The chapter is done. I don't own anything and feel free to review.
People were cheering and shouting. Mugs clanked and glasses rang in cheer. Odin watched the loving couple, note the sarcasm, dancing together. Alexander and Megga were at arms distance. Odin grinned as he held up a glass and stood up. He slowly started to clink his glass and soon everyone fell silent as they waited for him to talk. He held up his glass to the couple and started to speak "I am sure all of you are enjoying this lovely wedding and probably won't remember most of tonight. Now spare me a few moments of your time as I gloat about my dear brother in all, but blood". Odin took a moment for the rest of the crowd to die down.
He spoke firmly and with a wisp of remembrance. He said, "I met Alexander when we were young. Our group was as thick as thieves. We swam in the rivers of the Reach and dined on those fresh apples from the apple orchard. Now the two that have been married under the seven haven't known each other long, but there is one thing the two certainly share. That is the terrible-smelling rivers and those beautiful apple orchards of the Reach. The people may not have come for love of each other, but they surely have come for the place we all call home. That same love for the Reach can be spread out to other parts of your relationships. Love is not a fire, it will catch fire, you will not put it out. In the hearts of our young people, the fire of love burns. This is a sacred fire. So, fill our glasses and amicably drink to ensure that it never goes out in their hearts!". The audience started to clap and cheer as Odin drank his glass of ale. Odin looked off to the side and glanced at Verro. He was gesturing with his hands towards Odin. Raven accepted the applause and slowly made his way towards Verro. He quickly snuck away from the drunken crowd and headed towards Verro. He swerved through most of them and ignored the others that tried to talk to him. It was quite amusing to see the Grey Kings mixing and mingling with the nobles. Odin caught Margery whispering into the bride's ear.
Odin asked, "What is it, Verro"?
Verro leaned in and whispered, "We found a worm in the harbor not too long ago. Yara thought you may have wanted to hear about it". Raven sighed as he followed after Verro. Verro handed him a knife.
He said, "Just in case the worm's lips are too tightly shut". Odin nodded and pulled out his knife from the inside of his boot. Raven waved it in front of Verro. Verro nodded and the two-headed out of the castle.
Odin asked, "Where is the worm Verro"?
Verro waved his hand and said, "He is back at the main tavern". Odin rubbed his wrists as he thought about who it could be. He had not heard of anyone coming into the port that was important.
Odin said, "I need to get back Verro. People will notice".
Verro nodded and said, "It won't take more than a few minutes. Just something you need to clear up". Verro guided Raven through the streets and back to the main tavern. Odin walked into the tavern and made his way to the office. When he opened the door he was greeted by the sight of a man beaten and battered. He was tied to a chair and barely conscious.
Odin walked towards the man and lifted his head slightly. The man spit onto his shoes and Raven's smile became devilish. He said, "Well, What a pleasant gift on one of my brother's wedding nights as well. I did not expect the disgraced bear to make an appearance".
The now identified Jorah barely got out, "Fuck off".
Raven pulled up his chair and pulled it in front of Jorah. He sat down and lounged over the back of it. He tapped his chin with the dulled side of the knife and said, "Now what will I do with you? Perhaps I send you to Lord Stark and get a bit of good faith from him". Jorah seemed to strain against his restraints as Odin watched him. Jorah thrashed as if he was an animal. The man looked like he had been dragged through shit.
Raven then offered another option, "Or I could let you board one of my ships and let you travel wherever you were planning to go". Raven then turned to Yara and asked, "What do you think I should do Yara? It is your merchant ships and fleet now"?
Yara lifted one giant wooden chest and placed them onto Odin's desk. Raven raised an eyebrow as he stood from his chair and went over to look at the chest. Yara said, "We found this when we were searching through his belongings. It had a note written on it". Yara handed over the note and Odin quickly scanned through it. He quickly pocketed the note and turned back to their now welcomed guest.
Odin walked over to Jorah and squatted down next to him. He said, "Now I understand. Little spy doing his master's bidding. I can see why Varys is so interested in the last two Targaryens".
He then turned to Yara and motioned for her to open the chest. She quickly unlatched it and gasped when she saw what was inside it. She asked, "Is this what I think it is"?
Raven nodded and said, "Aye. It appears we have struck gold. Yara and Verro I need this to be kept secret. I don't want people to figure out we have gotten our hands on a stone dragon egg". Odin came back over to Yara and stared down at the beautiful egg. It was massive with beautiful golden colors splashing all across it. Odin gently placed his hand on it and smiled.
Verro was the one to ask the question, "What do we do with him"? He gestured over to Jorah, who was still struggling with his restraints.
Odin turned back to Verro and said, "Well, giving him back to the North is out of the question. He will simply tell them we took the dragon egg and Robert Baratheon will demand it be smashed. I suppose the only two options we truly have is to kill him now or send him on his way".
Yara and Verro looked at Odin waiting for his decision. He said, "It is too important to wait for the rest. I suppose we will need to have a vote now".
Yara grunted and said, "I say we let him go. He can't do much now that we know he is working for Varys".
Verro shook his head and said, "The only good enemy is a dead enemy. I say we simply kill him and be done with it".
Odin debated on the matter. There were positives and negatives to both sides of the choices. He debated on it and finally approached the bloodied and beaten Jorah. He said, "I suppose I should thank you and for that, I'll let you live".
Yara nodded at his decision and made to approach Raven who held up his hand to stop her. He said, "That being said it would not due to let people think I had gone soft. You see I can't have Varys spies running around without punishment". Odin then pulled out his trusty knife and slowly placed it on Jorah's left hand. He methodically cut through the hand and the bone even as Jorah screamed in pain.
Odin sighed as the hand flopped onto the floor and Jorah had passed out from the pain. Odin quickly pulled out some clothe and wrapped them around the cut-off appendage. He looked back to Yarra and Verro. He said, "Get him cleaned up and boarded on a ship to Essos".
Verro nodded and undid the restraints on the unconscious man. He slung the body over his shoulder and left the room. Yara asked, "Do you want me to make sure the merchant ship gets to Essos"?
Odin shook his head and said, "No, if pirates destroy his vessel then it is all the better. I do not want Varys to get an inkling of an idea that I had caught Jorah. It would bring up too many questions. It was why I cut off his hand. A warning to Jorah that this meeting never happened".
Yara nodded and said, "I may go raiding with the fleets soon". Raven nodded and continued to eye the dragon egg. He motioned towards it.
He said, "Leave the egg here. I'll move it when I have the chance, as well as the hand. It is important we have the Moromont ring. It should be safe enough here for now". Yara nodded and the two of them went to exit the room. They went their separate ways when they came to a crossroads in the street outside. Odin slowly made his way back to the party and was able to sneak back in. He nodded his head at the guards that were watching the party. They nodded back and he dropped a few coppers into their hands.
He walked through the dimly lit halls and slowly came back to the banquet hall. It was bustling with music and chatter. Odin sighed and braced himself for mingling with the nobles. All of them were snobbish, sticking their nose up at him and his family. He entered from the side door and snuck between the ladies and lords of the party. He eventually made his way back towards the back of the room. A server had given him a mug of ale and he sighed in relief. A wispy voice said, "I was looking forward to seeing you here. Imagine my surprise when you vanished for a few hours".
Odin turned and looked at Margery. She was certainly something to behold. She was covered in elaborate silks and satins. The red certainly complemented her features. Odin sipped his mug and said, "I had business to attend to. It will certainly be a long night of business".
Margery nodded and a noble started to approach her when she said, "I do believe you owe me a dance Raven. You certainly promised me one not too long ago". Odin nodded as he took her hand in his and placed the mug down.
The two made it to the dance floor and began to slowly waltz with the other dancers. Heads turned as they watched Margery. Odin leaned in and whispered, "Where is the meeting at"?
Margery turned and said, "It is impolite to talk business when you are dancing with a Lady".
Odin rolled his eyes and said, "I have no delusion of what you want Lady Tyrell. Business will always come first I am afraid".
Margery sighed as she laid her head on his shoulder and said, "The meeting is a few hours after the end of the ceremony. I hope that you will be on your best behavior. We certainly need this ceasefire to run through".
Odin laughed and said, "You should not have invited the Red Swords then. Their leader is quite a bloodthirsty man".
Margery giggled and asked, "You aren't? I have seen some people who had tried to stand against the Grey Kings before. Once of my favorite guard captains had his ear ripped off as a warning I believe".
Raven shrugged and said, "Fear and love are important for ruling anything. I am kind to my friends and cruel to my enemies. I'm sure your grandmother has jammed that into your head". Margery simply hummed in agreement. The two continued to sway to the music and enjoyed each other's company. Soon the night had started to drag to a close. Margery had dragged Odin off the dance floor and out of the castle. Odin followed the Lady to the designated meeting place. They came to a small house that was guarded by only the best of the Tyrell guards. As the two approached the guards had their hands firmly planted on their swords.
Odin rolled his eyes and said, "A very warm reception".
Margery pulled him into the house and said, "Well if you had not felt the need to start a gang war then the guards would not be so on guard".
Raven shrugged and said, "A small price to pay I suppose". Margery ignored the comment and quickly hooked her arm in his. She opened the door and gathered around a table as the heads of the respective gangs in the reach. Each sat at a different end of the table arguing with each other. Alexander Graham, the leader of the Plunderers, was shouting at Arthur Colton, the head of the Red Swords, about negotiations. Then there was Brea Weston, head of the Emerald Reapers, who would chip into the negotiations with ideas that were advantageous to her group. The three turned to him as he entered the room. Anger flashed across Alexander and Arthur's faces. It was amusing, to say the least. The silence in the air permeated the discussion as Raven took the last seat at the table. They waited in anticipation as he brought the bread up to his mouth and bit down on it. He then took a portion of wine from the flask and poured himself some. He looked around and asked, "Would anyone else like some before we start"?
That seemed to break the silence as Arthur and Alexander both scowled and accused him of being a prick. He ignored the comment and continued to lean back into his chair. Brea was the first one to talk. She said, "The Emerald Reapers want a portion of the farms and that is a non-negotiation, as well as a section of the vineyards".
Arthur scowled and said, "As if we would ever give you a piece of the farms. If you want war then we look forward to crushing you".
Margery spoke up then, "Arthur I am sure there is something that the Tyrell house can do to sway you over to give some of your lands. Perhaps a section of land outside the Reach that is known for its beauty".
Arthur sat back in his chair and thought the offer over. He said "Perhaps, but it all depends on the amount of land that is willing to be given".
Alexander was the next to speak "The Plunderers will only be satisfied with some type of hold over long-distance traveling and the arts".
Brea shook her head and said, "I simply can not allow that. If I were to give you a chance to tax the arts then we would suffer greatly. It is our main source of income and you know this". This debate went on for many hours as Margery was the negotiator. Soon almost everything had been ironed out and the other three crime lords all seemed somewhat content. Yet, one had still not spoken through the whole meeting. He continued to simply watch his so-called equals talk and squabble. It was quite funny. Each time a direct negotiation involved the Grey Kings he would ignore the comment and continued to sip on his wine.
Eventually, Margery was forced to ask him directly, "And what do you want Raven? You have not talked at all during the negotiations. Even though some of the terms require your input".
Alexander was the one to speak next. He said, "You have already come to a decision have you not Raven"?
Raven nodded and all four people watched him carefully as he stood and looked at the map of the Reach. He pulled out a knife and soon the others had tensed as well as the guards. He then dragged the knife down the middle of the map and said, "I am going to crush you all under my boot. This meeting was beyond pointless. None of you have anything worth my time. The Emerald Reaper's fall if I decide to attack the artists and poets. What good will your money do if people are afraid to paint or sing? Soon you would fall with no real income".
He then turned to Arthur and said, "And the Red Swords are no better truthfully. I could simply slow the market on swords and other materials when all those metals are simply not used. Another fallen empire. Sure you could try and send it out to other kingdoms, but we both know who controls the ports. I simply don't let them get out. The Reach would hurt from it, but it would recover. You can offer me nothing. The least of all the vineyards. I could simply wait and buy out the vineyard farmers. I have time".
He then turned to Alexander and said, "The Plunderers are probably the hardest to control, but not impossible. The farms are important to the reach and Lady Tyrell would surely fight to make sure they kept performing, but if I applied enough pressure the Tyrells wouldn't have a choice, but to hand them to me. Besides, would the Tyrell rather have someone connected to their family running the farms or the Plunderers? Alexander did just get married to a close cousin of theirs". Soon the table was lit in a heated debate as Raven sat back down and watched them hurl insults at him.
He eventually held up his hand stopping the other three. He said, "I simply don't care so I will make my terms clear. I don't want your land or even your gangs. I simply want a signed recognition that I am the head Crime Lord of the Reach. If you aren't willing to do this then I will squash you like the bugs you are".
The other crime bosses began to reject the notion and Raven sat back. Margery finally spoke up, "Ladies, Gentleman please calm down. I am sure we can figure out some way to resolve this. The Tyrells will not support their cause".
Odin grinned and said, "Oh. I suppose a coup is needed then". That seemed to take the wind out of Margery's sail. She looked disturbed by the notion of being overthrown at all. The other crime bosses looked just as shocked and Raven started to laugh. It was a cruel laugh with no mirth behind it.
He said, "You think the people love you don't you Lady Tyrell? Let me tell you something. They won't once they realize that you have been holding out on them. The excess food used for your banquets and the number of riches you use to act all high and proper compared to the other houses. The most chivalrous place in the Seven Kingdoms". A grin made its way over his face. He pulled out a scroll from his bag.
He threw it onto the table and it rolled open. The first that read it was Margery and she turned almost deftly pale. She immediately shook her head and said, "No. The Tyrell's would never agree to this. Nor any sane person".
Raven grinned as the other crime lords read it as well. Each had said he was stretching too far. Raven spoke again and said, "It is certainly what I want Lady Tyrell. I wasn't joking when I said I wanted your hand in marriage".
Margery shook her head and said, "I am afraid the house Tyrell can not agree to this. My father nor grandmother would agree to this".
A grin made its way over Raven's face as he pulled out another letter. He flicked it on the table and said, "I would read that. Lord Tyrell and Oleanna Tyrell's signature are both on it".
Margery's face morphed into one of horror as Raven sat back satisfied. He needed a position of power if he was going to extend his empire and the Tyrells were that simple way of getting there. Sure he wouldn't be the lord of House Tyrell, but it didn't matter. Other lords would listen once he took the last name, Tyrell. Alexander pointed at Raven and asked, "What is the meaning of this Raven? No more games. Explain it now".
Raven responded, "Where has all your bravado gone Alexander. I had thought you would be raving like a mad dog. How about you Arthur? Are you jealous, because I would be? Brea, I know how you like sticking your nose into the Lord and Ladies behinds. A dog begging for crumbs". Each of the crime bosses stood up in indignation and Raven just laughed as Arthur stormed towards him. He held up the bread in a mocking manner.
Raven remarked, "This meeting wasn't to negotiate peace. No, it was to simply tell you what was going to happen. You are now under the banner of the Grey Kings and if you don't follow along like the good dogs you are then I will be forced to call on the Tyrells for help". Raven then stood up from his chair and left the room. His cloak billowed in the process. He left into the night with a savage grin on his face. The message to Tywin had gone according to plan and all it took was a valyrian steel sword.
Tywin knew an opportunity when he saw it and having a commoner enter the Tyrell house would certainly hurt their reputation as far as he cared. He wasn't thinking far enough ahead. Lord Lannister and Raven had become business partners. They were on shaky terms at best, but it mattered not. Soon the Grey Kings weren't going to be only known in the reach. It would be the whole underbelly of the Seven Kingdoms and it all started with the Reach.
A few months later (Wedding day)
The castle of Highgarden was beautiful. Highgarden was located on a broad verdant hill overlooking the Mander. The castle was surrounded by three rings of white stone whose crenelated curtain walls increase in height. Between the outer and middle walls was a famous briar labyrinth that served to entertain as well as slow invaders. The oldest towers, squat and square, date from the Age of Heroes. Newer towers are tall and slender, round fortifications dating from after the coming of the Andals.
The castle sept, which has rows of stained-glass windows honoring Garth Greenhand and the Seven, was matched only by the Great Sept of Baelor and the Starry Sept. The castle's godswood contains three weirwoods known as the Three Singers. The palatial keep is decorated with statues and colonnades. Also within Highgarden's walls are groves, fountains, and courtyards. The castle's structures are covered in ivy, grapes, and climbing roses.
Highgarden was filled with flowers, singers, pipers, fiddlers, and harpers. The stables have a fine selection of horseflesh, and there are pleasure boats to sail along with the Mander. There were fields of golden roses that stretch as far as the eye can see. Fruits grown nearby include melons, peaches, and fireplums.
Yet Highgarden still was not the most beautiful thing there. The most beautiful scene was that of the wedding. Bells tolled and people cheered in the street as Raven and Margery held hands while riding their horses to the chapel. Margery had a loving smile on her face as she continued to wave to the crowd. Raven smirked amused at this. She had made it quite clear that she hated him. He had ruined all of her carefully laid out plans after all. Raven was fine with that. It was simply a means to an end for him.
The two walked into the great sept of the Reach and Margery continued to hold her fake smile. Raven plastered on his fake smile as he gained around the sept. How he hated these fake gods. He slowly walked arm in arm up to the priest. The sept was a single building with seven walls. It was as large and magnificent as the rest of the Reach. It had crystal leaded windows portraying each of the seven gods. Many statues were inlaid with precious metals and stones around the sept. Candles were lit before the seven different aspects.
The priest smiled at the couple even as Margery faked a joyful smile at Raven. Raven smirked at her. The Septon started by telling Raven "Please cloak Lady Tyrell in your colors Lord Heart to protect her in the eyes of the people and gods: maiden, warrior, mother, crone, and others". Raven took the inky black cloak that was lined with a silver raven and placed it on Margery.
The Septon then continued and said, "We stand here in the sight of gods and men to witness the union of man and wife: one flesh, one heart, one soul, now and forever". Margery and Raven held hands standing side by side and the Septon moved forward tying their hands together.
He said, "Let it be known that Raven of the House Heart and Margery of House Tyrell are one heart, one flesh, one soul. Cursed be he who would seek to tear them asunder. In the sight of the Seven, I hereby seal these two souls, binding them as one for eternity. Look upon one another and say the words". Raven's thoughts ran in his head as he heard those words. He hadn't thought he would be married ever. Even if it wasn't a happy marriage. It was something strange to think about.
Margery and Raven began to speak simultaneously, "Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Crone, Stranger".
Raven spoke next "I am hers and she is mine. From this day, until the end of my days". While Magery said, "I am his and he is mine. From this day, until the end of my days".
Raven spoke in his soft voice that contained something in it that drove people to listen. He said, "With this kiss, I pledge my love". He leaned down and kissed Margery. It wasn't heated or passionate. It held no joy in it, but both Raven and Margery were good actors.
Soon there were cheers from the smallfolk and Raven grinned.
The after-party was more drinking and joyous talking. Margery continued to sip on her third glass of wine next to Raven. Raven looked over his lovely wife and glanced at her fuming brother. Loras had not been happy about the engagement and quick marriage. He was glowering at Raven.
Raven finally asked, "Can I help you, brother-in-law"? The small sneer that came up on Loras's lips made Raven smile. He was about to respond when Margery placed an arm onto Raven's arm.
She turned to him and asked, "Would you like to dance husband? I see all these people dancing and I want to join". Raven nodded as she pried him from his seat and the two entered the dance floor. Soon everyone was watching them as they swayed with the music. Margery continued to ignore him even as the two danced.
Margery eventually sighed and said, "I would enjoy it if you did not try and stir up Loras. I already have enough to deal with as is".
Raven glanced up at her family and lightly chuckled. He said, "I am certain your father was not pleased with spending this many dragons on a wedding". Margery shook her head and held it high.
She said, "The Tyrells have the dragons to spare. Especially for his only daughter's wedding. Even if the daughter did not want the wedding".
Raven stared down at her and glanced over at the disheartened knights. He jerked his head over to the knights and said, "A few of them certainly wouldn't mind if they had your attention".
Margery scowled and hissed "I will not taint my house name by cheating on my new husband". Raven just grunted as her shoe stabbed into his own.
He leaned forward and whispered, "That is what I hate about nobles. Honor this and Honor that. If I didn't know any better I would think you were just some other love-struck maiden, but I know enough about you Margery. I know that you have a sharp head on your shoulders. I know you can outmaneuver nobles who have twenty years on you in politics. I need someone like that. Help me instead of fighting me".
Margery leaned back and seemed to think about it. Soon she was about to answer when Raven was tapped on the shoulder. He looked back to see Geralt was there staring him down and gesturing with his head. Raven bowed and apologized, "I am sorry Margery it looks like business never ends even on my wedding night".
Geralt dipped his head as well and said, "It looks like I am taking your husband away. I will bring him back shortly, my Lady". Margery nodded as the two men made their way out of the crowd. People continued to applaud Raven as he seemed to disappear into the crowd. A part of her wished someone would slip a knife into his back and she could be a widow. One man had ruined all her plans for the future. Of course, he was handsome and there were worse husbands to have, but it wasn't enough. He was a base-born person that had nothing to truly offer her family, but she would be lying if she said a small part of her did not want to explore this marriage and perhaps fall in love with him. She sighed and walked to grab another drink. She would certainly need more to get through the rest of the ceremony.
Geralt looked at one of the maps and argued, "We should try and reach out to Braavos. The bank would be a good way to have financial support. Another option is to find out how to make the stained glass from the free cities. If we were able to do that we would have a monopoly in the Seven Kingdoms. It could open a lot of doors in the other kingdoms".
Ulfric was the next to talk, "It is obvious what we should do. I say we head to Dorne and Odin snakes his way into their hearts and gets me a marriage with Arriane Martell. You can be a great friend and do that can you not Odin"?
Verro grunted and argued back at Geralt, "No. The Eyrie is weak right now being ruled by nothing, but a child. Crime will soar there and the knights will be too busy rioting against Lysa Tully. She is mad after all".
Yara sighed and pointed at the Greyjoy Islands. She said, "I am one of the heirs to the Greyjoy House. If we put the Grey Kings to use there then we will have two kingdoms under our grip".
Geralt glared at Yara and said, "And then we will have the king breathing down our neck wondering where you magically got an army to take back your house. It is too risky. We still need to build up supplies and money".
The three turned to the decision-maker. Raven sighed as he twisted a knife in between the table. He eventually said, "When you plan something well there's no need to rush and we won't. Verro I agree that the Eyrie situation needs to be taken advantage of, but it needs to be done quietly. The knights of the Eyrie are honor-bound people and can not be bought off. The Grey Kings need to stick to the shadows that means no fighting or killing. It needs to be neat. Only the best men, Verro. Alexander will be busy with his new station so I leave it to you a sheepherder". Verro was about to protest when Raven held up a hand silencing him.
He turned to Geralt and said, "Fortune drops something valuable into your lap, you don't just dump it on the bank of the cut. I need you to go to Essos and then Braavos". Raven walked over to Geralt and clapped him on the back. He held out a note to Geralt and he took it.
Raven nodded and then turned to Yara. He said, "I promised you the Greyjoy House when you came to me Yara and you will get it, but you need to be patient. Invading the Greyjoy islands would be suicidal. Instead, I was thinking it may be good to visit some family, You and I both".
Yara finally asked, "What family do you have, Odin. I thought that they were all dead"?
Odin grinned and said, "The North is quite nice at this time of the year. Perhaps I want to go explore the world with my wife after the wedding, and what better place to start than the North". Yara grinned and said, "Theon. I haven't seen him in ages".
Finally, Odin responded to Ulfric, "I would have hoped you could entertain a woman and would not need another man for help, Ulfric. Perhaps you would like me to hold your cock and tell you how to use it". The rest of the gathered family members laughed at Ulfric's misfortune as he grumbled good-naturedly.
Odin nodded and glanced at the dragon egg that sat in the middle of the table. It was the crowned jewel of a bubbling empire. Odin stood up and threw his coat back on. He turned and said, "This meeting was wonderful, but I have a wife to meet back up with. You have your jobs and I expect them to be done". Raven then turned and walked out of the door heading back to the main keep in Highgarden.
Raven had made it back to the main banquet and he sighed when he saw that most of the nobles were beyond drunk. He snuck his way back over to Margery and sat next to her. She didn't seem to catch him as she giggled at something one of her handmaidens had said. Then a ringing noise came from a wine glass and soon the crowd was chanting for the bride and groom to be stripped to only their small clothes. It was tradition.
Odin stood and spoke clearly and firmly "I am afraid there will be no stripping the bride. You see I am a jealous man and no man shall lay his eyes on my wife beside me". The crowd grumbled in discontent, but Odin was already guiding a tipsy Margery into their new bedroom.
Margery teetered as she made her way to the bed. She stood there and waited. Raven watched her as he sat in a chair. He gestured to the bed and said, "You can have it for the night".
Margery scowled and said, "First you make me marry you and now you won't even take responsibility as the husband in the marriage".
Odin glanced at the table and spotted something strange. The quilt under the bowl of fruits had been ruffled, but Oleanna had assured him no one had been in the room. He glanced as Margery waited patiently and pushed the thought to the back of his head. He said, "I had thought you would want me to stay as far away from you as possible".
Margery continued to scowl and said, "You are a real bastard. First you ruin my plans to become a queen and now you will not fuck me even when I ask". Raven slowly walked up to Margery and pressed his lips against hers. Margery pushed her body against him. Raven continued to palm his knife in the opposite hand as he heard the door slightly creek. Margery's mouth was rather distracting. Her soft lips were clouding his judgment. He was in a daze and then he was being pulled back with a tight burning on his back.
Odin tried to gasp for breath, but he couldn't. Something was blocking off his airway. He started to struggle against the unknown attacker with his right hand. He then quickly jammed his knife into the assassin's leg. The assassin moved to clutch his leg and Odin struck then. He slammed the knife into the assassin's eye and forced the man backward. He tumbled and Odin took the chance to tackle the man to the floor and began to choke him.
Margery continued to scream as Odin was strangling the men. She had made her way to the door and watched in fascination as Odin grabbed for anything useful. The assassin stabbed him in the chest and Odin winced in pain. Blood began to seep from the wound and Odin grabbed the fruit bowl. He slammed it down on the assassin's head knocking him unconscious. Then he continued to slam down until the head resembled nothing but mush as the glass bowl cracked on the hard floor of the bedroom. Odin rolled off the assassin and glanced up at Margery. He weakly smiled and joked, "I did not think you loathe me that much".
Margery was stunned as she looked at Raven lying there bleeding on their bedroom floor. He coughed up some blood and Margery looked down at his body. He was so weak. It would be so easy to end it here and blame it on the assassin, but Margery's hand remained still as she looked at him.
Odin grunted as he moved himself up on the wall he was leaning on. He coughed and said, "Go on Margery. I have seen that look far more than I care to admit. You want to kill me just as much as the assassin".
Margery remained frozen. Odin sat there and said, "This is your only chance Margery. I'll survive the wound. It missed the heart. If you want to kill me now is a perfect time".
Margery asked, "Why are you doing this? Do you have a death wish"?
Odin grinned almost pleasantly and said with hints of delirium, "I have lived a long life, Margery. I've accomplished so much and yet I always wanted more. I knew one day I would find myself bleeding out at the hand of my enemies. Admittedly I never thought my enemy would be my beautiful wife, but I could die in worse ways. It was why I decided to marry you. I saw it. The hunger for more than you had and I suppose it has come back to haunt me". He laughed softly then and his startling blue eyes closed.
Margery stood there conflicted. She simply stood and ran from the room. She was not even sure why she did it. She should hate him with all the fabric of her being, but she did not. She eventually came to the sickbay of the keep and raced in looking startled. She called for a doctor and forced him to enter the room. He quickly got to work ripping off Odin's shirt. He pulled out the dagger and stitched up the wound. It took hours and Margery was there constantly watching as Odin and the doctor both struggled. The doctor eventually finished and stood. He turned to Margery and said, "He should live. Thankfully, the knife wound was not very deep. Once he awakens, take him to the sickbay and I will examine him from there".
Margery went to lift him and the doctor responded, "leave him as he is. We do not want to rip open the stitches". Margery nodded as she watched the doctor leave. She placed a few pillows on the floor next to Odin and sighed. Her drunken haze had faded when the assassin had come in.
Margery brushed the black hair from his face and sighed. A strange wedding night that she had never thought would occur. She pulled the blanket over herself and Odin and clung to his side for the night. It was only for the warmth she reassured herself. She still loathed the man for outplaying her and her family. She took one last glance at the assassin that had his head bashed in and closed her eyes. She placed her head on Odin's shoulder and released a soft sigh. Soon slumber took her.
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