The King’s Council

The aging maester was strolling around on the Isle of Dragonstone, after seeing the red comet across the sky, as it must be a sign of an omen.

Cressen had seen a white raven arrive from the Citadel, declaring the end of the long summer in living memory and the coming of the long winter.

His eventual successor Pylos was responsible for the education of Princess Shireen and most of his day to day duties, as he was growing old and feeble.

Seeing the fool Patchface entertain the Princess made him smile a little as Cressen saw the princess as the saddest child he has ever known, and he considered her another mark of his failures.

The greyscale on the left cheek of the princess almost claimed her life, but since the return of her brother Prince Jacob, she had become happier and a bit more cheerful.

Nevertheless, Prince Jacob was successful on his own right, under the tutelage of the overlords of the Reach and finding his own place in the world.

"Death had forced Prince Jacob to become a man and face the cruelty of the world, and made him see enemies everywhere, paranoid and reclusive just like his father."

Cressen saw a lot of the growing sadness inherited from his king to the prince, as Prince Jacob isolated himself from a lot of inhabitants of Dragonstone, a part from his immediate family and the sons of Ser Davos.

He couldn't blame him, as the young man just lost his Uncle and feels betrayed by the Stark boy, whom crowned himself King in the North and his Uncle Renly, who crowned himself the King in Highgarden.

The maester was thankful the prince was strong enough to resist The Red Woman's influence, as he was smarter than that and knew better.

"I worry for the prince, his anger is not as expressive, but deeply concealed, and uses his mind to plot such wickedness inside his mind, not forgetting he is only a man of five and ten and is about to experience his first war."

Cressen knew the Red Woman was not good, if King Stannis wanted to win the Iron Throne, but it seemed he was thankful his son Jacob, being his heir was the one his king listened to the most, rather than the Lady Melisandre's babblings.

"The Onion Knight's mission in the Stormlands was a failure, the Stormlords have no love for His Grace, but his unmarried son soon to be a man of six and ten was an advantage, but the Queen Selyse was apprehensive of her only boy being wed, as she wasn't trusting of whom might share her son's bed."

The maester could see the Queen's apprehension of her son being married off; there were a lot of falsehood nowadays, as people were not worth trusting, with many having agendas of their own.

Cressen knew his king couldn't protect the prince from war, as Prince Jacob was a battle ready warrior, trained by one of the greatest military commanders in the South.

It's ironic, as the young prince will be going to war against his uncle, the people who fostered him, and the now northern lord he called friend days ago.

The Red Woman's arrival was when Prince Jacob was away in the North, as he would have been challenge for the Lady Melisandre, with the Prince being a devout believer in the Seven and is devoted to protecting his family from her madness.

"Prince Jacob has no love for his Uncle Renly, the two would constantly clash and fight over this simplest of things, it was the bitterness of not inheriting Storm's End, which belonged to him by the laws of succession, after his father. The young prince has his late uncle's ability to hold a grudge for a long period of time."

Cressen thought of Prince Jacob, as another son, but more politically savvy than his father and uncles, but hadn't experienced war and bloodshed, like his father did years ago and will see his first battles and those he called friends will be his enemies.

He knew the Lady Melisandre had to be stopped, but Prince Jacob would properly have her thrown into the sea, if he caught any whiff of falsehood, then the men in their camp would have no choice, but to listen to their prince rather than the foreign red woman.

The maester opens the doors to The Chamber of the Painted Table, as he finds Stannis in the top room of the keep, looking down at the Painted Table, which was detailed map of Westeros.

He could see his king was sheltered, keeping all emotions at bay and alone. With his son still grieving for his uncle in peace and quiet.

"I knew you would come, even though you haven't been summoned," The king said bluntly. "You need your rest now."

"I am here, if my king needs counsel."

"The right of Storm's End should have belonged to me, then passed down to my son, when my brother assumed the throne. I occupied it, built his fleet. The island doesn't give me the supply of men I need to seize the throne."

"What you brother did was an injustice, but he gave you Dragonstone because he needed a strong lord, who can hold it, as Renly was only a boy at the time."

"Still a boy, but a thieving boy who hasn't done anything to earn the throne." The king said, with bitterness in his tongue. "Why did the gods inflict me with brothers?"

"Renly is not as politically smart, as the Prince, but he is bold and heedless, just like Robert."

"What am I to tell those bannermen, who I do command?"

"Tell them that the Lannisters are the true enemy, and suggests we join with Renly to defeat them."

"I refuse to join with that thief, who decides to command the armies of the Stormlands and the Reach against me. Mind you, it was Robert who suggested my son foster with the Lannisters with flowers on their banners. To be educated alongside their sons and daughters, trained by a stern lord and knows how to sail better than any ship captain, I've seen during the Greyjoy Rebellion."

"Would a partnership with Robb Stark prove fruitful, he commands the armies of the Riverlands and the North behind him?"

"He is another green boy and another false king, daring to steal half of my kingdom. Robert's idea to make the Stark boy and my own friends was a disaster, and now Jacob wants to kill him for defiance and treason."

"Half a realm is better than none, the boy might bend the knee in exchange for help in avenging his father."

"Why should I avenge him? He means nothing to me, only sent my son that letter and now he wears my dead brother's pendent around his neck, as rightfully so. I was his true brother, not Stark, but he treated me, as if I wasn't his brother. I held Storm's End for him, watching good people starve to death, while Mace Tyrell and Paxter Redwyne were feasting over the other side of the walls. Did he thank me? No he thanked Stark for lifting the siege. I built a fleet at his command, took Dragonstone in his name, but he blamed me for the Darry knight and the Targaryen children escaping, as if I could have stopped it. I sat on his council for fifteen years, whilst I allowed him to send my son to Highgarden to be fostered, to help Jon Arryn rule his realm, whilst Robert drank and whored, but Arryn died, did my brother name his own brother his hand? No, he went riding off to his dear friend Ned Stark and offered him the honour. He could have removed Renly from the council and instilled my son instead. And small good it did either of them."

"I would suggest a marriage pact between the princess and Robert Arryn. Dragonstone is too grim of a place for a child."

"It was planned to have the sickly child brought to foster with me, but Lady Arryn will never let her son leave the walls of the Mountains, she is paranoid and sees enemies everywhere."

"Sending the princess and her fool to the Eyrie would be a better idea, she will be safe from war, as the Valemen are not fighting for any of the claimants of the realm."

"It's worth a try."

Then, Stannis's wife Queen Selyse and son Prince Jacob entered, with the prince having a stony look on his face, as he looked to be fighting an internal war with himself.

"You don't need to beg or bargain with anyone, they all owe their allegiance to you, the true king." The Queen said sharply.

"I need swords to my cause, and do you have an army." The King argued in reply.

"House Florent can provide an army."

"They can only provide 2,000 men and are too close to Highgarden."

"The comet is a sign, a sign the Lord of Light will aid you on your conquest."

"How many men will the Red God provide for me in the war?"

"R'hllor will bring you the power of Highgarden and Storm's End to you side." Queen Selyse insisted.

"Mother, those men are fighting for Uncle Renly, especially those of House Florent and House Estermont, who have blood ties to me and Shireen." The Prince spoke up, as his parents were listening.

"Don't worry, my boy. They will release the error of their ways and will fight for us."

"If only you were not as stubborn in delaying the inevitable, Jacob will get married, whether you or Lady Melisandre dislike it." The king said, to the Queen.

"If Renly should die, then his armies will flock over to you." The Queen suggested, "Lady Melisandre has looked into the flames, and has seen Renly's death."

Cressen saw the Prince's eyes finch, as his shoulders were hunched back and parts of his hair covering his face, as he pushed it back to see his saddened irises and fumbling fingers.

"It's an evil fratricide and should not be entertained." The maester said.

The maester was horrified by the notion, of having Lord Renly assassinated for some hope of his armies coming to his side. It's a dangerous idea and should be put away, as he didn't want to see the men he raised fight each over for a sword melted throne.

"I have heard your counsel and will hear hers, you should leave." The King said bluntly, as the maester did as he was bid.

After the seemingly harsh conversation with the king, the maester slumped back into his rooms, with the help of Maester Pylos, his soon to be replacement.

He contemplated his options of what to do.

Cressen raised Robert, Stannis and Renly after their father was taken by the angry sea, and cannot bear to watch one kill the other.

He knew every word Queen Selyse said was preached to her by Melisandre, it is she who must be silenced, before she can convert the king to her evil schemes and spread her mad religion beyond the island of Dragonstone.

The maester was fortunate it won't happen, with Prince Jacob holding a considerable amount of influence over his father, being his only son and heir to the throne.

Cressen was concerned for the prince, as Ser Davos told him of the prince wanting to kill Robb Stark for not supporting him and crowning himself king.

"How could things go so wrong, war and bloodshed changes people, as the prince is now etching to kill a boy, he once called friend, as the Stark boy betrayed him for his own ambition for a crown."

The Strangler.

The maester knew poison was a terrible, honourless crime, but it was the only poison in the world, which can ensure a quick, painful death, surely the gods will forgive him for such a crime, as it was to remove a real threat to King Stannis's path to the Iron Throne.

He made sure the poison was dissolved into the wine, as it was to look harmless to the average eye, but the Red Woman's eyes were not average at all.

Cressen plans on giving the cup to Lady Melisandre at the feast, King Stannis was holding for his bannermen and the lords of the Crownlands.

He knew it was a dreadful thing he was planning, but it had to be done to eliminate the Red Woman from the king's side.

On the contrary, the doors of his rooms opened for Prince Jacob to enter, clothed in the orange, red and yellow colours of the king's new sigil, adopted from the Red Woman's religious emblem.

The maester was quick to hide the poison and the cup away, he didn't want the prince to turn on him, as he suspected the king already did.

"I didn't see you were busy, maester." The prince said kindly, unlike the tone he used against the bannermen.

"I didn't expect you to visit me." Cressen replied.

"My father didn't mean to make you feel insignificant, but he has a lot on his mind. Preparing for war, trying to gain allies across the realm and making his claim known."

"The Red Woman is influencing your mother."

"Can't blame her, she has been through a lot, miscarriages and stillborns. It's nice she has something to believe in, even if it's not of the Faith. What has my mother done to deserve the suffering of losing potential brothers and sisters?"

"She is starting to have an influence on your father, since he was the one who brought her to Dragonstone."

"Don't worry, maester. I still have my father's trust and confidence, over some foreigner from a distant city in the East."

"What of the rest in your father's court, the men who are devoted to her religion and your mother converting them."

"It's to be a grand feast, and I don't want you to miss it, all because of a misunderstanding." The prince said, resting his head on the maester's shoulder.

Cressen started to smile, as his heart softened. "You know to soften one's heart, Your Grace."

Hours late in the day, Cressen had been late for the feast King Stannis was holding for the bannermen and vassal lords on the island.

He was thankful for the knight, who helped him get to the top of the keep, but the fool Patchface was rambling on in song and looked to be disturbed.

The maester knew his plan could fail, and he could die. Leaving Prince Jacob to grieve over someone else he cared for.

Lady Melisandre was an enigma of her own, from a distant land and a foreign religion spreading through Dragonstone and the King's court. Her wicked and foreign beauty, may have seduced some of the men into worshipping the Red God.

Luckily, the Red Woman didn't convert the prince to her mad religion, as the prince knew better, from studying under the Tyrells and not wanting to be a part of a war against the Faith.

"I hope to the Seven, the prince doesn't lose his good heart and stain it with the blood of the Young Wolf and his uncle."

When he reached the high table of the chamber, Cressen sees the king has given his seat to Pylos.

"Why did you not wake me?" Cressen asked, of the young apprentice.

"I was told to let you rest and you were not needed." Pylos replied.

Cressen didn't blame the young man; he was only doing his duty to the king and wanted to be kind.

The maester looks at all the lurid knights and captains: the aged and sour Lord Ardrian Celtigar, the handsome Lord Monford Velaryon, the young Lord Duram Bar Emmon, the uninviting Ser Axell Florent, the pious Lord Guncer Sunglass and the Lysene captain Salladhor Saan.

Only Ser Davos was dressed simply. Prince Jacob sits to Stannis's right, in the place of high honour, as it should be.

Lady Melisandre sits with Queen Selyse, no doubt influencing her more with her religion and flame visions of victory for the king.

"Pylos will assume all of your duties for the time being. You are to rest and think of your health." The king spoke bluntly.

The maester was heartbroken, as he didn't believe they were Stannis's words, remembering how it was him who was unloved and needed it, rather than his brothers.

The rejection pained him, as the blank expression on the face of Prince Jacob, who couldn't use his clever mind this time.

Out of all the assembled lords, Ser Davos offered him a seat, as the Onion Knight shared his misgivings on the Red Woman and her religion.

As the fool Patchface begins to entertain the king and the assembled lords. "We should wear motley, as we are about fool's business." The Onion Knight commented.

"Your Grace, it would be prudent to ally with Robb Stark or Lady Arryn." The maester urged.

"R'hllor is the only ally the king needs." Queen Selyse insisted.

"Gods and deities make uncertain allies, and R'hllor has no power here." Cressen replied.

"If you believe it to be true, then put the fool's crown on." Lady Melisandre suggested, with the Queen agreeing with her.

"Fool...give the crown to Cressen." The king grudgingly orders the fool.

The maester felt no short of a court fool, playing for the entertainment of those in the royal court.

"You should sing." The Queen suggested.

Prince Jacob raised his hand, and glared at his mother and the Red Woman, with a stern look in his blue eyes. "Mother, he shouldn't do such a thing, he is a maester, and not a fool to be prancing around for such entertainment, Patchface can do that finely. He has served father well and should be left alone."

Cressen saw the opportunity, to get rid of Lady Melisandre once and for all, but if he was successful, he knew Prince Jacob would hate him for committing such a crime.

After all, the man soon to be of six and ten saved him from further public humiliation, and wished the prince let go of vengeance in killing Robb Stark.

He slips a crystal into Davos' cup, he is sure only the Onion Knight notices. "Shall we propose a toast to the power of R'hllor?"

"You shall, Lord Maester." Lady Melisandre agreed.

"This is madness." Ser Davos whispered, as he knew what was going to happen and didn't want the prince to see it.

"It's for the sake of the realm and my lord's soul." Cressen insisted.

"It's not too late to refuse the drink, maester." The Red Woman said, as an ultimatum.

"No, my lady."

Melisandre drinks most of the cup, leaving a small amount for the maester. He was uncertain, but he knew it was for the sake of the realm and to break his king and queen free from her influence.

In spite of this, Cressen pushes away his fears and drinks as well. With the ruby at Melisandre's throat glowing brightly, and said. "R'hllor does have power."

The maester tries to reply, but his throat began to constrict and close up inside. He was struggling to keep his balance with the blood running under his nose.

Unaffected by the poison, the red woman looks on with pity, as Cressen collapsed onto ground.

The last thing the maester heard was the loud, heart wrenching screech from the prince, he would leave and never thanked for his kindness.