Chapter Twenty-Eight: Disappointed

Margaery's Point of View

Joffrey is back. That is Loras's worst nightmare. He is scared to death of Joffrey Lannister. I am sitting on Renly's couch with my arm in a sling and a laptop on my lap browsing for a gift for Robb.

My brother is having a Christmas party and I drew Robb's name. I have some ideas what I want to get for him, but none of them seem like things he actually needs.

Willas is arguing wih Loras about punching Joff in the face. Aegon is flipping through a magazine. His long legs stretched out and a tiny cat curled up on his crotch.

"Loras invited me to the party. Do you know who Sam Tarly is?"

"He is a friend of my adoptive brother."

"I have to get him a gift."

"I have a philosophy on gift giving," says Gendry.

"What's that?"

"When in doubt give them money," says Gendry.

"That's a good idea. I could get him a gift card," Aegon says.

That's a really good idea. I could do the same for Robb. Only, it seems a little impersonal. I know Robb. He's dating my best friend, is the best friend of my brother, and the blood of my adoptive brother. He is a huge part of my life. His gift needs to be from the heart. Why is this so difficult?

"You're having a tough time?" Aegon asks.

"Yes. It shouldn't be this hard," I say.

"You're so immature, Loras. You need to think things through. You never understand the consequences of your actions," shouts Willas from Renly's room where they have been arguing for fifteen mintues. Renly is sitting at the table working a puzzle with Arya. He is concentrating hard on it.

"Who's name did you draw?" Aegon asks.

"Robb."

"Why not get him something he could use for his son?" Aegon suggests.

"No. I already got Tor something. This is Robb's gift and it needs to be personal."

"My brother wants to go to college," says Arya.

"So?" Says Aegon.

"Every school he applied to rejected him because they don't accept unwed teen dads."

A lightbulb turns on above my head. I could get him accepted to a University. I just hope it does not involve me sleeping with anyone. I will not sink to that level, but I am not above blackmail.

I log on to the Dragonstone University website. I look up the email address of the administration office. I go to my email and insert the web address. I begin the email.

Dear Head of University,

My name is Princess Margaery of House Tyrell. It has been brought to my attention that you rejected a young man who recently applied on the grounds of him having a child even though this young man meets your admission requirements.

Need I remind you that rejecting a student for being an unwed teen dad had been made illegal by this great state, through my brother Jon's campaign. You decided to break the law and reject Robb Stark without any consideration of the new laws. Therefore, I ask you to admit him next fall as a student, send him an apology letter or I will personally see to it that this institute of higher learning closes its door for good. Thank you.

Margaery Tyrell. Growing Strong.

With a final glance for spelling errors I click send. I feel proud of what I have done, however in the pit of my stomach I feel like this is not over. I am willing to fight. I just hope that my fighting propers. Robb deserves to go to university.

"I am done talking to you. You're stubborn," shouts Willas.

"You don't understand. You don't know what he is, Willas."

"Invite him to your party to make it up to him."

"Never."

"You are unbelievable. No wonder Renly dumped you."

"That was uncalled for."

Loras storms out. He sits down on the couch next to me. Renly gets up to talk to Willas. Loras lays his head on my shoulder. I pat him. He kisses my shoulder.

Willas comes back in and apologizes to Loras. Whatever Renly said works. Loras and Willas make up. Willas let's us stay because Joff is staying at the mansion tonight.

Aegon stays too. I like him better when he is not being the proper lord. He is laidback, and fun. I could date him this way, if Sansa had not gotten their first.

"Sansa broke up with me," Aegon says as if he is reading my mind.

"Sansa is a little girl. She doesn't know what she wants "

"Renly," says Loras happily. Renly smiles at Loras. He hands him his invitation to the Christmas party. Renly opens it and smiles when he reads the name of the person he is supposed to buy for. I wonder who it is.

"Thank you, my flower, I'd love to come."

"Could you cook Christmas dinner?"

"Sure. Do you have anything in mind that you would like to eat in particular?"

"I will give you a menu."

"Great."

Renly returns to the puzzle with Arya. Loras sits between me and Aegon. The two of them start talking about boy things. I tune them out, but every once in a while I wedge back in to their conversation.

"We should hang out more," says Aegon.

"I agree. Do you like horses?"

"I love horses."

"There is jousting at the equestrian ranch. I am pretty good."

"Everyone likes to say they're good."

"No. Loras really is good. He has the balance of a cat," I say grabbing a different magazine. I am in this one for fashion.

"I'd love to knock you off your horse," says Aegon.

"You're welcome to try."

"Do you and Robb joust?"

"No. He doesn't like horses. He won't do archery with me either. We did play paintball once and went skeet shooting."

"It sounds like you always do what Robb wants."

"That's not true. He takes me to the zoo. I love the zoo."

"Yes, but, my prince, when it comes to activities does Robb let you choose?"

"Yeah, Loras, does he?" Renly asks.

"Sometimes."

"What did he let you choose?"

"The cinema," says Loras.

Robb is very good to Loras. I do not like Aegon asking all these questions and making it seem like Loras makes all the compromises. Robb would never make him do what he did not want to do.

Loras and Aegon make plans. Aegon fills Loras's mind with the idea thst Robb is treating him unfairly. Loras is eating it up. I do not think Aegon is doing it with ill intention, but he does not have any friends his age so maybe he trying to squeeze in between the bond between my brother and Robb Stark.

"You're wrong, pretty boy," says Arya. I forgot she was here.

"What?"

"Robb doesn't use Loras like that. Its not in his character."

"Tell me, Loras, has he ever asked you for money?"

"Don't answer that," says Gendry.

"Aegon, I am uncomfortable discussing my friendship with Robb with you," says Loras. Good. They change the subject. They bond so quickly its a wonder Loras has not developed a little crush. He must be maturing.

Every fifth word from my brother's mouth relates to Robb. I know Aegon does not like that. Neither does Renly. Renly is used to Loras gushing over Robb, but it still cannot be easy to hear.

Renly takes Arya home. I take a shower. Loras comes in while I am blow drying my hair. I have nothing but a towel around me. Loras admires his bare chest in the mirror. He has lost weight.

"I don't like the way Aegon was talking about Robb."

"It was harmless."

"Be that as it may, Aegon will never love you like Robb does."

"How do you know?"

"Woman's intuition."

"That's stupid. Robb is my best friend, Aegon doesn't want to replace him."

"We'll see."

I put on my sleep clothes that Renly kept here for me. I kiss my brother before I leave the bathroom. I kiss Gendry good night before retreating to bed. He stops me.

"I drew Arya's name."

"That's so adorable."

"I'm going to get her a dagger."

I smile.

"You know how to get to her heart."

"Well she'd stab me if I got her jewelry."

"You are so adorable."

I get ready for bed. Loras comes in to tell me he is sleeping on the pull out with Aegon. I try to protest but he kisses me. I lie in my bed and try to sleep alone. I toss and turn but sleep does not come. I picture Bella in my head and slide my hand down my underwear. My back arches when pleasure comes, I try not to scream. I fall back feeling satisfied but lonely.

I clean up and walk down the hall. Gendry is snoring in his room. I try the door, its locked. I tip toe past the boys who are sound asleep. Loras looks happy. I see a dim light under Renly's door. I open it.

Renly is sitting on his bed with his laptop. He is shirtless but he has pants on. He's smiling at something on the screen. He looks at me.

"Hi, Princess," Renly says.

"I can't sleep alone, could I sleep with you?"

"Come over here, girl."

I crawl on the bed. I lean against Renly and stare at the screen. He is shopping for rings. I know its a gift for Loras. I kiss Renly's shoulder. He is so warm. I trace his tattoo with my finger.

"Who do you sleep with at the mansion?"

"My maids or Loras. Dany and I sleep together sometimes when she is home."

"I guess Loras abandoned you," he says.

"Yes. I almost slept with Aegon."

"I'm glad you didn't. You're not that type of girl," he says.

Renly puts his laptop away. He shuts off his lamp and snuggles under thr covers. I snuggle up next to him. The hair on his chest is an interesting change. I play with it. He kisses my cheek.

I go to sleep immediately. When I wake Renly is not beside me. The bed is empty. I smell wonderful scents from the kitchen. I walk in to see Aegon and Loras dressed. Loras in his school uniform and Aegon in tight jeans and a nice shirt. He replaced laidback Aegon with uppity, proper Aegon.

At school, I learn the play has been canceled because the male lead dropped out. Unless they can find someone who can learn the part by Thursday its canceled.

Meera will be devastated. She had the female lead. Maybe I can talk my brother into taking the male lead. I spot Loras at his locker surrounded by a group of girls. Thats an unusual sight. I know girls like Loras, but they always keep their distance.

I smack into a boy in the hall. The younger of the Karstark brothers. He squeezes my breast. I back away from him. When I turn around I knock into Joffrey. I freeze. He puts his hand on me. I slap him. He raises a hand to me. With my left arm in a sling and not wanting to bruise the other I refrain from fighting back.

I try to escape, Joff pushes me, I trip over another boy and fall on my face. Several people laugh. One person takes a photo. I try to get up but a girl knocks my feet out from under me. I stay on the floor.

"That's where you belong," says Joffrey. He walks away. I try to get up but with one usable arm that proves difficult. Someone pulls me into a bathroom and yanks off my underwear. I kick and struggle. I do not know any of the boys. I bite one of them when he puts his hand ober my mouth.

"Do it," shouts another boy. I kick him in the head. He pins me down. I struggle to breathe. I kick and claw and lock myself in a stall so I can fix my clothes. "Here kitty, kitty," says the boy calling for me.

"Help me," I whisper on the verge of tears. I wish I owned a phone.

"Come out," says a familiar male voice. I open the stall and throw myself into Robb's arms. Gendry has kne of the boys in a headlock. Arya is punching the other. Ned Stark and Loras arrive and Robb passes me off to him. Loras holds me close.

"Joffrey made us, sir," the boys say, "He paid us to make her life hell."

"Dad, you have to expell him," Robb says.

"I can't, Robb. He has diplomatic immunity."

"She's a princess," Robb says. His face is redder than his hair right now. He is furious. He punches one of the boys in anger.

"Margaery, would you like to go home?"

"I want to stay with Loras."

"I want him gone," says Loras.

"No!" I say, "I won't give him the satisfaction of knowing he scares me. If we kick him out he'll only come back or find another way to torment me."

"You're saying do nothing?" Gendry asks.

"I am a princess. I will be humiliated. The big issue now is making sure the people who tokk photos are found and the pictures destroyed. Joffrey can't win if he has nothing to use against us."

I fix my hair amd leave the boys bathroom. Loras tells me how he found me. Gendry went into to pee and saw what he thought was a girl being attacked so he went for reinforcements.

"Princess," says Joffrey in the hallway.

I punch him in the nose right in front of everyone. People take pictures of that. Ned Stark sees me. I flip my hair and walk away with my head held high and my arm in a sling. I refuse to be damsel in distress.