"Gentlemen," I sat at the head of the table, newly Lady Alerie, newly widowed of my husband and of my mother-in-law. "At the passing which is most grievous to me, I will provide what I can ahead of what is formidable news."

The chamber was intricate, Garth, Lomys and Ser Vortimer sat at the table, and I was dressed in gold and green, my straw hair streaked with silver in plaits, my countenance undeniable.

"The crown calls us to aid, and the rebels are three kingdoms strong. At present, the north and Vale will soon combine. Robert Baratheon must sail south to Storm's End to gather his forces. The riverlands and west stay neutral. Dorne, while wed to the crown, have yet to make a move. The crown has enough of a considerable force with which to give chase to Robert, once he attempts to link up with the north and Vale."

I cleared my throat.

"It is clear, from Lord Tywin's resignation of the Handship, that he will sit out this war. Lord Hoster, whose daughter Catelyn was betrothed to the late Brandon Stark, could still easily hand her off to Eddard. Likewise, Jon Arryn has no heir, and I do not see it difficult that he could wed Lysa, and so the riverlands could join the rebel force."

I watched the faces carefully.

"The question which comes of us, aside from whether we should support the crown or not, is objectively what each side can give us. It is all but certain that the forces of the Reach can decide, or at least largely tip the war, and there are several considerations to this end."

Lomys nodded, Ser Vortimer fidgeted, Garth barely blinked. I continued.

"Our men are unblooded, and this is an opportunity to fight, however much I should like to avoid losses. It is easier, by far, to capture or kill Robert in the field, and then to march on Storm's End with a small force and Lord Redwyne's ships to besiege it. Then, leaving a token garrison at Highgarden, the remainder of our forces march steadily for the riverlands, forcing them to pick a side, and if needed, to sweeten the deal by Catelyn wedding Willas if need be."

I took a breath.

"The riverlands must fold, for their strength alongside the north and Vale cannot conquer ours, especially with the crown backing us. Tywin Lannister, while having an opportunity to bolster the rebels however thinly, or heading south to attack our homeland, can have no success. The rebellion's end will be swift, Aerys has his heads, and at a far reach, if Willas does not wed Catelyn, then perhaps , when Rhaegar returns, we can negotiate Princess Rhaenys for Willas. Perhaps ."

I did not intend to stop there.

"As for supporting the rebels, it is easy enough, when Robert defeats the royalist vassals in his land, to let him slip through the Reach to join the north and Vale approaching the riverlands. Such an oversight, however, tips us more towards the rebel side even if we do nothing but hide behind our walls. To support the rebellion, it would be simple for the entirety of our force to besiege the capital, alongside Lord Redwyne's ships, however much the crown fleet might pose a threat."

I took another breath.

"Yet Robert would rejoin with the north and Vale, and with marriage alliances with the riverlands, form a considerable force to join us besieging, or at least form opposition to what, is not impossibly, the scenario where Lord Tywin tries to attack us in the rear, or our homeland. Dorne, also, could join the fray and attack us, but with no immediate success or of great numbers. The reward for assisting Robert and taking the Targaryens, could at most be that if his Lyanna is found dead, he will need a queen, and if I were so determined, I could become his ."

The men looked at each other and continued.

"Or I might wed Stannis which I will not, but the rewards are not so great. I could never be Hand to a king as a woman, or never truly respected, and in either case, I do not want more land or titles. Above all, the Reach must stay prosperous, our soldiers must be blooded if not without losses, and we must be, in the eyes of the victor, a true ally."

I turned to the table.

"If in either scenario that can be accomplished, then by rewards, that Willas might wed Princess Rhaenys is quite something. My being queen is not. Supporting the rebels means that a larger portion of the kingdom remains whole, though they will not thank us for it. Although Robert would make an appalling king, his Hand of the King would make the necessary adjustments. We can agree that the Mad King's actions are heinous."

The men, who had yet chance to speak, could scarce remember when a woman had so soundly usurped their opportunity to pitch in. I continued.

"Yet I do intend for some rewards to go to the Reach. If Robert should win, and I do not ask for queenship in return for our help, he will likely wed Cersei Lannister should Lyanna Stark be found dead. Whether he weds Lannister or Stark, the first daughter he has will be a princess, and it would not be difficult to persuade him that she should be betrothed to Willas. Yet accidents can happen, and I would not barter on that, and it is less certain than gaining Princess Rhaenys for Willas, should we support the crown."

I stood and walked over to fill a goblet, drunk soundly, then returned.

"House Stark is a noble house, and I propose that the union between Ned Stark and Catelyn Tully, which must ensue if we allow Robert to escape our lands, should produce at least one daughter, who would be betrothed to Willas on condition of our support. This, at least, saves us more face; disappointment over a princess who never surfaces is more than one from the north, which is as much the same as Catelyn Tully herself must feel, that she must wed the quiet wolf than the hairy one."

I took a pause to gather myself, then spoke as soon as the men thought it was safe to proceed.

"The babe I carry is a girl."

The men glanced at my bump, as pronounced a sign that I was unfit to lead. I stared at them with raised eyebrows, the way a disapproving mother might.

"I am sure of it. She can hardly be promised to Robert as queen, but one day she must wed. I do not intend her to marry Robert's first born son… but as I have said, and now declare, House Tyrell is for the rebellion, our lands must stay safe, our men must earn their blood, for there is more than the now , and we must fight to grow, ever stronger… "

"No."

I snapped up at that. I could scarcely believe it, and shook with visible rage. Garth faced me, with a little frown on his face.

"Alerie, Willas is of age to rule."

I displayed on my face every variation, and then sneered.

"He certainly is not! I am quite sure of it. I know my own son."

There were footsteps outside the door, and I turned, and then back as quickly to Garth.

"It is impossible, I tell you! Mace was but ten if - if Willas is sixteen , or thereabouts - I just saw him!"

The door swung open, and Willas Tyrell stood there, a young boy and not a man, not maimed on his leg, not at once obviously sixteen, but neither nine or so, and upon his features, a smirk most unlike the Willas I knew.

I turned to Garth, pointing at Willas, staring in his face.

" That is an imposter !"

Willas turned to twin guards at his side. "My mother needs her rest."

I stared, eyes bulging, fighting against the embraces of men in armor, pushing desperately, spitting, at the Willas who could not be, and then he leaned in to me.

"Careful, mother. Or I'll make them call you the Mad Maid."

I stared in horror, and shook as I was led down the corridor by firm hands.

How could he? This is impossible!

The door shut in my face, in my quarters which were finely appointment and absent of handmaids. I ran past the richly furnished bed, the fruit on the table, the gowns hung just so, and threw open the doors to my balcony.

Highgarden, all of it is mine, and the land beyond; this imposter would ruin me, why when I so vouched for Tyrell gain, he must either be a fool or, by comparison, it is me.

I slowly struggled to the ground and wept, but it ceased early, for I shook as I turned to the door, and the smell of roses did nothing, and I chucked a vase and it began.