He stared for a long time at the ships drifting on the sea in the middle of the night.
Dragonstone was built atop a mountain. Besides the castle, only a small fishing village remained on the island. Now the village at the foot of the mountain had become an enemy encampment.
The war came so suddenly that Davos couldn't even guess where the enemy had come from, or why a fleet had suddenly approached Dragonstone without any advance warning.
But he saw it clearly. Sails marked with black spears and golden skulls hanging from their banners. Their military formation was precise, and the layout of their camp was strict, orderly, and impeccable.
Faced with the sudden attack, the castle nearly fell, and all remaining ships at Dragonstone were sunk. On the first night, they almost breached the castle. Their armor was superior and their arrows and crossbows deadly.
When they attacked the fleet, Rolland Storm immediately suggested the king evacuate Dragonstone for Storm's End, but Stannis refused.
However, he ordered Axell Florent and Rolland Storm to escort the queen and princess to Storm's End Castle.
Salladhor Saan told them it was the "Golden Company," a famous sellsword company from across the Narrow Sea.
The Golden Company was founded by Aegor Rivers, called Bittersteel, a legitimized bastard son of King Aegon IV. He had sided with Daemon Blackfyre in the Blackfyre Rebellion and fled to Essos with Daemon's sons after their defeat.
"Gold above, cold iron below" was the battle cry when the Golden Company was founded.
Though in Essos they boasted of their reliability with their motto "Our word is as good as gold," they remained exiles from their homeland since the Blackfyre Rebellion. One generation, two generations, three generations, even four.
Their numbers were more than ten times those defending Dragonstone. They launched a fierce attack on the first night, but afterward, the Golden Company chose to besiege the castle. Except for the queen and her party who had managed to escape, Dragonstone was now completely surrounded.
King Stannis personally led the defense, repelling wave after wave of attacks.
Davos still remembered his words: "This is my duty, smuggler. Only now do I understand Robert's intentions. He gave this place to me, not Renly, knowing that this day would come. But look, Renly and I both did foolish things."
The Onion Knight didn't know if King Robert had foreseen the Golden Company attacking Dragonstone, but he knew that once Stannis made up his mind, no one could change it.
"How fares the king?" the Hand asked the maester.
Pylos shook his head silently.
During the night, though they had repelled the Golden Company's attack, the king had been struck in the chest by a crossbow bolt that pierced straight through his armor.
The moment Stannis fell, this place could no longer be defended unless a miracle happened.
"Is there truly no hope?" Davos tried again.
Seeing the maester's continued silence, the Onion Knight already knew the answer.
"Father!" Devan rushed into the hall, "The king is awake. He says he wants to see you and Maester Pylos."
The maester and Davos exchanged glances, then hurried to the king's chamber.
His chest heaving, Stannis had slept enough. His body was thin, and now there was a bolt piercing his chest.
"Smuggler." The king's voice was weak.
"Your Grace." The Onion Knight knelt beside his bed.
"Help me up." The king turned his body, but the tearing of his wound made him groan in pain.
Davos quickly reached out to help him, advising, "Your Grace, you should rest."
The wound began bleeding again after the maester had applied medicine to stem it, but Stannis managed to stand. "Do you think your king should die in bed?"
He moved to rise, and the maester leaned forward.
"Your Grace, you mustn't move now, it will worsen the wound," the maester cautioned.
"I know I haven't much time. Let me look once more." His face, pale from blood loss, was contorted with pain.
The maester and Davos supported him by the arms.
The king pointed toward the hall, and Davos and the maester carried him forward. The king's eyes were half-closed, his body mostly dragged by them.
"I hate sleeping, smuggler. I've slept enough." The king's voice was thin.
"We all hate sleep, Your Grace," the Onion Knight agreed.
He heard the king chuckle weakly, "I know you're lying to me, smuggler. You always tell me the truth, but I'll forgive you this once."
Stannis pointed to the windowsill, "Take me there."
As they passed through the Drum Tower hall, the king glanced sideways.
"Is winter coming?" the king suddenly asked. "It's so cold here."
Sunlight flooded the windowsill, making even Davos feel warm.
From the window they could see the sea, now filled with ships flying golden banners.
"I have always hated the sea." The king's eyes flickered to the water. "I saw it take my parents with my own eyes."
"Bring me a chair, I'm too tired." A trace of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Devan!" Davos called to his son, and the young squire quickly brought a chair and placed it behind the king.
They lowered the king into it. He slumped in the seat, his arms hanging limply, his head resting against the cushioned back.
"Pylos, write this down, on parchment." The king suddenly urged.
"Yes, Your Grace." He took out the quill and scroll he carried.
"In the name of Stannis of House Baratheon, First of His Name, I hereby appoint Cole Snow of House Stark as Prince Regent, and Davos of House Seaworth as the King's Hand for life and Warden of the Narrow Sea, Lord Commander of the royal fleet." His voice was so soft it was barely audible. "Help me. Help me protect Shireen."
The maester helped him press his handprint onto the document.
"I never asked for anything. Never wanted any of this." His eyes were fixed on the sea; he was exhausted.
"Your Grace." Tears welled in the Onion Knight's eyes.
His king was dead.
Davos' tears silently flowed down his face.
Maester Pylos sealed the parchment.
"Maester, please keep this news quiet for now." Davos held back his tears and looked at him gravely.
Pylos nodded.
They carried the king back to his chamber.
Clouds suddenly gathered over Dragonstone, covering the sun and casting a gloom over the island.
The oppressive atmosphere spread throughout the castle.
Nine hundred warriors stared at the densely packed enemies at the foot of the mountain, their eyes full of confusion.
In this moment of despair and helplessness, a message suddenly came from the main castle: "Reinforcements have arrived and will break through from the western shore tonight!"
A white shadow whistled and flashed above the clouds.