With as many times that Stannis grinds his teeth, I'm surprised that he still has them ;).
It's been said pretty often that Davos is to Stannis what Ned should have been to Robert, but I think the difference is mostly that Stannis listens to Davos, while Robert never listened to Ned. So I'm sure the contrast must have hurt Ned.
Hmm, I've never thought of this, actually. I remember when I first read GoT and Robert says something like, "Ned, I want you for my Hand so you can rule while I whore, eat, drink, and hunt," I thought he was joking. But then Robert wasn't joking, and Ned didn't realize this until he got caught in the quicksand of King's Landing. Stannis actually wants to rule well, even he doesn't desire all the power that comes with being King. And Davos genuinely wants to help Stannis rule and makes some brilliant decisions in ASOS (well, at least I think he does).
(As for GRRM, I don't care as much about what happens to the story as long as Jon, Stannis, and Davos all survive and are happy...)
Re: Fill: Stannis/Davos from Ned's POV (hints of Robert/Ned): Making You Smile, 2/2
It's been said pretty often that Davos is to Stannis what Ned should have been to Robert, but I think the difference is mostly that Stannis listens to Davos, while Robert never listened to Ned. So I'm sure the contrast must have hurt Ned.
Hmm, I've never thought of this, actually. I remember when I first read GoT and Robert says something like, "Ned, I want you for my Hand so you can rule while I whore, eat, drink, and hunt," I thought he was joking. But then Robert wasn't joking, and Ned didn't realize this until he got caught in the quicksand of King's Landing. Stannis actually wants to rule well, even he doesn't desire all the power that comes with being King. And Davos genuinely wants to help Stannis rule and makes some brilliant decisions in ASOS (well, at least I think he does).
(As for GRRM, I don't care as much about what happens to the story as long as Jon, Stannis, and Davos all survive and are happy...)