Cold Fury
Davos POV
The Twins now truly looked like they belonged to the North as the snow fell on the towers. It was like a line that separated them from the rest of the South. Though I knew that with time, that line of snow would go further and further.
Winter was coming. Only now did I realize how true those words were. Even from the carriage, I could feel the biting cold gnawing at my skin. I wished I had the same sense of wonder Shireen did as she looked out in awe at the new environment.
Maybe I still would have had it if not for this damn war. One battle after another. Seeing people die, young and old, lords and farmers. It made my heart a bit colder, even when the warmth of my life was sitting next to me.
"Did you know that House Frey has held the crossing of the Green Fork for six hundred years, beginning when a petty lord built a rickety wooden bridge over the narrowest portion of the river?" Shireen asked. "It took the family three generations to complete the bridge in stone, after which they built timber keeps on each bank of the river."
"I did not," I replied with a smile. "All I knew was that the Freys were petty lords who extorted enormous prices from others to let them cross their bridge. Until they asked too much from King Robb, and now they've paid the price themselves."
The direwolf banner stood tall on top of the towers, watching over them. Maybe we should feel lucky that the Starks were even accepting a meeting. There was little for them to gain from us, but perhaps King Stannis' name still held some power after all.
"Ser Davos, the King awaits you," a rider informed me.
I could only smile as I said goodbye to Shireen and stepped out into the biting cold. I wished my smile could be more genuine, but the war was taking its toll on me. The image of Lord Tarly's dead body still haunted me, even after all these days.
Only a soldier like him could smash his own head into a wall to kill himself rather than continue to be a prisoner. Stannis still had plenty of hostages, but Lord Tarly was the most important one. But there was nothing we could do about it anymore.
Death seemed to come too easily to people nowadays. Hopefully, Stannis would work miracles and get support from the North to end this war once and for all. Otherwise, I couldn't see any other fate than death awaiting us all.
"We are being watched," the Red Priestess said, standing next to Stannis and looking at the birds circling us.
"They are just birds," I had to point out.
She only smiled at me like I was the one oblivious. King Stannis glanced at the birds before dismissing them, too. But there was something in his eyes I didn't know how to feel about, like he had made a decision he knew I wouldn't like.
"King Robb shall meet you now," a man from the Twins came to inform us. "Who will you bring with you?"
"Only those two," Stannis replied, pointing at me and the Red Priestess.
The man nodded and turned around. Somehow, even though I didn't like that Stannis wasn't taking any of his knights with him, I didn't feel too disturbed. I kept hope that House Stark hadn't yet lost its honor and wouldn't do anything that would tarnish its name.
If it were another house, I wouldn't think so. I've seen what war does to men. I've seen desperation and hatred. There are truly only a few men in this world who can see through it all and still look at the road ahead, without being blinded by their emotions and the manipulations of others.
If even the Starks failed in seeing it, then I don't think there was much hope left for the Seven Kingdoms. As much as King Robb and the North were our enemies, King Stannis must still hold at least a bit of respect for what they had done before everything went to seven hells.
Still, I wished Stannis had reconsidered not bringing the Blackfish or Lord Tully with us. The presence of their family would probably have made negotiations go smoother. But if he had something in mind, there was nothing I could say to change it. I could only trust his judgment.
Outside the entrance to the Twins, I couldn't help but notice some interesting people. They had a savagery similar to what I remembered from the people in Flea Bottom. It was a feeling I got from dangerous and very impulsive men.
Before long, we were led to the Great Hall. Where House Frey once held their meetings, now there was no sign of them ever being here. Only two men were waiting for us now, and two monstrous beings were watching us enter.
Golden and blood-red eyes fixed on us as we walked forward. The direwolves were far bigger and far more intimidating than I imagined. What could a man do against such beasts? I couldn't even run away from them.
"King Stannis," the one who spoke was King Robb. I recognized the similarities with Lord Tully, but the other man remained silent. "Welcome to the North."
"Much obliged," Stannis replied. "You've made it your home well. I can't seem to find any traces of House Frey anywhere."
"Winter is coming," King Robb's words said more than enough. "Those who think the cold winds won't be able to touch them are the first to fall. But no matter. I am here, you are here. Let's not waste time on useless things. You came for a reason, and I wish to hear it."
"Your Grace, we had a long journey; surely some bread and salt could be spared for us." Since no one was bringing up the most important thing, I had to speak up.
I almost flinched as I met eyes with the black-haired man, Jon Stark, the bastard of Winterfell. His eyes were sharp, and the way he looked at me felt uncomfortable. Now, I realized they hadn't yet decided whether to treat us as enemies or allies. They were testing us, and one wrong word or action could change everything.
Somehow, I felt like I'd returned to the lightless alleys of Flea Bottom, where everyone checked each other to determine if they posed any danger, where one wrong word could mean death.
"It wasn't intentional," Jon said. "It seems the kitchen is late, that is all. Please make yourself comfortable before we bring out something warm to fill your stomachs."
Just as he said, servants came in to offer food to us. What kind of game were they playing at? I thought the Starks would be more direct than other houses I'd met. But that didn't seem to be the case.
I glanced at Stannis to try to see any reason for this, but even if he understood it, he didn't show it. He calmly looked at the two brothers, then sat down, even though the seating was below theirs. He took the bread and bit into it before drinking the wine prepared for him.
"Leave us." The servants left as quickly as they had come.
"Your father was an honorable man," Stannis spoke afterward.
"He died for you," Robb replied.
"He died because he fought for what is right, for what is just," Stannis said. "I wasn't his friend, not like my brother was to him. For all Robert's faults, he chose his friends well. Sadly, he didn't have many of them by his side when he needed them the most."
"And where were you, Your Grace, when your brother died?" Jon asked. "From the way you acted, I am right to believe you knew the truth all along?"
"Aye," Stannis didn't hide anything. "Lord Jon Arryn and I were the first to discover the truth, or at least we thought we were."
"There were others?"
"There were probably more who knew than those who didn't."
"And you did nothing, only waiting until your brother was dead. For what? To seize the throne for yourself? To let others do your work?"
"Nobody would have believed King Stannis." I couldn't let them accuse him any longer. "King Robert was surrounded by the Lannisters and other traitors. Our chance to say anything disappeared with Lord Jon Arryn's death. We had no allies, and only death was waiting for us."
Robb Stark didn't try to fight my words. He only poured some wine into his cup. His eyes never left us. Gods, he looked like Lord Tully. And he didn't even look any younger than his uncle. War makes or breaks a man. But Robb Stark was supposed to be just a boy.
And yet, he was a king who led the North to avenge his father and seek justice, only to be forced to retreat home. They were the same. Both Edmure Tully and Robb Stark cared for their home far more than vengeance or anything else. And both were willing to do everything to protect it.
"Everything started the day Lord Arryn died," Robb Stark said. "My father was to replace him, to guide the Seven Kingdoms onto the right path. He brought his family with him into a lion's den, and the only reason I still have my sisters and my younger brother is because he also brought Theon Greyjoy with him. So, tell me, Your Grace, what more would you ask of us?"
"I will not ask anything of you," Stannis replied. "I came to remind you that we are not enemies. Never have been and never should be. I don't want you to fight for me, for my battles are mine alone. I won't ask you to kneel before me, even if it's the right thing to do for you."
"Right and just, true and honorable, that's what a man should be, that's what a king should uphold," Jon said. "Tell me, King Stannis, when the Wall sends messages to all the realms to defend it against the Wildlings' army, why haven't you or others responded? It was your duty as a king to defend the realms, yet you failed."
"A king is just a man," I replied. "We fought for the realm. All we did was fight and fight. The enemies are many, and we are only a few. Even now, we are being pushed back by the enemies of the Realm: the Lannisters, who started it all, the Tyrells, who chose corruption and power, and even new foreign armies that come to pillage and burn the Realm. We fought all of them and more. We can't save everyone, but we are still fighting."
I shut up only when Stannis gave me a look. Maybe he could listen to their accusations, but they knew nothing. I couldn't accept it, not after all that had happened. I just wanted it all to end once and for all.
"What did you come here for?" Robb Stark asked. "Why me? I have no reason to fight for you, nor kneel to you. You know that, so you won't ask it. So, why?"
"The Tyrell army is broken," Stannis spoke. "The Lannisters only have boys and old men to call to arms. I would be surprised if any sellsword would answer their call, even with a pretty coin dangling before them. They are only playing pretend."
"A hundred thousand sheep are still sheep," Jon replied. "What about those foreign armies? Will they scatter as quickly as sheep, or is there something more?"
"The Golden Company, at least the majority of them," Stannis replied. "The best sellsword company there ever was, and maybe ever will be. Men who spent their whole lives fighting wars. Armed better than most knights. They even have war elephants to crush any cavalry."
"Elephants?" Robb asked in surprise and amusement. "I read about them. Taller than castles, big as ships. Beasts of destruction. Is that true?"
"They crushed my army," Stannis replied. "They're faster than you think for their size."
"And now they have your home," Robb said. "You are a king without a kingdom, without a throne. What is your next action, King Stannis? And what do you want from me?"
"An alliance. My only daughter and heir, and your younger brother, Bran Stark, are of similar ages."
"I see." I would have expected a bigger reaction, especially while I still tried to contain my own. "You didn't come to ask us to fight. You came to force us. I might be young, I've been told that many times, but do I look like an idiot, King Stannis?"
"I see a man," Stannis replied. "A man who succeeded in ways I didn't. No, I don't see you as a fool. That is why I can choose you over anyone else to protect my heir from the countless enemies we have. Succeed or not, there is no other place right now I can entrust my legacy than Winterfell."
I wished I could disagree with Stannis. But the Stormlands were all but lost. The Riverlands were all but burned, and in the middle of a war. The Vale might turn on us at any moment, given how unstable Lysa Arryn is.
Now I understand. Stannis needed to secure his weaknesses first before he could entrust himself to his fury. It was time to march against our enemies more than ever. It was now or never, no matter how desperate this action felt.
A.N. As always, thanks for reading and supporting me, so I can continue writing without any concerns, and if you want more, up to 7 more chapters and 28 chapters in total with all my other stories, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852.