This chapter begins where the previous one left us, the same day. The previous chapter was more about the political side of Old Oak. This chapter is more about the sentimental side.
By the way, some people have complained that I gave too much space to Mira in the previous chapter. I agree that she occupies a large space of the action at Old Oak. Almost half this chapter is also about her and Willas, but there is a reason to it. Without telling too much, because that would be too much of a huge spoiler, let's say that Mira/Willas will have a great impact in the War of the Five Kings when we will reach this stage of the fic. That's why she occupied such an important place in this chapter and the one preceding. It was to settle this aspect that will play an important role later. This chapter is the last one where she almost occupies hald the space.
There are two songs that are mentionned in this chapter:
-"Dawn of Love" by BrunuhVille ( watch?v=FFS0pxiqUNw)
-"Rise of the Fallen" by BrunuhVille ( watch?v=ASovaQq2uhQ)
MARGAERY IX
Margaery was dancing with Gawen Sarwyck, the son of Lord Raynald Sarwyck. He wasn't a bad dancer, but not an extraordinary one. She cast a quick glance to the high table where she saw her husband speaking with Lord Farman. At least he wasn't drinking… too much. They changed partners and Margaery found herself with Lord Redwyne. The people kept going from one partner to the other until she found herself with Garlan.
"So, not too sad you can't dance with your husband?" he asked her, worry on his face.
"No." She looked again at Tyrion. Now he was speaking with her father. "He may not be tall, or unable to ride a horse, or even to fight in battle, but I love him all the same."
"So I see." He smiled at her. "I'm happy for you. I'm glad you're getting along well with him."
"Getting along well? I love him." Margaery would never have thought she could say that about a man a year ago, and yet now she did.
"Yes, you do. I think he deserves your love. Men like Renly or Loras may be valiant and handsome, but Lord Tyrion makes for a better husband. He is bigger than he seems, I think."
Margaery couldn't agree more. Tyrion may be short, and he may look like a drunken whoremonger for many, but all those who underestimated him paid a heavy price and had to repent very quickly. They continued to dance. Margaery almost danced with every lord of both the Westerlands and The Reach, including her own father. All the lords except her husband. It didn't matter. They would dance later, in a much more exciting way.
Margaery left the dance floor and poured herself some wine. It was from Appleton, and it was very sweet. Sweeter than the ones in Casterly Rock, even when they came from the Reach. She was home again. She wouldn't be there for long, but it was better than nothing. She may tell herself that Casterly Rock was her home now and that the Westerlands were her lands, but it didn't change the facts. She was a Tyrell from Highgarden, and she would always be a Tyrell.
Lady Alysanne Lefford appeared next to her. "Taking a pause?"
"I am," Margaery confirmed. "I love to dance, but sometimes we have to stop." The Lady of the Golden Tooth nodded.
"There are many lords and knights here," she commented.
"Looking for a husband?" asked the Lady of Casterly Rock.
"Not precisely."
"You'll have to marry one day or another."
"I know, but now that my father is far away, I can take my time. I'm not pressed." She smiled to Margaery.
"You know, my brother is still unwed."
"Unwed, yes, but if the Faith allowed more than marriages between man and woman, I don't think he would be."
Margaery smiled, not allowing anything to surface. "There are only rumors."
"Yes, of course. Still, there is always some truth behind rumors." She looked at Margaery knowingly. Lady Lefford knew very well about Loras's preferences, but Margaery couldn't admit it in public. She had to keep the facade, even if everyone knew the truth.
"Still, he has to marry. In order to produce an heir."
"Yes," Lady Alysanne agreed. "He needs to marry. One day. And I need to marry. One day." She smiled. She knew what Margaery was trying to do. "I will think about it. And don't worry. Your brother's nocturnal activities are nothing to me. They won't matter when I take my decision."
"I don't see what you're talking about. I made no proposition," countered Margaery. "Anyway I can't, but my father might. One day."
They both smiled to each other. Lady Alysanne walked away, going back to dance. Margaery was glad Tyrion was married to her and not to this woman. She wondered if Tyrion knew. She stayed there, watching the people dancing for a moment, but Megga and Alla soon joined her. They had stopped to dance as well. Then Willas burst in their inner circle.
"Margaery. We must talk. Now. It's urgent, it can't wait."
She was caught short by this, but managed to excuse herself to Megga and Alla just before Willas almost pulled her by the arm. When they were a few dozens of feet away, she stopped him. She never remembered Willas pulling someone like this. She didn't think his leg could allow it.
"Willas, what's going on?" she asked.
"I'm sorry, Margaery. I just… I needed to talk with you. I can barely believe it." She realized that Willas was smiling and almost laughing, his entire face enlightened like she never saw it before. "Mira said yes. She accepted."
Everything seemed suddenly silent all of a sudden around her. Then she heard a music starting. She recognized it. She heard it before, back when she still lived at Highgarden. Dawn of Love. Willas was getting married with Mira. She had accepted to marry him.
Margaery felt her lips form a smile. "Oh, Willas. I'm so happy for you." Willas couldn't hide his joy and hugged her tightly before she could finish her sentence. The last word left her throat with difficulty.
Willas was almost laughing hysterically. Margaery didn't remember seeing him so happy in a very long time. "She… She just told me," he said.
"She really agreed? She really accepted your proposal?"
"Yes, she did. I can still barely believe it."
Margaery had to admit it wasn't easy for her to believe it without any doubt. Mira had seemed so close to refusing. Cursed be her northern honor.
"She told me she would stay in your service for some time yet, but we will marry," Willas resumed. "She'll come back to Highgarden next year. We're betrothed. We're betrothed."
This meant Margaery would only have Mira with her for another year. It caused her a certain pang in the heart, even if she was more than happy for Willas. Finally, he would marry. Loras was the only one left to marry.
"I can't believe it. I can't believe it." Willas kept saying it.
"Maybe you should go and spend some time with her," Margaery suggested.
"Yes, you're right. You're right."
He walked away and almost fell when his stick skidded on the floor. It was good to see him in this state, but Margaery hoped it wouldn't cause an accident. With some chance, and if Mira was wise enough to keep him in line, Willas wouldn't try to dance like he did at Margaery's wedding. With the rhythm of the song actually playing, Rise of the Fallen, it could only end in disaster for her cousin.
Margaery went back to dance, and she was glad to see that Willas didn't try to join them. After a few more songs, however, she returned to the dais where Tyrion was, as she expected, drinking. She sat by his side.
"Care if I join you?" she asked.
"Not at all."
He poured her a generous cup and they both drank deeply. Margaery remembered the few drinking contests they made through last year. They always made it in privacy, away from everyone's eyes, and Tyrion always won. Margaery regretted she couldn't remember everything that happened during the night on the morning that followed. They emptied their cup and Tyrion filled them again, brushing her hand in the process.
"A toast. To your cousin's marriage," Tyrion said as he raised his cup.
"You know about it?"
"Willas is walking all around the place to tell everyone. In fact, he told it to me before he told you. I was closer to him when Mira gave him her answer."
"You talked to her?"
"I did," he answered with a smile. She couldn't get Tyrion to do everything she wanted, but he would do some of them. After all, her loved her.
"Thank you." She meant it. "To Willas's marriage." She raised her cup and they drank again. "You're quite good at convincing people."
Tyrion shrugged. He pulled a false smug smile on his face. "Much less than you. I didn't tell her much. Your grandmother may have done more work than me."
"It doesn't matter." She took another sip. "Thank you. I love you." She kissed him strongly on the lips, though shortly. They would have time for lingering kisses later. "We will stay a little longer. I want to spend more time with my family, and I would like to show you some of the Reach."
"As you wish, my lady. But before the moon is full, we must go back on the road. We have a tour of the Westerlands to complete. We have to visit Crakehall, Cornfield, Riverspring, Silverhill, Deep Den, Hornvale, and maybe to make one last stop at the Golden Tooth before we go back to Lannisport and then to Casterly Rock."
Margaery sighed. This journey was far from over. She wondered how the gardeners were doing with the maze back on the northern hill. She saw Mira near one of the tables where food was laid, discussing with Sera. Margaery smiled sadly while looking at her friend. She would be a Tyrell before she could realize it.
"Just promise me we won't stop at Clegane's Keep," she said.
"I promise, my dear. I have no great wish to meet Gregor Clegane, and I don't believe the stay would be enjoyable."
Margaery didn't think she would enjoy it either. She had no desire to meet the man who was known for murdering children, and who was even rumored to have killed his father, his sister and the two wives he had. Servants vanished without explanation in his keep, as well as some villagers living nearby. It was said that even the dogs feared to enter the hall. Margaery wasn't surprised such a man was kept near to him by Tywin Lannister.
She and Tyrion kept talking and drinking for the rest of the feast. She thought about announcing Willas's betrothal for a moment, but decided it would be better to tell everyone in the morning. That was before she began to feel her senses weaken and to grow numb. She had enough spirit to leave the feast before it went too far. She was afraid she didn't count the number of cups she and Tyrion took. Everything was fine as long as they were in the Hall, but when they left and started to head for their rooms, she found it was harder than she thought to walk straight. Tyrion took her hand and she found it easier to keep going forward with his help.
When they finally entered their rooms, she walked immediately to the bed and let herself fall on her back. The world was spinning all around her. She laughed uncontrollably. Someone had laughed in a similar way not long ago.
She stated a fact. "I'm drunk."
"I am too," replied her husband.
He laid on his chest next to her. She thought he wasn't tipsy like he should, though his eyes weren't awaken like they usually were. He was looking at her. After some time, he decided he had enough to look at her and approached. He buried his face in her neck and she felt his lips wandering to her collarbone. With his mouth, he tossed away some of her gown to reveal her shoulders, then went back to her neck. Margaery sighed and breathed deeply. Her world looked less spinning.
"I love you," he said, his tongue travelling on her skin. Giggles escaped from her mouth.
"I love you," she said, just like she did two or three hours ago.
Her hands wandered through his blond hair, feeling the wicks escape in the space between her fingers. He trailed his mouth up to her chin and took her mouth in his own. Their tongues danced together, and soon they were stripping each other from their clothes, and their bodies danced together as well.
Later, they were both lying in the bed under the sheets. She could feel the pulse of his heart as well as her own while his right hand tried to run through her entangled hair, making it more entangled with each passage. Mira and Sera would have work to do on the morning. Her head was resting on his chest, her arms up with his head between them. Tyrion certainly thought that was a miracle his big head could stay between her arms. She giggled at the thought.
"What's so funny, my queen?"
The smile she had on her face grew larger. She may not be the queen, like she dreamed before she was wed, but she was Tyrion's queen. He had started to call her that in their intimate moments a few days ago, and Margaery loved that nickname. If she couldn't be the queen, she could be Tyrion's queen, and for her that was already a lot.
"Nothing. Willas is getting married," she offered as an explanation.
"That's funny, it's true. Not as funny as the thought of me being married, but that's funny."
She straightened up and leaned over him, her eyes meeting his. She put a wicked smile on her face. "It's true that it is funny. Especially at night, for me."
She closed the distance and kissed him. They did it for quite some time, but in the end she returned to her initial position with her head on his chest.
"My brother is the last one who's not married," she said after some more time.
"It won't be easy to find him a girl he wants to marry, let alone to bed. All the women in Westeros are missing what he likes the most."
Margaery had to laugh at the banter. She really was drunk, and not only wine drunk. "We'll find someone," she said absentmindedly.
"I'm sure my queen has someone in mind."
The smile grew up on her face again. "You know her quite well."
They said nothing more for the rest of the night. She thought Tyrion fell asleep before her. His hand remained in her hair, the top of her head still nestled in the curve of his neck. He said no name in his sleep. Margaery slept peacefully.
She woke up in a very pleasant and surprising way on the morning. After all this time with her husband, she thought she wouldn't be caught off guard by this, but she was. They probably needed an hour after she woke up to both get out of bed. Once they would be back at the Rock, Margaery swore the first thing they do would be to spend a whole day together in bed. However, that was impossible for the time being and they had to get out. She pulled on a red dressing gown just in time when Mira came in. Tyrion was behind a screen, getting himself changed for the day. Mira may hide it very well, but Margaery knew she didn't feel comfortable when she found her and Tyrion naked in the morning, especially when Tyrion was the naked one. Sera had been performing clumsy performances when it was her who came in their bedroom during the first weeks of their marriage, but now she smiled wickedly when she didn't giggle to find Margaery and Tyrion together.
"Good morning, my lady," Mira said while she laid the food on their table.
"Good morning, Mira," Margaery replied to her friend.
Her handmaiden collected the sheets and left the room. Mira may be betrothed, but she hadn't changed. She would perform her duties like always. Margaery went to the table and took some grapes, then a pear. She had missed it. The delicious and fresh fruits of her homeland. She had some brought at Casterly Rock on a regular basis, but they weren't as fresh as when you ate them in the Reach. Tyrion joined her and took some bread with cheese. There were some eggs as well which Margaery picked just like him.
"I suppose you'll spend time with your family this morning," he said.
"I will. What about you? You could come."
"No. I believe I'll use the day to get to know your father's bannermen a little better."
"Don't try to snatch them away from my family," she warned him.
"I have to maintain good relationships with our trade partners. And you made friends among my bannermen. Why shouldn't I make some among your family's?"
They smiled at each other. Despite loving him, Margaery remained loyal to her family and defended the Tyrells' interests, as Tyrion did for the Lannisters. It didn't cause much problem, since most of the time she and Tyrion were working together for their families' mutual interests, but when these interests conflicted, they would have innocent talk like this. They wouldn't work against their own family, but they wouldn't fight against each other either. She wasn't going to let politics ruin her relationship with Tyrion.
They were talking about the rest of their journey in the Westerlands when Mira came back to retrieve the tray and their leftovers.
"Where is Sera?" Margaery asked while she collected plates and bowls.
"She's preparing your gown, my lady," Mira answered.
"By the way, Lady Mira, congratulations," Tyrion said all of a sudden.
Mira stopped a moment. Some discreet red appeared on her cheeks while she smiled as discreetly. "Thank you, my lord."
"I hope this doesn't mean that you'll leave Lady Margaery's service."
Mira straightened at this moment, and let the tray on the table for a moment. She looked at Margaery. "My lady, I wanted to tell you about it. I told Willas that I would remain in your service for another year. I hope this doesn't pose you any problem."
"Not at all. Willas already told me about it. But I may keep you for some more time. Don't worry about it," she added quickly before Mira could say something. "You won't have to explain anything to Willas. I'll deal with him."
"Very well, my lady. Thank you." Mira curtsied to Margaery and her husband, then left with the tray and its content.
Margaery cleared her throat. "Now, unless you want to be there when I get changed, I suggest you should leave."
"Do you really think I don't want to stay to see you change?" replied her husband with a smirk. Margaery mimicked it and leaned to kiss her husband at length.
"We'll see each other later. Go and make some friends among my father's men."
Tyrion kissed her again before he left. Mira and Sera arrived a few minutes later with her gown. It was green with symbols of oaks on it. The last time she wore it was when they stopped at Old Oak on their way to Casterly Rock from Highgarden. At the time, she wasn't Lady of Casterly Rock yet.
Margaery went to the gardens of Old Oak, who of course were ruled by oaks. They didn't equal the gardens of Highgarden or Casterly Rock, but they were quite beautiful all the same. Margaery spent some good time during the morning in it with her family. Her mother, Alla, Megga, Elinor and Leonette, who Garlan had brought with him, were all there, along with Cerenna, Myrielle and Joy. Her grandmother was present as well. When midday came, Willas, Garlan and her father joined them to eat all together. Margaery loved to see all her family after such a long time.
Their time together turned a little less joyful when her father asked to Willas before everyone if the rumors that he was betrothed to a handmaiden were true. All conversations stopped and everyone looked at Willas, who only confirmed it and revealed he was betrothed to Lady Mira Forrester. Margaery had no doubt many already knew, but there was a complete silence all the same after he said it openly. As always, Margaery's grandmother was the first to break the silence.
"Well, at least one of my grandsons will have a wife with some wits and brain."
Margaery barely contained a laugh. It was a chance that Mira wasn't serving them today. Sera was, on the other hand, and she walked away quickly when she heard this, probably hoping to avoid the delicate discussion that may follow.
It didn't prove necessary in the end. Garlan congratulated his brother the first, and his wife did the same, though she looked less sure than her husband. Margaery's mother hid her reservations well, but not enough for her daughter to not see through it. Lady Olenna Tyrell often said that her granddaughter was better than she had ever been, and Lady Olenna was far better than her daughter-in-law. The others' reactions were mixed, except for Joy who looked excited as if it was her birthday and asked when she would get married as well.
When the meal was over, Margaery was taken away by her mother who wished to tell her a few words. They walked some time until Lady Alerie believed they were out of reach for ears.
"Is it true? Willas is going to marry your handmaiden?"
Margaery confirmed it. "Yes, Mother. Next year, probably, or maybe some time later, but they will marry."
"I wonder what Garth will say about it. Willas is his eldest son after all."
Margaery sighed. "Willas wasn't going to marry. His father should be happy about it. Mira is certainly one of the very few women ready to marry his son. She may be a handmaiden, but she is highborn. Her father is a lord, and she is a lady."
"She comes from a minor house. From the North," her mother opposed.
"She is still highborn. The Forresters may not be a powerful family, but they are quite rich with the trade of ironwood. Mira's family can offer a very decent dowry, especially for their standing. She knows the life of the south and our ways, and after many years spent in Highgarden and Casterly Rock, I'm don't think we can call her a Northerner anymore. At least not entirely. Anyway, Uncle Garth cannot complain. He tried to find Willas a bride for years, and he failed. He should be happy about it. After all, that's not as if Willas was betrothed to a wheelwright's daughter."
"I know, but I'm also sure that Garth won't be happy about this. He wanted a good marriage for Willas, an appropriate one. Do you really believe this girl will make a good wife for him?"
"She will be a perfect wife. You know she will. She lived at Highgarden for two years, and she got even better in the last year at Casterly Rock. I would rather see Willas married to someone a little under his station than not married at all and go celibate for the rest of his life. If we wanted him to stay alone forever, we should have sent him to the Citadel or the Starry Sept."
Lady Alerie Tyrell sighed just like her daughter did not long ago. "Willas will have to deal with his father when he gets home."
"Could you help him? He loves Mira. He really wants to marry her. You don't know how much this represents for him." She looked at her mother with pleading eyes, to make her understand this was really what Willas wanted.
"Alright, I will. I'll get myself and Mace to convince Garth to abandon any objection he might have."
"Get Grandmother to support him as well. If she does, Uncle Garth will say nothing."
They arrived at a corner with a bench made of marble and sat on it. The sky was high in the sky. Margaery was glad to find the warm climate of the Reach after so much time.
"Margaery, there's something I would like to ask you." She looked at her mother, who was looking at her like all mothers looked at their children. "Are you happy?"
Margaery giggled. "Of course, I'm happy. Why shouldn't I be?"
"It's only… I have the impression something is wrong."
Margaery frowned. "What do you mean? What's wrong?"
"Well, we see you a year after we left you in the Westerlands, and… I don't know. You have nothing negative to say about your husband, or about your new life, or your new home. I… I have the impression sometimes… I must be wrong, but there are times where I'm afraid you didn't miss us."
Margaery felt sorry for her mother. "Mother. I missed you every day." That wasn't exactly true. The last months, she hadn't thought so much about her family. She missed them every time she thought about them and Highgarden, but she didn't think about them all the time, nor every day for that matter. There was so much to do at Casterly Rock, and she had Tyrion now. He occupied a huge place in her thoughts, as much as in her heart.
"I'm sure of that." Her mother was close to tears. "I'm a silly old woman who doesn't want her children to grow. But are you really happy there? I know you told me so but… with all these rumors about him…"
Margaery out a hand on her mother's. "Mother, Tyrion is a very good man. He loves me, he takes care of me, he is very kind, gentle, generous, and behaves very well. Yes, he visited brothels, he drank and he gambled, but he stopped the moment we married, and even before. Now he's just drinking, and far less than the rumors say." Most of the time. "He is a good man, Mother. A just man." Not long ago, they had discovered there were overseers in the mines of the Rock who stole the people working there and had them whipped for no reason, and Tyrion had the overseers removed from their functions, pay back the workers and gave them a week to recover from their wounds and mistreatments. "He gives me everything I need and everything I want. He's not at all like the people would have us believe. I love him."
Her mother looked like someone has just struck her in the stomach. Her eyes widened. "You love him?"
"I do."
Her mother kept staring at her for a long time. Finally, she managed to speak. "You have changed." Another long moment passed, and then her mother smiled and took her cheek in the palm of her hand. "I'm proud of the woman you became, Margaery. And your father is, too. We are so proud of you."
Margaery remained there for a long time, her face in her mother's hand, tears threatening to break. They were tears of joy. After some time, her mother released her cheek.
"We should go back to the others. They will wonder where we are," Lady Alerie Tyrell said.
As they walked back to where their family and friends were, Margaery asked her mother a question that hunted her mind for some time now.
"Mother, how much time were you and Father married before I was born?"
Her mother looked surprised by the question. "Oh. About three years, I would say. And then we waited for a year after your birth before I was pregnant again. Why? Are you expecting?"
"No, I don't think so. My last moonblood took place last week. The thing is I find strange that I'm not with child already."
Her mother seemed thoughtful. "Well, this is a great mystery. Lomys was never able to predict with certitude when I would give birth. You were born a week before his expectations, and Loras three days late. I've been afraid myself at the beginning of my marriage, but then you arrived. I wouldn't worry too much if I were you. There's nothing strange to marriages without children for the first few years."
"Maybe, but you see, Tyrion and I do it quite often." Her mother looked scandalized, but Margaery kept talking and ignored her reaction. "I don't find it believable that I'm not with child by a pure coincidence. With the way we do it, we should already have a baby. I want children, and I need children. We need an heir for Casterly Rock." Especially with the problems Tyrion's sister tried to cause recently with the Westerlings and the Leffords.
"I'm sure you'll have children very soon, my dear. Just give it some time."
Since they had reached the spot where all the Tyrells were gathered, they didn't talk further about it. Margaery went to sew with the other ladies. The Tyrells were sewing roses while the Lannisters were sewing lions, except for Joy who tried clumsily to make a picture of Tyrion. People barely held their laughs when she proudly showed them. As a red rose took shape between her fingers, Margaery noticed from the corner of her eye Mira walking with Willas not far away. She was smiling. Unlike Margaery, when Mira smiled, it was never fake.
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Next chapter: Jaime (we jump in the time for one year)
