In honour of the resurgence of my GoT obsession (brought to you by my housemates marathoning Game of Thrones) I felt the urge to do a little character design for every main player in a minor fic idea I had for GoT/asoiaf (as one does).
The premise is nothing groundbreaking: in the years shortly before Robert’s Rebellion, when Ned is off to the Eyrie to be fostered alongside Robert Baratheon, Lord Steffon Baratheon has his spare packaged and posted to Winterfell to be fostered by the Starks.
The eldest daughter of Lord Rickard—one Joanna Stark (named to honour Lord Tywin Lannister and his wife)—is a fast friend to the brooding Stannis (so they can suffer from eldest daughter syndrome together). The smallest of the Stark children, in the absence of their older brothers, designate Stannis the ‘honourary replacement’. (However, this still doesn’t stop Lyanna from cutting holes in the pockets of every set of trousers Stannis owns when he yells at her for trailing snow through his corner of Maester Walys’ turret… Joanna isn’t impressed with her little sister either, not when she’s the one who winds up stitching up every crudely cut pocket by the hearth that night).
When the direwolf corpse is found with a fresh litter of pups still trying to suckle, each of Lord Rickard Stark’s children receive a pup… and whilst Brandon ribs that it doesn’t bode well they’d found the direwolf impaled on the antlers of a mangled stag, the last remaining pup goes to Lord Stark’s ward, a stag of Storm’s End.
Honestly, I’m too lazy to write it, but I want to see how this scenario would affect events as they play out. Give Lyanna an older sister who’s her foil in many ways, give Ned another sister to love, and send the awkward and unloved Stannis Baratheon to Winterfell where its inevitable the Starks will envelop him into their own.
For@bidonica: Stannis Baratheon/Melisandre of Asshai
“When I was a lad I found an injured goshawk and nursed her back to health. Proudwing, I named her. She would perch on my shoulder and flutter from room to room after me and take food from my hand, but she would not soar. Time and again I would take her hawking, but she never flew higher than the treetops. Robert called her Weakwing. He owned a gyrfalcon named Thunderclap who never missed her strike. One day our great-uncle Ser Harbert told me to try a different bird. I was making a fool of myself with Proudwing, he said, and he was right.
It is time I tried another hawk, Davos. A red hawk.”
FE Fates portrait set commission of Stannis Baratheon for @post-ironicweaboo! This was a neat little crossover to work on and I’m happy with how it turned out!
“If you can see the future in these flames, how is it that we burned upon the Blackwater? You gave my sons to the fire…my sons, my ship, my men, all burning.” - A Storm of Swords
Melisandre, Stannis, and Davos as illustrated by Charles Vess in the Subterranean Press editionof A Storm of Swords
Jaime - Jaime’s favorite kind of kiss is a goofy kiss. Jaime spends a lot of time in his own head, doubting himself and his abilities. Sometimes he feels as if the whole world is against him. For this reason it is nice for him to have moments with you where he can let loose and laugh. When he leans in and the two of you bump heads, causing you both to laugh as you go in for a kiss. Feeling your mouth smiling against his as he indulges in your taste and your scent.
Sandor- Sandor’s favorite kind of kiss is a small one. It would be an understatement to say that Sandor is not the most affectionate of men. He doesn’t often let himself feel. However he likes getting affection from you. Just not too much. When you lean in and give him a little peck on the lips or the cheek to let him know that you’re there and you care about him, that is more than enough for him.
Petyr- Petyr’s favorite kind of kiss is a controlling one. Petyr is used to being in complete control in every aspect of his life. His business, his relationships. It’s all under his command. So when it comes to being with you he likes when you let him be in control of your pleasure. Pulling you in by the back of your neck so you can’t move away and keeping you there against him until he has his fill of you.
Jon- Jon’s favorite kind of kiss is a slow one. A lot of Jon’s life has been dedicated to others and serving those around him. He leaves little time for himself and the things he wants. You help to show him that he can indulge himself in you from time to time. Kissing you is one sweet perfect indulgence for him so he wants to make it last. They’re always slow so that he can take his time enjoying you.
Robb - Robb’s favorite kind of kiss is a deep one. Robb is the kind of person that takes the things that he wants. And when he gets what he wants he gets it in excess. You are no exception. When he wants to kiss you he wants all of you. He makes sure to take you in as much as he can. When he kisses you he’ll pull your body close and press his lips against yours as deeply as he can, always wanting more of you.
Tywin - Tywin’s favorite kind of kiss is a demanding one. Tywin is a man in charge. When he walks by he strikes fear into the hearts of others. He doesn’t ask for things, he takes them. When he kisses you, he doesn’t ask. He demands of you. He would simply walk up and press his lips hard against yours with a hand on your throat or your jaw. He would want to know that you belong to him and only him.
Bronn- Bronn’s favorite kind of kiss is a relaxing one. Bronn is a pretty nonchalant guy. Whatever life throws his way he is able to deal with no problem. He wants to help you see life the same way. When kissing you he would scoop you up and meld your mouths until he feels you completely melt into his arms. He loves to stroke the side of your face as he kisses you calmly. He loves your sighs when he does.
Jorah- Jorah’s favorite kind of kiss is a romantic one. Jorah is such a romantic at heart. He wants you to know that you have his complete love and loyalty, no matter what. When he kisses you he wants you to know how much he cares about you. He would pull you in so sweetly and gently, holding one side of your face as he goes in for a kiss. When he finally kisses you, his lips press against yours so tenderly that it’s almost a ghost of a kiss, his breath warm on your cheek.
Ramsay - Ramsay’s favorite kind of kiss is a painful one. Ramsay loves to be in control of you. One of his favorite ways to claim ownership of you is to mark you. Leaving a hickey or a bite mark on your skin. It’s the same way when he kisses you. He likes to pull your lip between his teeth and bite down until it trickles with blood. Then he’ll pull away and lick up the blood before giving you a real kiss.
Stannis - Stannis’ favorite kind of kiss is an intimate one. For Stannis, you are his one and only. You mean the whole world to him. Sometimes he’s not the best at showing that but he does so in the ways he can. Kissing is one of them. When he kisses you he holds your face in his hands and maintains eye contact before pulling you in and pressing his lips deeply into yours, taking your breath away.
Oberyn- Oberyn’s favorite kind of kiss is a sexual one. It’s no secret that a lot of the time Oberyn leads with his dick. He is almost always thinking about you naked in front of him and kissing you just makes him want you even more. His favorite kiss is the one he lays tenderly on your clit while he’s eating you out until you beg him to stop.
Sansa- Sansa’s favorite kind of kiss is a mutual one. Sansa is used to having things taken from her. She has felt so much heartache in her life and she wants things with you to be different. That’s why her favorite kisses with you happen when you both look in each other’s eyes and know what you want. When you lean in at the same time and feel one another kiss back because you love each other.
Dany - Daenerys’ favorite kind of kiss is a passionate one. Dany leads with her whole heart, in ruling and in love. She never worries about hiding her emotions. When she kisses you she wants you to know that she is so passionate towards you. Her hands would be all over you as she sloppily kisses you everywhere. She would suck your lip between her teeth and tug, making your eyes roll back.
Brienne - Brienne’s favorite kind of kiss is a tender one. Brienne doesn’t get a lot of tenderness in her life. She is used to being the tough one and never getting nice, soft things. When it comes to you, she wants to experience those things. When you kiss her, you would hold her so gently and your lips would touch ever so softly, making her shiver and cling to you as she enjoys all of you.
Margaery- Margaery’s favorite kind of kiss is a confident one. Margaery is used to getting her way and being a leading lady. She wants the eyes of the world on her and to do that you must have confidence. And she does in excess. When she kisses you she always takes the lead. She pulls your body into hers and tilts your head back before taking a firm hold of you and kissing you nice and deep.
Jaime- Jaime would be really encouraging your first time. He knows you’re nervous and would want to make you comfortable. He would tell you that if you want to stop you can at any time. He is a consent king, especially that first time. He would be a little cocky as to his level of experience, guiding you the entire time you’re together. You would get a lot of charming smiles throughout the experience which makes your heart flutter. That first time together would be in his bed at Casterly Rock. He would take you away on holiday to his home and that’s when you’d both decide you wanted to go all the way. He would start very gently, taking his time to make you feel good. Once he enters you he would go very slowly and over time he would increase his pace until he’s pounding into you quickly, causing you to throw your head off in ecstasy. When he cums he does so on your tits, still rubbing you until you cum with him. Afterwards he pulls you close to his chest and strokes your hair until you fall asleep.
Sandor - Sandor would be really nervous being your first time. He has never been with a virgin before and he knows that he’s not the most gentle of men. He would push it off for a really long time, choosing to relieve his tension by jacking off rather than risking ripping you in half on accident. After a great deal of convincing he would finally agree to take you in the way that you want. Your first time would be in the bed of some inn you’d stop in while traveling. It would take a great deal of patience on both sides but it would be so worth it in the end. The first time would be taken at a slow pace and you’re very grateful because he is not small. There may be moments where he’d speed up unintentionally. You’d take it for as long as you could but eventually you’d cry out, asking him to slow down and he would. Sandor very rarely apologizes but that is one case in which he would. He would be sure to pull out and cum all over your stomach before collapsing beside you and passing out, his arms wrapped around your side.
Petyr - Petyr would be very instructive your first time. If you don’t know anything about sex when you walk into his chambers, you will leave an expert. Petyr would want to help you find out exactly what your body can take and what it is that you want. At first you wouldn’t have any idea but after talking with him you would know what makes you feel good and the things that you like. That first time nothing would be off limits. If you think it will make you feel good, he’s willing to try it. Your first time with him would be in his chambers at the Vale. He would light candles all around the room because he wants you to be able to see him and what he’s doing to you. He would very slowly undress you, making sure that you feel his fingertips all the way down. Once you’re naked in front of him, he would talk with you about all the things you want. He would show you how to suck his cock and he would introduce you to cunnilingus. He would offer to tie you up, he would finger you, he would play with your ass if you wanted him to. He would want you to have it all. When he enters you he would be slow until you find a pace that you really enjoy. It would last all night and then once you’ve both cum, he would cuddle with you and talk with you about what you’d like to try next time.
Jon - Jon would lose his virginity with you on your first time together. When you told him you were a virgin you expected him to be surprised or upset but he simply responded that he was too. That’s the day he knew he had to make your first time so special for the both of you. He would very stealthily find the right books and do some research about what to do to make you feel as good as possible. At first he wouldn’t be too on edge but the more he thinks about taking your virginity the more nervous he gets. He doesn’t want to disappoint you. He wants to make it so special for you because he cares about you so much. That first time would be in his bed back at Winterfell. He would make sure the bed was extra comfortable for both of you. When it starts there would be a lot of foreplay between the two of you. He would take his time, making sure to kiss every inch of your body. He would undress you slowly and you would do the same for him until you are both naked together for the first time. When he finally enters you, it is so incredibly slow. You feel so good wrapped around him that he knows if he moves fast at all he’s going to cum in seconds and he wants the moment to last. When the two of you do cum together you pull his head to lay on your chest and stroke his hair until the two of you fall asleep.
Robb- Robb would want you to feel completely at ease your first time. He would spare no expense to make sure that everything is perfect for you the first time you’re together. He would make sure you have the softest blankets, the most aromatic of perfumes filling the air, and absolute peace. He would make sure everyone knew not to disturb him that night, doing what he could to secure his tent so that no one could walk in on you. When you decide it’s the right time, he would spend all day reassuring you. He would offer encouragements so you knew how much he loved you and wanted to be with you. That first time would be in his tent. He brings you wine to calm your nerves and spends what feels like hours caressing your skin. All the while he’d be telling you that everything will be okay and that he loves you. He would also spend time between your legs, making you cum over and over. When you’re warmed up he would enter you slowly. He would wait for your signal to move and when he does he would move at exactly the pace you want him to. He would praise you the whole time until he cums inside of you. When you’re done you would both fall asleep quickly after being thoroughly exhausted.
Tywin- Tywin would make things very simple for you your first time. He wouldn’t want you to get overwhelmed with all sorts of complicated positions or other new sensations. He would want you to be able to focus only on his cock and how it feels inside you. He would be very gentle with you if only not to break you on that first time together. He would want you to have a good time and remember it for years to come. He would want it to be a good experience for you. That first time with him would be in his bed chambers in the Red Keep. He would treat you to a nice meal, making sure that you had your fill of wine to calm your nerves. When the time came he would allow you to take his arm and lead you to his chambers. Once there he would light some candles and slowly undress you. He would tell you in earnest how beautiful you looked in the candlelight. Once you’re naked he would take his time showing you the right places to touch to make you feel incredible. He would slip between your legs, introducing you to the feeling of his tongue on your pussy. He would then guide your hand to his cock, allowing you to get acquainted with it. Once you’re properly warmed up he would lay you on your back and slowly enter you, letting you choose a pace that feels good for you. When he pulls out he cums on your chest and then helps you clean up before talking to you for a while until you fell asleep.
Bronn- Bronn would be completely nonchalant on your first time. To Bronn, sex isn’t a huge ceremonial thing. It’s just a connection between two people and that’s far less frightening. He wants to help you think of it the same way. He makes jokes about taking your virginity but you know he would wait until you’re ready. When you finally tell him that you are he’d be excited. He wouldn’t want to plan anything ahead of time. He wants it to play out naturally. The first time would be in his chambers at the Red Keep. When night comes he would lead you to his bed and begin by letting you take the lead. If you had any questions for him he would answer them but for the most part he would want you to have the chance to explore. You would both undress and then you would begin by touching him all over. He would guide you here and there but for the most part he just lets you have fun. You would ask him to touch you and he would, asking you what feels good and what you like. When you’re finally ready you would ask him to be inside of you to which he would oblige. You would start out in missionary but throughout the act he would offer up new positions, each one feeling better than the last. When he cums he would do so on your back. After that you would both collapse, clinging to each other as you fall asleep quickly.
Jorah- Jorah would be the most romantic ever on your first time. He would want you to feel like the most special princess in the whole world because to him, you are. He would go to the markets in one of the cities and buy the best wine and flowers and the softest blankets to make things extra special. He would spend the whole day being extra sweet and loving to you. He would have his hands on you all day, not wanting to be away from you for a second. That first time he would lay out the blankets by the fire on your campsite. He would find a nice place that has a good view of the sky so you can look up at the stars as he is pounding into you. He would slowly undress you before wrapping the both of you up in one of the blankets so that you would stay warm. His hands would wander under the blanket, exploring your body and yours would do the same. Whenever you reach for his cock he would stop you, telling you that for your first time he wants to focus only on you. He would pull the blankets down over him and slip between your legs until you cum on his tongue. When he slides up over your body he would push into your tight cunt, his hand intertwined with yours as he takes things at a slow pace. He would do anything you asked of him until you’re both cumming together. He would cum inside of you that first time, unable to pull out. He would help clean you up and get you some water before drawing circles on your back until you fall asleep in his arms.
Ramsay- Ramsay would want to test your limits your first time. He would want you to be prepared for the kind of roughness he enjoys so he wouldn’t go easy on you. To some extent, he wants you to associate pain with pleasure and when better to start than your very first time. He wouldn’t be completely ruthless, allowing you time to breath. The first time would be in his bed chambers. He would want to take his time with you, making sure you have the ability to take everything he gives you. He would start off slowly, touching your skin, giving you a pinch here or there to begin getting you accustomed to pain. When he can tell you’re doing well with it he gives you more than a pinch, perhaps a bite or a scratch. He would want you to learn how to pleasure him first, showing you how to suck his cock. Once he is pleased with your performance he would push you back on the bed and enter you. It would be slow at first, giving you time to become familiar with the size of him. Once you’re ready though he would pound into you as quickly as he wants, only stopping if he can tell that you truly can’t handle anymore. He would pull out and cum in your mouth before getting between your legs and making you cum to reward you for your performance. He would then pull you close and fall asleep after telling you how well you took him.
Stannis- Stannis would treat your first time like you’d been together a million times before. It is safe to say that you are the love of his life. He treasures every moment he gets with you. He does have a hard time expressing his love but one of the places he does so the best is when you’re in bed together. He enjoys the intimacy and really wants to show you how much he cares. The first time you spend with him would be on your wedding night, back at Dragonstone. He would announce to everyone at your wedding that there would be no bedding ceremony. He wants to have you all to himself on your first night together. When you’re alone he would take his sweet time undressing you, guiding you to the bed and laying you down so that he can look at all of you. He would climb over your body and spend what feels like hours kissing you all over. His mouth would have you gasping for air as he makes his way down to your pussy. He would dive in like a man starved and you were the only thing that could satisfy his thirst. When he finally enters you it is antagonizing how slowly he moves. You beg him to go faster but he shushes you and tells you that he wants to savor the moment. Eventually he does go faster until you’re both cumming together. He makes sure to cum deep inside of you that first time. After the act you both pass out rather quickly, cuddled in each other’s arms.
Oberyn- Oberyn would make sure you had a really good time your first time. When you tell him that you are a virgin he is honestly so excited. He can’t wait to be the person to take your virginity. There is a good chance he would invite some friends along to help make your first time memorable but he is the one that gets to take you in the most primal way. Your first time would be in his bed chambers back on Dorne. Taking your virginity would turn into a grand ceremony. He would throw a feast and his room would be decorated in gold and jewels. Ellaria and perhaps a few others would be there waiting for the two of you. All of them would take turns removing an article of clothing until you’re undressed for all of them. They would stay dressed, choosing instead to focus on you and your body. There would be so many hands on you but the most prevalent would be Oberyn’s. They would be touching all the right spots to make you feel absolute incredible. Eventually Oberyn would undress as well before climbing on top of you. They would all hold your hands, arms, sides and such to help you feel comforted as he enters you for the first time. He would be so slow yet intensely passionate. They would all be cracking jokes, making you smile as he fucked you for the first time. Once you cum though don’t think they’re done with you. They would spend hours pleasuring you until you are completely exhausted before you all fall asleep in a hot sweaty heap of flesh.
Sansa- Sansa would be really insecure your first time together. When you tell her you’re a virgin she would be nervous. The thought of being the first woman to take you is exciting to her but more nerve wracking than anything. She would want everything to be perfect. Her first time was less than ideal so she would want yours to be so special. She’d want you to have what she didn’t get to have. That first time would be in your bed at Winterfell. She would spend the whole day worrying, thinking of all the right things to do and say so that you feel extra amazing. It would be so important to her to make you feel good. She would definitely not do anything that might hurt, especially your first time. When the two of you are finally alone you can see that she’s nervous. You reassure her and tell her that if she wants to stop you don’t have to do anything. She assures you that she wants to and kisses you sweetly. She would push you down on the bed gently, laying beside you as she touches you over your dress. Eventually the both of you are naked together and you kiss her body as she does the same to yours. When she asks you what you want you guide her between your legs and she sets about making you cum on her tongue over and over again. Afterwards you spend hours talking to one another, expressing your fears and hopes and dreams and then you fall asleep in each other’s arms.
Dany- Daenerys would be so wildly passionate with you your first time. When you tell her that you’re a virgin she would get really excited at the prospect of being your first. She’s never been anyone’s first before and she cares about you so intensely that she would hardly be able to contain herself when she gets you alone. She would want you to feel so good. The first time would be by the fire on your campsite. She would lay out cloaks and blankets so that you’re both comfortable. When the two of you are finally alone together, she would want her hands all over you. She would never stop touching you at any point. She would always want to be physically connected with you. She would kiss you hard and deep, sliding her tongue over yours. She would undress you so fast before undressing herself. She would be all over you the moment you were naked, her mouth trailing all over your skin. She would be down between your legs before you could hardly blink. She would combine her fingers with her tongue on your clit, rocking you into orgasm after orgasm. She wouldn’t stop until she knew that you were well and truly satisfied and could hardly keep your eyes open. When she finally finishes her ministrations she would climb up beside you and pull you close, letting her fingers still feel your skin as you fall asleep beside her.
Brienne- Brienne would be constantly checking in on you your first time. Brienne is the queen of consent. She would not do anything without asking you first. She wants you to feel safe, protected, and like you are in complete control because you are. She cares about you so much and she would never overstep your boundaries. Your first time together would be in her tent while you are both traveling. She would light candles to create a little bit of ambience. It’s not much but a very sweet gesture on her part. She would lead you to the bed, sitting on the edge beside you as the two of you kiss for a while. Eventually she would start to undress and then she would undress you, with your permission. When you’re finally naked in front of her she would want to feel you so badly. She would pull you really close to her so she can get your skin on hers as much as possible. She would continue kissing you as her fingers explore your skin very delicately. She would help you spread your legs, laying you back before letting her fingers slip inside you. You would squirm against her as she fingers you, curling against that delicious spot inside you. When you cum she wraps you in her arms tightly, never letting go as you fall asleep in her arms. She would stay awake for a hours after that just to make sure that you’re safe, comfortable, and protected.
Margaery- Margaery would be very confident during your first time. She would know that you were nervous about being with someone for the first time and she would want you to know that she was going to take care of you. She would exude such proud and confident energy that you would feel you were in expert hands. Your first time would be in her tent while you’re traveling. She would light sweet aromatic candles and make sure that the bed was well made. When you come into the tent she would kiss you immediately, hands finding your waist. It’s then that you realize what she has in store for you. She would lead you to the bed and push you down so that you are spread out before her. She would undress you slowly so that you are completely exposed. You would be so struck by her power that all you could do is lay there and follow her lead. She would show you exactly what to do to her and what she wants to do to you. She would finger you deeply, curling against the perfect spot until you’re cumming. She would put her mouth on your pussy for hours, only stopping when you are thoroughly overstimulated and begging her to stop. She would climb over you with a smile before laying down on your chest and falling asleep in your arms.
Chapters of A Song of Ice & Fire - A Dance With Dragons - Jon IV “Which would you have as Lord of Winterfell, Snow? The smiler or the slayer?” Jon said, “Winterfell belongs to my sister Sansa.” “I have heard all I need to hear of Lady Lannister and her claim.” The king set the cup aside. “You could bring the north to me. Your father’s bannermen would rally to the son of Eddard Stark. Even Lord Too-Fat-to-Sit-a-Horse. White Harbor would give me a ready source of supply and a secure base to which I could retreat at need. It is not too late to amend your folly, Snow. Take a knee and swear that bastard sword to me, and rise as Jon Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North.” How many times will he make me say it? “My sword is sworn to the Night’s Watch.” Stannis looked disgusted. “Your father was a stubborn man as well. Honor, he called it. Well, honor has its costs, as Lord Eddard learned to his sorrow.”
(Sorry I sometimes miss the username of those who submit. Once I hit the queue button, the message is gone and it doesn’t show who submitted it. Got this one though)
Stannis- Heard you were dead. Davos- Not yet. I had hoped to speak to you alone, your grace. Stannis- We are alone. Davos- Your Grace, you are the rightful king. Not only by blood. You’re an honorable man, a just man, and there is still a war to fight. Stannis- I am fighting. Davos- By burning prisoners alive? Melisandre- How would you punish the infidels, Ser Davos? Davos- I do not judge people for the gods they worship. If I did, I’d have thrown you in the sea before you ever set foot on Dragonstone. Melisandre- I’m not your enemy. Davos- You are my enemy. Melisandre- Was it me you fought on Blackwater bay? Did I set your ships ablaze? I wasn’t there when the wildfire killed our men by the thousands. I could have saved those men. If you would have taken the city, Stannis would sit upon his rightful throne and you would stand beside him. But I wasn’t there because you convinced your king to leave me behind. Do you hear them screaming? All those burning men in the water? Crying for their mothers, for their gods, for help until the moment that the black water swallowed them? Don’t despair Ser Davos. What I told your son is true. Death by fire is the purest death. Davos- (Lunging at Melisandre) This woman is evil! She’s the mother of demons! Stannis- Take him to the dungeon. Lock him in a cell.
Patchface danced closer, his cowbells ringing […] The maester sat silent while the fool set the antlered bucket on his brow. Cressen bowed his head beneath the weight. His bells clanged. “Perhaps he ought to sing his counsel henceforth,” Lady Selyse [mocked].
“You go too far, woman,” Lord Stannis said. “He is an old man, and he’s served me well.” And I will serve you to the last, my sweet lord, my poor lonely son, Cressen thought, for suddenly he saw the way. […] [Poisoned c]up in hand, he rose to his feet. “Mayhaps I have been a fool. Lady Melisandre, will you share this cup of wine with me? A cup in honor of your god, your Lord of Light? A cup to toast his power?”
The red woman studied him. “If you wish.”
He could feel them all watching him. Davos clutched at him as he left the bench, catching his sleeve with the fingers that Lord Stannis had shortened. “What are you doing?” he whispered.
“A thing that must be done,” Maester Cressen answered, “for the sake of the realm, and the soul of my lord.” He shook off Davos’s hand, spilling a drop of wine on the rushes.
She met him beneath the high table with every man’s eyes upon them. But Cressen saw only her. Red silk, red eyes, the ruby red at her throat, red lips curled in a faint smile as she put her hand atop his own, around the cup. Her skin felt hot, feverish. “It is not too late to spill the wine, Maester.”
“No,” he whispered hoarsely. “No.”
“As you will.” Melisandre of Asshai took the cup from his hands and drink long and deep. There was only half a swallow of wine remaining when she offered it back to him. “And now you.”
His hands were shaking, but he made himself be strong. A maester of the Citadel must not be afraid. The wine was sour on his tongue. He let the empty cup drop from his fingers to shatter on the floor. “He does have power here, my lord,” the woman said. “And fire cleanses.” At her throat, the ruby shimmered redly. Cresson tried to reply, but his words caught in his throat. His cough became a terrible thin whistle as he strained to suck in air. Iron fingers tightened around his neck. As he sank to his knees, still he shook his head, denying her, denying her power, denying her magic, denying her god. And the cowbells peeled in his antlers, singing fool,fool,foolwhile the red woman looked down on him and pity, the candle flames dancing in her red red eyes.
George R.R. Martin (A Clash of Kings, pages 27, 28-29)
“Robert was the true steel. Stannis is pure iron, black and hard and strong, yes, but brittle, the way iron gets. He’ll break before he bends. And Renly, that one, he’s copper, bright and shiny, pretty to look at but not worth all that much at the end of the day.”
Dany is actually very notable for telling The Unsullied not to target any slaver under the age of 12 (again we know that they’re slavers because they’re waring the tokar) because it’s very normal in this feudalist society for a monarch/commander to kill prisoners of war unless they have some value as a highborn captive lol. Stannis is considering hanging the rest of the Greyjoy men who aren’t highborn because they have no use to him. Now imagine if Dany did that when she fought the slavers in Astapor, Yunkai, and Meereen?
Going to expand on this a bit further.
Typically in ASOIAF, and we can expand this to feudalist history in general, monarchs and their commanders are not going to be lenient toward enemy soldiers and prisoners-of-war unless there is some utility (being a highborn captive, for example, or politically useful). You may think that “spare the women and children” is an adage that feudalist armies follow, but in actuality, as we have seen in both history and in ASOIAF, women are routinely and habitually raped during war and children are butchered anyway. Arya’s experiences in the Riverlands and Harrenhal throughout ACOK, Brienne’s observations and journey throughout the Riverlands in AFFC, Jaime’s observations and journey throughout the Riverlands in ASOS and his ruminating in AFFC, and more all show us detailed examples of women and children NOTbeing spared by the marauding, raiding habits of the official armies of these various kings and liege lords as well as the unofficial armies (sellswords, hedge knights, random hired killers, etc). For example, Brienne hears a story from Septon Meribald about a woman who is brutally gang raped and who dies from her wounds, a woman who blames her liege lord for failing to protect her because he barricaded himself rather than fighting for his people. At Harrenhal, women like Pia who “served” Lannister soldiers (Pia was actually gang raped by Lannister soldiers) were turned into living sex slaves by the Northmen who took over after the Northern coup, where they were kept naked in public to be used “freely” by Northern soldiers as punishment. This is a direct source of sexual enslavement that is normal to the wars and conflicts in ASOIAF.
In addition to the sexual slavery and wartime rape, as well as the murders of children, commanders are not wont to sparing lowborn soldiers who come by the thousands. They offer no political utility and would just be more hungry mouths to feed if imprisoned. The idea that commanders are going around routinely forgiving or sparing enemy soldiers in ASOIAF is a myth. Stannis is not alone in killing off the lowborn remaining Greyjoy forces; it’s quite a normal act for a commander of his time. This is why it infuriates me when people look at Dany telling The Unsullied to spare any slaver under the age of 12 and conclude that Dany is “killing children”. This is part of the Dany Paradox phenomenon, where a good thing Dany does in canon is reversed and turned into something bad through fandom interpretation. GRRM has Dany saying such a thing because he’s making a point to show that Dany is unique as far as monarchic commanders go, because she has a proto awareness of certain protected classes: namely, children, and that she puts this awareness into practice.
Dany is 14 when she gives this order that ostensibly implicates 13 and older Astapori slavers, so the idea that she’s sanctioning the killing of children is idiotic at best because she’s only a year older than the supposed “children” she’s allegedly killing in her war in Astapor. More to the point, notions of adulthood in ASOIAF are vastly different from ours. Dany was the same age as those Astapori slavers (the 13 year olds) when she was sold to Drogo. She was deemed old enough to be sold to Drogo and deemed old enough to bear his child. In ACOK, when Sansa “flowers”, as in has her period, she dreads Cersei finding out because she knows that it means her captors will consider her an adult and thus “fit to bear children” for Joffrey, which is exactly why she tries to burn the sheets (to no avail). In ASOS, when Tyrion is repulsed at the notion of bedding her, Tywin points out that “she is flowered” as a justification for requiring him to consummate the marriage. There is clearly a notion among the more radical, against-the-status quo characters (Dany, Tyrion) that such treatment of children, even if they are forcibly labeled as adults, is wrong, but it is not an awareness or a notion that applies universally, especially not an attitude endorsed by most of the commanders, monarchs, or lords in the series.
Thus, that Dany makes it a point to have The Unsullied SPARE 12-year-olds and under in Astapor, even if they are slavers (indicated by their tokars), while other commanders like Stannis do NOT make it a point to spare lowborn soldiers, showcases that Dany has an awareness and understanding of a proto-human rights framework, and puts it into practice, in such a way that her counterpart monarchs and leaders do not. Let’s be clear here that if 13+ year olds are part of the fighting forces to defend Astapor, then they are definitely part of the fighting forces in all the myriad armies in Westeros that we see fight in the wars of the series. Do you see any other monarch, then, making it a point to spare those younger than 12? That was one of Dany’s acts of immense compassion and radical awareness of the inherent worth of all humans, which is why it’s irritating that it’s twisted into something different. Dany doesn’t see 13+ year olds as children because she, someone who herself was 14 (only a year older) at the time, went through horrific experiences when she was a child and then when she was 13, married off and pregnant at 14. Dany was forcibly made into an adult too, so naturally she’s not going to see other people her age as mere children. Even so, the fact that she differentiates between children and adult as classes, making it a point to spare children as a protected class, while the other knights, lords, and monarchs of the series allow children as a class to be murdered, is immensely important, especially when contrasted with the reality that monarchs tend to spare only those who are highborn and important to their political ambitions.
