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[EXT. BEACH]
"Father, that's Dragonstone" Shireen spoke suddenly.
"It's a beach," Renly said blandly.
"The beaches at Dragonstone. I've lived there my whole life, uncle, I know it better than anyone."
[We see the red comet and then Maester Cressen, holding a torch and running.]
"The girl's right, she does know her beaches" Robert chuckled at his own joke.
Stannis face remained ever stern, while Renly rubbed his face.
"Lord of Light, come to us in our darkness. We offer you these false Gods."
"Ah fuck" Oberyn groaned.
"Familiar?" Doran raised a brow.
"Unfortunately" Oberyn sighed.
[Cressen approaches a group gathered on the beach, burning some effigies. Melisandre is speaking to them.]
"Take them and cast your light upon us. For the night is dark and full of terrors."
"What the fuck is this cult shit?!" Robert sat straighter.
"Followers of the R'hllor, your Grace" Oberyn explained. "They burn their offerings to their god."
"That name sounds familiar..."
"Thoros of Myr" Renly said boredly and Robert snapped his fingers as he recalled.
[Cressen reaches the group and hands his torch to another man.]
"After the long summer, darkness will fall heavy on the world. Stars will bleed."
"We need to stop her!"
"Look there brother, your boyfriend is there as well" Renly teased.
"Davos is a trusted man" Stannis ground out.
"A smuggler" Renly corrected.
"A former smuggler who has paid for his crimes Stannis corrected the correction. "A trusted man."
"Whatever you say" Renly shrugged.
"The cold breath of winter will freeze the seas."
"Not now."
"You're there too" Robert narrowed his eyes.
"And the dead shall rise in the North."
Ned narrowed his eyes. "How does she know?"
"The Mythology of R'hllor includes a Great Other. A being of darkness and cold that make the dead dance to its tune" Oberyn explained.
"Perhaps gathering the knowledge from these religions will give us a hint of how to properly deal a killing blow to the army of the dead" Jon Arryn suggested.
"Perhaps" Ned nodded his head.
"All you men were named in the Light of the Seven! Is this how you treat the Gods of your fathers? Are you so eager to spit on your ancestors?"
[After a long silence, Melisandre approaches Cressen and caresses his face.]
"You smell of fear, fear and piss and old bones. Do you want to stop me? Stop me."
[After a moment, Cressen begrudgingly stands aside.]
"He's an old man." That woman's playing with you all Renly snorted. "Can't believe you fell for her charms too, brother. Is it the tits? Did your manhood finally find a twinge of excitement-"
"Enough" Stannis ground out, eyes flaring with so much anger that Renly stuttered and felt himself shrink slightly.
He immediately cleared his throat and looked away.
"In the ancient books, it's written that a warrior will draw a burning sword from the fire. And that sword shall be Lightbringer. Stannis Baratheon, warrior of light, your sword awaits you."
[Stannis approaches one of the burning effigies as everyone else looks on. He pulls a sword out from the base and carries it high, to applause. When he sticks it in the sand, the crowd kneels.]
"Gods have mercy they're burning the seven!" Catelyn suddenly spoke, finally recognizing the statues once the image of Stannis and the kneeling men zoomed away to give a better look at the beach.
Those truly devoted to the Seven stared in horror at the scene of the seven burning, which was only Catelyn and Sansa. There were a few more followers of the seven present, but they only stared more in shock than in outrage.
Stannis himself stared with shock at his actions. What had possessed him to do this, to listen to a witch and burn the gods his father prayed to.
[Matthos reads out a letter for Stannis to proofread, as they and some other characters sit around a table.]
"And I declare upon the honour of my house that my beloved brother Robert le-"
"He wasn't my beloved brother. I didn't love him, he didn't love me."
"Stannis-"
"You said it to Lord Stark yourself, you have no love for neither Renly nor I."
Lips pursed Robert looked away.
"A harmless courtesy, Your Grace."
"A lie. Take it out."
"Courtesies would go a long way in helping your cause, Lord Stannis" Varys advised.
"I will not start my reign on a lie, no matter how small and insignificant it may be" Stannis answered stiffly.
Varys hid a smile behind his sleeve.
[Matthos scratches 'beloved' off of the letter, and then continues.]
"That my brother Robert left no trueborn heirs; the boy Joffrey, the boy Tommen, and the girl Myrcella, being born of incest between Cersei Lannister and her brother Jaime Lannister. By right of birth -"
"Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer. Call him what he is."
Jaime bristled.
[Matthos adds in 'the Kingslayer, and continues. Davos notices Cressen slip something into his own glass of wine.]
"What is that old man doing" Stannis muttered to himself.
"And her brother Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer. By right of birth and blood, I do this day lay claim -"
"Make it Ser Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer. Whatever else he is, the man's still a knight."
Jaime blinked, emerald eyes shifting to a very stern-looking Stannis. The man did not look at him, and after a while, Jaime looked away as well.
[Matthos Adding Ser]
Ser Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer. By right of birth and blood, I do this day lay claim to the Iron Throne of Westeros. Let all true men declare their loyalty."
"When Eddard Stark learned the truth, he told only me. I'll not make the same mistake. Send copies of that letter to every corner of the Realm, from the Arbor to the Wall. The time has come to choose. Let no man claim ignorance as an excuse."
"Your Grace, the Lannisters are the true enemy. If, for the time being, you could make peace with your brother -"
"I'll not make peace with Renly while he calls himself King."
Stannis and Renly glared at one another, but at the look, Robert threw them both they remained silent.
"Well, many have already declared for him; Mace Tyrell, Randyll Tarly."
Renly smirked in satisfaction. His brothers may not see it, but he knew he deserved the throne after Robert. He was better liked after all. What was a King if not liked by his people?
"Stannis does not need to beg this lord or that lord for support. The Lord of Light stands behind him."
"And will he descend to fight for him?" asked Oberyn snidely. "Lord Stannis, as a show that I at least respect you, stay away from any of these R'hllor worshippers. Their fanatic ways will bring you nothing but ruin."
Stannis gave a short nod but said nothing otherwise.
"And how many ships has the Lord of Light got in his fleet?"
"He has no need for ships."
"I'm sure he doesn't, but we do if we're going to war. If not Renly, Your Grace, join forces with Robb Stark."
"Who would steal the northern half of my kingdom? I've always served thieves according to their desserts, as you well know, Ser Davos. Joffrey, Renly, Robb Stark, they're all thieves. They'll bend the knee or I'll destroy them."
"If you prove to be different from your predecessors, you'll find that the North would support you with utmost loyalty" Ned informed Stannis. "They supported Robert because he is my friend. If you prove yourself a friend to them, they will support you should you ever need it"
Stannis nodded, more softly than the one he gave Oberyn. He respected Lord Stark and so he took his word closer to heart than he did Oberyn's.
Something that made Oberyn snort in disdain. There wasn't much he missed, and even little he didn't take note of.
[Cressen stands.]
"I owe you an apology, my King. My duty is to serve. You have chosen the new God over the Old Gods. May the Lord of Light watch over us all. Shall we drink together?"
[Davos whispers to Cressen] "Don't."
[Cressen stands up with the drugged glass of wine, and walks over to where Melisandre is sitting.]
"A cup of wine to honour the one true God."
"He probably poisoned the wine" Elia pointed out.
"Many of those R'hllor worshippers drink a small amount of poison every day to build immunity like I have done over the years. No matter the poison, she won't die. It won't go down well" Oberyn noted.
[Melisandre stands up. Everyone at the table reaches for their own wine glasses. Cressen takes a sip of the drugged wine and offers it to Melisandre. Davos nervously watches her take the glass. Cressen begins to stumble and bleed from his nose. Melisandre drinks a large portion of the wine. As he falls to the floor dead, Davos and many others stand up. Melisandre appears unphased by the poison.]
"Told you" Oberyn muttered.
"I know" Elia blanched.
"The night is dark and full of terrors, old man, but the fire burns them all away. Your Grace."
"Are you going to not say anything to her?" Renly demanded.
"Cressen poisoned it himself. What can I say?" Stannis asked. Renly looked away disgusted, and Stannis stared with oddly softened eyes.