selyse baratheon

Selyse Baratheon for Blood & Glory

[baratheon-selyse]

sail through the changing ocean tides | melisandre & selyse | september 26th

[theredmelisandre]

"Absolutely, and you know I’ve always got the time to chat with you," Melisandre reassured her. She knew about Selyse’s worries about interrupting her during something important, so she always did her best to put those worries at ease. Selyse was her best friend, and Melisandre would always make time for her.

"Oh it was a bit hectic in the morning, as it might be expected when your new next door neighbors experience a political crisis, but it’s calmed down by now. It’s mostly their problem, really, and as long as they don’t come begging to us for support or something, which isn’t going to happen, we should be fine," Melisandre said. There was the matter of potentially renewed spirits of the Targaryens or the Tyrells, but she’d always been able to handle them rather well.

She chuckled at Selyse’s comment. “Oh, definitely. These political figures are all the same, really. A bit like very indulgent kings. Can you imagine though? People raving about Stannis’s honor and condemning Stark’s harshness? I’d love to see that alternate dimension.” Of course, in that alternate dimension she’d likely be imprisoned. Melisandre wasn’t ignorant of what people thought of her, she knew that she wasn’t generally well-liked, and that if anyone tried to get to Stannis and succeeded, she’d be a target by proxy. “Then again, I think I prefer the situation where we aren’t all enemies of the government.”

Melisandre glanced over at the stack of papers sitting on her desk, then at the clock. There wasn’t much else she could do for today and it was already getting a bit late. “Darling would you like to go get a coffee or a drink, instead of sitting here in this stuffy office? I think we could both use some air and some time to destress.”

[baratheon-selyse]

“Scotland won’t last long. If it was practically doomed before when Stark was very well alive, now it’s all a matter of time before whoever becomes Prime Minister to come back crawling to us, begging for forgiveness.” Selyse couldn’t really imagine the pathetic excuse of a leader that would come out of the new country, but whoever it was, it wouldn’t make a difference; there was no way Scotland could stand strong as a nation not now and not ever. “They lack everything. No allies, not enough funds. The demise will come sooner rather than later, I’d say.”

She wanted to desperately to see the image that Melisandre painted, that Stannis would be finally seen by the masses as the one person with enough strength of character to make England a better country, and that the Starks were nothing but selfish traitors, looking for nothing but to help themselves. “One day, soon. God will see to it.”

The biggest problem of it all, however, was that, had the independence been anyone else’s idea, it might be difficult to win Scotland back, but the Starks were the most influential family there. Selyse didn’t doubt that even dead, the image of Eddard Stark would spark more loyalty from the northerners than Stannis at the present time (these people were blind, that was obvious, but as far as that, there was little that could be done, at least for now). “But still, let’s say they do come and beg not only for help but for forgiveness, what do you think we should do?  If it happens, we can’t just take Scotland back like nothing happened.” Melisandre had always been the voice of reason, so of course hers was the most important opinion. “Wouldn’t you say this couldn’t happen without them paying for what they did?”

“A cup of coffee would be lovely.” She glanced at the clock on the wall before talking again. “Actually, if you still have that bottle of gin lying around, I’ll take it instead,” Selyse said with a grin.

[baratheon-selyse]

sail through the changing ocean tides | melisandre & selyse | september 26th

[theredmelisandre]

It had been a long day. Not so frantic at first, but then everyone started rushing in around nine in the morning with all their loud voices, their prying eyes, their hushed whispers about the… situation with their neighboring country and what that might mean for England. The meetings, emails and conference piled up throughout the day and it slowl drew to a close for most. Yes, after a long day’s work, almost everything was taken care of, and people were free to go home. Not so for Melisandre, however. Much like se liked to come in a couple hours early and have some time to get more things done before the pace picked up with everyone’s arrival, so too she liked to stay later in the day after everyone had gone, to finish up and tie everything together.

So it was that at seven in the afternoon Melisandre sat at her desk, reviewing project files and briefs. It was nice, actually, to stay late and know she was contributing her all to the job, that she was basically doing all she could to support and maintain Stannis’s administration, as well as pushing her own political agenda. She brushed her red hair back from her face and scrawled a mark on the paper she was reading.

What managed to bring her out of her work trance was knock on the door and a voice calling out form the other end. Melisandre smiled and got up from the chair. She walked over to the other end of the room and gently pushed the door open.

"Selyse, hello!" She kissed her friend on the cheek and motioned for her to step in. It had been a ridiculous amount of time since she’d last talked to Selyse, considering they practically lived in the saame building. "No, not particularly busy at the moment."

[baratheon-selyse]

Selyse kissed Melisandre’s cheek back. “Are you sure? Darling, do feel free to kick me out at any moment if you’re done listening to me.” Not that it would actually happen, but sometimes Selyse did feel guilty about stealing Melisandre away for a couple of moments.

That was a common thing with Melisandre, she was always warm and always there whenever Selyse needed her to be. Selyse had been called all sorts of things through her life (“cold bitch” being the most common one by far), but she never felt unwelcomed or uncomfortable by Melisandre’s presence.

She sat in one of the chairs in front of the desk. “How’s everything going so far? With Stark’s death, I mean. Stannis has been in meetings all day, so I haven’t really…” she said, glancing at some of the papers on top of Melisandre’s desk. “It’s funny really. Everyone raved about what a great and honorable man he was, and yet, if tables were turned, he would declare everyone who’s in Downing Street now a traitor for much less than what he and his son did.” She could practically imagine, the mighty Eddard Stark above, declaring her, Stannis and even Shireen enemies of the government. (It dawned on her that Shireen was friends with the two younger boys, but that wasn’t exactly something Selyse wanted to think of at the moment.)

[baratheon-selyse]

sail through the changing ocean tides | melisandre & selyse | september 26th

After a day’s work, one could say Downing Street seemed almost peaceful. Not that such place would ever be busy; Selyse had learned that much from living there for two months now, but it did seem to gain a less frantic atmosphere.

After going to Shireen’s bedroom to bring her her medicine as usual, Selyse wandered down stairs, to the first floor of No 10.

(Shireen had been so tired for the last week, Selyse began to wonder if was a good idea for her daughter to start thinking of university and getting a job. Of course, now that she was getting older, that was what was expected, but still, somehow it seemed like Shireen was rushing things which were beyond her years and comprehension.)

There were less people running around for whatever reason, less loud voices inside the many offices. Except for one, which Selyse was sure. Melisandre never left early like the rest of the staff, she was the only one who’d stay late at night and come early in the morning. At an hour like that, it was most likely that the word day was far from over for her. People might say all sorts of things about Melisandre (much that Selyse had heard already, but none that she cared about), but no one could ever accuse her of not being completely commited to her job.

She knocked on the door and took a step closer “Mel, are you busy?” she said, waiting for it to open. Not once in the past seven years had Melisandre’s door been closed, and especially now that they were practically living under the same roof, Selyse didn’t expect that to change in the slightest.

[bloodandglory-rp]

[baratheon-selyse]

character: selyse baratheon (bio) affiliations: baratheons kate fleetwood

[baratheon-selyse]

i still need your teeth around my organs | stannis & selyse | september 24th

[stannis--baratheon]

"No, I have not," He says through his teeth, “But I believe we made ourselves clear on that matter."

He should hope so. The idea of her ignoring them, or being forced to reprimand her yet again was a thought too distracting to give much hold to.

[baratheon-selyse]

You know her better than I. It was true, Selyse was always the one on Shireen’s side, the one who read her books and brushed her hair and bought her art supplies, and above all, the one who took take of everything related to Shireen’s illness. And yet it seemed like it only made Shireen crave for Stannis’ attention even more over the years. Even now that Shireen was almost seventeen, the fact remained the same. “I’m sure she would love if you went to see her. Maybe she’ll be in the little room she set up for her paintings,” she said.

“You shouldn’t do anything rash about it. I don’t like the idea of Shireen being close to the two young Stark boys any more than you, Stannis, but I won’t deprive my daughter from any of her friendships.” Shireen never made friends very easily, and there were only a handful of people who she could consider herself being close to, and Selyse didn’t want for her daughter to lose those few friends. Clearly, had Shireen been friends with pretty much anyone else, it wouldn’t be this much trouble (like Edric, which was yet another thing Selyse didn’t approve of but let it go on for the sake of Shireen’s happiness).

The room was dead silent again. Selyse stared at Stannis, still near the window, and found herself wondering how could the man standing before her be the exact same one as the one giving a press conference on the television, talking about the security of the country. Maybe back all those years, in the end Selyse had married an ideal rather than a man, and with time it made her tired. It wasn’t to say she didn’t have any feelings towards her husband, she clearly stood and will stand by his side by anything, but it didn’t stop Selyse from finding herself frustrated and weary after they talk.

[baratheon-selyse]

wake up your saints | melisandre & selyse | april 2004

[hisredshadow]

"Don’t let me prattle on!" Melisandre smiles, relaxing into a smile. “I probably sound like one of those Evangelicals, God. Stannis should be back soon, hopefully, and I won’t rob you of any more of your time."

[baratheon-selyse]

The more Melisandre talks, the more Selyse wants to listen. It’s all so fascinating, but still, the last thing Selyse would want is to pry on Melisandre’s personal life. So all that she hears, Selyse nods, absorbing each word and each tiny piece of information. She’s always been a very religious person, but this seems to be even bigger than that.

“Oh no, please, you don’t!” The mental image of Evangelicals that Selyse had since as a child, with opportunistic and greedy minister promising that salvation could be bought with money, is nothing like Melisandre and this Lord of Light she talks about. She can see the fire in the other woman’s eyes, how true and pure the words ring in her ears, and just how much Melisandre really seems to believe in them, not just uttering pretty words from her red lips to get something from Selyse.

It’s only when Melisandre mentions Stannis getting back to his office soon that Selyse snaps out of her thoughts. “Yes, I expect he will.” How stupid of her, to almost forget why she was here in the first place, to talk to Stannis about something as important and vital as Shireen’s health. Though with all the things she discussed with Melisandre today, the matter seemed to slip from her mind so easily. “There’s no need to apologize, really. I’ve quite enjoyed talking to you,” Selyse says, biting her lip. She means it, of course she means it. It might sound like the most pathetic thing in the world, but Selyse thinks that if there was any chance for the two of them to meet outside the main building to talk one of these days, it would make her very happy.

[baratheon-selyse]

i'm damaged raw can't you see | erren & selyse | october 1996

[errenflorent-blog]

Erren couldn’t help narrowing his eyes a bit at the mention of their mother, though he wasn’t sure whether or not Selyse would notice. She didn’t care either way about anything, and it was truthfully Selyse who had acted more as a mother to Erren over the years than she had. “Oh, yes!” he said, smiling fakely. “She had a headache. We discussed it for some time. Fascinating.”

[baratheon-selyse]

“I hope you’re not implying you’re cutting your literature classes,” she said, handing yet another mug full of coffee to Erren. It seemed to make an effect, since now he looked less and less drunk, though Selyse could see sleepiness growing inside his eyes.

Selyse looked at her brother again, half expecting blood and dark marks on his skin, but there was none. “You haven’t gotten in any trouble with the boys at Eton, I expect?” Erren wasn’t the type to get into heated discussions that could easily turn into a physical fight – that was Imry. But in an all-boys school, these things were bound to happen once in a while, or so Selyse thought. If that was the case, however, wouldn’t someone have called her by now? “You can’t expect me to be okay with you behaving like this. You should know better, Erren. You’re not some ordinary street boy who can cut class and get drunk in London whenever you feel like it.” You have a family name to look after, Uncle Axell always said. Clearly Erren should know better.

It seemed like ages had passed since the last time, maybe the last time had been a couple of months after Shireen’s birth, but that was about it. Almost a whole year had passed since then, and from that day, only some phonecalls had been made.

(Truth was Selyse didn’t want to go to Exeter and see her mother, and all she did was stall the trip, telling herself there were more important and immediate things at London than in her hometown. It would only remind her of the old big house, almost always silent because her mother hated loud noises, of never being good enough, of having to command the house staff as a child because if Selyse wasn’t the one to do it, no one else would. By all rights, Selyse should feel ashamed; she wasn’t a little girl anymore but a woman wed and with a daughter.)

Still, she couldn’t help but to feel protective, especially given Erren’s tone. “Don’t say it like that. You know it’s not her fault.” If Erren wanted to hold something against their mother, he would have plenty of reasons, but being sick was definitely not one of them. 

[baratheon-selyse]

wake up your saints | melisandre & selyse | april 2004

[hisredshadow]

“I say those words, the night is dark and full of terrors, because that is what they told me. The night is dark and full of terrors, but fire burns them all away. Hence, Lord of Light.” Melisandre’s smile is kind. “You know this, I think. The concept.”

[baratheon-selyse]

Selyse hardly thinks Melisandre’s past sounds like the beginning of an awful spy novel, since it’s obviously not her place to even meddle in something like this, but she appreciates the levity on Melisandre’s voice. At least that way Selyse doesn’t feel to guilty about continuing the subject. She thinks that maybe, if anyone else had told her the same story (thought who else could ever ever be if not Melisandre?), maybe Selyse wouldn’t have had any interest or second thoughts about it. Not that she means to pry or force Melisandre to say things she doesn’t want to, but there’s something there that keeps Selyse from being quiet, and instead just wanting to hear more and more.

“Me?” Of all the things Melisandre had told her, this was by far the most confusing. Of course, Selyse could understand the concept of an organization to help the ones who needed it the most, she was part of a few of them, but never before had she even heard of a charity organization who did as much as raising someone from a Soviet orphanage to land in a relatively high position in the Ministry of Defence of Britain.

The night is dark and full of terrors she repeats over and over again in her head. Even before Melisandre had told her anything, Selyse knew the words have meaning, and now it only seems to confirm that. “Though I suppose that does make a lot of sense, yes.”

[baratheon-selyse]

i still need your teeth around my organs | stannis & selyse | september 24th

[stannis--baratheon]

He turned back to Selyse, he could see the frustration tight in her shoulders, the thin strained line of her lips. He might have stepped closer to her if he was another man, but was not, so he stayed feet away that felt as miles.

“If… do you think that would be alright?”

[baratheon-selyse]

She had seen Dondarrion once or twice at No. 10, thought they never talked more than short and few greetings. “He might do better if he stops moping around the corners and looking like a zombie.” It had been Dondarrion’s job to find out who had bombed the Olympic stadium back in July, but as far as Selyse knew there had been no results there. How could he ever continue working day to day without knowing or even looking deeper for the terrorists who killed thousands of people, she had no idea.

“Of course you should. She’s your daughter.” She looked at him again, chin held up high. “You don’t need to ask my permission.” One way or another, Stannis had always kept a certain distance from Shireen. Not because he didn’t love her, Selyse would never think such a thing, but maybe it had to do with her heart failure and how small Shireen was. Maybe back then he was frightened of what might happen if Shireen started to feel ill and he wasn’t sure what do to, but now their daughter was practically a grown woman, who knew more than well how to handle and live with the way she was.

Selyse’s thought was to talk about how Shireen’s paintings had improved in the last weeks, but she wasn’t sure Stannis had even taken the time to notice. Besides, there was another subject related to that, one that the two of them hadn’t discussed at all but she knew it would have to happen one day. “Have you talked to her about the Stark boys?” Not only that Shireen had told her about her friendship with the two youngest Starks was obvious, but the fact that Shireen had talked to Selyse about Stannis reaction to that shouldn’t be a surprise for him. If he thought their daughter would ever keep such a thing as a secret, he ought to pay more attention to Shireen’s habits.

[baratheon-selyse]

wake up your saints | melisandre & selyse | april 2004

[hisredshadow]

“It is interesting, isn’t it?” Melisandre has rehearsed this conversation a thousand times. “When I was born, I had nothing. I had a name and a number, but nothing else. Soviet orphanages left a lot to be desired.” she smiles, a warm smile, dipped in steel. “I was saved by an organisation, the Lord of Light. Those are the words I was taught, the night is dark and full of terrors but fire burns it away. I owe most of what I am today on them.” Bite the hook, Selyse.

[baratheon-selyse]

“Children are never easy,” she says. “Especially because Shireen is sick I worry about her so much, but every time I see her happy, I forget about everything else.” She had dreamt of children and a family of her own ever since she was young, but Selyse knows it’s not for everyone. “If you don’t want any, that’s perfectly normal too.” Some women never have children and are quite happy with that, but Selyse could never see herself in any other way; it’s definitely strange to her to think about a life without her Shireen.

To say that Melisandre is an intimidating woman is true, Selyse has never quite met anyone like her. It’s not even about her red clothes and red hair, but how Melisandre carried herself, with a warm smile that could easily harm someone if they were on her way. “Whoever said that was right. One could say you can make a strong first impression,” Selyse says with a smile.

There’s a second after Melisandre says she’s never met her mother that Selyse begins to say something, but before she can even start, Melisandre continues to speak about her past, leaving Selyse dumbstruck.

For more than one moment Selyse isn’t sure what she’s supposed to say. All of it seems incredible, the Soviet orphanage and an organization called The Lord of Light. “I’m sorry, I hope you can forgive my confusion. It’s all very unusual.” Unusual didn’t even begin describing the situation, but it’s not like Selyse has heard anything like it before. Not that she doubts any word that Melisandre has said – it doesn’t seem like the sort of subject anyone jokes about, and from the little Selyse has known from her, it hardly seems like Melisandre would bring up something so personal and probably painful just for laughs or for a shock. “I don’t mean to pry, and you don’t need to tell me anything but…how does that work? I’ve never heard such a thing as The Lord of Light.”

[baratheon-selyse]

[baratheon-selyse]

i still need your teeth around my organs | stannis & selyse | september 24th

[stannis--baratheon]

“Did she?” Of course she did. She always noticed, and it should not bother him as much as it did. She should understand. He knew that, but still, as always where she was concerned, he was left with a weight against his chest that made him feel as if he was somehow guilty of something just beyond his grasp. 

“Where is she now?” He found himself asking.

[baratheon-selyse]

He didn’t even bother replying, but it was far from being the first time. She pushed the subject forward. “Is there anything else you or the Scotland Yard can do about it?” She wasn’t Melisandre to come up with political strategies and carefully laid out plans, but still, Selyse knew she could speak and Stannis would at least listen, whether he liked it or not.

“I know that. But don’t forget you have a duty to your family too.” Funny thing how that went, how a man who was so worried with duty, law and justice seemed to like to forget about the duties expect of him in his personal life and to those who surrounded him. It was almost funny too, how Selyse knew exactly the type of man Stannis was even before he asked to marry her, but once upon a time she thought maybe he would change, maybe he wouldn’t continue so stern when it came to his family. Obviously she was wrong.

Throughout the years he had made countless acts of sacrifice, for the country and its people, and more it seemed like his family was always the one to pay the price. You’re not the only one making sacrifices, she thought, but this time kept it to herself.

“She went to rest after lunch, but by now I assume she’s playing with the wretched dog my brother bought her.” Selyse still couldn’t believe Erren had been so stupid to buy Shireen a dog without bothering to consider if it would be a good idea or not – and without consulting her first, which was what made the whole thing even worst. In the end Shireen got to attached to the ball of fur that there was no way to even return the thing, so the way was to get used to it.

[baratheon-selyse]

i'm damaged raw can't you see | erren & selyse | october 1996

[errenflorent-blog]

“You didn’t ask me about London. Or school. I’m hurt a bit. London’s nice — you must know, you get to live here. I’ll live here too, someday, once I run away for good. School is —” he paused to frown into his coffee “— well, hence the running away.”

[baratheon-selyse]

Selyse looked at her brother, trying to find signs that he would collapse on the floor like the drunken mess that he was, but thankfully found none. Little by little he seemed to wash away the alcohol from his system – Erren was standing in a more straight way and it looked capable of digesting another cup of coffee. However if he expected her to laugh or even smile at the thought of Shireen looking at her youngest uncle and knowing exactly what not to do, he was deeply wrong (still, it was true). “I expect you to behave your absolute best near her, you know. Tomorrow and always.” Selyse wanted to have a family of her own ever since she was a child, even more after her father died, but she obviously couldn’t say the same for Erren.

It took all the strength in her not to roll her eyes and say stop being so childish when Erren said she hadn’t asked about him. It seemed very little to ask, if he was enjoying Eton he wouldn’t have run away to London, get drunk and end up on her doorstep. There was a big age difference between them, eleven years that sometimes felt like even more, and as a result, they were always in extremely different life stages. That didn’t happen so much between the boys since Imry and Erren were quite close in age, but the age gap between Selyse and her brothers always made them distant. “How have you been, then? Really.” She wouldn’t ask him about London because Erren had no right to be here in the first place, but she was curious as to how he was doing in Eton. “Don’t you like your school? Is that why you had your little adventure? Or is there any other reason”

She bit her lip before asking one more thing. “Have you talked to mum recently?” Exeter wasn’t that close to London and it wasn’t always that Selyse could spare a day and visit their mother.

[baratheon-selyse]

wake up your saints | melisandre & selyse | april 2004

[hisredshadow]

They move together and stand outside of Stannis’ office, before Melisandre gesticulates for them to sit down on two sterile chairs next to the door. “Upwards trajectory, yes, fire against the black. The night is dark and full of terrors, but fire burns them all away.” she recites those words with reverence, real reverence. It’s a prayer, in a sense.

[baratheon-selyse]

For a moment, Melisandre looks unsure about what to say, but in the end Selyse is grateful it’s not pity. Neither Shireen nor she needed any, despite what other people might think. And yet, Melisandre’s half second of hesitation doesn’t seem to click with Selyse. Would she be uncomfortable with the idea of one looking after a sick child who’s only hopes in the world were doctors to say when she’d be ready for surgery or just not knowing exactly what to say? Not that Selyse blames her for either, it’s not easy for most people to fully understand the situation Shireen was in, but still, she wonders what it was. Selyse doesn’t see any rings in the other woman’s fingers that could imply compromise, but then again, she could be wrong about that. “Do you have children? Or ever thought of having, perhaps?”

Everything in Stannis’ office is pristine, objects in display on his desk and shelves are nothing if not utilitarian (she can’t help but to think about the present Shireen had given Stannis for his birthday, a painting she told him to put in his office at the main building, though it’s clearly not anywhere in sight. They tried to be supportive of their daughter’s hobby and while Selyse seriously doubts he would have thrown it away, it could be disappointing if Shireen ever found out).

They sit in the black chairs in front of Stannis’ desk. “The night is dark and full of terrors,” Selyse repeats, more to herself than to Melisandre, letting the words sink in. It’s nothing she’s heard before, not that she can recall, but it seems to have more meaning than it seems at first. Not just some silly phrase or even something people say in a regular basis. “That’s…interesting.”

[baratheon-selyse]

your eyes are broken bottles and i'm afraid to ask | selyse & shireen | august 24th

[baratheonshireen-blog]

She doesn’t want her mother to be angry with her and it’s all very emotional because one minute she was frowning at her plate and the next her vision is blurred by the glassy sheen of unshed tears. Thankfully nothing leaked, that would have been more embarrassing than her mother giving her a lecture in public. “She didn’t say much.” Aunt Cersei hadn’t said anything bad about her father. “What do you think about that statue, Ma?” Unconsciously, she slipped into her old ways, if only to see if her mother would frown at her or just tolerate it. “You’re not mad at me, are you?” Glancing up from her plate, she frowns. “I’m sorry I made you worried. I should have told you everything earlier.”

[baratheon-selyse]

“Some guy after you could have saved your life if you started to fell ill.” Selyse made a mental note to find out who was supposed to look after Shireen that day, and surely fire them. If a grown man couldn’t look after a sixteen year old who was buying supplies, how useful could he possibly be? Not a lot, if a couple of words from Shireen had set him running away and leaving the daughter of the Prime Minister on her own.

She scoffed at the mention of the statue Cersei had installed in Robert’s old house in Belsize Park. “A waste of time and money.” People read that as a message from the Lannisters, but really what was the point? Was Cersei going to drag Stannis from No. 10 with her own hands, screaming and kicking while doing so? There was virtually nothing that the Lannisters could do (not anything anyone could do, actually) in regards to Stannis being Prime Minister, not now and not when he won the elections. Power wasn’t won with statues and messages between the lines, of that she was sure.

There was nothing in the world that hurt Selyse as much as seeing Shireen upset, even if it was because her daughter knew she had done something wrong. Shireen had been denied many things throughout her life because of her sick heart, and the freedom to come and go as she pleased was the biggest of them. Even when Shireen acknowledged her mistake as she did now, it hurt Selyse to see how much Shireen grasped at what she could, to try to have a normal life. “It’s fine, darling. You just have to be more careful, you know that.” There was little point going on about it now, especially when they were in a restaurant, surrounded by strangers. She cleared her throat before speaking again. “I think we should go.”

[pantalaimons-blog]

Kate Fleetwood as Lady Macbeth

[baratheon-selyse]

i still need your teeth around my organs | stannis & selyse | september 24th

[stannis--baratheon]

“They mark their work and seem to find it justified and yet we hear nothing from them.” He could feel his teeth grinding down against the words, “Burned bodies and dragon markers, is this some game for them?”

[baratheon-selyse]

He took the remote control from the desk and turned off the tv, the screen turned black and the silence felt too uncomfortable. Stannis moved to the window, gazing outside for whatever caught his eye, but Selyse remained sat in the sofa. “And who said they aren’t themselves be known? Putting coins in each murder to prove they’re all linked seems quite the statement to me.” Killing people related to the biggest families in the country seemed quite the statement too, thought she didn’t expect whoever planned and carried out those deaths to release a public announcement with who they were and what they planned to do.

She had noticed before how Stannis hadn’t in any way replied to what she said while he entered the room. “When I say you did well today, I mean it. The country needs someone strong to lead it, and you showed that today.” Ever since Stannis had become Prime Minister he had a difficult time admitting he was the person most fit for it, and if anything he needed to embrace that role. When he’d told her and Shireen that he would be entering the leadership contest in June, Selyse had been happy for him the same way she had been happy when he called her to announce he would become Prime Minister. Though the way he had become Prime Minister wasn’t one anyone imagined, Selyse had learned to accept that it didn’t matter, that it was a sign from God that Stannis was the one to lead the nation, though it seemed he was the only one who didn’t acknowledge that.

“You weren’t at lunch with me and Shireen.” When they lived at Knightsbridge, Stannis rarely made an appearance at dinner, let alone at lunch, but now that he worked and lived under the same roof, that was expected to happen. “Shireen noticed,” she said in a lower tone. Their daughter had always been avid to spend time with Stannis, no matter how little it was and one of the few things that gave her joy in the first month they’ve had been at Downing Street was seeing her father more often, though it seemed now like Stannis would return to the old habits. She cleared her throat before speaking again, “did you eat anything?”