Stannis II

Stannis was greatly concerned, as he knew his son was making his voyage home and should have been here by now.

It had been three days, since Jacob stayed is last night in the North, but it was time to return and assume his duty, to his father and to his house.

The Lord of Dragonstone blamed Robert, for sending Jacob to Highgarden and exposing him to the corrupt forces of the game.

Some of the Florents were getting restless, as two members of their house accompanied Jacob on his visit to Winterfell and were not sure if they made it back safe and sound.

Stannis trusted his son enough to keep himself safe on his visit to the North and to keep a watch out for their enemies and possible allies in the war to come.

Standing out to look at the seas crashing onto the shores of the Narrow Sea, as it was the gateway into the Eastern continent of the world.

As a security measure, armed guards were positioned around the island because of how dangerous the realm will become when the time of war comes.

He stood with Maester Cressen and his wife Lady Selyse, as they were the other people who were concerned for Jacob's safety, being a young lord and his only son from his marriage.

"It's been too long since, I've seen my boy." Selyse said.

"He will come, since his business in the North is over." Stannis replied.

"I'm glad to finally have him back, after you sent him away twice."

"My lady, those were my brother's orders. I cannot do anything to displease a king."

"He will stay home and go nowhere else." The Lady of Dragonstone said harshly.

Stannis had known his wife was over protective of Jacob, as he was the only son born from their marriage, as it kind of saved it from becoming an existing misery for the two of them.

It was a shame, he couldn't have any more sons, but Jacob proved himself to be twice the man his younger brother failed to be.

The Lord of Dragonstone trusted the Onion Knight to take care of Jacob, as he was entrusted with this task and better well have done it well.

Stannis knew Lord Stark was a fool to accept the offer of being Hand of the King, as it was basically a trap so the Lannisters had one more enemy to get rid of.

He was smart enough to never let his son see court or even step through it, only on family occasions where his presence was needed.

A group of armoured Florent soldiers were blocking the entrance of the Hand Painted Table, as he heard some discrepancies outside of the castle, as the lord himself had to deal with it.

Then, a young man of black hair and blue eyes entered the space, with the Onion Knight and his own squire being one of the younger of the Seaworth sons.

Jacob had returned, and a looked a bit disgruntled, must be because of the guards stopping and questioning him.

Selyse rushed over to hug Jacob, as she was squeezing him tightly, with her head on his shoulder.

"Father, what is going on. Why are there soldiers on the outskirts of the island." Jacob asked.

"Leave us." Stannis commanded.

The Lord had gestured the Florent and Dragonstone soldiers, Maester Cressen, his wife Lady Selyse and the Onion Knight leaving the area.

Only leaving the Lord of Dragonstone and his son, too sit on the Painted Table to look through the engraftments of the map of Westeros on it.

"It was for security measures." Stannis answered, about the soldiers on the outskirts of Dragonstone.

"Are we preparing for war or something?" Jacob replied.

"Maybe."

"It's always after a certain number of years in peace time, it seems war will eventually come, since the first steps are set in stone."

Stannis didn't know what the Tyrells had taught Jacob, during his fostering, but it was political smarts and intelligence in the area of court intrigue.

"How so, son."

"Uncle Robert is a terrible king, many of the noble houses tend to use his weakness to further their own ambitions and his queen hates him with a venom." Jacob explained, using pieces of the noble house animal symbols.

"You are not wrong about your uncle's ruling skills or lack thereof."

"Now, that Lord Eddard has entered the game, without even knowing it. Being Hand of the King grants him certain privileges, but they will not protect him from the grasp of the Lannisters and others, who seek to get closer to the throne."

Jacob moved the piece with the wolf across the board, with his fingers on the stag and rose next, with his father watching on.

"Lord Stark is a northerner and doesn't know the game he is unwillingly playing." Stannis said.

"At the wedding of Lord Garlan and Lady Leonette, Uncle Renly was a special guest and was befriending the Tyrells, especially Lord Mace. I don't know what his game is, but it has something to do with court."

"I knew my suspicions were onto something, but Robert dismissed them, as idle babblings."

Jacob took the piece with the sun and spear on it, as he looked at it with an unfamiliar expression on his face, as he placed it far from the other pieces.

"The strange thing is, father. House Martell are the unknown factor within this whole game, the Tyrells hate them for what happened to Willas and the Martells hate the Lannisters."

"A bunch of dishonourable and cheating Dornish people don't matter in the grand scheme of things."

"Don't dismiss them too soon father, the Martells would only support one house, and it's the Targaryen. The two families had blood ties through marriages and a strong alliance."

"Why does that matter, son?"

"Uncle Robert in all honesty is a shit king, who couldn't give less of a damn about ruling the kingdoms or putting the Lannisters in their places. As much as we don't like it, there are still those in the Seven Kingdoms, who call him Usurper, and it's a dangerous thing, especially so close to war time."

"How was your Uncle, in his visit to the North?" Stannis asked, changing the subject of game playing.

"Fatter than the last time I saw him." Jacob replied, causing his father to smirk.

"I heard about the Stark boy's fall, unfortunate."

"Bran will be alright, it's Arya and Sansa I worry about, two young ladies who have no experience in court intrigue, and being surrounded by Lannisters, it's too dangerous. They should have been left at home, where they would most likely be safe."

"I didn't know my son grew sentimental over children, it seems you have matured beyond your age and carry the wisdom of a lord."

"Thank you for the compliment, father," Jacob said, with a smile on his face. "How was mother and Shireen?"

"Your mother and sister are content and they were missing you."

"I missed them too."

"Was the Onion Knight good company."

"He was great, kept me and my retinue entertained throughout the voyage."

"Were the Starks hospitable?"

"I don't know how they do it, especially with the royal family to tend to, during their visit. The feast was madness."

"What happened, son?"

"Uncle Robert in his usual ways, drinking too much, rambling a lot of nonsense and getting his hand on every available serving girl."

"Disgraceful." Stannis muttered.

"He started telling me of how I should be married before the winter came and how you and mother cannot keep me from marriage any longer."

"My brother maybe a fool, but he is right. A suitable wife must be found for you immediately, since times of war are upon us soon."

"The woman better be from a respectable family, who can bring swords and provisions to Dragonstone, since the dreaded winter will be here soon."

"Your mother doesn't like it, the idea of you settling down, but she must understand that it is duty and you cannot escape from it."

"How comes Uncle Renly hasn't found a wife yet, and Uncle Robert hasn't done anything to make sure the future of his former homeland is in good shape."

"I have always wondered the same thing."

"Anyways, is Uncle Axel still trying to lick your boots, father." Jacob said, with a smirk on his face.

"I grow tired of that ambitious fool; he needs to go back to where he came from."

"No doubt, the man is loyal, but I'll have someone keep an eye on him. The man cannot be trusted, especially when war eventually comes."

"You are right, son."

Stannis and Jacob had an interesting conversation, as father and son. They both agreed on how Ser Axell Florent cannot be trusted and needed to be kept away from Selyse and Shireen.

The Lord of Dragonstone agreed with this son in terms of political intrigue, if war did come then there will be a lot of scattered players, who formerly played the game and wish to come back to set fire to the kingdoms.

Stannis and Jacob looked at the set pieces, symbolling the Great Houses of the kingdoms engraved with their sigils on them.

Jacob moved the pieces of the wolf and the stag knocking them backwards, as if to foreshadow what was going to happen in the near future.

"For a war to start, two vital players must be eliminated or killed, for pandemonium to peruse." Jacob said, folding his arms for his father to see the two pieces knocked down.