The Dragon and the Storm
Eighth Day of the Tenth Month 293 AC
So much for trying to discuss matters of lesser import first, you think, holding back a sigh.
What else is there to talk about beyond the elephant practically perched upon his desk? Asking him about the weather, the health and studies of his alchemists? The irreverent notion turns to something altogether more serious as it occurs to you that those exiled pyromancers are likely the closest look the lord of Storm's End has had of any sort of sorcery. From that perspective not wishing Shireen to dabble in it until she is much older makes a great deal more sense, but at the same time you can well imagine how such a fundamental misunderstanding could grow into a rift between father and daughter, one he can ill afford given how few people can be counted close to Stannis Baratheon.
"My lord I fear I may not have explained clearly enough the manner of sorcery your daughter might awaken to," you begin. "This is not a matter of careful rituals and potions thrice-brewed or the slow art of transmutation. To wield magic as the sorcerers of old is to make one's will manifest upon the world and so that will must be unshakable, one must believe magic to be a right..."
Baratheon's face darkens. "Power of any sort is a
responsibility as much as a right and Shireen is too young to bear any such a duty. If I were to die she would not be made Lady of Storm's End in full at once, but a regent would be appointed for her."
The words hang uncomfortably in the air as all present know what would be the most likely cause of his early demise. However you find them hopeful also, for that responsibility is precisely what you wish to remind Stannis of, the responsibility his bother failed to his lords and to his realm. For now, however, the matter of Shireen's power must be made clear. "Power over others is for others to withhold until the age of reason, but sorcery is something far more fundamental, it is another way to see the world and another another way to act upon it as natural as breathing. To a sorcerer not making use of that power would be akin to wearing a blindfold and keeping one hand ever tied to their side."
To his credit, Baratheon is only silent for a moment before asking: "How far does this power stretch and what are its limits? How might be be used with care and responsibility?"
So it is that you find yourself recounting what is effectively an introductory Scholarum lecture from memory, while Maester Cressen's quill scratches diligently upon parchment. By the questions he asks and the comments he makes, the old man proves to have a teacher's mindset, leaving you considerably more at ease at the thought of Shireen's education. It's a feeling you suspect her father shares from the slight relaxation of his face when you mention a more permanent solution in the winds, as soon as you have the time for it a talisman against the perils of the Dream.
The next question to ask is obvious and the lord of Storm's End is not one to shy away from asking it: "What are those other calls upon your time?"
No, you were wrong, he
is uncomfortable about something, though not of potentially knowing too much and being counted a traitor for it. That is when the truth strikes you, a part of him wants to offer help so that you might get to protecting his daughter all the sooner. You have to force back a smile at the implications of the thought. Be Stannis Baratheon ever so much a man of iron he is not without the temptation of setting his love of his kin before his duty. That alone is not enough to sway him, you know. To obtain his pledge you must make it clear that it is duty also that pushes him towards doing so.
As you had done countless times before you recount the various threats that plague the Seven Kingdoms and beyond, from the depths of the sea to dark worlds beyond this one, you recount the plots of arch-devils and Far-Spawn, the Shadow of She-of-Many colors rising in the east and at last the cold breath of Winter blowing ever stronger in the north.
"I have seen little and late effort to stand against these foes," you conclude, waiting for he inevitable retort.
To your surprise Stannis looks to his maester, proving himself not entirely without some sense of diplomacy, or perhaps he simply cannot bear to praise Tywin Lannister for what should be his bother's duty.
"The Citadel works tirelessly to understand and counter these new threat. The lantern Bearers cleanse Oldtown and the Golden shields stand guard against threats in the west," Cressen replies, his voice still soft but unwavering.
"They stand guard as watchmen bearing torches at their posts," your mother interjects."They are blind to all but what happens a few feet in front of their noses. They watch for devils and look how many escaped their gaze, they slay smallfolk who deal with Deep Ones yet the monsters themselves move on and grow fat off the misery of men. There is a saying oft spoken by healers that I think lords should pay more heed to, 'an ounce of prevention is worth ten pounds of cure'."
Her voice grows stronger with each word spoken as she looks not to the maester but Stannis himself. From the tenseness of her shoulders you suspect she is struggling to stay seated, though the emotions running though her. "Where then is that prevention? Where are the warnings given to high and low alike? Where are the opportunities for men to make more of themselves, that curdled ambition and broken hopes do not turn to madness? I look to the west and see the boot of Tywin Lannister smashed into the faces of his own people and I look to the east and see his daughter sneer upon the misfortunes of her subjects."
It is in that moment as silence falls soon to be broken that you decide to wager further, so set one more heavy truth upon the scales of Stannis' convictions: "The smallfolk are not the only ones who must bear the weight of Lannister tyranny and of their fears. I have recently received independent confirmation that he he binding some mages to service by the power of others, because he does not trust them to do their duty, little wonder I suppose given how the man sees fit do so his, but still one more injustice, one more danger to the realm..."
All under your brother's nose. Though the latter words are unspoken you might as well have shouted them.
"Tywin Lannister should never have been allowed so much freedom to do as he willed only because he was fortunate in his brother's skill," the Lord of Storm's End finally grinds out, forcing himself to turn his ire upon only the lord of the West, yet the words echo the deeper truth of the matter whether he wishes to or not.
"Yet this is the man who might well be made Hand with Jon Aryn dead," you pronounce starkly. Then you sigh in wholly honest weariness. "My lord I did not create an army to conquer Westeros, but do do so with the least amount of bloodshed and death, I refrain from enslaving mages not only because it is abhorrent, but because even with them all united in purpose it is barely enough, all the wards, all the eyes scattered throughout the world and yet so many times I was still almost too late. I ask you to join me not because I am strong but because I need help."
Another time, faced with another man you might have literally reached out a hand, but here and now you dispense with that bit of theatricality and simply wait in the growing silence for an answer.
"Damn you," the words are barely more than a whisper, but then they rise into a shout, the only time you have ever heard Stannis Baratheon raise his voice "Damn you, Robert, damn you to
Hell!"
A moment later he raises his eyes to you, looking embarrassed and almost shocked by his own outburst. "Your Grace, Your Highness, I apologize for by intemperate words," he says stiffly.
Who would have known that your first confirmation of Stannis' allegiance would be calling Dany 'Highness', you think, a touch numb yourself.
"If there was ever a reason to curse in company I think you have it in full my lord," your mother says sympathetically.
Stannis nods, still he is not one to leave things unclear: "I pledge myself to your service King Viserys. What would you have of me?"
What do you reply?
[] Write in
OOC: Congratulations @Crake for the write in. This update had good rolls from Viserys and especially Rhaella but without the bonus from he write in itself it would not have been enough.
