Disclaimer: I don't own Game of Thrones or the A Song of Ice and Fire series.

Chapter 4

During the next week or so, Margaery watched her brother closely. He and Ser Olyvar had been in each other's company nearly every time she had seen them. Her brother had looked so sad since Renly's death, but now at least, he smiled from time to time. Margaery thanked the gods every time she saw that, she didn't want her brother to suffer, she'd never wanted that, and she knew she never would.

In truth, Margaery knew that she had quite a lot to thank the gods for. She and her brother were alive and well, and they weren't prisoners of Stannis Baratheon, which they could've been if lord Baelish had not convinced Loras that they needed to go. She also thanked the gods for Ser Olyvar Oakheart, who seemed to be helping by distracting Loras quite a lot.

Nine days after the morning she'd found Olyvar asleep in Loras's tent, Highgarden finally came into view. Margaery smiled with relief, she was very glad to see the tall, lofty towers of her home again, and looking ahead at Loras, she could see that he was as well.

She rode forward then until she was riding at Loras's left, and smiled at him. He returned her smile, his eyes full of relief.

When they reached the gates, the guards opened them at once, and Loras and Margaery, along with Olyvar and the other lords and knights who'd travelled with them, rode through into the courtyard. Inside, Lord Mace Tyrell was waiting, and when Margaery got down from her horse, he rushed to embrace her.

"Father," She said, returning his embrace. "How have things been since we left?"

"Let us save all that for now, you must be weary after your journey. Let's get you inside so that you may freshen up. We will have a feast tonight."

Loras got down from his horse to join his sister, and frowned a little at his father's words. "A feast? Father, what is there to celebrate exactly?"

"Why, your safe return of course. Now, let us go inside."

Loras scowled, but then Olyvar got down from his horse, and moved to his side. Margaery saw the two exchange a look and after a moment, Loras seemed to compose himself, and strode away into the castle, with Olyvar following. Margaery and her father followed, and Margaery once again thanked the gods for Olyvar's presence at her brother's side.

Later that night as he arrived for the feast, Olyvar stood in the doorway for a moment, and looked around for Loras. He saw him at the top table with his family, and he gave him a small smile before heading to his own place in the hall. He'd understood Loras's anger earlier, he'd just lost Renly, and yet, he was still expected to smile and look happy to be attending a feast that he in no way wanted to be at. He'd done what he could to calm him earlier, but even from here, it was clear that Loras looked tense and upset, despite his efforts to smile.

He continued to watch him for a while, but not long after Lord Tyrell made a toast welcoming his children home, he saw him leaving the hall. Without thinking, Olyvar rose too, and followed him out.

Loras must have heard him, because he turned around, and Olyvar couldn't help wincing slightly in empathy, seeing the grief and anger in his eyes.

"Oh... it's you," He said, "I thought you might be my sister."

"I saw you leave, I came to see if there was anything I could do to help."

"There isn't," He said, "I appreciate that you came, but you should go back to the feast. Enjoy yourself."

"Where will you go?" He asked, making no move to return to the hall.

"To my chambers. I'm not in the mood for celebrating."

"Then, let me at least keep you company, my lord."

Loras hesitated for a few long moments, but then he sighed, and nodded. "All right, you can come with me." He said finally, and then he lead Olyvar towards his chambers.

When they got there, Loras took a seat by the fire, and reached for a flagon of wine on a side table.

"Wine?" He asked Olyvar.

"No, thank you my lord." He said, and Loras shrugged, pouring a cup for himself.

"My father meant well," He said after a long silence. "I know that, but still, celebrating is the last thing I want to do at the moment."

"I am sorry, my lord," He said, "King Renly was a kind and good man, he didn't deserve to die like that."

"Stannis will pay for what he did," Loras promised, emptying his cup and refilling it again. "May all the gods bear witness to my words, I'll kill him myself for killing my king. Renly would've been the best king, Ser Olyvar, but Stannis couldn't let that happen. He is nothing but a kinslayer"

"We will face him in battle soon, my lord, if the gods are good. Justice will be served, I am sure."

Olyvar was certain now, Loras had loved Renly, he still did, he thought. He felt a little sad then. Renly had been a good man, but even though he'd only known Loras for a short time, it pained him to see him so upset.

"If the gods are good, yes, because they have been so good to us in the past." Loras sighed bitterly, and looked at Olyvar. "Why are you here? Why are you being kind to me? I haven't exactly been very courteous to you. So, why?"

Olyvar bit his lip. He had promised Margaery that he'd help Loras, but now, he realised that he had grown to care for him.

"I...my lord, I help you because I want to help you." He said, and Loras shook his head at him slowly. Then he rose, and moved to stand directly in front of Olyvar, and looked straight into his eyes.

"You want to help me? But, why? You must have a reason, tell me the truth."

"I want to help, I care about what happens to you." He said at last, not breaking his gaze.

Loras nodded slightly, and stepped back, his gaze still on him.

"I do not deserve to be cared about, not by you, I've given you no reason to care about me."

For a moment, Olyvar didn't quite know how to respond to that. Then, a blurry memory came back to him, one that he hadn't known that he remembered until now.

"You covered me," He blurted, still looking at Loras. Loras blinked, looking slightly confused.

"I covered you?" He asked.

"With the cloak. The night I came to your tent. I was almost asleep, and I didn't remember that until now."

"Oh," Loras nodded slowly, and smiled faintly at the half-forgotten memory. "So I did."

"Why?" Olyvar asked. "Why did you do it? You could've sent me back to my tent, why didn't you?"

"I couldn't. You looked...peaceful, and I didn't want to disturb you."

"Well then, you showed care for me too, my lord. That is reason enough for me to want to help you."

Loras smiled then, a small smile, but a genuine one.

"Then, I suppose I cannot protest," He said, "But if you want to help, at least take a cup of wine. I hear that drinking alone is a bad habit. Oh, and from now on, it's Loras, not my lord."

Olyvar smiled too, and nodded, accepting a cup, and feeling very much as though he and Loras were making progress.