What was the Shadow Baby that killed Renly Baratheon?

Did you know in the books Stannis Baratheon might have been the shadow baby used to kill Renly? This short uses evidence from A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, A Dance with Dragons and The Winds of Winter.

A Game of Thrones theory explained, prepare for The Winds of Winter release date with a theory video of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire book series and something to think about while waiting for HBO's House of the Dragon Season 2.

[Qbgarden]

So mad how it ended and all the plotlines forgotten or wasted.

[justdirt]

He also does this twice In the books and it visibly ages him. At the beginning of book 2, Stannis is in his mid 30s and looks like a healthy man. Besides his balding, nothing else is off about him.

[seanisnotjohn]

"No man is as accursed as the Kinslayer"

[andalilbitqueer]

ironic that one who lives his life in honor would commit not one, but two of Westeros' greatest crimes.

[benkellman]

It was certainly made from and like Stannis. I don’t think it’s clear it was him and not Melisandre that controlled it

[AodhanBeag]

And with Stannis being a character so rigid on what is right and dutiful etc. him Kinslaying must be torture for him since it’s seen as such a taboo is Westeros

[Astrialx]

Here's a third option: what if no one was controlling it? What if, upon or during it's creation, it was given the task to kill Renly? That's what I think.

[shaderax_storm]

Sliced through his gorget deep into his throat.
I did miss that little detail that the knight of flowers apparently attempted to do the same cut over and over and couldn't replicate the way Renly was killed. It led him to believe it wasn't Briene who killed him.

[wadewilson]

I thought that was clearly implied in the show too!

[albdamned]

He definitely “powered” the creature, but is stannis the puppeteer or the strings being pulled to give the puppet life? I am pretty sure he wasn’t in control but was being utilized somehow in the process.

[consenia]

The gods hate kinslayers, even when they kill unknowing. -Ygritte

[Vortexnicholas]

He should’ve used the shadow baby to take out joffrey instead

[ashesofhopesinabonfireofdr]

Stannis is very honest and if he says he didn't control the shadow baby that killed renly then that's the Truth.
It was red witch who did it.

[Adrian_V]

Ironically this is less disturbing than other theories, like 1 that said Melissandre got actually pregnant and the shadow killer was a sort of magically aborted fetus.

[andrewmarkland]

I always assumed the shadow being was created for the single purpose of killing Renly, acting on it's own and disappearing once it completed its task.

[DPedro]

Honestly, Renly's death was the only time in the books I thought "That's some bs"

[oleschmeed]

Just got to this part in the books. It was really well written. I wished they added the peach in the show. Id imagine they wanted to show Stannis as hardcore to the bone. No regrets.

[anarion]

Martin's favorite movie is "Forbidden Planet" which has similar elements of the story : "Monsters from the id"

[carinaadams]

I think Melisandre used Stannis’ soul or essence as the vessel for the creature.
Like how astral projection works and you’re supposed to be “asleep” in a sense but also awake wherever you go, hence why he couldn’t be “woken”.

It very possible either one of them was controlling it but there was definitely part of him connected to it.

[TowelsKingdom]

He also did it in the mirror 🪞 and mirrors are often used in spells