6th Month of 298 A.C. Harrenhal

Lady Margaery Tyrell

The feeling of walking arm in arm with Robb was a heady one. She had waited for this moment for some time, she knew her father would disapprove if he could see them, but in all honesty, Margaery did not truly care, she was with the one person who she could truly be herself and she liked that. Robb was not like the other boys she had spoken with, he was not an idiot, nor did he try to be something he was not. He was smart, and cunning, and those were two qualities that she found very attractive, but he was also kind. That he was now one of the most powerful lords within Westeros was merely a benefit, she supposed. That he seemed troubled worried her though, and so she asks. "You seem troubled Robb, what is it that is bothering you?"

Robb looks at her a moment and then responds. "My father and I had a disagreement, though I feel he is being terribly short sighted."

"What was the disagreement on my lord?" she asks. "If you do not mind me asking."

Robb merely smiles at her a moment and then he responds. "My father believes that the king giving me Harrenhal was a grave mistake, and that I have to decide between either being heir to Winterfell, or being Lord of Harrenhal, I cannot have both."

Margaery looks at Robb then, and sees the way his brows are creased. "You disagree with him?"

"Of course I do. I think my father is being far too sensitive to the whims of the Lannisters. He claims that he is worried about antagonising the lords of the riverlands, but I believe that is nonsense, he is doing something at court, and he does not want me interfering with it, or disrupting it. The Lannisters had their own damned candidate for the seat." Robb responds.

"Your father is merely trying to look out for you Robb. As Lord of Harrenhal, you have a grave responsibility, and now are more in tuned with southern politics than you would be as merely heir to Winterfell. Perhaps, your father is trying to spare you that." Margaery says.

"I know that, but my father does not realise that with this title, I can do more to aid him throughout the realm than I could as his heir. Now I can command men and respect throughout the realm. Already, I have looked through the books, and I know there are various tenants of the Lannisters who owe us money, recall that money and we have an advantage over them." Robb replies.

"Do you believe that the Lannisters are a danger to the realm?" Margaery asks, she sensed that there was something he was not mentioning to her at Winterfell, and now as well, she has seen how guarded he keeps, and how he looks at the Queen and her brothers with suspicion.

"Yes, without a doubt. You are at court, you know just how many of them there are. You have told me, yourself of how many of them hold the king and the prince's interest and as such, I believe such a thing is not good for the realm." Robb replies.

They have stopped walking now and seem to be in the Godswood. Margaery looks at Robb and asks. "And why do you think calling on those tenants might give your family the advantage?"

"From what I have seen, and from speaking with Tyrion, it seems there is nothing more that Tywin Lannister than control. That men of his might well owe us a debt, is something that will grate on his nerves, and the more hold we have over them, the more we can use them. I must make my father see that, whether I am Lord Paramount or not." her Robb replies.

"You spoke of becoming Lord Paramount with your father?" Margaery asks surprised.

"Yes. My uncle and grandfather have not been able to keep their lords at bay for very long, ever since grandfather retired from public life. I am meeting with some of the lords at the end of this tourney, to discuss things. Harrenhal is bigger and wealthier than Riverrun, it makes sense to make it, the capital of the kingdom. My father worries about insulting my grandfather, but truly, would he not want it run more capably than not at all?" Her lord queries.

Margaery ponders this and then says. "What you say does make some sense Robb, and yet, the Tullys have ruled the riverlands for nearly three hundred years, it would take something quite exceptional for the king to be convinced to remove them from that seat of power. And if word got out that it was you, their own kin, who had pushed for it, well there would be a great many dangers then."

"What do you suggest I do then?" Robb asks. "Sit and wait, and allow my uncle to blunder from one bad choice to the next?"

Margaery shakes her head. "No, I think you should work with your uncle to bring the Riverlords to heel. You said you were staying here for a time after the tourney? Then use that time, to do just that. Talk with them, get to know them, charm them, and bring them to your uncle's side, show him that you are not looking to take power from him, but to help him."

Robb looks at her, and she feels some heat pass through her, by gods he is handsome. "And what of the north. I cannot forget my future bannermen there, I must ensure that they know how is in charge."

Margaery considers this for a moment and then asks. "Are you willing to give up Winterfell?"

"I am not sure. My whole life, I have known I would be Lord of Winterfell one day, and I do not wish to let my father down. But I know that Harrenhal has more weight here in the south, and can help us achieve what needs to be done." Robb responds.

"And what is that?" Margaery queries. "You speak of it, but you do not say what it is. Your brother seems to be on friendly terms with Tyrion Lannister, yet I do not know how that could have come about. What is it you are not telling me Robb?"

He cups her cheek then and says. "I wish I could tell you, Margaery. Truly, I wish for nothing more, but right now, I cannot say anything, lest you be caught in this unpleasantness. I know you are no delicate flower, but I would protect if I could. I would not risk you, not when I have waited so long to see you."

Margaery smiles then. "You have?"

She feels her heart flutter some when Robb nods. "Yes, most definitely. I do not wish to continue speaking of these unpleasant things. Not when the girl before me is so very pleasant."

Though she feels foolish, Margaery giggles. "Well, when you say it like that, what is a lady to do?"

Robb grins. "Well, you could tell me what you make of the castle?"

"Well it is certainly very grand. Though it is missing a woman's touch I think." Margaery says.

"And what makes you say that my lady?" Robb asks.

"Everything seems so very big and broad, and dark. It is almost as if the castle is making up for something that it lacks. And that my lord, is not you." She responds with a smile.

She sees Robb smile, and when he leans in, she feels his breath, hot on her face. "I have missed you my lady." She lets loose a soft moan of surprise when he kisses her, but she does not fight back, she eases herself into the kiss and soon is kissing him back, all else forgotten for a time.