Chapter 58

Solomon. Dragonstone.

I stood on the edge of the island, enjoying the afternoon breeze while the work organized by Stannis and his men simmered away. Gold mining was in full swing, and even though it was hard work, the workers were definitely feeling some semblance of joy.

This was due to the fact that there was essentially nothing to do on the island most of the time due to the landscape and soil. Any kind of agricultural activity was difficult, and Dragonstone itself was desolate and whimsical.

However, these men now found something to do to take their minds off the daily and nauseating routine, which included the usual patrolling and guarding of the area. Stannis even called a few ships to the island so that their crew could also take part in the cause.

This change affected the Lord of Dragonstone himself, though it wasn't the only one. In the rather short time I've been here, I've managed to spot him several times in the company of his family, especially Shireen, strolling together.

Stannis began to move about the island busily, occasionally supervising the work, checking on his men and planning something. He was accompanied by Melisandre as usual, but sometimes Selyse joined them as well, which the locals said was something of a fantasy.

He wasn't good at showing affection in methods beyond certain narrow limits, but the fact that Stannis truly cared for his family and loved his daughter managed to impress me enough to reach out to him. And he proved it by letting his spouse, to whom he had been cold to, back into his life, as well as making time for his family every day.

Shireen, now a smiling little girl, preferred to spend time with me when she had the chance, and the rest of the time she was either visiting her father or keeping company with Lavena, who liked to look for a place to paint.

Beyond that, I noticed one detail about Shireen that was reinforced by scraps of information I'd heard from the locals about life on Dragonstone before my arrival.

The girl was wary of her mother, whom I had mixed feelings about as a modern man and acceptable as Solomon, and tried to keep out of her sight. Selyse was a fanatical follower of R'Glor, which didn't make her a good example for a parent, but there were reasons for that.

She and Stannis had three stillborn children, which already gave a small insight into the situation. The woman found some hope and salvation in the Red Faith, for in the current era of this world, an heir was extremely important to both noble and not so noble families, and the only living child was Shireen, a girl.

Because of this, Selyse was drowning in shame and discomfort in front of the people of the Seven Kingdoms, partly felt by Stannis and Shireen themselves. A supposed indicator of weakness and failure, and perhaps a curse from the gods themselves, in short.

Prejudices in this era were many, and not every one of them had morally correct overtones for a twenty-first century contemporary. Human life in the Middle Ages was often regarded as a resource and nothing more, although this has not changed much over time.

Every society was built on the good of the society itself, and in order for it to exist, it needed people to make it up. The continuation and survival of kin, family, and history were valued, and thus, because of differences in biology, there were very clear divisions and prioritization between the sexes. Again, though, it was based more on childbirth than anything else.

I shook my head and looked in the direction where Lavena was standing and definitely wanted something from me. And this was indeed something unusual, for we were here alone, since Kinvara, at my request, had gone to talk to Melisandre, who thought Stannis was Azor Ahai, even though he was not.

Lavena's face expressed not the familiar irritation and displeasure, but rather incomprehension, thoughtfulness, and restrained interest that she could not hide from me. Though, come to think of it, Lavena had behaved extremely detached toward me during the entire time I'd been on Dragonstone. And I already had a rough idea of what exactly she wanted to talk to me about.

- If there's something you'd like to ask, please do, mistress Lavena. I don't think your timing is unreasonable," I said and sat down on the stone ground with my feet overhanging the cliff. Lavena was silent for a moment, and then, as if to overcome herself, she clucked her tongue.

- Why did you help her? - She asked.

- Because it was the right thing to do," I answered calmly.

- You're lying.

- Do you find it hard to believe my words, mistress Lavena? - I smiled.

- I find it hard to believe you're honorable," Lavena countered. - The Stark family sees you as a member of the family, someone they would trust with their lives, but you're not. You're an unfeeling egomaniac and a liar with your own personal agenda who doesn't care about other people. Your actions towards me and my... "mother" prove it. Why did you really help Shireen?

- I understand your point of view, and I respect that. But I didn't lie," I said, but Lavena obviously didn't believe me and continued to wait for my answer. - Do you think, Mistress Lavena, are all lives equal?

- I don't see the connection between your question and mine.

- Still, I would like to hear your opinion. Of course, you may not answer, but then our conversation will be over and your curiosity will not be satisfied," I smiled.

- And here you are again, forcing me to bow to you and leaving me no choice, as if I were your obedient slave and servant," Lavena grinned.

- There is always a choice, Mistress Lavena, it's just not always as obvious as I would like it to be," I shook my head. - What's your answer?

- Tch," she clucked her tongue unhappily. - Not equal. The lives I care about personally are more important than others. Are you satisfied, "Master" Solomon?

- Hmm..." I mumbled. - Your point of view has a place, because every man is selfish. He pursues his desires, including helping others on a selfless basis, however....

- Are you saying that you helped Shireen just because you wanted to? - Lavena interrupted me.

- I... didn't say that," I said suddenly, but inwardly wondered why there was a pause and uncertainty in my speech. - However, your point of view is also commonplace to the extreme. All people, even the purest ones, think that way, because it is the basis of intelligent life.

- And? What is the point of your question then?

- The point is that the same is true of the world," I smiled, which made Lavena genuinely surprised.

- You make it sound like the world is alive," she commented, obviously thinking I was trying to fool her.

- It is alive," I nodded, and Lavena looked at me with extreme doubt. - Or rather, he has a consciousness. And it has a desire of its own-the desire to survive. To that end, every creature living within it is marked before it is born with an individual mark, denoting a kind of... value.

I paused and raised my hand, on which a small black hole had formed.

- Where I come from, there is the Akasha, or Root, the conceptual omniscience of all things. It records all events that have been, are, or will ever be, for it has no concept of time. The blowing of the wind, the movement of birds, the flow of a hand, a random fallen stone, everything is already predetermined, and it is impossible to change it.

- It sounds like something completely insane and makes no sense. Are you saying that no one has control over their lives and blindly walks down a painted road? Are you out of your mind? - Lavena asked irritably, and I made the black hole disappear.

- Nevertheless, that's the way it is. Otherwise, how do you think the soothsayers of the future can tell exactly what's going to happen? I'm sure you've studied the texts of Valyria and heard of a young woman who was thought to be insane, but her predictions came true. And those visions were sent to her by the world itself, which has access to the Root, making Westeros and Essos look exactly as they should. And if you think back to the White Walkers, it all falls into place, doesn't it?

- Peace... consciousness... survival..." Lavena mumbled, slowly absorbing my words. - Your words do sound coherent and logical, but still, they are nonsense. You're a liar, and I'd be a complete fool to believe you after all your antics.

Not to say I'm surprised by her conclusions. Lavena is pathologically distrustful of me, and it would be foolish to expect that she could change herself and her opinion. However, I must say, this is not a bad development, for she has avoided an existential crisis by simply staying true to herself.

Predicting her reaction would have been pretty easy, though. Lavena valued her freedom very much and was willing to fight for it to the end, and thus she would have been more concerned about her lack of control over her life rather than the meaning of existence or something like that.

- Maybe, though, that's still one possibility, just like the branches of a tree growing from the same trunk," I smiled. - And getting back to Shireen, her life was far more valuable than the life of some random kid, no matter how good and pure and perfect he was. And that's why the world creates certain events for them in advance, to make sure everything goes perfectly in favor of their own survival. I, on the other hand, compensated for her suffering caused by the world to some extent.

- "Compensated?" - she asked. - So, assuming your words are true, you wouldn't have helped her? You're disgusting.

I stiffened, but not because Lavena was speaking so negatively about me, but because I had caught her message.

In the vision that Kinvara's touch-activated clairvoyance had shown me, Shireen had only glimpsed a glimpse, or rather her death. She was being burned alive at the stake, the flames hiding most of her face, and her parents, both Stannis and Selyse just watched in silence while Melisandre walked around reciting prayers to R'Glor.

And here's the strange thing, I didn't feel disgust, dislike or anger, just... apathy... just like with Ned and the rest of the Stark family. My thoughts at that moment were only of what the world willed, and so I just resigned myself to accepting it as an inevitability.

And Shireen... if she had no consistent connection to Stannis, the King, Ned and Jon, and if she was the most common noble girl who hadn't gotten over the Grey sickness... would I have helped her?

The answer to that question is... No, I wouldn't help her and probably wouldn't even pay any attention to her. That's what my "Wisdom" and Solomon's personality tells me, but... what would I have done as the most ordinary person? Would my mind be changed? Would I have thought... differently...? From a human perspective? What were the relationships I built with my "friends" worth...?

- Silence is your answer, huh? You are truly awful," Lavena grinned, but I ignored her and teleported away, finding myself near Kinvara walking down the corridors of the castle in the next instant.

- My king? Is there something..." she began, but I interrupted her with a kiss, pushing her against the wall and grabbing her breasts and waist. Kinvara opened her eyes in surprise, then calmly accepted it and responded to my actions by wrapping her arms around my neck and hair. My hands slid over her gifted figure as if seeking comfort, and she wasn't embarrassed by the location or the fact that we could be seen, as I was.

Right now, I needed a distraction. I just wanted to forget myself for a while, and Kinvara could give me what I needed. However, a thought ran through my mind over and over again....

What am I...? A human being or just a doll...?

-0-

Lavena Satrion. Dragonstone.

- Is Lord Solomon gone? - Sadly asked Shireen, who came up a few moments after my 'lord' had disappeared.

Only I knew what he was really like, that beneath his kind-hearted and compassionate nature lurked a selfish and unfeeling liar. But... the look on his face before he disappeared... It was like he was... scared... It was like he never gave a second thought to what I had told him....

I shook my head and put my thoughts in order.

No, he was just trying to gain sympathy for me and subjugate me like his victim. Yes, nothing more.

- Lady Lavena? Are you alright? - I heard Shireen's concerned voice and lowered my gaze to her.

- Yes, don't worry. Did you want something? - I said in a softer tone, just like with Bran and Rickon.

- Father received a raven from King's Landing and would like to speak with Lord Solomon," she answered and lowered her eyes sadly. - Is he alright? He disappeared so suddenly, and with that face....

- Don't worry about it. He must have remembered something and decided to do something about it," I smiled softly. - Let's go. I thought you wanted to learn how to draw, right? I'm free right now.

- Good," Shireen immediately cheered up and took my hand, which I calmly accepted and headed to the castle to get supplies.

As nasty as my 'master' was, I didn't want to ruin Shireen's childish expectations, and she wouldn't believe me if I started slinging mud at him. I'll cross that bridge when the time is right. Yeah, I guess that's the right time, huh?

-0-

A/N: How's the chapter? Give us your opinion. You may well be able to influence future chapters.

My P.a.t.r.e.o.n: P.a.t.r.e.o.n.c.o.m/mirzael

You'll be able to read more chapters there.