Benjen Stark
The sounds of battle were beginning to fade. The sounds of his torture were beginning to fade, though the scars, both mental and physical still remained. The Lannisters had not gone easy on him. They had torn away at every defence he could find, to try and gather information on plans he did not know. They wanted to know where Ned was, but Benjen did not know, he had thought his brother was in Winterfell, had told them as much, but nothing had come through from that. They had taken a finger when that had happened. Then they had beaten and bruised him. Tyrion had seen him and said nothing, and Benjen had sworn a bloody revenge for that, his friend the imp, the man would fall for that. The Blackwater had come and gone, the Lannisters had fled, and the man now in charge of King's Landing had not come to see him, until today, he'd suddenly been dragged out of his cell and moved to a new room, a room he could barely see through his swollen eyes, but he bowed all the same.
Stannis Baratheon was not the most patient of men it seemed, for his words were harsh and stern when he spoke. "Benjen Stark, we meet once more."
Benjen sketches a bow. "Indeed we do Your Grace. I had a feeling that we would be meeting once more, before the years were over."
The new King of Westeros snorts. "Spare me your flattery Stark. We both know I am not the Baratheon you wish to be speaking to. For now, though, I am the one you shall be speaking to."
Benjen frowns, the man could not know could he? "Of course Your Grace."
"So tell me Stark, what did you learn when the Lannisters questioned you. I know you listened to their words and their actions. So tell me, what did you learn?" Stannis Baratheon asks him.
Benjen considers the question, uncertain of how to exactly phrase what he wants to say, but eventually finding the words. "I believe Sire, that they were most terrified of you."
Stannis snorts once more, a sound that Benjen is quite unaccustomed to hearing from the older Baratheon brother. "Indeed. Well that would make sense. But what I meant was, what did you learn from them? I know they tortured you, but this is Cersei and Jaime Lannister we are speaking of here, they would have wanted you to know some of what they were planning, so as to rub it in your face."
Benjen thinks hard, he tries to think through the haze of pain and dizziness that forms up most of his time in chains. Eventually something sticks out. "They were planning on using the Faith to discredit you. Word of your conversion to the Red God was to be used as your downfall. They hoped it would bring about resistance for when you tried to take the city."
Stannis does something completely unexpected then, he laughs, as in truly laughs, a deep rumbling sound that leaves Benjen shaken slightly. "Ah, and that did not work well for them. Their friends and allies deserted them when I took the city, and now their most reliable sources of information have their heads sitting on spikes." Surprise must show on his face, for Stannis responds in the affirmative. "Yes, Pycelle and Rosby have their heads sitting on spikes at this very moment."
"What about Baelish?" Benjen asks.
At this Benjen senses hesitancy in Stannis Baratheon. "The man has his uses yet; he will be required to bring the Vale into line."
Benjen laughs. "Surely you do not believe the nonsense he spouts about being able to control Lysa Arryn, Your Grace? The man has been played by Lysa Arryn from the moment he abandoned her to Jon Arryn."
Something passes through Stannis then, Benjen senses it in the way his breathing sharpens, but then when the man speaks, his voice is calm and collected as if there is nothing wrong. "We shall see. Regardless, that is not why I have come here. I have had you brought here to give you a choice."
"And what is that choice Your Grace?" Benjen asks, though he already knows what the man will say.
As expected, Stannis Baratheon takes a deep breath, Benjen knows the man is doing his best not to grit his teeth. "You can either bend the knee to me and be raised up as a lord of the court, or you can refuse to bend and be executed as a traitor."
Blunt and to the point, just as he had expected. Benjen asks the questions that most matter to him. "And what of my nephews, what will happen to them? They are fighting the Lannisters now, but if I have heard you correctly, they have yet to bend the knee to you. What happens to them? And will I be forced to give up my gods?"
He can tell that the question disturbs Stannis, the man does not and has not ever liked answering such difficult questions, hence why he remained on Robert's council for so long, despite never agreeing with his brother's position on things. Now he remains silent for a long time, so long in fact that Benjen has begun to drift off into the nightmares that count for his sleep now, when suddenly Stannis speaks. "Your nephews will be fighting for me should you bend the knee to me. And you shall not be forced to change your gods. I am many things, but a fool I am not."
Benjen considers his options, knowing as he does that doing this deed now will make things much easier and safer for his nephews, he swallows his pride and gets down on one knee and says. "Very well then. I, Benjen Stark, do hereby pledge allegiance to you Stannis of the House Baratheon, first of your name and King of Westeros. I do swear by ice and fire."
Stannis gives him something that passes for a smile and says. "Rise Benjen Stark, and do you lord's bidding." Benjen rises, hiding a sly smile behind his hand.