ASOIAF / Game of Thrones (SPOILERS INSIDE)

[Sirken]

Poor Stannis. he may need to die indeed. but maybe not. if he actually is Azor Azai, and if lightbringer is actually the men of the nights watch, then its a perfect fit for him to lead the watch.

but more likely, Melisandre (whom i believe to be the least talented of the 3 red priests, thoros and moqorro being the other two) has been seeing future visions of Jon in her fires, and not Stannis.

If Stannis does die, well then we have Gendry and Edric, one (or both) of them can be legitimized, and become the new Lord of the Baratheon house.

If Stannis does not die.. well thats a pickle. firstly because Stannis sees himself as the rightful king, he WILL NOT bend the knee to any one else. if he was willing to kill Renly, hes not pledging fealty to anyone else. he can't be king of the north, because hes not of the north. not to mention Rickon is still alive, and Sansa is to be married to Harry the Heir, which would unite the vale of Arryn and the North, again, leaving no place for Stannis.

at the wall, Stannis can be lord commander, as well as get away with not kneeling before any other king, furthermore, he would not be subject to the whims of whoever the king may end up being.

i just think that from a writing point of view, theres a reason Jon was the 998th commander of the nights watch. more specifically, i think theres a reason we are so close to 1000. i think there will be a short lived interim Lord Commander that will take over after Jon, but will ultimately not last (for whatever reason), and then will be followed by the 1000th Lord Commander of the Nights Watch (ie: Stannis imo)