Once again, there are exceptionally two chapters this week. And like the last time, the first one is from Tyrion's perspective, and the second one from Margaery's. However, they will be much more joyful than those I published around New Year.


TYRION VI

Tyrion looked at the green plains that stretched before him. He had already visited the Reach in the past, seen the Mander, Oldtown, the Hightower, the fertile lands full of wheat, barley, fruits and vegetables. And of course, he visited the brothels. Not this time, though. He was a married man, and his wife was all he needed and all he wanted. She wouldn't like it anyway.

He turned his eyes away from the Reach to look at his wife. She was speaking with Cerenna. They had to stop not long after midday when a wheel of their carriage broke. Tyrion's men were working to fix a new one. It would be arranged soon and they could be on their way to Old Oak.

The tour through the Westerlands had started six months ago. Tyrion and Margaery had left the Rock with a large retinue of two hundred people, including knights and their squires, servants, guards and family members. Of Margaery's family, all her cousins who lived at Casterly Rock followed her. Of Tyrion's family, there were Genna's sons, Lyonel and Tywin, the latter being Tyrion's personal squire, and his cousins Cerenna, Myrielle and Joy. His uncle Gerion's daughter was particularly excited by this trip. She never really left the Rock ever since Tyrion's favorite uncle had brought her in.

They had started to the west, towards Feasfires. On their way, they got through Kayce, but they didn't stop there. Tyrion was afraid of what, or who, he could meet there, and Margaery hadn't opposed the decision. From Feasfires, they had continued north and taken ships to reach Fair Isle where Lord Farman received them at Faircastle. After a few days on the island, they had gained the mainland again and resumed their way north up to the Banefort, the northest castle of the Westerlands. On the way, they saw the ruins of Castamere and Tarbeck Hall, and stopped at the Crag. It was there that the first event of notice took place.

Tyrion had organized this journey with Margaery for several reasons. First, it was for the people of the Westerlands to see and know who their lord and lady were. Many among the smallfolk in the Westerlands, especially those in the northern regions, had never seen Tyrion, and even less Margaery since she came south by the Ocean Road. Their travel was made of public events, feasts and stays in their bannermen's castles. They remained a day or two with each lord, up to a week when the lord in question was more important, like at Crakehall, Faircastle and the Golden Tooth. Feasts were thrown, toasts were made in their honor, the lords and ladies of the Westerlands renewed their pledge to Casterly Rock. They also visited markets, towns, farms, even mines. Margaery was very good at it, behaving with the smallfolk as easily as she dealt with the noble people. They hadn't forgotten to bring enough gold, food, toys and everything necessary for her charity works. She easily handled the ladies and their lords, gaining their respect, and sometimes their admiration. Some became lickspittles following her everywhere from the first night they spent in their home.

However, this tour wasn't only a question of public relations. Tyrion wanted to use this opportunity to speak with his bannermen about their problems, see that they respected their duties towards House Lannister and make sure they remained loyal. Tyrion wasn't a fool like his grandfather to believe that his bannermen would follow him blindly, without any afterthought, and he knew the memory of Castamere wasn't a complete guarantee against further rebellions, far less considering his wife had forbidden to play the Rains of Castamere ever again. At Feastfires, Lord Prester committed the mistake of ordering the song to his bard during the welcoming feast, and Margaery had immediately interrupted the singer after the first line, giving the choice to the Lord of Feastfires between sending his bard away for the duration of their stay, or to see the Lord and the Lady of Casterly Rock leave with all their retinue right away. The choice hadn't been hard, and they never saw the bard again. The word spread, and no one dared to play the song again on their way. Tyrion had never been bothered that much by this song, though it didn't really make for a happy atmosphere, but if Margaery didn't want to hear it, he wouldn't force it upon her.

At the Crag, he had the surprise of a private discussion with the Lady of the Crag, Sybell Westerling. She produced a letter written to them by Tyrion's sister, the queen. Cersei had offered them a large amount of gold from the vaults of Casterly Rock, along with the promise of good marriages for all the Westerling children, if they supported Cersei against Tyrion when the time would come. Lady Westerling subtly hinted her hope to be rewarded one day for revealing this to her liege lord. Tyrion had recognized Cersei's writing, and he wasn't quite surprised that his sister was preparing some way or another to overthrow him. Tyrion had rewarded them by giving them back their eldest son and promising a good marriage to their eldest daughter, Jeyne. However, he had taken their youngest son, Rollam, as a ward instead of his brother and promised to organize a good marriage for House Westerling's heir if they could discover anything more about Cersei's plans. They had much more to gain by cooperating with Tyrion than with his sister. Cersei had almost no power in the Westerlands, and what she had in the capital and the Crownlands wasn't much, and far from enough to seize the Westerlands. Whatever riches she had mostly came from the gold that Tyrion sent to her regularly, which was nothing when compared to what Tyrion could offer himself.

From the Banefort, they had come back south, but turned east to Ashemark, then to the Golden Tooth. That was the most important, and the most delicate stop of all their journey. Lord Lefford failed repeatedly lately to pay his taxes, and they remained at this castle bordering the Riverlands for a week to settle all the necessary matters. While they stayed there, Margaery and Lady Alysanne spent a lot of time together. The woman who could have been Lady of Casterly Rock, if Lord Tyrell had refused Kevan's proposition, confessed to Margaery that she was afraid her father may do something foolish out of ambition. Tyrion already had three private discussions with Lord Lefford, and each time the lord swept away the fact he failed to pay his taxes. He always found a way to divert the discussion on another topic, as if that wasn't important. During their first meeting, he even told Tyrion where was the nearest brothel. Tyrion was glad that Margaery hadn't been there to hear this, and had wanted to execute his bannerman for suggesting he might still be visiting whores when he was married, as if he couldn't content himself with the most beautiful woman in the Seven Kingdoms. As if he couldn't content himself with a single woman.

At their fourth discussion, Tyrion had taken a direct approach, deducing there was something behind Lady Alysanne's worries. He had wondered aloud very soon in the conversation if Lord Lefford hoped to get something if Tyrion died a way or another. Lord Lefford had been without words, but when Tyrion voiced the supposition that a member of his family might reward Lord Lefford if he helped to overthrow him, the eyes of the Lord of the Golden Tooth had become mad with terror. Then Tyrion revealed to Leo Lefford that his daughter said he exchanged messages with Cersei, and the terror on his face confirmed everything Tyrion suspected. He suggested that if Lord Lefford denied his daughter's allegations, then that would mean his daughter lied to the Lord of Casterly Rock, which could cause her many problems. Faced with the possibility to lose his only child and heir, the Lord of the Golden Tooth confessed that the queen had tried to involve him in a plot, just like she tried with the Westerlings, offering to marry his daughter Alysanne to Jaime once he would be Lord of Casterly Rock, if Lord Lefford supported Cersei when the time would come. Tyrion didn't know if the lord stopped paying some taxes because he thought Tyrion wouldn't be there for long, or because Tyrion denied the title of Lady of Casterly Rock to his daughter, or for both reasons. Still, he confessed he hid a plot against his liege lord, if he didn't participate to it. That would have been enough to condemn the man to death, but Tyrion did better. He made Lord Lefford leave his castle to live in a mansion far away on his domains, while his daughter now assumed the leadership of House Lefford.

The next days had been spent in ensuring a peaceful transition between the father and the daughter. They had full cooperation from Lady Alysanne, who only asked that her father wouldn't be mistreated and that he would be allowed to live. Once this was assured both by him and Margaery, there was no problem. The men working closely with Lord Lefford were removed from their positions at the Golden Tooth, and replaced. They received generous compensations for their "early and voluntary" departure, and Lady Lefford offered additional sums to a few who remained in post. However, at the eighth day, they received a raven from Casterly Rock. The message he carried changed everything.

Tyrion, Margaery and all the people following them had to leave immediately. They travelled all the way back to Casterly Rock, and after a short stay there that consisted only in one day and two nights, they left for Old Oak. In their absence, Margaery's parents and their allies in Oldtown had managed to convince the Hightowers to enter the zone of low tariffs on trade. All major harbors in the Westerlands and the Reach had agreed. Even the Shield Islands had joined the lot. Tyrion didn't expect, nor hope, that it would come to life so quickly. So now here they were, only a few miles away from Old Oak where the signature of the agreement would take place. The first real fruits of his family's alliance with the Tyrells.

"My lord," said Ty on his right. "The carriage is repaired. We're ready to go."

"Thank you, Ty."

Tyrion walked back to the wheelhouse. His wife was no longer discussing with a cousin of his, but with her handmaiden, Lady Mira. Tyrion had come to like the girl. She remembered him of her father when he met him, both in appearance and in behaviour, though he thought she had more guile than the man she came from. She was also very knowledgeable, and discussions with her were never boring. The fact she was unquestionably loyal to Margaery did a lot to enhance the opinion Tyrion had of her.

"You know he'll be there," Margaery was saying as Tyrion approached.

"I know, my lady," the northern lady replied.

"What will you do when he asks you?"

Lady Mira had her back turned to him, so Tyrion couldn't see her expression, but she hesitated before she answered. "I don't know."

Margaery nodded with a sour expression on her face, but then she noticed Tyrion and her face lightened. It didn't change like before, at the beginning of their marriage. This was real happiness, the true Margaery, the woman Tyrion loved.

"We'll talk about this later," said Margaery to Mira, moving her eyes to Tyrion. Mira Forrester looked behind her and saw that Tyrion was here. She curtsied and left to take place on a horse. Tyrion was alone with Margaery before the door of their wheelhouse.

Tyrion opened an arm to show she was to go inside first, and she smiled mockingly as she did so. Tyrion followed her inside and a servant closed the door behind them. "What were you talking about with Mira?" Tyrion asked. He had taken the habit of calling Margaery's handmaidens and cousins only by their first name, since Margaery did it all the time.

"Oh. A raven came from Highgarden for her while we were away."

"And?"

"It was from Willas. He will be at Old Oak, and he said that he would like to ask her something."

Tyrion knew that all Margaery's family would be there. He only hoped that he wouldn't have to suffer too much from the boasting of her father, the sharp comments of her grandmother and her brother's desire to chop his head. He also wondered how Margaery's mother would behave around them. She seemed to have a better opinion of him when they left Casterly Rock last year, but he wasn't sure she wouldn't look disapprovingly if she ever saw Tyrion kiss her daughter in public, or even holding her hand. However, he didn't mind meeting again Margaery's cousins, Garlan and Willas, especially the latter. Tyrion and Willas had maintained a correspondence since the wedding, suggesting each other various works to read and exchanging opinions on that book and that other book. He remembered the last time they spoke… and the way he looked at Lady Mira. He thought he had a good idea about what he wanted to ask her.

"I suppose there will be another marriage very soon in your family."

Margaery laughed, but not very convincingly. "That is, if Mira agrees."

Tyrion frowned. "You think she might refuse?"

"She hesitates. She says it wouldn't be appropriate for a Tyrell to marry her, because her family is not highborn enough. She also says she doesn't want to marry immediately. She doesn't want to leave my service."

"I wouldn't want to leave it me neither," Tyrion japed. "How old is she?" he asked more seriously.

"Fifteen."

"She is old enough to marry. Your cousin mustn't be older than me."

"He is twenty-one. No, that's not a problem, but Mira doesn't think this is appropriate."

The wheelhouse began to move. Tyrion had to catch his balance a moment. "Well, if that wouldn't be appropriate, I wonder what my first marriage was."

Margaery's facial expression showed she agreed, though she didn't look happy at the mention of this. They had talked about his first marriage a few times in the last months, and Tyrion was almost able to speak about it normally with Margaery, but not with anyone else. Still, this was a memory he preferred to not talk about too much. He could mention it without problem, but not talk about it in details.

"Willas is not going to marry anytime soon. Mira should accept it. I'm sure her parents would agree. This is a much better match than they could envision for her. She would be marrying a Tyrell, after all, and Willas loves her. Still, she can't decide herself." Margaery said with exasperation.

"Is it possible she could have someone else in mind?" asked Tyrion.

Margaery scoffed. "Mira? Someone in mind? When the Others will come back, yes. I never saw her take an interest in a man, nor in a woman for that matter before you ask. She is certainly going to marry who she has to, and nothing more."

Life had certainly been boring for Lady Mira if she was never interested in someone. Though, Tyrion didn't have a boring life, but a miserable one as well until he met Margaery. He thought about Tysha.

He cleared his throat. "Well, if Willas really wants her, convince her. That's not as if some great house will complain about it."

"I've been trying, but so far without results. Mira still refuses to say yes, or she says she's not sure about it. But I'm sure she would be happy with Willas."

"There are worse husbands." Tyrion thought about Lysa Arryn married to a man more than thrice her age, Cersei married to Robert Baratheon, and Stannis's wife, though the woman was no better than the man. The young man with a crippled leg who loved books, hawks and horses didn't seem like a bad prospect for Lady Mira. He couldn't be worse to her than Tyrion had been to Margaery, and she looked quite happy. Unless she faked all of it again and Tyrion was a fool to believe she loved him. He pushed these thoughts away and thought about a certain night six months ago. That was enough to convince him without doubt that his wife wasn't lying when she said she loved him.

"Do you think you could try to convince her?" Tyrion was surprised by the request. "I failed, but perhaps if someone else tried, it could work."

Tyrion thought about it. He had never advised anyone about marriage or love. His own experience didn't make of him a recommendable advisor in these matters. However, it was Margaery who asked him. "I'll try, but if she is as stubborn in this as she is when she serves you, I'm afraid I have an impossible task to face."

"She's a Northerner." She shrugged and rolled her eyes, as if that was evident. "We cannot help with that. I would say she is only uncertain, so there is a chance you might succeed. If you don't, I warn you that I'll start looking among our bannermen to find Willas a wife."

This meant she would look in the Westerlands. Tyrion had nothing against it, but he doubted Margaery would have more success with the Westerlands than with the Reach. Maybe some wouldn't know about Lord Willas's crippled leg.

Tyrion turned back his attention to his books while Margaery looked outside. They were in the Reach now, and that was the place where she grew up. She was obviously excited to be back home, and he was glad that she was.

"I wish we could go to Highgarden," she said after a few minutes. "I would like to show you everything in my home. The white walls, the maze, the gardens, the courtyards, the waterfalls, the sept, the godswood with its three weirwood trees. We may swim in one of the many pools there."

She had a wicked smile, and Tyrion knew what she was thinking about. "We will visit it one day. I promise. In the meantime, we still have the lakes beneath Casterly Rock."

Margaery's smile grew even more wicked, but she turned back her eyes towards the Reach all the same. Tyrion let her to her contemplation of her homeland. They would have time for that sort of things later. Soon, a knight from House Algood came to tell them the castle was close. A few minutes later, they had gone through the two rows of oaks bordering the main gate and they were inside Old Oak.

Margaery's family was there to welcome her. She hugged her father and her two cousins, while she kissed her mother and her grandmother on the cheeks. The Lord of Highgarden welcomed Tyrion profusely, while his wife acted properly with the appropriate greetings. Tyrion then shared a shake of hands with Willas and Garlan before he left his wife to her reunion with her family. Strangely, Ser Loras Tyrell wasn't here. At the feast in the evening, Willas told him that his cousin was at Storm's End and that Lady Olenna had judged better to not warn him about the gathering at Old Oak. For the first time, Tyrion was thankful to the Queen of Thorns. He left the feast early with Margaery, both wishing to rest after the months of travel they had, and he spent a beautiful night.

Margaery spent the next morning with her family as well. They had quite a big catch-up to make. Tyrion used the opportunity to see Lord Paxter Redwyne. Old Oak had become the greatest gathering of lords from the Reach and the Westerlands since his wedding with Margaery. The agreement involved every lord who had a harbor and more, which meant not only Tyrion's and Margaery's families, but the Lannisters of Lannisport, the Farmans of Fair Isle, the Presters of Feasfires, The Hightowers of Oldtown, the Redwynes of the Arbor, the Cuys of Sunhouse, the Blackbars of Bandallon, and many more. Even the Florents were present. Only the Hightowers hadn't arrived yet.

"So, Lord Redwyne, I suppose that we agree," Tyrion told him after half an hour of discussion.

"I think so, my lord," confirmed the Lord of the Arbor.

"Good. We shall wait for Lady Desmera at Casterly Rock next year then."

"That will do," said the balding man who only had a few red hair remaining. "I'm sure Desmera will be very eager to meet Ser Daven."

They shook hands and Lord Paxter left Tyrion's apartments. The marriage between his cousin Daven and Lady Desmera Redwyne was arranged. This would only strengthen the alliance of Tyrion's family with the Reach. Maybe he should try to betroth Cerenna or Myrielle or Lucion to a Hightower or a Tarly.

Tyrion left his rooms and walked to the library. He hoped he would find something interesting to read there. He doubted Old Oak's library would match those they had at Casterly Rock. He went through the door and took a look at the many shelves before he selected a book on dragons he remembered reading a long time ago. The Elder Scrolls of Skyrim. Tyrion hid behind one of the shelves to read in peace. After an hour of quiet reading, he heard two people coming in. They couldn't see him since he was hidden by the full shelves, but he heard what they said.

"What is the problem? Do you think your parents could disapprove because I am…"

"No, not at all." Tyrion recognized the second voice to be his wife's handmaiden. He had a good idea to who belonged the first.

"Then why?"

"I'm not sure. That's all. Can I have some time to think about it?"

"Of course. Just… tell me your answer before you leave."

"Very well. I'll give you one in the next days, I promise."

Tyron heard footsteps on the floor that faded away. Then someone sighed. Tyrion laid down his book and came out of the shelves. He wasn't surprised to find Willas Tyrell sitting at a table with nothing to read, his stick on his knees. He had the look of someone worried.

"So, you asked her?" Willas turned his head quickly to see Tyrion. A smile appeared on his face.

"Lord Tyrion."

"Call me Tyrion. We're related, and friends, so it's enough for that. Did you ask her?"

His face grew uncertain. "You know?"

"Margaery and I share a lot of things, and Lady Mira shares everything with my wife. Did you really think she wouldn't tell me?" He looked at him with an amused smile. Willas sighed and Tyrion came to sit by his side. "So, did she accept?"

"No."

"Did she refuse?"

"No."

"You received the worst answer you could receive," Tyrion resumed.

"I wish I had her answer now, but I want her to say yes, and I can't be sure she will."

He had the perfect face of the discouraged lad. Tyrion could sympathize with him. "I don't see why she would refuse."

"Because I'm a cripple."

Tyrion pulled a face. "Lady Mira Forrester doesn't strike like someone who cares very much about these details."

Willas Tyrell sighed. "I hope not. I thought she didn't, but now that I ask for her hand… I wish she could answer right away. I missed her while she's was away. I missed her more than I thought I would during the wedding. And she's more beautiful than ever."

Tyrion could have said the last sentence about his own wife. He felt pity for the young man. He didn't have the chance to have a marriage all arranged by his family with someone he would fall for. He didn't have a big title, lands or a castle like Tyrion did.

"I'm sure she will accept." He said that in the hope to comfort his wife's cousin, but he didn't really believe it himself.

"You are?" Willa asked, sounding unbelieving.

"I wouldn't say that otherwise." A lie.

That seemed to give back some optimism to Willas. "I'm glad to see you and Margaery all the same. She was missed in Highgarden too."

"I have no doubt about it. We barely spent a few months out of the Rock and everyone there missed her. My wife has the ability to make herself loved by the others."

Willas chuckled. "Yes, she's very good at it. She likes to be loved."

So do I. "Do you know when the Hightowers are supposed to arrive?"

"Very soon. In a few days, this agreement will be signed. I can't believe it. Only a year after your wedding. Margaery moved earth and sky for that. I didn't expect that from her. Se never showed much interest to matters like trade, or farming, or taxes. She knew the basics, of course, but her interests were more about politics, court intrigue, and improving the life of the people."

"Maybe I had an influence on her," Tyrion suggested.

"Well, whatever it was, it seems it was good. I spoke with her yesterday, and she almost looked happier than she was at Highgarden."

"Really?" Tyrion didn't doubt, except in a very few rare occasions now, that his wife was happy in the Westerlands, but happier than she had been at Highgarden? He never thought that could be possible.

"Well, she just saw us after a complete year," Willas explained. That made more sense. "And… the way she talked about you… I never saw her like this. I never saw her talking about someone this way. She… She really holds you in high esteem, and more than that."

Tyrion felt pride, and also relief, fill his mind and body. There was a small part of him that feared about what Margaery might tell to her family about him.

"Have you read all the books you borrowed from my libraries?" Tyrion asked his friend.

They spent the next hour talking like the two bookish boys the were. However, in the end, Tyrion took his leave and went to the battlements. He walked all along them. Tents had grown all around the castle. The Oakhearts were an important house, but not among the richest. Their castle was very satisfying for noble people of their standing, but it couldn't hold so many high lords with their retinues. All the lords had their rooms inside the castle, but most of their men had to stay outside, except for the Tyrells and the Lannisters whose entire retinues were housed within the walls. Tyrion looked at the village of tents as he crossed the battlements and followed his way to the gardens. He needed a quick walk there.

As he progressed among bushes and flowers that were smaller and less beautiful than the ones at the Rock, even before the arrangements Margaery made, he caught sight of a very odd pair. One was old, full of wrinkles, the top of her head hidden by clothes as always, the other one was young, graceful, and despite the fact she wore clothes in the Reach fashion, it was obvious she wasn't from the south. Lady Olenna Tyrell and Lady Mira Forrester, walking side by side. He heard his grandmother-in-law's sharp voice far before he could see her.

"I'm happy that Margaery is going to give some fashion to this rock. Truth be told, the gardens were quite dull when we were there. But how will she make sure they are well taken care of while she's away?"

"Lady Margaery gave specific orders to the gardeners before she left. They will make sure everything is in order," replied placidly the northern handmaiden.

"I hope they are better than the gardeners we have in the Reach. They're barely able to keep Highgarden in good state."

"I found Highgarden quite marvelous when I was there, my lady."

"You just proved the Northerners know nothing about gardening." They appeared in the turn of a corner at this moment, Lady Mira showing no sign of reaction to the banter or insult, whatever you could call that. "Truth be told, I envy you. When you grow up in simplicity, you have the chance to marvel at almost everything. I didn't have it."

They came across Tyrion at this moment. "My lady. My lady," he said as civility.

Lady Mira curtsied like always. "Lord Tyrion."

They had begun to resume their respective paths when the Queen of Thorns stopped. Her stand showed clearly she wouldn't leave. "Ah, it's you. I mistook you for a small boy."

"You were half right. I am small. But with my age, I doubt we can still call me a boy."

"With my own age, there are few I can't call a boy or a girl. For that matter, I thought a man could make sure my granddaughter would be pregnant by now. I was hoping I could see my great-grandchildren before I died."

All gratitude Tyrion had felt yesterday because she kept her grandson away vanished. "Maybe you should pray to the Mother. Or the Grandmother."

She tipped the head, as if she thought about it. "Maybe that's not a bad idea, though the gods rarely give us what we want." Tyrion agreed with her. The old woman turned to the handmaiden. "I may have more chance praying for these gods you have in the North. The Old Gods may have some sympathy for an old woman like me. Do you pray often to them?"

"Every day, my lady. But I also pray to the New," the girl answered.

"Every day as well?"

"Yes, my lady."

"I wonder how you make. When do you pray for them?"

"In the morning for the Seven, and in the evening for the Old Gods."

"Well, I shall pray with you tonight then. With some luck, my granddaughter will be with child while we stay here. Come, child."

The Queen of Thorns resumed her path and Lady Mira followed her after another curtsy. Tyrion remembered at this moment the discussion he had with Margaery yesterday. He called her. "Lady Mira. I would need a word with you."

He thought he saw relief in her eyes. "Of course, my lord. Please forgive me, Lady Olenna."

"You don't have to ask for forgiveness. He's the one making you abandon a poor old woman. We'll see each other later."

The Queen of Thorns left on these words and Tyrion was alone with Margaery's handmaiden. "Am I wrong, or you wished to escape Lady Olenna?" he asked her.

"We had talked for a very long time," she confessed. "And about a subject I didn't really enjoy."

"Oh." They started to walk in the opposite direction. "May I ask what was the subject?"

"It was a private matter." She said nothing more. Tyrion had a good idea what the private matter was.

"I suppose the private matter was the proposition Willas Tyrell made in the library this morning." She looked at him with round eyes. She seldom had a reaction like this. She often looked taciturn. "I was reading behind one of the shelves and I heard," he explained with a smile pleading innocence. "And Margaery told me about the letters he sent to you."

Mira sighed. "I'm sorry to trouble with my problems, my lord."

Tyrion shook his head. "Not at all. The truth is, she asked me to talk to you about this, but I'm quite sure her grandmother gave you more than enough for the next days."

"She did, my lord," she said after a moment of hesitation. A thin and discreet smile appeared on her lips, as if she was afraid of it.

"Well, I think you already heard all the arguments in favor of this, so I won't bother you all again with that, but may I know what Lady Olenna thought of this?" He wasn't sure if the Queen of Thorns would look favorably to a marriage between a Tyrell and a Northerner, furthermore one from a minor house.

"She said she didn't mind if I married her grandson, because Willas is unlikely to marry anyone highborn enough for him. She believes it's still better if he's wed to me than to never marry."

"I can't disagree with her." Margaery's grandmother may be insufferable, but she was no fool. It seemed the wits of Olenna Tyrell skipped a generation when her eldest son was born and only resurfaced with her granddaughter.

"I still believe it's not fair," she said on a gloomy tone. Tyrion didn't understand why she was so reluctant to marry the young man. Aside his lame leg, there was nothing bad to say about Willas Tyrell, and he was quite a good prospect for a girl of the North.

"Why do you really not want to marry Willas Tyrell, my lady?" Tyrion asked.

A moment passed. "I do not wish to marry yet."

Tyrion shrugged. "There is something we call betrothals, my lady. You can be engaged with him for some time, even for a long time, before you marry him. Saying yes doesn't mean to marry immediately. Not all the time."

"No." That's all she said, but she looked thoughtful. Tyrion let her to her reflections as they walked through the gardens in silence.

Three days later, Ser Baelor Hightower, who was Margaery's uncle since her mother was his sister, arrived at Old Oak, and the ceremony for the signature of the trade agreement could take place. Still, they needed two days to make everything ready. At the last minute, in the evening of the day preceding the signature, a new unexpected guest arrived: Lady Alysanne Lefford. Through the discussion Tyrion and Margaery had with her, they learned she had come to show her support to House Lannister and reinforce her position at the Golden Tooth by this display of loyalty. Her father was well settled, some would say well guarded, in a mansion high into the hills of their lands, and the Golden Tooth was firmly into the hands of his daughter. Margaery apologized during the conversation for almost exiling Lord Lefford, but Lady Alysanne thanked them instead for not making him a prisoner at Casterly Rock or worse. She also said she wasn't unhappy about her father's new situation. He could have put their house at great risk and she enjoyed ruling. Tyrion kept in mind this wasn't a woman to take lightly.

In the morning that followed, Tyrion had a private discussion with the Lady of the Golden Tooth to be more sure of her loyalty. In the course of the conversation, he apologized, half-jokingly half seriously, for not allowing her to be Lady of the Westerlands. She laughed loudly when he said that and revealed her father had always tried to arrange her the marriage that would benefit the most to him, without consulting her. She said she didn't regret the turn that the events took, an that she got along quite well with his wife. She also said she was glad for him and that he looked much better than when they met many years ago.

In the afternoon, the ceremony to sign the Trade Agreement of Old Oak took place. For Tyrion and Margaery, this agreement was a way to show the new alliance between the Reach and the Westerlands to the rest of Westeros. This agreement consisted in the reduction of duties and tariffs on trade by sea. The paramount lords of the Reach and the Westerlands, the Lannisters and the Tyrells, would progressively erase all duties they levied on sea trade over the next five years. The minor lords, like the Hightowers or the Farmans, would have seven years to lower their own duties by half from their actual level. The agreement also prohibited any duty, tax or tariff to be charged specifically on the goods transiting between the Reach and the Westerlands. Tyrion wished he could extend the agreement to the trade by road, but that would have meant too much negotiation with too many lords who would believe their liege lords were depriving them from a considerable source of income. It was already difficult to convince the lords who had a harbor, so to convince them and those within the lands? For now, they had to do with it, but Tyrion would come back later once the initial deal would be accepted and well established.

The Great Hall of Old Oak was the place where the ceremony happened. It was barely big enough for everyone and the lords and ladies were squeezed all together. They had chosen Old Oak because it was near the line separating the Westerlands from the Reach. Tyrion had agreed for the signature of the agreement to take place in the Reach. It would satisfy Lord Tyrell's ego, and strengthen the impression that was given to the lords of the Reach that the Lannisters and the Tyrells were strong allies. They had more problems with their bannermen than Tyrion. He had conceded this to his wife.

The agreement was written on two long scrolls laid at the center of the table on the dais. Once the first formalities were fulfilled, the herald started to call for each present lord. "Warryn Beesbury, Lord of Honeyholt."

Lord Beesbury came forth, making his way with difficulty through the crowd of lords and ladies who were present. He sat on the chair before the two large scrolls, took the quill, dipped it into the inkwell and put his signature on the first document. Then he dipped the quill again and did the same for the second parchment. He poured some wax on both scrolls and applied his seal on it. Then he rose and left the chair empty.

"Lord Jon Bulwer, Lord of Blackcrown." The old lord came and did exactly the same things Lord Beesbury did a few minutes ago. "Lord Lorent Caswell, Lord of Bitterbridge and Defender of the Fords." The young man with short blond hair did as was expected of him. The names kept pouring. "Lord Moribald Chester, Lord of Greenshield. Lord Guthor Grimm, Lord of Grimston and Lord of Greyshield. Lord Humfrey Hewett, Lord of Oakenshield. Lord Osbert Serry, Lord of Southshield. Lord Tommen Costayne, Lord of the Three Towers. Lord Erin Footly, Lord of Tumbleton and Defender of the Source. Lord Tytos Fossoway, Lord of Cider Hall. Ser Jon Fossoway, Knight of New Barrel. Lord Titus Peake, Lord of Starpike. Lord Mathis Rowan, Lord of Goldengrove and Marshall of the Northmarch. Ser Arthur Vyrwel, Knight of Darkdell. Lord Osfryd Osgrey, Lord of Coldmoat."

These were all lords of the Reach. The lords of the Westerlands would come later. They arrived at the most important houses. "Lord Alester Florent, Lord of Brightwater. Lord Paxter Redwyne, Lord of the Arbor, Grand Amiral and Lord Admiral of the Sunset Sea. Ser Baelor Hightower, eldest son and heir to Leyton Hightower, Lord of the Hightower, Lord of the Port, Voice of Oldtown, Defender of the Citadel and Beacon of the South."

Lord Leyton's son was the last lord of the Reach to put his signature on the scrolls. The herald started to call the lords of the Westerlands, and the same process resumed for them.

"Lord Quenten Banefort, Lord of Banefort. Lord Garrison Prester, Lord of Feastfires. Ser Harys Swyft, Knight of Cornfield. Lord Raynald Sarwyck, Lord of Riverspring. Lord Lyman Serett, Lord of Silverhill. Lord Sebaston Farman, Lord of Fair Isle. Lord Reginald Lannister, Lord of Lannisport." A long time later, a lady came to sign last on the scroll. "Lady Alysanne Lefford, eldest daughter and heir to Leo Lefford, Lord of the Golden Tooth."

Tyrion had to prepare now. It wouldn't be long. "Lord Mace Tyrell, Lord of Highgarden, Defender of the Marches, High Marshal of the Reach, Lord Paramount of the Mander and Warden of the South."

Tyrion's father-in-law walked forward and sat to sign the two documents. He toppled the inkwell by accident. He was the third to do so. Tyrion hoped there would still be something to read on the documents when this would be over. As soon as the Lord of Highgarden raised from the seat, Tyrion walked to it. The herald called for him as he advanced. "Lord Tyrion Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock, Shield of Lannisport, Lord of the Westerlands and Warden of the West."

When Tyrion sat, he saw that both scrolls were tainted with spots and trays of ink. They were lucky they could still read the terms of the agreement. Most of the signatures were unreadable. He wondered if some of these lords knew to write. He put his signature and his seal on the bottom right side of each parchment along with his seal, under his bannermen's signatures. Lord Tyrell's signature and seal were at the same place, but on the left side, his bannermen's signatures over him as well. There was one line, further down, still empty. It wouldn't be for long. Tyrion left the chair and stood behind it with Lord Tyrell.

"Lady Margaery Lannister of House Tyrell, Lady of Casterly Rock and Lady of the Westerlands."

His beautiful wife come forth. She went easily through the crowd to the opposite of everyone else before her. He had to admit she had the appearance of a goddess, draped in a gown where red, green, silver and gold cohabited in perfect harmony, where symbols of lions, roses, mountains, trees, gems and leaves formed a perfect set. People stood aside to let her pass. She sat gracefully, giving her father a warm smile, then honoring her husband with one so warming that he thought he would melt for a moment. Perfectly, without a single mistake, she signed on the last line, below and between her father's and Tyrion's signatures. Then she put her own seal.

There were two different waxes used to sign the treaty. The red wax was used by the lords and ladies of the Westerlands, the green one by those of the Reach, except for the Fossoways of the red apple branch who used the red wax to distinguish them from the Fossoways of the green apple. Margaery put some green wax on the parchment, then carefully added red wax to the right of it. The two types of wax touched, but didn't mix. Margaery applied her seal. When she pulled it away, a green rose and a red lion appeared together in the same circle, next to her signature.

Margaery stood up, proud and beautiful, between her father and her husband. Then she spoke. "This is a great day, for Casterly Rock, for Highgarden, for Lannisport, for Oldtown, for Fair Isle, for the Arbor, for the Golden Tooth, for the Shield Islands, and for every city, town, castle, village, and every people living in the Westerlands and the Reach. From now on, the Reach and the Westerlands only make one. There is no frontier anymore."

People cheered and applauded loudly. Tyrion felt a hand sliding in his left one. He looked on his left and saw Margaery smirking at him, while not turning her face. He returned it. That was the real beginning of the alliance between the Westerlands and the Reach. And it was only a beginning.


We're getting out of Casterly Rock from now on. In the next ten chapters, there will only be one chapter where the action will take place at the Rock. The action will now go to other places all around the Seven Kingdoms, to begin with the Westerlands and the Reach, then King's Landing, and of course, the North. Jon, Sansa and the Starks are coming, and we'll get to see Jaime and Cersei very soon.

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Next Chapter: Margaery (someone receives an answer)