Chapter Thirty-Nine: Ceremonial Drama

Renly's Point of View

Tonight I make a vow of everlasting love to my flower. This takes place during a ceremony. I have been rehearsing since yesterday. I have been fitted for my wardrobe, I am in shape. I am so nervous.

Tonight everything stupid I did is wiped away. We start anew as betrothed. I lean back in a chair and run my hands through my shortened hair. Stannis is coming.

Her Grace wanted my family present so she invited Stannis. I hope he takes me seriously after this because His Grace is making me a lord. I needed a title to marry the prince.

There is a lot riding on this. There will be media and news people here. I have make a good impression. I hope I don't embarass Loras or his family.

I get up and pace. The thingy I am supposed to wear on my head makes me nervous. What if I break it? Why does Loras want to marry me?

"Relax," says Brienne.

"I can't. What if I embarrass him and he calls it off?"

Brienne is quiet. I knew I should have asked Gendry to wait with me. I feel like kicking something. I have peed thirteen times in the last hour. I have two hours until the ceremony. Am I going to be this nervous during the wedding?

"You can always change your mind."

"No. I can't do that my flower. He'd never forgive me."

I only wish it were that simple. I eat a biscuit to calm my nerves. I am out of biscuits. A maid brings me a fresh basket. I grab two and munch on them.

"Water, my lord?" The girl asks.

"Wine."

"Not before the ceremony."

Damn. I am also not allowed to kiss or fuck Loras for 48 hours before or after the ceremony. I have 24 hours left. It has to do with symbolism.

"Renly, calm down."

"He is going to hate me."

"He loves you."

I feel sick. I throw up in the restroom. At an hour until the ceremony the stylists are here to dress me and get me ready. I am wearing yellow and brown, Baratheon colors. the silver circlet on ny head has tiny antlers sticking up everywhere.

They rub glitter under my eyes for effect. I am sprayed with something that smells rich, lethal, and seductive. I am given black boots. They are very, very fashionable.

"How do I look?"

"Handsome," says Brienne.

I take a deep breath. Its time. The tradition is to walk down separately then join hands and walk to the sept together. Loras looks gorgeous in green and gold. He has a ceremonial sword at his hip. I want one.

We take hands. I wink at him. He grins. He looks such the prince tonight. We walk to the sept. The septon sprinkles us with anointing oils. Loras and I take a knee and drop hands.

"When you arise you will be joined by the gods, promised to each other from this day until the two of you join your names and your hearts to each other."

We stand. We say our vows and take hands. Our hands are bound with a white thread. On the wedding day it will be a gold thread. We say our pledges to each other. I try to remember what I am supposed to say. Loras looks like is about to cry.

When its done, His Grace gives us his blessing and my lordship at the same time. I learn quickly that my title comes with a lot of money. I entered as Renly Baratheon and now I stand here as Lord Renly of House Baratheon. I feel powerful.

Then its the presentation of the betrothed to the courts. Loras and I are supposed to greet everyone of rank. I have no idea how many relatives Loras has but several old ladies pinch my cheeks or kiss me or worse. I endure for Loras's sake. I am losing circulation in my hand from the tight thread binding me to Loras. We have to wear it until the end of the ceremony.

"Congratulations," says Willas, shaking my free hand.

"Thank you."

"Good job, Squirt," says Willas to Loras.

Garlan and his wife are next. He shakes my hand she kisses my cheek. Margaery gives me a big kiss. I grin. I would hug her if I could. Jon gives my arm a squeeze.

"Welcome to the family."

"Thank you."

Several lords, ladies, and their children congratulate us. Finally its my brother Stannis who shakes my hands then walks away. His wife kisses me, that creepy woman with red hair gives me a stare with her scary eyes. Gendry hugs me.

Finally its down to everyone else. Meera gives me a hug. I kiss her cheek. Aegon nods. I nod back. He shakes hands with Loras. Robb hugs Loras. That's to be expected. Then he congratulates me. Brienne is last. She doesn't pay attention to Loras. She just stands at my side without saying anything.

I spot Satin in the midst of a bunch of girls all are fawning over his raven ringlets. He breaks free. He pats me on the back.

"Jon asked me to stay."

"Are you going to?" I ask.

"I want to. Do you think I should?"

"It would piss his mom off so go right ahead," I say. Loras giggles. He whispers the word "true." And continues talking to Robb.

"I think maybe he wants to commit."

"Or he wants sex."

"I hadn't thought of that."

"Looks like you're sleeping with me tonight," Willas informs me.

"You're kidding."

"I'm not. Tradition dictates that the betrothed are to be watched the night of their betrothal because they might wander into each other's arms. So you're with me."

"What about my flower?"

"Loras has a choice between Robb and Aegon."

For the love of the gods, I hope he picks Robb. As much as it kills me that Loras had feelings for Robb, I cannot stand that purple-eyed pretty boy. I don't trust him.

Loras looks back and forth from Robb and Aegon. He seems conflicted. He knows whoever he picks the other will be upset.

"Robb," Loras says.

"You chose him?" Aegon asks.

"He's my best friend. It doesn't mean I like you any less," Loras says.

"What do you see in him?" Aegon asks.

"I was going to ask him the same thing about you," says Robb.

Here we go.

"Like you're any better. I never got a girl pregnant then dumped her for someone else."

"I never put the moves on someone else's girlfriend."

"If she didn't like it she would have asked me to stop."

Robb shoves Aegon. Aegon is ready to shove him back. I can't believe Willas isn't doing anything. Gendry and Jon are now ready to break things up if they get out of hand. Gendry holds Robb back effortlessly.

"I am going to wipe that smirk off your stupid face," says Robb wiggling to get free, but Gendry is much stronger.

"Stop it," Loras says.

"Stay out of this," Aegon says.

"Don't talk to him like that," says Robb.

"Stop it," Loras says again.

"That's enough!" Yells Margaery.

She comes over in her six inch heels. The neck of her dress forms a V down her cleavage. It shimmers when she moves. She looks stunning. The midnight blue is a good color on her.

"Mags," says Robb.

"No. Not today, Robb. You should be ashamed. You're a father, you should be more mature than this. And Aegon, you're a lord, act like one. I am disgusted with your fighting. This is my brother's day and you are ruining it. If you can't be civil I will have you both removed. To stop the fighting Loras will stay with me tonight."

"He can't it has to be a male comrade," says Willas.

"Well then I think its best we go with Robb. Aegon, you will have to deal wih it."

"No. Its not fair. He's my friend too."

"Take him," says Robb. He breaks free of Gendry's hold. Loras looks offended. Margaery slaps him. He rubs his face and stares at her.

"Your jealousy is not my problem. But it is a problem. I am severely disappointed in you. I know you didn't mean that, but look at Loras. You need to get over yourself and your pride and see how your behavior affects other people. You will host my brother tonight. But first you will apologize to both Loras and Aegon. Is that understood?"

"Yes, princess. I am sorry, Loras."

Robb pulls Loras into a hug. My hand goes with them since we're still bound. Robb kisses the side of Loras's head. Robb releases him and squeezes his shoulder.

"What about me?" Aegon asks.

"Do I have too?" Robb asks Margaery.

"Yes."

"I am sorry, Aegon."

He didn't mean that. I know he didn't. Margaery knows too. She forces Aegon to apologize. His apology to Loras is sincere but the one to Robb falls about 100 yards left of sincere.

Margaery is satisfied. She pats both boys on the arm and walks away shaking her butt as she goes.

"She's quite a girl," Robb says, casually.

I agree.

"She's smoking hot," Aegon says, "I was a little worried at first when I accepted because she likes girls, but seeing her in that dress, I can't believe she and I will be married someday."

Robb punches him in the face. He is banned from the ceremony, though all of us secretly applaud him. We all know Aegon was joking, but we'd had enough of him.

Loras and I are cut loose after press pictures. I am ushered up to Willas's room. They strip me down snd put me in pajamas as if I can't dress myself. Willas climbs into the bed with me.

He slaps me on the stomach. I roll over away from him. Thankfully, Willas doesn't want to talk. I notice a picture of Sansa beside his bed. This guy is weird. He's going to be my brother soon.

"Does Robb have a crush on Margaery?" Willas asks randomly.

"Not that I am aware of. I just think he's sick of Aegon."

"Too bad. I think they'd be a good match."

"He's a teenage father and she's a princess. In what universe are they a good match?" I ask.

"You don't understand politics, Renly."

"Obviously, neither do you."

We stop talking. I miss Loras. I think of my flower. I bet he is having more fun with Robb right now that I am having with Willas. Why Willas? Why not Gendry?

I imagine the smile on Loras's face as he lays against Robb. I picture Robb holding him and making him feel safe. The thought makes me dizzy. I am blowing this out of proportion.

Loras is over Robb. He told me so. But what if he isn't. What if he still secretly pines for him? No. I can't think that. Loras is over Robb. He loves him, but like a brother now. Keep telling yourself that. I really want to believe it.