Chương 123: Chapter 123
I look at the massive fortress in the distance. That is Dragonstone, the gate that protects any pirate from attacking King's Landing, and it falls into our hands. We are lucky that we got to this place without a fight.
Even with cannon on our side, I feel it will still be a long fight, and we will still lose a lot of soldiers.
After another hour of sailing, we arrive in Dragonstone, and when I get out of the ship, I can see Lord Stannis standing there. He is just like Bakir told me he is. A balding head and an eternal frowning face that is how he describes the Lord of Dragonstone.
"Welcome to Dragonstone. Please follow me."
No pleasantry, huh?
I nod and follow him to the carriage he prepares for us. After a few minutes, we arrived inside the meeting room in the castle. After I take a seat, I quickly say.
"So, can I ask the reason why you agree to bend the knee to me?"
Instead of answering my question, he takes a bundle of paper from his pocket and pushes it to me. I frown a little and start to read the paper. After a few seconds of reading, I notice this is a marriage letter between Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark.
"Is this true?"
Stannis nods his head and says.
"Yes. Your brother did not kidnap Lyanna. Instead, she willingly went with him."
He looks at one of the knights he brings with him inside the meeting room, and the knight places down the box he has been carrying since the beginning.
"These are all the letters Lyanna and your brother sent to the north."
I open the box and take one of the letters.
"The letters in the box are about how they will take care of her actions and ensure the north is compensated. Your brother also ensured that my brother did not explode by giving the house of Baratheon the status of a Prince, just like the Martell. There are also letters to my brother and me with the same explanation. However, for some reason the letter never reaches us."
I frown and place the letter back inside the box.
"That means someone deliberately sabotaged the letter."
Stannis nods his head and says.
"Yes. If the letter arrives just in time, there will be no civil war. Noble unrest? Yes, but nothing more. Maybe a small rebellion will happen but not at that large scale."
"If you tell me this, you already found the culprit, huh?."
"Yes, we have. It was the Order of Maesters. We got this information when we caught our maester sending a letter to Citadel and King's Landing about our strategy."
"The order? What do they get from killing both of my brothers? I know they want to kill my father but Rhaegar?"
Stannis sighs and says.
"From what my former maester said, they found that Rhaegar started to get mad when he started to believe a prophecy or something. He started to talk to himself about Fire and Ice and the eternal army of Ice. They did not like it. From the books and letters my men manage to steal from Citade, they are the one killing all Targaryen's dragons using poison. They did not like magic and they wanted it to stay like that. They are afraid that this prophecy will come true as the last part of the prophecy is about how magic will return and the age of prosperity and free knowledge born."
Eternal Army of Ice? Does that mean the zombie in the north? Interesting.
"That's it? They decide to kill him because he starts to believe in magic. What kind of logic is that? Divination is a branch of magic, you know? Some of the people in Lunaria can give a prophecy. Hell, we even use them to predict when the rain will come so we can make a great harvest."
"I don't know what they are thinking. They are a group of people that like to keep things for themselve."
"Fair enough."
I release a sigh and say.
"Anyway, let's get back to the first question, shall we? You have yet to answer my question. Why?"
Stannis looks me right in the eyes for a few seconds and says.
"Because I'm done with this kingdom."
"What?"
"I'm done playing the Game of Thrones. I have been playing that kind of game since I was born, and I'm getting tired of it. I want to enjoy the rest of my life doing my duty and enjoying my life."
I blink for a few seconds and look at him, searching for any lie. I don't know what kind of person he is, but from all the reports I read, he is stern, harsh, fair, and dutiful. However, the man in front of me is kind and has a soft spot for his family.
Stannis smiles at me and suddenly says.
"I know that look. I have not changed much. However, after talking to everyone who came here from Lunaria, I noticed something. I have become too used to playing the game that I long for something new. I long to be free. I want to enjoy life. Especially after the Black Death almost got all of us."
Wait. He also gets infected by Black Death, huh? Bakir did not tell me that.
"I see."
I guess I understand why he does it. Death can change someone, you know? I'm not close to my siblings and parents in my previous life. I prefer playing with my friend and locking myself in my room. However, after Death, I like to spend my time with Dany and Rhae as much as possible.
"Anyway, let's talk about your demand. Can you tell me the reason why?"
"Why do I ask you that?"
"Yes."
Stannis nods his head.
"The first demand, dueling my brother. It is my duty, and if there is someone who will and should kill him, it will be me."
"Are you not afraid of being called King Slayer?"
"No. I will not be called that. I know my brother. He will try anything to keep his power if he gets taken prisoner. He will declare a Trial by Combat. He will fight himself and he will lose. However, if he wins, then I want you to give Storm's End to him for the Gods have decided he is worthy to be its lord."
"Very well."
He nods his head and continues.
"The second demand, killing all Lannister. That is a must. They are the pest that needs to be gotten rid of. They are like the Greyjoy that should have been killed a long time ago instead of keeping them in the seat of power."
I nod in understanding. Yeah, that is fair enough. All of this happens because of them. If they did not kill my sister-in-law and her son, the Martell family would not declare them eternal enemies. If that mad Queen did not kill the Lord Paramount of North, the war would not start.
If she can hold her lust and not cheat on her husband, this will not happen.
"The third one?"
"Giving Storm's End to me if we win this war. I want what is mine. It is mine and my heir to rule Storm's End."
"Fair enough."
"Those three are my demands, and only by accepting all three will I bend the knee to you. I have a few more requests, but we can discuss them later."
I nod my head and offer him my hand.
"For the future."
He looks at it for a second and takes it.
"For the future."
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