"Love is a choice wedded to action, my husband, and I choose you, and I will choose you every day for the rest of my life"

Brent Weeks

Margaery couldn't stand up. The sun was shining bright, the scent of the roses was spreading everywhere in her room but she couldn't stand up. Her father had come and had yelled at her, her brothers have whispered encouragements in her ear, her grandmother had tried to make her laugh but nothing happened. She still felt paralyzed. By fear, by anguish, she didn't know exactly. She had never wanted this marriage, she could have yelled it, screamed it, and no one cared. A few days ago, she had to be examined by septas to check if she was still a virgin. It happened in a room, everybody was here. She had never felt more ashamed. Stannis was staring at her. She had cried when the septa's fingers got in her. She had hated it, she had hated her father for making her live that, she had hated Stannis. When she was done, after what seemed hours to her, the septa claimed out loud that she was intact. Her future husband had not moved, not smiled, not talked. Nothing. He had stared at her and then left without a word. And now, she was looking at herself, in this wonderful dress, white silk and decorated with embroidery, but couldn't stand on her legs. She sighed watching her in the mirror: the dressmakers were skilled, no doubt about that. The dress was white from top to bottom, a sparkling white, almost dazzling. The V-neck let her cleavage show just enough. Her arms were naked. On her belly, a rose and a stag were proudly standing side by side. She was lost in thoughts when a knock on the door made her startle violently.

"Come in", she nervously said.

The door opened and Shireen, Stannis's daughter, came in with shy steps. Margaery beamed at her:

"You are so pretty", she said.

The little girl blushed slightly and she shook her head:

"No, I'm not. Mother always said I was not pretty. But you, Majesty, are gorgeous", she said with a bow.

Margaery smiled and opened her arms to hug the girl. She has loved this child the second she had seen her. Oh, of course, she was not pretty. She had big ears, square jaw, and, of course, the sequel of greyscale on her cheek. But she was a truly good and honest child, and that worth everything in the world. Honestly, Margaery more felt like a big sister than a stepmother, as she was very young, but Shireen treated her like a mother. For her father's wedding, she was wearing a white dress too, embroidered with a stag which was covering her chest. She rushed in Margaery's arms and hugged her tight:

"I am so happy you're marrying Father", she said.

Margaery stayed silent, not willing to break the little girl's happiness. As if she had read in her thoughts, Shireen, still cuddling her, said:

"I know Father can be…uptight"

Margaery finally laughed at this word and Shireen chuckled in turn.

"But I know he loves you. It shows when he looks at you, it shows when he talks to you, or about you. Give him time, please. He deserves to be happy. He deserves to have another heir than…me."

Margaery closed her eyes and stroked the plaited dark hair of the child:

"You would be such a great Queen, Shireen. Really."

"You will be even better", she said back, smiling at her.

Another knock on the door, stronger this time. Margaery's stomach knotted.

"Time to go", Shireen whispered and took her hand. Margaery stood up, fearing her legs would shake too much to hold her but she was okay. She smiled at Shireen and held her hand. Outside, her father was waiting for her. She took his arm and he led her there. Shireen walked in front of them, holding the rings. She tried to focus on her but, as they entered the Sept, she saw Stannis, waiting for her. The long walk, she thought as she walked to him. He was pretty handsome, today, lavishly dressed with red, black and yellow, the colours of his house. As Shireen, a stag was embroidered on his chest. She tried to smile, she tried to look happy but she couldn't, she couldn't. These days, her cousins told her about the wedding night, and how awful it was, how painful, how embarrassing, how long and unbearable. They had told her what she had to do and she hardly coped with the idea. But it was her duty, as the future queen. So she put on a fake smile and nodded at the guests. Her father laid a kiss on her cheek when he let her near Stannis. He gently took her hand and they listened to the septon. She had noticed the absence of Melisandre. The red woman was weird, and she didn't like her. She knew Davos felt the same about the witch. She tried to focus on the septon, but it was useless. Her mind was far from there. She just felt Stannis taking her roses's cloath off her shoulder to place a stag's one instead. She said the words, he said them and he placed a quick kiss on her lips. They were married.

They were sit side by side, watching the guests drinking and eating. Laughs were ringing out in the great room. Margaery and Stannis were not looking at each other, not talking, nothing. Stannis had denied for the umpteenth time a cup of wine and was drinking only water. He tried to talk as nicely as he could with Mace Tyrell, but he couldn't think of anything else but the night to come. He felt furious at himself; ridiculous of being so scared of…that. She was just a woman, he just had to take her and to do the deed. The feast was long; he just wanted to get over with it. Margaery was glancing at him from time to time: she wanted to cry her eyes out. Her "husband" was never touching her, never looking at her, never talking to her. What had she done to the Gods to deserve such a treatment? Suddenly, while everybody was drunk or not far from being so, they started yelling "the bedding!" A loud and sudden noise on the table made Margaery startle and the guests shut up. Stannis had stood up and punched the table. Then, with the coolest voice in the world, he just said: "No bedding". He turned to Margaery and simply nodded at her. She knew it was time for her to go to what will be their common room. She bowed slightly and left. Her servants immediately followed her but she stopped them once they had left the room. Alone, she walked to their bedroom, silently, slowly. She stopped for a second to look at an asleep Highgarden. She was sad to leave her country, but Stannis had promised her they will come back often. She sighed, turning to the door. She opened it and stared at the room: it was big, windows wide opened, roses everywhere, and a four poster bed. She swallowed hard and turned back to the door, waiting for Stannis.

He stayed with his father-in-law for a moment before leaving in turn. Davos bowed before him when he walked by him and he felt an urge to ask him how to do that. Davos and his wife looked truly in love with each other. He wished he could feel that one day too. He walked fast to their room, nodding at the men who bowed before him. He laid a hand on the handle and closed his eyes. He was so nervous. The first time with Selyse was awful. And the other ones were not better. Selyse was silent, he was quick and sex was soon a chore. Her many miscarriages had not helped. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door.

Margaery was standing and smiled at him when he came in. He smiled back and walked to her. He eyed the bed and she silently turned around, presenting her back and the laces of her dress. She grabbed her hair and moved it away from her scruff. Clumsily, Stannis undid the laces. Indeed, he thought she would keep her dress. That's what Selyse did. They had never been naked together. Margaery took her dress off and she was just wearing a silk tunic. She turned to Stannis and began to undo the laces of his shirt as well. He let her do, rather paralysed.

"Kiss me", she sighed.

"What for?" he winced.

"Because you're my husband now…" Margaery said. She couldn't believe it. He pecked her lips slightly and said:

"Here you are."

She didn't know how she didn't roll her eyes. Indeed, she cupped his face and kissed him deeply, forcing him to part his lips. He didn't stroke her, he didn't hold her. He kissed back, though. He didn't know how to do it. He had never kissed this way. She was already quite noisy and he didn't know if he was excited or exasperated by her noises. Her hands were undressing him quickly and he didn't dare stop her. Margaery broke the kiss and took a step backwards:

"You are a great kisser", she complimented him.

"Erm… Thanks.." he replied. "You too."

She smiled and slid the straps of her tunic off her shoulders. It fell on the floor. Stannis immediately looked away, reddening. He wished he could smash his head on a wall for being so stupid. Margaery got back to him. She took his hands and put them on her breasts, making them run to her belly.

"You have to give me a son, my King."

"I don't have to be naked for that. You neither", he retorted, not moving his hands away though.

Her skin was soft and flawless, warm. He wondered if it tasted as good as it smelled.

"Don't you like me?" she asked, staring at his eyes.

He dared looking at her, his eyes scrutinizing her. He nodded slightly:

"You are very pretty"

She raised an eyebrow and sticked to him. Before he could react, she had taken most of his clothes off. They have never been that close and she kisses his neck. He smelled good, really good. She looked at his body: he was quite good-looking, hairy but not too much. Stannis closed his eyes, starting to enjoy these cuddles. He could feel her hard nipples against his chest and he started to have a hard-on. He gasped and recoiled when she slept her hand in his underwear and started to rub his sex.

"Where have you learnt that?" he asked. Of course, Selyse never did that.

"You are my king. I want to please you."

She was excited too. She never thought she would be that quickly but she thought it would be better to feel excited rather than disgusted. Suddenly, Stannis's arms embrace her at least. His hands stroke her, hands way softer than what she thought at first. They laid on the bed, naked, Stannis swallowed hard. Margaery tried to smile but she was indeed terrified. He didn't know what to do; he just felt he had to wait a bit. He kissed her lips, her neck, stroking her breasts. She arched her back and moaned slightly. He kept doing that, until he felt she was ready. Her hands on his back were more pressing, her kisses more insistent, and her lips warmer. He guided his sex to her entrance and he watched her as he got in. He had not even cared about Selyse, if she ached or not, the first time. But, with Margaery, it was different. He gasped when her nails digged in his back. She stammered "Oh gods, oh gods…", breathing hard and fast. He stopped moving, he felt how her body was resisting his. How could he feel so different when it was her first time and not his? He didn't understand. He tried to focus on the sensations, how tight she was. Her sex was pulsing against his and he thought he was very exciting. She moved her hips slightly and nodded when he looked at her. He pushed a little more and felt her hymen distending. Margaery moaned and he couldn't stay if it was with pleasure or with pain.

Margaery wanted to cry: she bit Stannis's shoulder to not yell with pain. He stopped again and a tear rolled on her cheek. She started to smother his neck with kisses, not really knowing why, and he kissed her back. Again, he stopped, giving her time to adjust to him, and they went on doing this, until pain completely disappeared. By then, they were both in a sweat, and Margaery wrapped her legs around his waist, gently scratched his back. He moaned loudly when he felt he was so deep and he started thrusting, maybe faster than what he wanted, but he couldn't slow down. He had never felt that. He started groaning, feeling he was gonna come soon, and she just started to moan when he released his semen deep inside her. She let out a frustrated sigh but he pecked her lips before pulling out. He collapsed next to her and she curled up against him. He immediately wrapped an arm around her and stroked her hair. He remained silent, a bit dizzy with all this pleasure. It was so different than with Selyse… So much better. He chuckled slightly, amazed by the experience and turned to Margaery but she had already fallen asleep, locks of her hair sticking with her sweaty brow. He kissed her gently and closed his eyes in turn.