Conversations with the not so dead

Author's Notes: I've always liked Melessa for some reason (and Talla), which is why she has a chapter, even though it might seem a little pointless in her contribution to the story...

Rating: M; it's Game of Thrones, anything less is not Game of thrones :D

Summary: Companion piece to my other fic, the Raven's Plan. A series of conversations from minor characters perspectives.

Melessa Tarly

Melessa fretted. She fretted and fretted. She'd been fretting since the day everything had changed. She put on a brave front, but inside, her insides were constantly in turmoil.

That day she'd walked into the training yard and thought that Randyll was finally going to do something drastic to Sam...only to hear that her husband had already passed drastic and threatened to murder Sam.

Her sweet Sam! Her kind and considerate boy!

She'd lost it and before she'd realised what she was doing slapped Randyll, right there in the middle of the training yard, in front of everyone. She shouted and screamed at him in anger and then slapped him again as he put Sam down for the millionth time.

She still wasn't sure who more surprised by her actions that day, her or Randyll...she'd never actually seen that expression on his face before.

The situation had escalated in the shouting match between father and son. The things they'd said had had her looking back and forth between them wondering just how mad they'd gone. Except both Talla and Dickon had shared their madness as well.

Then things had completely left the realm of sanity as loyal Ser Darvon and the other guards had imprisoned Randyll at Sam's command as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Mother!"

She started and looked up, Talla was standing in front of her frowning, and she realised that she'd gotten lost in her thoughts again, she'd become so engrossed she'd dropped her sewing. She bent and picked it up. She'd been sitting and sewing in her rooms...more preparations for the coming Winter...which Sam had explained would be far worse than anything she had ever imagined. Snarks and grumkins coming to kill them all.

She shivered and cast those dark thoughts away, and turned her attention to the young woman in the young girl's body who was standing in front of her waiting for her response.. Sweet little Talla was acting like a woman now...at least most of the time. She still indulged in small childish acts now and again.

"Did you want something my dear?" she asked sweetly.

Talla grinned and pulled out a scroll, "News from Sam."

"What's happened now?" Melessa asked frowning in concern.

Talla smiled widely in response, "His plan worked."

Melessa's heart skipped a beat or two, "Then he's..." she started suddenly breathless.

Talla nodded eagerly, "Sam's the new Lord Paramount of the Reach!" she crowed in joy, jumping up and down in her excitement.

Melessa blinked, her sweet, kind boy was Lord of the Reach now. The entire Reach! Such a strange new world this was now! When he'd shared his plans before leaving she'd thought he'd become delusional...except Lords Hightower and Redwyne and cousin Axell had backed him up...and now Sam really was Lord of the Reach in name and fact.

She shook herself, she was so proud of her Sam. She'd always known that he was going to do good things but this was...she shook her head again, as a small proud smile came to her lips.

She looked up and found Talla staring at her, biting her lower lip, the excitement in her eyes was something Melessa had seen before...every time Talla had unexpected good news to share.

"And..." Melessa prompted pointedly.

Talla's grin seemed to grow larger now, "Dickon's been betrothed to Margaery!" she shouted joyfully.

Her face went blank as her mind reeled at the sudden implications of Talla's words.

Dickon is betrothed to Margaery Tyrell?

But Loras Tyrell was dead...and this meant that...this meant that Dickon would be the next Lord of Highgarden?!

Now she was truly stunned. Sam was Lord of the Reach...and Dickon was going to be Lord of Highgarden?!

House Florent had always been scheming to claim Highgarden and the Reach for their blood...and it was achieved by her sons with minimal effort? She didn't know whether her ancestors would be proud or pained at how easily this had happened now, when they'd failed so spectacularly over the centuries...

"Aren't you going to say anything?" Talla asked when Melessa didn't say anything in response.

Melessa shook herself, "I'm shocked, my dear. Happy- but shocked...I didn't know that Sam had such aspirations." she stated in a surprised tone.

"He doesn't. But it doesn't matter, Dickon is going to marry Marge! She was always so lovely!" Talla bounced enthusiastically as she spoke.

Melessa nodded distracted. Talla wasn't wrong, Margaery was a good girl. And a much better match for Dickon than Melessa had ever expected or dared imagine. An idea occurred to her and she shared it with Talla.

"I'm happy for Dickon, but wouldn't it make more sense for her to marry Sam? I'd have thought Lord Tyrell and Lady Olenna would have preferred that." That way would have been more politically convenient for the Tyrells, wouldn't it have?

"Of course she wouldn't marry Sam, he has Gilly." Talla said matter of factly.

Her thoughts came to an abrupt stop, "Gilly? Who's Gilly?" she questioned in surprise.

Talla beamed widely, "Sam found someone to love him just the way he is! Before he became like he is now. Timid, round, Sam had someone who loved him dearly, just as he was." Talla paused for a second, a little unsure of herself, "Sam really should have told you about her before he left..." she paused for a moment cocking her head, "But he did have a lot on his mind." She admitted with a shrug.

"Talla. Who's Gilly?!" she repeated more forcibly.

Talla squirmed for a moment and then spoke, "He met her while he was in the Night's Watch...north of the Wall."

North of the Wall?! "A Wildling girl...and my Sam?" Melessa sputtered in disbelief.

"She's kind and sweet. And they made such a cute couple!" Talla said with enthusiasm

Melessa's mind was reeling.

"...and she cleaned up so well. She looked better in my dresses than I did." Talla smiled emphatically as she finished.

"A Wildling." Melessa repeated evenly in disbelief.

Talla nodded, "They prefer being called Free Folk," she added and then paused for second before becoming excited again, "Oh! And you don't remember little Sam! He was so cute!"

"Little Sam?" Melessa echoed not understanding.

Talla nodded again.

It took Melessa far too long for her to realise what exactly Talla meant by little Sam. A child. Sam's son. Her first grandson. With a Wildling- no, Free Folk girl.

She was happy that Sam found love in that other life...but he was Lord of the Reach now. He'd renounced his inheritance and was a man of the Night's Watch in that other life...though that carried a whole other set of problems with what Talla was telling her. But in this time, and this life, he was Lord of Horn Hill- and Lord the Reach as well! It wasn't proper for the Lord of the Reach to be associating with a Wildling. Oh, she was overjoyed that Sam found someone to truly love him and that fact endeared this Gilly to her far more than she expected to feel towards another woman, especially a Wildling, but things had changed now. Sam was Lord of Reach and certain standards were expected of him now.

"Uh...Mother?" Talla asked hesitantly.

"It's obvious that your brother and I need to have some words about what is appropriate to his new rank," she stated testily.

Talla looked alarmed now, "He's the Lord of the Reach now! You can't be mad at him!" she defended her brother.

Melessa sniffed haughtily, "We will see." She would have words with Sam when he got back.

Author's Notes: Hope you all liked that! As always, Read, Enjoy and Review! :D