The conclusive chapter of King's Landing. Don't worry, we'll see more of the city, but not before a while, because we will move somewhere else after Joffrey's tourney.
MARGAERY X
She looked at her dress. It was made of a tissue thicker than those she wore usually, and it was dark purple. This way, the mud would be less visible. She wore no jewels. It was better this way, because there would be many people who would try to steal any jewel she had on her down in the streets. Yes, that was perfect. She was ready.
"How do I look?" she asked, still looking at her reflection in the glass.
"No matter how you're dressed, you'll always be the most beautiful woman in the Seven Kingdoms."
A smile came to her lips and she turned to look at Tyrion. He had a book opened on his knees, and looked at her with admiration. She walked to him. "I should stop asking your opinion. It doesn't help me very much." She leaned to kiss him.
"Be careful."
"Don't worry, I always am. We'll see each other at the tournament."
She kissed him one last time, letting it linger a little, and trailed a finger on his left cheek before she left their rooms. She travelled all through the Red Keep down to the courtyard. They were early in the morning, so there weren't much people already awaken. Only a few servants who started their day before everyone else were visible, and a few guards there and there.
In the courtyard, Elinor, Megga, Alla, Cerenna, Myrielle, Joy, Mira, Sera and a few other handmaidens were waiting for her, along with half a hundred guards from her family and from Tyrion's family. They all wore dresses with darker colors like Margaery, so that anything that would soil them would be less apparent, and some were wearing old dresses. Cerenna and Myrielle had made the mistake to wear one of their most beautiful gowns when they visited Fishmonger's Square the first time last week, ruining them entirely. Alla made the same mistake. Joy wore less refined clothes than everyone, so it hadn't mattered very much, and the others had been clever enough to not dress as if they went to a ball. Today, no one would complain if their dress was all ripped at the end of the morning.
"Very well, my friends. It's time to go. There are many poor people who are waiting for us," she said.
She opened the way and they all followed her. The guards were surrounding them. Myrielle had lost a necklace last week when a man snatched it from her neck in the middle of the street. It had been a terrible drama for her to have marks around her neck for the two days that followed. Margaery had to agree that Tyrion was right. They couldn't walk in the streets without protection. Their guards would let people reach her and her friends, but they would keep an eye in case anyone tried to hurt them.
The portcullis opened and they found themselves outside. They were going to a poorhouse in Flea Bottom, to help the sisters keeping it to serve some soup and bread to the most miserable of the city. These women appreciated Margaery's help a lot. King's Landing lacked of everything but poor people, and the sisters were overloaded with work. They never had enough for all of them. Margaery had seen poverty close at Highgarden, at Lannisport, and in the other cities she visited, but this was nothing when compared to the misery in which almost everyone seemed to live in King's Landing, and Flea Bottom was worse than any other place in the capital. The streets were encumbered with shit and refuse, from this district and from the other ones of the capital. Tyrion told her that some of the sewers were spilling their content into Flea Bottom. The level of the ground was lower here than in every other district of the capital, and the place was often flooded when the rain fell. Not to mention when fire broke, and the diseases that ravaged it. Tyrion told her once that Barth, the Hand of the King under Jaenerys the Conciliator, had tried to make the city more liveable by building sewers, drains and wells, but his successors hadn't continued his work. He mocked Baelor the Blessed one day, saying the king would have saved more lives by building new sewers and new wells than with prayers. Tyrion knew a lot about water systems because of his time in charge of the drains and sewers of Casterly Rock. He had recently funded an extension of the system of sewers and wells in Lannisport. Too bad they couldn't do the same here in King's Landing. Robert Baratheon wasn't an evil man, but he didn't seem to care a lot about the well-being of his subjects.
As they walked through he streets, many people came to her. Margaery allowed many children to walk a moment with her and her friends. She even took some in her arms when they were small enough, and a lot of copper pieces were distributed to the people begging in the streets. All along the way, they heard shouts of people calling for her. She had visited an orphanage, a poorhouse, a market, or a sept every day. Each time, she distributed food, toys and money. Her parents had sent ships full of foodstuffs at her request, and she had more than enough to give freely to the people. Even though they were early in the morning, a crowd formed around her, calling her name, hands trying to reach her at all cost.
It took some time, but they made it to the poorhouse. A lot of people were waiting for her, and the septa in charge of the place seemed more than relieved to see Margaery arrive in the kitchens.
"Here you are, my lady. I'm glad you're here. I never saw so many people since last year. We have more than twice the mouths to feed we usually have."
It was a chance that Margaery had sent them supplementary stocks of food, or else they wouldn't be able to serve everybody. "That's alright. You'll have all the help you need," Margaery reassured her. She turned to her friends. "You know what you have to do. Cerenna, Myrielle, Sera and Mira, you accompany me. We will walk among the people as they eat and distribute loaves of bread. The others, you will help the sisters with serving the soup at the tables. Ser Baras?"
"Yes, my lady." The captain of her personal guards stood, ready to receive orders.
"I want you to follow me. I also want your men inside to help serving the food. They can remove their helmet as they do."
"My lady, we're here to protect you," he protested.
"Ser Lannis's men will be more than enough. You'll be more helpful this way. Now, let's go to work." Ser Lannis was the captain of the Lannister guards Tyrion brought with him. He belonged to a minor branch of House Lannister.
Everyone went their way to carry on their duties. The sisters were really only waiting for them to begin the service. The place was crowded and tons of people who barely had something to wear were waiting for something to eat. Most of them were men. Margaery had visited other poorhouses for women, but today they helped one that welcomed men. A few of them had a woman with them, a sister, a daughter, and most rarely a wife. Margaery spoke with all the women. Ser Baras looked a little embarrassed. He wasn't used to doing these things, always standing guard and keeping an eye on everything and everyone in case they would be a threat, but he didn't have much to do anyway. He only kept following her with a sack while she did everything.
"Thank you, my lady," said a young man, eyes full of gratitude, as he furiously bit into the bread she just gave him.
"Are you going to stay in the capital for long?" asked another.
"I'm afraid I must leave in a few days, once my nephew's tournament is over," she confessed.
"Please, my lady, don't abandon us," begged a woman at his side. "You are the only lady who ever helped us. The king and the queen don't give a shit about us…"
"Shut up, you." Her husband hit her hard with his fist on the arm.
"Calm yourself," said Margaery in an appeasing voice. "I'm not here to speak to the king or the queen. I'm only here to help you. Is your arm all right?" she asked the woman.
"Yes, my lady." She was rubbing the place where she was hit hard.
Margaery resumed the distribution, and soon everyone was eating and talking. Some asked for another loaf, and since there were some surpluses, they could provide it. People were everywhere, leaning against columns, sitting on the floor and in the stairs. The atmosphere was very good. People didn't seem to notice the guards that had come with her, and some were even making toasts with the cups of water they had.
Margaery used everyone's good spirit as an opportunity. The septa in charge of the place called for silence, and they all made a prayer to the Seven together. Usually, the people would only do the prayer as a formality and go back to eating as soon as it was over, but this time, the people were sated enough and the prayer looked quite genuine. Margaery had knelt like all her friends to pray with everyone else, but when the prayer was over, she stood up.
"Now, my dear brothers and my dear sisters," said the septa, "Lady Lannister would like to tell you a few words."
Everyone in the room was looking at her. She spoke. "My friends, I have been more than happy to see you today. I wish I could stay longer, but I will have to leave for Casterly Rock very soon. I only want to tell you that I will never forget what I saw here. Ever since I was child, I visited places like this one in Highgarden, and I kept visiting them at Casterly Rock. I never forgot the people I saw there, and I will never forget you either. Even when we are far away in the Westerlands, Lord Tyrion and I will remember you. We will not leave you alone. You have my word. You will be forever in my heart."
A silence followed. Everyone looked hypnotized and couldn't stop looking at her. Then, an old man stood with difficulty and raised his cup of water. "To our good lady, Margaery Lannister."
Another man followed him. "To Lady Margaery." Soon, everyone, every woman, every man, every child was doing the same, raising their cup only filled with water and drinking for her.
Once they were done drinking to her health, Margaery added something she hadn't planned to reveal just yet. "I want you to know something else. This evening, when the tourney will be over, my husband, Lord Tyrion, and I will distribute a loaf of bread to everyone in the city for dinner." An uproar began in the poorhouse, and Margaery doubted her last words were heard. "Please don't tell it to anybody. We wish it to remain a surprise."
She doubted it would stay a surprise for long. She told the septa in charge to ask her if they ever needed anything before she left. They managed to get through the cheering crowd inside the poorhouse, only to meet a larger crowd down in the streets. They needed what looked like hours to go back to the Red Keep, people all around them shouting her name and trying to touch her. "Lady Margaery! Lady Margaery!" She was used to that kind of attention, but not to that point. The people of King's Landing really didn't have a noble lady who seemed to care for them for a very long time. That made her feel quite superior to Cersei. When they finally got through the portcullis, it was about midday. They were all covered with dust and sweat. Joy, Sera and Megga had their dress torn in a few places.
When Margaery came back to her apartments, Tyrion had already left for the tournament. She knew he had certain things to discuss with the Hand of the King. Mira and Sera went for a quick bath while Margaery prepared herself for her own. She couldn't appear in such a state before all the nobility of Westeros. Other handmaidens who were employed here at the Red Keep had a bath prepared for her, and she had an essence of peach put into the water.
She plunged into the hot water and sighed at the feeling. She sent the maids away to be alone. Margaery closed her eyes and let the feeling of the hot water bring her into a state of peace and well-being. The last hours had been tiring. She wished that Tyrion was here with her. They took their bath together sometimes. Time seemed to slow as Margaery let herself lay in the peach water.
The door opened and her two handmaidens came inside. Margaery had to go through the whole washing and scrubbing process. When it was all done, her friends cleaned, brushed and braided her hair, put on her clean clothes with a green and red velvet gown in the fashion of the Westerlands, trimmed with silvery and golden bands. She also had nine rings added to her fingers (one of them being occupied by her wedding ring), a bracelet made of gold put around each wrist, an emerald pendant around her neck, a silver hairnet to hold her hair and earrings made of gold. She was the Lady of Casterly Rock, and the daughter of the Lord of Highgarden, and it was time to show it to the face of the whole Realm for good.
They used litters to go to the tournament outside the city, instead of walking like the last time. Despite this, the people knew from the colors of the guards escorting her who she was (who else would be followed by a contingent of men both in red and green armor?), and they were slowed in their progress to the tourney grounds by all the people gathering around her. If only she was the queen.
Once they got through the Iron Gate, they advanced much more easily, though not as quickly as Margaery hoped, since people were running everywhere to assist the last day of the tourney. This tournament was so huge that it lasted for five days. This day was the last. They finally arrived to the place. Margaery sent her friends away, except Mira who accompanied her. She was eager to join Tyrion who was in the assistance, among the benches that had been organized for the tourney and that were reserved to the lords and the ladies, but first she needed to see someone.
She went among the many tents covering the field. They searched for a while among this maze of sigils, but she and Mira found the one they were looking for after some time. The golden rose on the green field stood proud. There were no guards before the tent, so she opened the flap and went into it. Mira stayed outside.
Inside the tent, a young man who looked much like her, with an armor to the colors and the symbols of Highgarden, was preparing himself for the tourney. He had set his hair loose and they were quite long for a man, about to reach his shoulders. Green eyes, a round face, brown hair that would curl in normal circumstances. Her brother had grown into a very handsome young man in her absence. He was now the most desirable bachelor in all the Seven Kingdoms. All the ladies who saw him ride in the previous days had fallen in love with him, and Margaery couldn't blame them. He looked up at her when she came in and smiled.
"Have you come to give me your blessings before I ride?" he asked.
"Maybe, but most of all, I wanted to spend some time with my brother." She saw him a few times in the last days since he arrived, but between the tourney, her works with the poor of the city and getting to know Tyrion's family better, she couldn't spend enough time with her young brother. "I wish you had come to reside in the Red Keep."
"I would have liked that, but they refused," he said bitterly. "I suppose the Imp doesn't want to see me anywhere near him."
"This Imp, like you say, is my husband and your brother-in-law. Call him by his name, he's got one for a reason. Tyrion had nothing to do with it." It was unfair. Margaery knew that Cersei was the one who pressured the king to not allow her brother into the Red Keep while he was there. Her sister-in-law wasn't happy with her presence, and she didn't want another Tyrell near her.
"As you wish, but we're between ourselves. No one will hear us here." Her brother sighed. "Do you think you could come back to Highgarden once this is over? Pay us a visit?"
Margaery shook her head. "I can't, Loras. My place is at Casterly Rock now. I am the Lady of the Westerlands, and my place is next to Tyrion."
"Don't you want to get far from your husband for some time? He couldn't stop you, couldn't he? Because if he does…"
"Loras, I don't want to hear any more threats towards him. Tyrion is my husband, he loves me… and I love him."
Loras looked at her queerly. She had already said it a few times in his presence, but he seemed to have a very hard time believing her. He sighed again. "You have changed, sister." They heard a trumpet call in the distance. "I would be better to go. It would be sad if I was disqualified after I went so far, and at my first tourney above everything else."
"Make sure you unhorse my brother-in-law."
"I will." He left on that arrogant smirk. She heard him salute Mira outside.
You have changed. Her mother told her the same thing at Old Oak last year. Did she really change that much? She walked away and went out, heading to the tourney ground. Mira followed her obediently, as always. Cheering and trumpets could be heard very well, even from that distance. She looked at her northern friend.
"You'll have to leave for Highgarden soon, you know," Margaery told her.
"I know, my lady."
"I'll regret you, Mira."
"So will I, my lady."
"Soon, you' ll have to call me Margaery. We'll be of the same family."
"Yes, I know, but not right now."
The happiness of some made the misfortune of others. Willas's happiness would make the misfortune of Margaery, but she knew that would happen one day. She couldn't keep her friends close to her forever, no longer than she could stay at Highgarden all her life. Anyway, that wasn't as if Mira was going back into the North. She would be relatively close to Casterly Rock and Margaery would see her again when they would visit Highgarden in the future.
A slim man walked in their direction. He wore good silks and had a thin moustache. "Lady Lannister." The Master of Coin bowed before her.
"Lord Baelish. What a pleasant surprise to see you here," Margaery replied.
"I wish the surprise was shared, but if I told you so, then I would be lying. I was looking for you, my lady. I was hoping we could have a little conversation."
His eyes went to Mira who stood by Margaery's side. He wanted this little conversation to be private. "It would have to be a short conversation. I don't want to miss my brother jousting."
"Don't worry, my lady. It won't be long."
Margaery turned to Mira. "Go on. I'll see you there."
Mira curtsied and walked forward. Lord Baelish made a sign with his arm to show they could walk, and they did, side by side.
"All of these tents look the same to me," he said as a beginning.
"Then look at the banners before them, and you'll find they are quite different from one another."
"Not as much as you are different from all the other women here. The capital has been blessed by your presence, Lady Lannister."
"You are very kind." She was used to that kind of compliments, and knew when they were made only to flatter.
"I am sure Casterly Rock was blessed as well when you married Lord Tyrion."
"It is not for me to answer this question."
"What do you think Lord Tyrion would answer, if I asked him?"
"Perhaps you should ask him. Unless you're afraid to meet him after you raised the duties on our lands."
"A regrettable decision, I agree. A decision that can still be undone, all the same. Unlike some other decisions. When you marry, for example, it is for life. There is no way to end it before your life's companion or you die."
"Indeed," recognized Margaery, a smile on her lips. She had no regret that it was impossible to break a marriage. She couldn't break it, but no one else could break it either.
"It's regrettable all the same that some women have to suffer from inappropriate behaviors of their husband. When their husband visits other women, for example."
"I am sure you know a lot of married men who visit other women." She knew very well about Lord Baelish's business.
"Indeed. My involvement in business puts me in contact with many people, including men like these. Men like your husband."
"I'm sure you know Tyrion quite well," she replied coldly.
"It is a shame, still. To see a young and beautiful woman married to my best customer. We both lost in the bargain."
"Really? What did I lose?"
"It is horrible to lose a child, but I don't believe it is really better to have none." That stung. After two years, Margaery was still without children. Despite her mother's reassurances, she began to wonder. Was there something wrong with her? Or with Tyrion? Or with both of them? They needed children, and yet they had none until now. "It is very sad. I'm sure your parents would like you to be with a husband who could give you children. To see a Tyrell wasted in such a way…"
"I am also a Lannister, Lord Baelish."
"Are you? When you didn't give them any child yet?"
She tried to gain back her composure. "You seem quite interested in our marriage."
"Your marriage is quite interesting. Not only to me, but to the Realm. The marriage of a wealthy girl always breeds interest, if nothing else."
She stopped and turned to face him. They were close to the stage. "You've never married, have you?"
"I've been unlucky in my affections, sadly."
"That is sad." He could feign regret and compassion while showing without any doubt that he didn't have any, and Margaery could just do the same. "Though perhaps it's for the best. The whole notion of marriage seems to confuse you, so allow me to explain. My name is Margaery Lannister of House Tyrell. I am the Lady of Casterly Rock, and the Lady of the Westerlands. Lord Tyrion Lannister is my husband, and my father is Lord Mace Tyrell. And since you seem to understand numbers better than marriage, then I shall remind you that thanks to you, the Crown is millions in debt to us. I hope we won't have to ask the king to repay the debts you gave him with your own fortune, which may be enough to cover a considerable part of these debts. So make sure you repay these debts in time, and both to the Reach and the Westerlands, or else I might not forget the discussion we just had. Enjoy the tournament, my lord. I wish you a good day."
She walked away, leaving the Master of Coin who respectively bowed as she left. She hoped the message had gone through. If anyone hoped they could tear her and Tyrion apart, then they were wrong. The clamor grew up as she approached the platform. People were gathered all around the tourney ground. Still, Margaery managed to make her way through the crowd and walked to the center of it, but not without exchanging words with fifteen lords and ladies from everywhere in the Seven Kingdoms. King Robert was drinking from a horn with Cersei at his left. Joffrey was sitting between them, and Tommen and Myrcella were a little lower. As she approached, Myrcella's eyes met hers and her niece smiled at her. Margaery returned it in the same kind at the moment Tommen dropped from his chair and ran at her.
"Where were you? It's about to begin," he asked.
"I'm sorry, Tommen," she said. "I had to see my brother before I came."
"Why can your brother play in the tourney and not me? I'm tall enough to ride."
Her youngest nephew was really a sweet boy. "You can't ride because this is my name day." Her other nephew's declaration reminded her of the great differences between the two.
"I thought you would ride today, my prince," Margaery told Joffrey. "I heard you wanted to ride for your name day."
Joffrey looked uncertain. Sera had heard this from another handmaiden in the Red Keep. "Princes don't ride in tourneys."
"Really? And yet I heard that Prince Rhaegar Targaryen rode quite well in the tournament of Lannisport. I think he even unhorsed you, Ser Barristan. Didn't he?" she asked to the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
"He did, my lady," confirmed the old knight, who stood behind his king. "He unhorsed many people on this day, but in the end he was defeated by Ser Arthur Dayne."
"I hope he didn't hold any grudge against the Sword in the Morning for defeating him."
"Not at all, my lady. He never held any grudge. I defeated him once in a tourney at Storm's End, and he never changed his behavior with me…"
"Stop talking about damn Rhaegar Targayren, you old fool!" The king's shout put an end to Ser Barristan's tale.
"My apologies, your Grace," the knight said as he bowed.
The king rose from his seat and roared. "Are you going to start that damn joust or do I have to smash everyone's head with my warhammer?"
It was amusing to look at Cersei being uncomfortable next to her husband, and Joffrey to be quite intimidated by his father's outburst.
"Come, Tommen," Margaery said to her nephew. She brought him by the arm down on the platform. She saw Tyrion in the first ranks with their family members who had come. He was looking in her direction. No doubt her exchange with Joffrey hadn't gone unnoticed to him.
"Tommen, get back to your place," shouted the queen to her son.
Margaery answered before Tommen could. "It's alright, your Grace. Tommen is safe with me." She continued on her way before Cersei could say more and arrived before Tyrion. The thought of Cersei's inner rage made her smile even more than usual when she looked at Tyrion.
"Finally, you're here," he said theatrically. Tommen sat next to him. "Hello, you. You managed to get away from your mother? You'll have to tell me how you did it."
Tommen laughed at his uncle's jape and Margaery took place next to them, their nephew separating her from her husband.
There were people all over the tourney ground. Things weren't as beautiful as they were in Highgarden or at Casterly Rock. The Crown was indeed quite in debt. The banners of the most powerful houses of the Seven Kingdoms were here. The Arryns, the Redwynes, the Tyrells, the Lannisters, the Baratheons, the Hightowers, the Freys, and many minor houses were to be seen. Looking on her left, Margaery noticed Ser Daven with a young woman with red hair, not far from Margaery's age. Daven seemed to get along quite well with his betrothed. Her father, Lord Paxter, wasn't far. She noticed Lord Yohn Royce, whom she met a few days ago, not far away. A trumpet was blown and the two first contenders arrived. Tyrion applauded. Ser Jaime Lannister was one of them. He removed his helmet and bowed before Robert, a smirk on his face. He really was Tyrion's brother, no doubt about it. His smirk lessened however when his eyes met Margaery's. She wasn't yet sure what to do with this man. Tysha was a whore. Jaime had planned everything. She couldn't imagine Loras or Garlan or even Willas doing something similar to her, standing by and doing nothing while someone she loved was being raped right before her.
They were at the last day of the tournament, so only the final contenders were left, and sadly Ser Gregor Clegane was among them. He removed his helmet as well to bow to the king. Margaery had met his brother, Sandor the Hound, after she arrived in the capital. He was Joffrey's sworn shield and never left the prince for a second. Margaery looked at him over her shoulder, standing next to the prince like he always did. He was as scary as his older brother with his half-burned face. Margaery wondered where he got it. The two brothers didn't seem to notice each other.
The jousters each rode to their side of the ground. Squires came to arm them with their shield and lance, Ser Jaime shining in his kingsguard's armor and his blond hair, the Mountain frightening in his all black full armor combined with his huge side. Margaery understood they called him the Mountain. He really looked like one right now. A black mountain, black like his doings.
"Don't worry," said Tyrion to her right. "Jaime will defeat him. Gregor Clegane may be impressive, but he can't defeat Jaime."
She thought he said it for Tommen as well as for her. Margaery hoped that Ser Jaime would give a good lesson to Tywin Lannister's dog. The first charge was without result, and so was the second. At the third, the Mountain almost reached Ser Jaime with his lance, but her brother-in-law ducked and instead sent a violent hit on the huge man's back. Ser Gregor didn't fall from his horse, however. There were six more charges, and again Ser Jaime hit the Mountain, thrice. At the seventh, Ser Jaime thrusted his lance into the Mountain's side and the big man fell from his horse. People applauded him, among them her husband and her nephew. Tommen was all excited, like he had been for all the tournament. Margaery joined the cheering. After all, Ser Jaime just defeated the Mountain.
"I just won a little fortune," Tyrion said. Margaery sighed internally. Tyrion had placed a bet again. She watched him closely in the last days to prevent him from gambling, but she supposed she couldn't stop him on the final day.
Many jousters came. Mostly, Tyrion reacted when his brother was in the contest, and Margaery did the same when her own brother was. Both remained polite and only clapped their hands a little when their brother-in-law came in. They had more similar reactions when it was Ser Daven who rode. Loras unhorsed three contenders, including Ser Balon Swann of the kingsguard. Ser Andar Royce, Lord Royce's second son, was defeated by Tyrion's brother after four charges. Ser Daven was unhorsed by his cousin too.
After this new victory of her brother-in-law, Margaery looked at Sera who was right behind her. Understanding what this meant, Sera handed her the case. Margaery then tapped Tommen on the arm, attracting his attention. She put the case into his hands and whispered into his ear. "Bring this to your sister."
Tommen executed himself and went to Myrcella, all shy. Margaery looked at him giving the case to his sister who took it, looking at Margaery with an intrigued expression. Then she opened it, and after a moment of surprise, Myrcella's face lightened. She looked at Margaery who smiled widely at her, and Myrcella just smiled as well, as if she was just given the most beautiful thing in the world.
"What did you give to her?" Tyrion asked.
"Look," she told him. Myrcella put the necklace around her throat. It was very similar to the one Margaery wore for her wedding. "I had a second one made before we left," she explained before the puzzled expression of her husband. Cersei looked stunned by this, but Myrcella was almost jumping in her seat.
Tommen remained with his sister who hugged him for a moment. A few minutes later, Margaery's brother came back to face Ser Garlan Hightower, a grandson to Lord Leyton. It took them eleven charges, but her brother unhorsed his opponent. Margaery's cousins, along with Cerenna, Myrielle and Joy, all cheered loudly for him. Margaery rose as well and applauded her brother, to maintain a behavior fitting a great lady in public. She wished she could cheer like everyone else. She would congratulate Loras in a more sisterly way later.
A long pause followed this. There were only two contenders left. Ser Jaime Lannister and Ser Loras Tyrell would ride in the final tilt. Margaery's heart was racing. Her brother had a chance to win this tourney. How marvelous that would be, to see Cersei's face when Loras would defeat her twin brother. She remembered very well her smug expression when she told Margaery about how talented the Kingslayer was, while her own brother was only a boy.
"My brother has the age your brother had when he joined the Kingsguard," Margaery had said to the queen.
"Yes, but Jaime was already a man at the time. Your brother is no man, or else he would know where to put his manhood," the queen had retorted.
"Thinking that your brother can defeat mine?" Tyrion asked, in the present time. He had a wicked smile on his lips. He too was sure his brother would win.
"Why not?" she answered playfully. "You doubt Loras's ability? After seeing him for days?"
Tyrion considered. "Well, I don't believe Jaime will let himself be defeated by a lad half his age. But who knows? Maybe Joffrey will come riding as well."
"I wouldn't bet on it if I were you."
"About what? Joffrey riding, or Jaime winning?"
"I think Loras has quite a good chance to win," Margaery said.
"You would be ready to bet on it?"
Tyrion was smirking at her. He was challenging her. Very well, for once, she would encourage her husband's gambles. "Alright. Let's say…" She leaned to whisper in his ear. "If my brother wins, I have the right to do everything I want with you tonight."
She looked closely into his eyes, a smile she made devilish on her face. "I'm not quite sure I want to win this bet all of a sudden. Very well. If I win, I have the right to do whatever I wish to you during the night."
"I hope for you that your brother rides well." She already had a few ideas of what she might do to her husband to make him pay. She knew how to torture him better than anyone. "By the way, has Jon Arryn given you an answer?"
"Yes, he did. They will withdraw all taxes on trade from the Westerlands and the Reach, and we will have a seat on the small council. I said Kevan would occupy it. I already sent him a raven."
"And what office will he have?"
"Master of Laws."
"It seems Renly Baratheon lost his job."
"That was the most logical choice. Pycelle can't be replaced, they need Varys and Littlefinger, and Stannis is useful as Master of Ships. So, unless Jon Arryn was willing to resign as Hand and give the office to Kevan, that was the only choice left."
Margaery nodded. They had what they asked for. Lots of bets were made all around. She heard most of the people waging on Ser Jaime. She hoped many would lose money today. She even saw the queen and the king place a bet, and her nephew Joffrey as well. After long minutes of waiting, the two jousters came back. Their armors had many scratches and bumps, resulting from their many jousts during the week. People applauded them both, though the applauses were much louder from the Reach for Loras, and much louder for Ser Jaime from the Westerlands. Loras gave a red rose to Lady Desmera. Margaery noticed, not without amusement, that Lord Renly wasn't far behind.
The first charge brought no result. The second charge didn't change anything either. At the third, Ser Jaime ducked the lance of Margaery's brother only an inch. Loras ducked as well on the following charge. Ser Jaime touched Loras thrice, and Loras touched Jaime twice, and none of them were unhorsed after seventeen charges. Margaery was one the edge of her seat, unable to bring her eyes away from the joust. She could feel that Tyrion was no different at her side. Every charge, every contact, every move had them almost jump.
They were at the eighteenth charge now. The tension was high in the air. More people placed bets. A lot of money would change hands by the end of this match. Her brother charged, and Ser Jaime followed a second later. Ser Jaime's lance was low, at the level of Loras's chest. Loras lowered his lance to intercept Ser Jaime's, but at the last minute, the Kingslayer lifted his lance. It hurt Loras's head. His helmet fell on the ground. Loras, however, managed to remain on his mount. Now, however, he had nothing to protect his head. He couldn't get another helmet. That wasn't good. He would lose a part of his focus to protect his head, and that would give the advantage to Ser Jaime. The riders faced for the nineteenth charge. Margaery wondered what Tyrion had in store for her tonight. The brothers-in-law charged together. Margaery found that Loras was charging faster than the previous times. Ser Jaime's lance was at the level of Loras's chest. They came closer, and closer. Lora lowered himself on his horse. Ser Jaime's lance went high. Loras's lance hit the Lannister knight hard in the chest. With a great sound from the contact of the lance with the armor, Ser Jaime Lannister fell from his horse as his horse kept running.
A silence followed, and then the people exploded. Margaery joined them. Loras toured around the ground, a huge smile on his face. He won. Her brother won. She looked at Tyrion. He applauded slowly.
"It seems I lost," he simply said.
He raised from his seat and went to join his brother. Margaery did the same with her own and hugged him tightly. There was no need for formality anymore.
When she looked back on the platform, she could see the queen was gone, and Joffrey too, along with his dog. On the other hand, Tommen and Myrcella came to them. Myrcella was now wearing her new necklace, the sapphire side visible, the ruby side hidden.
"Congratulations, Ser Loras," the princess said to her brother.
"Loras, may I introduce you to my niece, Princess Myrcella Baratheon, and her brother, Prince Tommen Baratheon," Margaery said.
"Princess, my prince." Loras bowed to both of them. Myrcella was smiling widely.
"Myrcella, maybe you could accompany my brother back to his tent. There will be a feast tonight. You could make sure he's ready in time."
"Of course." Myrcella looked very excited.
Margaery looked at the pair heading to the maze of tents she had left a few hours ago, followed by a kingsguard. Ser Barristan remained behind to keep an eye on Tommen. Maybe this could work. A princess was a much better match for the heir of Highgarden than a lady, at least in appearance. Still, considering Tyrion's opposition to Lady Alysanne marrying Loras, Myrcella would be quite a good replacement. She walked out with Tommen and headed back to the Red Keep for the feast.
The feast for Joffrey's name day didn't prove to be quite what Margaery expected. The bards, jugglers, fools, singers, dancers and other musicians proved to be less entertaining than those they had in Highgarden and Casterly Rock, the food wasn't as refined as she thought it would be, and the music wasn't of high quality. The king kissed at least three servants right in front of Cersei, which was both entertaining and disgracing. His brother, Lord Stannis, left after the main course, without a glance or a word to anyone. He hadn't spoken more than five words to Margaery the times they saw each other. Joffrey's behavior proved to be disgracing while not entertaining at all. He spent the feast receiving the gifts every present lord and knight brought for him. He seemed to hate a quarter of them, and to be indifferent to half of them. His thanks when Tyrion and Margaery presented him with their own present, a knife with a hilt made of silver and a green pearl at the extremity, were quite short.
"It's fine."
Then he tossed it away and didn't look at it for all the evening. A few things still managed to make the feast enjoyable. Loras had won the tourney. She saw Ser Jaime shake his hand in congratulations. Loras danced with Margaery, Myrcella, and almost every lady in the Great Hall, under the eyes of Lord Renly. She saw Ser Daven dance with his betrothed as well. Margaery danced with Joffrey as a formality, but then she went to dance with other people, including Lord Renly, Ser Daven and Lord Royce.
The time she spent with her husband made her happy as well. Tyrion didn't show any grudge that his brother had lost. She suspected some part of him was happy about it in fact. She forced Loras and Tyrion to make peace by shaking hands. Loras didn't show much enthusiasm, but he did it all the same. Later, when most of the people were drunk, even though most of them emptied fewer cups than her husband, Margaery and Tyrion retired to their rooms. It was time for Tyrion to honor his debts. As he always said, a Lannister always pays his debts.
A few hours later, Margaery lied on her belly in their bed. The candles had burnt out, but she had replaced a few of them each time they didn't have enough light left. That made the experience much better. She knew that Tyrion loved her appearance under this dim light. Now however, she was done. Tyrion had paid his debts and Margaery was just resting in their bed. Her husband, on the other side, wasn't resting. Or at least, not only resting. He trailed his mouth and his hands all over her back, enjoying her skin. When his lips or his tongue followed her spine, she felt shivers run along it. His hands sometimes went under her belly, caressing it and reaching her breasts from time to time. Margaery breathed deeply. A sigh sometimes escaped her throat.
"You're beautiful… my queen," he whispered.
She sighed again. She loved that nickname he gave her. Margaery had always wanted to be queen. She had hoped once that Robert would set Cersei aside for her, or that she would marry Joffrey, but when she looked at both of them, the king, a fat and drunken idiot, the prince, an arrogant, prickly and spoiled brat… Another shiver. How stupid she had been. She had wanted so much to have a crown on her head. She hadn't thought about any other possibility. And yet, here she was now, Margaery Tyrell of House Lannister, the Lady of Casterly Rock, the Lady of the Westerlands, the richest woman in the Seven Kingdoms, the most powerful woman in the Seven Kingdoms.
My dear, there are crowns without a queen. And there are queens without a crown. She hadn't understood back then. For her, there was no better position than to be queen, and a queen was the women married to the king. She was the one wearing a crown. Now she understood. On their way back from the tournament, people had cheered as she travelled through the streets with her brother and her husband. Some cheered for her brother, of course, but Margaery had soon realized that they mostly cheered for her. Her men had already started to distribute the bread for everyone in the city. Her work in charities had made a very good impression. They were calling after her more than after Loras or Tyrion. The king and the queen weren't far from them, and yet all cries and shouts and cheers were for her. She even thought she heard a few people cry Queen Margaery. The lords and the ladies who had gathered in King's Lading had shown her great respect, and she and Tyrion managed to get considerable reduction of taxes for their lands and a seat on the small council from the king and his Hand.
Now, Margaery understood what her grandmother had meant. She had no crown. She only was a lady, but thanks to her marriage with the man trailing his mouth and his tongue on her back right now, and thanks to her links with her own family at Highgarden, she was more powerful, more loved by the people and the lords, and happier than Cersei. She had no crown, but she was the queen, the real queen of Westeros. She thought about the possibility of her being married to Robert or Joffrey, and she compared them to Tyrion. He was a hundred times the man these would ever be. And she loved him. She loved him with all her heart. She never thought she would love someone, not in that way, and yet she did. She wouldn't replace Tyrion by anyone else for all the gold in the world. Love and power in one handsome package. What more could she ask?
"I love you, Tyrion." She whispered it.
Tyrion paused in his movements. A silence followed. "I love you too, my queen." Then he returned to his previous cares.
She remained there, unmoving, keeping her eyes shut, content with her actual situation. She didn't want it to end. She wanted nothing more than to stay there forever, all the attention of the man she loved on her.
This chapter is in someway the apex of Margaery's evolution since the story began. This is the moment when she realizes that she is, in all but name, the true queen of Westeros. Not only she found love in marriage (something she never thought or cared to find), but she became more powerful than any other living woman thanks to this marriage, and it was really the objective of this chapter, to show where her psychological evolution finally brought her, along with establishing how powerful our power couple is. :)
In some way, the chapters up to now have been an introduction. They have been setting the situation for when the plot of the show would begin. I would like to know what you think of the story so far, what you like, what you dislike, maybe give a mark on 10 to this story so far. I also welcome speculations about how you believe the story will go on from now on, and how the new political balance created by the Tyrell-Lannister alliance will affect the events in the show.
Please review
Next chapter: Season 1, Episode 1
