So, mainly everyone is in trouble after Joffrey was assassinated. Let's see who is the more into trouble, who may keep his head, and who may lose it.


MARGAERY IV

"I don't think this is necessary, grandmother. She is no threat." Margaery was nearly pleading.

"We cannot take risks. She knows. We must only make sure she doesn't reveal it to anybody. This is a precaution. We must think about our family."

It was three days after Mira revealed her the truth. Margaery still had a very hard time to believe her grandmother killed Joffrey. You don't think I'd let you marry that beast, do you? Her words still shocked a few days later. She had gone to speak with her the evening after Mira told her everything. Her grandmother didn't deny it. She confessed everything, saying it was for her own good she did this. Margaery wasn't sure about what to do with this. She never expected her grandmother was capable of murdering someone. Joffrey was dangerous, it was true enough, but Margaery managed to control him quite well. Now she was no queen, suspected of killing her husband and followed everywhere she went by two red cloaks. They always stood guard before her door, and every time she left her rooms, they were on her heels. Only when Mira visited her she managed to have some time without them close, and even then they had watched her from afar. Even worse now, Sera was under arrest. She was arrested yesterday. From what little Margaery knew, her friend was in a black cell. Now, even if Sera was freed, she feared Lord Tarwick may not want to marry her. It was a catastrophe.

The situation had gotten out of hands. Margaery couldn't defend Sera. She was the one to order the wine to her chambers for Joffrey. It was her grandmother's idea. Now she knew the Lady Olenna had planned it a long time ago. She suggested to Margaery to make the king taste the Arbor gold a few weeks before their wedding, and she even specified the day before the ceremony Margaery was to let the king taste it before she even touched it. This way Margaery had no chance of drinking the poisoned wine before Joffrey was dead. She had no idea she was giving poisoned wine to her husband. What would Sera say now? To escape, she may tell lies, perhaps even say Margaery ordered her to poison the wine under threats. Sera was her friend, but she didn't share Mira's force, cunning or determination. Before the possibility of death, who knew what Sera might do? Her grandmother said they should abandon Sera to her fate and let her take the blame. She was only a handmaiden after all. Margaery faced a horrible choice. Whether she condemned Sera to death, or she protected her and she may end up herself dead, and her grandmother as well. Margaery didn't want to abandon Sera. She did stupid things sometimes, like stealing Cersei's wine, but she wasn't dangerous or evil. But she had to choose between Sera or her own family. That was even worse for her than when she removed Mira from her service after the affair with Lord Andros.

And now, she was waiting with her grandmother for Mira to come. Margaery sent Mira an invitation to break her fast with her today. She would be here very soon. Margaery didn't mention in her invitation that her grandmother would be with her. Her grandmother thought they had to make sure Mira would never tell the truth about Joffrey's murder. The idea of her grandmother wasn't to threaten Mira. It was mostly to make sure she wouldn't speak by giving her favors. Her grandmother knew Mira. She suggested a long time ago that Margaery should never let this girl leave her service. She knew Mira was a Northerner with strong principles, but she also said they couldn't be sure if Mira's loyalty was entirely to Margaery, or also to Sansa now. They had to give her additional reasons to never divulge what she knew. And if it wasn't enough, then Olenna Tyrell thought they would have to be more persuasive. That wasn't a prospect Margaery relished, but the situation was desperate. She wished so much she could do something for Sera, but she saw no way out of here. However, she had high doubts Mira would accept bribes in any form.

"I know this seems cruel and unfair." Her grandmother started to speak again. "I don't hate the girl. I quite like her to be honest. It is always a pleasure to say everything I want when she's present only to test her. But the survival of our family is at stake. She seems quite reasonable and intelligent. She will quickly understand it is in her best interest to work with us."

She was talking about Mira, but there was someone else on Margaery's mind. "What about Sera? Is there really nothing we can do for her?"

"I'm afraid it is the case." Margaery's mentor had a sorry look. "Sera is a kind and innocent girl. I'm really sorry she got involved in all this, especially when things just started to get better for her. Her mother was my handmaiden, and I promised to help her, but now we must choose between her and House Tyrell. I'm afraid that's not really a choice."

Margaery was angry at her grandmother. She didn't like to be angry at a member of her family, but right now she was. Sera was in a black cell because of her and all the suspicions surrounding Margaery were caused by the poisoning. Margaery knew her grandmother did what she thought was right, but all the same, the Rose of Highgarden thought she could have succeeded in controlling Joffrey. That was a risk to take in order to become queen. She would need some time to forgive her grandmother. And she would mourn Sera. Her friend. She hoped that she wouldn't have to mourn another friend too.

The door opened and one of the Lannister guards entered. "My ladies, Lady Lannister and Lady Forrester are here to see you."

Margaery looked at her grandmother whose face showed great surprise. Lady Lannister? There was only one Lady Lannister here in King's Landing. It seemed Mira decided to not come alone. Margaery tried to hide she was caught off guard as she allowed Sansa and Mira to walk in.

Margaery greeted them. "Mira. Sansa. We didn't expect you both."

"And we didn't expect you to be with someone else," Sansa retorted. "But it's probably for the better."

Mira then spoke. "I'm sorry, Lady Margaery. She knows. I told her everything after our discussion in the gardens."

Margaery didn't expect this. Mira said she would tell no one. It seemed her grandmother was right to have doubts. Mira wasn't only loyal to her now. She was also loyal to Sansa. After all she was the handmaiden of the Lady of Casterly Rock for the moment.

"I thought Northerners were honorable people who kept their word. Perhaps I was wrong. And it seems my granddaughter was wrong as well about you." Lady Olenna Tyrell was sharp as always.

"I'm sorry, Lady Olenna, but you have nothing to lecture me about." Mira's voice was hard. Margaery rarely saw her talk this way. Mira was always very quiet, which helped her a lot in King's Landing. "You assassinated the husband of your granddaughter during their wedding night, causing the Lannisters to suspect her. You killed your king in cold blood. And right now I have a friend in prison accused of this murder, and I wouldn't be surprised if you were to use her as a scapegoat. And since you're here, I'm sure it's for pressuring me to not tell the truth. All things considered, I think I did well to speak about it to Lady Sansa."

Mira's words had some effect on Margaery's grandmother, and also on herself. She was right. Her grandmother planned to use Sera to get out of here. Sansa intervened.

"May we sit? It would be better if we are to discuss about it." Sansa had a point. Margaery nodded in approval and Sansa sat. Mira stood up.

Margaery's grandmother cleared her throat. "So, you know everything. You know that I poisoned Joffrey, you know how I did it, and you know I'm not about to confess it to the rest of the world."

"So you're ready to let Sera Durwell be killed for a crime she didn't commit?" Sansa asked.

"I am. I regret this, but it is necessary. If it was to be known that I poisoned the king, then the alliance between our family and yours, Lady Lannister, would crumble, and there would be war. I think this is not a prospect we enjoy. Don't tell me you disapprove what I did. You told us yourself that Joffrey was a monster. I couldn't let him marry Margaery."

"I cannot say that I'm sad about his death, but you put the guilt on the shoulders of an innocent girl of a minor house, one of the handmaidens of your granddaughter furthermore, and one she likes. Is that really what you want?"

Sansa addressed the last question to Maegaery. She didn't know what to say. She didn't want to sacrifice Sera, but what other choice did she have? Reveal the truth and have her grandmother executed, and a war probably afterwards? There was no way out of this. Margaery remained silent. Her grandmother answered in her stead.

"That's regrettable, but this is a sacrifice we have to do. House Tyrell is more important than the life of a handmaiden. No matter how we can hate that, it's the truth."

Mira made a step forward at this moment. Margaery never saw her so furious. "I will not let you use Sera to get out of this alive, Lady Olenna. She is my friend, and she is innocent. I won't let her die." Mira then looked at Margaery. "I never resented you for sending me away. I understand why you did this. But Sera is about to be executed for a murder your family is responsible of. And I don't believe a single moment you agree with the Queen of Thorns on this, my lady. I know you don't."

Margaery took a deep breath before she answered and looked at Mira straight in the eyes. "I don't want Sera to die, but I don't want my family to be destroyed either. I don't do it because I want to do it, or because I believe it is the right path or the least worst. I do it because I have no other choice, Mira. I am as sad as you about this."

Mira was looking at her with hard eyes. Margaery never saw her northern friend look at her so harshly. In fact, Mira never looked at her harshly before. "Sad or not, I won't let you sacrifice Sera for your grandmother. If she stands trial for Joffrey's murder, I will tell the whole truth. I will reveal everything."

"And I will deny it," retorted the Queen of Thorns. "People won't believe the words of a handmaiden against mine. I am the mother of the Lord of Highgarden."

"They will believe her." Sansa entered the conversation again. "I will vouch for her, and Tyrion as well. And Ser Kevan knows Mira, he will not reject her testimony on the basis she is only a handmaiden. Add to this Sera Durwell will be able to confirm you spoke with her before she went to Margaery's rooms, and you won't be able to get out of it by swearing by the old gods and the new."

Margaery realized they were stuck. She only had to look at her grandmother to see she thought the same. Margaery couldn't really blame Mira. She and Sera, despite all their differences, were very close friends. Mira even defended her when Margaery suspected she helped Mira against Lord Andros, denying any involvement of Sera. Margaery knew Mira wasn't lying. She would bring House Tyrell down if they abandoned Sera to her fate.

"If you do this, then the alliance between our two families will be destroyed. Tommen cannot remain king without our help." Olenna Tyrell was addressing the Lady of Casterly Rock on this. Sansa's face remained impassive before her words.

"In this case we must find a solution that allows us to free Sera Durwell without revealing the truth. And it just happens I and Mira have one."

Margaery was quite surprised by the last statement of Sansa. Her grandmother had to be as well. Margaery looked at Mira and Sansa in turn. Finally her former handmaiden spoke. "I talked to Sera two days ago and asked her for every detail she remembered of this night when she brought the wine. For all people know, the poison could have been put in the jug at any time between the moment Sera went to the cellar to fill the jug and the moment she put it on the table in your chamber. It so happens Sera spoke for a few minutes with a boy while she was in the cellar, and there was someone else in there. Someone nobody here would miss. We only have to switch the blame on him."

Margaery exchanged a look with her grandmother. "How do you suggest we do it?" the Queen of Thorns asked.

Mira explained all her plan. Sansa had a friend who could make sure the other man in the cellar at this time would be accused and sentenced. Sera could even serve as a witness against him, just like the boy of the cellar. Margaery was impressed. The plan seemed perfect. Sansa looked at her with a satisfied smile.

"A Lannister always pays her debts."

Now Margaery understood. She turned to Mira. "You knew she would help us."

Mira timidly smiled. "I wanted to help you, Lady Margaery. The best way to help is not always to do as you say. And if I trusted you, I wasn't entirely certain about Lady Olenna. I was considering the possibility she might try to silence me. I guess my presumption wasn't entirely false since she's here this morning."

Margaery wanted to laugh. She doubted Mira for a moment, and finally it turned up everything she did was to get her out of this mess. Why did I send her away? How stupid I was. Margaery was more eager than ever to get her back into her service.

"I hope it will work, or else I may end up without a head and my family at war." Margaery's grandmother didn't seem entirely convinced. She was probably annoyed by Mira's words too.

"Don't worry, Lady Olenna," Sansa reassured her. "Anyway, you don't have much choice. If you remain with your original choice to use Sera as a scapegoat, you end up dead. And if you try to reveal our conversation and to use it against me or Mira, you're dead as well since you'll have to reveal your role in Joffrey's death at the same time. I don't believe you have much choice."

Sansa's voice was calm, but also threatening. Margaery's grandmother sighed. "No, we don't. Very well. Put your plan in execution. We will be waiting for the results."

"There is only one thing, Lady Olenna. I doubt you acted entirely alone in that. You needed someone else to provide you with the poison at least. I would like to know who gave it to you."

The Lady Olenna of House Tyrell supported Sansa's eyes who showed no emotion. Finally she made a half revelation. "I won't give a name. You only need to know I have good friends."

Sansa kept fixing Margaery's grandmother for a long time, as if she was trying to see something else in her words. Finally she and Mira left. Margaery gave them a warm smile as they left. Sera wouldn't die thanks to them, and her family wouldn't be in danger. It seemed she did a very good choice when she made her alliance with Sansa. She felt she wouldn't regret it either in the future.

Margaery broke her fast with her grandmother after that. Sansa and Mira hadn't eaten while they were here, and neither did they. As Margaery was eating a peach, the Lady Olenna decided to start the conversation with a sharp comment as she always did.

"It seems the Northerners changed a lot since the last time I looked. Before they were so honorable they were no better than fools, and now they play the game better than us. We are at their mercy."

"Their mercy? Grandmother, we're not at their mercy. Mira is loyal to me to the end. You just witnessed it. And Sansa is on our side as well."

"Oh, for your handmaiden I can't argue about it, though her cunning and her involvement in politics might pose a problem to you one day, as it did recently. It's good to have intelligent and loyal handmaidens at your side, but it becomes dangerous when they start to play a role in the politics. As for the Lady Lannister, I don't believe we can consider her on our side.

"What are you talking about? Sansa just helped us."

"Yes, and as she said, a Lannister always pays her debts. However, she paid her debt. Now there is nothing left. This girl is no longer the frightened child we met months ago. She has become a beautiful young woman and is married to the richest man in the Seven Kingdoms. She's started to play the game, and she plays it very well. She could become a threat with time."

Margaery didn't think so. "I have a very good friendship with Sansa. We helped each other in order to put Cersei aside. She is the best ally we can hope for. And she's not the style to betray someone."

"Yes, yes, the best ally, but also the worst enemy we could have. We must be careful to keep her on our side. If she ever was to turn against us, I'm afraid this would get quite nasty for us. She has the power of Casterly Rock behind her, and eventually the North one day. And she has her husband. Lord Tyrion listens to her and cares about her, and he's far from being an idiot. For the moment, until you're wed to Tommen, she is the most powerful woman in the Seven Kingdoms. And she knows our secret. She may be able to destroy us when time comes."

She wasn't wrong. Sansa was very powerful now. It seemed she assimilated very well the advices Margaery once gave her. Margaery noticed how Sansa got along quite well with Lord Tyrion. Margaery was nearly jealous of her friend when she thought about her marriage with Joffrey. And yes, because of Margaery's current position, her friend was the most powerful woman in Westeros, and the richest too. But Margaery wasn't concerned very much with this.

"For now I and Sansa are very good friends. I don't think she would turn against me without very good reasons, and for now there are none. And if she is to become an enemy someday, then at this moment I will be queen. I will be able to face her."

Her grandmother nodded in approval. "You're right. With this plan, you will be cleansed of all the accusations against you. Our alliance with the Lannisters remains every bit as necessary to them as it is unpleasant for us. You did wonderful work on Joffrey. The next one should be easier. I expect Ser Kevan to offer us to marry you to Tommen once it is proved you had nothing to do with Joffrey's death."

Margaery smiled at the prospect. "Then I will be queen." Finally.

"Oh, you could be. But I'm not sure this would be the best thing for you."

Margaery was taken aback by her grandmother's statement. "What do you mean? How couldn't it be the best thing for me? I would be queen."

"Tommen is a sweet and very kind boy who loves cats and other sweet animals. He wants to do his best, but he lacks determination, strongwill and force. His granduncle will be the one to rule in his stead for many years. You may end with the most influence on him, especially after Ser Kevan dies, but I'm afraid he might not be much better than your father and your grandfather."

"Grandmother!" Margaery liked her, but she didn't know if she should laugh or disapprove her grandmother's words. Olenna Tyrell didn't let herself be interrupted.

"They brought me your grandfather's body when he died, you know? Made me look at it. They took me to the Great Hall and there he was. The man I'd married and suffered to father my children. A great doughy lump I'd sat next to at endless dinners and tedious gatherings. There he was… lying on a table."

The face of her grandmother turned quite sad as she spoke about it. She always said her husband and her son were fat oafs, but Margaery knew she had to love them all the same. Margaery's father was her grandmother's son after all, and she spent all her life with her grandfather and had three children with him. Margaery herself thought some of her friends were stupid at times, but they were her friends all the same. Sometimes their stupidity was among the things Margaery liked in them. Her grandmother resumed.

"I wasn't originally meant to marry your grandfather Luthor. He was engaged to my sister, your great-aunt Viola. I was to be given to some Targaryen or other. Marrying a Targaryen was all the rage back then. But the moment I saw my intended, with his twitchy little ferret's face and ludicrous silver hair, I knew he wouldn't do. So the evening before Luthor was to propose to my sister, I got lost on my way back from my embroidery lesson and happened upon his chamber. How absentminded of me. The following morning, Luthor never made it down the stairs to propose to my sister because the boy couldn't bloody walk. And once he could, the only thing he wanted was what I'd given him the night before." Margaery had to laugh at her grandmother's story. "I was good. I was very, very good. You are even better. But we need to act quickly. As soon as we're all cleared, I'll arrange for you the best marriage you could hope, and not with Sweet Tommen."

Margaery didn't understand. "But marrying him would be the best thing for me. I would be queen. That's what we wanted."

"That's what your father wants," her grandmother corrected. "And that's what you want. But do you really want to spend the rest of your days holding the hand to a man who is five years younger than you and telling him exactly what he must do everytime he must take a decision? Your grandfather was kind, but our marriage was insufferable all the same. You deserve better than this."

"But we need to maintain our alliance with the Lannisters. If I don't marry Tommen, then I won't be queen, and our alliance won't last."

The Lady Olenna waved her hand in the air. "We need a marriage to cement our alliance. That doesn't mean it must be a marriage with Tommen. And since the marriage between Cersei and Loras is forgotten, then the Lannisters need a marriage with one of us no matter the cost. And a crown doesn't mean so much. Look at the current situation. Your friend Sansa is much more powerful than you and she's not the queen. And she may remain the most powerful woman in Westeros for a very long time since you will need time to really have a powerful influence on Tommen, have him rule the country by himself and have children with him so you may teach them. There is another way to make you the greatest lady of the Seven Kingdoms, and much faster."

Margaery didn't understand what her grandmother was getting at. "What do you mean exactly?"

Her grandmother smiled at her. "I will propose another match to the Lannisters that will make our alliance much stronger than if you married Tommen, and that will have much more benefits for you and our house. A match they won't be able to refuse."

Margaery wondered what match her grandmother was thinking of.


A lot happens very quickly in this chapter, but surely you find many things mysterious. Light will be cast in the next chapter.

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Next chapter: Tyrion