"The story is about to begin, and every day will be a new piece of the plot."

Mary Ann Schaffer

The following morning, Margaery Tyrell left Highgarden, followed by an army of thousands of men. She watched her city, her land disappearing slowly as they walked to Storm's end. They had to meet Renly Baratheon here. Stannis had no hope he could convince him to surrender but maybe the forces of the Tyrell would help. He was at the head of his men, Margaery slightly behind him, side by side with Davos. She was tired, and sad to leave her family. A hand stroked her cheek: she looked up and smiled at Loras, magnificent in his armor. At least her brother was with her. Then she looked back at her husband, even though she only saw his scruff and back. She held back a smile: she loved how different he could be in public and in private. She sometimes wondered who the true Stannis was: the one smiling and sweet with her and Shireen, or the one gruff and dark with Davos and the others. Margaery felt an insistent look on her and turned around on her mare to look at Melisandre. She fakely smiled and nodded at her. She hated her, and Melisandre hated her back the same way. Margaery knew she was jealous of her. She thought she had a greater influence on Stannis than her now. Though, when they were alone, her husband and she never talked about politics. She liked to think she was his shelter, the person he came to when he was looking for comfort and love. Did she love him? She didn't know. She wasn't sure. The only thing she knew was that she had never felt that for anyone. Maybe she could talk about it with Loras, even though he knew as little about love as her.

"Do you feel alright, your Grace?"

Margaery turned to Davos, who was looking at her with concern:

"I am, Ser Davos."

She frowned slightly though, wondering why he looked so worried.

"You look really tired", he insisted.

She felt herself blushing and replied:

"I am alright, don't worry. Just sad I leave Highgarden", she smiled.

He nodded and remained silent. Margaery thought about the night before: she had woken up in the middle of the night and simple strokes on Stannis's chest had made him opened his eyes again. He has beautiful eyes; she had thought when he was making love to her again. After this time, they talked and she leaned on him. He had given her inquiring looks and she explained she had older cousins, before taking him as he had taken her. He looked offended first, but then he enjoyed it. They had done it several times and had fallen asleep soon before dawn, when they had to get up early to leave. When the servants had come in, after Stannis left, their looks and their chuckles let her know the whole castle was aware of how good her night had been. She chuckled with them: she had a good relationship with her servants. They were coming with her to Dragonstone. She had known them since she was a child; she had grown up with them. She would not call them sisters, but she was closer from them than from some of her cousins… The ride was going on, and Melisandre joined Stannis. They talked for a few minutes but he looked angry at her, Margaery didn't know why. Melisandre slowed down to get by Davos again and Stannis turned to call at Margaery. She spurred her horse so it joined Stannis's one.

"Your Grace?" she asked.

"Stannis", he smiled slightly.

She smiled back:

"Stannis?"

He stared at her:

"How are you? How do you feel after…?" he hesitantly asked.

She frowned slightly, unsure of what he was talking about. His eyes looked down on her saddle, insistently. She understood:

"Oh… I'm fine. Don't worry. I'm slightly sore, but nothing to worry about."

Stannis though looked worried:

"Horse riding is not going to help you, my Lady"

Margaery put on a kinky smile and whispered:

"It worthed it."

Stannis smiled and they kept talking.

When they reached Storm's End, Stannis became darker suddenly. Margaery went to rest as he sent two messengers to organize a meeting with Renly. They soon came back: Stannis had to meet his brother the following day. He did not eat that night. He did not share Margaery's bed either. He did not even sleep. He stared at Storm's end castle, at what should be his, instead of Dragonstone. His jaw clenched and he gritted his teeth.

In the warmth of his castle, Renly Baratheon was staring at his brother's camp. He shook his head slightly and turned to the tall blonde woman, wearing armor, who was looking at him.

"Do you have siblings, Brienne?" he asked softly.

"No, your Grace", she replied.

"They're both a blessing and a curse. My brothers have always pretended they've never loved me. Such lies… I have loved my brothers. Both of them. I admired Robert's skills in fights. I admired Stannis, too, in a way. And they loved me, back then. I know they did. Honestly, no child hates his siblings. It's not true. But it's more convenient to believe when you fight for a kingdom", he laughed slightly.

Brienne was looking at him, not knowing if he expected an answer. The war of the five kings. The Baratheon brothers, the young wolf, the Lannisters, the Greyjoys. How many of them will survive this war? Rumors were spreading like mushrooms after a fall's rain. Some said the king was dead, some said Sansa Stark was dead, some said Jaime Lannister was dead. Who could be trusted in this world? But she knew that she, Brienne of Tarth, could be trusted. She knew that if Renly asked her, she would plunge her sword into Stannis's stomach in front of his new wife. She lived to serve Renly, and she wanted to die doing so.

"Go get some rest Brienne", Renly broke the silence. He looked weary and suddenly both older and younger than he ever was. He turned his dark haired face to her and smiled:

"Tomorrow is going to be a very long day."

A/N: Now, I am kinda stuck. I don't know what to do with Renly. Shall he bend the knee or shall he be destroyed?