Editing Stannis Baratheon (section)

===''A Game of Thrones''===
[[File:Joshua Cairosstannisbaratheon.jpg|thumb|350px|Stannis Baratheon by Joshua Cairós © Fantasy Flight Games]]
Stannis expects to be named the new [[Hand of the King]] after the sudden death of Lord [[Jon Arryn]],{{ref|ACOK|Prologue}}{{ref|ACOK|31}} but King [[Robert I Baratheon]] instead leaves for the [[north]] to offer the position to his old friend, [[Eddard Stark]], [[Lord of Winterfell]] and [[Warden of the North]].{{ref|ACOK|2}} A resentful Stannis leaves for [[Dragonstone]]{{Ref|AGOT|18}}{{Ref|AGOT|20}}{{Ref|AGOT|27}} not long after with much of the [[royal fleet]].{{ref|ACOK|41}}

Stannis plans his next move,{{Ref|AGOT|20}} believing that Queen [[Cersei Lannister]] poisoned Jon.{{Ref|ACOK|Prologue}} Rather than have young [[Robert Arryn]] fostered with Stannis as planned, Jon's widow [[Lysa Arryn|Lysa]] flees back to the [[Vale of Arryn|Vale of Arryn]] with her son after Jon's death.{{Ref|AGOT|4}} Since Maester [[Cressen]] has become ill after his fall the previous year, the [[Citadel]] sends [[Pylos]] to Dragonstone, with the young maester arriving mere days before Stannis closes off the isle.{{Ref|ACOK|Prologue}}

Eddard wonders why Stannis left [[King's Landing]], believing it was due to the discovery of whatever secret Jon was allegedly murdered for, although not realizing that Stannis was also slighted by Robert's selection of Eddard as his new Hand. Ned Stark, via Grand Maester [[Pycelle]], sends a [[raven]] with a polite letter requesting Lord Stannis to return to his seat on the [[small council]].{{ref|AGOT|33}} Stannis does not attend the [[Hand's tourney]] in King's Landing.{{ref|AGOT|30}}

During Eddard's investigation of Jon's death, he discovers that Stannis and Jon had spent a great deal of time together. When he is told Stannis and Jon visited [[Chataya's brothel|a brothel]], when Stannis is normally so righteous to the point of prudish, Eddard gets closer to the truth.{{Ref|AGOT|27}} Stannis does not attend the [[Hand's tourney]] in King's Landing.{{ref|AGOT|30}}

Robert is mortally wounded by a [[boar]] while hunting in the [[kingswood]], and the dying king wants Eddard to rule as [[regent]] for his son, [[Joffrey Baratheon]].{{ref|AGOT|47}} Since Joffrey is not actually Robert's son, Ned alters the phrasing of Robert's will without his knowledge and plans to bring Stannis to the [[Iron Throne]] instead of Joffrey. Lord Stark tasks [[Tomard]] with personally delivering a letter to Stannis on Dragonstone when the ''[[Wind Witch]]'' sails north.{{ref|AGOT|47}} Ned rejects Lord [[Renly Baratheon]]'s recommendation to take Cersei's children into custody, and Lord Stark instead allies with Lord [[Petyr Baelish]], who warns that raising Stannis to the throne will bring war.{{ref|AGOT|47}} Eddard is outmaneuvered by Robert's widow, Queen Cersei, and betrayed by Lord Baelish, and Fat Tom is slain by [[City Watch of King's Landing|gold cloaks]] during the [[arrest of Eddard Stark]] in the [[Great Hall (Red Keep)|throne room]] before he can depart the capital.{{ref|AGOT|49}} Cersei shows the letter which would have been brought to Stannis to Ned's captive daughter, [[Sansa Stark]].{{ref|AGOT|51}}

[[War of the Five Kings|War breaks out]] in the [[Seven Kingdoms]] after Robert's death.{{ref|AGOT|55}} During Joffrey's first court session, Stannis, his wife [[Selyse Florent|Selyse]], and daughter [[Shireen Baratheon|Shireen]] are listed by Grand Maester Pycelle among those required to swear fealty to the new king.{{Ref|ASOS|57}} Rather than allowing Eddard to join the [[Night's Watch]] after confessing to treason, Joffrey has Lord Stark publicly executed at the [[Great Sept of Baelor]].{{ref|AGOT|65}} Eddard's eldest son, [[Robb Stark]], is declared [[King in the North]] at [[Riverrun]] after the [[Battle of the Camps]].{{ref|AGOT|71}}

Lord [[Varys]] reports that Robert's youngest brother, Renly, has been crowned at [[Highgarden]], and that Stannis is said to be building ships, hiring [[sellswords]], and bringing a [[shadowbinder]] from [[Asshai]] to Dragonstone. Lord [[Tywin Lannister]], Joffrey's Hand, thinks that Stannis is a greater threat the boy king's other rivals.{{ref|AGOT|69}}