As Lord Cerion Lannister was enjoying his two twins in his room Renly Storm was in his office going over his books, some contained ledgers about the various incomes Renly had from whorehouses, inns, and the few other businesses Renly had invested in...however most of them contained archived pieces of information that Renly's network had gathered for him in Westeros. As Renly went over the information a knock on his door alerted him to someone wishing to enter, in came a stunningly beautiful and exotic woman, she was one of Renly's most sought after whores. She hard raven-black hair, emerald eyes, full lips, a curvy body of soft tanned skin, and was from one of Yunkai's pleasure houses.
"The vote has come in." The woman announced as she handed Renly a note.
Renly only needed to glance at the note to know the result...the same one that it had been for years...and inconclusive at that.
Tossing it away with disgust Renly looked to the woman and asked "Lord Lannister is in today, yes?"
The woman smiled slyly as she answered "And with his two favorites as we speak."
Renly nodded before getting up and walking past the Yunkish whore without needing to explain himself as he moved to the room he knew his twins used regularly. Making sure he was presentable in his black jerkin and dark cloth shirt beneath it Renly took a moment before knocking on the door once, twice, then a third time after a moment's pause. It was a knock all his girls (and a few men) knew...it meant Renly was on the other side of the door and needed to come in. Undoubtedly the two girls would cease what they were doing and get up to walk over to the door and open it, when the door did in fact open Renly took a few steps in and closed the door behind him to look at his patron with a smirk that befit the most hated man in Westeros.
"My apologies Lord Lannister for disturbing your...entertainment, I'll ensure that you'll be refunded your coin for this but I'm afraid we need to talk." Renly stated as if speaking to a long time friend.
Auster was dressed in blood-red robes that befitted him as a Priest of R'hllor, the One True God, however today he was not here to convert but rather to stop a war his God would not want to be fought. Auster knew that his God was truly a God of Peace, Warmth, Light, and Love, and only had His followers resort to the Sword when the Other's grip on men was too strong. Today Auster hoped that the Other was not as strong as it once was during the events leading up to the Second Long Night. Today he carried a note from his blood-father, but he did not serve House Baratheon on this day, instead he was promised this was a letter of peace that could only be delivered by a man of peace and holiness. With his mission clear Auster approached the Manor of House Targaryen in King's Landing and was stopped by the Targaryen guards.
"Halt Priest, what is your business with House Targaryen?" One of the men asked.
"I have come to speak with Rhaegar Targaryen, I am Auster Baratheon, formerly of the House Baratheon and I have a message from Lord Baratheon and a message from the True God. Could you see if your Lord is able to speak with a humble Priest of R'hllor?"
Davos watched his youngest son, Stannis, as he fought against one of the many trained knights in House Baratheon's service. Davos couldn't help but smile at the sight, after all his son was quite the fighter in his hauberk and leather armor, dashing and jumping around the heavily plated knight who tried to catch him with his blunted longsword. However so far it seemed that Stannis was doing better as he moved quickly around the knight with his blunted arming sword which ended the mock fight with a whack at the joint for the back of the knight's knee and sent him to the ground.
"A good show son, but remember it won't be single combat on the actual battlefield, everyone's going to try and take a shot at such a highborn like yourself!" Davos called out to his son as the boy barely grown helped the knight to his feet in his heavy armor, the two parting in a good-nature way.
Stannis approached his father, sweat glistening off his brow as he replied "Then I wished you'd of come here sooner father, you would've seen me fight back three of our guards before the fourth got me in the back of the head."
Davos allowed another small smile upon his bearded face as he replied "Aye, that would've been a sight to see...keep training and you'll be ready for anything they can throw at you on the real battlefield."
Stannis gave a rare smirk at that before suddenly a new voice to the mix interrupted the two, the voice of his mother "Davos, Stannis, I knew I'd find you two here!"
Lyanna Baratheon (nee Lannister) was nearly in tears of anger and clutched a note in her right hand, this distressed both Stannis and his father as Davos replied "My beloved, what troubles you!?!"
"Dany is so scared, she's locked herself in her room and refuses to open the door for even myself, when I asked what troubles her she slid this under the door!" Lyanna explained loudly as she thrust the note to Davos as if it was as hot as the coals in a lit brazier.
Davos frowned as he read the note, when he handed it to Stannis the boy's neutral expression turned to one of fury, it was the note from House Caron...
To lord paramount Davos Baratheon of Storm's End
Greetings, lord of Storms. I write you with a request, the first one in its like from my house to yours. House Caron has stand besides house Baratheon since the Age of Heroes, it is not for nothing that Maester Yandel stated: "Nightsong has been sworn to Storm's End since time immemorial". Our lords Rolland and Bryce have fought on the side of Stannis, our house has given our lands up to remain loyal to Stannis. It is in this light that I ask for a marriage between my son and heir Lyonel Caron and your daughter Daenerys Baratheon. This marriage would further improve the relations between our houses and would secure the loyalty of the Marches towards Storm's End forever. I hope for a positive reply.
signed
Bryce Caron, lord of the Marches, lord of Nightsong
"I don't understand, how does this letter bother Dany? It certainly isn't the first letter asking for her as a bride and it won't be the last." Davos asked Lyanna.
However the answer came from Stannis with his expression a mix of anger and graveness "House Linster..."
Davos glared at Stannis and asked loudly "And what does that cunt, Lord Linster, have to do with this!?! If I had it my way I'd of burnt that traitor at the stake as an offering to R'hllor!"
"He has a Swann for a bride! And the last Swann we had died in our care after she gave birth to Cassana! The only Marcher Lords more powerful than the Swanns are the Carons...and undoubtedly Dany knows you want your Marcher Lords back under your influence and not Linster's." Stannis exclaimed.
Adding in Lyanna stated "You know what he tried to do to her, you know it, you can't send her to him!"
Davos replied "I know what he tried to bloody do, but wine can cloud a man's judgement, that was not the true Lyonel undoubtedly!"
"Does it matter? He tried what he tried and Dany nor I or Stannis have forgiven him for it yet...up until a few moments ago you were in that camp as well." Lyanna pointed out, she could see that Stannis's words had had the inverse effect on Davos as he plotted in front of them, suddenly the lioness that was Lyanna was slowly coming out at the threat to her child.
"Father, there has to be another way, Dany is your daughter, your beloved daughter. You can't just sell her away to the Carons like a pleasure slave from Yunkai!" Stannis pleaded.
"What other way? I need the Marches! Or have you forgotten that most of the families of the men in my Army live within the grasps of the Marcher Lords? If House Linster gains the Marches then they gain the families of my men and if they gain the families then they have hostages that could force them against us!" Davos pointed out.
"I will sooner kill Lyonel then let him touch Dany, father...I agreed to your plan with the Targaryens, I'm willing to do that...but Dany is not willing to be sold to the Carons like I to the Targaryens. Does she mean nothing more than a political pawn to you?" Stannis questioned.
"Stannis is right my Love, we cannot let this proposed betrothal happen...not to him...not without the consent of Dany." Lyanna stated firmly.
Davos looked between the two and bit his bottom lip before he replied "Stannis will duel Lyonel at the Tourney we've planned...if Lyonel wins I'll give his family Dany...if Stannis wins then Dany will choose her own husband. There will be no argument if Stannis loses...do I make myself clear?"
Lyanna was about to protest but a hand on her arm stopped her as Stannis looked to his father and stated "I will not lose...not to him."
With that said Stannis turned and moved as fast as he could in his armor for Daenerys Baratheon's chambers, Lyanna glared at her beloved a few moments before turning and walking away, Davos knew he'd be sleeping in his own study for a while after seeing that look on his lover's face...still he now had a letter to write back so he might as well go to the study now.
To Lord Bryce of House Caron,
Greetings to you and the Blessing of R'hllor upon you Lord Bryce. In answer to your request there has been much resistance by my family to the proposal...however there is good news. House Baratheon is planning to have a Tourney soon, the details of which will soon be revealed in a letter that many Lords will receive within the week. My son and heir, Stannis of the House Baratheon, will duel Lyonel of House Caron. If he wins I've promised that my daughter will choose her own husband...if your son wins then he will have Daenerys' hand in marriage. I wish good fortunes upon your House.
Signed,
Lord Paramount Davos Baratheon of Storm's End