Conversations with the not so dead
Author's Notes: Been a while since I added anything to his fic...though because I was focusing on the main story, so I think most of you haven't minded ;D Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter! :D
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 II
The journey to Highgarden had been swift and rushed, they had a wedding to prepare for.
Dickon's wedding to Margaery Tyrell.
Every time that crossed her mind she marvelled at how Sam had managed to secure such an illustrious marriage for his brother. She was still coming to terms with that new development.
Among all the other new developments that kept being thrown at her…
Highgarden was just as she remembered it. It even seemed even more majestic and intimidating than before. Though that probably had to do with the fact that one day Dickon would rule this castle
Greetings were hurried and somewhat strained. Margaery was as gracious and as beautiful as ever. Olenna was as ornery and thorny as she ever was, even though Melessa felt that there was a modicum more of respect than usual. Lord Tyrell was flustered and at a loss for most of their encounters.
It felt like a whirlwind was carrying her forward, all towards Dickon and Margaery's wedding.
Hopefully, she could find some time to talk sense into Sam before it was too late!
Such nonsense! Him choosing a Wildling over Margaery Tyrell?! With Highgarden as the dowry?! Utter nonsense! She'd thought that he had more sense than that! This newly changed Sam had certainly appeared to have an excess of sense and cunning if he had forced the Tyrells into everything he had proclaimed to her before leaving Horn Hill.
Night fell on her first night in Highgarden before she managed to corner Sam.
She entered Sam's rooms, closed the door behind her, locking it, there was no reason for anyone else to hear her taking the new Lord of the Reach to task.
He was sitting at a table, a parchment in front of him, quill in hand looking up at her now with a cautious look.
"We need to talk, Sam," she started testily.
"Talla may have mentioned it," he retorted cautiously, putting down the quill and sitting back in his chair.
She glared at him, "I thought you had more sense than this, Sam," she started, letting her disappointment colour her tone.
Annoyance and anger flickered across his face for a moment before he sighed and slouched in his chair. A look of tiredness came over him, "I know what I am doing mother," he stated evenly.
"And what are you doing?"
"I'm marrying a woman that I love and who loves me back," he explained simply.
"A wildling? A Wildling, Sam?!" she repeated in exasperation, she began pacing back and forth in front of her son, "You are Lord of the whole damn Reach, Sam! Even as Lord of Horn Hill this would not be acceptable!"
Sam sighed, "I'm not changing my mind, mother. I love Gilly and we will be married."
She stopped her pacing and glared at him fiercely, "Your Bannermen will laugh at you! They will scorn you! They will think you a second Tytos Lannister!"
Sam gave her a single look, "They won't," he stated with assurance and arrogance, and for once in her life she thought she saw a resemblance between him and his father.
Taken aback, she pursed her lips for a moment before taking the chair next to Sam and pulling it close to her son. She reached out and carefully took his hand in hers.
She considered carefully how to make her son understand, he was always so sensible before, even more so after this return, but his fixation on this girl was perplexing.
"Sam…" she began hesitantly, "I love you, and I am proud of everything you've done, I always knew that you would do great things, no matter what your father thought."
Sam's face softened and he gave her a wide happy smile that she knew so well, "Thank you, mother. I know what they're all going to say, but it won't matter and there is literally nothing that will change my mind."
She grimaced in response, "At least in stubbornness you are your father's son," she lamented unhappily.
Sam snorted, "Probably," he gave her a weak smile, "Mother, I've explained that it was Brandon Stark and the Children of the Forest that cast the spell that brought us back."
She frowned wondering where Sam was going with this.
"…They had the power, but it was my idea."
She sat back in surprise, "What?"
Sam nodded, "The idea itself to find a way to turn back time was mine. And I suggested it, not as a way to win against the Others, but just so I could get Gilly back." he finished with an earnest smile.
"Oh..." was all she managed to say in response to Sam's admission.
Sam laughed at his mother's consternation.
She frowned and slapped his arm, "Don't laugh at your mother, it's not polite."
That just made him laugh again, she scowled at him in response.
"If it helps, she doesn't look like a Wilding when we put her in a proper dress," Sam told her with a toothy smile.
She huffed still coming to terms with what Sam had revealed to her, "It helps. It's something at least…"
So her timid little Sam had found a way to bend time? Just so he could get back his Wildling lover? Since when was Sam capable of something like this?
She let out a large sigh, and sat back in her chair, still reeling with shock.
They sat in silence, Sam watching her with a patient smug smile.
After many long moments, Melessa looked at her son, sighing again. There wasn't really anything that she could think of to say in response. What could she say to make him change his mind about the Wildling after knowing to what lengths he went to get her back?
"I truly hope that she looks as good as you and Talla claim," she said in defeat. Apparently, her son had grown up to be a living Florian. She truly hoped Gilly was a proper Jonquil.
Had the world truly come to this? The Lord of Horn Hill and new Lord of the Reach was going to be married to a Wildling?!
Oh wait, the Others were real. Why not this as well?
She let out an exasperated sound of disgust and annoyance, "You have everything planned out, don't you?"
Sam's smug smile grew broader, "Yes," was his succinct reply.
She stood up, "Fine then, be up early tomorrow! We have Dickon's wedding preparations to properly start, and we'll be starting early!"
"Oh course, mother, I'll help as much as I can," Sam nodded his acceptance.
She grimaced, "I'm going to be spending the day dealing with Lady Olenna," she stated unhappily, "I expect your help dealing with her," it came out more of a threat than a demand to her ears.
Sam nodded again, "As you say, mother."
"Agreeing to everything I say now is not going to make me any less annoyed," she retorted snidely, though she only succeeded in making him laugh again.
"As you say, mother."
She swatted at his arm again at his insolence, "Tomorrow is going to be a very long day," her thoughts focusing on how much she was going to have to deal with the Queen of Thorns, "I'm going to bed now," she announced.
"Goodnight, mother," his tone was still smug and it still annoyed her.
This playful confident Sam was far different from the boy she'd raised…though a small part- no large part of her was impressed and proud of him and his accomplishments.
She left Sam to his work, this Gilly better look damn good in a proper dress!
Author's Notes: As always, read, enjoy, and don't forget to comment! :D