Stannis I (ASOS)

Stannis Baratheon, the rightful King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men and the true Lord of the Seven Kingdoms had come out from brooding in the Stone Drum keep to be seated at the head of the Painted Table.

His mind was numb, as he didn't want to accept the fact of his son and heir Prince Jacob was assumed to be dead or alive.

The rightful king did not know what happened to his son, but he knew someone had to be held accountable for losing the rightful prince.

Firstly, he had to deal with Ser Davos, whom was arrested for plotting to murder the Lady Melisandre, when he came back alive from the Blackwater.

"If Davos was able to come back alive, then why is my son in the grave while others seek to mock me at the expense of a father's grief."

He had sent his daughter Princess Shireen, the king's only true heir to her lessons with Maester Pylos, whom has been a good influence on her, in terms of her being more of a cheerful, happy child, as opposed to the sadness he always saw.

Stannis knew Davos was forever loyal to his king, and wouldn't think of committing treason against him, unlike his short term Hand, Lord Alester Florent, the uncle of his wife Queen Selyse.

The man was caught by his brother writing a letter to Lord Tywin, basically handing over his daughter and his now dead son, as hostages to the Lannisters, and almost ruined what remained of his war for the Iron Throne.

The king could hear the muffled tears and woes of Lord Florent from the dungeons, where he was placed there, like a true traitor should be put and face the consequences for his crimes.

That man had no reason to grieve and shed tears for Jacob, when all the man did was give him expensive gifts and never developed a true relationship with him, unlike his son did with Robert and Renly, no matter how he didn't like the king's younger brother.

Stannis could have executed Davos for his treason, but it was the Lady Melisandre, who persuaded him to bring the Onion Knight to the king.

The Red Woman saw visions of his son in her flames, and tells him of how Jacob is still alive and will return to Dragonstone in due time.

Sometimes, Stannis had enough of her and any of the Queen's Men who would proclaim the same thing, it was basically putting salt in the wounds of an already grieving father.

Who knows if what Melisandre says is true and Jacob is still alive and returning, or is it more of her treacherous lies, to manipulate him further and cost him more in his wars to come.

"I am the rightful king of the Seven Kingdoms, or has the Red Woman forgotten in her path of spreading her religion among the men in my camp. She may have used her magic for my cause, but she mustn't forget her place, as a servant in my court."

Then, the doors of the chambers were open for Ser Axell, another Uncle of Selyse bringing a rugged Ser Davos into his presence. With the Onion Knight having a sad expression in his eyes, and had stood up in dignity, even though he spent time in the dungeons.

The rightful king saw the gleeful look on the face of Ser Axell, as he knew the two men often disagreed on many things, but the large eared man threw too much of his own weight around, simply because he was the Queen's uncle.

"What should be the penalty for treason?" King Stannis asked, looking at the two men in his presence.

"Death." Ser Davos says reluctantly, as if he was talking about his own plot to kill Melisandre.

"I'm not speaking of you, Ser Davos. I am speaking of the traitor Lord Florent."

"Your Grace, Lord Florent did not mean treason, as he was mourning for his lost lands and fortunes, at the hands of the Lannisters and their Tyrell allies."

"Lord Alester did it anyways, what does he have to mourn for. My son is dead, Davos and I seem to inspire treachery, whilst Robert inspired loyalty, even to those who were his enemies."

"Lord Florent was weeping in his cell for the prince's death, I doubt the man even cared for him."

Stannis looked towards Ser Axell, who was in complete obedience to his king. "Ser Axell would have me continue the war, but all of my sworn swords have deserted me."

"Your Grace, we should attack Claw Isle, the seat of Lord Celtigar for Lord Ardrian's defection to the Lannisters, coward," Ser Axell growled. "We should put his castle to the torch and his people to the sword."

"What do you think of this plan, Davos?" The King asked.

"The plan is both folly and cowardice, to rape and pillage folk who had no choice, but to stand behind their lord. Prince Jacob would never have approved; he would never have agreed to have innocent people killed."

It sparked something within the king, Stannis knew his son was too concerning over the plight of the innocents during the cause of the war. His time with Ned Stark has made him a different man, a man not fitting into any constricted role in society and wanted to think what he wanted.

"Every man's duty is to be loyal to his rightful king, regardless of what his lord thinks or decides." The king pointed.

"Is it what you did, when you choose to support your brother over King Aerys?" Ser Davos suggested.

"Treason, that smuggler should be executed." Ser Axell shouted, a little too loudly for the king's liking.

"Ser Axell, leave my presence. You should tend to the security outside the island." The king commanded, as the knight left in anger.

King Stannis started to understand why his son hated Ser Axell, the man threw his weight too much and spoke out of term many times. He was right to send the man away, because he needed time with his loyal advisor.

He never got the time to think about his son, and if he was truly dead or still alive on the outskirts of the realm, fighting and clawing his way to come back home. And assume his rightful place, as his heir to the Iron Throne.

"The truth is a bitter draught. The choice I had to make between my brother and my king was a hard one to make." The king muttered.

"Why do you want to be king?" Ser Davos asked.

"My wants are not at the issue. I am king by law, and I mean to take the throne and scour that court clean." The king said, gritting between his teeth. A bad habit, he didn't care for. "Why did you intend to kill Melisandre."

"She gave my sons to the flames."

"Those fires were of the Imp's doing, not hers. If you should blame anyone it is me, who sent her away when I needed her the most."

"She killed Maester Cressen, as well as Ser Cortnay Penrose and Renly."

"She had no part in Renly's death. Melisandre insisted on bringing you to me, instead of having you executed."

"I didn't know the lady was so merciful on me."

"The Storm boy, Robert's bastard is sick. I mean not to do any harm to the boy." The king began to change the subject.

Stannis didn't like having Edric Storm around, he was the living product of the shame his brother conducted with Selyse's cousin Delena on their wedding bed. Nevertheless, the Lady Melisandre needed him, for his king's blood.

The boy was just as joyful and charming, as Robert was when he was a boy it made Stannis feel a surge of bitterness of the boy's presence on Dragonstone.

"I agree that Axell's plan was folly, and I order you to your knees. I intend to make you a lord."

"Your Grace, I am not worthy of this honour." Davos said, obeying his king's command and got onto his knees.

"I name you the Lord of Rainwood, Admiral of the Narrow Sea, but I also name you Hand of the King."

"I am a commoner, Your Grace. Your lords and bannermen will not listen to me."

"Then, we will make new lords, then. Ones who are loyal to their king, and some will rise to the occasion."

"We lack the strength for another battle against the Lannisters."

"Ser Barristan Selmy told me the rot in King Aerys's reign started with the eunuch, Robert should have killed him and sent Jaimie Lannister to the Wall, like his old friend Ned Stark suggested, but listened to Jon Arryn instead."

King Stannis needed Davos, as his honest advice was needed, during such a low time. He had lost the Battle of the Blackwater, and had not secured his throne, but this time could give him the opportunity to think of his next move.

The Onion Knight looked bewildered, by such a proclaiming. He deserved it for being such a loyal servant to his cause, and it was only fair the king rewarded him in return. It was something his son would have be proud off.

There was some sort of trouble outside, as the king and the king's new hand heard a lot of commotion and loud voices from out of the chamber walls. It was a time of war, and it could mean trouble to come.

Ser Davos walked towards the chamber doors, only for a at least three Florent men and a man in a grey cloak, alongside another who was quite tall and lean, whom carried a sword and wore reasonably highborn clothing.

"What is the meaning of this?" The King exclaimed, as he was unaware of what was going on, and why the guards of House Florent where there.

The strange man in grey and gold clothing, kneeled before the king with his sword to the ground.

"Your Grace, I came to return two things, which will be useful for your course. A formidable ship out of the reach of the enemies, and someone you have been missing for some time." The man proclaimed.

"What do you mean, my lord?" Ser Davos replied, standing beside his king.

King Stannis and Ser Davos watched, as the hooded figure removed their cloak from their head to reveal a young man, who looked to be seven and ten in terms of age. The king spotted something familiar about the formerly hooded man.

His eyes, the sapphire blue colour of House Baratheon. Those eyes were unmissable to those of the King's family and his kin. His hair was long, but in a greyish colour. The colour looked to be washed out, because it was dye covering his natural hair colour.

The King's eyes widened, at the sudden realisation of who this young man could be, in his presence and none of the Florent men arrested him.

Only because the man in question was his son Jacob.

He had returned to him.

The King couldn't believe it; his son has come back. Stannis ignored how most of his men accepted that Jacob was dead, but he never believed it to be true.

"Father." Jacob said, with his face expressing sadness as he walked up to envelope him in his arms.

Stannis was not a man of sentiment and emotion, but he could allow his guard to be lowered for the sake of his returned heir. He felt the warmth of his son's embrace, as he must have sent time further south to be wearing such loose clothing.

"You have returned, the Queen's men were right in that regard." The king said, stammering through his words.

"I'm glad to be back." Jacob replied.

The Heir to the Iron Throne, then left his father's embrace to go on and envelope Ser Davos in an embrace as well. The king saw the tears of joy coming from the eyes of the Onion Knight, as he looked to the prince, as if he was his own son.

"I'm glad you are alive, Your Grace." Ser Davos said, attempting to hold back the tears in his eyes.

"I missed you the most."

The king turned to the man, still on his knees and had surrendered his sword. "Who are you, and why have you come here?"

"Apologies, Your Grace. My name is Sorrell Grimm of Greyshield, and the man responsible for bringing back your son alive." The man replied.

"Are your house not sworn to the Tyrells?" Ser Davos asked.

"They are, but I have been away from Greyshield for many years, sailing across the Seven Kingdoms and farther beyond. My family were foolish enough to get in bed with the Tyrell-Lannister alliance, as the boy king is not fit to rule."

"The man has a point, but what do you want in return for bringing my son and his ship back intact."

"I would like the opportunity to serve a just king, who will bring those wrongdoers before the Seven to answer for their crimes. Spilling blood on holy grounds, placing a boy born of disgusting relations on the throne and killing innocents to secure their power."

The king looked upon his son, and asked. "What shall I do with him?"

"I claim the Grimm man to be my new sworn shield, as he risked his life to protect me from those who are loyal to the Tyrells."

"Do you accept this offer, my lord?" The king said, towards the Grimm knight.

"Yes, I do, Your Grace."

Prince Jacob commanded the Grimm man and the Florent knights to leave the chamber in haste, as he wanted to spend more time being reunited with his father and Ser Davos, his new Hand of the King and Admiral of the Narrow Sea.

The prince turned to his father and the Onion Knight, brushed a hand between his long greyish locks, the dye will wear out and his natural midnight black colour will return.

"Have I been away too long, father. You look gaunt, when was the last time you have eaten." The prince said, concerned for his father's wellbeing.

"It matters not; I have you back now. You must be ready to assume your place, as my heir and the rightful prince of the Seven Kingdoms."

"Yes, father. I am ready to assume my duty and my place, since the loss of the battle, it seems you need me more than ever."

"Your skill is not for the battlefield, Your Grace, but in court politics." Ser Davos interjected.

"I have only just gotten back, and I haven't gotten to see Uncle Alester, where is he?" Prince Jacob asked.

"He has been arrested, for treason." The king said.

Jacob's eyes widened at the revelation, the Florent Lord was not one of Jacob's favourite uncles, but the man still had a role in molding him into the honourable young man the king sees.

"What has he done?" The prince pressed.

"The man was caught writing letters to Lord Tywin, to ask for the hand of your sister to Tommen, and your hand to his niece Janei. All because he wanted his lands back, selfish man. He almost ruined my cause and gotten our family killed."

"Gods, not Janei. I spurned her years ago for a reason. She is average, and not a thought that goes into her head is of her own." Jacob shuddered, at the thought of being forced to marry that Lannister girl.

The king, the prince and the king's hand were greeted with the presence of the Lady Melisandre, who brought a covered dish with her. The prince didn't look pleased to see her, as if he wanted her gone from this world.

"It is a greater battle Stannis prepares for, against the coming winter and whose name may not be spoken." Lady Melisandre said, in an alluring tone. "We must move quickly to unite Westeros under the true king."

"Why me, I'm just a man bound by duty and justice." The king asked.

"It is because you are a righteous man, Your Grace."

"Though, this is not the way, but it would work. And I beseech you to give me the boy, so I can wake the stone dragon."

"The boy is innocent. I have my own reasons of keeping him with me." The king refuses.

"Only king's blood can wake the dragon." Melisandre replied.

"I am tired of hearing about dragons and stone magic. Go forward with your leeches."

Lady Melisandre flings powder on the hearth fire, and lifts the lid of the dish to reveal three large leeches, swollen with what the Onion Knight assumes to be the blood of the Storm boy, but the king didn't pay attention.

The king picks up the first one up, and says. "The usurper, Joffrey Baratheon" and hurls it into the fire. "The usurper, Balon Greyjoy." And does the same.

The last leech was in Stannis's hand, he studied it for a moment, as it writhed between his fingers.

"The usurper." The king said, "Robb Stark." And he threw it into the flames, and ignored the sight of burning leeches.

King Stannis looked into the eyes of his son, as they were as stern, and hard as his. Prince Jacob's expression was stoic, and didn't have any interest in the Red Woman's trickery and magic, as he was a skeptic of such tall tales she told.

The king needed to think of his next move, as that next move will be the start of regaining an army to take the Iron Throne again.