Stannis

The stars dotted in the night sky shine with alluring light. They seem to be countless mysterious eyes, spying on everything on the earth.👊♘ paw 🐝🎄

Melisandre continued, " Onion Knight, this is a war between two true gods, not seven, not one, not a hundred, not a thousand, only two!"

A slight smile curved her lips, "Did you think I traveled halfway around the world just to put a king on an empty throne?"

She shook her head slightly. "You're wrong. War began at the beginning of the world, and everyone must choose a side before the judgment arrives."

She extended her Right Hand: "On one side is Allah R'hllor, the Lord of Light, the Heart of the Holy Flame, the God of Shadow and Fire."

She extended her Left Hand: "On the other side are Great Other, beyond the comprehension of mortals, the God of Darkness, the Soul of Mystic Ice, the Great Other."

A flame seemed to dance in her eyes. "Our choice is not Baratheon or Lannister, Greyjoy or Stark. Our choice is life or death, light or darkness."

Having said that, Melisandre slowly rose and moved toward Sir Davos.

Ser Davos also rose, Red Priestess stood before him, saying, "Tell me, Davos Seaworth, tell me honestly, does your heart burn with the light of R'hllor, or has it become dark, cold, and infested with worms?"

As Melisandre spoke, she stretched out her hand, placing three slender, pale fingers on Sir Davos's chest, as if trying to feel his thoughts through the leather and flesh.

Sir Davos, suppressing his fear, slowly said, "Madam, I don't trust you."

After a moment of silence, Melisandre sighed and said, "Honest knight, you haven't lied to me, you haven't disappointed me."

She continued, "Even embers in the ashes can reignite a raging fire... You look at Stannis and see only a mortal, a king... You are all wrong. He is the chosen one of the Lord of Light, the Son of Fire, the Warrior of light."

She gazed at the night sky. "The ancient books of Asshai foretold that after the Long Summer, the stars would weep blood, and Azor Ahai would be reborn in the Land of Smoke and Salt, awakening the dragons within the stones. Now the weeping stars have appeared, Dragonstone is the Land of Smoke and Salt, and Stannis Baratheon is the reincarnation of Azor Ahai!"

She spread her arms wide. "I witnessed him commanding thousands of troops in the Sacred Fire, resisting the terrifying darkness!"

There was no wind, yet Melisandre's red hair and red robes suddenly fluttered.

At that moment, Davos felt as if he were standing in front of a raging fire, and he couldn't help but take a step back, while Melisandre took a step forward.

The Red Priestess's eyes shone brightly like pale red candles, as if gazing into his soul.

She suddenly said, "You want to kill me?"

Davos' Adam's apple bobbed, and he said, "I just want to know who betrayed me?"

Melisandre chuckled, reaching out to stroke the Onion Knight's cheek. "My dear Davos," she said, "No one betrayed you. I saw your heart in the Sacred Fire."

When the priestess's burning fingers brushed across his face, Sir Davos shuddered; his back was already drenched in cold sweat.

After a pause, Melisandre asked with great interest, "Why do you want to kill me?"

Sir Davos gazed at the man before him and said, " King Stannis is my 'god'."

Melisandre murmured, "The fire within you burns so fiercely..."

She sighed. " Lord of Light is the source of all goodness, so I forgive you this once, lucky sir."

Melisandre smiled, twirled her blood-red skirt, and turned to leave.

It took Sir Davos a while to calm his wildly beating heart; he felt the Red Priestess was too dangerous.

Sir Davos picked up the wine bag and took a swig; he had a bad feeling.

Perhaps... Davos put down his wine bag and gazed at the campfire before him.

His eyes remained fixed... Look... Keep looking... Fire... Still fire...

Despite his long efforts, it ended in tears; he only saw fire, with no other signs.

This is the truth.

"Father..." Devan Seaworth's voice interrupted Davos's thoughts.

He turned his head and looked; it was his fifth son.

Davos frowned and said, " Devan, why are you here?"

Devan was a servant of King Stannis, which was an honor for his family, and his son was expected to serve King Stannis at all times.

Eleven-year-old Devan was much stronger than many boys his age. He approached and said, "Father, His Majesty the King has summoned you."

"Let's go."

Davos immediately rose, saying as he walked, " King Stannis actually sent you to relay his orders... It seems you've done quite well, my son."

Hearing his father's praise, Devan couldn't help but smile. He tried to suppress his unruly lips and show his maturity.

After walking for a while, Devan suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Father, His Majesty the King's health..."

Davos' stern gaze interrupted his son's words. He said solemnly, " Devan, everything about King Stannis is a secret. You must not reveal it even to your family. Do you understand?"

"I... understand, Father. ☺👤 🍫👑"

Davos reached out and patted his son's shoulder, saying, "Let's go, King Stannis doesn't like to wait."

At the entrance to the King's tent, Sir Davos encountered Imre Florent, who had just come out of it.

Ser Imre was King Stannis's brother-in-law. Like Queen Selyse, he had the Florent family's famous prominent ears, broad nose, thick eyebrows, and thick hair growing from his ears and nostrils, as well as tufts of hair under his double chin.

Davos nodded slightly, while Ser Imre snorted and walked right past him.

Inside the tent, Stannis Baratheon stood behind a long table, with an iron brazier beside him, its embers glowing orange-red.

After exchanging greetings, he barely managed to maintain his composure when he saw King Stannis's expression.

His "god" had a short, gray beard, his eyes were deep blue hollows, and he looked old and thin.

Stannis, a rare smile playing on his lips, said, "My Onion Knight, I need to hear advice, and you have always spoken the truth. So tell me honestly, what is the punishment for betrayal?"

Betrayal? Why ask me such a question? Davos knew very well that his king knew the punishment for betrayal better than anyone else.

Or perhaps... Melisandre? He thought of the time he secretly plotted to kill the Red Priestess.

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After a pause, Sir Davos asked cautiously, "Betrayal?"

King Stannis frowned and said, "What else can it be called? A denial of the legitimate king, an attempt to steal the Iron Throne that rightfully belongs to him. I'll ask you again, what is the punishment for treason according to the law?"

Sir Davos secretly breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that King Stannis wasn't referring to his business.

He bowed slightly and replied, "The punishment is death, King Stannis."

"That's always been the case."

King Stannis said coldly, "This is not a decree I issued, but it has always been so. Since the time of Aegon Targaryen, since the beginning of the world, it has been so. Daemon Blackfyre, the Toyne Brothers, the Vulture King... traitors always pay the price with their lives. Even Rhaenyra Targaryen was no exception; she was the old king's daughter and the new king's mother, yet she was executed as a traitor for attempting to usurp her brother's Iron Throne. Davos, this is the law, not cruelty!"

Davos's eyes flickered slightly, and he said respectfully, " King Stannis, did you hear... something?"

King Stannis's teeth chattered. "I heard it with my own ears; they said I was a cruel king."

Davos glanced up at King Stannis, whose face was tense, and said, "I think they might be troubled because of matters of faith..."

"Smugglers, you're clever. They're trying to force me to concede..."

King Stannis's jaw twitched a few times before he continued, "Therefore, I have decided to hand over the Royal Fleet to Ser Imre Florent, who will serve as its Commander-in-Chief."

Upon hearing this, Davos's eyes trembled slightly; King Stannis had "stolen" his position as commander-in-chief of the fleet.

Taking a slow breath, Davos placed his hand on his chest and said, "As you command, King Stannis."

King Stannis's voice was as cold as the winter wind. "You have no doubts?"

Davos shook his head without hesitation and said, "I'm sure."

King Stannis gazed at his Onion Knight for a moment, then said, "Very good."

He paused for a moment, then asked, "Many people are unwilling to give up their original gods. What's your opinion?"

Davos hesitated for a moment, then said, " King Stannis, I must advise you that such matters require some time."

King Stannis nodded slightly and said, "I don't have the time... So, I will divide them up, one force attacking King's Landing from Blackwater Bay, and the other..."

His gaze shifted to the map on the long table, and he continued, "We'll take Kingsroad, and I'll lead the troops myself."

Davos understood... The followers of the Lord of Light traveled by sea, while the "stubborn" followers of the Seven traveled by land.

In this way, they can focus their energy on fighting, instead of constantly wasting their energy on some god.

"Your wisdom is unparalleled, King Stannis."

"Ha!" Stannis's laughter was full of sarcasm.

He began, "If I were truly wise, I wouldn't have chosen that iron chair covered in sharp, fang-like spikes."

Davos looked at his king in shock.

Stannis began, "The Smuggler, that's a chair made of countless steel knives and daggers intertwined and fused together. It's an extremely uncomfortable chair. Aerys was often left covered in blood, even known as the 'Bloodscar King,' and if the legend is true, the Maegor the Cruel died in this chair. No one can rest comfortably on it. I often wonder why my brother desperately wanted it."

Davos asked his question with difficulty, "If you don't like it, why do you want it?"

King Stannis sat down in his chair and said, " Davos, this is not a matter of whether or not to. As Robert's heir, the Iron Throne is mine; that is the law. After me, it must pass to my daughter, unless Selyse finally gives me a son; that too is the law."

He paused, then continued, "By the law, whether I want to be king or not, I am king. I have obligations to my daughters, to the kingdom, and even to Robert ... He doesn't love me much, I know, yet he is my brother. That Lannister woman cuckolded him, made a fool of him, and may have even murdered him. Such heinous crimes must be brought to justice, starting with Cersei and her bastard child, and only the beginning."

Before Davos could recover from King Stannis's words, his king suddenly said sternly, "Now, tell me the truth, why do you want to kill Lady Melisandre?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Davos's body trembled, and a fine layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.

Davos stared blankly at his king. Could it be the Red Priestess?

King Stannis scoffed, "Smugglers, I have my own eyes and ears. Tell me the truth."

Davos gritted his teeth and said bluntly, "In a short period of time, I have witnessed your aging firsthand, as well as her dark magic."

He knelt down and continued, " King Stannis, she has her own god, but you have given me everything. You are my god, and I cannot allow myself to stand aside."

The atmosphere was heavy. Davos could clearly feel his heart beating faster and faster. He didn't know how much time had passed—maybe just a short while, or maybe a long time—when he seemed to hear a low sigh. He doubted that it was his imagination.

"Get up."

Davos first looked up cautiously at his king, then slowly stood up.

Stannis's emotionless voice rang out. " Davos, you've misunderstood Melisandre. She's my loyal servant; she was simply following my orders. I was just paying the price."

"But..."

King Stannis interrupted, "Come here."

He rose from his chair, walked to the long table, and fixed his gaze on the map of the Seven Kingdoms spread out on it.

Davos stood respectfully beside King Stannis.

After gazing at it for a moment, King Stannis swept one hand across the map. "Look, Onion Knight. By the law, this is my kingdom, my Westeros. The idea of Seven Kingdoms is foolish. Three hundred years ago, Aegon the Conqueror understood that it is one whole, one kingdom, ruled by one king."

Davos nodded in agreement, saying, "A king means peace, King Stannis."

King Stannis nodded slightly and said, "I will bring true justice to Westeros, so that the actions of both the high-ranking nobles and the lowly commoners will be punished accordingly."

He looked at his Onion Knight and continued, "I assure you, they made my kingdom bleed, and I will never forget it."

After saying this, Stannis left the long table and sat back down in his chair.

"Kneel down, Davos Seaworth."