas, as she was worried Jacob was unable to secure a match because he displayed most of Stannis's personality, which made him unlikeable and gruff in the eyes of the women in Westeros.

The man was looking outside of the balcony of Dragonstone to see the sea crash through the shores, the sounds of the waters brought Stannis some peace and tranquillity away from the stresses and worries of securing the future for House Baratheon.

"My lord, I see you are making plans for Jacob's future." Ser Axell Florent had interrupted Stannis, as he was seeking peace from the sea.

Stannis had not liked the man; Ser Axell was ambitious and a very judgemental man, he judged Ser Davos and his family harshly because he was desperate to win Stannis's trust and allegiance.

"I was trying to find a suitable match for Jacob, if you mind." Stannis commanded in a stern tone.

"Of course, a wife for Jacob is needed, since these times are becoming dangerous" the old knight had replied.

"Has my wife converted you as well?"

"The Lord of Light is a blessing to some of us."

"I told her, she could keep her religion, if she doesn't go around converting my court."

"You should take up with the Lord of Light, my lord." Ser Axell said slyly.

"Why should I?"

"The Red God holds real power, my lord."

"I do not keep to any Gods, but my son is a regular visitor into the Sept."

"His power is magnificent and divine above all others."

"I need allies in these times and I cannot gain them if I abandon the Seven."

"I understand you need time, my lord."

"The other nobles of Westeros are not going to be welcoming of a foreign religion, I cannot waste precious time in causing a war with the Faith."

"Will Jacob be wed?"

"No, my son and I have agreed, only when the time was right."

"Of course, my lord."

"Leave me be."

Stannis had seen Se Axell scurry away; he was glad the large eared man was gone. He had explained his dislike for the man, but his wife was adamant in having him on Dragonstone.

Not even Jacob liked his Florent uncle, but he tolerated his presence for the sake of his mother.

The man was a devout worshipper of the Red God, along with a few other Florents, but Stannis was not interested because the Seven may have taken his father and mother away from him, but they have blessed him with two children he could be happy with.

Stannis was concerned for Ned Stark, because of his inexperience in playing the game and the pressures of what Hand of the King will bring to him, as it will become too much to bear, as Stannis wondered why Lord Arryn didn't go insane.

There will be distress in the circles of King's Landing, with the Lannisters positioning themselves to be the ruling house, with Renly befriending and bringing the Tyrells into the fold and his brother's inability to control those inside his own court.

Stannis was lucky, not to be part of the power struggle in court, because he had his own plans to put into action, as sending Jacob to Winterfell is a smart idea, as he could gain friendship with Ned Stark's son and his other children.

He was adamant in winning this game against whomever, whether it be the Lannisters, Renly and the Tyrells or will it all go to Hell.

Jacob being in the North could gain him a new friendship and a new ally in the Lord of Winterfell.