A/N: When the writing bug hits you, the writing bug hits you. Welcome to "fluff and slow burn", Robbaery edition. A few small changes here turn into much larger changes, as Margaery influences the North even earlier merely by virtue of being a Southern Lady other than Catelyn for Sansa. I also added a little show canon with the Jon incident (which is still possible in book canon, but smooths Jon and Catelyn's relationship a little). I hope you like this, as a way of progressing the plot, and as a way of depicting the changes that our SI Marge is creating. Of course, this is still Westeros, so I promise you, this is the calm before the storm I'm about to inflict on everyone later. Can't have a plot that's too easy, after all...
INTERLUDE: Robb & Margaery's Letters, 289-296 AC
Mid-Late 289
Dear Lady Margaery,
Thank you for your letter. Highgarden sounds pretty, and I loved hearing about your family. Your brothers sound just like Jon and I - we both want to become knights like Garlan and Loras. You don't seem as...girly, as my sister Sansa, but I like that you know so much! I'm glad we're writing companions (did I spell that right?), and I hope to hear more about the South!
To answer your question: we pray at the Godswood, and Mother prays in the Sept, but sometimes she joins us at the Godswood. It's a giant forest with a bunch of trees, and there's a tree in the center called the Heart Tree, with a face on it. Father says that every tree is made out of weirwood and has a face in the center of the tree, because he says that the old gods watch over us all through the faces in the tree, and no man can tell a lie beneath the Heart Tree. It's not so different from praying with Septa Mordane, but there is a lot less reading, and we do our praying in private. I think I like that better than praying to the Seven, except Mother would get angry if I told her that, so I try not to.
As for my question: Sansa keeps going on and on about the knights and the songs or how the South is filled with tourneys, and that knights wear colorful fabric as they joust, and crown a Queen of Love and Beauty. Sansa also tells me that knights are honorable, and just, like in the songs, and when I asked Father, he said that it was not always true. So my first question to you is: are knights down South like the songs?
My siblings are hard to work with even at the best of times, though Mother said we are to get a new sibling soon! Sansa thinks that our sibling will be a girl, and Jon thinks our sibling will be a boy, but it doesn't really matter to me. Jon and I spend a lot of time together still, but Sansa has started calling Jon her half-brother, and hearing that from Sansa hurts him. She says that Mother is a good example of a Southern Lady, and she wants to become a Southern lady like Mother. Since you're a southern lady, and know a lot of Southern Ladies, is this the right thing for a Southern lady to do?
Father says that Lord Greyjoy has declared a rebellion, and he has left leave to defend the North. It scares me, because Father is strong, but what if Father dies? Father also said Lord Mace should do the same, before he left, as any Lord should. I don't know if your Father is going to do the same as well.
With this letter, are we friends now? Because we're going to be writing letters for a long time, and I want us to be good friends.
Sincerely,
Robb Stark
Early 290
Dear Robb,
Of course we're friends, silly! I even dropped the "Lord" in front of Robb - you can address your letters to Margaery instead of Lady Margaery, since we're friends now, and we're going to be friends for a long time, see?
That's wonderful to hear - we have a Godswood in Highgarden, but I don't think we have a Heart Tree, and nobody has carved a face yet. It doesn't seem like you have to choose between the Seven and the Old Gods, and I like the idea of praying to both the Old Gods and the New. I didn't tell Septa Nysterica that, of course - the last time I asked about the Seven Pointed Star, she washed my mouth out with soap! Bleck!
To answer your first questions, knights are just like anyone else. Some knights are good, like Aemon the Dragonknight, or like my brothers will be, but other knights are scary or can do bad things, like the Mountain. Southerners are like anyone else, which is why you and Sansa should be just as careful talking to one as you would any other Northerner, perhaps even more. The songs are pretty, but my grandmother says that even the songs can lie, and that Rhaegar Targaryen had his empty head full of songs before being beaten by Robert Baratheon.
Send my best wishes to your mother and your younger sibling - by the time this letter arrives, your sibling should be born. Mother says that a woman's battle is in the birthing bed, but I'm not sure how much of that was to scare me or how much of that was true.
Tell Sansa that a good Southern lady is respectful to everyone around her, even her half-brother. They still share the same hearth, and break bread together, like a good Southern lady does with her knight, which means that they are siblings. Not only that, Jon may end up as her sworn shield one day, or protect her, so Sansa should treat her brother well. Your mother might be angry at Jon because he's a bastard, but only because she's scared that he might take your claim and try to become Lord of Winterfell over you. Jon doesn't sound like the kind of person to do so, though, so she shouldn't do that, in my opinion. But then again, I'm learning more about the North than I am the South, so my question to you is: what is a Northern lady like?
Father has gone off with Lord Tarly to secure the western borders and rivers of the Reach, and Lord Redwyne sent out his fleet. The Ironborn are scary, and Willas keeps scaring me with horror stories about how the Ironborn plunder villages. Garlan and Willas are hard at work in their new Lordship lessons, and Loras has made more of an effort to play with Talla, but he still thinks she's weird, which is funny.
My question to you is: How does the north sustain itself? I imagine it gets really cold, and that's probably not good for the plants either. I've read that glass gardens are a type of garden they use in really cold environments, but is that only in places like Winterfell, or everywhere else around the North?
Send my best wishes to your family, and I'll pray to the Seven that your family and my family return from battle safe!
Sincerely,
Margaery
P.S.: My guess is that you will have a new baby brother when I next receive your letter.
Mid-Late 290
Dear Margaery,
I've dropped the lady from your name, see? I'm glad that we're friends now!
I also showed Sansa what you wrote, and she cried a little bit, and apologized to Jon. She said that even though Jon may be her half-brother, Jon is still her brother, and can still be her Aemon Dragonknight when she plays Naerys, and so she promised to stop her mean treatment of him. I used to be her Aemon Dragonknight, so I'm not sure if I should be happy that they're nicer to each other now, or angry because I have to play the evil knight every time now. Arya is still a baby, but she coos at Jon when she sees him, so I don't think I'm anyone's favorite right now. Speaking of siblings, though, my brother, Brandon was born no more than a moonturn ago! I'm sure House Tyrell received the announcements - father sent them to all the Houses, but Sansa was right and House Stark is ecstatic! Jon is not unhappy, as Arya has finally grown enough to follow Jon around constantly, and he dotes over her. Mother is displeased, but as Jon is my brother, so I will support him.
Father is supposed to be arriving back soon, he beat the Ironborn, according to Mother, who said that he was helped by men like King Robert, Lord Lannister, and Lord Redwyne. Theon Greyjoy is supposed to be our guest though, and I hope we can become friends, or maybe even sparring together. Sparring at the tiltyard with Jon is no longer any fun because we keep fighting each other - I need more brothers or companions for that!
To answer your first question, Lady Mormont was in Winterfell a few moons ago (right after I received your letter), and I asked her that. She said that a Northern Lady needed to be tough, and strong, like the winter our house words are named after, and manage the household, survive in harsh conditions, fight in battles, and raise strong lords and ladies, and that Northern women are not "fainting flowers who disguise their words between finery" (Mother helped me spell that!), or whatever that means. Mother agreed, but said that any Southern lady wanting to go to the North needs to be strong, and value family, duty, and honor, but those were the Tully words. Sansa wants to know as well: what does it take to be a Southern lady?
Winterfell does have a glass garden! Sansa loves them, lemon cakes are her favorite! I asked Mother if there were glass gardens anywhere else in the North, and she said that most houses didn't have glass gardens, but instead, they have brick rooms, for plants that don't need sunlight, and a lot of heat. We mostly eat plants like carrots, eat a lot of meat, and have a lot of bread up North though.
I'm glad that we aren't fighting any more. That means father is home and the family spends time with one another. Hope to hear from you soon!
Your friend,
Robb
P.S.: How did you know? I was so sure our sibling would be another girl.
Early 291
Dear Robb,
The war is over, the Ironborn are gone, but for the past moon or so, Willas has been sent off to foster in Dorne, so there is still little joy in my days. He will marry Arianne in twelve moonturn, and my brother will be in Sunspear for the rest of his days. Willas has called me silly, of course, because he will come to Highgarden every once in a while, but my brother has met Arianne and they are a good match!
All of my brothers are my favorites, but I think out of all of them, I love Loras best. I love Willas and I love Gar, but Loras and I are like twins, and he always manages to know when I am reading a text, and when I need to be dragged outside to play with him. When Loras is bored, and I'm reading something, he'll sidle up to me and he naps while I read. Willas and Garlan love each other most, but I think that all siblings have a favorite, anyways, so maybe this new sibling will be your favorite, or you, his.
Reading what Lady Mormont says is so interesting! I'm fairly decent at managing ledgers for a household, but I've never lived anywhere but Highgarden or handled any weapons, unless you count the needle - I've only barely stopped poking myself on accident when I embroider. Being a Northern lady sounds nice though. To answer Sansa's question: all Southern ladies must learn to embroider really well, have good etiquette and good knowledge of heraldry, have a good singing voice or play an instrument, be fluent in a lot of languages, and understand the court. Grandmother says that Southern ladies need a keen sense of politics, and that if Sansa wants to become a true Southern lady, she'll need to hide her smiles and charm behind a cunning mind to play the Game. Mother says that Southern ladies need to charm a household and provide heirs and spares for their lords, and that the rest will come in time.
Father told me that Northerners are very honorable, and that House Stark inspires loyalty in their men ; that the Starks are so loved by the North that the North fights for them. The Reach isn't like that at all though, and Grandmother tells me that houses in the Reach are just looking for an opportunity to send us out of Highgarden. My question, for you, is: is that true? How will you plan to rule as Lord of Winterfell?
Your friend,
Margaery
Mid-Late 291
Dear Margaery,
With Bran as a toddler, and Sansa and Jon talking again, we each have new favorites. Jon has established Arya as his favorite, even though he sneaks Sansa lemon cakes from the kitchen when she wants. I am now Sansa's favorite brother, and after your letter, Sansa has constantly sought lessons from the Maester about heraldry - all to prepare her for becoming Queen, she says, and practices courtly manners a lot more with Mother and Septa Mordane. We now play games pretending to be the court at King's Landing, with Sansa as Queen, I, as her Hand, and Jon, as her kingsguard knight, against Arya, the dragon queen, and Sansa enjoys bossing me around. Theon Greyjoy has begun his stay in Winterfell, and I think that Jon and I have both adopted him - he's loud, and wild, not like Jon, who likes to silently brood, or like me, who calmly enjoys life, but we've adjusted, and he is our friend, so I suppose you are not my only Southern friend now.
To that matter, Mother and Father have started to instruct Sansa and I in politics, as they have said it is just about the right time for that. Father spends time talking with me about Northern politics, and how to appease all my bannerman, or creates complicated situations where I have to solve problems as the Warden of the North. Mother uses past history, like the Dance of the Dragons to teach us the Southern politics she learned as a child, but she tells us that we can't read history books to figure out the result. I have found that I have not a head for politics, but that my strengths lie in military strategy, leadership, battles...and a surprising one: dancing. Battles, and military strategy are easy - learning about battles is interesting, and spending time in the tiltyard also helps with that. Sansa and I have learned to dance, and my skill in the tiltyard seems to have transferred there!
How do Southerners keep a head for such things? Sansa cannot do her sums well, and still can resolve a crisis better than I can. It's difficult, but I'm learning, and Mother says that my Lady Wife can help me resolve some issues, like how she helps Father. I don't know if I am ready to think about betrothals, Margaery - we are both only nine name days old, and so much rests on us. I just hope that if I meet someone, they're as kind and understanding as you are.
The Reach worries me...if bannermen from the Reach don't respect House Tyrell, how does House Tyrell help them and the smallfolk? Thinking of bannerman like the Cassels, the Cerwyns, and the Mormonts wanting to force us out scares me. So I suppose, to answer your questions: I am only nine name days old, almost ten namedays, but...if I wanted to be a lord, I would want to be like my father. Everyone likes him, and I have heard not a single bad opinion of my father. Father is always just and merciful with all of his bannerman, and Father will always talk to smallfolk and nobles alike to make sure everyone is happy. Father has said once that being a lord is like having a bunch of children and worrying for them, and thinking about Arya and Bran, I want to protect them, and so I want to protect my subjects the same way.
My question for you is this: Septa Mordane says sometimes under her breath that Northerners are savages, but I hear her, and I know she's from the Riverlands, so is that an opinion among all in the South? What do you think about Northerners?
Your friend,
Robb
Early 292
Robb,
Take that back right away! The Iron Islands most certainly do NOT count as the South, and so I am your only Southern friend as of now! Truthfully, the Iron Islands exist as an in-between totally different to both the North and the Reach, so I suppose even by technicality, I am still your only friend from the South.
I am currently writing this from the Water Gardens, after the eve of House Tyrell's trip to Dorne for the wedding of my brother, Willas, to my new good-sister, Arianne! Dorne is absolutely lovely, though it is a little too warm for my tastes, and the food is spicy, and burns my mouth, which makes Arianne and her relatives laugh. I cannot handle spices very well, it seems. I've bonded with Arianne in our love for adventure and talk about politics, and Willas is particularly happy with his new bride, as she seems to enjoy adventure, and my gentle-hearted brother enjoys reading and waiting for Arianne to come back from her adventures! Willas's page, Samwell, is in Highgarden as squire to Ser Garlan Tyrell, who won a tourney a few moonturn ago, and was knighted, as a result! Loras is supposed to begin squiring for Lord Renly Baratheon in about twelve moonturns from now, so I am enjoying as much time as I can with my brothers before they are separated from me, and I am sent to foster somewhere, as well.
It is good to hear that Lord Stark and Lady Stark plan to give you more lessons in politics. Politics is important, as the children of Lord Paramounts, and we must do our best to help not only our family, but the smallfolk around us. Grandmother has begun to do the same for me, as she says that none of her roses shall leave with an empty head and a face for only courtesies, as a repeat of last time, with her daughters. I personally think that it is a bit uncharitable of an interpretation, but Grandmother says as Grandmother does.
Not everyone has the same strengths, Robb, and it's good that you're learning that you can't do it all alone. If a Lord were to be amazing at every aspect of life, it would be a song, but it is important as a Lord that you depend on other people and use their counsel for the betterment of others, perhaps like Lord Stark and Lady Stark do. For example, I am a terrible dancer still, only able to do the perfunctory steps, but I hope that mayhaps my husband will have two better feet than me, to lead the dance. If Sansa can't do her sums, she can just have a particularly good castellan - my cousin Desmera is the worst at sums I have ever seen (probably worse than Sansa), and so I hope that her house has an efficient castellan, lest she miscalculate her inventories and have the house go hungry.
To be honest, the only reason Southerners keep a head for such games is because it is necessary for us to survive. For instance, in the North, calling the banners would be easy, as your banners keep their promises to swear fealty to House Stark, but in the Reach, calling the banners is an act that requires you to see which houses you are tied to with marriages, and to offer other houses some form of reward, or hold some kind of leverage, in order to keep your banners together. The Reach can field the largest army in Westeros, yes, but the work that Father and eventually, Garlan, will have to do will be difficult. That is one of the reasons I admire the North so - true loyalty and fealty are hard to find, and it must be nice to know that your loyalty has forever garnered trust in your bannerman.
Northerners are an ancient, honorable people with the blood of the First Men, and to be honest, I will never understand the idea that the Northerners are savages. Reachmen say the same thing about Dorne, and yet all I have experienced in Sunspear has been peace and love from the Rhyonar. I think part of it is fear; lots of Southerners never meet Northerners, so they hear stories about Northmen like Cregan Stark, or Torrhen, or so on, and they let that color their perceptions by picturing Northmen as these savage beasts that they are not. If more Northerners wrote to Southerners like you and I, I think the world would be better off for it, would it not?
My question to you: how on earth do Northern economics work? The North is such a large region, and has so many points uninhabited, like Sea Dragon Point, that I'm curious to learn more about why that is the case. Is the soil simply too frozen to grow plants? Or is there some kind of political reason for that?
Your friend,
Margaery
Mid-Late 292
Margaery,
Alright, alright, I relent, my lady. You are still my only friend from the South as of now. It's funny to say this, but at this point, I feel like you know me better than anyone save for my siblings. When I originally started this letter-writing business, I didn't think it would work out, and it seemed like a very strange tasks, but now, I can hardly wait to see your letters, and I hope you feel the same way about mine own.
Quite a few things have occurred at Winterfell as of late. Firstly, Jon fell ill while Father went out to resolve a land dispute - very deathly ill with the pox, to the point that we nearly thought Jon wouldn't make it. It was the scariest moment of our lives - Arya refused to leave his bedside until Mother eventually forced her out, and Sansa was sobbing so hard during one of her embroidery lessons that Septa Mordane had to cancel it once she heard the news that Jon would either live or die that same night. I don't think Bran really understood - he was just more upset that his access to Jon was denied, as Bran likes to snuggle up with everyone. I wish I could tell you that I reacted stoically, or did something more than panic and cry, but I cried, and panicked. Eventually, I went to the Sept, thinking that if I prayed to the Old Gods and the New, I could save my brother. To my surprise, I heard Mother praying for the health of Jon! She said that if Jon lived, she would begin treating Jon like a son, and making up for her mistake. I went to the Godswood, to do my prayers, and went back to the Sept, but by the time I was there, Mother was gone! For a fortnight or so, I had thought it to be a particularly cruel dream, but it turned out to be real!
Jon miraculously recovered that night, to all of our relief. One night, about a moon later, Mother and Father apparently had a talk in the solar that was the gossip of the servants everywhere in Winterfell, though none of the servants knew what was said, nor did Mother and Father divulge their conversation when I had asked. Apparently, Mother left Father's solar that night with red-rimmed eyes, and avoided Father for about a day, but after that, Mother apologized to Jon and began treating him like she had promised. The Stark family is complete, and I have never seen Father nor Jon any happier at the increased unity in our family. Though Jon has not been legitimized yet, I am hoping that Mother and Father eventually see sense and legitimize Jon, though according to Sansa, after all of our other siblings, present and future, to prevent succession issues. It doesn't really matter to me, and Sansa and I both know Jon would never do that - she just wanted to show off her political knowledge, thanks to the "wonderful Lady Margaery's advice" and that Sansa is "preparing to be Queen, after all"! If you feel your ears burning, it is wholly because of Sansa, and I apologize for that.
I send my heartiest congratulations to Willas and Princess Arianne! The fact that they seem so happy together gives me hope for the future, as Mother has started to talk about betrothals a little more lately, now that I am nearly eleven name days old. Mother says that she will not betroth me to anyone I don't want to, but that it is my duty as Heir of Winterfell to make a good match to secure the household. I told her that maybe in a year or two, I would be able to tell her who I would want to be betrothed to. Do you get the same talks, or is that just me?
To answer your question: I asked Father this, and Father responded by saying that certain parts of the North are treacherous enough that there are not a lot of smallfolk there, and that there need not be so many holdfasts without smallfolk to hold onto. It is tough to grow plants, but an infusion of funds could make it easier because glass gardens could be built. I think it'd be interesting to work on as Lord of Winterfell, because Father says that every Lord should better House Stark if they could. I asked Father what his projects were and he ruffled my hair. He knows I hate when he does that!
My question to you is: what are your thoughts on bastards? I know that in the South, bastards are seen as a family's shame, but I cannot imagine Jon as any kind of shame - I can imagine him as naught but my brother, and I want to know what my dear friend thinks of him.
Your friend,
Robb
Early-Mid 293
Robb,
I will start the letter by talking very frankly about your brother and the nature of bastards, because I know how important Jon is to you. I have always never understood why bastards were given such a bad name, and why every Southern song or tale about the Blackfyres always ends in a bastard as the one wronging the rightful heir. It's not as though bastards can control when they are born, and who they are born to, and if they were born out of an adulterous affair, it is the fault of the Lord or Lady who did the act in the first place, not the bastard child. Bastards are just like every other man, or woman, after all, and based on your letters, Jon is a kindhearted brother who definitively does not deserve the shame that has been placed upon him. In Dorne, bastards are seen as an act of passion, which is why they are so accepted there. If Jon is feeling uncomfortable with his treatment, I would suggest him to move to Dorne and join Willas and Arianne, but with Lady Stark so accommodating and all of your siblings clearly loving your brother, Jon, I suspect he will have no reason to leave the North, and I hope to meet him someday.
It is also deeply relieving to hear that your brother has recovered from the pox, and was fully accepted into House Stark because of it. I remember when Willas was injured at the tourney, and how distraught I was from it. Can you believe I shrieked so loudly the entire stands heard and fainted in Loras's arm? I followed Willas all the time after that injury, and still regularly send ravens to my brother to make sure he is fine - which is something that Willas and Arianne humor me with. That sort of stress stays with you, and I'm glad it didn't end badly.
I am also glad to hear that Sansa enjoys the advice I give to her - if there was any advice I would give her now, it would be to stop harping on her poor brother and quietly command her subjects, as Queens do, as opposed to mentioning that she was a Queen. A Queen that has to say "I am the Queen" is no real queen at all! Send my best wishes to her, Arya, Bran, and Jon!
Father has started to talk about betrothals and about the possibility of fostering, but Grandmother always manages to shut him down. Loras is betrothed, and Willas is married, but no matches seem to exist for Gar and I yet, even though Gar and I could care less. I am told that it is important for me to find a good husband, but the thought of being matched to a man who doesn't care for me or respect me as an equal scares me. I know that it is silly, and that life is not a song, and Grandmother reminds me of that constantly as she relentlessly drills me into understanding politics, but I am still a lady at heart, who loves sweet songs and dreams of a Jaehaerys to my Alysanne, and so the day continues forward.
Speaking of fostering, now that Willas is out of Highgarden, and Loras is going to be fostering in the Stormlands with Lord Renly Baratheon, Mother is starting to lament our leaving and is spending every ounce of time she can (when not consumed with her duties),with her children. Gar has just pretty much accepted it, and Mother and I spend time together as we embroider, patiently showing me how to make some designs. I'm not going to be making fancy Southern dresses any time soon, but I can fix a shirt, so my sewing is passable.
I told you in another set of letters about my entourage of girls that I spend time with. Well, over the course of time, we've developed a bond, and I'm proud to say that my entourage now acts as a miniature "spy network" where they report all of the gossip of Highgarden to me! It's not anything spectacular, and I definitely do not intend on creating something much larger, but working with my entourage on information gathering, as well as making fun events out of going to orphanages to help the poor and such allows us to help others, and have fun while doing it. I jokingly called it "a sorority" but the name stuck, and now, Highgarden has a "sorority" of noble girls that are the envy of everyone in the Reach! Of course, it is helped by the fact that girls have to approve other members, and service within the community is a requirement so that the noble girls can use their spirit towards charitable means, and now, equivalents are popping up all over Westeros to mimic the Reach. Maybe that will be my big contribution to Westeros long after my death - Margaery Tyrell, the inventor of sororities! Hah!
To be honest, I feel like we've grown to know one another and the North so well that I don't really feel the need to "ask" a question about the North. Is that weird? We have exchanged letters for three to four years, and here we are as dear friends. I much rather would hear about your life, or the various going-ons of House Stark. Let me know what you think!
Your friend,
Margaery
Late 293
Margaery
You have no idea how relieved I am to hear of your opinion of Jon. He's my brother, and knowing that my dearest friend (don't tell Theon, though), accepts my brother is a balm to my soul. House Stark is fairly normal, as the same-old, same-old has occurred around Winterfell. After reading the tales of Aegon the Conqueror, and the tales of other warrior queens, like Queen Nymeria, Arya has begun insisting that she will become the next Visenya. Arya is unfortunately a young girl, and Rodrik Cassel will NOT train young Arya in the tiltyard. But Arya wants as Arya does, as Sansa saw Jon sneaking out with Arya, to train her with swords, after what I bet was just her pleading eyes, and in exchange for her silence to anyone other than me, Jon would sneak her out some more lemon cakes. Really, my sisters…
Sansa thanked you for the advice about Queenship and is a little more serious about it now, reading a little more about what is necessary to be queen. Arya told Sansa sarcastically that if Sansa wanted to be queen, Sansa had better brush up on her sums, which sent Sansa crying, and I, comforting her for it. Our lessons are going fairly well, especially as Mother and Father have both really invested their time, with Maester Luwin, and Septa Mordane, into our lessons, and I feel a little more prepared for all of the responsibility. The tiltyard is also going really well - I have only gotten better and better at my swordwork, and with other lessons, like horseback riding, which I have imagined you have already learnt, mayhaps we will be ready, after all when the time comes.
If it helps, I can't imagine any man that would dare treat you less than an equal, or not respect you, as they would have to answer your brothers, your family, and me. In the North, we believe that if a woman can run the household just as efficiently as a man, she should be treated with the same respect a Northern man is treated. It bothers me that it's not the same way down South.
I can agree with you that even though life is not a song, I too want life with a woman I love. We are noble children though, and I know we must do our duty, but the thought of being forced to marry a woman whose face I would not even see before the wedding day is terrifying. I just hope that you and I, at the end of the day, marry someone we both love.
I have told Sansa about the "sororities" that you have built in the Reach, as you have called them, and Sansa looked excited to think about doing the same thing with her best friend, Jeyne Poole! Of course, poor Jon is now unwittingly placed into the position of her "event planner", mostly because Jon immediately folds to any of Sansa's pouts, but it seems like a good idea, and a start to a wonderful legacy indeed. In comparison, I've only managed to learn about Southern politics, but we're all learning there.
Margaery, I was thinking a similar thing with questions about the South. It's kind of hard writing new questions when you've learnt so much, and have a dear friend a raven away to answer problems. Our correspondence has worked as planned, but it seems as though the correspondence will continue, though as good friends. I told Father this and he laughed at me, before telling me that I was free to continue writing to you for as long as you, and I both wanted to. Mother looked particularly pleased for some reason, when I told her as well, but I didn't dwell on it too much.
Yours,
Robb
P.S.: Mother has realized that we have not had a picture of one another. Mother has enclosed a locket with my painting attached, for you to get an idea of what your friend looks like.
Mid 294
Robb,
I'm glad to hear that our correspondences will continue! Father and Grandmother seem to be in full support of it, and I enjoy receiving my letters from you, rare as though they may be. It almost feels as though you and I are connected through these letters, and my decision to ask to write a Northern noble about the North has been absolutely worth it. I will also say that you look handsome in your painting, and I appreciated the locket!
Loras has left to foster with Renly, and Willas and Arianne stopped to visit Highgarden! Arianne was ecstatic to see the beauty of Highgarden, and it was lovely spending time with my brother and my good-sister. Willas has become quite tan as a result of living in Sunspear, and even if he spends way too much time at the library and breeding his Dornish Sand Steeds, my good-sister is happy with the outcome, and happy with Prince Doran working with her to become Princess of Dorne. Willas enjoys it in Dorne, and my brother is safe, which is all I ask for, as of now.
Grandmother's lessons have been tougher and tougher, and the Maester is complaining that I am running out of things to be taught, save for the military subjects, which still put me to sleep, but between that, and Septa Nysterica's attempt to make me completely memorize the Seven Pointed-Star, I never have the time to be bored. My only real regret in terms of my education is that I don't know how to defend myself in the case where my guards have been disabled or I have been caught unawares, but that will unfortunately have to be directly under the purview of my husband.
Gar has had some trouble recently, adjusting to being heir of Highgarden. Unfortunately, Gar had a meeting with a girl, Leonette, and wanted to betroth himself to her, but Father disapproved of the match, and as the new heir to Highgarden, he could not deny Father, and did his duty. Gar is pretty saddened about it, as he really liked her, but Mother and I comforted him and now, Gar is back in the tiltyard fighting three squires at one, like his usual. Speaking of squires, Sam has gone back to Horn Hill to begin preparing to inherit Horn Hill, under the direction of his father. His father has a spare, Dickon, but Sam has matured enough that Lord Tarly seems to trust him to lead House Tarly, however begrudgingly, Rumor has it that Lord Tarly had originally disapproved of his son for being too weak, but I suppose time with Garlan constantly beating you up would make you learn something.
Thank you Robb, that helps quite a bit, actually! A husband like you would be a luckness for any lady. It is difficult sometimes, to make friends, or talk to people about betrothals, for some Lords may see me as Highgarden, and you as Winterfell, if that makes sense, but you and I are similar in that we are both children of Lord Paramounts. We are noble children, but we can do our best to play within the game, and find our happy endings through that. Grandmother always says that I should make my own destiny, so I will do the best I can, and I hope you do, too.
Yours,
Margaery
P.S.: Given that you have sent me a locket, I have no choice but to send one back! I hope you don't mind it!
Early 295
Margaery,
Mother is expecting another child, and all of us have made our bets! Arya, Bran, and I have bet that this new sibling will be a boy, while Jon, Theon, and Sansa are betting that this sibling will be a girl. Mother, is of course, excited, and Father and the Maester frets over Mother, as they think it will be a difficult birth. By the time you read this letter, our sibling may even be born!
I have started my first big project under the direction of Father - we are taking inventories for a longer winter and researching more into glass gardens and brick rooms for plants. I am excited, as if this project succeeds, and we find cheaper ways to build glass houses, maybe more smallfolk will be fed and we can move further north. It seems as though it is a long way coming, though - Essos is pretty strict about what they share and research is old and limited on improving glass techniques. I know that projects are not supposed to be easy, and that they need to be long term, I am still highly frustrated that this isn't resolving itself.
Uncle Benjen came to visit, with tales of the Wall. Jon started brooding about it, because even though Mother treats him as basically her third son, Jon still believes that the only place he could escape a bastard's lot in life and gain honor and prestige was on the Wall, which has only been reinforced so far by Uncle Benjen's stories. That didn't survive any longer than a week, because every single one of our siblings, including myself, were absolutely distraught with the idea, and proceeded to react as such. When Jon announced the idea, Sansa immediately started sobbing and asking Jon who was going to be on her Kingsguard if Jon wasn't there to protect his Queen. Arya refused to talk to her "stupid brother" for a night, claiming she would have nothing to do with him until he "saw sense". I told Jon he was being silly and that he would always have a position in my household if I didn't just create another holdfast for him. Bran took the opposite route, clinging to Jon as long as he could, following Jon, and reminding Jon that he loved him and explaining all the reasons Jon couldn't go. Eventually, the discussion was raised to Father's ears, who shut it down immediately by telling Jon that he had something "better" planned for him, something Uncle Benjen completely agreed with. Jon looked relieved, and no more word of Jon joining the Night's Watch would grace our doorstep. Uncle Benjen is the only Stark needed on the wall for now, and as much as I appreciate and love my uncle, I am glad he is the only Stark to man the Wall.
Onto something important - Mother once again talked to me about betrothals. Since I am three-and-ten, I am about the age to be betrothed, which is something I had protested at first, until she raised an interesting name: yours. We have been exchanging letters for a long time, and I feel as though I, and House Stark, know you very well. Mother said that even if you were a Southern Lady, you had the spirit of a Northern Lady, and that if I wanted to be betrothed to you, Father and Mother would make plans to appease the Northern Lords. She said it was a good thing that you and I were of similar enough stations, as we were compatible politically, as well as with one another. I know you like having a choice in the matter, and Father and Mother said that they would defer to my decision on the matter. I won't bring it up again if you don't want it - we will always be dear friends, but the thought of spending my life getting to know you and ruling Winterfell with you fills me with hope.
Yours,
Robb
P.S.: You look wonderful in your locket painting.
Late 295
Robb
You cannot spring such an offer at the end of a letter like that - of course I would like to be betrothed to you, you great lump! Now the flow of my letter is all messed up! I told Father about the contents in the letter, and he smiled, and began to prattle about how he would send the letter, and negotiate with Lord Stark about the dowry - I imagine it will be sizeable, to appease any Northern bannermen discontent with the match, and appease their grumbling about a Southern Lady possibly becoming the future Lady of Winterfell. Of course, this is all prattling about politics - we actually have to be betrothed first, and if things go wrong (which I doubt), we will always still be dear friends. The thought of you as a husband, though, fills me with joy, as I know that you will not seek to limit me, and I will not be some useless lady or some stranger you do not know - instead, we would be equals, building a better North and a better Westeros together.
Garlan is mildly upset about the whole thing, since Leonette was not of his station, according to Father and Grandmother, even if Leonette was of the same branch of Fossoway as Uncle Jon, but at this point, Gar has managed to mostly move on from his feelings for Leonette. Gar still complains about being Lord of Highgarden, and how Willas would be better at this than him, but Garlan the Gallant does as best as he can without complaint. On the other hand, though, knowing that my likelihood of fostering somewhere is very soon, I am spending as much time with Mother, Father, Garlan, and Grandmother as possible. Loras is still with Lord Renly as his squire, except Lord Renly and Loras are in King's Landing. I have not visited King's Landing in my lifetime, but Garlan and Willas said they had before the Rebellion, and that the only thing they remember is that the shit smelled from maybe 10 miles away. Mother seems to really appreciate my presence, and Grandmother has proceeded to turn this into a challenge of learning about Northern politics, which was something I was not even aware she had known. Her knowledge was spotty, she admitted, but she wanted me prepared for anything and everything to better protect our family, and grow strong.
I am glad to hear about your first big project. Most heirs, at three-and-ten, seem to spend all their time on the tiltyard, but it's good to involve yourself in these long term projects, or so grandmother says. The "sororities" are doing well, and Septa Nysterica had the brilliant idea to connect this project with the Faith, so noble ladies are doing charitable work with the Faith within the Reach, and within other regions, improving their own social status, as well as the status of the places where charitable work is done! Of course, all of these ladies are heavily guarded, and the smallfolk love the idea. Somehow, it all got attributed to me as the inventor, so it is a nice project, though I will have to transfer the project to Talla Tarly when I leave, as Loras's betrothed. To be honest, I don't think Loras much likes Talla, which is a shame, but they are to be married, and after that, Talla can seek her independent life building her legacy, while Loras can pursue his knightly dreams.
It's also good to hear that Jon is not going to the Night's Watch. I will promise you this: if we are to be betrothed, Jon will always have a place in our household, if we don't find a nice holdfast for him first. As your brother, and as someone clearly loyal to you, it is important to choose those relationships carefully. Of course, as an option to be a member of Sansa's kingsguard, I'm not sure if Jon wants his holdfast when Sansa can charm him into protecting her forever. It would be good for her to have a sworn shield, honestly, the South and King's Landing can be dangerous for ladies and Queens.
Send all my love to your family, and I hope that the next letter I receive, we will be betrothed!
Yours,
Margaery
P.S. Your next sibling is going to be a boy, once again. That's my bet, at least.
Early 296: Two Letters
Margaery,
Mother gave birth to a boy, Rickon, no later than a moon-turn after I received your letter. I had a lot of fun rubbing this in Jon and Theon's face, and Arya, Bran, and I celebrated Rickon's birth. It was a difficult birth, and it lasted a long while, but with Maester Luwin's help, it managed to work out.
This letter is short, for I have sent two letters, one for Lord Mace to give you if we are to be betrothed, one for Lord Mace to give you if we are not to be betrothed. To be honest, I am hoping very strongly for the former, but regardless, I will always be a dear friend to you.
Yours,
Robb
P.S.: How on earth did you guess right again? At least I also managed to get it right.
Margaery,
If you are receiving this letter, we are to be betrothed! I am filled with absolute joy at the thought of spending the rest of my life with my best friend and love, and I expect that when Father tells me the news, I will be the happiest man in my life. I have always known that you and I are connected, and to be your partner as we make it through life's journey together is a luckness. I promise you I will not seek to limit you, and I will strive to be the best husband possible for you, my love.
Father said that haggling with Lord Mace was difficult, but I assume that if this letter is the one you are handed, both Father and Lord Mace have come to agreeable terms. Father also said that Northern betrothals must be made in response, to sooth the blow of a Southern lady as another Lady of Winterfell, and to that end, Father has suggested the possibility of a few betrothals to be prepared in the case that Mace Tyrell agreed, that I thought I should inform you about, as my future Lady Wife.
Firstly, Domeric Bolton, the heir of the Dreadfort, to Arya. Father says that Sansa would likely do better with a betrothal in the South, and that so long as Roose Bolton gained a Stark good-daughter, he would most likely agree and be comfortable in waiting on a longer betrothal.
Secondly, Bran with one of the Manderlys. The Manderlys were kicked out of the Reach, after all, and the Manderlys only have female heirs who need a male consort, much like your brother, Willas.
There's not a "Thirdly", but I have a feeling that Father has some kind of plan for Jon that he's been waiting to reveal until the right moment.
Father finally told me that if the betrothal was accepted, you would most likely come to foster in Winterfell in about six to eight moonturn. Therefore, there's not much else I will need to say, as we will meet one another in person.
Love,
Your Robb
Mid-Late 296
Robb,
We are betrothed! We are betrothed! I am writing this letter frantically, before Mother and Grandmother begin the escort to Winterfell for my fostering, and for my move to our home, forever. Words cannot express the excitement or happiness that I feel, to be promised to you for the rest of my life. Margaery Tyrell of House Stark has never sounded sweeter, and I look forward to meeting your family and bonding with them, as well as spending the rest of my life in your presence. I hope you don't mind reading, because I have a lot of books!
Packing is a bit of a disaster, but Mother promised me that clothing and the like would be supplied up North. Willas and Arianne sent their congratulations - they noted that it was a long time coming, and I could not be happier for him. Interestingly enough, they also noted that her brother Quentyn has apparently gone to the Free Cities with their Uncle Oberyn. I am not entirely sure why a boy of five and ten needs to go to the Free Cities, but Arianne says they are making some kind of progress around Essos. What they are looking for, I know not, but I have some theories that I will explain in person.
I had to hand over the reins of my "sorority" to Talla, but they have done such good work that I will miss them dearly! Talla is happy to continue my work, and build on it, and I think it helps her drive away the loneliness she feels with Loras gone, in King's Landing, but it just won't be the same, you know? Only Megga and Elinor are coming North with me, as my ladies-in-waiting, but perhaps after awhile I can make some good betrothals and send them South.
Some more news: Sam has been betrothed to a daughter of Lord Rowan! Quite the surprise, but Grandmother pointed out that there was no need for him to be tied to a Tyrell with Loras already betrothed to Talla. Even if they do not like each other overmuch, I think they will do what needs to be done. Thank the Seven that we do not have to deal with that.
I would write more and more, but we are to see each other in person in about two moons anyways. See you soon, my love!
Love,
Your Margaery
END OF ARC 1: HIGHGARDEN
