A chapter I put a lot of work in, and a very important one for the future of the fic. I hope you'll like it.

The characters of Willas and Garlan Tyrell, who are Margaery's brothers in the books, will appear in this story even though it is mostly based on the show. Since Loras is Margaery's only brother in the show, I decided to make of Willas and Garlan her cousins.


MARGAERY II

The lords and the knights had started to arrive two weeks ago. It could be only a squire's tourney, but it was a tourney all the same. Many lords and landed knights of the Reach, and a few from the Stormlands and the Westerlands as well, had brought their sons in the hope they would gain their knighthood. However, Margaery was quite certain who would be the winner of the joust. Her brother Loras already displayed higher qualities on horse and at sword than everyone else in Highgarden. He would surely be the one to win. However, Margaery was a little afraid for her brother.

Six years ago, her cousin Willas Tyrell had ridden in a tourney against Prince Oberyn Martell. That had been his first tourney. He had displayed great talents with sword and horse in his childhood, but when he participated to an actual joust, the Prince of Dorne knocked him from his horse. By a very bad luck, his foot had caught in his stirrup and his horse had fallen on his right leg, crushing it and leaving him a cripple. He could never fight again.

Margaery could still remember. She was only nine at the time, and she had wept for her cousin. He was almost like a big brother for her, just like her other cousin Garlan. Willas had remained unconscious for many days after his fall and Margaery had stayed at his side all the time, sleeping in the same room than him. He lived in the end, but he was crippled for life. Willas had managed to get along quite well with his injury, turning to studies, books, breeding horses, hounds and horses, but Margaery doubted Loras would be able to do the same. Loras lived to ride and fight. If anything happened to him like Willas, Margaery wondered how he would be able to live.

Now the tourney had begun. There were thousands of people to assist it and more than a hundred squires had come to compete in the joust. They were late in the morning and Loras was facing his second opponent. He had defeated the first one easily, a boy coming from the Westerlands. The second one didn't prove much more difficult to unhorse. Margaery cheered for her brother, just like her cousins, when he won. She noticed Renly Baratheon, the only great lord present aside her father, politely applauding when her brother won, but with a great smile on his face. She sat on a platform along with her father, her mother, her grandmother, her great-uncle Garth Tyrell and a few of her cousins. Mira and Sera were also present to attend her if need be, standing behind.

A young and comely man walked towards them. Margaery would say he was in the beginning of his twenties like Willas. He wore a blue doublet with black breeches, but from the way he walked, Margaery thought an armor and a helmet would suit him far better. He had hazel eyes, a pug nose, a big chin, a clean-shaven face and strong muscles and yellow hair. He bowed to Margaery's father and mother.

"Lord Tyrell, Lady Tyrell, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Ser Daven Lannister."

That caught Margaery's attention. "Ser Daven, this is a pleasure to welcome you in Highgarden. This is a great surprise to see you here," replied her father. Margaery doubted the knight was there by luck or even for the tourney, and her father didn't seem surprised at all.

"I have a squire, and I thought it would be good for him to participate to a first tourney. Sadly he was already defeated. By your son, my lord."

The knight said it with a smile that showed he fount it more amusing than anything else. "I'm really sorry, Ser Daven. Loras will be the greatest sword on the Seven Kingdoms one day."

"I can't argue with you about that, my lord."

"How fares Lord Tyrion, ser?" Lord Mace Tyrell had never been one for subtleties.

"He's alright, Lord Tyrell. My cousin is rather occupied right now. He became Lord of Casterly Rock only a few months ago and has many matters to attend, but he fares well. I suppose all your family fares well too."

"Yes, ser. Where are my manners? I present you my wife, Lady Alerie, my mother, Lady Olenna, my uncle Garth. You saw my son Loras fight right away. And this is my daughter, Lady Margaery."

Ser Daven's eyes had gone in her direction a few times since he began to talk with her father, but now his eyes lingered on her for a long time. He was observing her. He finally turned to everyone. "This is a pleasure to meet you all, my lords and ladies."

"Alright now," intervened her grandmother. "The introductions have been made, so perhaps we could go back to watching the damn joust."

Ser Daven Lannister looked taken aback by her grandmother's sharp language. "If that is your wish, Lady Olenna, I won't bother you any longer. I wouldn't want to deprive you from the joys of watching the tourney."

"Then go, Ser Daven, and let us watch," replied Lady Alerie, a little too harshly. The knight bowed one last time and left. Margaery looked at him as he went back to the seats reserved to the noble people.

In the afternoon, it was time for the sparring contest and Loras fought well. He didn't win, but was among the five last competitors. His main weakness was his refusal to ally with anyone in the melee. He was defeated by two young men who had allied temporarily against him. Anyway, that didn't really matter. It was the joust that mattered and that would decide which squire would be knighted.

A feast was thrown in the evening. All the noble people who came for the tourney were attending. Lord Renly outshined everyone with his presence. Margaery heard many people marvel about how he looked like his brother the king when he was young. Margaery doubted he had the same tastes for whores than his brother however. Loras was Renly's squire, so it was Loras who proposed Renly to dance with his sister when the music started.

Lord Renly Baratheon was a very handsome young man, brown of eyes, brown of hair and with a beard cut short. He had very good manners and was very friendly, and Margaery enjoyed dancing with him. He was very good at it.

"You are beautiful this evening, my lady," he told her as they danced.

"Thank you, Lord Renly," she answered.

"You dance very well."

"You too."

Margaery knew this was no attempt of seducing her. These were only compliments for the sake of being kind. Renly Baratheon had no interest in women. That didn't make him a bad dancer or an ugly man. Margaery saw that more than one woman was looking at her in envy. They didn't have to be envious. They would have their turn to dance with the Lord of Storm's End, but only to dance with him. That wouldn't go any further. If someone would share Renly's bed tonight, the person was already chosen.

"Your brother fought very well today," he resumed.

"Yes. A shame he lost in the melee, but I feel he'll be luckier in the joust."

"I hope so. He's my squire after all. Maybe not for long."

"Let's wait for the end of the tourney to know it. But I'm sure you won't lack opportunities to see him again."

"I don't intend to never see your brother again once he's knighted. I want to keep good relations between House Tyrell and House Baratheon. I wish my brothers saw things the way I do."

Margaery frowned. "Your brothers don't like our family?"

Renly laughed. "Stannis doesn't love much people. I fear there are more people who love him than people he loves, and he is lucky if one or two people love him. As for Robert, I'm afraid he never forgot that the Tyrells fought against him. He doesn't hate you, but he won't love you either."

"And you, Lord Renly, do you love our house?"

"I do, my lady."

They broke apart as the piece of music ended. Margaery spent the following dances with many other men, young and old. At one moment however, Ser Daven Lannister came to ask her the honor to be his partner. Margaery accepted with the grace a knight could expect from a lady. Ser Daven wasn't a bad dancer, but it was obvious it wasn't the thing he did best. Margaery could see he was a man for battle. He looked in some way like her cousin Garlan. He escorted her out of the dance floor when the music stopped and they went together to take a glass of wine.

"I'm sorry if I don't dance well, my lady," he said. "I'm not the best dancer in the Westerlands, not even in Casterly Rock."

"Who is the best dancer in Casterly Rock?"

The knight thought about it for a moment. "I don't know. Perhaps my cousin Damion. Or Cleos. I'm afraid we're not very good at dancing in my family. We don't have many balls or feasts."

"I thought you would have answered that it was your lord."

Ser Daven burst into laughter. "My cousin must be the worst dancer of us all. He doesn't really have the height for it. And it would be useless to me to flatter him. He hates sycophants. He shares that with his father." He took a gulp of wine. "Lady Margaery, I would like to visit your maze, but I'm afraid I don't know it enough and I could get lost."

Margaery laughed shortly. "That's alright, Ser Daven. I'll accompany you. It wouldn't do well for a Lannister to get lost inside Highgarden."

They walked away from the Great Hall arm in arm. Margaery was quite conscious more than one man was looking at them. Margaery led the knight to the briar maze, a very vast and complicated labyrinth where anyone who didn't know it would get lost very easily. But when you knew it, it was a beautiful place where to wander at all time of the day. Ser Daven seemed impressed by it.

"I hope you won't abandon me at a turn and let me try to find my way out on my own," he jested.

She returned it. "Don't worry, ser. I have no intention of letting you out of my sight."

"Your home is a beautiful place, my lady."

"Thank you, but you should tell this to my father. He would feel prouder than ever if you told him so."

"Your father likes compliments," he observed with a laughing smile.

"Yes, he does."

They walked together for a moment without saying a word. Margaery enjoyed her time with the knight. He was well-mannered and had a good sense of humor, and she thought he wasn't completely insensible to her. Too bad it wasn't Lord Tyrion she had before her.

"This maze is huge. We could lose ourselves more easily than in the caves of Casterly Rock," he said.

"We can lose ourselves in Casterly Rock?" Margaery asked. She wanted to know more about the castle if she may live there one day.

"Yes, my lady. We can. If we don't know the place well enough. I grew up there, so I have no problem to find my way inside."

"It must be a great castle."

"It is, my lady. Probably the biggest castle in the Seven Kingdoms. It is carved in a mountain, that's the reason why. Highgarden has nothing to envy it however."

"You have a family, Ser Daven, don't you?"

He laughed. "Of course, I have. We Lannisters are not born out of gold." Margaery laughed at the jest.

"If you were, then this means I was born from a flower." He joined her laughs.

"I have two sisters. They are twins. They mustn't be far from your age. How old are you, my lady, if I may?"

"Fifteen."

"My sisters are fourteen. Cerenna is the more talkative of the two. I think you would like her. Myrielle is more reserved, but you would like her as well."

"If they are able to make me laugh as much as you, I'm sure I would love them."

"My mother is Myranda Lefford. My father is Ser Stafford Lannister. He was the brother of Lady Joanna Lannister, Lord Tywin's wife. That makes me a first cousin to our actual lord."

"Tyrion Lannister," she said. The knight nodded.

"Yes, my lady. The Dwarf. The Imp. The Halfman." He said it with a smile.

"I suppose he doesn't like to be called that way."

"It depends, I would say. I call him that way sometimes, but he knows I only mean it as a jest, so he doesn't care. He doesn't like to be called that way when it's meant as an insult however. Not long before I left, there was a minor lord who dared to call him that way in public. He paid the high price for that."

"The high price?" Only for calling him Imp?

Ser Daven had a wicked smile on his face. "My cousin sent him to sleep in a dusty little chamber next to the kitchens and he spent the night hearing unbearable noises, unable to sleep, away from his wife who had a comfortable chamber in the upper levels of the Rock. When the lord complained about that on the morning, he did it while Tyrion was holding court. My cousin told him he was sure his wife wouldn't want to spend the night with a man who used inappropriate language in public."

Margaery giggled. That was the high price? "And? How did the lord react?"

"How the people present reacted you mean. They laughed very hard at him. He didn't dare to call my cousin dwarf or anything like that after. The other lords who were present either."

The Lannisters seemed to have a good sense of humor if Ser Daven and Lord Tyrion were a good indication. That was the sort of punishment her grandmother could devise. "Lord Tyrion is good at keeping his bannermen in line," she commented.

"Yes, he is. As much as my uncle. Though in a much funnier way." They both laughed again. "My uncle could be cruel when House Lannister was at stake. His son has better ways to make the people respect his rule. I was never really close to Tyrion. He's quite solitary and lonely, but he's very intelligent and kind when we know him. He's very funny as well."

"Did you get your sense of humor from him?"

He seemed to think about it for a moment. "He may have had an influence on it."

"I never met him, when I think about it." Margaery was intrigued. She wanted to know more about the Lord of Casterly Rock.

"He's a dwarf, but except that he's normal. Though he drinks a lot. I had a few drinking contests with him. He's the one who initiated me at getting drunk." He seemed to hesitate. "Sorry, my lady. This is not proper to speak about such things."

Margaery put a hand on his arm while displaying a sweet smile. "Don't worry, ser. I'm used to drunken people here. My own father included."

Ser Daven looked relieved. He would keep talking about Lord Tyrion this way. "He's very intelligent. I never saw someone read so much and know so much. He used to repeat long passages of Lomas Lonstrider's books by memory during feasts with one of his uncles. He can also recite whole chapters of the Seven-Pointed Star only with his memory." Margaery was impressed. Wholes passages of the Seven-Pointed Star? Willas would like to meet him. "He's a good fellow when we know him. We shared good japes together."

"If he tells jokes like you, I regret I couldn't be there to hear them."

He returned the smile she shot at him. They reached a fountain with benches disposed in circle around it, with a statue of Garth Greenhand, water coming out from his ears. There was a full moon and the place was well illuminated.

"Highgarden is a very beautiful place. I heard about it, but now I realize the tales didn't exaggerate. Everyone who lives here must love it."

"Yes, they do," she answered. She sat on a bench, looking at the water-shoots dripping in the pool. Ser Daven came to sit at her size.

"You love your home, don't you?" he asked.

"Yes, I love it."

Ser Daven took a more serious expression. "My lady, do you know why I'm here? Why I'm really here?"

Margaery looked back, still displaying a smile. "Perhaps you could tell me."

He remained silent for a moment, then stood up. "We should go back to the feast. From what I saw in the last days, rumors and gossips spread quickly here. I don't want some to run about me, or you. Or both of us."

She took the hand he offered and followed him. They walked silently. When they were close to the end of the maze, Ser Daven stopped. They were walking arm in arm again and he prevented her from going forward. He released her arm and looked at her with the expression of someone who seemed careful about what he said.

"Lady Margaery, I don't know if your parents told you why I'm here. This is not my place to tell you if they haven't, but I received an order and I must carry it out." He took something from inside his doublet and handed it to Margaery. That was a letter. She took it. "I would like you to tell no one that I gave it to you, my lady. Hide it. Read it only when you're sure no one is looking at you. Give me an answer before I leave."

He bowed and walked away toward the Great Hall, but Margaery stopped him. "Ser Daven, we should come back together, or else people will start to talk for real." She joined him while hiding the letter in the folds of her gown and smiled as they resumed to walk arm in arm. "I'll read it. Don't worry."

Back to the feast, Margaery danced, talked, drank, ate and gossiped, but questions were trotting in the back of her mind. She felt the letter against her stomach. What could it be? Ser Daven Lannister said he received an order. So the letter had to come from someone else. If the knight received an order, it probably came from the one person who could give him an order. His liege lord.

Late in the night, when Margaery was back into her chambers, she sent away her handmaidens as soon as she could. She seized the letter hidden in her gown and unfolded it. It was quite a long letter, with a neat and careful writing that reminded Margaery of the way their maester wrote. There was the stamp of House Lannister at the bottom with the signature of the Lord of Casterly Rock. She began to read, impatient as she was to discover the content.

To Lady Margaery Tyrell,

Please forgive me, my lady, if I take the liberty to write to you, and to the ignorance of your parents. You may reveal to them the content of this letter if you want, though I wish you wouldn't. This letter is for you and for you alone.

I hope your parents have told you of the discussions that are taking place right now between your family and mine. If you don't, then I am informing you. My cousin, Ser Daven Lannister, didn't come here for the tourney. That was only a pretext. He came at Highgarden on the demand of your father to discuss a betrothal between you and me. I hope you're not crying in despair before the possibility of marrying a dwarf, though I would understand if you did.

The reason why I'm writing to you is because I do not wish to marry you if this is not your wish. I wasn't the one to suggest this marriage to your father. My uncle, Ser Kevan Lannister, wrote to him almost immediately after my father died a few months ago. He thought it was time for me to marry and that it would be better if I married as soon as possible.

I want you to know, my lady, that it would be an honor for me to have you as my wife. I have heard tales about you, and nothing that was said could make me wish for a better wife. However, this letter is not about what I want. It is about what you want. As I said, I do not want to marry you if you don't want to become my wife, and I think you deserve to know the truth about me in order to make a good decision.

You probably heard horrible rumors about me. I will start by telling you which are true, and which are not. First, it is true that I am often drunken and that I spend most of my nights, and days, drinking. Second, I effectively visit on a regular basis many brothels, and it wouldn't be exaggerating to tell you that I am not only the best client for some of them, but also the one who makes them live. Third, I gamble in tourneys whenever I assist one. Fourth, I am a dwarf, and those who pretend I am one of the ugliest men in the Seven Kingdoms are right. Fifth, I have a crude language and make jokes of bad taste quite often.

I must tell you, however, that some rumors about me are outright lies. I am not a monster, at least not in the sense that I beat people, mistreat them, or even eat children according to some words circulating. I am not cruel like my father. I have flaws, and big ones just like I admitted. I am malformed, ill-made, and small, but in the dark, I am no worse than other men. I am generous. I am loyal to those who are loyal to me. I am dutiful to my family and those I am sworn to. I am no craven, or at least I hope I'm not. I am cleverer than most, surely wits count for something. I can even be kind. Kindness is not a habit with us Lannisters, I fear. You surely know the song The Rains of Castamere. But I know I have some kindness somewhere. I could be good to you. And ever since I became Lord of Casterly Rock, I've done my best to relent my flaws. I stopped gambling, which was the easiest thing to do. I also stopped to visit brothels, which has been more difficult. As for drinking, I do it less than before. Work helps me a lot in that, though I keep drinking all the same. I can stop myself from being crude when it is necessary and in the presence of people who don't like it when I care about them. As for being a dwarf, I'm afraid there's nothing I can change about it.

Now you know more about me. I hope I didn't offend you. If I did, then you just have to tell my cousin, Ser Daven Lannister, that you don't wish to marry me. I don't want you to be forced into a marriage with me because this is what your family or your parents want. Only a single word to my cousin and when he will come back to Casterly Rock, I will end the discussions between our two families and free you from this possible future with the Imp. The choice is yours, my lady.

However, if you wish to marry me despite everything I just revealed and confessed, though I would hardly understand you, then I promise you one thing, my lady. I won't ever hurt you. I will cherish you as my wife, protect you, care for you, and make sure you have everything you could wish for. I will do everything I can to make you happy, and I hope you will be. I hope I will come to love you one day, even if you never love me. I would understand you could never love a dwarf.

I will never tell your parents you refused to marry me if that is your answer. The decision is yours, and only yours.

Yours sincerely,

Tyrion Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock, Shield of Lannisport, Lord of the Westerlands and Warden f the West

Margaery was dumbstruck as she read the letter. She read a second and a third time to be sure of what was written. When Ser Daven gave it to her, she suspected it came from the Lord of Casterly Rock. Who else could give an order to a knight of House Lannister to give her a letter? However, the words were not at all what she expected. She thought it would be a letter about a lord expressing his love for her and pleading her to accept to marry him, or something like that. She received some letters of this style before. It wasn't what she read on this paper.

Should she tell her parents? She wasn't sure. He asked to not tell them, and assured her he would reveal nothing of this if she answered him. Margaery didn't know what to think about it. That was completely unexpected. The choice is yours, my lady. Men never asked their betrothed if she really wanted to marry them, and even less did they reveal their flaws and tell her they wouldn't be surprised and would understand if she chose to refuse them. Margaery folded the letter and hid it under her bed.

Margaery slept with Megga this night. She always shared her bed with one of her cousins and they would whisper secrets in each other's ears. They did it as well tonight, and Megga was very curious about her stroll outside the Great Hall with Ser Daven, insinuating he may be infatuated with her. She also spoke about Renly who she found so handsome, and about Loras for the same reason. If only Megga knew they were a lost cause. Margaery wondered if Renly and Loras were together while Megga dreamed about them.

The next day was the second day of the tourney and Loras unhorsed two more opponents in the morning. In the afternoon took place the archery competition. There was a feast in the evening as well. Margaery feigned attention to the tourney. She only watched intently when it was her brother's turn. She was still afraid he might get hurt for his first tourney. He was her little brother. The rest of the time, her mind was set on the letter. She had read it again in the morning after Megga had left, and she kept it in the folds of her gown all the day. She didn't want someone to discover it, not even Mira or Sera while they were cleaning her chamber. She remembered full passages of it and they kept running in her mind. What was the meaning of this? Why would he give her a choice? Could it be a trap?

Margaery didn't talk about it to her family. Not to her father, not to her mother, not to her brother, not even to her grandmother. Lady Olenna seemed to notice she was more silent than usual, but said nothing. There was a feast again this evening and Margaery played her role at the perfection. She danced with Ser Daven again, but they didn't discuss about the letter. Later, she saw her father leave the feast with the young knight. With some wine, Margaery almost managed to forget about this matter for a time, but when she was back in her chamber, she couldn't get the letter out of her head. Elinor slept with her tonight. When she was asleep, Margaery thought about the letter again.

Should she refuse? He recognized he had flaws, and major ones. To be married with him could be dangerous. On the other side, there was something, a sincerity in his words she seldom witnessed. He didn't look like an idiot. A marriage with Lord Tyrion would make her the Lady of the Westerlands. She had come to consider it a very good option since her chances to become queen were very low. Now, however, she didn't know what to think anymore. He was giving her the choice to not marry him. Perhaps she should take it and hope they could make her queen someday. Margaery had known what she wanted for a very long time, and her family had tried to give it to her, but becoming queen being quite unlikely, they tried to give her the best alternative. However, she had a choice to make now. What choice to make?

On the third day, Loras defeated his last three opponents and won the lists. He was knighted by his cousin, Ser Garlan Tyrell, before everyone. Her parents couldn't hold their joy to see their son and heir knighted, and Margaery couldn't either. She hugged her brother tightly. She managed to enjoy the feast that followed, but she was tired before everyone else and retired to her room. She hadn't slept enough last night. When she entered, Mira was waiting, reading at the light of the candles.

"Mira? What are you doing here?" Sera was supposed to prepare her for the night this evening.

"Sorry, my lady. Sera was a little indisposed. She didn't feel very well. I told her I could replace her for tonight. I hope it doesn't bother you."

Margaery couldn't help but smile and discreetly laugh. She had a good idea why Sera didn't feel well. She remembered seeing her take more than a few cups of wine at the feast. "You didn't drink?"

"Only one cup, my lady. I don't like wine very much to be true," the northern girl answered.

"You're probably the only one here." Margaery went to sit before the Myrish glass and Mira began to unbraid her hair.

"Is there anything else I can do for you, my lady?" she asked when she was done.

"No, that's alright, Mira. But stay with me for a moment. I won't go to bed immediately." Mira went to sit face to face with her mistress. "What were you reading?" Margaery asked, pointing with a movement of head the book Mira left on a nearby table.

"The World of Ice and Fire by Maester Yendel. It was finished recently. Maester Lomys suggested it to me. It's a chronicle of the history of the Seven Kingdoms."

"Interesting. Which part of the history were you at?"

"I was just done reading the description of Casterly Rock."

Margaery became suddenly much more interested by the book. "What does it tell about Casterly Rock?"

"Many things. I never saw it, but it looks wonderful from what the maester wrote. It's not only a castle. It's a mountain. Thrice the height of the Wall or the Hightower, two leagues long. Apparently it looks like a lion resting when the sun sets on it. There are towers, turrets, watchtowers, stone walls, gates and portcullises at the peak of it, but most of the castle is inside. There are hundreds of mineshafts with veins of gold in it, and those that are abandoned are turned into rooms for the castle. There are tunnels, dungeons, storerooms, barracks, halls, stables, stairways, courtyards, balconies, gardens, even a port with wharves and docks and shipyards. And there's a godswood too. It has a weirwood that is so twisted that its roots almost fill all the cave where it is. The entrance, the Lion's Mouth, is so large that twenty horsemen can ride abreast. The maester says it was never taken by storm or siege, and that there is no castle larger, richer or better defended. It is said that the Targaryens were relieved when they saw it that the Lannisters surrendered after the Field of Fire. They doubted dragonflame would have been enough to take it. My father saw it one day. I wish I had been there."

Margaery was surprised. "Your father visited Casterly Rock?"

"It was many years ago. I was only six or seven at the time. It was during the tourney at Lannisport. He said it was gigantic. He never saw something huge like that. Even Winterfell looked like some small keep when compared to it. But he didn't like the inside. He said there were so much gold and silver everywhere that only with the riches in one chamber they could feed the entire North for twenty years."

Margaery was stunned by Mira's story. She knew House Lannister was rich, but not to that point. Her own family looked like beggars in comparison. Why didn't she think about looking for information about the castle in books before?

"While I think about it, he also met Tyrion Lannister at the tourney," Mira added. "The man they call the Imp."

Margaery wasn't short of surprises for this evening it seemed. "Really?"

"It was before he became Lord of Casterly Rock, of course," Mira explained.

"Did your father tell you anything about him? About the Imp, I mean."

Mira seemed to search her memories for some time. "He didn't tell me much about him. Only that he met him and talked to him shortly. He only mentioned it."

Margaery sighed in silence. If only Mira's father had told her more. She knew nothing more about the Imp. "Mira, have your parents ever try to betroth you to someone?"

If Mira was taken aback by this question, she didn't show it. "No, my lady. Not that I know. I'm only thirteen anyway. I still have a lot of time to get married, and I think my mother wants me to marry someone from the south. She didn't send me here only to learn the southern ways. I think she wants me to live in the south."

"That would be logical. Was any of your brothers and sisters betrothed or married with someone?"

"Well, my brother Rodrik was about to be betrothed to Elena Glenmore when I left, and my brother Asher… Well, you know what happened." Margaery nodded. Mira told her about the affair between Gwyn Whitehill and her brother, and the exile that followed. "Talia and Ethan had nothing arranged for them and Ryon was only a baby when I saw him the last time. I wonder how he looks like now. He must have grown up."

Margaery was envious of Mira in some way. She wished she had more than one brother. She would like to have a sister like Mira had. "And you, Mira? Do you have someone who interests you here?"

Mira seemed surprised by Margaery's words this time. She smiled shyly. "No, my lady. That wouldn't be proper. I must wait for my mother to find me a husband."

Margaery smiled sadly. That was always the same thing. Women had to wait for their family to choose their husband. "Maybe I could help you to find one. Perhaps not right now, but when the time comes, I could help your mother to find you a suitable husband."

Mira smiled. "That would be very kind of you, my lady. But make sure to inform my mother before you choose. She won't like it if I marry without her consent."

"No, of course. I would never let your mother out of it." They remained silent for a moment. "Mira, you have been a very good handmaiden ever since you arrived here, and even a friend to me. I know it's not been easy for you to adapt to the life in Highgarden, and despite this you do your duty better than everyone else. I want to thank you. I was very lucky to meet you."

Mira blushed a little. "I'm only doing what's expected of me, my lady. It's my duty as your handmaiden."

Again, Margaery wished she had more northern servants. She had to beware of many people here in Highgarden, even some members of her distant family, but Mira was close to loyalty made flesh. She would never betray the person she served. She would never betray her.

Never betray her. That gave an idea to Margaery. She crossed her fingers on her legs and looked at Mira with a very serious expression.

"Mira, there is something I have to tell you." She was tired to keep it for herself. If there was someone she may confide in without any risk, it was Mira. "You must swear that everything that we're about to talk about will never leave this room. Never. Do you understand?"

"Of course, my lady. If that's what you want."

"No one must know about this, Mira. Not your friends, not Sera, not your family, not even my own family, not my own father or my mother, not my grandmother. Even if the king himself asked you about this, you mustn't talk. Is that clear?"

Mira looked uncertain for a moment, even afraid, but she agreed nonetheless. "Yes, my lady. I swear it."

"Good." Margaery raised from her seat and began to perambulate around her chamber. "Mira, my parents are actually discussing the possibility of a marriage for me. It's not the first time that it happens. You know we received several propositions from other families, don't you?"

"Yes, my lady. I think there has been House Hightower, House Redwyne and House Tarly among many. You even received a proposition from Lord Royce and Lord Manderly, I believe."

"You have a good memory, Mira," acknowledged Margaery. "Only this time the proposal is very serious. It comes from House Lannister."

There was no reaction with Mira for some time, but she opened her mouth a little while her eyes widened after a time as she spoke. "My lady, do you mean they… They asked you to marry… Lord Tyrion Lannister."

Margaery sighed and nodded. "Yes. It was a few months ago. Ser Daven Lannister came to the tourney to discuss about it with my parents and my grandmother."

Mira still had her mouth opened and looked aside Margaery, then brought her gaze back to her. "And your father? Lord Tyrell? He's willing… to accept it?"

Margaery rolled her eyes. "He says he's only thinking about it, but I think he is very seriously thinking about it. Surely he already dreams of seeing me Lady of Casterly Rock. My grandmother is thinking about it seriously as well, but more carefully. She says it would probably be the best marriage I could hope for."

"She's not wrong," Mira conceded. "Tyrion Lannister is the richest man in the Seven Kingdoms, and one of the most powerful probably. What does Lady Alerie think about it? And Ser Loras?"

"My brother ignores everything about it. I would like it to stay the same. Remember what I told you." Mira nodded to show she remembered. "As for my mother, she is entirely opposed to this."

"Is that why she was so hard with Ser Daven two days ago?"

Margaery smiled. "You're very observant, Mira. Yes, I suppose that was the reason. For now, as far as I know, nothing is decided. They are probably discussing about it at this very moment if my father is not still at the feast."

A silence took place between them. Margaery felt some weigh leave her shoulders. If was good to finally say everything to someone. Keeping secrets could be hard sometimes.

"My lady, why are you telling me this?" Mira asked.

"Because I trust you, Mira. And because of this." She took the letter from her gown. "Ser Daven gave me this. It comes from Lord Tyrion. He wrote this to me. I would like you to read it and to tell me your opinion."

Mira eyed the letter. "My lady, do you really think I should? That I should read a letter addressed to you?"

"I don't trust anyone else with that. Anyway Mira, you are my handmaiden. You are at my service. I order you to read this letter."

She handed the letter and Mira finally took it, slowly and carefully. She unfolded it, very slowly as well, as if she was afraid of the content, and began to read. Margaery looked at her very closely. Mira's eyes widened and her mouth opened a few times, but she kept her focus on the letter all the time as she read it. Mostly, she looked more and more intrigued as she read, the frown on her face growing, and seemed surprised from time to time. Finally, her eyes left the letter and she looked aside, as if she was lost in her thoughts or searching for her words.

"So," asked her mistress, "what do you think about it?"

It took some time before Mira answered and her answer didn't help much. "I… I don't know."

Margaery sighed in silence. "I fear that may be a trap."

Mira looked surprised. "How could that be a trap?"

"I don't know. I know nothing of this man. Why did he write to me? That makes no sense."

"Except if he is sincere."

Margaery looked back at her handmaiden, intrigued. "Sincere?"

"Perhaps he simply wrote to you for the reasons he mentions. He wants you to know him better and to decide whether you want to marry him or not."

That was possible, but Margaery couldn't get out the feeling that there was something else. "Why would he give me the choice? He says himself that he would be more than happy to marry me. That he would do everything to make me happy and that he would treasure me as his wife. Why give me the choice then if he wants to marry me?"

Mira shrugged. "Maybe because he doesn't want to marry an unwilling bride."

That was too easy for an answer. That was the reason the Imp gave. Margaery walked around, thoughts running through her mind. Mira went back to read the letter. What personal goal could that man be looking for with this? He had the opportunity to marry her, the Rose of Highgarden, a young lady many people saw like the most beautiful woman in the Seven Kingdoms. Margaery knew what was said about her. She was the only daughter of the Lord of Highgarden. Why take the risk to have this marriage taken out from his hands? That made no sense.

"What is his interest with this letter?" Margaery asked loudly.

"To not marry a woman who doesn't love him."

Margaery stopped and looked at the northern girl. "What do you mean?"

"My lady, his writing style is not that of an imbecile. Judging by his signature, he's the one who wrote it himself. That's not the work of a maester. His style shows an intelligent man and a clever mind behind it, but he doesn't talk of politics anywhere. He's mocking himself, talks freely of his flaws, but tries to justify himself at the same time and to show he's not an evil man. I think… I think he only wants you to know who he is before you marry. And to give you the choice to refuse. Perhaps he simply wants a happy marriage, nothing more. That would explain why he's ready to stop all the discussions if you don't want to wed him. If there was more, he would have talked about political matters, but he doesn't. He only talks about his feelings, and yours."

Margaery shook her head. "What would you do in my stead?"

"I don't know, my lady. It's your choice, not mine. You're the one who's best placed to decide."

Margaery thought about the words. "Thank you, Mira. You may leave. Remember, no one must know."

Mira rose and gave the letter back to her mistress without being asked. Then she left after a curtsy and Margaery found herself alone with her thoughts. Most of the lords and knights stayed at Highgarden for a few days once the festivities were over, and Ser Daven stayed a little while longer than the others. He only left two weeks after the tourney was over. Margaery spent a lot of time with him, asking questions about the Westerlands, Casterly Rock and its lord. Mira was with them from time to time and Ser Daven was surprised that her handmaiden knew many things about Casterly Rock while she never saw it. He was quite surprised when Mira told him her father met Lord Tyrion years ago. The young knight became popular in some way among a few ladies of Highgarden. He was sparring with Loras and Garlan in the training grounds, though he seemed to prefer practicing with Garlan. They shared the idea that they should train for battle, not for tourney.

When Ser Daven left, he offered Mira to come with him to Casterly Rock since she seemed so interested by it. Mira declined politely, saying it was her duty to stay at Highgarden and to serve Lady Margaery. Ser Daven hoped then that Lady Margaery would have the chance to visit the Rock soon. They were alone, he, Margaery and Mira when he said that. Since Mira knew about the letter, Margaery seized the chance and gave Ser Daven a note on a scroll of paper.

"This is my answer," she told him.

Ser Daven bowed and left. He left Highgarden two hours later. When he was gone, Margaery went to see her grandmother who sat with many other girls in one of the many gardens of the castle. Lady Olenna chased them all when she noticed the eyes Margaery made. Her grandmother knew what that meant. They had to talk. To talk alone.

"Grandmother, I took a decision."


To clarify Margaery's reaction, she is not really touched by the letter Tyrion wrote. What Margaery see in a marriage are posibilities for wealth, power and influence. She's not looking for love, and maybe she even doesn't care about love with her husband. What bothers her is that Tyrion is allowing her to refuse the marriage, which almost never happens in medieval societies among the nobility. She doesn't understand Tyrion's letter since it seems to be against his own interests to give her a choice, and furthermore she doesn't know him at all at this point. It takes Mira to tell her maybe Tyrion is only being sincere and is looking for love in his marriage. Mira is a Northerner, there are not so many intrigues where she grew up, so she is more willing to consider Tyrion can be honest.

Through history, there are many cases of powerful women who became very close to one of their ladies in waiting or handmaidens. The servant could sometimes become a confident, even an advisor. Mira is taking that role here as Margaery's handmaiden. Just like in "A Shadow and a Wolf", Mira will play an important role, and even have her own storyline at some point, though not immediately.

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Next chapter: Tyrion