Chapter Thirty-Three: Going Home

Margaery's Point of View

I am going home for Christmas. I am so excited. I miss my family. It will be so nice to get away from everything. The best part is thst Meera is coming. I get to spend Christmas with my best friend. Too bad Sansa is not coming.

In the limo I am sitting next to Renly. I have forgiven him. He did not mean what he said. He is still on probation. This trip home will be a trial period. He has to prove he belongs in our family.

I know it is a little mean, but what he said hurt. At the airport the security makes me remove my earrings. I frown. I flirt with the security and he lets me put them back in.

Renly and Loras choose to sit together. Willas sits next to me. Robb and Meera sit together with Torrhen. Aegon takes the seat behind me. After take off and we are given permission to move, Willas orders wine and takes out a magazine. I turn sideways in my seat to chat with Aegon. Renly and Loras are kissing.

"I like your hair," I tell Aegon.

"Thank you."

He is staring at the seat in front of Loras and Renly. Meera has her head on Robb's shoulder. Robb is singing to Tor. They are so cute and happy. Aegon bites his nails staring at the back of Meera's head.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"Oh yes, why?"

"You seem distracted."

"I'm not."

"Will you two stop sucking face and come up for air?" Willas asks renly and Loras.

They do stop kissing. They watch a movie instead and ignore us. I smile. Aegon is sketching something in a book. I try to get a good look, it looks like a girl's face. Before I can figure out who it is he slams his sketch book shut.

"I didn't know you could draw."

"Oh yes. My adoptive father taught me."

"You're adopted?"

Aegon smiles. He goes into a story about his life. Meera comes over and takes the seat beside Aegon. He blinks rapidly as he stares at Meera.

"Hi. I just wanted to thank you for inviting me," says Meera.

"You're welcome."

Meera returns to her seat. Aegon's eyes follow her, his pupils dilated. He sighs. He returns to staring. After I sit bsck down, he opens his sketch book. It's Meera's face I notice. He sighs as he shades her face.

"You like Meera," I whisper.

He looks up at me with wide purple eyes.

"No."

"Yes."

"No. That's silly. Why would I?"

"Because she's great."

"And cute, and funny, and beautiful," Aegon finishes.

I raise an eyebrow.

"Don't tell anyone," He says.

"I won't. Robb would murder you."

Aegon stares at Meera when she gets up to use the restroom. Loras and Renly are srill watching their movie and have not paid any attention to Aegon.

"Margaery, sit down," says Willas.

"I am talking with Aegon."

"Yes. I heard."

"What did you hear?" I ask.

"Nothing I didn't already know."

Robb gets up to change Tor. Aegon walks over to talk to Meera. I eavesdrop. Aegon asks her what her favorite color is and her favorite food. He does not have time to ask any more questions before Robb gets back.

"Mags," Aegon says.

I turn around and look over the seat.

"Just sit with him," Willas says.

I am sitting with Aegon now. I snatch his sketch book. On the page with Meera's sketch are some notes off to the side, her eye color, her hair color. On the back is her name in a heart. Aegon snatches his book back.

"That's private."

"I am very sorry."

Loras and Renly become social. Robb talks to them over the back of his seat. Tor is fast asleep. "I am going to sit with Willas so Tor can have the whole seat," Meera says. I offer her my seat and I return to sitting beside Willas. He is getting grumpy of all the teenagers moving around.

"Hi," Aegon says.

"Oh do you draw?" Meera asks.

"Yes, but its private," he says.

"Okay," says Meera. I talk to Renly while Loras and Robb talk about a film they both like full of knights and dragons and violence. I lose interest. Meera is telling Aegon a funny story. If she was paying more attention she would notice he's blushing.

"I am bored of teenagers, Loras switch me seats so you can be across from Robb and I can sit with Renly," says Willas.

That actually works out better. I am more comfortable with Loras beside me. Robb is happier to have Loras across from him, and Aegon is having a wonderful time.

"So you're adopted?" Meera asks.

"Sort of. My adoptive father has no legal guardianship over me. He raised me until I was fifteen then I came here and met Daenerys and Viserys and learned that I am a lord."

"Wow. So this political thing is new to you?"

"Not really. My adoptive father taught me everything I would ever need to know."

"Is that why you dyed your hair blue?"

"No. Its fun isn't it?"

"It is. It suits you."

"Thanks, this necklace suits you, where did you get it?"

"Robb."

They are just talking not flirting. Flirting would be bad. I am sure Aegon knows where the boundaries are. At least I hope. As we enter a different time zone most of us go to sleep. Meera requests a pillow. She leans back but her head falls on Aegon's shoulder.

He looks happy, but freaked out. He sniffs her hair and tries to wipe the grin off his face. He is so obvious. He is more obvious than Robb was when he fell for Meera.

Loras is asleep next to me. Renly and Willas are both asleep. Renly's head is on Willas's shoulder and he is drooling. I stifle a laugh. Robb snaps a photo.

"I am going to put Tor down and try to sleep a while," says Robb.

He makes Tor a place to sleep so he does not fall on the floor then Robb shifts and makes a comfortable place for himself.

"You've got it bad," I whisper to Aegon when I catch him sniffing Meera while she sleeps.

He eventually goes to sleep too. With no one to talk to I snuggle up next to Loras. His warmth helps me sleep. Willas wakes me up what feels like five minutes but he says we are about to land.

"How long was I asleep?"

"About five hours," says Loras who looks so disorderly our parents will not approve but that comes with sleeping on a plane.

"I feel sick," says Robb.

"I told you not to have shrimp for dinner," says Meera.

"I should have listened."

"Loras watch Tor."

Meera helps Robb to the bathroom, but the flight attendant makes them sit back down and strap in. Whatver Robb is feeling he holds it back until we land.

I grab my carry on and Willas guides me and Loras from the plane. We wait for everyone else in the Terminal. Aegon is carrying is bad. He joins us. Robb and Meera with Tor take forever.

Robb books it to the nearest bathroom. The rest of us go to baggage claim. Robb joins us there. He looks better. He even combed his hair.

"I can't wait to see the palace," says Meera.

"Your eyes," says Aegon.

"What about them?"

"They are full of excitement like a child experiencing something for the first time."

"That was so sweet."

"Meera," calls Robb.

"See you later," says Meera.

"He doesn't deserve her," Aegon says.

"And you do?" I ask.

He says nothing. Boys always get like this when they feel like they do not belong with the one they love. It makes me sad.

"Okay, don't bother making yourselves presentable that will be done in good time," says Willas, "infact, Mother likes you a little sloppy its more of a challenge."

"What is he talking about?" Meera asks.

"You'll see," says Robb.

And so it begins. A month at home. Its sweet Robb would rather spend Christmas with Jon than the rest of his family, but he did give them their gifts already.

We are put in a car to be taken to the palace. Most of us are going to sleep off the jetlag before seeing the king and queen, or as I like to call them: Mother and Father.

Meera's been put in the suite adjoining mine. I am picturing many fun sleepovers. Robb gets the suite he used last year only they put a crib in it for him, courtesy of Jon.

Renly is over twenty-one so he is put closer to Garlan than Loras. Aegon gets a small room between Robb and Loras. My schedule is not filled in until tomorrow. I have the rest of today to sleep and relax.

Meera comes in. She sits down on my bed. A serving girl offers to brush her hair another offers her fruit while a third wants to wash her feet.

"Is this really how you live?" Meera asks.

"More or less," I tell her.

"Fantastic."

"You get to be a princess with me. Sansa was last year, but now its you. I am so excited."

"Too bad Sansa couldn't come," says Meera.

"She wanted to stay with her family."

So after an excellent night of sleep, we are woken early to be prepared for breakfast. Loras, Willas, and I will be eating with our family. Our guests will join us for lunch upon invitation.

I am scrubbed clean, perfumed, and dolled up. My hair is curled and braided and I put on a nice pair of jeans and a fashionable top. This way I am comfortable and presentable.

Loras looks handsome in his jeans and nice shirt with a scarf. Mother and father are so happy to see us. I notice Loras has two extra hairs on his chin this morning. He points them out to Jon and Daddy.

"There is my precious girl," says Grandmother.

"Hi, grandmother," I say.

"I heard that Lannister bitch pushed you down the stairs, want me to kill her?" Grandmother asks.

"No. If she messes with me again I will deal with her," I say.

"That's my girl."

"You look beautiful," says Jon hugging me.

"Thank you. You're so wonderful."

"Did Robb come?"

"He sure did."

Jon smiles so wide I could count all his teeth. He is wearing black. It was always his color. He has a silver belt with a wolf head buckle. When I ask he informs me that he learned the coat-of-arms for House Stark is a wolf. Mother wants him to honor both houses as befit his lord status.

"A wolf seems appropriate. Where is Ghost?"

"Hunting."

"I wanted to see him."

"You will later."

"At breakfast Jon announces that he has finished his first semester with honors. Mother is so proud. Garlan announces the sex of the baby. Its a girl. I cannot wait to spoil her rotten. Father has an announcement. He stands up.

"I think its time to discuss marriage prospects for three of my children," says Father.

"Which three?" Loras asks.

"You, Margaery, and Willas," says Father.

"I am engaged," Loras says.

"Balderdash," says Father, "Renly Baratheon is a nice young man, but he isn't marriage material. Not for you. He would work better with Margaery. And that Stark girl might be a good choice for Willas."

"I am okay with that," says Willas.

"Of course Daenerys Targaryen would be a good choice too," says Mother.

"Again, not a problem," says Willas.

"Dad, I am marrying Renly," Loras says.

"I really thought you would change your mind."

After breakfast Mother sends us to be examined. I am weighed and measured. I grew two cup sizes this year. No wonder my bras never fit correctly. I am measured for a custom bra.

I gained enough weight to make me curvy, but still slender. My hair is too long. Mother wants it cut. I am waxed everywhere but my head and face.

My teeth are straightened and whitened, my nails are clipped and trimmed and manicured. They even test my vision and hearing. Mother wants my hair lightened to distinguish myself from my brothers. The process takes many hours. Sometimes it takes days.

When I finish I stare at myself in the mirror. I feel different. I look like a princess, but I feel different. The unquestionably beautiful girl in the mirror is not me.

"You are so lovely. He is going to love you," says Mother.

"Who?"

"Your betrothed," she says.

"I have a betrothed?"

"Yes, dear."

"I refuse to marry a man I do not love."

"Margaery, be reasonable. He was willing to take you. And he is extremely handsome."

"What do you mean by willing to take me?"

"Nothing, dear."

"So who is he?"

"All in good time, my princess."

"If its Joffrey Lannister I will die first."

"Do you believe me to be this cruel?"

"I don't know what to believe. But heed my words, I will not marry a man I do not love."

"As you wish, dear."