48 Meeting between the Kings

Meeting between the Kings

Davos POV

The city was ours. Lannisport wasn't as big as King's Landing. It had fewer men protecting it and no competent commander leading them. Even though a ring of walls protected the city, they didn't expect to be attacked and were unprepared. King Stannis managed to take control of the walls quickly, even though we lost quite a few men.

Still, now we had a protected camp to stay in. Even though Casterly Rock was still out of our reach, we had food and weapons to supply our army. It was a needed victory for us. The morale was at its highest. King Stannis was already preparing to meet with the Tyrell host, as defeating them would bring him closer to the Iron Throne.

"Father, Lord Edmure Tully has entered the city," My son Devan informed me. "The King has summoned for you."

I nodded in understanding. Devan was my brightest son. I couldn't feel more proud of him. He was intelligent and brave. I already lost my oldest to the Wildfire in King's Landing. Dale was the captain of a ship, a bold and robust man. Now he is no more. I lost one too many, and I feared I would lose more with the war still showing no end.

"Only ten thousand," When I entered the house occupied by the King, I heard him ground his teeth.

"Lannisters have ravaged my lands, and I lost many men. Ten thousand is all I can and am willing to gather for your cause."

A young man replied to the King's words. His auburn hair was unique. Even though he had a young face, his eyes were haunted. Those eyes belonged to a man who had lost many and seen too much. He was lord Edmure Tully. I have heard that he was captured by Tywin Lannister once, and his father, lord Hoster Tully died not long ago.

"Does my cause mean so little?" The King asked. "I know you could have assembled a more prominent host. I don't think you would have had trouble finding twenty thousand able men."

"I could," The young man agreed. "But then there wouldn't be anyone left to protect my lands. There would be no one to harvest the farms. I will not force men from their homes and families to fight. I will not leave my lands defenseless and my people without their fathers and sons."

"So, you chose to come with only ten thousand?" It was a considerable number of men, but the King wanted to match with the Tyrells, who had three times the men than we did, if not four.

"I could have brought not a single man. I could not have come as you didn't when we needed help," Lord Edmure replied coldly.

"We are grateful for coming with your host, lord Edmure," I interrupted the conversation before the King could comment. "We already have prepared the lodging for you and the men of the Riverlands."

"Then I should inform my men. We want to rest."

The King dismissed the young lord, and we were left alone. I sighed. The King didn't know how to compromise sometimes. His words were direct, but sometimes they would sound insulting. The King was under much stress of late. It didn't help that the red woman would warn the King of many things. More men started to believe in her with the loss we experienced in King's Landing.

"We don't have even thirty thousand men," The King said. "The Tyrells are marching to us with more than fifty thousand from King's Landing and who knows how many from Highgarden."

"We have the city walls," I tried to reassure the King.

"They have a fleet on this side of the realm. Melisandre is right. We will be surrounded soon, with no way to escape."

"The men from the Vale are coming. They bring thirty thousand men," I didn't give up.

"Then we break even," The King replied. "If the North had not betrayed me, we would have already won this war. Now not only are Lannisters trying to take what is rightfully mine, but the Tyrells are standing against me. If we fight the Tyrells, I can't afford to lose too many men. Tywin Lannister probably expects us to destroy each other so he could keep hold over the Iron Throne."

"We still have allies, and with each day, we grow stronger your grace. We will win this war."

"I don't need empty words."

"These aren't empty words," I said with all determination I had. "You did not let us astray yet. I trust in your command and believe in your cause. The Tyrells might have a bigger army, but they don't have a King that fights along with them."

I hoped my words calmed down King Stannis. He is always calm in battles but starts to doubt many things when he isn't doing anything. I wasn't a commander, nor a fighter, just a smuggler. I couldn't give good advice to the King, but at least I could do was tell him my honest thoughts and hope it would help him.

"Your Grace," I was tired of the messengers bursting through doors to inform the King. They never bring good news. "A fleet is approaching the city."

"It is too soon for the Redwyne fleet," King said. "Spit it out. What banners does it bear?"

"Your grace, it bears a golden Kraken on a black field."

"Greyjoys?" The King wasn't too surprised. "Prepare for battle."

…

Twenty thousand men were prepared to meet the Greyjoys at the harbor. The rest of the men were on the reserves. Lord Edmure Tully was here, too, armored and armed. We watched as dozens of ships got closer until one ship broke through the fleet and waved a white flag. I relaxed for a moment. They were seeking a parley.

The ship approached slowly and forebodingly. King Stannis had gripped his sword with such strength that his glove started croaking. Lord Edmure Tully looked at the ship with concern. The ship landed on the dock. I saw a group of men disembarking the ship and slowly approaching us.

"Theon Greyjoy," Edmure Tully said, seeing the men approaching. "Your Grace, I would advise to not to demand anything from him. I wouldn't claim to know him well, but I know that he is unruly and defiant."

"Who are the men with him?" I asked.

"Thoros of Myr, Anguy of the Marches, I don't recognize the last one."

"Thoros of Myr? Isn't he a red priest?" I asked again.

"More of a drunkard," Edmure replied. "But he is loyal to Theon."

I didn't ask more as the four men were getting close. When I saw Theon's face, I was shocked. His dark-as-night hair was in contrast to his pale-as-snow skin. His black eyes were empty of emotion, but he wore a disturbing smile. I couldn't point out why I felt uneasy about it, but it felt like everything was amusing to him.

"You stand before the rightful King of the Andals, and the Rhoynar, and the First Men," I announced loudly, but Theon didn't let me finish.

"I only see Andals with you," He said. "You shouldn't lie. It is bad manners."

"Show some respect. You are talking in front of a King," A knight from house Florent bared his teeth. They were always too reckless.

"So are you," A young man with light red hair and freckles replied. "You speak in front of the King of the Iron Islands, the Black King, the Undying, the Undefeated."

"Enough, Anguy. If we are going to recite all our titles, we will stand here all night," The Black King chuckled.

"It can't be," I heard the red woman mutter as she looked shocked at Theon Greyjoy.

"Hmm," Theon turned his head and looked at the red woman. "A red priestess?"

"Melisandre of Asshai," She quickly regained her composure and introduced herself.

"Thoros, why don't you have breasts as big as hers?" The Black King turned to his priest. "I feel so unlucky seeing such a beauty serving another king."

"I had bigger ones," Thoros laughed, touching his chest. "But I have lost them since I started traveling with you."

"As well as your stomach," The Black King joined the laughter.

"Are you done?" It was a silent but commanding voice of King Stannis that interrupted the laughter.

"King Stannis Baratheon," The Black King turned to him. "I am not going to lie. I was surprised to see your banners flying over Lannisport. I was prepared to storm the city and start plundering it. Yet you beat me to it."

"Is that all you wanted to discuss with me?" King Stannis asked.

"Should we speak in front of so many people?" The Black prince asked. "I feel overwhelmed."

He didn't look like it. The King still motioned for the men to move back, leaving only a dozen or so knights to protect us. I could tell King Stannis wasn't happy with how Theon Greyjoy talked. Theon's blatant mockery and absence of manners were jarring. I couldn't understand him either, what he would want and what he would do.

"Now speak," King Stannis demanded.

"Can you afford to antagonize me?" The Black King asked. "If you are here, the Lannisters and the Tyrells are close behind."

"They are close to their demise," King Stannis replied.

"We shall see. But it only gives me more reason not to fight you, King Stannis Baratheon."

"You acknowledge me as a king but still refuse to kneel before me."

"King of the Stormlands, the Vale, the Riverlands," The Black King said, looking at lord Edmure Tully. "But you are no king of the Iron Islands nor my people. And before you argue about your right, you can't enforce that right, can't you?"

"Didn't you want peace between us?" Before King Stannis could reply, I asked. "That's why you have parleyed."

"You are?" The Black King asked.

"Davos Seaworth."

"Seaworth? What a good name. My people would like it. To answer your question, I want an alliance," The Black King replied. "I don't see a reason for us to fight right now when the Lannisters and the Tyrells are trying to bite more than they can chew. We can help each other."

"I don't need your help," King Stannis' words weren't surprising. "If you are not going to swear your fealty to me, you are nothing but a usurper."

"How stubborn," The Black King commented. "How about I leave for tonight, and we can continue talking tomorrow? Maybe then you will have a more open mind."

Theon Greyjoy didn't wait for a response before motioning to his men and walking back to his ship. King Stannis looked displeased, but that was to be expected. He was the rightful King, yet more and more kings started to appear. By now, there are four kings in the Seven Kingdoms.

"Your Grace," The red woman spoke first. "I would suggest listening to his words."

"And why is that?" King Stannis asked with a cold voice.

"R'hllor blesses him. His fire is undying."

"What does that supposed to mean?" Lord Edmure Tully asked.

"Theon Greyjoy has died but was reborn with the fire of Lord of the Light. His fate is intertwined with Azor Ahai."

"I don't know what nonsense your priestess is talking about, your grace" Lord Edmure turned to King Stannis. "But I think we at least could hear his terms. We could use Theon's fleet, and he is a competent commander. I would not want to make him our enemy."

"Davos," King Stannis looked at me.

"Theon Greyjoy looked calm seeing our army. He was not afraid or concerned," I shared my honest thoughts. "He could leave as he wished or have attacked us, but he chose to talk. We would find more reason with him than with the Tyrells or the Lannisters."

King Stannis looked like he was in deep thought, and after a moment, he dismissed us. I didn't know how I should feel about Theon Greyjoy, but something inside me warned me not to make an enemy of him. He looked dangerous.