Comment fic meme #2

[gotexchange_mod]

After the first round of got_exchange we had a surprisingly successful comment fic meme going for a while (here's a list of all the fics that were written last time), so I thought it might be fun to do this again. (Like last time, it's posted on the mod account journal because I don't want to enable anonymous comments on the exchange community.)

I changed the layout to one that still supports comment titles. I hope it works for everyone. If there are any problems, please let me know.

A couple of rules, or rather guidelines:

- please include the pairing/character (and maybe a short prompt/kink) in the comment title - both for prompts and for fills.
- there are both show and book fans on this comm, so please warn for book spoilers beyond AGOT in the comment title.
- anonymous comments are enabled, but I'd appreciate if we kept them to a minimum. If you absolutely want to go anon, okay, but I'd rather we kept this as non-anonymous as possible.
- all prompts are welcome: smut, gen, romance, fluff, angst, het, slash ... anything goes.
- and the usual: be civil, no character/pairing bashing, no kink shaming etc.

It's perfectly fine to repost prompts from the last comment fic meme or from the exchange.

As with any kink meme, this is only fun if people also fill prompts, not if there are only requests.

Filled prompts:
Jaime/Cersei: first time
Stannis/Davos: "like sailors, swimming in the sound of it (dashed to pieces)"
Queen Shireen: Shireen comes out on top of the Game of Thrones. Three heads has the dragon, and she is part-Targaryen, after all.
Jaime/Brienne: Modern AU as cops
Jon/Sansa: kissed by fire
Viserys, Elia, Rhaenys: leave me your wake to remember you by
Stannis/Jon: things he shouldn't think - or say
Robb/Theon: we had the greatest expectations (ADWD spoilers)
Roose/Robb, crack: The Young Wolf and the Leech Lord (ASOS spoilers)
Balon/Victarion: Faithfulness
Future!Rickon/Shireen: the last night of the world
Jaime/Catelyn and Jaime/Sansa: Jaime has a secret thing for reheads
Ned/Catelyn: when it became a love match
Petyr/Lysa: Her eyes closed
Jon/Val: In which Jon does end up with Val and Winterfell (ADWD spoilers)
Gendry/Arya: role reversal
Tywin/Joanna: dominance
Stannis/Davos, comfort: small undertakings
Stannis/Jon: things he shouldn't think - or say (second fill)
Roose/Walda/Stannis, crackfic: Pink Attack (ADWD spoilers?)
Petyr/Barbrey, bitterness: Ash (ADWD spoilers)
Brandon/Lyanna: belonging to Winterfell
Daenerys/Viserys: Just a Taste
Roose/Theon, Ramsay/Theon: Bad Blood (ADWD spoilers)
Stannis/Sansa: "I am a Stark, I can be brave."
Cersei/Ned: AU in which Ned did take the Iron Throne and Cersei ended up marrying him instead of Robert
Jon/Satin, crackfic: how Jon Snow learned to stop worrying and laugh at the insinuations
Elia/Oberyn: heart's desire
Euron/Victarion: pre-series hatesex
Lysa and Catelyn after the birth of Robb: lie by the river
Roose/Theon (hints of Robb/Theon): Another man's amusement (vague ADWD spoilers?)
Jaime/Brienne, dirty talk and consensual power play: with a wonder and a wild desire
Stannis/Sansa: wedding (sequel)
Stannis/Sansa and Stannis/Davos, dancing: Wishing to be in Two Places at Once
Brandon/Barbrey, Bethany: No True Knight (ADWD spoilers)
Ned, Sansa: "Sansa was a lady at three."
Daenerys/Robb, AU: Fire, Blood, and Honour
Roose/Victarion, crackfic: When all else fails
Robb/Theon, slight Robb/Jon: War is Not a Game
Stannis/Davos from Ned's POV (hints of Robert/Ned): Making You Smile
Catelyn/Petyr: Confrontation
Stannis/Jon, fantasies: and waked half dead with nothing (ASOS spoilers)
Jaime, Arya: The Shadow
Victarion/Asha: We do not sow
Ned/Catelyn, goodbyes: Songs written with swords
Ned/Ashara: winter song
Sansa - Stoneheart: confrontation
Jon/Sansa (AFFC spoilers, prompt is spoilery in itself)
Jon/Val: with you upon the wind (ADWD spoilers)
Daenerys/VIserys, AU: When the Blood began to Show
Stannis/Davos: six perspectives, six realities
Roose/Walda, crackfic: Leeches for Wolves
Jaime/Sansa, talking about Joffrey: Ignorance and Bliss
Sansa, Rickon: The last two Starks (ADWD spoilers)
Theon/Robb: Regrets (ADWD spoilers)
Cersei/Stannis, seduction fail: Persuasion
Jon, Stannis, Devan, mentions of Davos: Through the Eyes of a Child
Sansa, Brienne: True Knights (AFFC spoilers, prompt is spoilery in itself)
Stannis/Sansa: bedding & wedding night (sequel to this)
Catelyn, Jon (slight Jon/Robb), reunion AU: Lady of Ashes (ASOS spoilers)
Sansa/Robb, AU in which they do exchange her for Jaime: The Mercy of the Frozen Ground
Tywin/Joanna: dominance (second fill)
Jon Snow/Jeyne Westerling(/Robb Stark): post-series - tell me we both matter, don't we?
Robb/Jeyne: what was it like being the queen to a Northern king? (ASOS spoilers)
Robb/Roslin Frey: Robb upholds his vow and ends up with Roslin


Multiple fills are of course welcome.

Comments

Dancing Stannis

[outboxed.livejournal.com]

My housemate has become obsessed with Dancing Stannis (http://theuglydance.com/?v=owslufddqp), so I humbly request anything which involves Stannis and dancing. Seriously, go wild with it. Anything.

Re: Dancing Stannis

[ishi-chan.livejournal.com]

Is it bad that in my head he's dancing with Sansa? This is all linndechir's fault.

Whoever it will be, seconded!

Re: Dancing Stannis

[outboxed.livejournal.com]

Linndechir poisons all our minds with her (amazing) ships.

So glad my housemate and I are not alone in craving dancing Stannis.

Re: Dancing Stannis

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

I am so proud of myself for spreading the pairing love. So going to write this. ^^

Re: Dancing Stannis

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

Awkward Stannis/Sansa dancing. I am SO doing this, as soon as I'm done with Stannis/Jon. And Dancing Stannis is the most hilraious thing ever. ^^

Re: Dancing Stannis

[outboxed.livejournal.com]

Stannis would be so uncomfortable with it. Oh Stannis, why do we (and Westerosi court manners) make you do these things? Clearly we are just cruel. I can't wait to see what you do with this. :D

My housemate is obsessed with Dancing Stannis - it's actually sort of worrying. Yesterday, after watching the new ep of TWD, she turned to me and said: "I'm sad. Can we watch Dancing Stannis?" Of course, I obliged. I'm just worried she's going to start singing the song the moment he appears on screen in the show. ;D

Re: Dancing Stannis

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

This might actually be turning into a much longer Stannis/Sansa wedding fic, which would ONLY consist of Stannis being uncmofortable, Sansa being afraid, and everyone being like, "Stannis, FFS, you HAVE to dance with your bride." Davos would make him. There's also Kingsguard!Jon looming in the background, but at least Sansa doesn't know he's perving on her new husband. ;)

I need to catch up on the new Walking Dead eps. Please tell me Daryl is still alive? But I ca nsee mhow Dancing Stannis is instant happiness ... also, you made your housemate sound like Abed.

Re: Dancing Stannis

[outboxed.livejournal.com]

Ooh. I am totally curious about this. It would be an INCREDIBLY awkward wedding. I love the idea of Davos stepping in and making Stannis dance though. D'aww.

Daryl is definitely still alive! The new eps of The Walking Dead have been pretty good so it's worth catching up when you get the time - though no Daryl in ep10, if I recall correctly. My housemate finds the Abed comparison very flattering and she keeps whistling the Dancing Stannis music. Oh my.

Re: Dancing Stannis

[lydzi.livejournal.com]

I lost about some time since you posted that comment on this dancing Stannis. No shame XD.

Re: Dancing Stannis

[outboxed.livejournal.com]

Dancing Stannis is a wonderful thing and one you should never be ashamed of! :D

Fill: Stannis/Sansa, wedding, 1/3

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

Somehow Stannis dancing only takes up about one paragraph of this fic. But there IS dancing, I promise. So, here you go, have Stannis and Sansa's wedding. With cameos by Kingsguard!Jon and Hand!Davos. This fic ends before the bedding, but I really want to write their wedding night as well, so there will most likely be a sequel to this. Without dancing.



Once upon a time, a little girl named Sansa Stark had planned out her wedding in every detail. During the ceremony her husband-to-be - young, handsome, tall, strong - would stand behind her and put his cloak around her shoulders, his hands warm and gentle, and then he would lean in to kiss her cheek, and his lips and face would be as smooth as her own.

Then, after her father's death, she had come to dread her wedding to the golden prince who had turned out to be a monster, and when she did get married to the prince's uncle, it had been nothing but a farce, a nightmare so strange that she can barely believe now it had ever happened.

She is still terrified on her true wedding day - and she knows that this will not be a fleeting, unconsummated thing like her Lannister wedding, that this will be for life - but it is a different kind of fear. Men say that her husband, the king, is a man of honour, hard, but just and fair, uncompromising, but not cruel without cause. Jon said so. He seemed to hold the king in high regard, and even though she had never been close to her bastard brother, she cannot imagine him respecting a monster. Jon - Ser Jon now, she corrects herself, and she is still not used to seeing him in white - looks at the king with such admiration, and yet the man himself intimidates her as much as Tywin Lannister himself had.

She had always wanted her whole family to be at her wedding, mother and father and Robb, little Bran and Rickon, and even Arya would be there, wearing a beautiful dress for once. But she forces herself to cut that line of thought before tears find the way to her eyes. She was a Stark of Winterfell and the future queen of the Seven Kingdoms. So she swallows and glances at Jon, as silent and white as his direwolf as he follows the king, only a few steps behind. He doesn't look like a bastard boy anymore in his Kingsguard armour, he looks grown-up, handsome even, and Sansa reminds herself that she should be grateful at least one familiar face is here.

King Stannis Baratheon is not a splendid sight, but he is as intimidating in black and golden finery - still oddly understated for a king on his wedding day - as he was in the dark armour she has seen him in before. He looks regal, though, she finds herself thinking, more like a king than Robert or Joffrey ever had: tall and broad-shouldered, the golden crown as sharp as the angles of his face, and although he looks uncomfortable with the court's eyes on him, there is a strength in his bearing that makes her shiver. She used to dream of a prince, not of a warrior king.

His blue eyes remain cold throughout the entire ceremony. At first she thinks he looks indifferent, and she wonders with sympathy if he is still grieving for his first wife, but then she realises that he looks annoyed. As if marrying her was a nuisance, a tedious duty like arguing with lords and listening to petitioners. She had felt relief the first few times she had met him because he had always looked into her eyes, never at her body, never stared at her with that threatening desire she had almost grown used to seeing in men's eyes. But he still meets her eyes as he swears his vows, his movements seem almost mechanical as he drapes the golden cloak over her shoulders, and for the first time she realises that marrying a man who does not even want her might just be worse.

Fill: Stannis/Sansa, wedding, 2/3

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

His fingertips brush her temples as he puts the crown on her head, a more slender version of the one he is wearing, the metal cool against her brow. Queen, she thinks. It is too cold in the throne room, and she shivers. Queen Sansa. It had once been her greatest dream, but now she feels lost next to this man who is old enough to be her father, and who looks like he has about as much use for her as for a child.

She hears murmurs in the crowd, and she hopes they only comment on her beauty. She knows they mutter and complain, all of them – the Tyrells who would have gladly pushed Lady Margaery at yet another king, the Martells who tried to offer him Princess Arianne when the last Targaryens fell. She wonders why he has chosen her, if it is gratitude to the North or anger at the South.

The feast is a sullen affair. There is singing and dancing and delicious food, but the king only glares at the court and barely looks at her, and she hears him mutter to his Lord Hand that the crown should not have wasted money on such frivolity. She does not hear the Hand's reply – Lord Davos, a common-looking man, and she finds it hard to believe the king raised smuggler to a lordship – but it seems to calm the king for a moment, before their conversation grows somewhat more agitated. The king looks angry, glances at her, then seems to relent.

As he offers her his arm and leads her from the table, she realises that Lord Davos had to talk King Stannis into dancing with her. Her back straightens as she feels the court's eyes on them, her face stills into a carefully arranged mask. Most of the men present had been here when Joffrey had had her beaten, but she would not let them disrespect her. She would make them see a queen, not a frightened girl who could not meet her husband's eye.

She does not flinch when he takes her hand, large and rough, the other one resting on her hip as lightly as if he was afraid to touch her. She finds it oddly reassuring to see his strength kept under such a tight lid.

It is not that he cannot dance. He knows the steps, he never steps on her toes like her brothers used to when they were children, his hands are guiding her without pushing or pulling. But she has never seen any man look more uncomfortable, more stiff, more out of his element than Stannis Baratheon in this moment, his face calm and concentrated, his brow still furrowed in annoyance.

"It's a mummer's farce," he mutters after a while, and she looks up in surprise. It's the first time he has addressed her today with anything but courteous phrases, and there's a refreshing honsety in his voice. "They cower and bow, when half of them watched your father's murder and fought for my downfall."

"They lost, Your Grace," she replies quietly, and she dares to curl her fingers a little more around his. She hesitates, chooses her words carefully. She does not say, we won, because it had never been about winning for her. She had never wanted to play this game. "They lost, and we ... we live."

He meets her eyes then, and for the first time she feels like he is truly looking at her, at her, not at Ned Stark's daughter, not at the sister of the Lord of Winterfell, not at the woman he married to produce a male heir. For a moment she fears that he will think her words stupid, that he will be angry and hurt her, but instead there is just a twitch in his jaw muscles and he nods.

Fill: Stannis/Sansa, wedding, 3/3

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

The king doesn't say any more, he leads her back to the table after a single dance, but she likes to think that he pulls his hand away from her arm just a little less quickly than before. As the king turns back to Lord Davos, Jon leans forward a little and whispers into her ear.

"What did you say to make His Grace smile?" It is not very lady-like, but for a moment she stares at him with her mouth open like a fish.

"That was his smile?" And as Jon's eyes brighten with humour, so much like father's when he watched them play, she finds herself smiling as well. Next to her the king is sipping water from a cup, and she has seen enough drunk men to find his sobriety reassuring. His eyes meet hers for a second, and in that one moment she remembers all the things he has said to her the few times they met before today.

I know you will not love me, nor will I ever ask you to. I only expect you to do your duty.

You do not want this. No, don't flatter me by pretending otherwise.

You will be protected now, you have my word on that. You have nothing to fear from the Lannisters, from anyone. Nor from me.

Queen Cersei will be executed tomorrow morning. I thought you should know. That had been the last time the king had spoken to her before the wedding. She had straightened her back at the news, and even to her own ears her voice had sounded like ice when she replied, With Your Grace's permission, I would like to be present at the execution. She thought she had seen something like approval in his eyes then, and he had granted her the request.

Maybe, she thinks, maybe it will not be so bad. Mother married father out of duty when he was nothing but a stranger, and they loved each other more than any other couple she ever saw. She cannot imagine ever loving King Stannis – and his eyes are so cold that she cannot imagine him loving her either – but for just one moment she allows herself to hope that he might at least treat her kindly.

It was more than she had dared to hope for in years.

Re: Fill: Stannis/Sansa, wedding, 3/3

[juno-chan.livejournal.com]

UGHHH this is wonderful, I never thought to ship Stannis and Sansa but I think you have converted me! I love Sansa's resignment at the beginning, and how it leads to cautious hope at the end - not even hope that she will love him, but hope that she will at least be safe and treated kindly, MERGH I JUST WANT SANSA TO BE SAAAAAAFE!

I think my favorite bit was Jon asking Sansa what she said to make Stannis smile and her asking, "That was his smile??" because LOLZ, just so, so perfect. I also loved the inclusion of Jon and Davos because I love whenever the two of them have interaction with Stannis, it's just great.

Loved Sansa asking to be present for Cersei's execution, and how that earned Stannis's respect. I also loved her reflection at the end that maybe the marriage would not be so bad and the comparison to her parents' marriage, because I love Sansa still being a dreamer and a romantic, at heart, despite all she's been through (and hate that she gets flack for having these lofty dreams at the beginning of the series, she grew up happy in Winterfell, of course she does!).

Just really really excellent, I love your Stannis. <3 (and love Stannis in general, but you've made me appreciate him even more!)

Re: Fill: Stannis/Sansa, wedding, 3/3

[westeroswolf.livejournal.com]

Stannis and Sansa, madness I thought. How wrong was I! It makes perfect sense! Great story, I think romantic Sansa is perfect for him and there's enough of a northerner in him for her to appreciate. Also Stannis is hilarious.

Re: Fill: Stannis/Sansa, wedding, 3/3

[lainemontgomery.livejournal.com]

Okay. I was going into this being all "Stannis/Sansa, SHUT UP". But you melted my little cynic's heart, that you did.

I really do adore Stannis and all of his stoic awkwardness. But while he looks intimidating (LOVED the comparison to Tywin Lannister), I really think that he'd do his best to treat Sansa with care. And after everything, that just might be what she needs.

Davos had to talk him into dancing- HA! What would Stannis do without his Onion Knight? And obviously, Kingsguard!Jon is fabulous.

The ending, I think, is what really, truly won me over. I love the strength we get from Sansa here- wanting to be there when Cersei goes down was a brilliant touch. And the last line- ohhh, all the feels.

Truly amazing work. And if you do decide to write the wedding night, I'm so there. ;)

[assassin-nariel.livejournal.com]

Well you heard my reaction earlier. Uncivilised sounds and all. SANSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA MY QUEEN!!!!!!!!!!!
more?

Re: Fill: Stannis/Sansa, wedding, 3/3

[outboxed.livejournal.com]

THIS IS UTTERLY LOVELY. Perfect version of Stannis' court and his badly hidden disdain for them.

She would make them see a queen, not a frightened girl who could not meet her husband's eye.
Yesss. Because ASOIAF is all about pretending, all about making people see what you want them to. So many amazing canon parallels in this one line.

& I love how Stannis' stiff and awkward dancing is just an exact extension of his general demeanor. And SANSA DOESN'T REALISE HE'S SMILING BUT JON DOES. Completely apt.

And Stannis begins to see Sansa for who she is when she speaks her mind which is just how it should be. Because, for all that Sansa is about courtesy, she can say what she means with Stannis. Also: all the things he'd said to her are so right on.

And asldfjklgh Sansa WOULD think of her parents' marriage. That had always been my Sansa headcanon - whoever she marries, she's always going to want to believe that they could truly love each other, as Ned and Catelyn had done.

Gorgeous, wonderful: linndechir for all the awards! After a trying day, I can now go to bed feeling content with the universe all because of this beautiful fic.

Re: Fill: Stannis/Sansa, wedding, 3/3

[sternflammenden.livejournal.com]

I love so much of this: how Stannis is the first man to look at Sansa as though she's a person & not a prize or a means to power, the fact that Davos had to talk him into dancing at all, Sansa comparing Jon to Ned (I love the idea that he's Ned's bastard and not magic-sparkly Targ!Jon), and the indirect comparisons of Stannis and Ned.

You've really made me ship them. :)

Re: Fill: Stannis/Sansa, wedding, 3/3

[midnightblack07.livejournal.com]

oohh I loved this!!

This isn't a pairing I ever really considered before, but I definately see the appeal in it, and if anything at least we know Stannis would be a just and honorable husband if nothing else (y)

I LOVE that you highlighted the way Stannis would look her in the eyes and that there was no lustfulness about his interactions with her (because, while I'd like to think he'd come to want her in time, our bb has already dealth with her fair share of creeps *shudders*).

And I squealed at Kingsguard!Jon, and how he was able to pick up on her making the King smile because HE WOULD WOULDN'T HE haha :p

Re: Fill: Stannis/Sansa, wedding, 3/3

[ofraindrops.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this great fic! Stannis dancing omg <333

SEQUEL HERE

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

The ensuing bedding and wedding night got way too long for comments, so here's the link (http://linndechir.livejournal.com/43852.html)

Fill 2: Wishing to be in Two Places at Once 1/4, Stannis/Sansa, Stannis/Davos

[emynithilien.livejournal.com]

Wishing To Be In Two Places At Once

Summary: A feast is held in King’s Landing to celebrate the betrothal of King Stannis Baratheon to Lady Sansa Stark. Davos convinces his king to dance with Sansa. Stannis/Sansa and Stannis/Davos.

Note: In this story Stannis has recently won the Iron Throne and the realm is relatively at peace. Jon survived, Bran and Rickon are ruling Winterfell, Melisandre and Selsye both had fatal accidents while at the Wall, and…that as much detail as I’ve thought of. I imagine Davos to be a good dancer, and like to think him and Marya have danced many nights away in King’s Landing and at Cape Wrath. Part of Stannis and Sansa’s conversation is lifted straight out of a conversation Faramir and Éowyn have in Lord of the Rings.

In my mind, THIS piece of music is playing in the first dancing scene of this story, the 2nd movement of Prokofiev's 2nd violin concerto: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoeURsyVdBU

Davos

“It is expected that the King should dance with his betrothed at his own betrothal feast.”

Stannis scowled at him, his mouth set in a thin line.

“There will be many other lords and knights for my Lady Sansa to dance with,” growled Stannis. Knights much younger and more handsome than yourself, is that what you mean to say Your Grace?

“As you know, Maester Pylos has arranged dancing lessons for your daughter and my sons.”

“The follies of youth,” muttered Stannis.

“And,” continued Davos, pretending he hadn’t heard his King, “I would be more than happy to reacquaint your Grace with some of the most common court dances. They haven’t changed much since your brother sat the Iron Throne.”

“And what would a smuggler know about dancing?”

Davos thought back many years ago to when he first met his Marya, spinning her around as a fiddler scratched out a lively tune in a nondescript tavern in Flea Bottom.

“I might not know too much about courtly dances or the etiquette of how many times it is proper for a knight to dance with a lady not his wife, but I do know that there is no sweeter sight than seeing your partner smile and no sound more satisfying than hearing your partner laugh as you twirl her about on the dance floor.” And maybe Lady Sansa can finally teach you how to laugh, my King.

Stannis paused for a second, and Davos could hear the grinding of teeth.

“Very well, let us get this over will,” said Stannis.

Have you danced at all since your first wedding? wondered Davos, as he studied Stannis’ face. The answer was probably no, dancing being seen as a frivolous thing in his King’s eyes, fit only for lords who liked dressing up and having all the court’s eyes on them. And likely you only danced with Selsye then to spite Renly and Robert.

Davos settled his right hand on Stannis’ shoulder, his thumb lightly brushing his King’s collar bone. Davos felt Stannis shiver slightly at the touch, though it was far from cold in the room.

“Put your hand on my waist,” Davos whispered. He realized that his King’s face was unexpectedly close to his. Almost close enough to...

He felt a slight pressure on his waist, and Stannis’ hand grabbed Davos’ maimed one tightly, almost possessively.

“Now,” said Davos softly, feeling like shivering himself as he started to hum a melody, “Do you remember the steps that go with this tune?”

Stannis’ eyes had closed and his expression was unreadable, but the tension in his body was starting to dissipate. He gave a small nod, and slowly but surely began to move his feet in an intricate pattern learned so long ago.

See, that wasn’t so difficult, thought Davos with a calm smile.

Re: Fill 2: Wishing to be in Two Places at Once 2/4, Stannis/Sansa, Stannis/Davos

[emynithilien.livejournal.com]

Stannis

He wished his arms and legs didn’t feel so stiff. If Sansa noticed, she didn’t say anything, just followed his lead. And he hadn’t stepped on her toes or tripped over her long dress—yet. Her hand was warm in his, and she was certainly a vision in a gown of white lace and cloth of silver, as befitted a Stark maid. However, what put him most at ease were her eyes—kindness simply radiated from them, and her shy glance was accompanied with a faint blush on her cheeks that reminded him much of how Davos would look at him when he didn’t think his king was looking. No, I must not dwell on that.

“What are you thinking about, my Lord?” questioned Sansa, pulling Stannis out of his reverie.

“Would you have my plain answer?”

“I would.”

“Then, Sansa Stark of Winterfell, I say to you that you are beautiful, and I have yet to meet at lady with such patience and such a gentle spirit as you, except for, well…” His thoughts went back to his childhood, of happier times at Storm’s end before his parents’ fateful voyage. I know that ladies loathe being compared to others, but I trust this one to be able to accept the truth.

“Yes?” prompted Sansa, with a quirk of her eyebrow.

“If it does not offend my Lady, I would say that you remind me of my mother, Lady Cassana Estermont. It was her certain kindness that won my father to her, and she always knew how to make everyone around her smile. I lost her when I was thirteen.”

Gods, she must think me overly sentimental now, thought, Stannis, but if anything, Sansa’s features softened and she gave him her first true smile.

“It is a wise man who holds his mother in high esteem and respects her memory. I am honored that I remind you of someone so dear to your heart. And if I may say so myself, if half of the tales are true about how you oversee justice, then you remind me of my father.”

Stannis stilled at that comment, and his lips curved into a smile—almost. Though he had never personally cared for Eddard Stark, there was no other man in Westeros he would be prouder to be compared to at the moment.

The music stopped, and Stannis lightly brushed his lips over Sansa’s hand. “Until later, my Lady.”


Davos

Davos found his King outside on a balcony, leaning against the wall starring into the depths of the sea, which matched the deep blue of his eyes. He wasn’t quite surprised, for Stannis was never a man to revel in the company of large crowds. And the hall could get stifling hot, despite its closeness to the sea. Davos felt that being the center of attention with crowds around you all the time would be enough to frighten away any sane man for the kingship. He wondered how Stannis would deal with it, for King’s Landing was far from being Dragonstone, or even Storm’s end.

He joined Stannis at the wall, standing as close as he dared.

“Your Grace, surely you will dance with Sansa once more before she retires? I believe she rather liked her time with you tonight, and it would much please her.”

“I’ve done my duty for the night.”

Davos shrugged. Stannis looked at him.

“You have something more you wish to say to me, something that’s troubling you. I can sense it. Out with it then.”

I’m sure that Sansa wouldn’t mind if you did more than your duty, much like I’ve always done with you, and what I will do to the end of my days. But this he would never tell his King. Instead, he asked, “May I have your leave to dance with her?”

Stannis must have understood who “her” was referring, for he gave the slightest of nods, though he didn’t quite believe that was the only question Davos wanted to ask. He then went back to staring out at the sea below him.

~

Re: Fill 2: Wishing to be in Two Places at Once 3/4, Stannis/Sansa, Stannis/Davos

[emynithilien.livejournal.com]

Back inside, Davos found Lady Sansa sitting at the high table, petting a white direwolf with red eyes. Ghost looked up at his approach.

“I see you have found company. Perhaps the wolf would like to dance?”

Sansa smiled. “I’d love for Jon to get him to try. I hear Ghost is a miserable juggler, though.”

“My lady, may I have this next dance? If the wolf doesn’t object,” Davos asked Sansa. Ghost turned his head to look at him, though he didn’t make any sound.

“Most certainly, Lord Seaworth,” smiled Sansa, as she took Davos’ proffered hand.

“I am afraid that one dance has tired my King, but with a partner as lovely as you I hope he has the stamina for many more in the years to come. He is not usually as standoffish to others as he might appear.” That’s the truth as I see it, even though others might differ with me. He just needs you to earn his respect. Sansa blushed at the compliment, and in combination with her auburn hair, the effect was quite lovely.

“Well, if I am to judge my betrothed based on the quality of those lords he keeps close to him, then I should have nothing to worry about, do I?” said Sansa with a smile.

Thank the gods she never met the Lady Melisandre, save her soul.