Two very important characters meet.


MARGAERY IV

She opened her eyes, awakening from a peaceful sleep. Margaery Tyrell was tired. She closed her eyes again and tried to drift into sleep once more, but she couldn't. She simply laid there, listening to the silence around her. Her bed was very comfortable, perhaps more than all those she had in her life. She turned on herself to end on her tummy and looked on her right. She saw gulls flying in the morning sky. The sky was clear, no clouds covering it. She hummed a song she heard a few months ago, her eyes still closed, a feeling of serenity and calm submerging her.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. "My lady."

Margaery opened her eyes and saw Mira towering her at the side of her bed. A thin smile appeared on her lips. "I didn't hear you enter, Mira."

"Sorry, my lady. I tried to make no sound when I came in , just in case you were still sleeping, but you were not."

"No, I wasn't." She shouldn't have been humming, or else she would probably have had more time in her bed. "I suppose it's time to get up."

"Well, I think you could still sleep more, but Lady Olenna wants to visit the gardens with you. If you don't come, I'll have to tell her."

Margaery laughed. She and Mira both knew what that meant. Margaery proceeded to leave her bed. "Don't worry, my friend. I will spare you another session of sharp comments with my grandmother. Though, considering you own way to deal with them and the fact that Lady Olenna likes it, I'm tempted to stay inside my rooms for all the day."

Mira laughed as well. She helped Margaery to pull on a dressing gown. There was a little pain left in Margaery's head from last night's feast. She didn't drink very much, but more than she was used to all the same.

"Mira, take care of the covers and the sheets, then ome back later for my hair and my dressing," ordered Margaery.

Mira complied. Margaery noticed her handmaiden had brought a tray of food, though she doubted that was everything for the breakfast. Margaery took an apple and walked to the balcony while munching it.

Fresh and salty air hit her face as she went outside. It was different from the scent in Highgarden, but it was pleasant. There were birds flying everywhere and she could even see some perched on the castle's battlements and towers from where she stood. If she looked right before her, all she could see was the sea, completely blue in the light of the morning sun. Only water at the horizon, and a few ships. If she looked on her right, she could see some smoke emanating from the mines not far away. If she looked on her left far enough, she could distinguish the city of Lannisport with its harbor. She remembered how the city was when she walked through yesterday. It wasn't beautiful like Oldtown, but it had its own charm and was far from ugly.

Two months ago, she hadn't been sure they would make it. Margaery had been sitting in one of the many gardens of her home along with her friends and cousins, listening to the music of bards, eating pastries, doing some embroidery and doing small talk. They were only two days before their departure for Casterly Rock and Margaery was using all the time she had left to enjoy Highgarden before they went to her wedding. Among the laughs and the conversations and the music however, Sera had come to tell her that her father and her grandmother wanted to see her.

When Margaery had entered her father's solar, he seemed at loss, stammering, his eyes rolling. Her grandmother was in control of her emotions, but it was obvious she was annoyed and outraged.

"Since it would take too much time if I let your father explain the situation, I think it would be better if you read the raven we just received," Lady Olenna told her after she took place before them. Her grandmother gave Margaery a short scroll. The message was short, but disturbing and with very important news.

To Lord Mace Tyrell of Highgarden,

His Grace, King Robert Baratheon, the First of His Name, hereby offers you to marry your daughter, Lady Margaery of House Tyrell, to his own brother, Renly Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands. It would please the king to mend the scars that remain between House Tyrell and House Baratheon and to unite these two houses by this union. The marriage will take place within the year.

Jon Arryn, Hand of the King

If Margaery had been surprised when she read Lord Tyrion's letter months ago, that was nothing compared to this. She read the short message several times to be sure this was really what she thought. Then she lifted her eyes to look at her grandmother, then to her father. Lord Mace Tyrell had a sorry look on his face, his mother showed disdain.

"That can't be." That was all Margaery could find to say.

"I'm afraid it can be, my child," said her grandmother. "We received this two hours ago. For once, your father used his brain and didn't tell your mother. She would have spread the new through all the castle within the hour."

"But I am already betrothed to Tyrion Lannister."

"Yes, you are, my dear. This is certainly why we're receiving this. The king must have heard about this, and he decided it wasn't to his liking to see Tyrells and Lannisters united. Hence this proposal."

"Can't we refuse it? After all, I am already betrothed, and the marriage is for very soon. We're leaving in two days."

"This is a proposal from the king." Her father was speaking for the first time. "We cannot refuse the king."

"Won't that make the Lannisters angry if we call off my betrothal to Lord Tyrion?" Margaery argued.

"For sure, my daughter. But if we don't, it's the king we will anger."

Margaery couldn't believe it. She was about to become the Lady of Casterly Rock, and a fat drunken king came to tell her she would marry his brother instead. Renly may be the Lord of Storm's End, but being the Lady of Storm's End was far less advantageous than being Lady of Casterly Rock.

"There must be something we can do," said Margaery. They were so close to leave. They couldn't cancel the betrothal when she was so close to becoming the Lady of the Westerlands.

"Of, course, there is something we can do," said Olenna. "We can answer the king and say yes. Or we can say no. In the first case, we sacrifice the best marriage for Margaery. In the second case, we disobey the king, and that can put us in a very dangerous position. However, we can also choose to not answer and say nothing."

Lord Mace Tyrell looked at his mother with an incredulous expression. "To not answer the king, Mother?"

"Of course. If the raven had arrived a day or two after we left, then we wouldn't have been informed, and the king wouldn't be able to complain since we wouldn't refuse nor accept the proposal. We cannot refuse an offer we know nothing about."

Margaery understood immediately. "Grandmother! I should have thought about this before."

"But Mother, we received the raven and we are still in Highgarden. We haven't left," said Margaery's father. "I have no choice but to answer."

"Oh, really, Mace! Sometimes I wonder who was the most stupid man in Westeros. You, or your father?" shouted the Queen of Thorns. The Lord of Highgarden's mouth shut up immediately. "There are only four people who know about this proposal from the king. Me, you, Margaery, and Maester Lomys. We will never say anything about this. For the world, the proposal to marry Margaery to Renly arrived the day after we left Highgarden. I'll make sure Lomys cooperates."

"But, shouldn't I tell Alerie at least?"

"Of course not! She would tell everyone. We will leave tomorrow at the first light. That will make the official story more believable."

"We were supposed to leave in two days," almost complained Margaery's father.

"We leave tomorrow at the first light. If you still want your daughter to be Lady of Casterly Rock, that's what you must do. We don't talk about this to anyone. Best prepare for the departure tomorrow."

"I agree with you, Grandmother," said Margaery at this moment. "If you still want me to marry Lord Tyrion, Father, then we must leave as quickly as possible and make everyone believe the king's proposal arrived not long after we left. We must go now."

There was a silence that followed. Her father had a sad expression on his face. He looked at her and spoke. "Margaery, tell me. Do you really want to marry Lord Tyrion? I know that you said you wanted, but… Lord Renly is a good man and a great lord as well. Don't you think that could be preferable to marrying a dwarf? I know your mother would approve this marriage much more."

Margaery smiled sadly at her father. She knew that despite being an imbecile from time to time, her father still cared for her and for Loras, and that he wanted the best for her. Her father also loved his wife, and he cared for her opinion about this marriage very much. It had taken a lot of conviction from Margaery and her grandmother to bring her father to accept the marriage proposal from the Lannisters.

"Father, Lord Renly is very kind, and yes, he is a great lord. But you know what I want through a marriage, and I will have much more at Casterly Rock than in Storm's End. Tyrion Lannister remains the best match I can hope for, and from what we know, he's not the monster out of nightmares that rumors are depicting."

"He doesn't seem worse than an average man. Only smaller than the average man," commented Margaery's grandmother.

"Father," resumed Margaery, "I know Mother doesn't approve this marriage, but I want to marry Lord Tyrion Lannister. My opinion on this matter has not changed."

The Lord of Highgarden nodded. "Alright. I cannot satisfy both you and your mother. We'll leave on the morrow for Casterly Rock."

Margaery and her grandmother had spent the rest of the day ordering around the servants and the handmaidens to prepare everything for the journey on the Ocean Road. Many things were ready before they received the message, so it wasn't too difficult to arrange an early departure. Margaery's mother had wondered why they decided to leave sooner, but she couldn't get the real reason from anybody. Maester Lomys pretended the weather would not be good according to recent reports from the Citadel and it was better to leave sooner because the rain would slow them down on the road. They had left the next morning at first light.

Now here she was, two months later, Margaery Tyrell, living in the castle that would soon be hers and contemplating the view. Her room was more than comfortable and very cozy. Mira's father had been right. Almost everything seemed to be made of gold in this castle, and everything that wasn't in gold seemed to be made of silver or some other precious stone. When something was in fabric, it was from the rarest and most costly materials there were from all over the world, and trimmed with gold or silver. Even in Highgarden, Margaery wasn't used to such luxury. It almost seemed too much. She didn't think it would be difficult to make work with the poor here, at least not from the financial aspect.

The door opened and Sera came in. She had a tray of food with her. Now Margaery knew why her breakfast hadn't arrived entirely yet. "You are late, Sera," Margaery said, without anger.

"Sorry, my lady. I woke up late. The journey has been wearisome. And this place… It's so huge. I lost my way three times while trying to reach the kitchens, and four times while trying to come here. I had to ask a servant to lead me all the way to your room in the end. I wonder how I'll be able to find back the kitchens."

"Don't worry, Sera," said Margaery while laughing. She sat and took a cup of water. "You will have all the time you need to get used to the place. It's not as if you'll leave anytime soon."

"Mira told me Casterly Rock was the biggest castle in the world, but I never imagined it would be like this. The maze in Highgarden is a game for children in comparison. I don't understand how anyone can find his way here."

"You should explore the castle with Mira today when you'll have some time."

Sera nodded. "Couldn't we explore it with you?"

"From what my future husband told me yesterday, he is going to make me visit the castle, but I doubt he wants handmaidens to follow us everywhere while we visit it. He will want some time alone with me."

Sera had a strange expression on her face. "My lady, am I allowed to express my opinion? On Lord Tyrion?"

"Of course, Sera, you can."

Her handmaiden seemed to hesitate. "Lady Margaery, are you sure you want to marry this man?"

"Of course I am, Sera. Anyway, the betrothal is decided, and the wedding will take place in a week no matter what happens now."

"Are you really sure? I mean, even after you saw him? I mean… He is… well…"

"Short? Small? A dwarf?" Margaery suggested with a smile.

"Yes. I know he is a great and powerful lord, but still. I'm… I'm not sure I would want him into my bed."

Margaery had to giggle. "Sera, I asked to Maester Lomys before we left, and he confirmed to me that dwarves are the same under their breeches than all the other men."

Sera still seemed uncertain. "Yes. Still… I'm not sure…"

"Sera, you have no need to worry about me. I'm all right with this marriage. Despite his small size, Lord Tyrion seems to be a very decent man from what we saw yesterday. He is rich and very powerful, and he is quite experienced if what we heard is true. I'm not afraid for my wedding night. In fact, I'm more curious than anything, and even thrilled in some way. What do you think a dwarf looks like without his clothes?" Sera laughed timidly with her mistress after a moment. "Don't tell me you wouldn't marry him if it meant you could become Lady of Casterly Rock?"

"Yes, I would. Probably." Sera still smiled, though it wasn't entirely convincing. "I'll leave, my lady. I'll come back later."

Sera left and Margaery was alone to take her breakfast. She needed it after all the time spent on the Ocean Road. She wanted some solitude, and many other people were tired and needed some sleep. Her breakfast wasn't as good as the ones she took in Highgarden. As they entered the Westerlands, Margaery had seen the plains and the crop fields turn more and more to mountains, hills and mines. Of course, the Westerlands were not barren, but it was obvious the food wasn't as excellent as in the Reach. Even in Casterly Rock, where they surely took the best food for the Lannisters, it wasn't as delicious as in Highgarden. The feast yesterday and the ones they had on their way as they stopped to dine with certain lords weren't of the same level than those they had in the Reach. Margaery also noticed the castle didn't seem to be a place for art. It was a luck they brought jugglers, fools, singers and bards with them from Highgarden, or else it would be difficult to entertain themselves.

The journey to Casterly Rock had been without problems, and they had enough to occupy their time. The Lords of the Reach they encountered on their way had all been generous hosts, and the Lords of the Westerlands had been even better. They were all eager and more than pleased to receive their future liege lady, from the Myatts to the Crakehalls, and Margaery's father had been overjoyed by their welcome. Her mother had been cold for most of the trip, but after the first western lords they met, she had begun to look better and more relaxed. Margaery had used the occasion to know more about Lord Tyrion, and all the lords had said he was the best Lord of the Westerlands they could dream of, though in many different ways and with different tones in their voice. They didn't all seem to believe what they said. That could mean they feared Tyrion Lannister, but since Margaery was the one to ask about him and that she was to marry him, they could simply be afraid she may report any bad word they might say about the Lord of Casterly Rock. Overall, the journey had been very pleasant, but at the end everyone was tired to be on the road all day and were very happy when Casterly Rock came close.

They had stopped when the castle had come into sight and Margaery had left the carriage to look at it. Mira had been right. Margaery had visited Oldtown when she was a child, and Casterly Rock had to be at least twice the height of the Hightower. You could see battlements with towers and everything meant to defend a castle at the top of the hill, all carved into the stone. From afar, Margaery could distinguish three roads in the fields. One came from the east and ended at the base of Casterly Rock. The other two came from the south and the north and met at a city that was probably no more than one league away from the castle dominating it. They were actually on the road coming from the south and heading directly toward Lannisport. Margaery thought she remembered that Oldtown was bigger, but the city was impressive all the same, though it was nothing when compared to the castle next to it. It was the middle of the afternoon and the light of the sun was reflected by the water of the Sunset Sea in the west, making it shine.

They had quickly resumed their way along the Ocean Road until they reached the gates of Lannisport. There, the Tyrells and their retinue were welcomed by a group of knights led by Ser Daven Lannister. Margaery was quite glad to see him again and he seemed happy as well to see her. The people of Lannisport were waiting inside the walls to welcome them as they would travel through the main road of the city. Margaery had decided to walk along the road instead of going through it in the carriage, despite the opposition of her father and her mother. Lady Alerie had always encouraged her to show compassion for the people and the poor, and to be close to them, but she was afraid the people in the Westerlands may not be well-disposed towards them as those in the Reach.

In the end, Margaery's decision had proved a complete success. They went through the city under cheers, applauses and cries of joy. Banners of House Lannister and House Tyrell were hung everywhere. The people of Lannisport were throwing flowers on their way as they advanced. Margaery caught some in the air as they flew. There were even a few children who managed to get between the guards along the road and to bring her flowers themselves. Margaery always sent them back with a kiss on the forehead. She couldn't hold all the flowers that were brought to her, so her cousins and her handmaidens brought many in the carriages following them as they went forward. Margaery waved her hands at everyone in the crowd, sent kisses in the air and even sometimes went to see people on the side of the road. The children and the women seemed especially enthralled by her. When they left by the other side of the city, Margaery had made sure that the people of Lannisport would love their new lady.

After they left Lannisport, they had been on the River Road instead of the Ocean Road, but they didn't stay on it for long and traveled through fields to the Goldroad. There they started the ascent that slowly led them to the ringfort at the peak of the hill. Margaery was back into the carriage with her grandmother, her mother and Elinor. Her dress was quite intact despite the long walk through Lannisport. The main road had looked quite clean. She wondered if it was always like this or if they cleared it before their arrival. After a long climb, turning around the hill, they arrived before a large and high entrance. It was the Lion's Mouth. They went through it and entered a large courtyard were Margaery could see a lot of servants, guards, knights and highborn people waiting.

They waited for some time inside the carriage as they heard her father speaking with someone. The man who answered had a deep and grave voice and gave sober answers to her father's boasting. Margaery supposed her father was talking with the Lord of Casterly Rock. The voice who answered to her father was polite, nor joyful nor threatening. Margaery could tell from the way he answered to her father that he wasn't impressed by the Lord of Highgarden. Finally, her father had come to the carriage, offered a hand to help her out and brought her before Lord Tyrion Lannister.

That was the first time Margaery had set eyes on the man they called the Imp. As her father had led her to him, she had observed him while trying to maintain a smiling and warm face. He was more than half her height, though his head didn't reach her shoulders. He had blond hair falling on his forehead, green eyes and was square of jaw. I am a dwarf, and those who pretend I am one of the ugliest men in the Seven Kingdoms are right. Well, Margaery had seen uglier men in her life. Except his size, she didn't have much to reproach to his appearance. He didn't have quite the appearance people were expecting from goblins or gnomes.

Margaery put on a sweet smile and curtsied. "Lord Tyrion. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. I was very eager to see you."

"My lady, the pleasure is all mine," he said as he bowed. His expression was serious and he seemed to doubt her words, but he was also smiling. He looked at her for a moment, as if he was examining her. "I see that you're not called the Rose of Highgarden only after your family's sigil."

Margaery giggled after seeing the playing smile on his face. Ser Daven Lannister didn't seem wrong about his cousin's humour. "You're too kind, my lord."

"I hope your journey wasn't too wearisome."

"Well, I must admit it was. We are rather tired."

"Very well. Let's not lose more time with presentations and welcoming. This is my uncle, Ser Kevan Lannister, my closest advisor." He turned his head to his left to indicate a man with green eyes and grizzly hair that still showed some blond. The man bowed to her. "And my aunt, Lady Genna Frey. But never call her Lady Frey, or else you'll regret the day you were born."

The smile on Lord Tyrion's face hadn't been like the one before. She supposed it was only half a joke then. Margaery turned to the big woman on his right who looked with a stern expression to her.

"How shall I call you then, my lady?" Margaery asked, still smiling.

"Lady Genna will do," the big woman answered, not without sharpness. Margaery kept smiling, but she took note to be careful with this one. Lady Genna strangely reminded her of someone she knew only too well.

As her father introduced her grandmother, her mother and Loras to the Lannisters, Margaery discreetly noticed that Lord Tyrion kept looking at her with fascination. He turned his head when her father introduced someone, but his eyes always went back to her. Margaery kept looking at the people discussing while being fully aware that the Lord of Casterly Rock was watching her. Finally, her family walked inside the castle to be led to their rooms. She shot a last smile to Lord Tyrion before she went inside as he remained in the courtyard. Later, in the evening, there was a feast to celebrate the arrival of the Tyrells at Casterly Rock in their Great Hall. Since men and women sat at different tables, Margaery wasn't given the opportunity to speak to her betrothed, but she witnessed a strong and sharp battle of words between her grandmother and Genna Frey that entertained her evening very well. She also looked in the direction of Lord Tyrion to see him talking mostly to Ser Kevan. The Lord of Casterly Rock was sitting between his uncle and her father, but the Lord of Highgarden seemed to bore Lord Tyrion when they talked together. Margaery noticed he still shot glances at her very frequently. She also saw with worry Loras shooting murderous glares in Lord Tyrion's direction, but was relieved to notice that Willas and Garlan kept an eye on her brother.

As she finished her breakfast, Margaery thought that things had gone quite well for their arrival. She had made a good first impression on the population of Lannisport, on the Lannisters and on her future husband. She could tell he was interested and intrigued by the way he looked at her, and that was very good. His interest in her was the foundation she could build upon to gain his trust, then his love. There were also the family members. She had already good relations with Ser Daven, and during the feast yesterday, Margaery and her cousins had mingled with the ladies of House Lannister. They were all excited to meet her, and she had made sure they loved their time with the Tyrell girls. They spoke, ate, drank, laughed, giggled and sang together. Margaery already had plans to get closer to the women of Casterly Rock, including the older ones.

However, her real work to gain Lord Tyrion's trust would be with him, his uncle and his aunt. Margaery would be able to spend time with Lord Tyrion in the following days before they married, so she could use these moments to learn more about him and make him feel she appreciated him. Ser Kevan was polite with her, but no more. Margaery didn't think she would achieve much by trying to put him on her side. He was the one to propose the marriage between her and Lord Tyrion, and he seemed to be a very serious man. He already approved their marriage and was an advisor. He didn't seem the kind of man to discuss personal matters with his lord. The only one that Margaery worried a little about was the aunt. Lady Genna Frey seemed severe, almost frightening. Margaery saw her argue with Lady Olenna at dinner. She wasn't someone to take lightly. Margaery would need to make sure Lady Genna was on her side, or at least that she was accepting her, before the wedding. Strangely, she expected it to be a greater challenge than to make Lord Tyrion fall in love with her.

Not long after she was done with her breakfast, Mira and Sera came back to her rooms. Mira took charge of bringing back the empty tray while Sera began to help her dress. Margaery chose a light green gown displaying her hips and her arms while covering her shoulders, with symbols of roses on the top part. As Sera began to comb her hair, Mira came back with a young boy probably younger than ten. He had black hair.

"Lady Margaery, this is Tywin Frey," explained Mira. "Lord Tyrion's squire."

"My lady," the boy said as he bowed, obviously shy. Margaery interrupted the combing of her hair and stood up to welcome him.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Tywin. Are you Lady Genna's son?" she asked.

"No, my lady. She is my grandmother. My father is her son."

"Then it is still a pleasure to meet you. What can I do for you?"

"My lord… Lord Tyrion would like to know if you would be interested to see him today. He would like to show you the Lion's Bridge."

Margaery didn't have to seek her betrothed. He was the one coming to her. "It will be my pleasure. You can tell Lord Tyrion that I will be very happy to spend some time in his company."

"Very well. I will come to lead you there in the afternoon."

Tywin Frey bowed again and left. Mira came to help Sera arrange her hair and put some perfume on her. Afterwards, Margaery left her rooms and went to the gardens where her cousins and her grandmother were waiting for her. The other Lannister ladies were already there, gossiping with the Tyrell cousins of Margaery. They all almost jumped on her when she arrived. Margaery's mother was there as well, discussing with Dorna Lannister, Ser Kevan's wife. To the opposite of Genna Frey, she wasn't fat, though she had a big belly because of her pregnancy. Lady Alerie Tyrell had spent most of the feast yesterday discussing with her, and they seemed to get along quite well. Margaery knew her mother couldn't have anything against a fellow mother. The twins, Cerenna and Myrielle, were very insistent in their questions about Highgarden and the Reach, and also about Margaery's brother. Leonette had to remind Lady Lanna that Garlan was married after she asked too many questions about him. A little girl with blond hair and green eyes like all Lannisters stayed away and Margaery had to go to her before she got involved in the small talk of all the girls. Megga and Alla spoke very much with Joy after Margaery showed everyone she approved of speaking with a bastard. She wasn't about to set aside a little girl of eight only because she didn't have the right mother. She didn't do it with Sera, and she wouldn't act differently with any other bastard.

In the end, Margaery managed to escape the gathering of ladies, old and young, and found her grandmother engaged in a passionate and sharp discussion with Lady Genna Frey. They were alone in a corner of the gardens and were arguing about the matter Margaery expected.

"You can't expect us to bring flowers from the Arbor within a few days!" exclaimed the Frey lady.

"A wedding without these is out of question," firmly stated the Queen of Thorns. "I was born in the Arbor."

"I thought this was the marriage of your granddaughter, not yours. You seem a little too old for marrying."

"Exactly, just like you. But I know that Margaery would never want her wedding to take place without something from her grandmother's home."

"We already have twenty different wines from the Arbor on the menu for the wedding. Isn't that enough of the Arbor for a single wedding?"

"No. We mustn't only drink the Arbor. We must see it as well, and smell it. And there is no better way to see and to smell the Arbor than to have flowers from the Arbor everywhere."

"The wedding is to take place in six days. We do not have the time to make flowers from the Arbor come by ship on such short notice. I am not going to delay the wedding for flowers."

"You only have to get some from your gardens."

"We do not have flowers of the Arbor growing in our gardens," said Lady Genna with an exasperated voice.

"What?! Are you kidding me? I thought you Lannisters would be able to have all the varieties from all the Seven Kingdoms here, with all the gold you have. I'm deceived."

"Gold cannot change the weather, and we do not have the weather allowing roses of the Arbor to grow here. So, unless you want to delay the wedding for a month or more, you have to forget about it. Anyway, everything has been decided. All the details are settled and to change the plans for the wedding now would cause too much trouble."

"This is the wedding of my granddaughter! Do you think I will allow it to proceed without having a word about it? Margaery deserves to have a say in the way her wedding is being organized."

"She had a say, just like you had. You sent us propositions and instructions by ravens and riders during the last months to tell us what you wanted for the wedding, and we complied to your requests the best we could. Our maester was almost drowned under the piles of letters you sent."

"Well, that made him do some exercise then. But… the best you could?" mocked Margaery's grandmother, rolling her eyes away. "The wedding is obviously more Lannister than Tyrell."

"We did our best to satisfy both the people of the Westerlands and the people of the Reach who will be present for the ceremony. I must remember you that while some lords from the Reach will attend, all the lords and landed knights in the Westerlands will be present. We cannot make a full fashion Reach wedding, even if we wanted."

"Are you saying that you made this wedding in the Westerlands fashion entirely? My granddaughter may be about to marry your nephew the Imp, but that doesn't mean she is going to throw away her roots."

"I don't think the Rose of Highgarden will lose her roots with the nickname she has."

"It's a better nickname than those your nephew has. Better to be called a rose than a halfman or a dwarf."

Margaery chose this moment to leave the bush of flowers she hid behind and to make her presence known to the two quarrelling women. She enjoyed the barter, but she was afraid it could be turn nasty soon. "Grandmother. Lady Genna. Please excuse me. I heard your voices and I was looking for Lady Olenna."

"Lady Margaery," Lady Genna welcomed her, not standing up. "If you wish for some time alone with your grandmother, then I will not use her time anymore."

"Thank you, my lady. But since you are here, I would like to ask if I could take a look at the arrangements for the wedding. I would like to see if I could bring some enhancements to it. After all, this is my wedding." Margaery exchanged an amused look with her grandmother.

"Very well, my dear," answered Lady Genna, obviously exhausted. "Come to see me tomorrow. I'll tell you everything about it. But I must warn you that we will not be able to make any major changes at the last minute."

"I understand."

Lady Genna rose from her seat and left, but on her way she stopped and laid a hand on Margaery's shoulder. "Enjoy your wedding, my dear. Because after that, you will be Lady of Casterly Rock, and it will be your turn to arrange the weddings of the others. Believe me, this is no small task."

Lord Tyrion's aunt left on these words. Margaery was now alone with her grandmother. "You finally found someone you could quarrel with all day," Margaery told her, smiling.

"Indeed. I begin to regret it. Let's walk among these boring bushes and flowers. The discussion exhausted me." Margaery was sure she wasn't the only one exhausted by the conversation. Her future aunt-in-law had certainly been drained by it as well. No matter how sharp you could be, a discussion with the Queen of Thorns would take all your forces if it lasted too long.

"So, are you well settled?" asked her grandmother.

"I am. My rooms are very comfortable. I expect them to be even more comfortable after my wedding."

"If you have your own rooms. You will share them with your husband. But we could still ask for separate rooms for you, though not at the beginning of the marriage. Later. We will also leave a hundred guards as a household behind with you after the wedding, and a few of your cousins. You will keep your handmaidens too. We mustn't let the Lannisters control your life."

"Grandmother, isn't that excessive? To leave me with a hundred guards? I will be the Lady of Casterly Rock. The guards of the castle and my husband will never let something happen to me."

"What if your husband is the one to threaten you?"

"I don't believe he's a threat. You've seen him. Does he look dangerous to you?"

"Not at first sight, but we cannot rely on the external appearance. He doesn't look like a monster from Asshai-by-the-Shadow, for sure. Being honest, I was really deceived when I saw him. I hoped to see a gnome with a bald head, a moustache and a beard, perhaps with a hat and bells around his neck, and instead I saw this."

"I'm sorry that my future husband didn't live up to your expectations, Grandmother."

Her grandmother took her by the arm and looked straight into her eyes. "Listen to me, my child. Be careful with this man."

"I will be careful, Grandmother. Don't worry."

"Well, I worry. I know he looks like a normal man, except for the fact he's smaller than all the ones we ever saw, but remember the rumors about him. There is always some truth at the origin of any rumor."

"I know. I know there must be some truth about it. He surely visits brothels, but then he is no different from most of the men, and if he drinks, then it is the same. Look at Garth."

"Oh, please. Don't talk about him. I'm never able to decide which one is the worst of your father or him."

"We know that the stories about his red eyes, his tail or his claws are wrong. As for the privates of a woman, I cannot verify it for now. I'll have to wait for my wedding night. But I don't believe he is a monster. He has flaws, but I can live with them, especially if I live as Lady of Casterly Rock."

"You're very sure of yourself. Be careful all the same. I don't want something bad to happen to you. I will try to learn more about your betrothed before the wedding. Some Lannisters will surely loosen their tongues during a conversation. As for you, try to get something out of him. Better to know more about him before you find yourself into his bed."

"I must see him this afternoon, before dinner. I'll be careful. Anyway, I was already planning to know him better before we got wed. How do you think I should? Any advice?"

"Let him talk. Men always love to talk about themselves. Look at your brother and your father. Don't let him suspect anything about you. Make him feel he is important and that you find him more interesting than anything else in the world. You are good at that, even better than me. And I was very very good."

They kept walking for a long time before they joined the rest of the family for the midday meal. They took it in the gardens. They weren't as enjoyable as those in Highgarden and the temperature was cooler, but they were beautiful all the same. Margaery then made some embroidery with the other Tyrell and Lannister ladies until Lord Tyrion's squire came to lead her to the Lion's Bridge. They had to travel through most of the castle before they reached the famous bridge.

Lord Tyrion Lannister was talking with another man in the thirties when they arrived. The man had sandy hair and wore a crimson doublet.

"No, my lord," he said. "We found nothing."

"Very well, Damion. Keep an eye all the same."

"Yes, my lord." The man turned on his heels to walk away, and that's when he realized that Margaery was approaching. He bowed immediately. "My lady."

"My lady, this is Ser Damion Lannister. He is a cousin of mine. He helps me to administer Casterly Rock," Lord Tyrion explained.

"Ser Damion. I suppose you are Lanna's father," Margaery replied.

"Yes, my lady." The knight seemed surprised that she knew it. "You met her."

"Yes. She is a very kind young woman. You must be proud of her."

"I am. I've been trying to find her a suitable husband lately. She's coming of age. I wonder if you…"

"That's alright, Damion," interrupted Lord Tyrion. "We'll talk about it later. You may leave as well, Ty." Ser Damion and the squire walked away, leaving her alone with the Lord of Casterly Rock. "It was better that I interrupted him. Damion is not a lickspittle, but he never misses an opportunity to ask something for him or his family."

"That's alright," replied Margaery. "We have that kind of people in Highgarden as well. I know how to deal with them."

"Good thing. You won't lack that sort of people here neither." Tyrion Lannister was talking jokingly, though perhaps in a less cheerful way than Ser Daven. "So, have enjoyed your stay so far?"

"I have, though this is only my first day here. But it is a good place, my lord. I have nothing to complain about. Casterly Rock looks wonderful."

"It is. This is where I grew up." His expression took a darker tone. "Do you miss your home, my lady? Highgarden?"

"Not really, for the time. Maybe I'll miss it more in the future, but I am sure I will come to love Casterly Rock as my true home." Lord Tyrion was looking at her with a queer look, but he nodded. Margaery decided to change the subject of the conversation while she kept smiling. "You wanted to show me something? You didn't ask me to see you here randomly."

"No, of course not. I wanted to show you something indeed. In fact, many things. But for that, we must cross the bridge. It's about three thousand feet long. I hope you won't find it too long."

"Not at all. I'll follow you, my lord."

Lord Tyrion led the way on the Lion's Bridge. "I heard that your grandmother and my aunt had a little squabble this morning. I hope Lady Olenna is not upset."

"Don't worry," said Margaery with a reassuring smile. "My grandmother likes to squabble with everyone. In fact, I believe she discovered a real challenge in your aunt."

"Well, that will make dinners between our two families interesting. Two old women with sharp tongues." They both laughed, but Lord Tyrion put on a more serious expression very quickly. "If you want to change anything to the wedding ceremony, feel free to do so, my lady. It is your wedding, and most of the time, it only happens once in someone's life."

"I thank you, my lord. And I'll try to keep my grandmother away from the wedding preparations if this causes too much trouble, though I must warn you it will be quite difficult to keep her away."

"Very well. I'll have to handle my aunt and your grandmother, it seems." Margaery shyly laughed.

They kept walking for a moment without speaking, Margaery using that moment to look at the structure of the Lion's Bridge. It was a very long bridge entirely made of white marble, with a roof to protect from the rain and the sun and arches on both sides to support it. Margaery knew the bridge was very high since it began near the peak of Casterly Rock, though she wasn't sure exactly what was his precise height. It was a very well made work, almost competing with the white battlements of Highgarden. As she admired it, Margaery noticed again that Lord Tyrion was often looking at her in an uncertain way. He didn't know what to say. According to Mira and Ser Daven, Lord Tyrion was a very bookish man, so better to start on these grounds.

"When was this bridge built, my lord? Was it made right after the collapse?"

Lord Tyrion stopped to look at her, surprised. "You know about that?"

Margaery took a shy expression. "I have to confess that I tried to learn a few things about the Westerlands before I came here."

Lord Tyrion looked impressed. "You're quite clever, my lady. But no, this bridge is five hundred years old. So far, it's the one that lasted the longest. The previous bridges didn't last more than three centuries., whether they were in stone or in wood."

They resumed their walk. "The first one was in wood, I suppose."

"You suppose well. It was built quickly. About two thousand years ago, there was an earthquake in the Westerlands. The Rock shook like it never did, according to maesters. The center portion of Casterly Rock collapsed. The base had been weakened by the water carving into the rock and the mining for thousands of years. Casterly Rock was cut in two. The southern part had no problem, this is where the Lion's Mouth is, but the northern part was cut from any contact with the real world. People were stuck on the hill, without any way to get down. King Tommen the First quickly built a bridge of wood to link the two separated parts. His successors built stronger bridges, until Tywell the Third built this one. And here we are, walking on it."

"I hope it won't collapse while I walk on it," said Margaery on joking tone.

Lord Tyrion smiled and laughed a little. "Don't worry, my lady. The engineers are telling me it would hold for at least two more hundred years."

"I'm relieved then."

"I spoke with one of your cousins by the way this morning. Willas is his name."

"You spoke with Willas?"

"Yes. He's quite a good fellow. We had many things to talk about. He surprised me while I was leaving the library early in the morning. He was coming in while I was about to leave."

"That doesn't surprise me. Willas likes to read."

"I saw it. Though I think you won't see a lot of him while you're here."

"Why do you say that?" asked Margaery, intrigued.

"Because we started to speak about dragons, and when your cousin realized I knew more about them than him, I showed him all the rare copies of works on the subject that we had here. I'm afraid he's going to spend the next days reading them before he has to leave."

"It seems you met my bookish cousin, my lord."

"I have nothing against this. For once, I have someone to speak with about these things. Do you know for how long your family will stay after the wedding?"

"Perhaps a month or more. I don't know exactly. But I can ask Willas to stay longer if you wish."

"I would be happy. May I ask you how he was crippled?" Margaery told the whole story about how Willas was injured during a tourney. "I'm sorry for him. I was born a dwarf, so I learnt to live with it, but to become a cripple after you could walk, ride, fight… That must be very hard."

Lord Tyrion's face only showed empathy. He really seemed sincere. "Willas managed to keep going on. Now he raises hawks, hounds, horses, he reads and studies, and he is strongly involved in the running of Highgarden."

"I suppose that explains why he's not studying to become a maester."

"Probably," conceded Margaery. "He thought about it for some time, but in the end he chose to stay at Highgarden. When you become a maester, you cannot marry."

Lord Tyrion nodded. "I thought about becoming a maester when I was young. I even thought about being High Septon. If I had kept my mind on it, maybe you wouldn't be here."

"Then I'm glad you changed your ideas," said Margaery with a fond smile at him.

Lord Tyrion laughed shortly. Margaery felt some bitterness in the laugh. "I hope your cousin Willas will marry one day. He told me he was still a bachelor."

"He is," confirmed Margaery, not without bitterness either. "But young women mostly see his lame leg and nothing else. They don't want to marry a man who needs a stick to walk."

"But you are willing to marry a dwarf," Lord Tyrion said suddenly. His expression wasn't very clear, but Margaery had the impression he didn't believe that she really wanted to marry him. She had to rectify it.

"My lord, from what I know of you and after the letter you sent to me, you are a very good man. If you were a bit taller, no one would complain about marrying you. And I know that without his lame leg, no one would complain either about marrying my cousin Willas. I'm past the appearances. I saw enough how people were unfair to Willas, and I can imagine how they were unfair to you."

"You don't know who I am, my lady. Your cousin Willas is a much better fellow than me," he said again with bitterness.

Margaery stopped and faced him. "You underestimate yourself, my lord. You are a much better man than you believe."

Strangely, Margaery felt she meant these words. Lord Tyrion was looking at her as if he never saw her before. Even for Margaery, it was disconcerting. She realized she no longer smiled, but had a serious expression. With much effort, she brought back a smile on her face, though not as shining as she made them usually. Lord Tyrion averted his eyes.

"We should keep moving," he only said. They started to walk again and remained silent for a long moment. "By the way, my lady, I would like to speak to your grandmother tomorrow. I have the feeling that she is more the Lady of Highgarden than your father is the Lord of Highgarden."

"You may not be wrong, my lord," she replied.

It was at this moment that they arrived at the end of the Lion's Bridge. Margaery found herself before a wonderful and gigantic garden, more gorgeous than some gardens at home. She spent what was left of the afternoon visiting it and the buildings on the northern hill. There was a hall, paths to walk, several gardens, pools, fountains, many chambers for at least a hundred of people and rooms for music and other entertainments. Lord Tyrion spent hours to explain her the northern part of the hill was some sort of place where important people were staying while here at Casterly Rock and where the people of the Rock retreated when they were tired. That was where the wedding would take place. It almost made Margaery think she was back at Highgarden. She spent hours visiting it, witnessing the preparations for the wedding. She realized at the same time that Lord Tyrion was smiling before her enthusiasm, and that this time there was no bitterness in him. Margaery went back to her rooms only late in the evening.

She had missed the dinner with her family, so she ate alone in her rooms. Her grandmother came to see her before she went to sleep and Margaery informed her of what she could learn about Lord Tyrion during these hours with him. When her grandmother had left and that Margaery was lying on her bed, she thought about what happened on the northern hill. Lord Tyrion had smiled at her so sincerely and he had looked so happy, just as she was happy. 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. Margaery thought she understood him better now. Tyrion Lannister wanted to make her happy because it made him happy. In this case, her task would be much easier. She only had to let herself be happy with him, or to seem happy with him.


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Next chapter: Tyrion (the wedding)