The following of the previous chapter. Tyrion and Margaery make a move.


MARGAERY XVI

"No!" A woman came out from the house where the drama took place. She looked at the boy, and fell on her knees next to him, crying hysterically. "My son. My son!" She buried her face into his chest, uncaring of the blood that covered the small body.

"Go on, cry over your bastard, you whore." The gold cloak kicked the woman in the belly. There were other men with him wearing the same cloak, and they laughed with him at the poor woman who was sent rolling into the mud, tears streaming from her eyes. It was at this moment that Margaery recognized the man who killed the boy and mistreated his mother.

"Officer Deem." Janos Slynt's right hand turned to her still laughing, but when he looked at her and realized who addressed him, the smile quickly disappeared from his face, and he stood in respect. His men followed his example.

"My lady."

The crowd around them was silent as in a crypt. Margaery turned back her attention to the dead boy and the woman crying two feet away. She slowly approached her and knelt, placing a hand on the woman's shoulder. She slowly turned her head to look at Margaery.

"You have nothing to fear from me. I'm your friend. Tell me what happened," Margaery said, in a very soft and low voice to make sure no one would hear her.

The woman's eyes travelled frantically from Margaery to Allar Deem, the man who commanded the red cloaks not long ago. Margaery knew that the man was feared in the streets of the capital, and it was obvious from this woman's reaction and the behaviour of the crowd all around that his reputation wasn't overrated.

She seemed to take a decision, and whispered in such a weak voice that Margaery could barely hear it. "He came into my house. This man." She made a barely noticeable movement with her head to indicate the officer of the City Watch. "He just came in with his thugs. They broke through our door and said they were looking for my sons. Edd… One of them thrusted his spear through his heart. And this man… He pushed my Robert through the window, and then…"

She burst into sobs. Margaery held her into her arms to calm her. She looked at her guards who stood close, and made a sign to two of them to approach.

"Escort this woman back into her home. Don't forget her son."

They complied. One took the woman's arm while the other carried the lifeless form. They had just begun to walk to the house that Margaery was staring at Allar Deem.

"Explain yourself," she demanded.

"I have no explanations to give. I keep the king's peace," he replied.

Margaery felt anger rise in her. "Really? You keep the king's peace? I don't remember that keeping the king's peace involved the killing of children."

"He's a murderer!" someone shouted in the crowd.

Allar Deem looked behind him, where the words came from. "Who said that?" he roared. His men searched the crowd. "Bring me the man who said that!"

"I don't think so," she interrupted.

He slowly turned to look at her. "I beg your pardon?"

"Allar Deem, you are under arrest." Margaery looked at her guards right behind her. They were about twenty, and Allar Deem only had half a dozen men with him. "Seize him."

Her knights moved forward, but Allar Deem took his sword and brandished it. His men did the same. "These are my streets. You're not going to stop me."

"I will. You won't keep your position for long."

"I obeyed orders. The Commander told me to kill this boy, and I did it. If you have a problem, talk about it with him."

Margaery looked at the man again. Then she declared with finality, "Put him under arrest, and his men as well."

Before she was done speaking, the officer of the City Watch roared and ran towards her, but the moment after, one of her guards' sword was through his head and blood sprayed on her. He fell to the ground, as lifeless as the boy he killed only a few seconds ago. A great clamor came from the crowd around them, and the next moment the people were attacking the gold cloaks who were there. The men were too disturbed by the death of their leader and were hacked into pieces by the people.

"Separate them," she quickly ordered to her guards. She retreated towards the orphanage, a few of her men escorting her. The septa who ran the place was on the doorstep, and several children were watching the scene from there as well. "Get inside. Close the doors. Don't let anyone in."

The septa nodded quickly. Margaery assembled all her retinue who accompanied her. They had come on horses and they used them to go back to the Red Keep, her guards protecting them the best they could.

She never needed them more than today. The commotion caused by the deaths of the boy and Allar Deem had escalated into a general riot when they left the orphanage on their mounts, and her men could barely keep the smallfolk at bay. When the people saw the Tyrell standard, or when they recognized her , they seemed less eager to hurt her, but there were so many people fighting in the streets that they tumbled, rushed toward her and got stuck between the crowd and her knights. Margaery saw with her own eyes people getting killed. As soon as they were out of Flea Bottom, they rode as fast as they could to the Red Keep. The portcullis was raised for her, and as soon as she was inside with everyone else who left with her, she saw a familiar small figure running in her direction.

She unhorsed and threw herself into his arms as much as he threw himself into hers. "My dear." He stepped aside to look at her, worry plain in his green eyes. "Are you hurt?" Tyrion was looking at a trail of blood that Deem let on her gown.

"No, I'm fine. It's not my blood."

"We were about to send men to your rescue, my lady," Vylarr told her. He had joined them in the courtyard. "I'm glad you're right."

"A riot started in Flea Bottom. I feared… I feared…" Her husband didn't know what to say. She put a finger on his lips.

"It's alright. I'm fine. I'm safe."

He seemed to quiet down a little, but only a little.

"Come."

He took her by the arm and brought her back to their apartments, where she took a good bath. That was close. It was the first time a riot started when she visited the people. Normally, she made sure the riots were scarcer with her charity works. This time, she started one. She buried her head into the water, and emerged. Blood, dust and mud were removed from her body. Her gown, done, would probably end in the city's sewers.

"Don't do that." Her husband's voice, shaken, came to her ears. "I'm afraid you might never come up again."

She turned toward him. He nervously paced in the room, next to the tub. She never saw him so worried for her. It was true that she never found herself in a situation when she could have died since they were married. That was something new to her. Her life was never in danger before, but today, she had to admit it, could have been her last day.

She sighed and tried to make her smirk convincing. "If I die, it won't be by drowning. I know how to swim. Unless you forgot that I was the one to teach you."

A smile crept on Tyrion's worried face. "How could I forget?" The smile disappeared to give place again to his preoccupied expression. "So, Allar Deem murdered two children in their own home, right in front of their mother."

"Yes, and from what he told me, Janos Slynt gave him the order to kill them," Margaery specified. Tyrion's traits dug. She told him everything that happened back in Flea Bottom while she washed herself. "Tyrion, we cannot allow something like that."

Her husband acquiesced. "Janos Slynt is a man corrupted to the bone, whose loyalty is to be sold to the highest bidder, but he never did something like that. It seems that his newest titles got him over his head."

"We need to act now, Tyrion. I was there. I saw Deem kill this boy, and then mistreat his mother while she was crying over his body. And when I tried to arrest him, Deem resisted, one of my men killed him, and this started a riot. The people attacked Deem's men. If we cannot control the City Watch or the smallfolk, chaos will rule King's Landing."

"It will be done by tonight."

"Let me do it myself."

He looked at her, some surprise on his traits. "As you wish. I'll stay close."

She nodded. She looked at her skin. Everything that soiled her was gone. "Can you give me a towel?" she asked him as she stood up. Tyrion stood there to watch a short moment, which was no surprise, then he gave her a towel nearby. He seized a second one to help her to dry, and once it was done, he brought her the gown she would wear for the rest of the day.

"Here are the results of Cersei's rule," Margaery declared. "The city is in the hands of thieves, murderers, sycophants, criminals, and schemers."

"I suppose we shouldn't be surprised. Cersei is many of these at the same time."

Margaery didn't laugh on this. She had pulled on most of her gown, and only the top was to arrange. She let Tyrion do it. He loved to dress her as much as he loved to undress her. However, her thoughts wandered elsewhere. She remembered the body without life, the blood spilled everywhere, dripping from the throat, the despair in the mother's voice and on her face. The cruelty of the officer as he laughed at the pain he caused, made fun of a boy's murder. And his men who did the same. This was pure cruelty. Margaery didn't see the horrors Joffrey made, except for the bruises he ordered his kingsguards to inflict upon Sansa. Ordering men to beat the girl you were betrothed with was cruel enough, but sentencing a woman to death because she asked to bury the bones of her husband or slicing the tongue of a minstrel was another thing. They did well to keep Joffrey away when court was being held. Still, she never saw horrors first hand until now. That shook her.

Tyrion attached the laces that held her gown behind her back. She closed her eyes and let the feeling on his hands on her skin ease her agitation. She opened her eyes and saw him offering his hand. She took it and they walked out of the bathroom.

On the other side of the door, Varys was waiting for them. As soon as they entered, he bowed deeply to each of them. "My lord. My lady, I heard of what happened in Flea Bottom. To see you unharmed is a blessing, and a great joy for my heart."

"Yes, I'm sure it is, Varys," Tyrion replied, obviously skeptical about the eunuch's words.

"It really is, my lord. It's been a long time since someone in the Red Keep took care of the people and the small children. If Lady Margaery had died, it would have been a great loss for everyone in King's Landing."

Again, Margaery thought about the boy who was butchered right in front of her. "Lord Varys, the riots in Flea Bottom started because one of Janos Slynt's officer, Allar Deem, murdered an innocent boy in the middle of the street. Before he died, he said that he was carrying out the orders of his commander. Did Janos Slynt give this order?" she asked.

Varys took a contrite expression. "He did, my lady, but truth be told, I'm afraid you only saw the tip of the mountain."

"What do you mean?"

"The death you witnessed wasn't the only one. Twenty-three children lost their lives today at the hands of men of the City Watch." Margaery's breathing was cut short. "Lord Slynt killed some of them himself. Among these poor children was a girl by the name of Barra. Her mother worked in one of Littlefinger's brothel. Janos Slynt's men refused to kill her, so he killed her himself when she was still at her mother's breast. She was only a baby."

Margaery thought she was horrified before, but this was nothing to what she felt now. "Barra?" Her husband's voice came from her right side. "You talked to me about this girl the other day. Ned Stark went to see her mother not long before he was attacked by thugs in the streets of Flea Bottom. It was the day he gave his first resignation to Robert."

"You have a good memory, my lord. And this poor girl shared one trait with all the other children who died today."

"Robert's bastards," he muttered. Tyrion paced for a while, passing his hand through his hair. "Janos Slynt is a shit, but he never did something like that before. He wouldn't have sent his men to kill children on purpose, unless he received an order from someone."

"I think you already suspect who gave the order, my lord."

Tyrion exchanged a look with her. They both knew who did this. Her husband brought back his attention to Varys. "Leave us."

The eunuch bowed, and she and Tyrion were alone in their rooms. "Cersei," Tyrion muttered.

"We know she can do that," Margaery said. "She did it before. We have to stop her before she has other people killed."

"I agree. The time for caution is over." For the first time since they arrived in King's Landing, she and Tyrion agreed that they had to neutralize Cersei immediately.

Still, they had to be careful. Cersei still had power inside the walls of the city, but she and Tyrion knew how to take it away from her. A crown didn't give you power, but armies did. Because of that, Margaery was forced to sit down with Tyrion and her sister-in-law for hours, discussing the terms they would send to Robb Stark. Cersei didn't seem avid to bother Margaery this afternoon, oddly enough. Her sarcastic remarks on her and Tyrion were very limited compared to what they were used to. Something wasn't normal in the queen's behaviour.

When the evening came, Margaery found herself sitting alone at the dining table, waiting for her guest. Today's images kept rolling into her mind. Some of her handmaidens who witnessed the events in Flea Bottom were so shocked that Margaery gave them her leave to rest tonight. Only those of sterner stuff would serve her, along with Ty, Tyrion's squire. He was a very kind and obedient boy, all the opposite to the man he was named after.

The doors opened to let the boy she was thinking about inside. "Lord Janos Slynt," he announced, and the Commander of the City Watch and Lord of Harrenhal came inside, his shining gold cloak trailing behind him. It was clean, without any sign of dust. This was certainly not the one he wore today to carry out the dirty work.

"My lady." He bowed before Margaery. She inclined her head to acknowledge his respect, but she didn't stand up.

"Please, Lord Janos, take a seat," she kindly told him, hiding her hatred for the man. He did as she said and took the cup of wine before him, with the same hand that was used to take the life out of an innocent baby.

"I thank you for inviting me, Lady Lannister. It is a true honor. Your presence and that of Lord Tyrion in the capital has been a blessing in these troubled times."

"I thank you." Again, she hid her true feelings behind her sweet smile. She took some wine as well.

"Mm. That's a good red. From the Arbor?"

"I didn't know you knew your wine that well, Lord Janos," she commented.

"That I do. Lord Tyrion isn't with us?"

"I'm afraid he was quite busy today. He will join us later. Today's troubles added to his already busy workload."

"I can understand. It was difficult to stop the riots. I was sorry when I heard you were close when they started."

"I was protected enough. More fear than harm came out of it, at least for me. I'm afraid we can't say the same for the dozens of people who died, not to mention those who were injured."

Janos Slynt nodded. "Not the part of my work that I like the most, but it has to be done. The City Watch must maintain the king's peace."

"Yes, that's your duty. To keep the peace. I want to thank your men for the work they did today, ending these riots. I know it must not have been easy. And I'm sorry for your men who gave their lives."

"They knew the risks." The Lord Commander reported back his attention to the plate of food before him and took some chicken. That was a man who didn't care about his men.

"Still, it must be hard for the families of these twenty-six men."

"You are well informed, my lady."

"Someone once said that information is power. It must be difficult for you as well, to have lost the officer Deem."

"Indeed. My best man. He always got the job done." No matter what the order was, it seemed. No wonder you chose him as your second.

"Since we are at it, I heard there were troubles before the riots began. There's even word running that the riots began after men of the City Watch were seen killing children, and that something similar happened in one of Littlefinger's brothels."

"Mm. Nasty business. Had to be done," Slynt said shortly. He didn't want to talk about it further.

"I suppose. You said the City Watch must keep the peace."

"I did, my lady, and that's what me and my men did today."

"Still, I fail to understand how peace can depend on killing children, or babies."

"Orders are orders." He stated it as a matter of fact. There was no hint of regret in his voice. He did as he was told, and he had no remorse over it. Margaery understood why Cersei liked him. He was a pet that would do everything she told him, no matter what it was. He would kill her own children if she asked him to.

"Orders are orders," Margaery repeated. She stared at Slynt. "Especially when they come from the woman who gave you your titles and your lands. As you said, you owe it to Cersei."

"The queen didn't give me these orders."

"That surprises me. Who else would want to kill King Robert's bastards? I know Cersei. She's not the kind of woman to look at her husband fornicating with other women without doing anything."

"You know the queen better than I do, I suppose."

"I'm afraid so. And I know that once she considers someone useless, she gets rid of him." She stared straights at him. Janos Slynt poured himself some more wine and diverted his gaze. "Tell me, Lord Janos, who are you loyal to? Your king, or his mother?"

Janos Slynt smirked. "Don't try to play that game with me, my lady. I have friends at court, and I serve the king and the queen faithfully. No one can touch me."

Margaery smiled. What an idiot this man was. "Maybe not. But tell me, you were there when Ned Stark claimed that Joffrey wasn't the king, and you were standing right next to him. May I know why? It seems odd coming from a man who professes such loyalty to the king."

"Eddard Stark was a traitor," he declared. "He tried to buy my loyalty. I brought him to my king so he could be judged for treason, and he received the punishment he deserved."

Margaery cocked her head. "Ned Stark was guilty of many things, but I believe for myself that his greatest crime was foolishness." She shook her head while smiling and chuckling very lightly. "He believed he could buy you with gold. He should have known that Cersei would offer you more than this. It takes a fool to believe you will accept gold when you are being offered a lordship along with lands and one of the biggest castles in Westeros."

Slynt's face had gone red. He stood up. "I'm not going to stay here, hearing my honor being questioned…"

"Oh yes, you will." Tyrion had arrived. He came from outside, from the balcony. He had a lot of work indeed while Margaery spoke with Janos Slynt. He was listening to their conversation and waiting to enter the room. "However, you're not going to hear your honor being questioned." He slowly walked past the commander and stood next to her. "Its existence is being denied."

"If you think I'll stand here and take this from an imp and his whore…"

"Whore? You should have stopped at imp. And yes, you'll stay here and take this from the imp and his wife. If you want insults from a whore, then go and see my sister. I'm sure she has many insults of choice for you."

Slynt smirked evilly. "We shall see what the queen has to say about it."

Janos Slynt walked away. When he came to open the door, it opened, and about fifteen men poured inside, gold cloaks, red cloaks, green cloaks, and one white cloak. Ser Barristan Selmy and Ser Jocelyn Bywater blocked the passage to Janos Slynt while the others took place all around the room and the commander.

"Lord Janos," Ser Barristan said as a greeting.

"I'm afraid you will stay a little while longer, Lord Janos," Margaery told him, standing up like everyone else in this room. "These men will stop you from leaving."

"These men are under my command! I command you to bring me to the king!" he shouted to the gold cloaks. None moved.

"Don't you recognize them, Lord Slynt? This man's name is Zevron." She pointed one of the gold cloaks. "He was with you in Littlefinger's brothel. He refused to kill the baby girl, and you seized his dagger and did it yourself. And this man is named Siran. Your man Allar, who you trusted so much, killed his nephew today, and raped his sister." Fear began to show on the commander's face. "You should know your men better."

Lord Janos turned to the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. "Ser, I order you to bring me to the king."

"I serve the king, not you," the knight replied, disgust plain in his voice. He turned to the other knight by his side. "This is Ser Jacelyn Bywater, former captain of the Mud Gate. He is the new Commander of the City Watch."

Janos Slynt stared at the captain, then turned to Tyrion and Margaery. "You can't be serious! This man is rigid, he has no place in…"

Janos Slynt shouted a cry when Ser Jocelyn kicked his leg, sending him on his knees. Then he pulled his gold cloak from the former commander and tossed it on the floor. "You are a disgrace to the City Watch, Slynt." He trampled on the cloak with his feet as he spoke.

"You can't do this. My friend at court will not allow it. The queen herself has granted…"

"The Queen Regent," Tyrion cut. "And you're a fool to believe she is your friend."

"We shall hear what Joffrey has to say about this."

"Joffrey spends his days shooting at caged animals. He doesn't care about ruling, and even less about you, Lord Slynt," Margaery pointed out. "Anyway, you're not going to leave this room. Not before you sign something."

From behind the room, Mira came with a long scroll that she laid on the table. She shot a spiteful look at Janos Slynt, then went back into the shadows. Margaery remained next to the table, the paper next to her. She looked to Janos Slynt with even eyes. Slowly, the dismissed Lord Commander of the City Watch stood on his feet.

"What is it?" he asked, uncertain.

"An official declaration by which you give up all claims on Harrenhal, its attendant lands and titles, for you and all your progeny," she explained.

The look of shock and fury on the man's face was priceless. "You think I'm going to give it up? The queen gave it to me."

"Joffrey gave it to you," she specified, "and you're going to give it back."

"Never! I will not have it. Did you hear me, whore? I will not have it!"

She saw from the corner of her eye her husband make a sign to one of his men who approached Slynt and sent his fist flying right into his belly. Janos Slynt fell on his knees once again, his breathing cut short. Tyrion approached him and stood right in front of this man. Tyrion might be a dwarf, but right now his shadow was longer than that of any other man in this room, and he stood taller than Janos Slynt was in this instant. When the man on his knees looked up at him, all self-assurance and pride was gone. Margaery knew that he was showing his merciless face right now, the face no one wanted to see. Everyone understood that it was in their interest to not mess with the Warden of the West when they met this gaze.

"The next time you use that name for my wife, will be the last time you ever spoke."

He slowly walked away, his threat lingering in the air. Janos Slynt didn't dare to say a word.

"You have a wife, haven't you, Lord Janos? And four children, two who serve as squires, another one who's a page, and a daughter, if I'm not mistaking," Tyrion said as he walked back to the table. "It would be a shame if something regrettable was to happen to them." Tyrion had his threatening face when he turned to stare at the former commander.

"My friends will not allow it." Slynt didn't seem convinced by his own words.

"Which friends? Look around you. Where are your friends? You no longer lead the City Watch. The only reason Cersei kept you near her was because she could use you to her own interests. What do you have to offer her now? Tomorrow, you will be thrown into the streets along with your wife and children. A herald will declare before the people assembled that you were behind the slaughtering of children today, and the repression that killed even more people in Flea Bottom. At best, the people will cut you to pieces, your wife and your daughter will end in one of Littlefinger's brothels, and your sons as beggars and orphans living in the streets. At worst, the six of you will be cut to pieces by the crowd. In both scenarios, you will be cut to pieces."

Panic was plain on Janos Slynt's face. For the first time tonight, he begged. "No. Please, don't do that, my lord. I beg you. I… I'll do everything you want."

Margaery stepped into the conversation. "All we ask from you is that you sign this document, Lord Slynt, and we promise you that your family will be safe. The Lannisters always pay their debts."

The man's eyes went from her to her husband, then back to her. Finally, he stood up and rushed to the table. He seized the quill and signed at the bottom of the paper. "Here. It's done. I did as I was told."

Tyrion took the paper and looked at it. He rolled it and spoke. "It's probably the best decision you took in your whole life. Your wife will receive a monthly allocation. We will transfer her with your daughter in a castle where she will live peacefully for the rest of her life. As for your sons, they will keep their positions here, with the possibility to earn a knighthood eventually. Maybe they'll even manage to get lands someday."

"I thank you, my lord." Slynt bowed, his voice filled with relief.

"As for you, you leave tonight. There's a ship bound for Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. You're taking it."

The former Lord Slynt was stunned. "What?"

"Don't worry, you'll be in pleasant company. Most of your lieutenants from the City Watch are already on it. They'll make the journey with you to Eastwatch. From there I'm afraid it's rather a long walk to Castle Black. I hope you enjoy the Wall. I found it surprisingly beautiful, in a brutal, horribly uncomfortable sort of way. You'll give my regards to the Lord Commander Thorne."

"You believe I'm going to freeze my ass to the Wall like this, because you say so?"

Tyrion brandished the scroll. "It's obvious you didn't read this document before you signed it. We forgot to tell you, but you just signed a document where you acknowledged that you ordered the murder of several children, and killed some of them yourself. You declare that to atone for your crimes, you decided to give up all your lands and titles and to take the black. You also declared that you hoped you would serve the Realm and the king better as a sworn brother of the Night's Watch than you did as Lord Commander of the City Watch. It's really well written. A great confession. All you asked the king was to protect your family in his goodness."

Janos Slynt didn't say a thing for a long moment, his mouth open. Then his expression took a furious tone. "You fooled me!"

"We told you to sign this. We never told you to not read it. You would know what you were signing if you only took the time to look at what was written." Tyrion had a smug smile all the time he spoke.

"You think that I'm going to accept this?" Janos Slynt didn't have much imagination when it came to talk.

"Consider yourself lucky you had to deal with me, and not my father. He would have abandoned your family at best, and probably he would have killed them."

Slynt turned to the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. "Bring me to the king. I order you to bring me to him."

Ser Barristan didn't say a word. His eyes had no sympathy for the man who was giving him orders as if he had any real authority on the knight. Margaery stepped into the discussion.

"Consider yourself lucky that we are sending you to the Wall, Slynt. People were executed for less than you did."

"I was obeying orders!"

"And if Cersei ordered you to kill your own family, would you obey?"

"The queen would never give such an order."

"Then that proves you don't know Cersei at all."

"I have powerful friends here. They will never allow this!"

"We shall see. Ser Jacelyn, escort Janos Slynt to his ship," Tyrion ordered.

"Men," the knight in question said. The gold cloaks immediately grabbed their former commander by the arms and brought him out of the room.

"I have friends at court. Powerful friends! The king himself made me a lord!" Such were the words Janos Slynt said as he was pulled out of the Tower of the Hand. Margaery's and Tyrion's guards followed them. Ser Jacelyn and Ser Barristan were the only ones to remain behind with them.

"Good riddance," the new Commander of the City Watch said.

"Make sure that Slynt doesn't get the chance to escape," Tyrion told him. "And I hope to not see babies die by the hands of gold cloaks in the future."

"They won't. If they do, justice will be made." Ser Jacelyn bowed his head. Before he left, Margaery asked him something.

"Ser Jacelyn, I would like you to find the families of the children who were killed today. I want to visit them tomorrow, to offer my condolences."

"As you wish, my lady."

The commander left this time, after making another bow.

"Ser Jacelyn Bywater is an honorable man," Ser Barristan said. "He'll make a good commander of the gold cloaks."

"Much better than Slynt," Tyrion added, which Ser Barristan didn't contradict. "You will make a fine replacement for him on the small council."

"I will do my duty, my lord." He hesitated to say what followed. "If I may, I had come to believe that honor didn't exist anymore in this city. But I see that I was wrong. My lord, my lady."

She and Tyrion were all alone again. Tyrion sighed. "Maybe we could sup now."

Margaery agreed. She believed that she might have found back some appetite after they exiled Janos Slynt and his lieutenants, but she found out that she wasn't hungry at all. Still, she ate. Her husband also seemed to force himself to eat. In the end, she left her fork and her knife on her plate and turned to him.

"Tyrion, what are we really doing here?"

Her husband seemed to think about it before he replied. "I don't know."

"We're sending assassins like Janos Slynt to the Wall while the woman who gave them the order holds court and receives favors from the ladies of the entire Realm."

Tyrion looked down. "Cersei doesn't have for long now. With Janos Slynt gone, she has no harms with weapons at her service. All she has left are people fighting with ledgers and quills. She won't remain here for long. But we must be careful with her. She won't forget what we did today. We tried to keep her unaware, or at least uncertain of our intentions so far, but now she's going to have a very good idea of what they are. She will see us as her main enemies now, if not the only ones."

"We will become her targets," Margaery summarized.

"Yes. She's not going to ignore us anymore. Everything we're going to do will be suspect in her eyes."

Margaery took a sip of her wine. "Then I suppose we must expect the worst."

"We know what she's capable of." Tyrion said it on a very dark tone.

"We shouldn't be here. Cersei doesn't deserve our help. She placed herself in that position. She tried to kill you. She should leave, and live the rest of her days in some isolated castle, far from everyone. Better, across the Narrow Sea."

"And she will, soon enough."

It was Margaery's turn to sigh. "I wish we didn't have to clean up the mess your sister and her son did. We try to help them, and in exchange all they do is cause catastrophes. They should thank us, especially after everything they did. Instead they see enemies in us."

"For Cersei, everyone who isn't Jaime or her children is an enemy."

"Even her own blood." Margaery didn't ask a question. She stated a fact.

"Blood doesn't mean much to Cersei, unless it serves her interests." Tyrion pushed back his plate. "I'm afraid I won't get much more inside tonight."

"You should go to sleep. Take some rest, for once. Tomorrow will not be an easy day."

"Not an easy day? I would say it will probably be the worst since we arrived." Her husband stood up and walked to their bedchamber. He turned when he realized that Margaery was heading in the opposite direction. "You're not coming to sleep?"

"I have something to do first." She walked back to him, knelt and laid a kiss on his lips. "I'll be back soon." She brushed his jaw with her hand and left their apartments.

Margaery Lannister of House Tyrell, Lady of Casterly Rock and Lady of the Westerlands, traveled through the Red Keep with four guards to accompany her. She headed straight towards her destination. There was someone she had to see before she went to sleep. This couldn't wait for the morning. When she arrived before the apartment, Ser Mandon Moore was standing in front of the door.

"I have come to see the queen," she announced.

"The queen doesn't wish to be disturbed," he replied.

"Tell her that the life of her son is in danger. She will want to see me."

"Wait here."

Ser Mandon walked into the queen's personal rooms. A few moments later, longer than Margaery expected given the message she gave, he came back.

"The queen will receive you. Your men must stay outside."

"It wasn't my intent to bring them with me. I don't fear Cersei. We are between Lannisters, after all."

She walked in without another word. Cersei was waiting for her, a nightgown wrapped around her shoulders. She obviously had no other clothes underneath. Margaery immediately noticed her disheveled hair, and what looked like remains of sweat on her forehead. The bed behind her looked like a battlefield, but what truly caught her eye was the sword laying against it. A Lannister sword.

"You say my son is in danger. Spit it out!" Cersei brought back her attention.

"Yes, Joffrey is in danger. Why? Well, let's begin with the fact that many believe he is a bastard born of incest. The Starks and the Tullys want his head, and the Arryns as well too. One of his uncles is claiming to be king. The Martells are probably rejoicing at the idea of seeing him die after what happened to the princess Elia and her children in the last war. And now that he chose to use the smallfolk as target practice and that your thugs in the City Watch murdered babies, the people of King's Landing despise him. All in all, I would say that more than half the people in the Seven Kingdoms want his head, which is a very dangerous situation for him."

Cersei stared at her with an icy glare. She sneered. "Is it Tyrion who's sending you?"

"No, I came here of my own free will."

"And you're going to leave at my will. Now."

Why? Did I interrupt something? "I just wanted you to know that Janos Slynt is gone."

Cersei frowned. "Gone?"

"He decided to take the black. He left a message, saying that he gave up his rights over Harrenhal. He claims that he regrets what he did today." She walked to a nearby window and looked outside in the dark. "I thought you'd like to know it."

A moment of silence went. "What have you done?"

"Nothing, safe for making him realize his mistakes. I'm sure he regrets killing all these children now. He will have a lot of time to muse about it on his way to the Wall, and even more when he arrives. He will have a whole life to think about the choices he made."

"Lord Janos Slynt was Commander of the City Watch. You had no right to exile him."

"I believe that since the king is not ruling, then he won't have anything to say about his Hand's decision."

"Tyrion is Hand by my grace. I am Queen Regent."

Margaery turned to face Cersei. "Well, in this case, listen to me, Queen Regent. You're losing the people."

Cersei laughed. "The people. You think I care."

"You should. You will find it very difficult to rule over millions who want you dead. And you just gave them the rallying cry. The Queen Regent slaughters babies." Cersei was silent, and for a rare time, she looked down. "You don't even have the decency to deny it."

Margaery hated this woman. She despised everything about Cersei. Her arrogance, her cruelty, her stupidity, her ambition without limits, her selfishness, even her love for Joffrey. For the first time, Margaery thought that she stood in the presence of the woman version of Tywin Lannister, which made her hate her sister-in-law even more.

"Ordering thugs to murder children, trying to start a rebellion against your brother in the Westerlands, even trying to kill your brother. I wonder what you wouldn't be ready to do. Killing your husband?"

Cersei's reaction would be imperceptible to most people, but it wasn't for Margaery's trained eyes. She truly killed her husband, the king.

"Wouldn't you be ready to do anything for your children, if you had some?" Cersei asked her.

"So that's your excuse? You did this for Joffrey?"

"We must do what needs to be done. This is what ruling is, lying on a bed of weeds, ripping them out by the root, one by one, before they strangle you in your sleep."

Margaery laughed out loud at this. "Now I understand why we are at war. You know nothing about ruling."

"And what would you know? You spend your time smiling, visiting the poor and getting fucked by my brother."

"I spent the last three years ruling the Westerlands alongside Tyrion. We take our decisions together. I participate to the government of an entire kingdom. Tell me, when did Robert seek your advice on matters of state? Did he ever let you take decisions for Westeros?" Cersei didn't answer. Margaery smiled cruelly at her. "That's what I thought. You were only there to sit by his side in tournaments and to give him children. But unlike you and Robert, Tyrion loves me, and he trusts me. We ruled the Westerlands together for years, and Casterly Rock prospered and was at peace. You took the power and managed to throw the Seven Kingdoms into a civil war within days. Judging by the facts, I would say I know more about ruling than a queen who cannot control her own son."

"Joffrey is the king. My son is the king."

Margaery wasn't impressed. "Judging by his first decisions, you failed to educate him appropriately. And since you devoted all your attention to him and ignored your other children, I would say that you failed as a mother and as a queen."

"You don't know what it is. You have no children!"

Margaery returned the angry glare Cersei was throwing her. "I would rather have no child than to have Joffrey as a son. If I were his mother, I would be ashamed of him, instead of parading all day, boasting that I'm the queen." She approached Cersei until they were only a few feet away. "Ser Jacelyn Bywater will lead the City Watch now. If I ever find that you're trying anything against me or Tyrion, or against anyone close to us, I will destroy you."

Cersei smirked. "You think you have so much power?" The queen towered her. "I am the queen."

Margaery returned the smile. "A crown doesn't give you power, Cersei. You should have learned that a long time ago. Information, however…" Margaery turned her back to her sister-in-law and took a few steps away, before staring at her again. "When everyone in the Seven Kingdoms learns that you had two twin babies murdered at Casterly Rock because they were fathered by Robert upon a servant, I don't believe there will be a safe place left for you on this continent."

Cersei's smile faded. She didn't expect Margaery to know that. Tyrion had discovered it about two years ago. He led investigations after his sister tried to kill him, and discovered this particular crime Cersei committed. They had witnesses, testimonies, and documents proving that Cersei ordered the death of two babies that the king had with a servant at the Rock. If it was revealed, everyone would immediately make the connection with today's events and know that Cersei had children assassinated on several occasions.

"Stay away from my husband, or I'll kill you," Margaery warned. She would do it, without hesitation, and without remorse.

She proceeded to walk to the door in order to leave, but Cersei started to talk again. "I know why my brother loves you. I can see he is. You wouldn't be the first whore he married. Do you know he married one before, and that when he got tired of her, he got rid of her?"

Margaery faced her. "Tyrion and I have no secrets for each other. I already know the story, Cersei. He told me everything. And seeing how your father treated his own son, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that your education of Joffrey was so lacking. It's a good thing that you never truly took care of Tommen and Myrcella. They are children that parents would be proud of, but you had no hand in who they became."

Cersei sneered. "At least I had children. I wonder what everyone thinks of a Lady of the Rock who is unable to give a son to her husband."

Margaery stared at Cersei. "At least I have something you will never have."

"And what is it?"

"Love."

And on that, Margaery left. She walked back to the Tower of the Hand, her guards following her, trying to keep up with her quick pace. She hoped that Cersei didn't see it. She tried to hide it the best she could, but Cersei had hit on the right target when she said Margaery couldn't give Tyrion a child. It was the only thing that weighed on her in her marriage.

It wasn't only political. Margaery knew she had to give an heir to Casterly Rock, if only to make sure Cersei wouldn't get her hands on it after Tyrion's death. She also wanted her children to rule the Westerlands one day. However, that wasn't why it galled her so much to not have been able to deliver a child so far. She just wanted children with Tyrion. She wanted to start a family. After three years living with him, three years of happiness where she was blessed with everything she could ask from a marriage, that was the only thing she couldn't get yet. Children. Cersei attacked the right spot. It was her only sensible area. She loved Tyrion, she was happy with him and with their life, she had a family and friends who sincerely loved her as well, she was respected and loved by the people and the noble men all alike, and she held more power than she thought she could ever have, but she couldn't get children, no matter how hard she and her husband tried. She knew there were rumors starting to spread that she was barren. They were few, and seldom spoken, but they existed. That was no surprise, since three years after the wedding, their marriage was still childless.

She came back into the apartments of the Hand. Tyrion was already in the bed, reading some official documents. He looked up at her as soon as she entered. His eyebrows deepened.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked.

"No." She began to undress, removing her many jewels before she proceeded to remove her dress.

"Are you sure?"

She didn't answer. She kept her back turned on him as she got rid of her clothes, until there was nothing left and she was standing naked like the day she was born. She sneaked into the bed and rested her head against his arm.

"I just want to sleep."

Her husband brought his arm around her shoulders to caress her right arm. "As you wish, my queen."

A smile crept to her face as she heard his voice with her eyes closed. It always comforted her. She heard him blow the only candle that was lit to allow him to read. His nose was buried into her hair and she felt his warm breathing run along her neck.

They remained like that for a very long time. She enjoyed the feeling of being close to him, and her mind calmed down, until he whispered in her ear.

"You're a wonderful woman, you know."

"Am I?" In other circumstances, she would have asked this on a playful tone, but right now she didn't.

"Yes, you are. I couldn't imagine being married to another woman."

"Do you truly believe it?"

He stopped rubbing her arm with his right hand and looked at her. In the dark, she could see the worry in his eyes. "There is something wrong."

It wasn't a question. She sat straight into the bed. "I visited Cersei."

She felt her husband tense behind her. "Did she threaten you?"

"No, nothing of the sort. We exchanged harsh words, but there were no threats. It's just…"

He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "What happened?"

She looked down to the covers. "There's one thing she told me, and she was right. Despite all her flaws, Cersei has two sons and a daughter. What do we have?"

"We have each other."

She looked at him. "Is that enough?"

He took her hand. "A few years ago, I thought I would never marry, let alone have children. Since you arrived, my life has been everything I ever wanted it to be. I haven't regretted marrying you a single moment. And if I was given the choice today, if someone asked me if I would marry you, and that he brought me proof that we cannot have children together, I would marry you all the same."

She chuckled lightly. "You would?"

"I would, without any second thought." His eyes showed no amusement. He was serious.

"You must be stupid, then. No man would marry a woman if he knew he couldn't have children with her." Not that she complained about Tyrion's willingness to marry her whatever the odds, but a lord who was ready to agree to a childless marriage would be considered a fool by almost everybody.

He cupped her cheek. "Or perhaps I'm in love with most fantastic woman in the world." Tears were coming to her eyes. "I don't want a wife who would give me children but feel nothing for me. It's you that I want."

He gave her a long and sweet kiss that she returned. Little by little, their kiss deepened. Their tongues met. She let her husband guide her on her back. The night was wonderful, sweet, and Margaery didn't think about anything worrying her. It was only just before she fell asleep that she made a short prayer to the Mother. In that instant, she felt that she would be a mother soon, just like her own mother three years after her wedding.


Sorry Bronn isn't here, but Tyrion never met him at the Crossroads, so I brought Jacelyn Bywater from the books. We can see that Margaery is not perfect. She was wrong on one thing about Cersei in this chapter.

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Next chapter : Margaery (again)