Game of Thrones: King of Magic

Chapter 58

Solomon. Dragonstone.

I stood on the edge of the island, enjoying the afternoon breeze while the work organized by Stannis and his men simmered away. Gold mining was in full swing, and even though it was hard work, the workers were definitely feeling some semblance of joy.

This was due to the fact that there was essentially nothing to do on the island most of the time due to the landscape and soil. Any kind of agricultural activity was difficult, and Dragonstone itself was desolate and whimsical.

However, these men now found something to do to take their minds off the daily and nauseating routine, which included the usual patrolling and guarding of the area. Stannis even called a few ships to the island so that their crew could also take part in the cause.

This change affected the Lord of Dragonstone himself, though it wasn't the only one. In the rather short time I've been here, I've managed to spot him several times in the company of his family, especially Shireen, strolling together.

Stannis began to move about the island busily, occasionally supervising the work, checking on his men and planning something. He was accompanied by Melisandre as usual, but sometimes Selyse joined them as well, which the locals said was something of a fantasy.

He wasn't good at showing affection in methods beyond certain narrow limits, but the fact that Stannis truly cared for his family and loved his daughter managed to impress me enough to reach out to him. And he proved it by letting his spouse, to whom he had been cold to, back into his life, as well as making time for his family every day.

Shireen, now a smiling little girl, preferred to spend time with me when she had the chance, and the rest of the time she was either visiting her father or keeping company with Lavena, who liked to look for a place to paint.

Beyond that, I noticed one detail about Shireen that was reinforced by scraps of information I'd heard from the locals about life on Dragonstone before my arrival.

The girl was wary of her mother, whom I had mixed feelings about as a modern man and acceptable as Solomon, and tried to keep out of her sight. Selyse was a fanatical follower of R'Glor, which didn't make her a good example for a parent, but there were reasons for that.

She and Stannis had three stillborn children, which already gave a small insight into the situation. The woman found some hope and salvation in the Red Faith, for in the current era of this world, an heir was extremely important to both noble and not so noble families, and the only living child was Shireen, a girl.

Because of this, Selyse was drowning in shame and discomfort in front of the people of the Seven Kingdoms, partly felt by Stannis and Shireen themselves. A supposed indicator of weakness and failure, and perhaps a curse from the gods themselves, in short.

Prejudices in this era were many, and not every one of them had morally correct overtones for a twenty-first century contemporary. Human life in the Middle Ages was often regarded as a resource and nothing more, although this has not changed much over time.

Every society was built on the good of the society itself, and in order for it to exist, it needed people to make it up. The continuation and survival of kin, family, and history were valued, and thus, because of differences in biology, there were very clear divisions and prioritization between the sexes. Again, though, it was based more on childbirth than anything else.

I shook my head and looked in the direction where Lavena was standing and definitely wanted something from me. And this was indeed something unusual, for we were here alone, since Kinvara, at my request, had gone to talk to Melisandre, who thought Stannis was Azor Ahai, even though he was not.