Davos I

Heavy, hard winds were not much of a bother in these parts, but it was, being marched by guards in the middle of a storm. The heavy armoured knights were pushing Ser Davos Seaworth along a straight line, and were not so relenting and were pushing him further up the pathway, of what looks to be a stone castle in the far distance.

He was in Sweetsister, one of the three islands of the Three Sisters. Davos was captured by the men of Lord Borrell, whilst he was stranded on the island; he tried to find a way, getting to White Harbor, the seat of House Manderly.

The Onion Knight was on a mission to represent his king and his claim. It was another time, when Davos had to part from Prince Jacob again, after all he wasn't sure about his new sworn shield, Sorrell of House Grimm.

The man had been from the Reach, his family was a vassal of House Tyrell, the enemies of King Stannis.

"Sellsails are avaricious by nature; it was the cause of Salla making too much of a complaint about his gold from King Stannis. If the prince had been there at the scene, he would have killed my old friend for dishonouring his father's name and honour."

The guards were bringing him through the gates of a castle, and the stench of rotting fish and pig waste was in the air. Sisterton was a mean, small town, and it wasn't as illustrious as the bigger towns in the Vale of Arryn.

Breakwater Castle was quite imposing and grim. The bridge of entry was of black basalt and a rusty iron gate. The small arm of knights marched the Onion Knight through the bridge, and the steps leading into the cavernous stone keep, with the entrance covered by threadbare Myrish carpet.

The halls of Breakwater were gloomy, and waterdrops were falling from the ceiling. The flame lit torches were glowing brightly, as the banners of the white spider crab on a grey-green field were displayed; it was the sigil of House Borrell.

The Onion Knight was lead into the main hall, only to interrupt Lord Godric Borrell in the middle of his supper. The Lord of Sweetsister didn't look to be pleased to be interrupted, whilst eating. Davos saw the guards leaving the main hall, not wanting to disturb their lord further.

Lord Godric's eyes were on the knight's maimed hand, and looked back at him. The man seemed to be aware of who he was. The Lord of Sweetsister wasn't a pleasant looking man, but earning his ire would have dire consequences for the Onion Knight.

"What are you doing here?" Lord Godric said, offering the Onion Knight a seat at his table.

"I was on my way to White Harbor with a message from King Stannis to Lord Wyman Manderly." Ser Davos replied, taking the seat the Lord of the castle offered.

"How did you end up here?"

"I was stranded on the islands by storms, and I was washed up here." The Onion Knight said.

Ser Davos was reminded of how his old friend, the sellsail Salladhor Saan and his small fleet of Lynesi sellsails was smashed by the harshness of the storms, since departing south of the Wall. His old friend had been compliant, during the beginning of the war when it came to waiting for his reward.

On the other hand, much time has passed and Salladhor grew impatient of waiting; he was frustrated of King Stannis's continual inability to make good on his promises of gold dragons for his services and only staying by his side because of his long friendship with Davos. The Lyseni sellsail decided to abandon Stannis's cause and gave Davos a choice to make.

To follow him into Essos or to leave in a small longboat to continue his mission, and Davos choose to leave. Salladhor Saan, may have been his old friend, but the life of a smuggler was not the Onion Knight anymore. He was a changed man, and had a new purpose and title of Hand of the King; he would never abandon his king and prince, even for an old friend.

"My friend travelled south to raid the Lannisters at Stannis's command." Ser Davos lied, concealing this fact. It was a sore subject, having to disown an old friend for common sense.

"I should turn you over to Lord Sunderland, the Lord of the Three Sisters. He would sell you to the Lannisters for a great reward."

"Isn't Lord Sunderland sworn to the Eyrie, and by rights should turn me over to Lady Arryn." Davos countered.

"Lysa Arryn is dead, and Lord Littlefinger rules the Vale, as Lord Protector now." Lord Godric foretold, "Would your king ransom you for anything I desire?"

"You should send him a raven and ask for yourself, my lord."

"Is the Imp at the Wall, as well?"

"No, the last I heard he was the stand trial for murdering his nephew."

"It matters not, the Imp murdered his father and escaped." Lord Godric replied.

"My lord, I implore you. I need to send a raven to inform my king." The Onion Knight pleaded.

"I refuse to involve myself with this game, and I will not be inclined to get involved."

Lord Godric offered Davos some food, as it was a sign of him being a guest rather than a prisoner in his castle. As hungry as he was, the Onion Knight accepted the food given to him, and began to eat.

Ser Davos was assured even a robber lord and wrecker like Borrell would not violate guest right for one night. The food was pleasant, and didn't expect for such a lord to even treat him with curtesy.

"Lord Manderly will not ally with Stannis, for a shipload of Freys passed here to get to White Harbor. Lords Wyman and old Walder have made a pack and intend to seal it with marriage."

Dread filled Ser Davos. He was stunned by such a declaration, considering the Freys killed Lord Wyman's son. He feared for his king, knowing he desperately needed White Harbor and one of Lord Wyman's granddaughters to wed his son, the rightful heir to the throne.

"Wouldn't Stannis's son make a better husband for Lord Manderly's unwed granddaughters?"

"I'm surprised, not that I didn't believe the rumours of Jacob Baratheon being killed at the Blackwater, but some in the kingdoms believe him to be dead. It would be a dread to think would happen if everyone else knew he was alive and unmarried."

"I must go to White Harbor."

"I don't forget easily, of how your king or Lord Stannis as he was before personally threatened to hang me unless I stopped wrecking, and he forced me to hang few good friends of mine for the same crime. Never liked Stannis Baratheon, unfeeling prig he is and from what I hear, his son is no better."

"With Tywin Lannister dead, a child king rules and will not stand a chance against Stannis and Jacob."

"King Tommen has the wealth of Casterly Rock and the might of Highgarden, as well as the Boltons and Freys as allies. On the other hand, Cersei Lannister is an incompetent ruler, and you would be in chains if her uncle Ser Kevan Lannister was in power."

"I'm fortunate you haven't treated me like a prisoner. The alliance with the Tyrells will not last, especially when the king is only a child, with a man of marriageable age at the far corner of the North."

"You know Ned Stark was on these shores long ago. Shipwrecked, like you are and finding a way off the island."

"At the dawn of Robert's Rebellion. The Mad King had sent to the Eyrie for Stark's head, but Jon Arryn sent him back defiance. Gulltown stayed loyal to the throne. In order to get home and call his banners, Stark had to cross the mountains into the Fingers and find a fisherman to carry him across the Bite. A storm caught them on the way. The fisherman drowned, but his daughter got Stark to the Sisters before the boat sank. They say he left her with a bag of silver and a bastard in her belly. Jon Snow she named him, after Arryn."

"Were you there during the war?"

"No, my father could have sent his head to the Mad King, but allowed him to go on his way, and left him with parting words of warning."

"What were they?"

"If you lose, my father told Lord Eddard, you were never here."

"No more than I was."

"What I don't grasp is how that prig king of yours is able to keep his son unmarried for so long, during the war?"

"The right opportunity wasn't available to the king at the time."

"It's a shame, noble men like Jacob are rare nowadays. The boy can fight, he has a mind for the game and is highborn. I'm surprised no woman married him in the beginning, it only further proves how like his father he is; unpleasant, grim and a bore."

"The cause of it is the king, it's he who most prospects fear. He judges with a critical eye, but his mother objects to having her son taken away from her."

"It's always the women, who try to stand in the way of duty. Young men need to socialise with other women besides their relations."

"Not wrong there, my lord."

"Even the most ambitious and cunning of lords missed their opportunity, it matters not your king and prince will freeze in the North sooner rather than later."

"Did you host the Freys, whom were travelling to White Harbor?"

"I did sup with them, but I would never remember their names, as there are many Freys to remember all their names and some were even named after long gone royalty."

"You will not intend to keep me prisoner here."

"I will allow you go on your way, but if Stannis ends up on the losing side of the war. I will deny you were ever here on Sweetsister." Lord Godric said.

"Of course, My lord." Ser Davos replied.

"Take the advice my father gave to Stark years ago, and I will forget you were ever on my lands."

"It was like I was never here."

Ser Davos had to watch himself, he knew Borrell was a robber lord and was not worthy of being trusted. He did his duty and told the Onion Knight the updates of what was happening in the kingdoms, worthy of telling his king, as recent developments have presented an advantage for him.

With Tywin Lannister dead, and a little boy sitting on the throne. It was only a matter of time before the Tyrells would desert them for a better alliance.

On the other hand, King Stannis must marry to his son any of Lord Manderly's two granddaughters to secure another army, and a chance to win the throne again.

The Onion Knight knew what he had to do; his mission for the king was of outmost importance. He was grateful for Lord Godric's hospitality and for treating him more like a guest than a prisoner ready to be killed. Davos bristled of the idea of having to look at anyone of House Frey, whilst at White Harbor; he knew he had to do this for the sake of his king and the prince he left behind at the Wall.