Chapter 03

Willas Tyrell

Dammit. Willas hit the wall with his cane. This was all wrong.

Olennas letter had not been what he would have called informative. Not more than a note congratulating him on a good match made between house Tyrell and House Stark. Shortly announcing that the union would benefit them all, and that his young bride would be visiting soon, together with his brother and his brothers lady love. And while Willas knew she was young, a part of him had held the tiny hope that she might be mature and adult for her age. Just something to start with. To not make him feel so very much out of place with her.

The look that appeared on her face when she noticed the closed door behind him. Eyes wide in fear, her whole posture stiff, Willas felt it like a fist hitting his stomach.
He had originally entered the room after Sansa intent on discussing their situation. To reassure her of her safety in his house and she - she had been afraid of him.
He noticed immediately and the possibility of such a thing put him at a loss, before a vile, repulsive taste of Tyrell vanity left him quite insulted at the thought. He would never hurt someone placed under his protection.

His breathing slowed. He was still standing in the corridor somewhere half way between Sansas room and his study, which had been his goal. Now... he wasn't that sure anymore.

She is all alone here. Wasn't it natural that she was afraid? He tried to imagine how he would have comforted Margaery had she reacted like that – she was the only one he knew near Sansas age – but came up with a blank.
Even though he only saw Sansa for a few minutes, he had known Margaery all her life – both girls as different as soft snowfall to slight summer-rain.

Pondering, the tip of his tongue hit the roof of his mouth and he let it flick. He needed a chat with Garlan. Preferably sooner than later.

"Alester" he called for his servant.

The short man walked around the corner. Leaving his post at the balustrade.

"Yes, my Lord?"

"Have a maid send to Lady Sansas chambers. Set up a bath and see to her wishes." he ordered, "I will retire to my studies. Please inform my brother that I insist upon speaking to him, now."

"Shall I send wine and morsel to your studies?"

Willas lips twitched. He would get answers tonight, answers he most likely wouldn't like. "Wine and morsel would be most welcome. Pick an Arbor Red." A beverage strong, heavy, heady.
Alester bowed and hurried down the corridor. Willas turned a last uncertain look behind, before resuming his way.

The door to his studies shut with a heavy click behind him, keeping the world out. A quiet haven. Many hours had been spent sitting in the bulky velvet armchairs near the fireplace, the fabric chaffed. The surrounding walls - thick old stone - a welcome barricade in his youth. His desk was scattered in papers. A letter he already responded to, from his friend Oberyn, the red viper of Dorne. A report from Oldtown, the horse training chart from yesterday... his eyes shifted back to the report, but no, there would be time for that later. Instead he grabbed the horse training chart to study while waiting for his brother. Willas rested the cane next to his desk and settled into one of the armchairs.

The dapple grey or Sansa... he wondered whose trust he would be able to gain first. He doubted Sansa would be as willing to be bribed by sugar and apples.

There was a knock at the door. "Willas?", he heard his brothers voice.

"Please enter."

Garlan must have met the servant on his way, because he carried wine and cheese. The grin on his face distinctive. "Alester has the most atrocious timing.", he laughed good naturally.

"I'm sure you frightened him for life."

Garlan laughed, "He's old. I'm sure he has seen it before."

"Spare me the details." Willas groaned, but couldn't keep the smirk from his lips. It was good to have Garlan back at home.

Garlan fell into the opposite armchair, "Don't worry. You'll be getting some soon enough."

In an instant the mood changed, and Willas stare was deadly. He found no humour in such a comment, linking him with a maiden way too young, even when this maiden was supposed to become his wife.

For a flicker of a second, Garlan shifted his eyes away, unable to meet his gaze, "...or not. Your meeting didn't go well?" his voice was softer now.

"Yes..." Willas replied, struggling what to say. He shook his head, "No."
He wasn't even sure he had an answer himself. He bend over the table and poured them both something to drink, swinging the red liquor in his glass, watching the light from the open fire reflected in his hand.
His vision shifted, and the red hue sparkles changed to long tresses of auburn hair.

Her hair – he had faltered for a second during the greeting, when the sunlight hit her head at the right angle and streaks burst alive in fire and gold.

"It's... of course she would be awkward.", Willas laughed ,"I'm awkward too. I just don't know-". He rested his elbows on his knees, linking his fingers and twiddling with his thumbs. He breathed in slowly, gathering his thoughts and stopped watching them wrestling, answering Garlans wondering gaze with his own "I believe her a good girl. She seemed curious, which is a good trait. The situation is becoming to her? I had the impression she feels welcoming towards the thought of living here."

Garlan agreed, "Yes, she was always in high spirits when Leonette and I talked about Highgarden. She was looking forward to it a lot - meeting you."

There was a pause, and the quietness of the room settled heavy on Willas shoulders. It sounded nice, talking about it like this, but it also sounded wrong, too easy. He was aware that in truth it was not like this at all. He slumped in his chair and turned his head downwards again, hands tangling in his hair, resting. "She's afraid." he mumbled.

He could hear Garlan shift in his seat, "Of you?" his brother pressed.

Nodding his head, "Of everything." Willas clarified. "But yes, she was afraid of me, frighteningly so."

When he raised his head again, Garlans look is one of surprise.

"I just wanted to talk to her. But when she saw the closed door..."

His brother bristled, "You shouldn't have closed the door."

"And let everyone listen in on a private conversation?" Willas voice boomed through the room, surprising him just as much. He was tense again as his voice changed to a warning hiss "You know as well as I do that there are many spiders between the roses at Highgarden."

The laughter leaving Garlans lips was mocking, "You are not some green boy Willas, if I had abducted Leonette to a secluded room for privacy upon our first meeting she..." Garlans posture shifted, he was sitting straighter now, "actually she wouldn't even have followed, " his grin returned "I'd have to throw her over my shoulder and carry her in to -"

Willas raised an eyebrow at him.

"Right..." Garlan coughed, gathering his lost thought, "This, is just not something you do with a Lady. A Woman not yet your wife."

A woman? Willas had to disagree "She is a girl."

"Ah." Garlan grinned at him knowingly "She won't quite see it that way."

Willas knew it as well. She came here under the knowledge that she was a maiden bloomed. One to be wedded and bedded. He cringed at the crude thought.

"I do not plan to touch her."

Garlans tone was serious now "I thought as much, in some regards you are quite predictable. Still Father won't like it. He'll be afraid the Lannisters might challenge the claim"

Claim. As if he was just gifted with a new horse. Willas next question is hateful. "So it was fathers plan?"

"No."

It was no secret that there was not much love between Willas and his father. The roots of it grew a long time ago, long enough that both of them weren't aware of it any longer. Willas was sure though, that it had started even before the accident, started while he was still the perfect son, the promising heir of Highgarden, being groomed like a flower.

"We have nothing to fear from the Lannisters. Wedding or not. The announcement is done and Sansa is safe here." Willas remarked confident. "Highgarden is far away enough from Kingslanding and close enough to Dorne. They would be fools to endanger our alliance through a challenge for a maidens hand."

Garlan was sceptical, "And if they do not care much for sanity?"

"They will loose."

It was not difficult to grasp the situation House Baratheon found itself in. If it could still be called Baratheon. After all Renly and Stannis had declared war to House Baratheon-Lannister rather fast, and there had been those nasty rumours as well. It was tricky when House Tyrell had to shift alliances after Renlys death. Willas was still deeply angered at this mad plan Mace had agreed to. He doubted his father was even aware of the danger he had put Margaery in. He worried for his sister, his family, now more than before - since Garlan returned to Highgarden, and Loras was too much of a hothead to be rational. He wouldn't even bother to consider Mace in this charade. His only comfort was the knowledge of Olenna being with them. She would keep them all safe.

Still this whole farce would have never worked as smoothly if Kingslanding had not direly needed their alliance. What else had they left? The north had called to the banners and was winning battle after battle on their way south. Riverrun defended their borders desperately, but once King Robb met up with them, the armies would unite and become a serious threat.
Who knew if the Vale would join them, but it was a looming possibility. And while Renlys army had dissolved, they merrily changed loyalty to Stannis, and Stannis was dangerous. They may have managed to avoid his first attack with help of wildfire, but Stannis Baratheon was enduring, he would not stop until the throne was his, or his life had ended.

No, Sansa was quite safe already. Willas had never met King Joffrey, but he had met the kings hand. Lord Tywin was no fool. If they threatened the engagement of Highgardens heir and future Lord to Lady Sansa, Tywin must be aware that such an action would not only make house Tyrell dissolve the engagement with Margaery – as such withdrawing their alliance – but also bring them yet another foe. One with hundreds of thousands of men at their disposal, stocks filled with corn and fruits - enough food to supply their armies for long lasting battles – and a tight alliance with Dorne.

And Dorne would join their case if Willas called for the banners.

No, whatever Olennas plan had been, engaging him to Sansa Stark, he had to admit, it was foolproof.

Challenge his claim? It would be the last thing House Baratheon-Lannister did.

His voice must have sounded convincing enough, for Garlan said no more. The look his brother sent him was proud mixed with something else, leaving Willas with a bitter taste that was hard to get rid off. It was the look his family developed eleven years ago, thinking if only...

Willas shifted his damaged leg uncomfortably trying to shake the feeling away.

Garlan noticed and raised his glass in a mocking toast to rise the mood "To a long betrothal, brother."

Willas laugh was short and biting when they toasted. The wine tasted sweet on his tongue, a prominent flavour of cherries and plums and for a moment they sat in comfortable silence. A fortnight ago, he wouldn't have guessed to see his brother return so soon. Not after Mace and Allerie had followed after the success of a betrothal between Margaery and Joffrey had been announced.

For Olenna to make sure Sansa Stark would disappear from Kingslanding so fast, hastily tying her to her eldest grandson - he put the drink away, his jaw tense.

"What is going on Garlan?" Willas asked him sternly, "What were you thinking?"

"We-"

Willas interrupted him immediately "Were you thinking?"

Garlan looked at him helplessly and shrugged. "There was no time.", he said.

Something in his tone didn't sit well with Willas. He stopped his tirade and focused on him. "Why?"

"Because we had to get out of there as soon as possible.", not more than a whisper.

We. Garlan had said we. Not Sansa. Not the eldest Stark girl... we meaning Sansa, Leonette and Garlan.
While he liked Leonette just fine, he knew she wouldn't be Olennas first priority regarding safety. His brother had managed to get himself into trouble again.

Willas gaze turned icy. "Why?"

"Because any time later and they wouldn't let her." Garlan revealed.

Do not fool me, Willas thought, "Garlan!" there was a desperate timbre in his voice. What are you not telling me?

"Because Joffrey will die on this wedding."

No. Willas groaned. His body jerked and the action was mirrored by his brother when Garlan almost leaped to his feet in case Willas might need his aid. A reaction Garlan never managed to shrug of, from a time when Willas body trembled from pain. But his brother quickly sat down when he noticed the shakes to be for quite a different reason. Willas was furious.

His family was mad. He was surrounded by madmen and fools and oafs. And he blamed Mace for that.

His tongue felt heavy and the words sounded strained, "Are you telling me, Joffrey will die at the same day as his marriage to Margaery and you played a mayor hand in it."

Garlan didn't need to answer, it was clear to see.

His chubby little brother, always trailing behind him. Beaming up at him at sword practice, with so much admiration in his eyes. - This was dangerous.
Willas remembered Garlan trembling, crying, frustrated and screaming he would never be as good as Willas. - This was treason.
Remembered the deep scarlet blush when Willas dubbed him Garlan the Gallant in front of a group of young maiden his age, spreading the nickname as sure and fast as wildfire. - Please lie to me.

He didn't. "Poison. It will look like he'll choke on his own spit." Garlan admits.

Dread. A sheet of ice spreading over his body, settling deep in his skin. Willas felt his heartbeat in mad acceleration. By the seven! This was a mess.