"Unless the Lannister fleet never sailed toward the Free Cities like we originally believed."
"Or perhaps there's some critical piece of information we still don't know."
Karl calmly voiced his thoughts.
Tyrion nodded silently, his expression growing heavier.
"That possibility cannot be ignored."
Hearing this, Karl fell into thought for a few moments before suddenly smiling.
"It seems the waters here are far deeper than they appear on the surface."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"I'm beginning to wonder… who exactly is moving the pieces behind the curtain?"
His tone carried hidden meaning.
Dragonstone
Compared to the rich and fertile lands of Westeros, Dragonstone was barren and harsh.
The island possessed little wealth, little farmland, and few resources. Yet despite its poverty, its location made it one of the most important strongholds in the Seven Kingdoms.
As the fortress guarding the entrance to Blackwater Bay, Dragonstone controlled the throat of the sea route leading directly to King's Landing.
Because of that, House Baratheon could never allow it to fall into another family's hands.
At the center of the island stood the Stone Drum, Dragonstone's ancient central keep.
Whenever storms struck the island, the old walls would rumble deeply, sounding like the beating of war drums. That was how the tower had earned its name.
At the very top of the Stone Drum was the famous Painted Table Room.
The chamber was circular, surrounded by four tall and narrow windows facing north, south, east, and west. In the center of the room stood a gigantic wooden table carved into the shape of Westeros itself.
Mountains, rivers, forests, castles, and roads were all meticulously detailed upon its surface.
It was here that Aegon the Conqueror had once planned the conquest of the Seven Kingdoms.
The Painted Table stretched more than fifty feet long and nearly half as wide at its broadest point. Dragonstone itself had been carved precisely where a raised seat stood, allowing the ruler positioned there to overlook the entirety of Westeros.
At this very moment, Stannis Baratheon stood in that exact position.
The dim firelight cast deep shadows across his stern face.
His eyes were cold and emotionless as he stared silently down at the carved map before him.
The room was not empty.
Standing near a large iron brazier filled with roaring flames was Melisandre of Asshai.
The red priestess had her back turned toward Stannis, her pale hands stretched toward the fire while her crimson eyes stared deeply into the dancing flames.
Melisandre was undeniably beautiful.
She possessed a heart-shaped face, copper-red hair that shimmered like firelight, and eyes as red as burning embers.
Even standing several steps away, one could feel the heat radiating from her body.
The room remained silent.
Stannis studied the map of Westeros.
Melisandre studied the fire.
Neither spoke.
Then suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from the corridor outside.
A moment later, Davos Seaworth entered the Painted Table Room clutching a letter tightly in his hand.
The Onion Knight paused immediately after stepping through the doorway.
His gaze landed first on Melisandre.
Ever since the red priestess had arrived on Dragonstone, she had steadily gained influence over Stannis. Davos distrusted her completely.
Then he looked toward his king.
Stannis still stood silently over the Painted Table like a stone statue.
Since King Robert's death, Stannis had become increasingly distant and grim.
Davos unconsciously tightened his grip on the letter until the parchment crumpled slightly in his hand.
But his footsteps had already announced his arrival.
Without turning around, Stannis spoke first.
"Why are you standing there?"
His voice was flat and cold.
"And what is that in your hand?"
Davos hesitated briefly before glancing once more toward Melisandre. The red priestess still stared into the fire as though she had heard nothing at all.
Finally, Davos lowered his gaze.
"My lord… a letter from King's Landing."
"It was written by Lord Eddard Stark."
Only then did he step forward and hand over the parchment.
Stannis did not immediately accept it.
Instead, his eyes first focused on the wax seal.
A crowned stag.
Not the direwolf of House Stark.
The moment he recognized it, Stannis let out a cold snort.
"Eddard Stark…"
"Hmph."
Finally, he took the letter and began reading.
The parchment had already been opened beforehand, and Stannis silently read through its contents several times.
The further he read, the darker his expression became.
Suddenly—
Bang!
He slammed the letter violently onto the Painted Table.
The sharp corner of the parchment pierced directly into the carved location of King's Landing.
"That fool actually acknowledged the bastard!"
Stannis's voice thundered through the chamber.
"When Jon Arryn was alive, we found dozens of Robert's bastards scattered throughout King's Landing!"
"Some were still suckling at their whore mothers' breasts!"
"And now Eddard Stark expects me to kneel before Karl El?!"
Davos lowered his head silently.
He had expected exactly this reaction.
He had tried persuading Stannis before, but every discussion ended the same way—either furious arguments or punishment.
Usually both.
At that moment, another figure slowly approached the doorway.
The sound of uneven footsteps and faint coughing echoed through the room.
Both Stannis and Davos turned to look.
An elderly man stood there leaning heavily on a cane.
His face was lined with deep wrinkles, and his hands trembled slightly with age. Around his neck hung the chain of a maester.
It was Maester Cressen.
"Maester Cressen," Davos immediately bowed respectfully.
Cressen had once served as the maester of Storm's End and had helped raise Robert, Stannis, and Renly after their parents died in Shipbreaker Bay.
Among the three brothers, Stannis had always relied on him the most.
Robert had charisma.
Renly had charm.
But Stannis had neither.
As a result, he had grown especially close to Cressen, who treated him almost like a son.
Even during the Siege of Storm's End, Cressen had remained beside him.
Twelve years earlier, when Robert granted Dragonstone to Stannis, Cressen followed him there willingly despite his old age.
Normally, a maester served a castle rather than a person, making such loyalty extremely rare.
Now nearly eighty years old and weakened by injuries, Cressen moved slowly into the room.
"If you refuse to support this bastard," he said carefully, "then you must seek allies quickly, Your Grace."
He had been the first person to read the letter and had immediately summoned Davos.
But Davos had ignored his advice and brought the message directly to Stannis instead.
Now Cressen had followed behind him.
Stannis said nothing.
His eyes returned to the Painted Table.
The old maester stepped closer and continued speaking.
"Karl El already possesses the Westerlands."
"What he should do now is marry Sansa Stark and quietly strengthen his position."
"King Robert was reckless and foolish, but we must not allow another Blackfyre Rebellion to occur."
At the mention of the Blackfyres, Davos's expression shifted slightly.
The memory of that terrible Targaryen civil war still lingered across Westeros.
Cressen continued.
"Aegon IV legitimized all his bastards before his death."
"That single decision plunged the realm into generations of bloodshed."
"Now Karl El acts cleverly."
"He did not seize the Iron Throne immediately. Instead, he returned west."
The old maester pointed toward the Painted Table.
"This letter is a test."
"He is testing both you and Renly."
Before Stannis could respond, Davos suddenly spoke up.
He had originally intended to remain silent.
But he could no longer hold back.
"My lord… Karl El also returned to King's Landing after King Robert's death."
"He presided over the king's funeral personally."
"And afterward, the Small Council publicly read Robert's will."
Davos inhaled deeply before continuing.
"According to the law, Karl El is now Robert's legitimate heir."
"Among all of Robert's bastards, he alone was acknowledged and legitimized."
"And he is Robert's eldest son."
Most importantly…
"He has dragons."
The room fell silent.
No one in Westeros could ignore the meaning behind that word.
Dragons.
The very creatures that once built the Targaryen dynasty.
Davos forced himself to continue.
"The North already supports him."
"The Vale may follow."
"And the Riverlands are likely to do the same."
"If that happens, even Dorne and the Reach may eventually support him."
Davos's words were calm and rational.
But to Stannis, they sounded like betrayal.
The king's face darkened instantly.
"Davos Seaworth…"
His voice became dangerously low.
"Are you suggesting I kneel before that bastard?"
Davos quickly shook his head.
"No, my lord, I only mean—"
"Call me Your Grace!"
Stannis roared.
The fury in his voice echoed violently through the Painted Table Room.
"You are my knight!"
"Unless you intend to betray me!"
Davos immediately bowed lower.
But Stannis continued relentlessly.
"Long before Robert legitimized that bastard, I was already recognized as the rightful heir!"
"The Small Council acknowledged my claim!"
"Now Karl El is the usurper!"
"And any man who supports him is a traitor!"
The chamber fell silent again.
Davos lowered his head.
Maester Cressen sighed quietly.
Only Melisandre remained motionless beside the fire.
After several heavy breaths, Stannis calmed slightly.
"Yes… I acknowledge Robert's authority as king."
"And yes, Robert legitimized Karl El."
"But even then, his place in succession should come after me and Renly."
"The Iron Throne belongs to House Baratheon."
"Not to some bastard bloodline."
Then his cold gaze settled upon Davos once more.
"If you are truly loyal to me, then address me properly."
"Otherwise, I will punish you as a traitor."
Davos's heart sank.
Deep down, he understood Stannis was not entirely wrong.
Before Karl El's legitimization, the realm had indeed recognized Stannis as Robert's heir.
The issue now rested upon Robert's final will.
That single document changed everything.
But Davos's greatest concern was not legality.
It was reality.
He simply could not see how Stannis could possibly win.
Karl El possessed dragons.
The North already supported him.
The Vale likely would as well.
And once powerful kingdoms began backing him openly, the rest of Westeros would eventually follow.
Dragons changed everything.
Davos did not want his king marching toward certain defeat simply because of pride.
After struggling internally for several moments, he finally lowered his head.
"Yes… Your Grace."
"House Seaworth remains loyal to you."
Stannis's expression softened slightly.
But before the king could respond, Davos forced himself to continue.
"However… Your Grace…"
"I fear we may not have any chance at all."
The room froze.
Davos closed his eyes, already preparing himself for punishment.
But before Stannis could explode in anger again, another voice interrupted.
Soft.
Calm.
Yet strangely powerful.
"Ser Davos…"
Melisandre finally turned away from the flames.
Her crimson eyes glowed in the firelight.
"Mortal eyes cannot see far."
"There is no shame in that."
"But you must have faith in your king."
She slowly approached the Painted Table.
"Stannis Baratheon is Azor Ahai reborn."
"He is the chosen champion of the Lord of Light."
"He is destined not only to become king…"
"But to save the world itself."
Her gaze drifted toward the flames once more.
"You think Karl El bringing dragons back into the world proves his greatness?"
"No."
"On the contrary…"
"It proves that Stannis is the chosen one."
"Even dragons will one day bow before him."
The fire crackled violently.
Melisandre's voice grew deeper.
"I have seen visions within the flames."
"The Seven Kingdoms will soon descend into chaos."
"And compared to the darkness that approaches…"
"These petty wars are nothing but children's games."
Her red eyes seemed to burn brighter.
"The Great Other gathers strength in the shadows."
"An ancient evil beyond mortal understanding."
"The cold winds are already rising."
"And soon…"
"The Long Night will come again."
The temperature inside the room suddenly felt colder despite the blazing fire nearby.
"Unless brave men rise to resist it."
"Unless the faith of the Lord of Light spreads across the world."
Then Melisandre looked directly toward Stannis.
"Our true enemy is not Karl El."
"Men like him should become our allies…"
"Because the darkness coming for this world will spare no one."
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)