Stannis II

289AC

Lances splintered and shields shattered on the muddy ground of Lannisport. The horns sounded victory and defeat.

It was all ephemeral for him. The shouting and laughing and the unreasonable consumption of alcohol. No, only the bitterness of thankless duty sat in the heart of Stannis Baratheon.

When the winners had been announced, the prizes awarded, and the feasting once more commenced, Stannis did not smile, nor would he.

For what was the tourney held in honor of? Why Robert and Ned Stark's victory over the Ironborn. The two were away down the high-table from him now, past all of the Lannister's. His brother laughing and drinking, and no doubt later whoring as he always did.

It was remarkable that his wife did not object at court, but then again the Lannisters only ever did care for power, raw and military. And who was more exemplary of that ambition than the old Lion next to him?

Tywin Lannister was, he had to admit, a respectable man in some senses. There was something dutiful about the way the man worked for his dynasty, but at times his ambition strayed far beyond his station.

Still, at the very least he did not try to make unnecessary conversation, and the two of them were able to eat in relative silence away from the more raucous end of the table.

Ironically, for all that the tournament favored him, Ned Stark also seemed out of his element. Though that was unsurprising, the stern Northerners rarely if ever held their own tourneys from what he understood.

A practical policy.

He suspected that, much like himself, the Stark would dearly prefer to be in his own lands, as opposed to wasting time in the Westerlands. He had heard the man had children, and by all accounts actually cared for them, unlike Robert.

Well, perhaps that was a tad unfair. Robert may have some love for his children, but much like whatever love he might have for Stannis or Renly, it always came second to his own desires.

Stannis ground his teeth. Thinking well of Robert at all was irritating.

Still, he continued to hold his tongue as Robert repeated for the fourth time how he had made Greyjoy kneel and beg to avoid execution. Something Stannis doubted. Kneel, probably, but the Greyjoy's did not seem a begging lot. Not even the young one Theon who was to be fostered by the Starks as a hostage.

Even now the child glared sullenly at his brother the king, and Stannis wondered if his brother ever realized how many enemies his demeanor earned him.

But then, he was not one to speak about such matters. Dutiful behavior had a tendency to offend the dishonest after all, and in his years Stannis suspected he had made many enemies due to his duties.

Pity for them.

He had no desire to offend anyone tonight, just to get through it. So he drank his watered-down wine, and soon enough the blasted feast was over and he was finally back on board the Fury.

"I take it you didn't enjoy the tournament, My Lord?"

"I don't enjoy seeing my brother waste his money on frivolity, no." He answered, managing to avoid grinding his teeth. After more than two months at sea, the water was far more relaxing than the Lannister sod. Things made sense on the Fury. The men knew their duty, and how to avoid overstepping it.

He glanced at the silhouette of the "Iron Eater." The mostly broken cannon that now served more as a figurehead than it had as a weapon. Still, it had proven his son's point well enough. there was, indeed, the potential for a weapon smaller than a scorpion and more powerful than a trebuchet. Presuming that the boy's pet Wisdom could fix the fragility of it at least.

"Has any news come from Dragonstone?"

"Not for some time. Though I have no idea where they would send it. We haven't stayed at one port for very long."

"Mhm. I will send a letter describing our victory and the subjugation of the Great Wyk. I'm sure Arthur will enjoy it at least."

"He does seem to be more militarily inclined than the Prince, though the prince is still young. I doubt Joffrey will ever plan to conquer the Stepstones though."

"No." Stannis felt a small smile creep onto his lips, his son's apparent desire to conquer the pirate-infested isles was perhaps the only time he would ever think of Arthur having a childish dream. Like his own wounded Goshawk, the boy would learn better in time.

Then again, perhaps that was why he wanted his cannons and his boats.

Either way, it mattered little to Stannis, it would be beyond his duty, and Robert likely wouldn't thank him, but it would perhaps relieve some of the bleakness of Dragonstone to have it be king over the narrow sea.

Just as long as Arthur didn't get himself killed doing it.