(Dragonstone: 8/10/298 AC) Margaery I
"I need you. I miss you," the Tyrell girl said, as she held her head low, staring at the story of her mentor inscribed on the well-kept tombstone. She reached out and touched the letters on it, remembering her first meetings with the Lord and Lady of Dragonstone, and how Ty Lee had remained her steadfast and only friend on the island. 'Until Steffon, Theon, and Mai, that is,' she thought to herself. She remembered being escorted to the Chamber of the Painted Table, by Ty Lee and the Lady Mai, when she had been only four, nearing five, namedays old. The Lord and Lady of Dragonstone awaited her in the bleak room, the dragon carvings threatening to emerge from the walls and consume her. She had been terrified as the exit had shut behind her. While it slowly closed she remembered casting a pleading look towards Ty Lee, who had been on the other side, holding a steady and worried gaze in response. "You were concerned for me, despite having no reason to be, and I wanted to go back to you," she uttered sadly towards the cold gray stone.
(Dragonstone: 1/15/288 AC) Margaery I
"Margaery Tyrell," the voice had startled her, and she snapped her head around towards the speaker. She saw a tall, grim, man clothed in functional, and non-ornamented noble attire. A slim, short, intimidating woman stood to his side, wearing a uniform of red, gold, and black. "I am Stannis Baratheon, and this is my Lady-wife, Azula Baratheon," he gestured towards the strange woman, who nodded her head, identifying herself. "Your father, Mace Tyrell, stood against the rebels during my brother's rebellion. He had been close to starving me, and my men, to death before my Lady-wife stepped in," she followed his eyes as he glanced towards the woman. She had been staring straight at her, and held a cruel smirk, with her left hand resting on her hip, and her right raised to her chin, deep in thought. Even at such a young age, Margaery could remember feeling the Lady of Dragonstone planning out the rest of her life, weighing it in her hands. Lord Stannis continued, "She destroyed his army and fleet," his lips twitched. "She captured him, your father, in the process and we held him, at Storm's end, for two years before he bargained for his life. He traded the lives of you and your brother, for his own," the Lord Dragonstone stated. He had spoken the last part, with a hint of disgust, she remembered.
"As a result of his poor decisions," the woman began to speak, "You are now our ward. Do you understand what that means?"
She did not, and so she shook her head in confusion, as the cold of the chamber crept into her bones.
"It means your life is in our hands, and if your father decides to rebel against the King…" she let the statement hang in the air before returning her gaze towards the four-year-old girl from Highgarden, "…your life would be forfeit. However, it does not need to be, should you remain loyal and steadfast to our family. If ever the time comes to decide your fate, it may be as the next ruler of Highgarden, and not as spike decoration, or crow feed," she spoke, indifferently, as if it had been the most obvious thing in the world to a child of four.
"Azula! No need to terrify the poor child, "said the Lord of Dragonstone in admonishment.
The Lady of Dragonstone frowned, glaring at her Lord Husband, slightly pouting her lips, before continuing, "As I was saying, your education at the Grand Academy will begin within the next fortnight. The Academy is small, at the moment, but it will grow. In the meantime, Ty Lee has volunteered to continue being your educator and caregiver. Spirits know why, but I know her to be loyal, so we have allowed it," she glanced towards the Lord of Dragonstone, who nodded his head.
She remembered sighing in relief at that, causing the Lady of Dragonstone to raise her eyebrow.
(Dragonstone: 8/10/298 AC) Margaery I
"I didn't like her very much, then," she chuckled darkly. "It was only after your death nearly destroyed her, and myself, that I have grown to pity her," she whispered, before continuing, "She was as lonely as I was, but she did not show it until then." Margaery watched as the light of the day slowly began to ebb, the sun nearly falling below the horizon. In the encroaching twilight, the stars began to twinkle into existence. Eyes towards the sky, and the glimmering stars, she smiled sadly, "You loved watching the stars like this. We would come to this spot and you would teach me how to fight. How to defend myself. Do you remember?" she motioned her head towards the stone. "You claimed to be training me for my own benefit. However, we both knew why you did so. You were afraid for me. You were afraid of her," she spoke longingly, tears welling up in her eyes. "If only you knew how much she cared for you. You were always sad, and you missed your home. Like I did mine, upon a time," she spoke softly. "But still, you smiled. You were kind," she smiled at the last memory she had of her mentor. Her mother, if she had been truthful with herself.
Dragonstone (289 AC: Ty Lee's Home)
"Do you think he likes me?" Margaery had asked her while doing a handstand, and watching as Ty Lee had been preparing to leave with Azula to the Iron Islands. 'You didn't tell me why you were going,' she thought bitterly, 'You knew you wouldn't have left if I pleaded for you to stay.'
"Steffon is a complicated boy," she had said, packing a small case with clothing. "You know who his parents are. Still…he seems, remarkably, unlike them," she said, as a thoughtful look crossed her face. "I supposed that should have been obvious when he held his little daytime 'party' in a cave on the northern beach," laughing as she spoke, "Azula and Stannis had not been pleased, not with him, and not with the guards he convinced to set up the innocent party composed of tea and sweet cakes." She looked towards her, "Do you remember that day, Margie?"
Yes, she did, and her embarrassment had been monumental that afternoon, several months ago, when she had awkwardly tried holding Steffon's hand.
Dragonstone (289 AC: Dance Cave)
They had both watched as the Firenation boy, Kai, and one of Steffon's best friends made a fool of himself. He had been dancing to no particular rhythm, his arms and legs flailing before he knelt with his eyes closed, a finger pointed to the sky. Steffon had made the most unusually adult comment she had heard from a fellow six-year-old, up to that point, "What in the seven hells is he doing? Dying?"
She remembered giggling timidly, looking into his eyes as he glanced at her, bearing his boyish grin. Her hand stretched out, reaching for his own, and he looked confused. He had hesitated and her hand hovered over his before she heard her voice.
"Steffon! What is going on here?!" demanded the Lady of Dragonstone, two Firenation soldiers flanking her, as she entered the cave. All the children had been startled and nearly rushed out of the cavern before she issued her command. "All of you remain where you are!" She sent a withering gaze towards the unfortunate Flameguard that had helped Steffon set up the little gathering, "You three! Escort the children back to their homes, and afterward, see me in the great hall!"
"Firelord!" spoke Steffon, as he knelt in respect, Margaery following. "They were only following my command, they…"
"Be silent!" she commanded, while the Flameguard had begun to gather the children. She could hear the waves crashing against the rocks, along with the panicked mumblings, and cries of the terrified children as they were being escorted out. They had remained kneeling as the last of the children and Flameguard had left, the Firenation duo holding watch at the cave's mouth. Margaery had been painfully aware of being virtually alone with the Lady of Dragonstone, again. She had been staring out of the mouth of the cave, her body half facing them, as she began to speak, "What in the spirit world, compelled you to do such a foolish thing?"
Margaery remembered being confused as to why she had not been dismissed, and it was only later that Steffon had told her it had been his mother's way of showing her that no one was above reproach, not even her own son. She had felt the heat within the cave rising, and she feared for their lives. Then Steffon spoke the only words, he knew, the Lady of Dragonstone would accept.
"To build alliances," the words leaving his mouth as his head was bowed in reverence. "They are the future of the Firenation, of Westeros, and it is imperative to begin when minds are younger and more malleable," he responded. That had been the second time Margaery remembered hearing an entirely too adult thought leaving Steffon's entirely too young mind, and she had felt unworthy to even entertain being with him. 'Young love,' she thought and laughed to herself.
She saw a brief flicker of surprise in Lady Azula's eyes before the cave cooled and a smiled formed on her face, "Well said. Next time, however," her face hardened, "speak to me first."
Dragonstone (289 AC: Ty Lee's Home)
She felt her face contorted in contemplation, and Ty Lee spoke, bringing her back to the time before Pyke. "I guess so," she said, as she finished packing her clothing. She collected a few small bags of her favorite snack, her beloved Flaming Fire Flakes, and threw them into her small case. Margaery flipped backward, landing in a seated position, on her small cot, next to Ty Lee's own. There she sat, finding her gaze being drawn to the spicy treat. Ty Lee had seen her staring at the small bags of baked crisps, "Meh. Not as good as they were on the archipelago or the colonies for that matter, but I make do with what I can," she shrugged her shoulders, grabbing a bag and tossing it at her, which she deftly caught. "So, party aside, have you ever spoken to him since?"
"Of course! If you count nods, and nervous, unintelligible, blabbering as 'speaking' with him," she responded with a sheepish grin, embarrassment lining her face. She nervously stuffed her mouth with a handful of fire flakes.
"Oh! Margie. When I get back we really need to speak about how to talk to boys," she smiled, before giving her some parting advice. "However, some key things to remember when talking to boys. Smile and look at them, and laugh at what they say even if it's not funny," she said, the promise of a more in-depth conversation on the subject lingering in the air, and awaiting the moment when she would return. Bells began to ring, a signal for everyone to begin making their way to the docks. Ty Lee's head looked out of their small window, a frown darkening her otherwise happy features, before she smiled, "Gotta go," she spoke, as she shut her packing case, and ruffled her hair, before kissing her forehead. "I'll be back, Margie. And for spirit's sake, Margie talk to him."
Margaery rose and hugged her, before Ty Lee passed through the door, of their humble home, for the last time.
(Dragonstone: 8/10/298 AC) Margaery I
She began to sniffle before a voice shook her out of her reverie, causing her to instantly assume a combat stance.
"Been here long?" spoke the Lady Mai, before Margaery stood down, wiping the remains of her tears away from her face.
"I miss her too, Margaery," she spoke solemnly, approaching Margaery slowly, before embracing her. "I miss her too."
