The Right Choice
Chapter 3: The Kraken and the Rose
(NdA:everything you reckognize belongs to GRRM)
Theon's ship, named "Lionfall", sailed up the Mander, and he smiled as he saw Hightgarden, the heart of the Reach. They docked nearby and were wellcomed by the massive fugure of Garth Tyrell, lord Mace's uncle and steward.
"Wellcome in the Reach, your grace!" He told Theon as he disembarked with his retinue, which included his personal Drowned Priest, Ser Harlan Harlaw, Melvin Goodbrother and Lord Baelor Blacktyde and, as a Northmen representive, Ser Wilys Manderly.
Theon smiled "Thanks my lord" he said. "I know that there has been bad blood between the Iron Islands and the reach, but I hope we can put that behind us."
They were given horses and after a short ride on the Rose Road they arrived at the doors of the fortified town; To wellcome them, Lord Mace Tyrell himslelf, alongside his mother, the infamous Queen of Thorns, Olenna, his heir Loras and the most beautyfull woman Theon had ever seen, so much he had to bite his tongue to keep himself from gawking or staring;
She was dressed in a gorgeous green silk dress, shoulderless, which evidenced her body; she wore a silver tiara which made her brown, soft hair fell behinf her shoulders; hersmile shone as she looked to the King of the Iron Islands and the West, with her deep, intelligent eyes sparkling with mirth.
Fighting the knot which threatened to form in his throth, Theon put on his best self-confident face and curtsied, kissing faintly her hand.
"It seems you are not a total savage whoring reaver" intruded the Queen if Thorns, never one to ebb on words. "I have Lady Stark to thank for that, my lady, even if it werent manners to win us Casterly Rock" he replied smiling eliciting a gruffnod of approval by his companions .
The Queen of Thorns chuckled and ordered the servant to show them theyr rooms, but Theon said "Before we refresh outselves, I have gifts for my hosts" He gestured and a burly Ironborn Sailor put down an heavy coffer, and opened it; Three more sailors were needed to unfurl the ancient royal banner of the Reach; "We found this in the vaults of Casterly Rock, the maester told me it was captured in a war beetween the Kingdom of Rock and Hills ad the Kingdom of the Reach two centuries before Aegon's Landing"
Mace face lighted up at it and surprising his mother with his knowledge he asked "May I dare to ask if you also retrieved Mern Tyrell's Box?"
Theon smiled to the man he planned to make his father-in-law and personally took a long and narrow valyrian steel box out of the coffer.
Mace was excited like a kid on his nameday "This box is what is called a Valyrian Secret Box; it is said to be made of Valyrian Steel which can't be reworked thanks to special spells; only the one with the key can open it."
There was a cavity in the front of the box and Mace took his own ring and put it in the hole, then he turned it on the left, and the box opened itself with a click. Inside it there was a Valyrian steel bastard sword with a pale green blade, and a golden rose engraved on the pommel. "Thorn!" Mace said taking it reverently from the box. "Finally, the Sword of the Tyrells is back to Hightgarden!"
"So, for all this time, in which Lord Tywin was looking for a new Valyrian sword forhis family, actually there was one in his vault?" asked amused the Queen of Thorns. " He will roar loufly once he will learn about it"
The King of the West and of the Iron Islands nodded, smiled and took out a smaller box from the coffer, which was then filled with golden dragons., it contained a splendid fiamond necklace; Theon put it on Margaery's beautiful neck.
Her smile was enought of a reward for now; satisfied by his first impression, Theon allowed the Tyrell servants to escort them to theyr rooms; after a bath they were ready to dine with the Tyrells.
Dinner was as expected a big event, as the Tyrells wanted to impress with their wealth and Theon made a good job in looking impressed.
After giving him back his family sword, Mace was already won over to Theon's cause, but Theon know that the true power of the Reach was lady Olenna.
The lady in question was looking at him with her piercieng eyes as she eated; then after drinking some Arbor Gold she asked "so, your grace you think you can win your war? "
Theon smiled "If I didn't I would be a fool to fight it" she said. "You know, lord Baelish is here too and he has offered the hand of the King on the Iron Throne to Margaery." he smirked .
"Joffrey will not stay on the Iron Throne enought to marry Margaery, even if he wasn't the vicious little prick he is and a bastard by birth, to boot, he would still be dead by the moment your army can go to rescue him; Stannis was delayed, but by now he is moving; the time the Reach troopers arrives he will have already took King's Landing"
Olenna nodded "But still, giving my granddaughter to a reaver-king... " Theon smirked again
" King Robb is already bethrothed" he pointed out; "beside the Iron Throne in my hopinion has done its time " he added "Dragons and fear kerpt the kingdoms united, but the Dragons aren't here anymore; we should have a Council of Kings to rule Westeros, to keep the good things of unity and avoid wars. Obviously, in such a council, the King of the richest kingdom and that of the bigger one will have more sway than the others."
Olenna seemed avtually impressed at that. "Mmm, that could actually work" she said. "But one thing must be clear, your Grace; no more raids on the Reach lands!"
He nodded at that. "It seem my son dream to crown himself as King of the Reach will come true." she shook her head "he will be even more unsufferable"
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Petyr Baelish knew he had failed the moment he was denied a second meeting with Lady Olenna; It was clear that his plans needed to change.
He made his plan up and then he went to ask for a private meeting to the King of West and the Iron Islands. The young king wellcomed Littlefinger in "Lord Baelish..."
"Your Grace" the mockingbird replyed " I'm here to congratulate you for your imminent wedding"
King Theon frowned "No official announcement have been made about it"
"Your Grace, I'm not a genius, but neither am I stupid; It is clear to me that you are going to pluck the Rose of Hightgarden for yourself"
The king did not react putting on a mask which reminded Pertyr of Lord Stark own lordly face.
"However, I hightly doubt you are here only to congratulate me" King Theon said.
Petyr nodded "I have a purpose for you." And a long negotiation began.
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Theon walked in the vast gardens with Lady Margaery at his arm; she was not only beautyfull, she was smart but also kind, and he was enjoying talking with her as much as he was lusting after her;
"So, you asked my hand yourgrace?" He asked him "Please call me Theon, and yes I did; would you marry me lady Margaery?"
"Oh, then call me Marge, my king, and yes, I will marry you.
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"Mace of the house Tyrell, do you swear solemnly to uphold the law of this land, to care for the people, to protect the Faith and to watch out for the prosperity of this kingdom?"
The old Septon of the Starry Sept asked Mace Tyrell, kneeled in front of him at the behest of the mayority of lords of the Reach.
Theon looked smiling his soon-to-be bride and then back to his future father-in-law, who proufly said "I swear it in front of the Father's scepter, I swear it under the Mother's handknief, I swear it in front of the Crone's lantern, I swear it in front of the Maid's rose, I swear it in front of the Warrior's sword, I swear it in front of the Smith's hammer, I swear it in front of the Starnger's sickle. By the Seven that are One I swear solemnly to upheld my oath, until the last day of my life"
The sepron nodded, and put a crown of golden roses on Mace's head " May the Seven bless you, may the Father give you justice to rule, may the Warrior give you strenght to protect, may the Mother give you kindness to love, may the Crone gove you wisdom to lead, may the Maid give you purity to be loved, may the Smith give you ingenuity to create and may the Stranger give you time to live!" He said as he anointed him with the seven oils.
"All hail Mace of the House Tyrell, Fifth of his name, King of the Reach, Lord of Highgarden and Defender of the faith!" Theon yelled, followed by all the present, under the vigilant eyes of the Queen of Thorns.
Soon after the coronation, they moved outside, in the Godswood, in front of a massive basin filled with salted water were the Drowned Priest Draga Saltbiter stood together with Septon Mern, a seven-fold altar builded behind the septon.
"Who comes before the Gods?" Asked the two priests and Mace Tyrell replied "Margaery, of House Tyrell, Princess of the Reach, a woman grown, true born and untouched, who asks her hand?" and Harras Harlaw replied "Theon of House Greyjoy, IV of his name, King of the West and the Iron Islands, the Young Kraken, the King of Salt and Rock, taker of Casterly Rock!" and then the priests asked "Who gives her hand away?" Mace the said "Her father Mace of House Tyrell, V of his name, King of the Reach, Lord of Hightgarden and Defender of the Faith"
"Princess Margaery, would you take King Theon as your husband in front of all the Gods?"
"Yes I will", and then they asked Theon the same thing
"I will" he replyed, then Draga tied theyr hands together with kelps and anointed them with salt water "Our Lord that was drowned for us bless your servant King Theon and his Wife and Queen , bless them with salt, bless them with iron and give them many children and a death in your waters"
"Father, Mother, Warrior, Crone, Maid, Sm ith and Stranger, she/he is mine and I'm her/his" they recited "We so swear in front og the New Gods, the Drowned God and the Old Gods."
Then Draga put a siver tiara, made up of roses and kraken tentacles onMargaery's head."
"All hail King Theon and Queen Margaery, Long may they reign! Long live the Young Kraken and the Rose!"
(English is not my mother language, feedback is really wellcomed, no flames please.)