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[EXT. BLACKWATER BAY]
[SER DAVOS SEAWORTH lies on a rocky shore, bruised, battered, and dehydrated.]
"He's alive!" Shireen cheered, grabbing her father's hand and grinning up at the man. Her grin only grew seeing the smile on her father's face.
[He looks out to the sea and sees a boat in the distance. He climbs atop the rocks and starts waving. He removes his shirt in desperation and waves that as well. DAVOS starts to lose hope. Then a horn blows from the distant boat. He is relieved. A ship's boat has made it to DAVOS. He greets them as they row to him.]
"I was in the battle at Blackwater. I was a captain and a knight."
"Aye, Ser, and serving which king?"
"The one true king of Westeros... Stannis Baratheon."
"Under normal circumstances, men would choose the safer option so close to the capital" Renly muttered.
"Such is a man's true loyalty. Through thick or thin, he will never leave your side. Even to save his life" Robert muttered.
Once more Renly questioned how someone like Stannis could attract such loyalty.
[The man smiles slightly and throws a rope to DAVOS.]
[DAVOS and SALLADHOR sit in the captain's quarters. DAVOS sits and SALLADHOR stands above him.]
"Luck shines on him" Jon Arryn commented with a smile.
"There was a good chance that I sent men to scour the seas for him" Stannis stated. "Ser Davos is... a very important man to me."
Robert nods. He understood the value of an honourable and true man. This Ser Davos might just be the Ned in Stannis' life.
"I thought you were dead. Everyone thought you were dead. And your son? He may have swam ashore as you did."
"No, the wildfire took him. I saw it."
Stannis felt for the man. He knew the boy, and he was shaping up to be like his father. That was before the Red Witch of course.
"I'm so sorry, my friend. I, too, have lost a son. There is nothing worse in this world. But, Davos, you were a good father."
"If I was a good father, he'd still be here. Stannis lives?"
"He licks his wounds at Dragonstone."
"Will you take me there?"
"There is nothing for me at Dragonstone."
"He is abandoning your cause" Robert noted.
"I have just lost spectacularly with the greater number. I do not blame him. I do not like it, but I do not blame him" Stannis muttered.
"This war is not over."
"Not for you, maybe. But for Salladhor Saan, the war is over."
"We're both sworn to King Stannis."
"I am sworn to no man. I promised you 30 ships and you promised me riches and glory. I delivered the ships."
"Stannis never gives up. Never. Now he will regroup..."
"He's a broken man. His fleet lies at the bottom of Blackwater Bay. They say he sees no one... not his generals, not even his wife. Only the Red Woman whispering in his ear, telling him what she sees in the flames and burning men alive."
"That fucking witch" Robert grunted. "Should I hear you've associated with that woman this time, I will have both of you flogged. Am I understood?"
"Yes, your Grace" Stannis muttered. It was ironic that Robert would tell him to stay away from a woman.
"They built a great fire when Stannis returned. All those who spoke against her she called servants of darkness. They say she sang to them as they burned."
[SALLADHOR stands and pours himself some wine, then sits again.]
"Servants of darkness. I'm thinking Dragonstone is a good place for us to avoid."
"Take me back there, please."
"You cannot turn Stannis against her."
"If anyone can it would be him... unless I'm far too gone" Stannis muttered.
"The pirate says this woman is singing to people while burning them, and you're probably allowing it. You might be too far gone" Renly stated out loud, a hint of teasing in his tone.
Stannis pursed his lips.
"Maybe not, but I could carve her heart out."
"You could try. If you fail, they will burn you. If you succeed, they'll burn you. And you've only just come back to life. Stay alive a little longer, my friend."
"You call me friend. You drank with me on my wedding day."
"And you drank with me on four of my wedding days, but I don't ask you for favours."
"I have to stop her. Please, do this for me."
"When you are dead, I will gather your bones in a little sack and let your widow wear them around her neck."
"He is extremely loyal" Robert noted.
"Bordering bind, I'm aware" Stannis muttered.
[EXT. HARRENHALL]
[ROBB's forces have arrived at Harrenhall. ROBB surveys a courtyard that is littered with bodies. Flies buzz noisily among the corpses. RICKARD KARSTARK and ROOSE BOLTON enter.]
"Two hundred Northmen slaughtered like sheep."
"The debt will be repaid, my friend. For them and for your sons."
"Will it? They rot in the ground while their killer runs free."
Catelyn flinched at the reminder.
"The Kingslayer won't remain free for long. My best hunters are after him."
[ROBB and CATELYN walk somberly through the courtyard. CATELYN stops at a body propped against a section of wooden spikes, a blade through his heart. ROBB comes up behind her and looks at the sigil on the man's chest.]
"Ser Jeremy. My father's bannerman."
[ROBB looks over at RICKARD KARSTARK and ROOSE BOLTON and the two men exit. He glances around at his soldiers atop the walls and throughout the courtyard and steps back from his mother.]
"Find her a chamber that will serve as a cell."
Catelyn's eyes widened before landing on Robb. The boy did not look at her, but she could see the shame in them.
But was it her son's fault? When her actions probably cut a rift between him and his men?
[A Stark soldier nods and leaves. CATELYN looks down as she is escorted away from ROBB by a group of soldiers. TALISA approaches ROBB, watching as CATELYN is led away.]
"She's your mother."
"She freed Jaime Lannister. The Lannisters robbed them of their sons and she robbed them of their justice."
"Never easy to choose between duty and family" Rickard murmured softly. He had been lucky that the choice was so obvious for him, Brandon or the man who had him as a prisoner. This was harder, Robb was the leader now.
[QYBURN coughs nearby and TALISA moves to tend to him.]
"This needs to be cleaned and closed."
[ROBB holds a waterskin to QYBURN's mouth and he takes a few gulps.]
"What's your name, friend?"
"Don't just call him friend! What if he's Lannister?!" Arya hissed.
Robb blinked in surprise. He had not thought about that.
"Qyburn."
"You're lucky to be alive."
"Lucky?"
[A bird caws as TALISA sets to treat QYBURN's injuries.]