THE IRON GAUNTLET

The storm had only recently subdued, allowing him to finally set foot outside the stone walls of the Keep, without having to worry about water drenching his folded breeches. Jocelyn, his elder sister, although hated stitching in the first place, had done in her best of efforts to stitch up embroidery his new black velvet doublet, with a golden-crowned stag to decorate. Stannis didn't want to dirty her sister's gift. Although, he wondered if it was the only suit she had ever stitched, for the sleeves were of wrong proportion and the collar was half-made. Nevertheless, Jo had done it with love and how much ever messed up her work was, Stannis was glad to put it on.

Still, he was a little worried about what Jo would say if she discovered the truth of the small stain that came out of nowhere and stuck to his elbow. Ah... never mind, she probably wouldn't notice the details. Had she done, she could have seen how the golden-crown lacked three spikes in the first place. In fact, Stannis was even happier that she didn't try stitching a turtle next to the crown as she had promised him last time. He was sure the turtle of Estermont would become sea-horse of Valeryon with the artwork of her hard fingers.

"Those hard hands are not suited for stitching", her father had proudly admitted once, to his Mother's rue. And Stannis himself was a standing witness. He had seen five name-days, yet his father hadn't deemed him fit to lift a wooden-sword. But Jo had helped him learn by secretly playing with clubs.

She had boasted, "I started training as a three-year-old, Stannis. If mother hadn't found me beating up that kitchen lad, who measured up the scullery maid's ass, I would have got my blunt blade from the master-at-arms."

Oh, how Stannis hated when Jo would use crass words with no qualms of behaving like a lady! A lady was not supposed to use such undignified words. Stannis was aware, that much. But, Jo disobeyed everything and sometimes, his father would give it a pass, because his father, Steffon Baratheon, loved his first-born daughter more than Stannis himself. That was fine. Even Stannis loved Jo. Who wouldn't love her? She laughed like Storm and had a charming smile that could make no one yell at her, except their mother, Cassana, who was hell-bent on bringing a lady out of his sister. Good luck with that, Mother!

He finally found his sister, in the Smithy of the castle, where hot breeze gave a warm welcome to the cold morning air. She was sitting next to the smith, Donal Roye, her legs pulled up to her chest, the long black braid brushing the dirt of the stone floor, and they both were sharing japes, administering the detail of something that Donal was holding in hand.

"Do you think, you can make one for me?" Stannis overheard Jo asking the Smith with sadness laced, all the smiles dead on her lips.

"Your father might hang me, my lady, if he finds me arming his gentle little lady." Donal casually said, and moved the bright new long sword, with a Stag pommel in its hilt, aside. The steel was hard and heavy. Stannis believed he wouldn't be even able to lift it, given the chance.

Suddenly, they both broke into a thunder of laughter. Stannis never understood why people laugh with her, for no good reasons. "Gentle!, Donal? Oh... I hope someone rescues this gentle little girl when I break your nose next time."

Stannis's nose scrunched up, unable to tolerate his sister who was challenging grown-up men. "Jocelyn!" Stannis yelled, his stern voice, determined. Although he was younger to her by two years, he would one day become the lord of Storm's End. When her sister turned, the smile unchanging he started grinding his teeth, controlling his anger. "Father has been seeking your presence. Come with me."

"We can meet him sometime later. Come here, Stannis. Look at this sword Donal made for our Lord Father." She said, lifting that long sword with not much difficulty. Stannis was determined to yell at her. But curiosity got the best of him, and he wanted to check if he was as strong as his sister. After all, he was a boy, and she was a girl. So, it shouldn't be much of a challenge.

To his disappointment, the sword tip kissed the ground when he tried to lift it above, and suddenly his cheeks started flaring in embarrassment.

"Here, let me help you," Jo said coming close, but Stannis threw the sword away, staring bewildered between Donal and his sister, wondering when they would crack up a joke, mentioning his failure.

"I don't need your help." He stomped his leg on the ground. "You are supposed to sing songs in the garden and stitch clothes with girls, not visit men in the Smithy."

"And you are supposed to swing a sword. You can't even lift one." Jo mocked him instantly, just like he assumed. "Now, maybe we can exchange our weapons and our garbs too," Jo said so spitefully, that it made Stannis regret of how he behaved.

She left him alone and ran to the castle, probably angry. As easy as she was to laugh, she was easy to get scorned too. Huffing aloud, Stannis dragged the heavy sword and gave it over to Donal, who was not so glad to look at Stannis, the boy who made his little gentle lady upset.

"She trains you with a club. Ain't she milord?" Donal made a crude slight and Stannis folded his arms across, staring down at the smith.

"She is a lady and soon she will stop swinging a club."

"Aye... When her hand is made for a real weapon, why play with a club? Like a true steel, maybe. No! A hammer... War hammer will fit her stature and strength."

Stannis never liked defiance. "I am glad there are no wars ahead, Donal. Else my father will lose Storm's End trusting in my sister's war hammer and your wooden clubs." He spat, grinding his teeth.

Donal Noye was a strong man and so far, Stannis only had his suspicions on who might have helped Jo in training. It was clear as crystal, now. The man understood the implications of training a lady with steel and swords. If something befalls on Jo, his head would be placed on a block. Sensing the truth, the man became silent and started whetting an additional set of swords, before Stannis took his leave.

When Stannis arrived at the Great Hall to break his fast and meet his father, Jo was already sitting atop their Lord Father's lap, probably spewing venom about him. He took his place next to his mother, who was not so happy about his sister's behavior. He could sense it with the way his lady mother glared at Jo.

"And he said, I should not be visiting men in the Smithy..." Jo complained to their father, her lips forming a pout, forehead crunched curiously to listen to their father's impending punishment on Stannis.

"At least one of my children has a sense of responsibility and duty." Lady Cassana made a snarky remark, and both father and daughter glowered on her.

"Stannis!" His father bellowed, voice thick with anger. His father never was a soft man, hard as iron, and Stannis wished to grow up like him. Except for this matter of always taking Jo's side, Stannis idolized him. "Jocelyn is your elder. If she is speaking with Donal , it is her due. You will not insult her in front of others."

"Yes, father," He simply accepted.

"Aye... Your dear Jocelyn will beat up a stable boy and a kitchen lad, and it will all be her prerogative as long as she resides in this castle, and in her father's lap, my Lord. Once she reaches her womanhood, will her husband place her on his lap and admonish the men of his house for her brashness?" Lady Cassana retorted.

"I will never leave this castle or my father's lap." Jo let out an unceremonious snicker, as she rested her head against their father's chest making faces at their lady mother. Lord Steffon laughed at her foolishness, instead of correcting the problem at hand.

"Look what you have done, Steffon!" His mother's eyes were popping out. "How do you expect me to correct her, if she is going to behave this unruly?"

"She will grow out of it, Cass." Her father ignored his mother's concern once again.

"Father!" Jo called, with all her girl's charms peeking out. "Will you take me for hunting with you, today?"

His mother was already bristling. "Well, then I suppose, I will have to attend your stitching lessons, young lady. Your Septa will be-"

"Just for one day, Cass. There is nothing wrong if a lady hunts and hawks. She takes after my mother, Rhaelle. You never knew her, unlike me. When she served as a cupbearer here-"

Stannis began focusing on his meals, instead of hearing the same old story about his father's lady mother for the thousandth time. He knew it by heart and somehow Jo became a replacement to Lady Rhaelle in their father's heart and received additional privileges for being improper. His mother's heels were tapping the stone floor below, which meant she was getting frustrated with his father's extra doting on his daughter.

His mother was a formidable woman. An Estermont by birth, who overlooked the duties of the castle and Stannis got his mother's favor, just as Jocelyn got their father's. And he knew why she was fretting.

"I wonder, what will you do, when one day, your daughter really turns out to be your mother and is sent to the royal family to wed the Prince?" His mother blurted anxiously. "Do you think your cousin will find your daughter sufficient for his son?"

"Cassana!" His father's voice boomed, and it was not a pleasant one to hear. He was in agitation.

This information was completely new to Stannis. Even Jo blinked twice before turning to their mother and father continuously. "What did she mean by sending to the royal palace?" Jo asked, and Stannis waited eagerly for his father's answer.

Lord Steffon's raging storm eyes settled finally on his curious sister and he made her slip out of his lap. "Why don't you go get dressed up for hunting? I will take you once me and your mother have a private conversation."

Jo nodded, waiting for their father to dismiss Stannis too. But their father didn't give him leave. With a frustrated scowl, Jo left alone to her chambers, and something close to smile appeared on Stannis until he heard his booming voice of his father.

"That was imprudent, my lady. She is a seven-year-old child. It is not wise to speak about-"

"I am being pragmatic, my lord, unlike you, who will not see the truth for yourself." His lady mother coolly disregarded his raging father. "We receive news every day about your cousin and his rule in King's Landing. Yet, you will not open your eyes."

"What matters to us, if his rule is getting worse, every day. It is in his hand and his hand's hand. Why would he call my daughter to be his cupbearer? My mother was betrothed to my father, and so she served as cupbearer in this castle, made quick friends, and left before her time. Just as my father."

Stannis sensed the sadness in his father's voice. He had heard the tales of Lord Ormund Baratheon's valor during the war of ninepenny kings when Maelys the monstrous gave the fatal blow to the then Storm's Lord. His father often mourned of Lord Ormund's death, which made even Stannis uncomfortable.

"I meant the same, my lord." His mother announced clearly, bringing his father's attention to the table. "If the King wants your daughter to get betrothed to his son..."

"That will not happen." His fist slammed against the table, knocking out a cup of wine down to the carpet. "The Targaryens wed their own siblings. Aerys will not ask that of us."

"The last I heard, Queen Rhaella's daughter died in her cradle. Didn't the missive ask you to bring both your children to the capital now? It could be just to know the children of his cousin, I am sure. But if your King wishes, then our daughter can become Queen one day and her children will rule the Kingdoms-"

"Stop it, Cassana." His father bellowed before raising from his chair. "No matter what happens, I will not lose another of my family to the Targaryen madness. I lost both my parents to their carelessness and absurdity. You remove this idea of seeing your daughter as a Queen." He walked away. Not before he left the Great Hall his father thundered with a maddening voice, "You will not speak another word in front of Jo about such affairs without consulting me. Don't plant any such thoughts on my little girl."

Once his father left far away, his mother filled Stannis's plate with two more boiled eggs. "Learn from your father, Stannis, to how not to let emotions cloud your judgments."

"What is happening, mother? Will Jo leave us to become Queen?"

His mother laughed, patting his head. "No, my love. You and your sister are invited by the King to come to King's Landing. In a week, you both will leave."

"Why is father angry about it?"

His mother rolled her eyes. "He rages for anything that goes out of his control. Don't tell your sister what I am about to say. Your sister might get betrothed to the Prince, one day. She is the closest relative for the Dragon King to choose for his son and your father will not approve to even think of it. His heart still mourns for his dead parents."

Stannis was confused, now. "I would let her get married if she will become Queen, one day."

"Not if you know, your mother and father's death were because of the very family she will wed to."

Stannis blinked, staring up at his mother, who had an easy smile just like Jo. Instead of mulling over to understand such complicated topics, he thought of getting ready for the hunt. Jocelyn already began to ride a horse, and if he begged of Ser Herbert, he might agree on providing one mare. Still, he had a long way to go, considering how his sister already had her first kill on a hare, while he would still be struggling to control the pony. He should agree on one thing. His sister was better than himself but he still loved her. Perhaps she should become the Queen one day. Brash as she was, she had a natural charm that he himself lacked.