Chapter Ten: Letting Go For a While

Renly's Point of View

"Come on, everyone, was it necessary to be that mean to him? He looked so hurt," I ask.

All I wanted was Loras out of the house so I could discuss wedding plans with my friends, I didn't expect my friends to break my flower's heart. I just wanted them to make him uncomfortable enough to leave with Robb Stark. I acted aloof, but I am afraid I may have unintentionally upset him.

"Well, darling, you told us to scare him off," says Oberyn, running his foot up my pant leg. The sensation goes right to my private parts. I shift in my seat to take the focus off my burning groin. Oberyn has been doing this since he got here, that and dangling his new boy toy in my face like what we had meant nothing to him.

"Oh, Oby, you're so mean," says Oberyn's new playmate. I think his name is Aurane Waters. This guy makes me sick to my stomach. He called him "Oby." What kind of pet name is that? He runs his fingers through Oberyn's gorgeous hair. I fake cough to get their attention. I will have none of that here.

"Let's get down to business shall we," I say.

"Why are we here, Renly?" asks Arianne.

"Arianne, I want you in the wedding."

"I would be so honored. What would you have me do?"

"Stand up front with me. How do you look in purple?"

"It's my best color," she says.

She seems so excited that I asked her to stand up front with me. She can stand behind Brienne to pretty up the group a little. I will not have Loras's side looking prettier than mine. I need some beauty too. Arianne will add to the aesthetics, because she is a mighty pretty girl.

"Excellent. You can stand behind Brienne."

"Renly, do I have to wear a dress?" Brienne asks.

"Heavens no, you will be in a tux."

"Good."

I should be writing this stuff down to give to Loras's family. They want to be kept up to date with all my wedding decisions. I don't know why he and I can't just plan it ourselves? It's like they don't trust me to make the right decision. I do study fashion after all.

"Could you get me another beer?" asks Oberyn's boy toy.

I am happy to have an excuse to get up. Oberyn comes into the kitchen with me. I bend over to get something out of the fridge and he puts his hands on my waist. I press my ass against his crotch as he kneads his thumbs into my waist.

"We have to stop meeting like this," I whisper.

"Do we?"

I stand up, our bodies are pressed so close together that I can't breathe. The familiar scent of his cologne kick starts my hormones. I stifle a moan, but as he sways us together more fight to get out. I turn around to face him. His dark eyes against my blue ones are locked in a ferocious game of eye sex.

"I want you," I admit before I can stop myself.

"I know."

"But I can't," I say feeling like the biggest jerk in the world. Oberyn touches my face. God, he feels good. Everything about him feels so good. I kiss the palm of his hand for closeness.

"I will always want you," Oberyn says.

It won't take much for me to jump his bones right now, except for the fact that all my friends are here and they are probably watching us. I straighten my clothes and try to compose myself before I return to my seat. Arianne is shaking her head.

"Renly, are you sure you want to marry this boy?" Arianne asks.

I sit down and watch Oberyn sit beside Brienne away from the guy he brought with him to make me jealous, which worked. I have done well to hide my jealous side from Loras, but sometimes it becomes too hard for me to hide.

"I love him, Arianne. He's the love of my life. Why?"

"Because he doesn't seem mature enough to be in a relationship that committed, and you aren't quite over Oberyn yet."

She has a point there.

"I have been saying that Loras is too immature for you since you met him," Brienne says.

"He's not too immature for me."

"I beg to differ. You gave up everything when you started perusing him. You blew us off and you devoted every waking moment to this brat's spoiled demands. You waited a whole year to have sex with him, even though we all know how hard that was for you," Oberyn says.

"What are you saying? You don't think I should marry him?"

"That's not what we're saying. We just think you two should take a break and rethink your relationship," says Brienne.

"I'm not doing that. I'm committed to Loras and he's committed to me. We love each other."

"Then look me in the eyes and tell me he isn't still hung up on Robb Stark, who I might add isn't as hot as everyone thinks he is," Arianne says.

I am so happy to hear that she doesn't think Robb is hot. At least someone isn't attracted to him. Robb is a nice guy, but he's too perfect and it pisses me off.

"Damn it, you're absolutely right. Shit. What am I going to do?" I ask. I lean forward and rest my head on my hands. I knew Robb was the force that was keeping Loras from fully committing to me, but I had no idea the extent of it.

"We can't tell you that. Maybe you should talk to Loras," Oberyn says, "and then fuck me."

I smile.

"Oberyn, you know it would be you doing the fucking," I say stupidly. I blush. He leans forward and puts his hand on my knee then winks at me. I can't believe I just said that out loud.

After my party is over, I clean up. Cleaning lets me clear my head to think. What if they're right about my relationship with my little flower? What if we are a danger to each other? I hate to think about this.

By the time I finish cleaning, Margaery and Gendry come home. I could always talk to them and get there opinion on the matter. Why is this so hard? I don't want to give up my flower even for a little while, but it seems like the right thing to do.

"I know it would make Mother and Father happy. They support the relationship, but they think Loras is too young to get married. Plus, he hasn't been doing his duties. He's supposed to be a diplomat. He is supposed to handle affairs of our country now that Lord Tywin gave up being our ambassador," says Margaery.

"I thought Willas did that."

"Willas has an artificial leg, it hurts him to come down here so much."

"Wait, what?"

"You didn't know? Even Sansa knows that."

"Excuse me for not being in love with that particular brother," I say.

"I think Loras needs to go away for awhile," says Gendry, "I like him, but he is not mature enough for you. He still swoons over Robb. Even Robb finds it irritating, of course he would never say because he's a nice guy."

Then I guess I have to let Loras and Margaery go somewhere else. I take my little princess by her hand. She is so beautiful, the female vision of my flower. If she was any prettier I would fall in love with her.

I kiss her hand. How can I let this beautiful, sweet, princess leave? I realize I would miss her. I would miss having her around every day, and I would miss running to the drug store to buy her personal items. I love this girl like a little sister.

"What did you have in mind, princess?" I ask my sweet Margaery.

"Not a clue, but if you want I could call Jon," Margaery says.

I kiss her on the cheek and watch her dial Jon on her computer's video chat. He answers. He has a beard now, I kind of like it, it's sexy. It's nice to see his face again. We talk to Jon about our decision. He thinks it's a great idea and he knows that their mother and father will be on board. He will make all the arrangements.

Margaery is thrilled to get her stylist, designers, and consultants back. She needs to be pampered like the little princess that she is. Their security will be increased and they will have escorts to and from school or anywhere else they choose to go.

This means that they will have to move out of my house for a while, at least until Christmas. This is not a break up. I will continue to plan the wedding for the original date. If the time comes and Loras is not mature enough we will put it off for another year. I still want to marry him.

"Are you okay?" Jon asks me.

"No. I'm giving up the one thing I love the most."

"I understand. Leaving my brothers and sisters behind and coming here was hard, but it was the best thing that ever happened to me," Jon says.

"I love you, Jon," says Margaery.

"I love you, princess."

He logs off.

I need to call Loras and tell him, but I am not sure where to start. What would you say to someone like that? He's the love of my life and I am about to set him free for four months. That's what they say isn't it. If you love someone set them free, if they come back to you then they're yours or something like that.

Tomorrow Loras will be home and I will talk to him then. In the meantime, I need to take my mind off this. I settle down with Gendry to talk about his problem with Arya. That might make me feel better.

Little Arya has a new friend who is a guy and Gendry is worried about her because he doesn't trust the guy. Sounds to me like he's jealous, it must run in the family.

"Maybe you should go out with someone your age," I suggest. As if I am one to talk.

"I don't want someone my age, I want Arya."

Well said.

"Then you're going to have to be patient. You don't even know if she likes this guy. Can't she have friends who are guys?"

"You're right. She's friends with Jojen Reed and it doesn't bother me. Why do I always get so bent out of shape over the smallest things?"

"Because you care, and no matter how much you try to let it bother it you, it does anyway."

"You and Loras are meant to be, don't worry. He'll come back to you," Gendry says.

I know he's right, but I am still not sure I am making the right decision. What if Loras hates me for this? What if it drives him closer to Robb? We need to talk about this. I have to find him. I have to tell him what's going on. I don't want to blind side him. That's not fair.