iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 234 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.

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

The corners of her lips curved slightly: "Do you think I traveled halfway around the world just to support a king on an empty throne?"

She shook her head slightly: "You are wrong. The war started from the beginning of the world. Before the judgment comes, everyone must choose a side."

She stretched out her right hand: "On one side is Allah R'hllor, Lord of Light, Heart of Holy Flame, God of Shadow and Fire."

She stretched out her left hand: "On the other side is the ancient god that mortals cannot speak of, the god of darkness, the soul of black ice, the god of night and fear."

There seemed to be fire dancing in her eyes: "Our choice is not Baratheon or Lannister, Greyjoy or Stark. Our choice is life or death, light or darkness."

After saying that, Melisandre slowly stood up and moved towards Ser Davos.

Sir Davos also stood up, and the red-robed priestess stood in front of him and said: "Tell me, Davos Seaworth, tell me honestly, whether your heart follows the light of R'hllor. Burning? Or is it already dark, cold, and overgrown with worms?"

As Melisandre spoke, she stretched out her hand. She placed three slender white fingers on Ser Davos's chest, as if to feel his thoughts through leather and flesh.

Sir Davos suppressed the fear in his heart and said slowly: "Madam, I don't trust you."

After a moment of silence, Melisandre sighed and said: "Good honest knight, you did not lie to me or let me down."

She continued: "Even an ember in the dust can rekindle 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, Sons of the Holy Flame, Warriors of Light.”

She looked at the night sky: "The ancient book of Asshai predicted that after the long summer, the stars weep blood, Azor Ahai will be reborn in the land of smoke and salt, and awaken the dragon in the stone. Now the weeping star has appeared, Dragonstone is the land of smoke and salt, and Stannis Baratheon is the reincarnation of Azor Ahai!"

She spread her arms: "I witnessed him commanding thousands of troops in the holy fire to resist the terrifying darkness!"

There was no wind, but Melisandre's red hair and red robe suddenly fluttered.

At this moment, Davos felt like he was standing in front of a blazing fire. He couldn't help but take a step back, while Melisandre took a step forward.

The eyes of the red-robed priestess were as bright as light red candles, as if they were looking into his soul.

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

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

Melisandre giggled, she reached out and touched the Onion Knight's cheek, and said: "Dear Davos, no one betrayed you, it was me who saw your heart in the holy fire."

When the hot fingers of the priestess brushed across his face, Ser Davos couldn't help but shudder, and his back was dripping with cold sweat.

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

Ser Davos stared at the person in front of him and said, "King Stannis is my 'god'."

Melisandre murmured: "The fire inside you is so hot..."

She sighed: "Remembering that the Lord of Light is the source of all goodness, I will forgive you once, Mr. Lucky Sir."

Melisandre smiled, turned up her blood-red skirt, and turned away.

…………

After a while, Sir Davos "calmed" his racing heart. He felt that the red-robed priestess was too dangerous.

Ser Davos picked up the wine bag and took a sip of wine. He had an ominous premonition.

Maybe... Davos put down his wine bag and stared at the bonfire in front of him.

His eyes remained motionless... looking... continuing to look... fire... still fire...

Although he persisted for a long time, it still ended in tears. He only saw fire and no foreshadowing.

This is the truth.

"Father..." Davon Seaworth's voice interrupted Ser Davos' thoughts.

He turned around and saw that it was his fifth son.

Davos frowned and said, "Servant Davon, why are you here?"

Davon is King Stannis's squire. It is an honor to their family. His son should always serve King Stannis.

Eleven-year-old Dai Feng was much stronger than many boys of the same age. He approached and said, "Father, it is His Majesty the King who has summoned you."

"Let's go."

Ser Davos stood up immediately and said as he walked: "King Stannis actually asked you to deliver orders on his behalf... It seems that you have performed well, my son."

Hearing his father's praise, the corners of Dai Feng's mouth couldn't help but rise. He tried hard to suppress his disobedient lips. He tried to show his maturity.

After walking for a while, Dai Feng suddenly lowered his voice and said: "Father, the body of His Majesty the King..."

Davos's stern gaze interrupted his son's words, and he said sternly: "Servant Davon, everything about King Stannis is a secret, and it cannot be revealed even in front of your family. Do you remember?"

"I...get it, father."

Davos reached out and patted his son on the shoulder and said, "Let's go, King Stannis doesn't like waiting."

…………

At the door of the king's tent, Ser Davos met Imri Florent who had just come out.

Ser Imry is the brother-in-law of King Stannis. Like Queen Selyse, he has the famous frill ears of the Florent family, a wide nose and protruding eyebrows, thick hair growing in his ears and nostrils, and a double chin. With tufts of hair sprouting out.

Davos nodded slightly, and Sir Imry snorted coldly and walked past him.

In the camp, Stannis Baratheon was standing behind a long table. An iron brazier stood beside him, and the coals in it were glowing orange-red.

After the ceremony, looking at King Stannis, he managed to maintain a calm expression.

His "god"'s short-shaven beard was covered with gray hair, his eyes were deep-set blue hollows, and he became old and thin.

A rare smile passed across Stannis's lips and he said: "My Onion Knight, I need to listen to advice, and you will always tell the truth. So tell me honestly, what is the punishment for betrayal?" Betrayal ? Why are you asking me this question? Davos was well aware that his king knew better than anyone the penalties of betrayal.

Or...Melisandre? He thought about the incident where he secretly planned to kill the red priestess.

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

King Stannis frowned and said: "Otherwise, what else can you call it? Denying the legitimate king, trying to steal the Iron Throne that rightfully belongs to him. Let me ask you again, according to the law, what is the punishment for betrayal?"

King Stannis was not referring to him, and Ser Davos was secretly relieved.

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

"It's always been like this."

King Stannis said coldly: "This is not a decree issued by me, but it has always been like this. It has been like this since the time of Aegon, from the beginning of the world. Daemon Blackfire, Brother Toin, King Vulture... There are always traitors. You have to pay the price with your life. Even Rhaenyra Targaryen is no exception. She is the daughter of the old king and the mother of the new king, but she was also executed as a traitor for trying to usurp her brother's Iron Throne. Davos, this is Law, this is not cruelty!”

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

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

Davos raised his eyes and glanced at King Stannis, who had a tense face, and said, "I think they may be... in trouble because of issues of faith."

"Smuggler, you are very smart, they want to force me to give in..."

King Stannis's jaw twitched a few times before he continued: "So, I decided to hand over the royal fleet to Ser Imry Florent, and he will serve as the commander-in-chief of the fleet."

After hearing this, Davos' eyes couldn't help but tremble. King Stannis "took" his identity as commander-in-chief of the fleet.

Taking a slow breath, Davos stroked his chest and said, "I follow your orders, King Stannis."

King Stannis's voice was like the cold wind of winter: "You have no doubts?"

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

King Stannis stared at his Onion Knight for a moment and said, "Very well."

After a pause, he said: "Many people are unwilling to give up their original gods. What do you think?"

Davos pondered for a moment and said: "King Stannis, I have to advise you that this kind of thing takes some time."

King Stannis nodded slightly and said: "I don't have that time...so, I will separate them, attack King's Landing from Blackwater Bay all the way, and the other way..."

His eyes moved to the map on the long table and continued: "Take the King's Road and I will lead the troops myself."

Davos understood... The followers of the Lord of Light took the sea route, and the "stubborn" followers of the Seven Gods took the land route.

In this case, they can focus all their energy on fighting, but they will not be consumed internally for a certain god.

"Your wisdom is unparalleled, King Stannis."

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

He said: "If I were really smart enough, I shouldn't want that iron chair covered with sharp spikes like sharp teeth."

Davos looked at his king in shock.

Stannis said: "Smuggler, that is a chair made of countless steel knives and daggers entangled and fused together. It is a very uncomfortable chair. Aerys was often dripping with blood and was even called the 'Blood Scar King' ’, and if the legend is true, it was in this chair that Maegor the Cruel died. No one could rest in it, and I often wonder why my brother tried so hard to get it.”

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

King Stannis sat down on the chair and said: "Davos, this is not a question of whether or not. As Robert's heir, the Iron Throne is mine. This is the law. After me, it must be passed on to My daughter, unless Celis finally gives me a son, this is also the law.”

After a pause, he continued: "According to the law, I am the king whether I want to be or not. I have obligations to my daughter, to the kingdom, and even to Robert... He doesn't love me very much, I know, but He is my brother. The Lannister woman who cuckolded him, tricked him, and maybe murdered him, must have justice for such a heinous crime, starting with Cersei and her brood, just the beginning."

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

After his words fell, Davos's body couldn't help but tremble, and a thin layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.

Davos looked at his king blankly. Could it be the red-robed priestess?

King Stannis snorted: "Smuggler, 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 and her dark magic with my own eyes."

He knelt down and continued: "King Stannis, she has a god she serves, and you give me everything. You are my 'god', and I cannot allow myself to stay out of it."

The atmosphere was solemn, and Davos could clearly feel his heart beating faster. He didn't know how long it took, maybe only a short while, or a long time. He seemed to hear a low sigh, and he was even more suspicious of that. It was his auditory hallucination.

"Get up."

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

Stannis's emotionless voice sounded: "Davos, you misunderstood Melisandre. She is my loyal servant. She only acted according to my orders, and I only paid the due price."

"But……"

King Stannis interrupted: "Come here."

He stood up from the chair and walked to the long table. His eyes were fixed on the map of the Seven Kingdoms spread on it.

Davos stood respectfully beside King Stannis.

After watching for a while, King Stannis swept a hand across the map: "Look, Onion Knight. According to the law, this is my kingdom, my Westeros. The Seven Kingdoms are so stupid, Aegon the Conqueror understood this three hundred years ago, that it is one whole, one kingdom, ruled by one king."

Davos nodded in agreement and said: "A king means peace, King Stannis."

King Stannis tapped his chin and said: "I want to bring true justice to Westeros. No matter the high-ranking nobles or the lowly and humble people, their actions will have their own retribution."

He looked at his Onion Knights and continued, "I promise you, they made my kingdom a river of blood and I will never forget it."

With that, Stannis left the long table and sat back in his chair.

"Kneel down, Davos Seaworth."

(End of this chapter)