Melyse

Melyse is the femslash ship between Melisandre and Selyse Baratheon from the Game of Thrones fandom.

Novels
Before the beginning of the second novel, A Clash of Kings, Melisandre comes to Dragonstone searching for Azor Ahai reborn, a key figure in her religion. She believes Azor Ahai to be Selyse's husband, Stannis, and names him as such. Selyse immediately becomes a fervent supporter of Melisandre and her new religion, and is a staunch supporter of the faith of R'hllor. Melisandre becomes a confidante to Lady Selyse.

After King Robert dies, his brother Stannis claims to be the true king of the Seven Kingdoms, and Selyse becomes his queen. Selyse's faith to Melisandre's religion is so devout that followers of R'hllor are known as "queen's men," rather than "king's men."

Stannis tries to claim the throne, but fails at the Battle of the Blackwater. Afterwards, Melisandre attempts to burn Stannis and Selyse's illegitimate nephew Edric to wake dragons from stone. Selyse proves her devotion by convincing Stannis to go along with Melisandre's plan; however, the scheme eventually fails.

Instead, Stannis's court sails to the far north to aid the Night's Watch in the war against the wildlings and others. Selyse and Melisandre are together at court in the Nightfort, where Lord Commander Jon Snow takes note of the queen's devotion to the princess, observing that: "a word from [Melisandre], and [Selyse] would walk into the fire willingly, embrace it like a lover."

TV series
Melisandre and Selyse's relationship plays out similarly, although Selyse is not introduced until the third season (whereas Selyse is introduced in Season 2). As the TV series do not stick to the same POV format of the novels (where the characters are seen through the eyes of Davos), new scenes are added which cement Selyse's obsession with Melisandre.

The pair first begin to interact at the beginning of Season 4. Melisandre is presiding over burnings of traitors and heretics on the shores of Dragonstone, including Selyse's own brother Axell. The red priestess is silent, but Selyse takes great pleasure in seeing the burnings, cementing her devotion to the Red God.

Later as they are preparing to head North, Selyse visits Melisandre's rooms, where she is taking a bath. Melisandre adopts a friendly tone, joking that it will be the last time in a while she can enjoy a good bath. She reveals some of her methods as a Red Priestess to Selyse, such as using potions and illusions to help convert others to the true religion. Selyse asks her if she used potions while sleeping with Stannis, but Melisandre confirms that she did not.

Melisandre and Selyse go north, and the queen expresses great delight when Melisandre burns the king-beyond-the-Wall, Mance Rayder. However, Selyse's devotion comes into question later in the season, when Stannis's army comes south to Winterfell. Unlikely to make it through the battle, Melisandre tries to sacrifice Stannis's daughter Shireen. At first, Selyse is enthusiastic, but tries to stop it once she sees her daughter burn. This leads to Selyse committing suicide.

Fanon
Melyse is not as popular as some Game of Thrones femslash that involves the younger characters, such as Sansaery. It does not have many rivalries, but naturally opposes Melistannis, which ships Melisandre with Selyse's husband Stannis instead. Some prefer to ship all three in a poly-relationship, however. Despite the two characters interacting frequently and Selyse's canonical obsession with Melisandre in both media -- the novels and the show, it is hardly written about with little over 30 fanfics on AO3 as of October 2020.

Fandom
FAN FICTION