As it would be unwise for the Queen Mother to leave the capital, Lady Olenna's funeral is held at the royal sept. It is the quietest Margaery has had these last few weeks, and she's almost grateful for the silence.
Her grandmother was found dead in the black cells, hit by an arrow which was clearly retrieved after use. Her body was in front of the cell Ned Stark was supposed to be, which means she was killed by whoever set him free. Barristan Selmy has also gone missing, which raised suspicions he was the one behind both things.
Margaery doubts it. Ser Barristan has always put honor and loyalty before reason, something she quickly learned when she arrived at the capital to marry Robert Baratheon. Even if he disagreed with Lord—King—Stark's sentence, he would not disobey the Crown and set him free. He might have been kidnapped, she thinks. Sooner or later we'll hear about a ransom or rumours that he's being held hostage.
Grandmother's funeral lasts until her brothers Willas and Garlan arrive to take her body to Arbor Island, where she is to be buried—she never wanted her bones to rest in Highgarden, claiming it is no place for a waterbender like her. Sweet as ever, Willas asks for a private audience with her before leaving.
When she finally finds time and space to talk to him, she summons Loras to be her guard. Despite being their brother, Margaery still asks him to stay afar. "Hold your Queen while I talk to our brother," she commands as she hands Arwyn for him to hold. Loras sighs, but does as told.
Willas hugs her before putting his cane aside and sitting down. "I should probably call you 'Your Grace'," he begins with an amused smile, "but do forgive me for not doing so, Marg. You'll always be my little sister."
"And that is how I want things to remain between us," she replies with a smile of her own—an honest one, not those she uses in court. "Loras' infurating politeness is more than enough."
Her brother frowns. "Have you grown distant?" She sighs and nods. "But he chose to join the Kingsguard for you."
"He did," she concedes, "but I'm not his main concern anymore. It isn't Arwyn either."
"He fell in love, didn't he?"
"Yes, but I won't tell you for whom." She clicks her tongue; her soon-to-be husband's name is at its tip.
Loras and Renly met before her wedding to King Robert. Although the nature of their early acquaintance is unknown to her, it was easy to see the romance blossoming between them. Margaery herself often aided their clandestine encounters, and at first she was fine. She was glad to see her brother finding love, even if it was a forbidden one (for many, many reasons). However, as time went by, Loras became more and more devoted to Renly, to the point he'd snap at his sister if she voiced any opinion that diverged from his lover's. One day, Varys told her he personally requested Ser Barristan to be assigned more shifts with the King's brother than Margaery—Robert extended the Kingsguard's protection to both of his brothers back then, but Stannis declined from the start.
She tried to get some of his attention back to her, to no avail. Eventually, she gave up and turned to her ladies. Shortly after that, though, Lord Stark and Lady Sansa were accused of murdering Robert, and she lost her closest friend. Without Loras and Sansa, she felt more alone than ever before. Everyone else, including other family members (like Grandmother and her cousins), was more interested in what she could do for them than in bonding with her.
"Do you want me to talk to him?" Willas asks.
She shakes her head. "No good will come out of it, Willas. Leave him be. He's doing his job well, and he's found a reason to be happy in this godsforsaken Keep. Don't berate him for it."
He shifts on his seat. "Life at court is not what you imagine, is it?"
"I never expected it to be easy," she replies, "but no, it isn't."
She had thought her position as Queen would enable her to make changes and improve the lives of those who need it the most. As a young maiden, she loved reading and hearing about King Aegon the Unlikely, whose experience with the smallfolk allowed him to take their needs into consideration. Unfortunately, his reforms were all reversed by his grandson Aerys and his Hand Tywin Lannister. Margaery hoped to bring them back and show the court an improvement of the smallfolk's lives would be beneficial to everyone.
None of it happened. Robert rarely allowed her to join Small Council reunions and shut her off in the few times she attended them. She tried to convince Loras to tell her ideas to Renly; for a while, it worked, but, as her brother grew closer to the young Baratheon, he began to shut her off as well. Her grandmother never listened to her, and her cousins were never interested in hearing her talk about ruling. She was the King's broodmare, tasked with doing what Cersei Lannister refused to do. And that was all. Her only real power at court was over Lord Varys, the Spider, and it came from blackmailing. The memory of her discovery is still fresh.
Even though she shouldn't wander around the Keep unguarded, especially while carrying the heir to the Iron Throne in her womb, Margaery always took advantage of her aid in finding Loras and Renly time and space for themselves to do just that. She always reassured her brother she'd find another Kingsguard to watch over her, only to ditch any and all guards for a lonely stroll in the yards.
It was a cloudy night; if her memories of Highgarden were of any use, it was going to rain soon. No matter; she was perfectly able to walk back inside if she felt raindrops on her skin. The gardens carried a special beauty at night, just like in her ancestral home, and she wanted to enjoy every second.
Thunder erupted from somewhere nearby, startling her. She looked up and saw no rain, but there was lightning all the same. And it came from the gardens. As silently as possible, she walked through the corridors, until she found it—him.
Lord Varys' figure was unmistakable even at night, and the light around him—created by lightning from his own fingers—solved any lingering doubts. He looks surprised at the release, as if he didn't expect to bend lightning. That couldn't be the case, though; all benders show their powers during childhood, even late bloomers.
When he finally stopped shooting lightning from his fingers, she revealed herself under the moonlight. He all but jumps at the sight. "Your Grace," he whispers.
She doesn't waste time. "Blackfyre descendant?"
He inhales sharply. "Yes," he says quietly, "though you won't hear the name even in Essos."
"I suppose it wouldn't be safe," she agrees. "You looked surprised."
He looks down at his hands. "I got my chi blocked shortly before becoming an eunuch," he explains. "I wasn't planning on getting it undone anytime soon. I don't know what set it off." He raises his eyes to her. "What can I do to keep it between us, Your Grace?"
She stares at him for a while, mulling over her answer. Eventually she comes up with one. "I might need a favor from you every once in a while," she tells him. "Don't worry though; I won't ask you anything that might bring you dishonor."
Varys' gaze is piercing, though tonight he looks vulnerable in a way she never thought she'd witness. "Whatever you ask, Your Grace, I'll do everything in my power to grant it. I thank you for your consideration and your secrecy."
She only used that card once so far, when she asked him to sneak Arya Stark out of King's Landing before she was permanently imprisoned. She was too late to save Sansa from going to the Silent Sisters, and the only other time she thought of going to him again was when her grandmother was found dead, only to remember this issue will be investigated in the open, with no need for secret favors.
Willas talks to her for a bit longer, then they hug each other goodbye. Margaery retrieves Arwyn from Loras' arms and goes back to her chambers.
Despite the court's (supposed) collective grief over her grandmother's death, her wedding to Renly Baratheon is announced for the next fortnight. Thankfully, she has an unused gown brought from Highgarden, commissioned back when her father's prefered candidate for marriage was Lord Tarly's son Dickon. I dreaded that wedding back then, she recalls. After Lord Randyll sent his firstborn away, it became clear I'd leave Highgarden and live in Horn Hill. She met the head of House Tarly once, and she didn't like him one bit. Looking back, though, perhaps she would have been happier with Lord Dickon than she is now.
If she is really honest with herself, her only source of happiness nowadays is Arwyn. Her daughter is a little bundle of joy and sunshine, a bright light in her otherwise dark days. Arwyn giggles all the time, oblivious to the chaos and grief around her, and Margaery loves her with all heart. She's her Queen, but, above all, she's her precious child; from the moment she was born, she knew she'd do anything to keep her safe... Which includes marrying Renly Baratheon, the current Lord Regent. Her grandmother convinced her she needed a strong tie to House Baratheon beyond Arwyn, or people would suspect the Queen was another bastard unrelated to the late king—her daughter earthbended once, but few people saw it, so it's not a widely accepted fact yet.
Lord Stannis traveled to Dragonstone as soon as Renly asked to exchange castles. It was no secret that the Baratheon middle brother never wanted the former Targaryen seat, having expected to be given Storm's End for aiding his brother's war. Personally, she finds it suspicious that Renly sent him away before Arwyn's coronation, but ultimately decided against protesting his actions when she saw Loras' besotted face. She also refrained from asking questions after she overheard the two of them talking about the Avatar, two days before Grandmother's death.
"I thought you were going to revoke Robert's decrees about the Avatar," her brother said. The three of them were in the gardens, but Margaery was supposed to be on the other side, not so close she could hear them. Still, she hides behind the bushes to hear what Renly has to say.
"My brother is dead because of the Avatar," her daughter's Regent replied, anger clear in his voice. "His 'friend' Ned betrayed him from the start, hiding a Targaryen in his home, who now is powerful enough to claim his mad grandfather's birthright. He killed Robert to leave the throne vacant for his nephew. We cannot let it happen. I won't let it happen. I'll fight for Arwyn's crown."
"And her life," Loras added hesitantly.
"All of our lives, darling," Renly replied softly. "If Jon Fyre reclaims the Iron Throne, do you think he'll let any Baratheon or Tyrell live?" A pause. "No, Loras, we must honor Robert's will and continue to hunt the Avatar, and we must seek justice for his death. The Starks won't get away with any of this."
As much as she heavily disagrees with her future husband's opinions—all legends say the Avatar served the world, not ruled it—the conversation eased her worries. Renly is not behind Robert's death and is no power hungry lord, willing to commit kinslaying to rise in station. Arwyn is safe, she concludes. Renly won't harm her, but protect her and help her become a Queen in her own right.
As the court is still being rearranged to conform with the new Regency, her wedding to Renly is a relatively small affair. The short notice made it impossible for most nobles to come; only the Reach and the stormlands bother to make the trip in the end. Her cousin Elinor is tasked with Arwyn during the religious ceremony (held at the royal sept, grand but humble in comparison to the Sept of Baelor) and the feast.
Margaery loves songs of all kinds—from the most romantic to the most epic battle narrations—so the singer is one of the best she ever found in the capital. She and Renly dance to her favorite crownlander melody, both due to the lyrics and the sweet vielle instrumental.
"You had your maps drawn
You had other plans to hang your hopes on
Every road they lead you down felt so wrong
So you found another way"
"Loras won't stand vigil for our wedding night," she whispers to him. "If you want, we can sneak him inside the chambers and I go out."
Renly gives her a sad smile. "As kind as your offer is, Your Grace, I don't think it's a good idea for us to stay apart on our wedding night."
"You've got a big heart
The way you see the world, it got you this far
You might have some bruises and a few of scars
But you know you're gonna be okay"
"Why?" she asks, raising an eyebrow. "It's not like they can attest whether our marriage was consummated or not."
"Even though you're scared
You're stronger than you know"
"These walls have ears, Margaery," he reminds her. "And little birds. We both know this marriage is loveless, but we must keep up a facade to make it work. We may spend every other night apart, but not this one."
Varys won't out us, she wants to say, but refrains herself from doing so. Her deal with the Spider is hers alone, and she won't lose it to a man she doesn't even fully trust.
"If you're lost out where the lights are blinding
Caught in all, the stars are hiding
That's when something wild calls you home, home
If you face the fear that keeps you frozen
Chase the sky into the ocean
That's when something wild calls you home, home"
They don't exchange further words as the song goes on. When it ends, she trades her husband for her brother Garlan, and they engage in pleasant conversation.
As per her request, there is no bedding ritual. She went through it in her wedding to Robert and has absolutely no desire to do so again. As Renly has little interest in being stripped by women, he agrees without even blinking. Elinor trails behind them with Arwyn in her arms, handing her back to Margaery when they enter their marital chambers. They play cyvasse for an hour or two before going to bed.
The Reach lords leave the day after the wedding, following House Tyrell—neither her father nor her brothers want to stay in the city where Grandmother was killed. The stormlords remain, though, as there are things to discuss with the Baratheon brothers.
Renly introduces her to all present lords. Some are newly instated due to a conflict in Harrenhal that demanded intervention from the stormlands, and she hears her husband talking to Galladon Tarth, who comes on his father's behalf.
"I am sorry for your loss, my lord," he says, "especially now that I'm hearing the circumstances behind your sister's death."
"We've only heard rumors, Lord Renly," Tarth replies, voice neutral. "We never recovered her body, so nothing is really certain, but I'm confident she died in Harrenhal. We are glad the Mountain was dealt with, but it was at a high cost for House Tarth."
Her heart breaks when she hears the whole story: Galladon's sister Brienne, a rare case of warrior woman in the stormlands, volunteered to go to Harrenhal to solve the issue of Gregor Clegane having taken over the place by forcefully taking Lady Jonquil Whent as his wife. Although details are ultimately lost, Lady Brienne reportedly died in the fight that ended with the Mountain's mysterious death. Some credit it to the lady herself, as there were marks of metalbending in the man's helmet, but, so far, there are no witnesses to confirm or deny it.
The rest of the day is marked by several more introductions, to the point she gets lost in the sea of stormlanders. However, trouble actually begins on the next day, when Stannis summons a Small Council meeting to bring an important matter to the table. As Queen Mother, Margaery is finally allowed to come to the meetings whenever she wants, so nobody stops her when she shows up with Arwyn in her arms.
In fact, Stannis looks satisfied to see them, and his words confirm it. "Your Grace," he says, standing up to bow to her, "I am glad you and our Queen are here to hear me out, as this matter concerns both of you directly."
She's deeply curious about it, but they wait for the other members to enter and for the meeting to officially start. Her twice goodbrother doesn't beat around the bush. "As you all know, I was away from the capital when my niece was crowned," he begins, "which I found rather… odd."
Renly is quick to reply. "She's Robert's daughter," he says. "I've seen her earthbend." A lie, but Loras saw it, so she assumes her husband trusts his lover to tell the truth. "I don't see why it's odd. Arwyn is exactly what Robert wanted from his second marriage."
"But we have no precedent for a woman being Queen in her own right," Stannis reminds them all. "Jaehaerys I chose his oldest grandson rather than his oldest grandchild because she was a woman. Viserys I named Rhaenyra his heir and never backed down, and it didn't stop a civil war from happening. Even though you could argue Rhaenyra won in the end, as it was her son that sat on the throne, history still sees her brother as king as her and an usurper. And let me remind you, Rhaenyra was a firebender, and so was Jaehaerys' granddaughter Rhaenys."
Margaery changes Arwyn's place from one arm to another. "Are you saying you should have been crowned instead, Lord Stannis?" she asks in her most neutral tone.
He sighs. "Not necessarily," he replies. "I'm not fond of the prospect, to be honest. If I was being selfish, I'd let you, your daughter and my brother deal with this mess of a kingdom. However, history tells us a woman tends not to be accepted as Queen. People may not have voiced any objections yet, but can we expect this 'peace' after we settle matters regarding the North? After tales of the Avatar calm down? After Renly leaves the Regency and Arwyn rules all on her own? I fear for the realm's stability and, therefore, for the safety of all of us. If people contest Arwyn's claim, they won't do so politely. We are at war with the North already; we should not bring more reasons for it to our door."
Lord Baelish, the one who told Robert about the Avatar's stay in the Vale and presented (supposed) evidence he was a Targaryen bastard, speaks up. "What do you suggest then, my lord?"
"A Great Council," Stannis replies instantly. "Let's assemble all Southern lords—the North cannot take part of it, as they claim independence—and decide which one of us should be crowned. If they vote for me, Arwyn will get Dragonstone, of course. If they vote for her, we can rest knowing the realm backs her claim."
A short silence falls among the table, and Margaery considers her options. Losing Arwyn's crown means she'd lose what little power she has to make changes, but it also drives them both away from this wretched city. Perhaps, she can do what she's wanted to do in King's Landing with far more ease in Dragonstone, without worrying too much about life threats to either of them.
Before she can voice her opinion, though, Baelish speaks up again. "I do not think it wise, my lord. A call for a Great Council may show weakness to the realm. We are so messed up we can't even pick the new monarch. Let Arwyn be Queen; those who oppose her are traitors and will be punished accordingly."
"Traitors, you say," Stannis hums. "Would they be, though? Few lords want a child as their ruler. Arwyn is a girl and a newborn; a terrible combination for many. Past Great Councils ruled boys out due to their young ages. Are we going to cut the tongues off of whoever says Arwyn is not a reasonable choice? How will that look for her in history books? She won't look any better than Aerys."
"Arwyn is a baby," Renly spats. "And she doesn't carry madman's blood. Nobody will dare compare her to Aerys."
"They will if we behead and silence people on her behalf."
Her husband shakes his head. "I agree with Lord Baelish. We must be firm in times like these, brother. Arwyn was already crowned. Let her remain Queen, and we'll deal with any opposition when—if—it comes."
Although the meeting seemingly ended with a clear position against a call for a Great Council, the atmosphere changes in the Red Keep in the days that follow. Some stormlanders walk with unsatisfied expressions whenever Arwyn shows up for audiences, and whispers are heard with alarming frequency.
On his last day in the capital, Lord Galladon approaches her. "Your Grace," he greets her, "I've wanted to meet our Queen for some time."
She smiles, but doesn't hand her daughter to him. He contents himself with watching her features. "Strangely, she reminds me of my sister," he comments. "Not on the account of her looks, they are nothing alike, but their lot in life." He raises his eyes to Margaery. "Many stormlords expected a Great Council to be held, Your Grace."
She frowns. "Has Lord Stannis advertised it to them?"
"I can't speak for everyone, Your Grace, but, from what I've gathered, Lord Stannis was the one advised to bring the subject up by his bannermen."
She thanks him for the information and goes back to her chambers, trying to mask her alarm. Arwyn is already rejected, she realizes, and by the kingdom supposed to give her the most support aside from the Reach. Who's to say other kingdoms don't think the same? What if the West, the Vale, Dorne and the riverlands didn't show up to my wedding because they don't recognize Arwyn as their Queen?
Historically speaking, it is unusual for a ruler to be so openly rejected, but the memory of Robert's Rebellion is still fresh in many minds. Half of the realm fought for their King's demise sixteen years ago; what's stopping them from doing so again?
Not to mention Northern independence. There haven't been any real battles; the Starks have yet to cross the Neck, and no Southern army would safely do it. Now that Ned Stark escaped, it is entirely possible the Northern army never comes South, forcing the Crown to either go to them or recognize their claims. This would put Arwyn in an even more fragile position.
She shudders. No matter how things go, her daughter's future is far from bright. Her best hope is Stannis, but he was shut off. I must speak to Renly, she decides as she calls for Arwyn's wet nurse. He must see reason.
He does not.
"Margaery, Arwyn was already crowned," he reminds her. "Undoing her coronation will only bring shame to us all."
"Perhaps at first," she concedes. "Perhaps there would be a scandal. But these things don't last, Renly. Soon Arwyn and I will be forgotten and left alone in Dragonstone, and Stannis will solve these problems better than any of us could."
That is the wrong thing to say, for Renly's face closes off. "Are you implying I can't rule this realm well?"
"Of course not," she replies, exasperated. "But you are young—we are too young for this. And Arwyn is a baby. No baby should rule the entire Seven Kingdoms, even with a Regent backing her up."
Renly shakes his head, clearly agitated. "Stannis never agreed with Robert regarding Jon Fyre," he says. "He never agreed with his quest to end the Targaryen dynasty for good. He wanted Robert to leave Daenerys and Viserys alone on account of their ages at the time of the rebellion. He disagreed with his views on the Avatar. If he is crowned, he will stop the hunting efforts, and we'll never bring justice to Robert's death. Moreover, House Baratheon will be vulnerable to a Targaryen restoration. Vulnerable to meet the same fate the Mad King's family did." He shudders. "No, Margaery, Arwyn will keep her crown and her chair, and nothing else will be said about the matter. End of discussion."
Only the discussion doesn't really end. Even as the stormlords finally leave King's Landing, the whispers at court remain. Stannis and Renly butt heads at every Small Council meeting, and Baelish keeps adding salt to the injury—he's not even subtle, although it's unclear whether he really wants Arwyn as Queen or he just wants to push the two brothers against each other.
Then, one night, she is awoken by screams. It takes a while for her to fully wake up, dress herself and grab Arwyn, all while praying the reason for the screams don't reach them. Before she opens the door, Ser Balon does. "Stay here, Your Grace," he warns her. "It is the safest place for you two to be right now."
She only finds out what happened in the morning: someone tried to kill Renly.
"The assassin got hold of Ser Mandon by blocking his chi with coordinated punches," Loras explains in court. "It was a woman, and she doesn't look Westerosi. I've given the Grand Maester a detailed description of what I was able to see.
"I was talking to Renly in his chambers when the door opened. There were no plants nearby, so I used my non-magical skills to fight her. I think it's what spared me from her chi-blocking punches. Both Renly and I were injured."
Chaos erupts once again as people try to discern who ordered the attack and why. Some point out to Daenerys and Viserys Targaryen, others to the Avatar, until a rumor begins to spread that it was Stannis.
Several arguments pop up. Without Renly, Stannis could sway the Small Council to his side to call for a Great Council, or even crown him outright. Perhaps the assassin was meant to go for Margaery and Arwyn next, cleaning the path for his coronation. Maybe it was just so he could become the Queen's Regent, especially if he wanted to send Margaery away and rid the court of Tyrell influence.
She cares little for finding answers to these questions. She wants safety for Arwyn and herself, and it's clear as day she won't find it here. To the Seven hells for being Queen, she mentally hisses as she goes to Varys' chambers. I want us to live.
The Spider lets her in with no protests. She goes straight to the point. "I have one last favor to ask of you," she says. "If you fulfill it well, you won't have to worry about your secret being told here ever again."
His eyes go wide, but he nods and gestures for her to elaborate. "I once cared for the Iron Throne and who'd sit on it, but not anymore. Power is useless to dead people. I want my daughter alive and well. As such, I need you to sneak us out as you did for Arya Stark."
He nods slowly. "I agree," he says, then invites her to sit down on his chair. When she does, he goes to sit on the bed. "For years, I've been biding my time here," he tells her. "You know I'm a Blackfyre, so it should not surprise you that I wanted one of my own on the Iron Throne."
She raises her eyebrows. "Not yourself?"
"I am not meant for the stage, Your Grace. My place is in the shadows. No, I was backing up my nephew. He'd pose as Aegon Targaryen, the infant son of Rhaegar and Elia who miraculously escaped the Sack. His bending would be kept hidden; it wouldn't be the first time our realm was ruled by a non bender. Ideally, he'd wed his aunt Daenerys in order to get firebender children with Blackfyre blood, but we also considered revealing his true House after his reign was established and his work praised."
She can see a few faults with that plan, but decides asking something else instead. "You say as if it was no longer the case."
"No," he admits. "My nephew was raised as Aegon Targaryen. He believed it himself. But whatever unlocked my powers unlocked his as well. Aegon is an honorable young man, so he gave up on his quest as soon as he realized he was a Blackfyre." He sighs. "I've received word of another contender for the Iron Throne. Daenerys Targaryen, the Stormborn, Mother of Dragons if the tales are true."
"Dragons?"
"It may be something figurative, Your Grace. I don't know for certain. What I do know for sure is that members of her Small Council include Jorah Mormont and Cersei Lannister, two people exiled from Westeros. If you seek refuge with her and explain your situation, I'm inclined to believe she'd accept you." He crosses his legs. "If you don't want to risk it, you could go to Griffin's Roost. Jon Connington returned to his rightful seat after the Aegon fiasco, and my little birds say he reclaimed it quietly. He's given safe haven to one of Robert's bastards, who fled the Eyrie after the Avatar ran away from there. Another option is the North, but I'm not so confident about your safety there."
She isn't either. "I'd rather try Griffin's Roost out first."
"Good. Your Grace, may I ask you something as well?"
"You can," she replies slowly. "I won't promise I'll abide by it."
"It's simple, really. I've been planning to sneak another of Robert's bastards to Griffin's Roost. I fear what may happen to them if someone decides a male bastard has more claim than a baby girl. He's a bit younger than you and a kind boy. I trust him to not harm you, but protect you instead. Would you accept his company?"
That's easy to answer. "I would. Better than having no one to watch my back."
"It's settled then. I'll arrange it for you to leave tomorrow night."
Under a cloudy night, Margaery, Arwyn and a boy named Gendry depart to Griffin's Roost. All that is left in the Red Keep is a note. This war is yours, it says. I won't fight it, nor will I endanger Arwyn in its name. Don't look for me.