[Stannis has Davos' son, Matthos, draft a letter to send across the Seven Kingdoms]
MSMatthos Seaworth
"And I declare upon the honour of my House that my beloved brother Robert le—"
Stannis BaratheonHe wasn't my beloved brother. [pause; Matthos looks up] I didn't love him, he didn't love me.
A harmless courtesy, Your Grace.
Stannis Baratheon
A lie. [to Matthos] Take it out.
[Matthos scratches off the word "beloved" and continues reading the letter aloud]
MSMatthos Seaworth
"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—"
Stannis Baratheon
Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer. Call him what he is.
[Matthos adds in "the Kingslayer" and continues reading. Davos notices Maester Cressen slip something into his cup of wine]
MSMatthos Seaworth
"And her brother Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer. By right of birth and blood, I do this day lay claim—"
Stannis Baratheon
Make it Ser Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer. Whatever else he is, the man's still a knight.
MSMatthos Seaworth
"Ser Jaime Lannster, the Kingslayer. By right of birth and blood, I do this day lay claim to the Iron Throne of Westeros. [pause; Stannis nods] Let all true men declare their loyalty."
Stannis Baratheon
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—
Stannis Baratheon
I'll not make peace with Renly while he calls himself King.
Well, many have already declared for him; Mace Tyrell, Randyll Tarly...
Stannis does not need to beg this lord or that lord for support. The Lord of Light stands behind him.
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. [to Stannis] If not Renly, Your Grace, join forces with Robb Stark.
Stannis Baratheon
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.
MCMaester Cressen
[stands up] 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.
[Cressen picks up the poisoned wine cup and walks over to where Melisandre is sitting]
MCMaester Cressen
A cup of wine to honour the one true God.
[Melisandre gets up while everyone at the table reaches for their own wine cups. Cressen takes a sip of the poisoned wine and offers it to Melisandre. Davos nervously watches her take the cup. Suddenly, Cressen stumbles and begins bleeding from his nose. Melisandre takes a long sip of the poisoned wine. Davos and several others look on in shock as Cressen falls to the floor dead. Melisandre appears to be fine, completely unphased by the poison.]
The night is dark and full of terrors, old man. But the fires burn them all away.
Stannis Baratheon
Lady Stark, I had not thought to find you in the Stormlands.
I had not thought to be here, Lord Stannis.
Stannis Baratheon
Who else might it be?
When I saw your standard, I couldn't be sure. Whose banner is that?
Stannis Baratheon
My own.
I suppose if we use the same one, the battle will be terribly confusing. Why is your stag on fire?
The king has taken for his sigil the fiery heart of the Lord of Light.
Ah, you must be this fire priestess we hear so much about. Ah brother, now I understand why you found religion in your old age!
Stannis Baratheon
Watch yourself, Renly!
No, no, I'm relieved. I never really believed you were a fanatic; charmless, rigid, a bore, yes, but not a godly man.
You should kneel before your brother. He is the Lord's Chosen, born amidst salt and smoke.
"Born amidst salt and smoke?" Is he a ham?
Stannis Baratheon
That's twice I've warned you.
Listen to yourselves! If you were sons of mine, I would knock your heads together and lock you in a bedchamber together until you remember you're brothers.
Stannis Baratheon
It is strange to find you beside my brother, Lady Stark. Your husband was a supporter of my claim; Lord Eddard's integrity cost him his head. And you sit beside this pretender and chastise me?
Stannis Baratheon
The Iron Throne is mine by right. All those who deny that are my foes.
The whole realm denies it, from Dorne to the Wall. Old men deny it with their death rattles and unborn children deny it in their mothers' wombs. No one wants you for their king. You never wanted any friends, brother, but a man without friends is a man without power.
Stannis Baratheon
For the sake of the mother who bore us, I will give you this one night to reconsider. Strike your banners, come to me before dawn and I will grant you your old seat on the Council. I'll even name you my heir, until a son is born to me. Otherwise I shall destroy you.
Look across those fields, brother. Can you see all those banners?
Stannis Baratheon
You think a few bolts of cloth will make you king?
No. The men holding those bolts of cloth will make me king!
Stannis Baratheon
We shall see, Renly. Come the dawn, we shall see.
Look to your sins, Lord Renly. The night is dark and full of terrors.
[Renly and Catelyn watch them leave]
Would you believe? I loved him once.
I understand why the older families look down at me.
Stannis Baratheon
Do you? Why?
Stannis Baratheon
And?
Sons of lords don't like to break bread with sons of crabbers; our hands stink.
Stannis Baratheon
And where were those lords when Storm's End starved?!
Many fought bravely for your brother. Many fought for the Mad King.
Stannis Baratheon
You defend these men who insult you behind your back.
Some are happy to do it to my face.
Stannis Baratheon
We were forgotten. Robert and Ned Stark, they were the heroes, the glorious rebels. Marching from battle to battle, liberating towns from the yoke of the Mad King while I held Storm's End with five hundred men.
No one's forgotten, Your Grace.
Stannis Baratheon
No? Robert did. He gave Storm's End to Renly after the war. Renly never fought a day in his life!
Stannis Baratheon
Then, why give him Storm's End? First, we ate the horses. We weren't riding anywhere, not with the castle surrounded. We couldn't feed them, so fine. The horses, then the cats. I've never liked cats, so fine. I do like dogs, good animals, loyal, but we ate them, too. Then, the rats. The night before you slipped through, I thought my wife was dying. She couldn't speak anymore, she was so frail. And then you made it through the lines, slipped right through in your little black sail boat with your onions...
And some potatoes. Some salted beef, I believe.
Stannis Baratheon
Every man at Storm's End wanted to kiss you that night.
I was relieved they did not.
Stannis Baratheon
Robert told me to hold Storm's End, so I held it. Then, he told me he was giving it to Renly, so I gave it up. Insult or no, I gave it up because Robert was my older brother and he was the King and I've always done my duty. But now, I am the rightful king by every law of Westeros. And when I sit the Iron Throne, you will be my Hand.
Your Grace, I pray I serve you well.
Stannis Baratheon
I expect you'll be the first crabber's son to wear the badge.
Stannis Baratheon
You said you saw my victory in the flames.
Stannis Baratheon
The flames lied. And I'm no better than a savage, trusting in a fire god! I fought for your god in Blackwater Bay. I led my men to the gates of the Seventh Hell as their brothers burned alive and for what? An attack from behind by Tywin Lannister and the Tyrells? If you see so much in your flames, why didn't you warn me?
The Lord of Light only allows me glimpses.
Stannis Baratheon
You claim to speak for a god!
Will you quit the war just because you've lost a battle?
Stannis Baratheon
You talk about war as if you understand it.
I've been fighting far longer than you.
Stannis Baratheon
Have you? Show me how you fight! [Stannis seizes Melisandre by the throat and starts throttling her] Show me! Where is your god now? Will he save you? Where is your god?!
Stannis Baratheon
I murdered my brother!
We murdered him. Share the weight with me.
Stannis Baratheon
He wasn't your brother.
This war has just begun. It will last for years. Thousands will die at your command. You will betray the men serving you, you will betray your family, you will betray everything you once held dear...and it will all be worth it, because you are the Son of Fire, you are the Warrior of Light. You will sweep aside this pretender and that one; you will be King.
Your Grace, you are the rightful king. Not only by blood. You're an honorable man, a just man. And there is still a war to fight.
Stannis Baratheon
I am fighting.
By burning prisoners alive?
MMelissandre
How would you punish the infidels, Ser Davos?
I do not judge people for the gods they worship. If I did, I'd have thrown you in the sea before you ever set foot on Dragonstone.
MMelissandre
I'm not your enemy.
MMelissandre
Was it me you fought on Blackwater Bay? Did I set your ships ablaze? I wasn't there when the wildfire killed our men by the thousands. I could have saved those men. You would have taken the city, Stannis would now sit upon his rightful throne, and you would stand beside him. But I wasn't there because you convinced your king to leave me behind. Do you hear them screaming? All those burning men in the water crying for their mothers, for their gods for help? Until the moment the Blackwater swallowed them. Don't despair, Ser Davos. What I told your son is true. Death by fire is the purest death.
[Davos pulls out a knife and tries to stab Melissandre, but is restrained by the guards.
This woman is evil! She's the mother of demons.
Stannis Baratheon
Take him to the dungeon and lock him in a cell.
MMelissandre
You've chosen the darkness, Ser Davos.
MMelissandre
I will pray for you.
Stannis Baratheon
They feeding you enough?
Two meals a day: cold for breakfast, hot for supper. I cannot complain.
Stannis Baratheon
You don't belong in a place like this.
Well, sad to say, but I've seen worse.
Stannis Baratheon
I'm sorry about your son. I never got the chance to tell you before. Good lad, loyal lad. Melisandre's returned.
I didn't know she'd been gone.
Stannis Baratheon
Came back with a bastard boy, Robert's bastard boy.
Stannis Baratheon
She says "power in king's blood."
Stannis Baratheon
Sacrifice him.
Forgive me, Your Grace, I'm not a learned man, but is there a difference between kill and sacrifice? The boy's your nephew.
Stannis Baratheon
What of it? We're at war. Why should I spare the son of some tavern slut Robert bedded one drunken night?
Because he has your blood in his veins.
Stannis Baratheon
So did Renly.
Renly wronged you. Renly declared himself king when the throne belonged to you. He raised an army, stole your bannermen. This boy's done you no harm. He's an innocent.
Stannis Baratheon
How many boys live in Westeros? How many girls? How many men? How many women? "The darkness will devour them all", she says, "the night that never ends." Unless I triumph. I never asked for this - no more than I asked to be King. We do not choose our destiny, but we must do our duty, no? Great or small, we must do our duty. What's one bastard boy against a kingdom?
Your Grace, why did you come to see me, today?
Stannis Baratheon
I came to free you. If you swear to never raise your hand to the Lady Melisandre again.
I swear it. I can't swear never to speak against her.
Stannis Baratheon
You have little regard for your own life.
Quite little, Your Grace. Verging on none. You could've freed me yesterday, or tomorrow... but you came to me now, before this boy is put to the knife, because... you knew I'd counsel restraint. You came to hear me say it, because you believe it yourself. You're not a man who slaughters innocents, for gain or glory. When my son was five, he said to me, "I don't ever want to die." I wanted to say to him, "You won't child- you won't ever." I hated the idea of him lying awake in the dark, afraid. I think mothers and fathers made up the Gods... because they wanted their children to sleep through the night.
Stannis Baratheon
I saw a vision in the flames. A great battle in the snow... I saw it. And you saw whatever she gave birth to. I never believed, but when you see the truth, when it's right there in front of you, as real as these iron bars... how can you deny her God is real?
Westeros is not the world, Your Grace. We need to look east for ships and men. 10,000 skilled soldiers fight for the Golden Company.
Stannis Baratheon
[disgusted] The Golden Company?
They've never broken a contract.
Stannis Baratheon
They're sellswords.
We're willing to use blood magic to put you on the throne, but we're not willing to pay men to fight? Now the Red Woman's magic is real. Her visions and prophecies may be, too, but I've never heard of visions and prophecies winning a war. Soldiers win wars. Soldiers on the ground. It's dirty on the ground.
Stannis Baratheon
We don't have any gold.
Stannis Baratheon
If I do not press my claim, my claim will be forgotten. I will not become a page in someone else's history book. I'm running out of time, Ser Davos. Which means you're running out of time.
TNTycho Nestoris
Welcome to the Iron Bank. Please...sit. What can we do for you, Lord Stannis?
This is Stannis of the House Baratheon, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm!
TNTycho Nestoris
The Iron Throne is currently occupied by Tommen of the House Baratheon, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm.
Stannis Baratheon
He shares no blood with me. He was a bastard born of incest, as was his brother before him.
TNTycho Nestoris
Yes, we've heard this story.
Stannis Baratheon
It's not a story! It's the truth!
TNTycho Nestoris
The King's grandfather tells a different story: a story about a jealous uncle, whose attempts to usurp the throne from the rightful King cost the Seven Kingdoms dearly, in blood...and gold.
Stannis Baratheon
Gold you loaned him.
TNTycho Nestoris
And you feel your blood gives you a claim on our gold?
Stannis Baratheon
More than any man living.
TNTycho Nestoris
Across the Narrow Sea, your books are filled with words like "Usurper", "Madman" and "blood right". Here, our books are filled with numbers. We prefer the stories they tell, more plain, less... open to interpretation. How many fighting men remain loyal to you?
Stannis Baratheon
Four thousand.
TNTycho Nestoris
And how many ships do you have? The ones still afloat, Ser Davos, not at the bottom of Blackwater Bay.
TNTycho Nestoris
And, how much wheat and barley and beef and pork do you produce on Dragonstone to feed your... four thousand men, on your thirty-two ships?
Stannis Baratheon
None.
TNTycho Nestoris
You can see why these numbers seem unlikely to add up to a happy ending, from our perspective. I'm afraid we must...respectfully decline your request. But we thank you for paying us the honor of your visit. (Stannis glares at Davos; they stand up. Stannis moves away, but Davos steps towards the table)
TNTycho Nestoris
I'm not a lord, Ser Davos Seaworth. You would not be either here. In Braavos, thieves are not rewarded with titles.
Well, strictly speaking, I didn't do the thieving. That would be the pirates. I just moved what they stole from one place to another. [shows his mutilated hand] This is the payment that was demanded by King Stannis for my crimes. I consider it an honest accounting. He's an honest man and he's your best chance to get back the money you've sunk into Westeros. Which is a lot, I imagine. Wars are expensive.
TNTycho Nestoris
The war is over.
As long as Stannis lives, the war is not over. Who's the real power in King's Landing?
TNTycho Nestoris
Ser Davos.
TNTycho Nestoris
Tywin Lannister.
How old is Tywin Lannister?
67. And when he dies, who's in command? A half-grown boy, the product of incest? Cersei Lannister, a queen whose people despise her? Jaime Lannister, a man best known for killing the king he was sworn to protect? When Tywin's gone, who do you back?
TNTycho Nestoris
That is a problem for another time.
Begging your pardon, I think it's a problem for now. There's only one reliable leader left in Westeros. Stannis. He's got the birthright. He's in his prime. He's a tried and tested battle commander. And he doesn't just talk about paying people back, he does it.
Stannis Baratheon
[stopping in front of Mance and Jon, to Mance] You're the "King Beyond the Wall"? [Mance nods] Do you know who I am?
MRMance Rayder
Never had the pleasure.
This is Stannis Baratheon, the one true King of the Seven Kingdoms.
MRMance Rayder
We're not in the Seven Kingdoms, and you're not dressed for this weather.
Stannis Baratheon
[pause] It is customary to kneel when surrendering to a King. [long pause, then Mance smiles and shakes his head]
MRMance Rayder
We do not kneel.
Stannis Baratheon
I'll have thousands of your men in chains by nightfall. I have nothing to feed them and nowhere to put them. I'm not here to slaughter beaten dogs. their fate depends on their King.
MRMance Rayder
All the same, we do not kneel.
Stannis Baratheon
Take these men away.
[to Jon] What's a man of the Night's Watch doing in a Wildling camp?
I was sent to discuss terms with the King Beyond the Wall.
You're speaking to the one true King, boy. You will address him as "Your Grace".
I know he's the King. My father died for him. My name is Jon Snow, Your Grace. I'm Ned Stark's son.
Stannis Baratheon
Your father was an honorable man.
Stannis Baratheon
What do you think he'd have done with him?
I was this man's prisoner, once. He could've tortured me, he could've killed me... but instead he spared my life. I think my father would've taken him prisoner and listened to what he had to say.
Stannis Baratheon
Very well, then. [turns to Davos] Take him prisoner.
Your Grace? [Stannis turns back to him] If my father had seen the things that I've seen, he'd also tell you to burn the dead before nightfall - all of them.
Stannis Baratheon
Are you lonely?
SBShireen Baratheon
Just bored.
Stannis Baratheon
My father used to tell me that boredom indicates a lack of inner resources.
SBShireen Baratheon
Were you bored a lot, too?
Stannis Baratheon
I know Castle Black is no place for a child, but I...
SBShireen Baratheon
I like it. I thought I'd be left at home. I know Mother didn't want to bring me.
Stannis Baratheon
Why do you say that?
SBShireen Baratheon
She told me, "I don't want to bring you."
Stannis Baratheon
She shouldn't have said that.
SBShireen Baratheon
Are you ashamed of me, Father?
Stannis Baratheon
When you were an infant, a Dornish trader landed on Dragonstone. His goods were junk except for one wooden doll. He'd even sewn a dress on it in the colors of our House. No doubt he'd heard of your birth and assumed new fathers were easy targets. I still remember how you smiled when I put that doll in your cradle. How you pressed it to your cheek. By the time we burnt the doll, it was too late. I was told you would die. Or worse, the grayscale would go slow. Let you grow just enough to know the world before taking it away from you. Everyone advised me to send you to the ruins of Valyria to live out your short life with the Stone Men, before the sickness spread to the castle. I told them all to go to hell. I called in every maester on this side of the world. Every healer, every apothecary. They stopped the disease and saved your life. Because you did not belong across the world with the bloody Stone Men. You are the Princess Shireen of House Baratheon. And you are my daughter.
Forty horses died in the night. We'll lose more, come sunset. We're runnnin' out of food, we can't open the supply line until the snow clears.
Stannis Baratheon
What else?
The Stormcrows rode off last night.
Stannis Baratheon
Five hundred men. Sellswords - loyal to nothing but gold.
We still have a hard march to Winterfell, and we have a hard march in this weather.
Stannis Baratheon
And?
This isn't our time. We should head back to Castle Black, and when the snow clears...
Stannis Baratheon
I retreated from King's Landing, Ser Davos. If I retreat again, I become "the King who ran".
Stannis Baratheon
Winter is coming. Those aren't just the Stark words, that's a fact. If we march back to Castle Black, we winter at Castle Black and who can say how many years this winter will last?
It's better to wait for the right time than risk everything.
Stannis Baratheon
This is the right time and I will risk everything, because if I don't, we've lost. We march to victory, or we march to defeat. But we go forward. Only forward.
You sent for me, Your Grace?
Stannis Baratheon
Find some healthy horses and a few knights to guard you. I'm sending you back to Castle Black. Tell the Lord Commander his King commands him to send food, supplies, fresh horses. In return, when I take the Throne, I'll make sure the Night's Watch has all the men it requires. He can guard all nineteen castles on the Wall, if he so wishes.
Your Grace, you named me your Hand.
Stannis Baratheon
Yes.
The King's Hand should never abandon the King, especially in times of war.
Stannis Baratheon
You're not abandoning me, you're obeying a command.
A boy with a scroll could deliver this message.
Stannis Baratheon
And if Jon Snow refuses the boy with the scroll, what does the boy say? I didn't name you hand for your expertise in military matters. Ride for Castle Black, and don't come back empty-handed.
Your Grace, perhaps Queen Selyse and Princess Shireen could accompany me.
Stannis Baratheon
My family stays with me.
At least let me take Shireen! The siege is no place for a little girl.
Stannis Baratheon
My family stays with me.
[Stannis, wounded in the Battle of Winterfell, collapses against a tree in the forests outside Winterfell. Looking up, he sees Brienne standing over him.]
Stannis Baratheon
Bolton has women fighting for him?
I don't fight for the Boltons. I'm Brienne of Tarth. I was Kingsguard to Renly Baratheon. I was there when he was murdered by a shadow with your face. You murdered him with blood magic?
Stannis Baratheon
I did.
[Steps forth and unsheathes Oathkeeper] In the name of Renly of House Baratheon, First of His Name, rightful King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, I, Brienne of Tarth, sentence you to die. Do you have any last words?
Stannis Baratheon
Go on, do your duty. [after a pause, Brienne raises Oathkeeper and swings]
Game of Thrones · 356 quotes
