A/N: The hopes of a few (many) may crash in this chapter! We'll talk about it at the end of it.
Catelyn was perched on a rock beside Sansa in front of the heart tree in Riverrun. She had noticed that Sansa spent much more time in the godswood than she did in the sept now. Catelyn contributed the change to her experience in the south. Sansa seemed to distrust everything and anything that had to do with the south, a stark contrast from the girl she once was. Catelyn wasn't even sure if Sansa was praying, her daughter sat staring at the heart tree with glassy eyes.
Catelyn shifted uncomfortably. It was not supposed to be like this. Her family was not supposed to be at war. They were supposed to be safe and happy. Alive.
It was a heavy burden that Catelyn carried, the guilt of her actions. She had been the one who inadvertently started the war by arresting Tyrion Lannister without any proof. Her recklessness had caused Ned his life and her family their peace. She had freed Jaime Lannister in her desperation, losing Robb's most valuable hostage and that cost her firstborn his life. For Tywin Lannister would not have been so bold to allow the Freys and Boltons to ambush them if they still had his precious son. She killed her son and broke the others. The only thing that kept her going was the need to protect her remaining children and make up for the mistakes she had made.
Catelyn had been pondering over her errors in judgement when she noticed Petyr lurk through the godswoods towards herself and Sansa. She did not know what to think of her old childhood companion anymore. She could now see he was an entirely different person from their days in Riverrun. He had been the one to implicate Tyrion as the one who had sent the assassin against Bran but the Imp had maintained his innocence throughout his captivity with Catelyn, and Sansa had only good things to say about the Lannister. According to her daughter, Tyrion Lannister was one of the few who had shown her unconditional kindness in Kingslanding. Catelyn could find no reason why Petyr would possibly lie to her. He had saved her daughter and brought them the Vale.
Petyr smiled at the mother and daughter, "Cat. Sansa." Catelyn disliked the familiarity the man showed her daughter. It made her skin crawl. Sansa snapped out of whatever line of thought that had been going on her head to regard the Lord Protector of the Vale, her eyes narrowing at him for a fracture of a second.
Sansa inclined her head at Petyr, her face betraying no emotion. "Lord Baelish."
Catelyn followed suit, "Petyr." Littlefinger slowly sat on a rock across Sansa and Catelyn and turned to the latter.
"I never knew you to worship the Old gods, Cat."
"My children are of the North," Catelyn said, feeling annoyed. She had faced the same skepticism her entire time in her husband's home. She had always been treated as an outsider one way or another when she tried to adopt their culture. "We soon will ride North and I will reap whatever blessing possible."
Petyr shook his head, "Not soon, my Cat. The Tyrells inch closer and closer to these walls." That was something Catelyn had tried to avoid until she had to face it. She knew Jon was already drawing up plans of how to deal with the Tyrells but all she wanted to do was ride North and find her sons.
"We should be able to handle them with the Knights of the Vale you were so kind as to bring." Catelyn glanced at Sansa who watched their exchange with a blank face, her face betraying nothing of her feelings.
Petyr flashed a smile at Catelyn. "You married Lysa." She said out of nowhere. From what she had heard Lysa had always harboured stronger feelings for Petyr, something that Catelyn had been ignorant of. She had no idea that Petyr had returned any of those feelings. All Sansa had divulged is that they had married upon their arrival at the Vale. She had also informed her of her sister's death. Suicide apparently. Catelyn had found it unbelievable at first though after recalling her last encounter with Lysa she did not think it so unlikely. Catelyn had grieved for her sister, for the little girl she once was but her grief for her sister had been overshadowed by that she felt for the loss of her son. Nothing compared to what Robb's death had done to her.
Catelyn noticed how Petyr's eyes flinted uncomfortably between her and Sansa for a moment. Sansa watched emotionlessly. Catelyn for one would have thought Sansa would have been more welcoming to the man that saved her from the Lannisters. "Yes. By order of the Lannisters" He answered with a smile that Catelyn thought a tad sour. "Tywin Lannister had hoped I would secure the Vale for him."
"She died shortly after." Catelyn stated, trying to keep the accusation out of her voice. Had Petyr been the one to drive her to such drastic actions like suicide? Petyr shared a quick glance with Sansa who now regarded him with dark amusement. Catelyn felt as though she was privy to a dark secret the pair seemed to share.
"Lysa.. was troubled. I'm sure you might have observed so from your last visit to the Vale." Catelyn nodded in sad understanding. It was true.
"Her marriage to Jon Arryn changed her."
Silence fell upon them. Petyr took to studying Catelyn intently which made her squirm uncomfortably. She raised an eyebrow at him.
The corners of Petyr quirked up into a small smile. "Rest assured, Cat. The Vale fights for you and your children." Catelyn saw Sansa's eyes narrow at Petyr through the corners of her eyes and she felt her eyebrows furrow.
"And not the king?" She asked quietly.
Petyr peered at her curiously, "I had not thought you would warm up to him so quickly. Your dislike for Jon Snow is well known throughout the realm."
"My dislike for infidelity." Catelyn corrected.
"He is a Targaryen. You know what they say about them-"
"He is a Stark regardless of who his father was. His mother was of the North." Sansa spoke up for the first time. Her voice firm and full of steel."Just as much me and Arya and even mother are. He is one of the pack."
"He is a dragon all the same. His treatment before learning of his true identity could have left him bitter towards your family." Petyr pointed out. It was a fear that Catelyn silently harbored. It was small but it was there. "And dragons are not so forgiving."
Sansa held Petyr's gaze, her voice as cold as the ice that made up the Wall, "Neither are wolves."
Jon cursed under his breath as the Blackfish reported sightings of the Tyrell Army near High Heart. He and his army were just about ready to ride North and take Winterfell from the Boltons. An engagement with the Tyrell army would not only delay them, but a victory against them was not assured. He ran a hand through his hair and rounded his desk to the long table in the temporary solar they set up for him in Riverrun. He leaned over the map and thought hard.
"High Heart isn't far from here."
"No, your grace. A day or two march."
Jon exhaled as he straightened, "Send out more scouts. Try to get a hold of their numbers. Have the men prepared as well."
The Blackfish bowed before he walked out of Jon's solar. Jon returned to his seat and went through the piles of papers- letters and maps- that were strewn across his desk. His mind started to drift after reading through it all when he noticed the dragon brooch, that he had commissioned, on the table. He picked it up and carefully examined it. The dragon's mouth was wide open as if it was roaring or breathing fire. He wondered not for the first time what it would be like to ride a dragon. Years ago Jon would have thought it impossible to ever get a glimpse of a dragon, but his aunt, Daenerys Targaryen had hatched three of them. Three that were growing bigger and stronger by the day.
Daenerys Targaryen. One of the two last living relatives Jon had on his father's side. The sister of the father he never knew. He had heard stories about her. She had been on the run her whole life with her brother, Jon's uncle. She was then sold to a Dothraki horselord by said brother for an army. Her Dothraki husband proceeded to have Viserys Targaryen killed and she had become with child. Unfortunately, though she had a miscarriage shortly before her husband's death. Out of her husband's funeral pyre, she hatched three dragon eggs, the first person to do so in centuries. Following this, she got herself an army of Unsullied and was now queen of Mereen.
Jon knew nothing about her besides what he had heard from rumours. He was not sure if she was mad like Jon's grandfather and uncle. He was inclined not to think so from what he heard. Daenerys was said to be a just and kind woman who freed slaves and simply wanted a better life for her people.
Jon did intend to reach out to her. He had been hoping to invite her to Winterfell after he took it back. The only issue was that she claimed herself the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. He did not know how she would react when she found out that he had a bigger claim or would she acknowledge him at all. She would have to forsake her claim if she did. The only other options were war or marriage.
Jon did not particularly like thinking about those two. Obviously, he did not want to go to war, not only because his aunt had three dragons but also because she was family, regardless of their issues with each other. It was the more or less the same reason he did not want to marry her. Jon had embraced his Targaryen heritage but there were somethings he found difficult to stomach. He detested incest and even considered banning it- no exceptions. He wondered at times was it the reason for the madness that ran in his father's family and thus he did not wish to take any chances.
For now, though, Daenerys Targaryen was the least of his worries with the Tyrells marching towards him.
Two days later, the Tyrell army made no advances towards Riverrun. They sent two riders instead under a peace banner with a scroll requesting an audience with Jon at a neutral place of his choosing.
"The Tyrells want to negotiate." Sansa stated as she sat beside the fire in Jon's solar along with Jon, Arya, her mother and uncles and much to Jon's chagrin, Littlefinger. "It's only expected after Cersei sent away Margaery from the capital."
"They would be valuable allies, if we can sway them towards our cause." Edmure pointed out from his seat. Jon agreed all to well with Lord Tully. An alliance with the Tyrells would make Jon's victory all the more assured.
"But their support will come at a price." Littlefinger hinted. A silence fell upon the room as everyone absorbed the words of the former Master of Coin. Jon bristled every time the slippery man opened his mouth. Jon was aware of what the price may be, it would fall upon him to give the Tyrells what Cersei Lannister failed to. That is if he wanted their swords. He would mull over it when the time came. An image of a fierce woman with fiery red hair flashed before his mind.
"There is no harm in negotiating with them all the same." Jon answered, shaking off any thoughts of Ygritte. Was she even still alive? All eyes turned to him. "We can arrange a meeting midway to High Heart."
The Blackfish nodded his head in agreement, "That would be wise, your grace. I shall make the necessary arrangements." Jon returned a small smile of thanks to the legendary warrior. The Blackfish had distrusted Jon when he had first arrived at Riverrun, but now he proved to be one is his most trusted advisors. The man had a mind for strategy.
"That would be great, Blackfish. I would like you to accompany me to the meeting." He would need someone like the Blackfish to counter the Queen Of Thorns. Scouts had reported that she was among the Tyrell army.
Jon turned to the rest of the occupants in the room. Lady Catelyn was about to say something, most likely to request that she join them, but Jon beat her to it. "Sansa." Jon called out to his sister. Sansa looked up at him expectantly. "I would appreciate it if you did as well. You know the Tyrells well enough."
Sansa looked taken aback by the offer but she smiled softly at Jon, "I would be honoured to." Jon noticed that Catelyn's eyes narrowed at him slightly.
"I'll come too." Arya volunteered from near the door. She had stationed herself there as a Kingsguard would. She had not joined yet, for she would train for a little while before she did, but Arya acted as though she was a sworn in member of Jon's Kingsguard all the same.
Jon shook his head, "I will not have you and Sansa there together. You are Sansa's heir and as much as I believe that Tyrells won't try anything, I don't want to risk anything."
Arya scowled, "You will need someone to protect the both of you."
"The Hound." Sansa cut in, to Jon's surprise, "The Hound shall guard me and Jon." Arya looked suspiciously at her sister for she did not understand why Sansa would even want the unruly soldier by her side but she relented.
Jon waited for a moment to see if anybody had anything to add before he nodded, dismissing them, "It's settled then."
The Blackfish and Lord Tully stood up and walked out with a quick, "Your grace." Followed by Lord Baelish who had kept quiet throughout most the meeting and then Sansa and Arya left as well.
Jon was about to return to his desk to pen a reply to the Tyrells when Catelyn spoke up softly from the seat she had not moved from, "Don't you trust me?"
Jon sighed, he knew that Catelyn had most probably wanted to join him to meet the Tyrells but she was technically still under house arrest for freeing Jaime Lannister. He turned around to face his aunt, "Funnily enough, I do." Jon answered, "But the reason for which I picked Sansa to accompany has nothing to do with trust. We must give her the credit she deserves, it was Arya who made me realize it."
"She is no longer the naive girl that left Winterfell. She brought us the Vale. She learned the games the southerners play and would be most valuable when it comes to dealing with the Tyrells."
Catelyn studied him for a moment before nodding in agreement, "I understand." She got up to leave but turned around when her hand was on the handle of the door, "I assume you know what the Tyrells want. Don't make the same mistake as my son."
Jon could see the encampment that had been set up for his meeting with the Tyrells. There were five tents, a large one erected in the middle, for which the meeting would take place. Two other tents had been assigned to each party. Both had brought an agreed upon number of soldiers that were to be stationed around the encampment. Sansa and the Blackfish rode on either side of him. The Hound rode a step behind, keeping to himself the entire ride.
Once they reached their destination and had a few moments to rest from the journey, Jon found himself marching into the tent in which he would meet Tyrells, followed close behind by Sansa and the Blackfish. The tent was lavishly furnished, but Jon paid it no attention. His eyes fell to the round table, which had on his side three chairs for him and his companions. On the other side, there were five chairs for the Tyrells, who stood before them.
Jon studied them. The one who stood in the middle was a plump mustached man who Jon assumed to be Mace Tyrell. Standing to his right were two young handsome men, Lord Tyrell's sons most probably. While on his immediate left was an old woman who must have been the famed Olenna Tyrell. To the left of the matriarch of House Tyrell was a young brunette. Jon immediately understood why Margaery Tyrell was considered the most beautiful woman in the realm. In that green gown with an exceedingly low neckline, her long brown hair falling freely on her shoulders with a sly smile and doe-like eyes, she was a sight to behold.
Jon returned his attention to Mace Tyrell, "Lord Tyrell."
"Your grace." Lord Tyrell returned with a small bow. Jon fought the urge to raise an eyebrow, had they already accepted his claim to the Throne?
He turned to his companions, "My cousin, Lady Sansa of Winterfell." He introduced his sister first though he knew there was no need of it. "You've met before I believe." Jon noticed that Margaery flashed a smile in Sansa's direction who offered her own small smile. The other Tyrells nodded.
"Lady Stark." Lord Tyrell inclined his head. Sansa did the same.
Jon moved on to the Blackfish, "Ser Brynden Tully. The Blackfish." Lord Tyrell and the Tully knight exchanged pleasantries. The former then proceeded to introduce his companions.
"My sons, Ser Garlan and Ser Loras." He pointed to his right. Both of them inclined their head at Jon, "Your grace." Jon nodded his head in acknowledgment.
"My mother, Lady Olenna and my daughter, Lady Margaery." He indicated to his right. The former scrutinized Jon for a moment. "My king." She greeted. He refrained from squirming under her searching gaze.
Lady Margaery, on the other hand, flashed him a charming smile and curtsied before him. "Your grace." She eyed him in interest. There was a twinkle in the eye that told Jon that she liked what she saw.
"Lady Tyrell. Lady Margaery." Jon swallowed. He took a seat and was followed suit by the rest of the occupants in the room. He looked expectantly at the Tyrells. They had been the ones who called for negotiations and he would let them make the first move.
Lady Olenna agreed with him, "We are not here to exchange these pleasantries. We are here to negotiate." Her eyes fell on Jon, "As you must be aware, your grace."
Jon nodded and looked to Lord Tyrell expectantly. "What will our negotiations revolve around?"
Lord Tyrell puffed his chest as he opened his mouth to reply when his mother interrupted him. It was clear who really ran things in the Reach.
"You are a Targaryen. At first, I was skeptical, like I'm sure the rest of the realm was. It made sense though. So much sense. We will ask for no proof of your heritage. We come here with a proposition." Lady Olenna leaned forward, "We were sent by the Lannisters to finish you off but they insulted us by sending my granddaughter away."
"Do you know the strength of the Reach?"
"You are talking to a king, my lady." The Blackfish almost barked at Lady Olenna's lack of respect. Both Jon and Lady Olenna paid him no mind.
"100,000 swords. A well armed fleet."
"Correct. Your grace." Lady Olenna emphasized, "I will be plain and frank with you, my king. It shall all be yours. The Tyrells will bend the knee to House Targaryen once more if you take Margaery as your queen." Jon felt Sansa inhale sharply and the Blackfish stiffen beside him. She was blunt but it had been expected.
Jon raised an eyebrow at Lady Olenna's boldness, "She has been wed two times already." To Joffrey, nonetheless. Jon bit back.
"Both marriages were unconsummated." Loras Tyrell interrupted. "She is as innocent as the day she was born."
Jon's eyes turned to Margaery. She watched him curiously. She had remained quiet throughout the entire exchange. Sansa had warned him to not be fooled by Margaery's pretty appearance. She was a rose and roses had thorns.
"You supported Renly. Then Joffrey. How do I know you will not stab me in the back at the first sign of weakness?"
"With Margaery tied to you, we would not dare go against you, your grace." Garlan Tyrell assured, "And I see no reason of why we would. With us, you would command four kingdoms."
Jon sighed inwardly and Sansa placed a hand on his arm in assurance. He knew that Sansa supported an alliance between Margaery and Jon. He also knew that she was right to. The Tyrells has the second largest army in Westeros and were the second wealthiest as well. The Reach was home to much of the food cultivation and with Winter on the horizon, they would need the Reach on their side.
"If Jon were to take Margaery as his queen, he would have your full support?" Sansa asked.
Lord Tyrell nodded, "Without question."
"Lady Margaery has not said anything." The Blackfish pointed out, "Perhaps her heart remains in Kingslanding with Tommen Baratheon."
Margaery chuckled softly, "Oh no, Ser. Tommen is a mere child." She turned to Jon boldly, "I assure you, your grace. I will do my duty to you and the realm with utmost devotion. And as for my preferences, you are surely an improvement from Joffrey."
Jon knew it was compliment. A genuine one or one simply to appease him, he did not know. The uncertainty made him think of Ygritte who wore her heart on her sleeve and he did not need to second guess every word that came out her mouth. "And how would you be so sure of that, my lady?"
Margaery's smile did not falter, "Targaryen you may be, your grace. But the Starks have a certain reputation to boast of." Jon nodded at her. He could not argue with that for he was hoping on assuring the realm of his sanity with his Stark parentage.
Silence fell upon them as everyone watched Jon expectantly. He could not get the words and he could not think clearly. It was the right thing, he knew, to take Margaery as his wife but he could not imagine if he could go through with it. To have a wife that he would probably never know truly, a wife that hid behind false smiles and courtesies. To have a wife that was not Ygritte.
Sansa seemed to have sensed his tension for she spoke for him, "His grace would like some time to think." Jon stood up all too willingly and stalked out, feeling suffocated. "If you would give us a few moments." Jon could hear Sansa say diplomatically before rushing after him, followed closely by the Blackfish.
Once they arrived at his tent, Jon immediately went to pour himself a goblet of wine and down it.
"Jon." Sansa called cautiously. "Jon, I know it's hard." The Blackfish took to lingering at the entrance, observing the exchange.
"Do you, Sansa?" Jon whipped around, his voice rising, "Do you?"
Sansa's eyes harden, "I do. As you may have forgotten I was betrothed to Joffrey and then married Tyrion Lannister. I know what it is like to have to marry one you do not love." Jon softened at that. He sometimes forgotten that Sansa had been through so much because she always stood so tall and strong.
"I'm sorry." He mumbled and Sansa shook her head,
"I know you love another, Jon." Jon looked up at her in shock. "Arya told me before we rode here. But you must know that it can never be. You are king now." And sometimes, most times, Jon wished he wasn't. It was at times like these that he craved more than anything to be the bastard of Winterfell once more.
Jon turned to look away but Sansa grabbed his arm, forcing him to look at her. "You have to be smarter than father. You need to be smarter than Robb. I loved them and miss them." Sansa griped, "But they made stupid mistakes and they lost their heads for it."
"The Tyrells would make your conquest all the more easier. Margaery would make a good queen. A good wife. She is not evil and she is not cruel." Jon ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
"Sansa speaks the truth, your grace." The Blackfish said quietly.
"How do I know the Tyrells will remain loyal?" Jon asked desperately.
"As long as Margaery is by your side, they will remain so." Sansa said sadly, "As long as you keep winning."
Jon's mind was whirling with voices as he walked into the tent to face the Tyrells once more. I'm not a king who is blind to my vices. I married for love. Robb had said before he died. Don't make the same mistake as my son. Catelyn had silently pleaded. You are king now. Sansa's voice echoed through his head, Margaery would make a good queen. You must play their game, his uncle words made their way through his mind, love is the death of duty.
As he raised the flap to the tent, he remembered Ygritte in the moments as he betrayed her. I know I love you. I know you love me. He had told her. He remembered what she had whispered to him not long before that, You are mine and I am yours.
His eyes swept over each one of the Tyrells before they fell on Lady Margaery as he stood tall infront of them. And duty is the death of love. Jon thought sadly as the young lady watched him expectantly as did the rest of her family. He could feel Sansa standing beside him tensed.
He spoke without preamble, not taking his eyes off Margaery, "I shall wed Lady Margaery, once we've taken back Winterfell."
A/N: And that's that. This fanfiction is now officially a Jon/Margaery fanfic and I promise I took the decision after thinking long and hard. It was not an easy one but in the end I believe Margaery fit the vision I had for this story and I felt that she would make an interesting pair with Jon.
Though most of you wanted Dany to be paired with Jon. I found it hard to do. First and foremost, as we saw in Jon's thoughts in this chapter and were able to figure out from Season 8 and as Varys pointed out in show, Jon was brought up in Winterfell and regardless of his Targaryen heritage, he would not be very comfortable in marrying his own aunt and it was for this very reason why I did not pick Sansa as well. Also the show's depiction of Dany and Jon's romance left a bitter taste in my mouth and I thought it took away everything that was special about Jon. He went from I don't need your permission, I am a king to she's my queen throughout Season 8. I love Jon and Dany but I love them better separate from each other. I hated how they handled them both in Season 8. But I would like to make it clear Dany will not become mad in this story nor will she an antagonist.
So in the end I picked Margaery and I hope that those who had been against the pairing would give this fanfiction a chance nonetheless. Either way, thanks for your input and I hope you continue to follow me in this story.
Until next time then! Subscribe and review in the mean while!