Summary
Even after losing the Battle of the Blackwater, Stannis Baratheon’s loyalists such as Ser Davos and the Red Woman still believe he is the one true king of Westeros. Stannis spends most ofGame of Thronesseason 3 recuperating at Dragonstone and his aides think that their battle is far from over. The Wildfire takes Stannis' fleet in the Battle of the Blackwater, and he continues to burn men at Melisandre’s behest. He wants Joffrey Baratheon and Robb Stark dead while Melisandre keeps saying they must make more sacrifices to the Lord of Light to win. She buys the bastard of House Baratheon, Gendry from the Brotherhood Without Banners to sacrifice him to the Lord and to help further Stannis' goal.
Melisandre stands beside Stannis as she believes he is destined to unite the world during the unending period of darkness (the Long Night) and therefore must rule to save Westeros. To Stannis' chagrin, Davos helps Robert’s illegitimate son, Gendry escape. The conversation about an irate Stannis and Davos takes place inGame of Thronesseason 3, episode 8 “Second Sons” and it proves that the former is completely besotted with Melisandre and willing to sacrifice more people for gain. While Renly Baratheon is dead before the Battle of the Blackwater, Robb Stark and his host arebutchered at the Red Weddingin the infamousGame of Thronesseason 3, episode 9 “The Rains of Castamere.” Joffrey is killed at his wedding feast inGame of Thronesseason 4 and Stannis is the only king contesting the Iron Throne, as Balon Greyjoy wants independence for the Iron Islands.
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Stannis And Ser Davos Rebuild The Army
InGame of Thronesseason 3, episode 10 “Mhysa,” Ser Davos shows Stannis Maester Aemon’s scroll which talks about Lord Commander Jeor Mormont’s ranging to the lands beyond the Wall, his death and confirms the simmering conflict beyond the Wall. Davos helps Stannis see the need to regroup and rebuild an army from Sellswords, pirates, and the lords of Westeros to fight the White Walkers and the Dead. Melisandre stands on Davos' side as she too believes thatthe War of the Five Kingsmeans nothing next to death marching on the Wall. More sacrificial ceremonies to the Lord of Light are made and inGame of Thronesseason 4, Stannis' Hand, Davos writes to the Iron Bank of Braavos asking them for their support.
Tommen Baratheon sits throne inGame of Thronesseason 4, while Davos persuades the Iron Bank to support Stannis in the war. Later, Davos visits the pirate and sellsail, Salladhor Saan who allied with him in the Battle of the Blackwater, and pays him in gold. In the meanwhile, Melisandre tells Stannis' wife, Selyse that when they set sail, the king’s daughter, Shireen Baratheon must be with them, hinting she has to be sacrificed next. Instead ofattacking King’s Landing, Stannis' mounted knights find themselves in the real North, cutting through the Free Folk. They take the King-Beyond-the-Wall, Mance Rayder prisoner inGame of Thronesseason 4, episode 10 “The Children.” As a dutiful man, Stannis is worried about the Dead and willing to listen to what Mance has to say. He also meets the man of the Night’s Watch - Jon Snow among the Wildlings and his war for the Iron Throne takes a drastic turn. He now wants to be the person who wants to save the realm and earn the position of the king. Stannis, the Red Woman, and Davos stay at Castle Black and spend some time with Jon and Samwell Tarly and get to know more about the only war that matters.
Stannis Wants To Take Winterfell
InGame of Thronesseason 5, episode 1 “The Wars to Come,” Stannis meets Jon Snow and informs him about his plan to take Winterfell from the Boltons. He wants to use Jon to avenge the traitors and promises to legitimize him. Jon politely refuses and reminds Stannis and Davos that he’s a sworn brother of the Night’s Watch. He adds that he sympathizes with the Wildlings as they were born on the wrong side of the Wall. Stannis wants toclaim the Northand use the Wildlings in his army. He says once he wins the war, he will declare them citizens, and give them lands on condition that Mance kneel to him. Mance refuses, and Stannis offers him to the Lord of Light, but Jon gives him a merciful death by putting an arrow through his heart.
ByGame of Thronesseason 5, episode 3 “High Sparrow,” winter is almost upon the Northerners, and Stannis plans to march on Winterfell within a fortnight before the snow traps his army. He wants to pack up and leave as he knows every day of inaction means the odds turn in the Boltons' favor. He departs from Castle Black inGame of Thronesseason 5, episode 5 “Kill the Boy,” but lends Jon his ships to ferry the Free Folk from Hardhome. Stannis takes Selyse, Melisandre, and Shireen with him, and in the meantime, the new Lord of Winterfell, Roose Bolton arranges his son, Ramsay’s marriage to Sansa Stark to secure hisclaim on the North.
The Battle
InGame of Thronesseason 5, episode 7, “The Gift,” Stannis keeps losing men and horses to the harsh weather conditions but remains reluctant and refuses to retreat. Davos urges that they head back to Castle Black to regain their strength:
We are running out of food, we can’t open the supply line until the snow clears. The Stormcrows rode off last night.
Five hundred sellswords desert Stannis, and Davos rightly remarks that marching to Winterfell is next to impossible. Stannis risks everything because he trusts in Melisandre. She urges him to sacrifice Shireen to the Lord of Light by remarking it is the only way to win. She wants him to rule the Seven Kingdoms duringthe Long Night, and he agrees to burn Shireen.
InGame of Thronesseason 5, episode 8 “Hardhome,“Roose’s scouts inform him Stannis has about six thousand men, half of which are mounted. The Boltons have had the walls of Winterfell repaired, and the gates reinforced, and enough provisions for the next six months. In other words, the Boltons have the luxury of time but Stannis doesn’t. They can wait out a siege and wait for Stannis' men to either “freeze,” “starve” or “mutiny.” Ramsay however has a plan for which he needs twenty good men. He tells his father that Stannis' invasion is the perfect opportunity to act first and show the Northern Houses how the Boltons deal with the Southern invaders.
Game of Thronesseason 5, episode 9 “The Dance of Dragons,” sees a fire break out in Stannis' camp, and obviously, it’s the work of Ramsay’s twenty good men. The food stocks are burned, siege weapons are gone and hundreds of horses are dead. He will not be able to attack the Boltons unless there is a thaw. Stannis sends Davos to Castle Black for food, supplies, and fresh horses and has Shireen burned alive. Selyse hangs herself next and nearly half of Stannis' mounted sellswords desert but come morning, he rides for Winterfell. InGame of Thronesseason 5, episode 10 “Mother’s Mercy,” without Melisandre by his side, he faces Ramsay Bolton and his army outside Winterfell. As he prepares his men to besiege the castle, the Bolton army arrives on horseback and cuts through his army. Injured, Stannis slumps against a tree in a nearby forest where the Kingsguard to Renly Baratheon, Brienne of Tarth executes him forkilling his brother with blood magic.
