Born in Flea Bottom, the poorest area of King’s Landing, a young boy named Davos would survive
the hardships of early life, finding work as a Cabin Boy aboard the smuggler ship Cobblecat,
serving under Captain Roro Uhoris. Roro was eventually executed by the night’s Watch
for selling weapons to the Wildlings, but Davos continued to learn the illegal trade,
and soon came to captain his own small smuggler’s ship, becoming an expert at navigating dangerous
and difficult waters. Davos then married a woman named Marya, and
together had 7 sons, naming them Dale, Allard, Matthos, Maric, Devan, Stannis and Steffon.
During Robert’s Rebellion, the castle of Storm’s end was besieged by Lord Mace Tyrell
and his loyalist Targaryen forces. Additionally, the naval fleet of House Redwyne joined in
the siege, blockading Stormbreaker bay, in order to starve out Stannis Baratheon and
his rebel forces. And while Stannis refused to surrender, dooming
his people to a slow and painful death, they were ultimately saved by Davos, who took it
upon himself to maneuver his ship through the blockade, bringing onions and other foodstuffs
into the castle. These supplies allowed Storm’s End to endure long enough for Eddard Stark
to march his rebel soldiers south and break the siege.
In order to reward Davos for his contribution to their victory, Stannis knighted the man
and granted him prosperous lands on Cape Wrath, even granting him the name Seaworth, so he
might establish his own noble house. And while Stannis admired Davos and was grateful
to him, his sense of justice could not ignore the crimes of his past, and so he also decreed
that Davos must lose the tips of his fingers on one hand.
Deeming it a fair trade, Davos agreed to the terms, on the condition that Stannis enact
the punishment himself. When it was over, Davos collected the bones
and wore them in a pouch around his neck, claiming they brought him luck, since the
removal of those bones brought wealth and prosperity to his family.
House Seaworth prospered greatly under Baratheon rule, with Ser Davos becoming captain of the
Royal Fleet vessel known as Black Betha. But after the death of Robert Baratheon, Westeros
was once again divided in the War of the Five Kings, and while the vast majority of the
Stormlands supported King Renly Baratheon, Ser Davos owed his loyalty to Stannis and
recognized it was in fact the elder Baratheon brother who had the most legitimate claim
to the throne. Davos then travelled to Dragonstone to serve
in his King’s court, but there ran into conflict with Melisandre, a Priestess of R’hllor
who had converted many on the island to the Red Faith. The Onion Knight, who worshipped
the Seven traditional gods of Southern Westeros, became concerned with the power of this foreign
priestess and did what he could to counteract her influence.
With few lords pledging to support King Stannis, Davos recruited a mercenary naval fleet led
by the Lysene pirate Salladhor Saan to join the invasion forces being raised at Dragonstone.
Davos also undertook a mission to persuade the Lords of the Stormlands to support Stannis,
but those negotiations ultimately failed. Stannis then ordered Davos to sail to Gulltown,
the Fingers, the Three Sisters, and White Harbor bringing letters that proclaimed Joffrey
Baratheon and his siblings were the illegitimate children of incest between Queen Cersei Lannister
and her brother Ser Jaime. Which would make the deceased King Robert’s eldest brother
Stannis the true heir to the iron throne. After the death of Renly Baratheon, most of
his support in the Stormlands switched over to Stannis. However Ser Cortnay Penrose of
Storm’s End refused to surrender and so Stannis ordered Davos to sail with Melisandre
underneath the castle, where she gave birth to a shadow assassin who killed the stubborn
lord. Now prepared for an invasion of King’s Landing,
Stannis launched his fleet and engaged in the Battle of the Blackwater. Unfortunately
Davos and 4 of his sons were taken out of the fighting early, subject to a Wildfire
attack which burned many of their ships, presumably killing Dale, Allard, Mathos and Maric, while
stranding their father on small stone formations known as the Spears of the Merling King. King
Stannis would fair no better, unable to capture the capital city and driven into retreat by
an unexpected alliance between his enemies in House Lannister and Tyrell.
Stannis returned to Dragonstone with whatever ships survived the battle and was soon joined
by Davos who was rescued by the mercenary fleet of Salladhor Saan.
Convinced Melisandre and her dark magic was to blame for their defeat, Davos planned to
assassinate the Priestess, but she proved wary of his schemes and had him arrested before
he could make the attempt. Unsure how to proceed next, Stannis sent for
Davos and asked his council regarding the recent defection of Lord Ardrian Celtigar
to the Lannister faction. Ser Axel Florent suggested punishing the small folk for their
lord’s betrayal, by massacring his people on claw Isle. Yet Davos saw no justice in
this decision and strongly objected. Recognizing the honesty and wisdom in the Onion Knight’s
words, Stannis had Axel Florent arrested for treason and elevated Davos Seaworth, making
him Lord of Rainwood, Admiral of the Narrow Sea and Hand of the King.
With his new position and influence, Davos came to represent the traditionalist faction
in the Dragonstone Court, supported by the King’s Men, soldiers still loyal to Faith
of the Seven. While Melisandre represented the Red Faith
faction, supported by the Queen’s Men, soldiers bound by their faith in R’hllor.
Davos also took it upon himself to release Edric Storm, the bastard son of Robert Baratheon,
who was being held on Dragonstone, with Melisandre eager to sacrifice him to the Red God and
use his King’s blood to wake stone dragons. Realizing there was little more to be gained
by remaining in the south, Davos suggested that Stannis might win support from the people,
specifically the Northern houses, if he were to act like a true King and sail with his
fleet to the Wall, joining the Night’s Watch in repelling a massive Wildling army threatening
to invade the south. Once arrived, Davos was once again sent on
a mission to White Harbor, this time charged with gaining the support of House Manderly.
However storms destroy many of the ships sent with Davos, causing Salladhor Saan to abandon
their cause, leaving the Onion Knight on a rowboat while they made their way to Essos.*
*Davos refused to leave with them Though the journey was difficult, Davos eventually
made it to White Harbor, and presented his case before the White Harbor court. And while
the Onion Knight found support from young Wylla Manderly, who was eager to seek revenge
against the Boltons and Freys for their betrayal of the Starks, her grandfather Lord Wyman
Manderly insulted Davos and arrested him, sentencing him to execution. The Lannisters,
had already sent Lord Manderly a message offering the return of Manderly hostages in exchange
for the head of Davos Seaworth. And so they appeared to comply, telling the world they
killed the man, even mounting his head and hands outside the walls of their city.
Yet in truth, House Manderly had executed a lookalike, in order to get his relatives
back from Lannister control. Still loyal to the Starks, Lord Wyman then cut a secret deal
with Ser Davos, offering to free him and pledge the support of his house to Stannis Baratheon,
in exchange for the safe return of Rickon Stark, who was being held on the island of
Skagos. Davos, ever loyal to his king, agreed to the
terms, and with all the world believing him dead, he set sail for the Skagos, determined
to bring back the youngest stark child, and win the support of a powerful house to the
faction of King Stannis Baratheon.