Tyrion and Margaery play the game of thrones.


MARGAERY XV

She opened her eyes lazily. The sun hadn't yet begun to cast its light. Their chamber was still plunged into darkness, though not full darkness. Dawn wasn't far away. She looked at her left and saw her husband sleeping deeply. A smile came to her lips. They may not be at Casterly Rock or in Highgarden, but they were together. Their nights were still beautiful wherever they were.

Margaery removed the covers from her body. Despite the end of winter announced by the Citadel, it was still quite warm in King's Landing, so she felt no chill. She regretted it, since at Casterly Rock she would always feel it when she woke up. She stood up and put on a light nightgown.

She looked around their rooms. Margaery had come in that part of the Red Keep during their last visit. Jon Arryn had his solar, his apartments and those of his wife and his servants inside the Tower of the Hand. Margaery had found that Lord Arryn was an honest man, loyal to the king, and trying to rule the Realm despite the follies of a man he loved like a son. Robert Baratheon wasn't meant to be king, and from what Margaery saw of Joffrey so far, the son was no better. Cersei had wanted to send Ned Stark to the Wall, but Joffrey decided at the last minute to execute him, without a warning, after he promised to show mercy to Ned Stark if he confessed his crimes. Ever since that happened, Joffrey spent his days shooting bolts at caged animals. He didn't attend the meetings of the small council, didn't hold court, and fulfilled none of his duties as a king. Worse, one day that a small group of people came before the Red Keep, asking for bread, Joffrey went to the battlements. He shot on the small crowd. Tyrion gave orders right away to not allow the king to appear on the battlements with a bow or a crossbow.

Margaery walked to the balcony and looked to the city in the dark. The situation could be worse. Food came in plenty from the Reach. There was a temporary shortage of stocks because of the rebellion in the Riverlands, since King's Landing was provisioned by both the Riverlands and the Reach, but it wouldn't last. Joffrey would soon have no other opportunity to shoot people from the battlements. Margaery visited an orphanage, a sept or a poorhouse every day, making sure to distribute food everywhere she went. The people remained quiet. They just had to stop Joffrey from taking any decision, or to appear with anything that could kill someone from a distance. His last idea had been to march against Robb Stark with the City Watch, a concept he quickly abandoned, not because he realized that it was impossible and foolish, but because he had no desire to ride into battle. At least, Robert was courageous and eager to fight if he faced enemies, but Joffrey seemed to have inherited all the flaws of his late father, without the virtues.

She sat in a nearby chair and let the wind caress her face. The wind didn't carry the smell of mines, which she got used to, but it carried other scents, which she found much more unpleasant. The scent of the sea that was carried to the Rock was enjoyable and fresh. It filled your lungs and when you took deep breathes, you felt your body filled with life. Here, the air seemed rotten, and taking a deep breathe was like filling your body with muddy water.

King's Landing was a horrible place to live if you weren't rich. To rent a room could cost your eyes, and the people who left the fields in hope to find work in the city often ended begging in the streets. The network of wells and water distribution was very primitive, not at all like those of Oldtown and Lannisport. The city was a chaos of alleys and hovels tossed against each other like the people who lived within. Margaery pitied the people who had to live here.

She felt his presence by her side before he put his hand on her shoulder. "Can't sleep?"

She turned to him and said with a smile, "I miss our bed." He smirked and kissed her, before he sat next to her, wrapped in nightclothes just like her. "Normally, you're the one who can't sleep."

"I don't believe it will get much better in the coming weeks."

Tyrion had problems to sleep from the very beginning of their marriage, though it lessened as the months and the years went by. Margaery knew why he was agitated at night, and she was glad she could help him, but ever since they left Casterly Rock for the capital, the troubles increased and he was never able to sleep through the full night. They arrived in the capital two weeks ago, and he already spent two entire nights reading or working. She knew he had a lot of work to do, but she wished that she and her husband could keep their nights for themselves.

"Did you have a nightmare?" she asked him.

"No. I suppose I just woke up because I couldn't feel you by my side anymore."

They exchanged a knowing smile. "I'm sorry."

"You have no reason to apologize. You can do what you want."

"If only Joffrey didn't think like that."

Her husband looked down. "Yes, if only."

Margaery sighed. "Tyrion, what are we doing here?"

"Serving the king." Tyrion said without a single hint of enthusiasm. It was obvious he would like to be anywhere but here, trying to repair the damage caused by his sister and her son.

"Tyrion, I wonder. He shot people at the gates of the Red Keep, people who had only come asking for bread, and he shot them like they were some boars or stags. What kind of person Joffrey is? What kind of king is he going to be?"

"The kind who will probably let the small council and his family rule in his stead, and the kind of king we don't want to rule seven kingdoms."

"Five," Margaery corrected.

"Four if the Vale joins the rebels, three of the Stormlands rebel. Do you really think your brother can convince Renly to stay on our side?"

"Renly has more love for Loras than he ever had for his brothers. I think he can convince him. We only have to guarantee him Storm's End. That should be enough for Renly."

Stannis had proclaimed himself the rightful king of Westeros, using the accusations of Eddard Stark about the supposed bastardy of Cersei's children to legitimate his claim. Dragonstone was now in rebellion against the Crown, and since Stannis had most of the royal fleet with him, he controlled the Narrow Sea. The Redwyne fleet would need time to reach King's Landing, and if the Starks and Stannis launched a quick assault like they expected, they would never arrive in time to face Stannis's armada.

"I wish we weren't there," Margaery said. "Joffrey's place is not on the throne. You saw him. He isn't fit to rule."

"You'll hear no denial about this from me. But he's the king, and our nephew."

"Yes, the king and our nephew," Margaery repeated platonically. If only Tommen had been the elder, they would have a king she would be more than eager to protect, but up to now Joffrey made everything to make himself despised and hated. He was the image of his parents, arrogant, selfish, stupid, uninterested in ruling, and cruel. The farther he was from the throne, the better. He shared that trait with his mother.

They watched the horizon silently. Their hands intertwined after some time, and they took comfort from each other through this gesture. They remained there for quite some time, enough to see the sun appear on the horizon. As it cast its light upon the sleeping city, they began to prepare for the small council meeting that would take place in the morning and where several important matters were to be discussed. Ser Kevan and Ser Jaime left with an army a few days ago, and now was the time to strike.

They walked together to the small council chamber. Ever since they arrived, they always joined the meeting together, to remind everyone that Casterly Rock and Highgarden stood together, and that everyone had to take this into consideration before attacking one of them, in one way or another.

When they entered, all the other members were already there. Cersei sat at the seat that the king would occupy in normal circumstances. Varys, Pycelle, Littlefinger and Slynt were sitting around her and listening to her as if she was the voice of the truth. Cersei stopped in the middle of whatever she was saying when they entered.

"I'm glad that you began this early, big sister. I hope you slept well," her husband commented, taking a seat at the far end of the table. Margaery sat next to him. On her right sat, in the order, Pycelle, Varys, Cersei, Baelish and Slynt.

"We had important matters to discuss. It couldn't wait," Cersei replied.

"Then you should have warned us. We would arrive sooner," Margaery said.

"I didn't want to disturb your night activities." Cersei had a smug smile on her face when she said it.

"I'm glad to see that you consider these activities to be more important than the matters of state," Margaery shot with sarcasm. "Perhaps you could tell us why the king isn't attending, if the matters to discuss are so important?"

"The king is busy. He entrusts the small council with this matter," Cersei said. Yes, indeed, Joffrey was always busy, but never from overwork.

"I suppose the matter in question is about a certain letter that is circulating through all the Seven Kingdoms, sent from Dragonstone." Tyrion said.

"I'm afraid you suppose well, my lord," Varys acknowledged.

"Disgraceful lies!" Pycelle shot with his frail voice.

"The content of this letter mustn't be known. Treason is vile enough, but this is barefaced naked villainy. I want all the letters he sent to be burned, every one. Any man heard speaking of incest or calling Joffrey a bastard should lose his tongue for it," Cersei declared.

"A prudent measure," the old Grand Maester said with respect. Margaery never had respect for this old man.

"A folly," Tyrion countered. "When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say." A sad thing Joffrey didn't listen to it. Cutting tongues was one of his favourite distractions since he became king.

"So what would you have us do?" Cersei demanded.

"It seems you need our help after all, your Grace, or else you wouldn't ask us for advice," Margaery said with a satisfied smile destined for the Queen Regent. Cersei was seething. Margaery continues. "Rumors are very frequent in Highgarden and Casterly Rock, and also here in King's Landing. It would be useless to burn the letters. The song is sung, and everyone will hear about it before long. Unless you want to cut everyone's tongue and ears, the whole Seven Kingdoms will be aware of Stannis's claim before long."

"So you suggest we do nothing?" Cersei asked in derision.

"Not at all, your Grace. But we cannot stab a rumor or an idea. Words cannot be fought with swords. They must be fought with other words. And the best way to quench a rumor… is another rumor. And Stannis just gave us a perfect one with his letter. Please give me a copy."

Pycelle slowly and clumsily gave her one, and Margaery read a few words at the end. "Done in the Light of the Lord," she repeated. "Quite unusual. Wasn't Stannis's wife, Lady Selyse, converted to a foreign religion, the same one that Thoros of Myr used to preach?"

"Indeed, my lady," the eunuch answered. "She brought a priestess from Asshai to Dragonstone, and it seems that Lord Stannis decided to share his wife's beliefs. According to the last information I received, he burned the statues of the Seven in the sept of Dragonstone and declared himself a champion of this Lord of Light."

"Well, we have what we need," Tyrion said. "Let everyone know that Stannis is burning their gods. They might think twice before calling for him. This might help us to get the Faith back on our side after the blood spilled on the steps of the Great Sept." Tyrion shot a reproachful look to his sister when he said that.

"I don't believe that will be enough. When it is a matter of sex or religion, people will always listen and believe the former over the latter. It's more… interesting."

"No need to make it only a religious matter. We can make it a sexual and religious scandal," Margaery stated.

"And how would you do that, dear rose?" Cersei asked, sounding bored.

"Lord Varys, about this Red Priestess who's in Dragonstone, do you know how she looks like?"

The eunuch seemed uncertain when he answered. "Well, from what my little birds told me, she is considered to be very beautiful."

"More than Lady Selyse?"

"Much more. The truth is, one of my little birds even told me that he suspected Lord Stannis to have an affair with this woman, and he wouldn't be the only man she would have welcomed into her bed."

Janos Slynt spat in disgust, Pycelle muttered words of indignation, and Littlefinger looked very interested.

"Well, we have our rumor then. Let's spread the word that not only is Stannis following a foreign god and denying the gods of his ancestors, but also that he is sleeping with the priestess who converted him. It should be scandalous enough to make people forget about the incest thing," Margaery declared.

She and Tyrion looked at Cersei, waiting for her to speak. The rest of the council followed their lead. Cersei had to decide, and it was obvious she wasn't happy about her having to give the verdict for once. "Very well. Send ravens to everyone in Westeros. Tell them that Stannis is fucking a foreign whore," she told Pycelle.

"That would be a great mistake. Stannis just accused us. When talk in the back of someone after he talked first, people won't believe you. However, if the rumor came from somewhere else, if it came from a source that no one could identify, then they would believe it easily. Lord Varys, Lord Baelish, I suppose your informants and agents can discreetly spread this rumor?"

"Indeed. Brothels are the best place to start this kind of things," Littlefinger replied.

"We are at the service of the king," Varys said.

Margaery looked straight at Cersei. "If you don't want your son to look on the defensive, then just tell the truth. Tell everyone that Stannis is a traitor, a man jealous of his nephew, who never loved his brother and stole his fleet. Subtly hint that he was plotting to overthrow Robert Baratheon for some time. The way he left after Jon Arryn died will look suspicious enough. Tell everyone that Joffrey is the rightful king, and the rumor about Stannis and his foreign mistress will do the rest of the work for us. If you truly want Joffrey to be seen as the one true king, this is what you must do."

Cersei's stare on her was hard. Margaery displayed a serious expression, though mixed with concern, and held her sister-in-law's stare. Cersei knew she was right, and Margaery knew it. She also knew that Cersei hated when she was told what to do when it was what she was being told that was true. Margaery didn't give the impression to enjoy this moment. The other members of the small council were only to see the aunt who cared about her nephew.

"Very well. We'll do it," the Queen Regent finally dropped. She gained back her composure. "Now, we should go back to the matters of this war."

"Indeed, your Grace," Janos Slynt said immediately. "People from the countryside are fleeing to the city. They are afraid of the coming war. We're beginning to have problems to house them. And with winter coming, it'll only get worse."

Margaery was well aware of the problem because of the time she spent among the people every day. For now, it wasn't a major issue. There had been no fights, but some people heard that Robb Stark and Hoster Tully were marching on the south with a powerful army, and many people in the Crownlands feared what might happen when they arrived. The passage of the Lannister army may have reassured some of them, but not that much. Many recalled what happened the last time a Lannister was seen around King's Landing. Some people living in the Riverlands also feared their own lords. She and Tyrion didn't want the people or the lords to hate them more, so they issued orders to Ser Kevan to treat the peasants well and to pay them for anything they would requisition in the Crownlands. Once in the Riverlands, they could take what they wanted since the Riverlands were officially in rebellion.

"You command the City Watch, do you not, Lord Slynt?" Cersei asked him, looking at her nails, as if that matter didn't interest her, which was certainly the case.

"I do, your Grace."

"And are you not a lord at my command?" Officially, it was Joffrey's command.

"I owe my title and lands to your generosity, your Grace," the man replied all the same. He was loyal to Cersei, that was obvious.

"Then do your job. Shut the gates to the peasants. They belong in the field, not our capital."

"Yes, your Grace."

"If you need help, Lord Slynt, I can send some of my own men to help you at the gates," Margaery's husband offered.

"The help would be very appreciated, my lord." Janos Slynt looked quite thankful. Since she and Tyrion arrived, they did everything to make sure he wouldn't suspect them a single moment. He didn't think for a single moment that some of the men they would send at the gates would be there to spy on the City Watch and to make sure the gold cloaks didn't cause further problems.

"As much as I relish the fact we won't accept anymore people inside the city," Lord Baelish said, "I'm afraid we must worry about those who already are within our walls. Hoster Tully closed the Kingsroad to us on his territory. We receive no more food from this way. There are already small shortages in the poorer districts of the city. The price of the bread already increased. Nothing serious enough to cause trouble for now, but if we don't adapt quickly, riots could start in places such as Flea Bottom. The Reach and the Crownlands don't provide enough to satisfy the demand."

"I am sure that Lord Tyrell will be happy to send us all the food he has, given his loyalty to Joffrey," Cersei said, looking at Margaery.

"My father will be happy to oblige. We will send enough crops to make sure the population doesn't starve," Margaery replied kindly. Don't expect us to give our supplies freely, Cersei.

Cersei seemed satisfied with the answer. "Now, according to our latest news, we have two armies. One is marching north, the other is sitting around and doing nothing on the River Road." The Queen Regent stared at her brother. "I think it's time for this army to move. I want them to attack Riverrun."

"A wise decision, your Grace," Pycelle approved. "The Tullys are allies to the Starks and they will fight with them. The best course of action is to destroy these rebels at once. Your father, the great Lord Tywin, may he rest in peace, knew that diligent action…"

"This wouldn't be a wise decision," Tyrion cut. "Riverrun is a well defended castle. The Tullys can turn it into an island by diverting the currents of the rivers crossing nearby. They can hold a siege for two years when they are fully provisioned, and I'm sure they are after the long summer we had. The castle would be impossible to take, and starting a siege would make our army vulnerable. You cannot besiege Riverrun without dividing your forces in three groups that would be separated by rivers. Even if we were to defeat Hoster Tully's army, Robb Stark would attack us from behind and would defeat us easily. We will be in no position to defend ourselves against an attack coming from the outside if we besiege Riverrun."

"The Tullys are in rebellion. They raised their armies as soon as they learned about Ned Stark's arrest. They must be defeated at once," Cersei retorted.

"They must be defeated, I agree, but there is no need to hurry. Hurrying only leads to ruin."

"No need to hurry? No need to hurry?" Cersei spat. "Stannis rebelled against us, the Starks and the Tullys as well, and Renly Baratheon will do the same soon enough. There is hurry. We must defeat our enemies at once before they can unite and destroy us all. We have to destroy them now! I will not let them sully my name and my son's name. They must pay for their lies."

Everyone was silent once she was done with her outburst. Tyrion crossed his fingers and looked straight at her. "You know, Cersei, a wise man once said that violence is the last refuge of the incompetent."

Everyone in the room looked at him, Cersei showing outrage at the implication of these words, Janos Slynt displaying complete surprise, Pycelle seeming as if he didn't know what to think of it, and Varys and Littlefinger with interested and maybe amused expressions.

"What did you say?" Cersei said.

"You heard me, sister. Your solution is suicidal, and it will considerably lower Joffrey's chances to stay on the throne. Attacking and besieging Riverrun will bring all the forces of the Riverlands and the North at Riverrun, where our army will be in a vulnerable position, in enemy territory and without allies. They will destroy Stafford's army, and then they will have free way to march on the Golden Tooth and invade the Westerlands."

"I think you overestimate the power of the Riverlands and the North, little brother."

"No, I'm taking them seriously. They are a real threat. You seem to forget it sometimes."

"You're the one who seems to forget it. You maintain an army at the Golden Tooth, but they do nothing. Joffrey is in danger, and they do nothing."

"They are a distraction," Tyrion said. "As long as they stay on the border of the Riverlands, the Tullys must be careful to not let their territories undefended. If they march on King's Landing with Robb Stark, their lands will be open to our troops."

"And you're waiting for their armies to be at our gates to send your men against them?"

"No. Kevan's and Jaime's army is following the Kingsroad. They are to take Harrenhal and stop any army that might march south from there. Robb Stark knows he has fewer men than us, and Stannis knows it too. They will both want to march on King's Landing and reach it as quickly as possible, before we can organize ourselves. Robb Stark wants revenge for his father's death, and his sisters. Stannis wants the Iron Throne. What they both want is here. This is where they will lead their assault, and they will want to take the city before the men of the Reach come. We must stop them, slow them down, to keep the upper hand."

"I sent a raven to my father," Margaery added. "Soon, he will have an army ready to march on King's Landing, but they will need some time to assemble the men and arrive in the Crownlands. That's why we must slow down Robb Stark and Stannis."

"Kevan will take Harrenhal before the Starks can leave the Neck. The castle doesn't have enough people to hold it. From there Kevan and Jaime will be able to stop any attempt of Robb Stark to march south. If Robb Stark tries all the same, and he will certainly do, he will bring with him all the forces of the Riverlands and the North. The eastern side of the Riverlands, which includes Riverrun, will be left with minimum defenses. Stafford and Daven will leave the Golden Tooth when it happens. They will set the Riverlands on fire from the Golden Tooth to Riverrun. Once Hoster learns of this, he will bring back his men to protect his lands and leave Robb Stark to fend for himself. This way we will be able to fight out enemies separately, instead of facing them all together at the same time. I knew a king not long ago who said that a single army was more powerful than five, even if the five armies were larger together than the lone one."

"And you believe Robb Stark will walk stupidly into this trap you set?" Cersei asked disdainfully.

"Weren't you the one to say that Robb Stark was a child and a green boy?" Tyrion retorted. Cersei didn't reply.

Margaery spoke up. "We need to divide our enemy's forces. If we allow the Tullys, the Starks and Stannis to regroup near the city, they have a real chance to take King's Landing. We cannot let that happen. My father's army will not be here in time if we don't stop them, or at least slow them down on their way. We need more time."

"We wouldn't need more time if your father mobilized his troops as soon as he heard about Eddard Stark's treason," Cersei reminded her. And we wouldn't need to call his banners at all if you didn't let your son chop Ned Stark's head.

"Yet, we need time right now. You cannot deny it. Rushing into battle would be an unconsidered choice."

"And even if Robb Stark doesn't act like we expect him to do," Tyrion continued, "with this strategy our armies will occupy strong defensive positions in case they are attacked, whether is it at Harrenhal or at the Golden Tooth. It would also give Ser Loras enough time to convince Renly to fight for us."

Cersei looked at her brother quizzically. "What do you mean?"

Tyrion looked at Margaery, and she knew it was time. "When I wrote to my father in Highgarden, I also told my brother to talk with Renly. He was his squire once, and they are very good friends." More than friends. "Renly didn't declare for any side yet. I think Loras can convince him to fight for Joffrey. If he succeeds, we won't have any trouble with the kingdoms south of the city, and we will be able to focus all our energies on Robb Stark and Stannis."

"And if he fails?" Cersei asked.

"Your suggestions are welcomed, your Grace, but I believe that my father will be able to deal with Renly. The Reach has more than enough to field three armies like the two we already have. But it would be better if we could persuade Renly to stay by Joffrey's side, we would all be better off. After all, we cannot lose a battle that is never fought."

"Well," Pycelle began, "Lord Renly if our king's uncle. He is bound by blood to fight for his nephew's rights."

"Unless he believes Lord Stannis's word, of course," Littlefinger said.

"Renly never loved his brothers," Margaery reminded everyone. "And his brothers never loved him. I think he will have better predispositions towards Joffrey. Especially if my brother tells him to fight for his nephew."

"So we're supposed to rely on the Knight of Flowers to solve all our problems?" Cersei asked.

"To give us a chance to have one less enemy to worry about. Unless we want our king to have no friends and only enemies, I think it would be better to give my brother a chance. Anyway, if my brother fails to stop Renly with words, then my father will stop him with an army. And the word is already sent. My brother will try to reason Renly, and it's too late to send a raven telling him the opposite."

"Since we are on the matters of negotiations, perhaps it would be time to discuss about negotiations with Robb Stark," Tyrion said.

The room froze. "Negotiate? With the Starks?" Pycelle asked, all confused.

"The Starks are traitors. We do not treat with traitors," Janos Slynt.

"Ned Stark is a traitor," Tyrion corrected. "Was, since he is dead. But so far, the only crime his son committed was to raise an army."

"An army to fight Joffrey," Cersei precised.

"They stayed in the North, so far, and neither the Tullys nor the Starks have attacked any of Joffrey's territories yet. They didn't even officially declare war against us."

"And you believe this will stay like this for long?" Cersei asked with a mocking tone.

"We can try to convince Robb Stark to bend the knee to Joffrey, before this goes too far," Margaery said.

"And you believe Robb Stark will kindly kneel?"

"Not kindly, but there's still a chance that he would unkindly kneel," Tyrion told his sister.

"You are a fool. Robb Stark will die before he kneels to Joffrey." Who could blame him?

Margaery decided she should speak now. "So far, Stannis is the only one who declared to everyone that he was at war with Joffrey. He declared him a bastard born of incest and proclaimed himself king. Robb Stark, however, is a different matter. He raised his banners because his father was arrested, but he wouldn't have gone farther is we had sent him back his father and his sisters. His father is dead now, but that doesn't mean that war is unavoidable. We can still find a peaceful solution."

"And what peaceful solution do you have in mind?"

"To reinstate Eddard Stark."

"Reinstate Ned Stark?" Littlefinger asked, probably not seeking an answer.

"Ser Kevan Lannister visited Ned Stark before he was executed. The Lord of Winterfell kept saying that Joffrey wasn't the true king, until that day before the Great Sept of Baelor. He truly believed that Joffrey wasn't his rightful king."

"Words of treason! This is all Lord Stark said," Pycelle said with outrage.

"That doesn't mean Lord Stark was right. The Lady Sansa said it. She believed as well that someone manipulated her father. And I think she was right. When we look at it, who had the most interest to make everyone believe that Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen were illegitimate children?"

"Lord Stannis," Varys answered after some time. "This accusation allows him to claim the Iron Throne."

"Exactly." Margaery kept developing her ideas. "Stannis Baratheon left King's Landing not long after Jon Arryn, and he brought most of the royal fleet with him. Don't you find his actions suspicious? He never loved Robert, and we all know he certainly has no love for Robert's children either. Ned Stark is a man of honor, and he fought with Stannis during Balon Greyjoy's rebellion. He trusted Stannis. It wouldn't be very difficult for Stannis to convince Ned Stark of anything. Stannis used Ned Stark. He lied to him, and tried to use him to depose Joffrey. And now that we stopped Ned Stark, he's using his death to gain the support of half the Seven Kingdoms, and hopes for Renly to join him as well. Don't you see? We have one single man who makes the perfect culprit for all this madness, a man who tries to steal the Iron Throne from his nephew."

"So, we serve this story to Robb Stark? We tell him his father was manipulated and that he died because of Stannis? We turn our enemies against each other," Petyr Baelish summarized.

"Yes, and we make Robb Stark understand that the execution was a mistake, and we grant him a post-mortem pardon."

"This man tried to overthrow Joffrey. He told everyone that he wasn't the true king. It is out of question that we grant him a pardon, even after his death," Cersei rashly declared.

Margaery sighed inwardly. Ned was dead. It wasn't as if he could try anything against Joffrey now. "If you want us to have even the slightest chance to make Robb Stark bend the knee, we'll have to clear the memory of his father. He will never accept Joffrey as his king if we keep considering Eddard Stark like a traitor."

"Then in this case there is nothing to discuss with Robb Stark." Cersei said it with finality. She would leave no place for discussion. She really was stubborn, and so disillusioned that she didn't know what served her son's interests.

"I think we can discuss the terms we can offer to Robb Stark later. This would be a long and tedious discussion for the small council. Better to talk about it in private," Tyrion said, looking intently to his sister. "However, no matter if Robb Stark refuses or accepts our offer of peace, it would be in our interest to send an emissary, if only for the sake of sowing doubts into his mind about his loyalty to Stannis. Our enemies will have a harder time to fight us if they are divided."

Cersei stared at his brother for a time. "Very well," she finally conceded. "We'll send an envoy to Robb Stark, but I will decide the terms we are to offer him."

"We won't propose anything without your approval," Tyrion promised.

Cersei eyed her brother suspiciously. Margaery could see she didn't trust Tyrion. She and Tyrion didn't trust Cersei. They were doing everything they could to mine her influence and her power, and they knew she was trying to do the same to them.

The rest of meeting went without too much trouble. Margaery and Tyrion managed to convince the others to add a new member to the small council. Cersei gave her consent at the end, saying he wouldn't be of much help to take decisions, but that this would at least give a better image to the council. Thus, for the first time since the days of Aerys Targaryen, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard was given a seat on the small council. Tyrion suggested they added Ser Barristan Selmy to the small council since he was respected and loved by both the common people and the lords. He said that it would give more respect to this council, that actually consisted of two women, a dwarf, an eunuch, an old man, a brothelkeeper and a butcher's son. The other matters that were discussed were of smaller significance.

Once they were back in their apartments in the Tower of the Hand, Margaery let her frustration go out as they ate. "Cersei is an ass!"

"It's a fact," her husband acknowledged, slightly surprised by her choice of words.

"That decision to close the gates to the peasants is stupid. How will we be able to make the difference between people fleeing their homes out of fear and others coming to sell their crops?"

"I agree, but my sister always was one for simple solutions. And she doesn't care about the people."

"There are not enough refugees to justify this. And since the Riverlands are closed to us now, closing the gates will only worsen our supplies problem."

"It won't last long," Tyrion assured her. "Cersei already lost control over the red cloaks, and soon she will have no control over any cloak. Without them, she will be powerless, and then we'll be able to send her away."

"I hope this day comes soon. And while we're at it, we could remove Pycelle from the small council."

"The Grand Maester always had a seat on the small council. I'm afraid we can't remove him without good reasons."

"Let's hope we find good reasons too. And I don't trust Varys or Littlefinger or Slynt either."

"We cannot trust anyone on this council, or even here in King's Landing. This is a city for backstabbing, bribing and poisoning."

Margaery sighed. "Highgarden and the Rock seem like games for a child when compared to this."

They managed to maneuver Cersei quite well since they arrived, but Margaery couldn't wait the moment they would actually get rid of her.

"Do you think Cersei will accept to send the emissary up in the North? She could still change her mind."

"True, but we'll talk her around. We need to send this envoy. My father used to say that some wars are won with swords and spears, others will quills and ravens. Well, the outcome of this one might depend more on quills. We need to get this message to our potential ally in the North."

Margaery nodded. "What do you think Jon Snow will do?"

"I wouldn't expect help from him now. We promised him we would save his father, and look how we honored it. His father is dead."

Tyrion looked down. They both regretted they couldn't save Ned Stark. They didn't manage to find yet how Jon Arryn and Ned Stark both came to believe that Joffrey was born of incest. Cersei swore she didn't kill Jon Arryn, but even if Tyrion believed her, Margaery wasn't as inclined to believe her sister-in-law. Instead, they had to make the Seven Kingdoms believe that Stannis had been the one lying and using Ned Stark. They had no choice if they wanted to keep Joffrey on the throne. Margaery knew they could do nothing against the fact Joffrey was king. They couldn't rebel against their nephew. The boy shared Tyrion's blood, as spoiled and childish he may be.

"Robb Stark will not want peace," Tyrion murmured. "He's not going to accept our terms, no matter how generous they are."

"We must try all the same. Robb Stark will not listen to a Lannister after Joffrey killed his father, but we still have someone he may listen to, and even trust."

"I wish her good luck," Tyrion said. Indeed, she would need it.

"I must visit an orphanage this afternoon. I'm not sure it can compensate for Joffrey's bolts, but we need to keep the people on our side."

"Make them forget about Joffrey's misbehaviour. We don't need the people to hate our king when he just took his crown, even if he deserves to be hated."

Margaery nodded. "I'll be back for our discussion with Cersei concerning the terms to offer Robb Stark. I'm not going to leave you alone with her." Margaery offered him a sweet and sincere smile.

"With you nearby, I can almost suffer Cersei." They both laughed.

An hour later, Margaery was entering the orphanage in Flea Bottom. It was overcrowded just like during Joffrey's Tourney, but Margaery didn't see much more people than the last time. King's Landing wasn't worse than when she left it, even with the refugees who had come since Ned Stark died. Cersei's decision to close the gates to the peasants truly was unjustified for the moment.

Soup, bread and toys were distributed to all the children assembled. Margaery gave a warm smile to every one of them. She placed a hand on the head, the arm or the shoulder of some. She spoke with a small girl whose father died crushed under a cart two months ago, to a boy who escaped his house because his parents beat him, and to another girl whose mother was a whore who died of an illness last year. As she talked with a boy who never knew who his parents were, Margaery caught sound of a conversation between a septa and one of her handmaidens.

"One of the men who was shot had seven children. They all ended here. Their father was a very good man. He lost his wife when she gave birth to their last child. He worked like a slave so his children could eat, and now that he's dead they have no one to take care of them. They would probably have ended in the streets, beaten or killed, if we didn't take them in. Why did the king do that? He was just asking for some bread to feed his starving children. He wasn't a dangerous man."

"What was this man's name?" her handmaiden asked.

"Gared," the septa replied.

Mira was silent for a moment. "I wish I had known him."

"He came here sometimes, to see if we had anything to spare for his boys and girls. The poor man. He was starving himself to death so his sons and daughters could eat."

"It's tragic what happened to him." Mira made a pause, and then she spoke again. "You know, when I was a child, there was a place where I lived. People were practicing with crossbows on targets. One day, there was a young man of seventeen. He had the same age that the king has now. One day, the practice was over and he was carrying back his crossbow to stow it. He had forgotten to take out the bolt. By accident, he activated the crossbow, and it went straight into the throat of another man nearby."

"Dear Father." The septa placed a hand before her mouth.

"The man had two children. The boy in question was squiring for a knight. When the knight discovered what happened, he decided to make sure that the children of this man would never lack anything." Mira took the septa's hand into hers. "That's what we're doing as well."

The old septa nodded, a sad expression on her face. Mira gave a few more words of comfort and went back to work. When Margaery saw that her friend was done, she walked to an alcove where Mira was resting a moment and sat by her side.

"Are you alright?" Margaery asked her.

"Yes, my lady."

"You told the septa about the accident that happened the week after you arrived at Highgarden?"

"Yes, my lady." They shared a moment of silence. "If only we could be sure this was an accident in both cases."

It was Margaery's turn to place a hand on Mira's. "I know it's not easy, but you must remain strong."

"Yes, my lady."

"We'll send someone to discuss terms with Robb Stark soon. We'll try to stop all this madness before more people die."

Mira looked back at her. "If you permit, my lady, Robb Stark will never accept any term. Joffrey had his father executed." She added after a moment, "and he believes the accusations of treason are false. And all the Northerners will follow him."

"And you, what do you think, Mira?"

Her eyes burned for short time. "I think Joffrey should have expected an uprising in the North when he decided to execute the Warden of the North." Margaery couldn't agree more. "And I'm afraid the beginning of his reign will be very difficult, for everyone."

"Yes, but we'll get through this, Mira. All together. I promise."

Her friend's face showed gratitude, but also an extreme sadness. Margaery knew that she was conflicted. Mira was always entirely loyal to her, but she came from the North. What she was actually going through was horrible. Margaery knew that the northern girl despised Joffrey. She despised him as well. However, Mira couldn't voice it, and they both knew it.

A piercing scream reached their ears. Everyone in the orphanage stopped moving. Other screams were heard then. Margaery stood up, and she soon realized that the screams didn't come from the inside. They came from the street. She walked towards the exit door. She wasn't the only one. People hurried to see what was going on outside. Lucky enough, Margaery had her guards who made a way for her. Once she left the orphanage, she immediately saw a crowd of people gathering around a house. Suddenly, a body flew from one of the windows and crashed on the ground. Margaery ran to see what happened, her heart pounding. Her guards cleared the people to make her a way. As she was finally able to get a glimpse of the small body that fell, she saw a man hovering over, a dagger in his hand.

"NO!"

As she shouted, the blade slit the throat. When the man stood up, she saw the body lying on the street. It was a boy, no more than ten. Blood spurted from his neck, soiling his already dirty clothes. He had black hair. His body shook, and life and blood left his mouth. He lied there, lifeless. Margaery was agape before this. She slowly turned her head to look at the man who killed him. He wore a gold cloak.


"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent." This is a quote from Salvor Hardin, 1st mayor of Terminus in the "Foundation" novel by Isaac Asimov.

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Next chapter : Margaery (sequel to this chapter)

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