Hello !
I thought I should precise that I'm inspired by both books and show. For example, Loras here is more like in the books. Margaery and Stannis look like in the show but I try to stick to their books' character. Again, don't hesitate letting me know what you think about the story!
"When our emotions are engaged, we often have trouble seeing things as they are"
Robert Greene
He was walking around the gardens, alone. He could hear Shireen laughing as she was playing with other children. A slight smile roved on his lips. Highgarden was truly beautiful. The road had been long and dangerous, but they finally made it. They rested for a day, and met their hosts. Margaery was crying when they got in the castle and her father threatened to slap her. Stannis had gritted his teeth and promised to cut his hand off if he laid a finger on Margaery. She had turned to him surprised, her eyes still tearful and he had walked away.
The wedding had to take place in a few days, but Stannis was impatient: first, because he had to meet his brother right after the wedding. Second, because this wedding was a chore, and he wanted to get rid of it. Just thinking about the wedding night gave him cold sweat. But today, he was more calm, more relaxed. He looked at the flowers, these beautiful and scented roses. He bent down to grab one when he heard a loud laugh: surprised, he moved swiftly and cut his finger on a thorn. He turned around to see his future wife walking to him with her brother Loras. They looked very close to each other. Stannis tried to smile but he knew it looked more like a grimace. The two young people bowed when they saw him. He nodded at them. Margaery's smile faded away when she saw the blood on his hand. She rushed on him:
"Are you hurt, your Grace?"
"I just…"
He stopped talking when she took his hand. Her long hair tickled his fingers and he couldn't take his eyes off her for a minute. She took in her pocket a tissue, with a rose embroidered on it, and carefully wrapped it around his bleeding finger. The delicate fabric immediately stained red. She held his hand and looked up at him:
"There, it will stop bleeding soon."
Loras was watching at them with an amused look and, as they both turned to him, he bowed again:
"I have to go training. I let you both…talk."
Stannis could swear he had chuckled when he turned away from them and walked. Margaery's hand was still holding his. He knew he had to say something but, he was awful at that. Robert was the seducer. Renly too, even though it was not the same kind of man. But Stannis, Stannis had never been interested in women, in courting. He had never courted Selyse, honestly. They got married and that was it. Margaery tilted her head, waiting for him to say something. Instead, he just walked, Margaery still holding his hand.
"Do you like Highgarden?" she asked after a few steps.
"I do indeed. I miss the sea, though", he replied, silently cursing himself for always ruining it.
"Oh…" she said, and he tried to redeem himself.
"Your gardens are wonderful. And your roses are beautiful. Especially one", he hastily added and closed his eyes. How stupid did that sound? Margaery laughed: not a mocking laugh, not a despising one, more of a pure flattered laugh. Her cheeks turned pink and she smiled at him.
"Thank you, my King."
She had never called him this way. They both realized it, and her cheeks turned from pink to red. He took her to a bench and sat beside her.
"I am sorry I am not the man you thought you would marry one day."
"Your Grace, I've never…" she started but, with a gesture of his hand, he stopped her.
"I am not Robert, I am not Renly. I have many faults, you will realize it soon enough. I chose to marry you, because Robert died, I confess it. But you are the daughter of a great Lord, you know how things work in this world."
She nodded, staring at him, and he said again:
"I don't have many friends, I don't trust people easily. But, when I commit myself, I do it fully. I am committed to you. You are my Queen, and I will do everything I can to make you happy."
She smiled, raised his hand she was still holding to her lips and laid a long kiss on it.
"I will give you sons, my King."
The look she gave to him made him swallow hard. How could a so young lady give that kind of looks? He tried to smile, but more like winced again. He gently stroked her hand and they kept talking.
Their relationship was slightly better, but he could still hear her cry when he walked by her room at night. He knew it was because of him: an older woman would have been more reasonable but she was a teenager, raised with fairytales since she was born. She probably thought she would get married to a handsome young prince, like Joffrey for example. But Joffrey was no good man. He never would be. Stannis sighed behind the door, as he could hear her sobbing loudly. He wanted to come in and then what? He didn't know how to solace her, he didn't even know how to love her. Robert has loved Lyanna Stark. Stannis had never dreamt of such a love. He gave a last look on the door and walked back to his chambers. There, Davos was waiting for him. They talked about the war to come: the young wolf, Robb Stark, had denied every message they sent them. Stannis had proposed him that his daughter Shireen would marry his youngest brother Rickon. He would have preferred Brandon, but the young boy was a cripple, and he would never gave his daughter to a cripple, even if the boy was a Stark. Shireen was 6 years older than him, but it was not very important. And anyway, Robb had refused. Stannis was not enthusiast at the idea of fighting him. Not that he was scared, but he would lose men who could have been useful for the real enemy: the Lannisters. Stark would fight both Stannis and the Lannisters. It would be hard for him to cope with that, but the young wolf was stubborn. The Northerners were different from the others. He knew it. He had always known. He stayed with Davos for a few hours, before telling him to get some rest. He didn't sleep much: he stayed for a while standing in front of his window, staring at what will soon belong to him.