Difference between revisions of "A Clash of Kings-Prologue"

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Cressen explains that Robert did him an injustice, but gave him lordship of Dragonstone because a man’s strength was needed to hold it; Renly was just a boy. To this Stannis comments that Renly is still a boy, a thieving child; Renly has never done anything to deserve to be a throne. Stannis now asks why the gods had to inflict him with brothers. Then Stannis asks about the advice Renly gets from his maester  and Cressen states he doubts Renly seeks council; Renly is bold and heedless, much like Robert.
 
Cressen explains that Robert did him an injustice, but gave him lordship of Dragonstone because a man’s strength was needed to hold it; Renly was just a boy. To this Stannis comments that Renly is still a boy, a thieving child; Renly has never done anything to deserve to be a throne. Stannis now asks why the gods had to inflict him with brothers. Then Stannis asks about the advice Renly gets from his maester  and Cressen states he doubts Renly seeks council; Renly is bold and heedless, much like Robert.
  
When Stannis asks what he is to tell the few anxious bannermen he does command, Maester Cressen reminds him that [[House Lannister]] is his true enemy and suggests that he join with Renly to defeat them. Stannis flatly refuses. Cressen yields immediately and suggests a partnership with the new [[King in the North]], [[Robb Stark]], who commands all the power of [[Winterfell]] and [[Riverrun]]. Stannis again refuses, claiming that the Robb is a green boy and another false king that seeks to steal half his kingdom. Cressen suggests that half a realm is better than none and that Robb may even submit in exchange for help avenging his father, but Stannis remains adamant and launches into another rant about slights he received at the hands of his brother Robert. The rand includes the slights Robert gave him by treating [[Eddard Stark]] more as a brother than him, how Eddard had gotten the praise of lifting the siege of Storm’s End when it was Stannis that had held the castle, and when [[Jon Arryn]] died offered [[Hand of the King]] to [[Eddard Stark]]. Cressen proposes a marriage pact between Shireen and young [[Robert Arryn]]. Stannis dismisses the possibility of bringing the weak and sickly Robert to Dragonstone, as planned before Lord Arryn’s death, because [[Lysa Arryn]] is paranoia and hides him in the [[Eyrie]]. Then Cressen urges sending Shireen and her fool to the Eryie; Dragonstone is a grim home for a child. Stannis now agrees that it is worth a try.
+
When Stannis asks what he is to tell the few anxious bannermen he does command, Maester Cressen reminds him that [[House Lannister]] is his true enemy and suggests that he join with Renly to defeat them. Stannis flatly refuses. Cressen yields immediately and suggests a partnership with the new [[King in the North]], [[Robb Stark]], who commands all the power of [[Winterfell]] and [[Riverrun]]. Stannis again refuses, claiming that the Robb is a green boy and another false king that seeks to steal half his kingdom. Cressen suggests that half a realm is better than none and that Robb may even submit in exchange for help avenging his father, but Stannis remains adamant and launches into another rant about slights he received at the hands of his brother Robert. The rant includes the slights Robert gave him by treating [[Eddard Stark]] more as a brother than him, how Eddard had gotten the praise of lifting the siege of Storm’s End when it was Stannis that had held the castle, and when [[Jon Arryn]] died offered [[Hand of the King]] to [[Eddard Stark]]. Cressen proposes a marriage pact between Shireen and young [[Robert Arryn]]. Stannis dismisses the possibility of bringing the weak and sickly Robert to Dragonstone, as planned before Lord Arryn’s death, because [[Lysa Arryn]] is paranoia and hides him in the [[Eyrie]]. Then Cressen urges sending Shireen and her fool to the Eryie; Dragonstone is a grim home for a child. Stannis now agrees that it is worth a try.
  
 
Then Stannis’ tall thin wife, [[Selyse Florent|Queen Selyse]], arrives to argue that Stannis should not have to beg or bargain help from widows and usurpers; they all owe their allegiance him as the true king. Queen Selyse has been entirely converted to the worship of the foreign god [[R'hllor]] by the red priestess [[Melisandre]] of [[Asshai]]. Stannis tells her he needs swords, and if she has an army. She replies that [[House Florent]] can provide an army, but Stannis replies that they can only provide 2,000 men, and is too close to [[Highgarden]]. The queen proclaims that the [[Red Comet|comet]] is an omen from the Lord of Light that he will aid Stannis in his conquest. Stannis, who does not share his wife’s newfound faith, questions how many men the Red God will deliver him. Selyse insists that R’hllor will provide all the power of [[Highgarden]] and [[Storm's End]]. Stannis reminds her that those men now support Renly. Selyse agrees, but suggests that if Renly should die, his army would join Stannis. She then continues that Melisandre has looked into the flames and seen Renly dead. Cressen is horrified by the notion and pleads that fratricide is evil. Stannis declares that he has heard Cressen’s advice, will now hear hers, and sends the aged maester away.
 
Then Stannis’ tall thin wife, [[Selyse Florent|Queen Selyse]], arrives to argue that Stannis should not have to beg or bargain help from widows and usurpers; they all owe their allegiance him as the true king. Queen Selyse has been entirely converted to the worship of the foreign god [[R'hllor]] by the red priestess [[Melisandre]] of [[Asshai]]. Stannis tells her he needs swords, and if she has an army. She replies that [[House Florent]] can provide an army, but Stannis replies that they can only provide 2,000 men, and is too close to [[Highgarden]]. The queen proclaims that the [[Red Comet|comet]] is an omen from the Lord of Light that he will aid Stannis in his conquest. Stannis, who does not share his wife’s newfound faith, questions how many men the Red God will deliver him. Selyse insists that R’hllor will provide all the power of [[Highgarden]] and [[Storm's End]]. Stannis reminds her that those men now support Renly. Selyse agrees, but suggests that if Renly should die, his army would join Stannis. She then continues that Melisandre has looked into the flames and seen Renly dead. Cressen is horrified by the notion and pleads that fratricide is evil. Stannis declares that he has heard Cressen’s advice, will now hear hers, and sends the aged maester away.
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Hours later, Cressen wakes to discover it is dark and he has overslept for the feast; he is surprised he had not been summoned for the feast. He calls for Pylos, which is strange since his room is just down the hall, and Pylos should have come for him for the feast. He has to shout for the servants. As he crosses the long gallery, the comet outside the windows looks malevolent to him, and he thinks he should not fear. When he enters the great hall, he finds Stannis and his bannermen have begun without him. As Cressen crosses the room, Patchface the fool lurches into him while singing the same song from the morning and they both fall to the floor. Face to face with Creseen, the fool says “Under the sea you fall off, I know, I know.”  Cressen is too feeble to rise on his own, and fortunately strong hands lift him to his feet. When he turns to thank the knight he believes helped him, he comes face-to-face with the enticing Melisandre herself, clothed in red silk and her eyes red. The red priestess mockingly advises him to mind his steps, intoning her religion's prayer, “For the night is dark and full of terrors.” Cressen insists that only children fear the dark. Melisandre gives him a riddle “A cleaver fool and a foolish wise man” and places Patchface’s ridiculous antlered helm upon Cressen’s head, telling him “A crown to match your chain, lord maester.” Around them comes laughter. Cressen removes the crown, fighting his rage. He tells her “I need no crown but truth.” Melisandre replies that “There are truths in this world that are not taught in Old Town.”
 
Hours later, Cressen wakes to discover it is dark and he has overslept for the feast; he is surprised he had not been summoned for the feast. He calls for Pylos, which is strange since his room is just down the hall, and Pylos should have come for him for the feast. He has to shout for the servants. As he crosses the long gallery, the comet outside the windows looks malevolent to him, and he thinks he should not fear. When he enters the great hall, he finds Stannis and his bannermen have begun without him. As Cressen crosses the room, Patchface the fool lurches into him while singing the same song from the morning and they both fall to the floor. Face to face with Creseen, the fool says “Under the sea you fall off, I know, I know.”  Cressen is too feeble to rise on his own, and fortunately strong hands lift him to his feet. When he turns to thank the knight he believes helped him, he comes face-to-face with the enticing Melisandre herself, clothed in red silk and her eyes red. The red priestess mockingly advises him to mind his steps, intoning her religion's prayer, “For the night is dark and full of terrors.” Cressen insists that only children fear the dark. Melisandre gives him a riddle “A cleaver fool and a foolish wise man” and places Patchface’s ridiculous antlered helm upon Cressen’s head, telling him “A crown to match your chain, lord maester.” Around them comes laughter. Cressen removes the crown, fighting his rage. He tells her “I need no crown but truth.” Melisandre replies that “There are truths in this world that are not taught in Old Town.”
  
When he reaches the high table, Cressen sees that Stannis has given his accustomed seat to Maester Pylos. When questioned why he did not wake him, Pylos, blushing, states he was told that he was told to let Cressen rest and that Cressen was not needed here. Melisandre sits to Stannis’ right, in the place of high honor. Of all the lords, only Lord Davos will meet his gaze, with pity in his eyes. Stannis declares that Pylos will now assume all of Cressen's duties, insisting that Cressen is too ill and confused to be of use to him any longer. Cressen cannot believe it is Stannis’s voice that states this. He is heartbroken by the rejection, thinking how he was the one that loved him as a boy despite all, and Stannis was the one that was unloved. Cressen accepts and meekly pleads for some place at the table; he belongs at Stannis’ side. Of all the assemble lords, only Ser Davos offers him a seat.
+
When he reaches the high table, Cressen sees that Stannis has given his accustomed seat to Maester Pylos. When questioned why he did not wake him, Pylos, blushing, states he was told that he was told to let Cressen rest and that Cressen was not needed here. Cressen looks at the gaudily knights and captains: aged and sour Lord [[Ardrian Celtigar]], handsome Lord [[Monford Velaryon]], plump 14 year old Lord [[Duram Bar Emmon]], homely Ser [[Axell Florent]], Lord [[Guncer Sunglass]], and the Lysene captain [[Salladhor Saan]]. Only Davos is simply dressed. Melisandre sits to Stannis’ right, in the place of high honor. Of all the lords, only Lord Davos will meet his gaze, with pity in his eyes. Stannis declares that Pylos will now assume all of Cressen's duties, insisting that Cressen is too ill and confused to be of use to him any longer. Cressen cannot believe it is Stannis’s voice that states this. He is heartbroken by the rejection, thinking how he was the one that loved him as a boy despite all, and Stannis was the one that was unloved. Cressen accepts and meekly pleads for some place at the table; he belongs at Stannis’ side. Of all the assemble lords, only Ser Davos offers him a seat.
  
 
Davos thinks that Melisandre is too far for him to get the Strangler into her cup. Meanwhile the fool states “Here we eat fish, under the sea the fish eat us. I know, I know.” Davos informs him that that it is fools business tonight and Melisandre has seen victory in her flames and that Stannis intends to press his claim. After a final plea for Stannis to make common cause with Lysa and Robb, he is told by Stannis that he makes common cause with no one. Cressen states, even as rightful heir, he needs allies; Queen Selyse states he has an ally in R'hllor. To this Cressen insists gods make uncertain allies, and here R'hllor has no power. The Red Woman tells him that if he believes that he should put the crown back on, and Queen Selyse commands it, and Stannis orders the fool to give the maester to Cressen. After the fool places the crown on Cressen’s head, he sees a way to get to the Red Woman.
 
Davos thinks that Melisandre is too far for him to get the Strangler into her cup. Meanwhile the fool states “Here we eat fish, under the sea the fish eat us. I know, I know.” Davos informs him that that it is fools business tonight and Melisandre has seen victory in her flames and that Stannis intends to press his claim. After a final plea for Stannis to make common cause with Lysa and Robb, he is told by Stannis that he makes common cause with no one. Cressen states, even as rightful heir, he needs allies; Queen Selyse states he has an ally in R'hllor. To this Cressen insists gods make uncertain allies, and here R'hllor has no power. The Red Woman tells him that if he believes that he should put the crown back on, and Queen Selyse commands it, and Stannis orders the fool to give the maester to Cressen. After the fool places the crown on Cressen’s head, he sees a way to get to the Red Woman.

Revision as of 01:05, 8 February 2013

Prologue
A Clash of Kings chapter
AClashOfKings.jpg
POV Maester Cressen
Place Dragonstone
Page 1 UK HC (Other versions)
Chapter chronology (All)
Appendix  ← Prologue →  Arya 1

Maester Cressen broods on the omens all around him on Dragonstone. When news arrives that the Stormlords will not support Stannis Baratheon’s quest for the Iron Throne, Cressen comes into conflict with Queen Selyse and the red priestess Melisandre over what course they should take. In a desperate attempt to kill Melisandre, Cressen shares poison wine with the red woman, but dies while she remains unaffected.

Synopsis

Maester Cressen is watches from balcony of his chambers, where the ravens arrive, with foreboding the blood-red comet whose tail spreads across the dawn over Dragonstone. He somehow feels it is an omen, and chides himself as an 80-year-old feeble man, who now believes in omens, yet he has never seen a comet so bright nor of that color. Now, it is even visible during the day. At the same time, hot steam has begun to issue from vents beneath the Dragonmont, and a White Raven has arrived from the Citadel, declaring the end of this 10-year-long summer (10 years, two turns and 16 days, the longest in living memory); too many omens to deny. It is enough to make any man believe in omens, but the old maester cannot decide what they might mean. Cressen had come to Dragonstone 12 years ago with lord, but had never liked it here, and never considered it home.

Cressen’s young soon-to-be replacement Pylos interrupts his thoughts to bring word that Princess Shireen, with her fool, wishes to see the white raven. The title “princess” is a new appellation for the young girl, now that her father, Lord Stannis, is a king. Cressen bids Pylos to show them in. The shy Shireen is followed by the shuffling Patchface wearing a mock helm made from a bucket with antlers and cowbells; the maester thinks how now only Shireen laughs at the antics of this sad excuse for a fool. Shireen’s face is ugly even discounting the disfigurement from a bout of greyscale that nearly claimed her life as an infant. Shireen asks to see the white raven, and the maester will not deny her since she had been denied too much during her almost ten years. She is the saddest child the maester has ever known and considers her another mark of his failures. Now his dreams are nightmares with theRed Woman.

While Pylos goes to fetch the white raven; Cressen thinks how the somber 25 year old Pylos is not a good match for the citadel because, he, like the citadel, is grime. Cressen ask Shireen why she is not still in bed. The young girl says that she has had nightmares of dragons coming to eat her—the maester thinks how she has always had nightmares. Cressen, thinking of the many dragon-motif statues and buildings of Dragonstone, attempts to comfort her by explaining that Dragonstone was once the westernmost outpost of the ancient Freehold of Valyria. The dragons were created to make the fortress seem more formidable. He explains that the Valryians had long-forgotten ways of shaping stone and used it to make the thousands of stone dragons on the island. She is unconvinced, telling him that the Red Woman says that thing in the sky is dragon’s breath. He attempts to tell her that the think in the sky is a comet and will be gone soon.

Shireen states that her mother says that the White Raven means that it is not summer any more, and the measter tells her that is true, and then about the White Ravens, and how the Citadel determined it was the end of summer. He goes on to say that it is hoped that a there will be a warm autumn with bountiful harvests—the maester knows that it is said that a long summer means a long winter but did not want to frighten the child. When she asks if it will snow, the maester says it will but he prays it will not be for years or for long. When Pylos returns with the white raven, and the maester introduces the raven to Shireen. Shireen is delighted to learn that it can speak.

Then Patchface begins singing, “The shadows came to dance, my lord, dance my lord, dance my lord,” hopping from one foot to the other, “The shadows came to stay, my lord, stay my lord, stay my lord.” He jerks his head with each word, the bells in his antlers ringing up a clangor. This causes Shireen to tell the maester that this scares her, and then asks the maester to make him stop—she does not like the song and claims he has been singing it often lately. Cressen thinks back to how the old Lord Steffon Baratheon found the fool in Volantis while seeking a wife for Rhaegar Targaryen. Upon their return journey, within sight of home, their ship had sank within sight of the castle. Everyone aboard had been killed including the lord, his lady and over 100 sailor. Patchface had washed up three days later, his naked skin clammy cold. They had taken him for dead, but then he coughed up water and survived, albeit broken in mind and body, hardly capable of speech, let alone wit. Many had suggested that it would be kindest for Cressen let the mad boy die, but he had refused, and he wonders at that decision. Cressen assures Shireen that Patchface is just rambling and does not comprehend any of what he says.

Pylos, who had gone to fetch Cressen’s breakfast, returns to inform him that Ser Davos Seaworth has returned during the night, had been with with Stannis most of the night, and is now in council. Cressen complains that he should have been notified, as it is his duty to advise the king. Asking pardons of Shireen, the old man has Pylos help him hobble with his bad hips to the Stone Drum, the main keep of Dragonstone. He passes windows from where he can see 3000 men in the host camp outside the wall, and the anchorage filled with ships—no ship that had come within sight of Dragonstone had been allowed to leave. Once in the Stone Drum, leaves Pylos, stating he wants to see Stannis alone. As he ascends the stairs he regrets leaving Pylos. He meets Ser Davos coming down the stairs. Davos reveals that his mission as envoy to the Stormlands has been a failure. It was has Cressen had told Stannis: the lords sworn to Storm's End have no love for Stannis and will not support his claim. Instead, they have joined with the lords of the Reach in supporting Stannis’ younger brother, Renly.

News of Renly claiming the crown leads Cressen to worry for the youngest Baratheon. When Ser Davos mentions that Renly has instituted a new Kingsguard, Cressen recalls that Renly was always fond of games and rich bright fabrics as a child. “Look at me, I’m a dragon,” and “Look at me, I’m a wizard,” the boy had always been shouting. Cressen sees Renly’s bid to be king as no more than another game: “Look at me, I’m a king.”

Cressen asks Davos if he could bring Stannis any hope, but Davos insists that the only hope he could bring would have been the false sort. This leads Cressen to recall that Ser Davos was once a notorious smuggler who had sailed past a Redwyne blockade in the dead of night in a black ship to deliver onions and salt fish to Lord Stannis’ starving garrison during the Siege of Storm's End. It had allowed them to survive until Lord Eddard Stark could lift the siege. Stannis had knighted Davos for his deed. However, as punishment for his past misdeeds, Stannis had cut short all the fingers on Davos’ left hand save the thumb himself; Davos had insisted Stannis do the cutting. Cressen realizes that a man like that would give no false hope to Stannis. Ser Davos declares that if Stannis marches on King's Landing now, as is his intent, with so small an army it will only be to die. Cressen insists that Davos has done all he can and that it is now his turn.

Cressen finds Stannis in the top room of the keep, looking down at the Painted Table, which is shaped as a detailed map of the continent of Westeros. Stannis greats him with the statement that he knew he would come whether he summoned him or not, and that now he was old and needed his sleep, and that he would learn what Davos knew on his own anyway. Talk between the maester and the king quickly turns into a rant by Stannis about how the Baratheon birthright of Storm’s End, the Stormlands, and its income should have passed to him rather than Renly when their brother King Robert assumed the Iron Throne. Stannis had not wanted Dragonstone, but when his brother commanded it, he occupied it and built his brother’s fleets. It is an old grievance made new by the fact that Dragonstone, ancient and strong though it is, commands the allegiance of only a handful of lesser lords whose stony island holdings are too thinly-peopled to supply the men that Stannis needs to seize his rightful throne.

Cressen explains that Robert did him an injustice, but gave him lordship of Dragonstone because a man’s strength was needed to hold it; Renly was just a boy. To this Stannis comments that Renly is still a boy, a thieving child; Renly has never done anything to deserve to be a throne. Stannis now asks why the gods had to inflict him with brothers. Then Stannis asks about the advice Renly gets from his maester and Cressen states he doubts Renly seeks council; Renly is bold and heedless, much like Robert.

When Stannis asks what he is to tell the few anxious bannermen he does command, Maester Cressen reminds him that House Lannister is his true enemy and suggests that he join with Renly to defeat them. Stannis flatly refuses. Cressen yields immediately and suggests a partnership with the new King in the North, Robb Stark, who commands all the power of Winterfell and Riverrun. Stannis again refuses, claiming that the Robb is a green boy and another false king that seeks to steal half his kingdom. Cressen suggests that half a realm is better than none and that Robb may even submit in exchange for help avenging his father, but Stannis remains adamant and launches into another rant about slights he received at the hands of his brother Robert. The rant includes the slights Robert gave him by treating Eddard Stark more as a brother than him, how Eddard had gotten the praise of lifting the siege of Storm’s End when it was Stannis that had held the castle, and when Jon Arryn died offered Hand of the King to Eddard Stark. Cressen proposes a marriage pact between Shireen and young Robert Arryn. Stannis dismisses the possibility of bringing the weak and sickly Robert to Dragonstone, as planned before Lord Arryn’s death, because Lysa Arryn is paranoia and hides him in the Eyrie. Then Cressen urges sending Shireen and her fool to the Eryie; Dragonstone is a grim home for a child. Stannis now agrees that it is worth a try.

Then Stannis’ tall thin wife, Queen Selyse, arrives to argue that Stannis should not have to beg or bargain help from widows and usurpers; they all owe their allegiance him as the true king. Queen Selyse has been entirely converted to the worship of the foreign god R'hllor by the red priestess Melisandre of Asshai. Stannis tells her he needs swords, and if she has an army. She replies that House Florent can provide an army, but Stannis replies that they can only provide 2,000 men, and is too close to Highgarden. The queen proclaims that the comet is an omen from the Lord of Light that he will aid Stannis in his conquest. Stannis, who does not share his wife’s newfound faith, questions how many men the Red God will deliver him. Selyse insists that R’hllor will provide all the power of Highgarden and Storm's End. Stannis reminds her that those men now support Renly. Selyse agrees, but suggests that if Renly should die, his army would join Stannis. She then continues that Melisandre has looked into the flames and seen Renly dead. Cressen is horrified by the notion and pleads that fratricide is evil. Stannis declares that he has heard Cressen’s advice, will now hear hers, and sends the aged maester away.

By the time Cressen joins Pylos at the bottom of the steps he can hardly stand erect, and has to be helped back in his rooms. In his room Cressen contemplates his options. He raised Robert, Stannis, and Renly after their father had died, and cannot watch one kill the other. He knows that all that Queen Selyse said had been preached to her by Melisandre, the red priestess. It is her who must be silenced before she can convert King Stannis to her evil schemes and spread her mad religion beyond Dragonstone. Therefore, Cressen goes to a small workroom under the rookery stair and retrieves a small vial of purple crystals. Known in Westeros only as the Strangler. Dissolved in wine, one of the small crystals is enough to cause the victims throat muscles to constrict tighter than any fist, making it impossible for them to breathe. Cressen plans to put one in Lady Melisandre’s drink at the feast Stannis is holding for his bannermen tonight. Cressen does not like having to do this dead, but feels he must, and wonders if the comet is his, foretelling murder.

Hours later, Cressen wakes to discover it is dark and he has overslept for the feast; he is surprised he had not been summoned for the feast. He calls for Pylos, which is strange since his room is just down the hall, and Pylos should have come for him for the feast. He has to shout for the servants. As he crosses the long gallery, the comet outside the windows looks malevolent to him, and he thinks he should not fear. When he enters the great hall, he finds Stannis and his bannermen have begun without him. As Cressen crosses the room, Patchface the fool lurches into him while singing the same song from the morning and they both fall to the floor. Face to face with Creseen, the fool says “Under the sea you fall off, I know, I know.” Cressen is too feeble to rise on his own, and fortunately strong hands lift him to his feet. When he turns to thank the knight he believes helped him, he comes face-to-face with the enticing Melisandre herself, clothed in red silk and her eyes red. The red priestess mockingly advises him to mind his steps, intoning her religion's prayer, “For the night is dark and full of terrors.” Cressen insists that only children fear the dark. Melisandre gives him a riddle “A cleaver fool and a foolish wise man” and places Patchface’s ridiculous antlered helm upon Cressen’s head, telling him “A crown to match your chain, lord maester.” Around them comes laughter. Cressen removes the crown, fighting his rage. He tells her “I need no crown but truth.” Melisandre replies that “There are truths in this world that are not taught in Old Town.”

When he reaches the high table, Cressen sees that Stannis has given his accustomed seat to Maester Pylos. When questioned why he did not wake him, Pylos, blushing, states he was told that he was told to let Cressen rest and that Cressen was not needed here. Cressen looks at the gaudily knights and captains: aged and sour Lord Ardrian Celtigar, handsome Lord Monford Velaryon, plump 14 year old Lord Duram Bar Emmon, homely Ser Axell Florent, Lord Guncer Sunglass, and the Lysene captain Salladhor Saan. Only Davos is simply dressed. Melisandre sits to Stannis’ right, in the place of high honor. Of all the lords, only Lord Davos will meet his gaze, with pity in his eyes. Stannis declares that Pylos will now assume all of Cressen's duties, insisting that Cressen is too ill and confused to be of use to him any longer. Cressen cannot believe it is Stannis’s voice that states this. He is heartbroken by the rejection, thinking how he was the one that loved him as a boy despite all, and Stannis was the one that was unloved. Cressen accepts and meekly pleads for some place at the table; he belongs at Stannis’ side. Of all the assemble lords, only Ser Davos offers him a seat.

Davos thinks that Melisandre is too far for him to get the Strangler into her cup. Meanwhile the fool states “Here we eat fish, under the sea the fish eat us. I know, I know.” Davos informs him that that it is fools business tonight and Melisandre has seen victory in her flames and that Stannis intends to press his claim. After a final plea for Stannis to make common cause with Lysa and Robb, he is told by Stannis that he makes common cause with no one. Cressen states, even as rightful heir, he needs allies; Queen Selyse states he has an ally in R'hllor. To this Cressen insists gods make uncertain allies, and here R'hllor has no power. The Red Woman tells him that if he believes that he should put the crown back on, and Queen Selyse commands it, and Stannis orders the fool to give the maester to Cressen. After the fool places the crown on Cressen’s head, he sees a way to get to the Red Woman.

Cressen is close to Davos’ cup, which he takes, slipping the crystals into it. Only Davos seems to notice. Cressen proposes to Melisandre that share a cup of wine to toast her god’s power. She agrees. Davos tries to stop him, asking what he thought he was doing. He replies that he is doing what he must do for the sake of the realm and his lord. Before they drink, she gives him the opportunity to back out, but Cressen refuses. Melisandre drinks most of the cup, leaving only a small amount for Cressen. Cressen pushes away his fear and drinks as well. The ruby at Melisandre’s throat glows and she insists that her god R’hllor does have power. While Melisandre looks on unaffected by the poison, Cressen collapses and dies.

References and Notes