Chapter 20

Kings Landing

Margaery

Margaery was walking through the halls of the Red Keep with some of her ladies. They were just with the king and queen breaking their feast. She was starting to have some success with bringing Joffrey closer to her, he started talking to her more and listening to her but she did not let her guard down, she knew that the queen would want nothing more than to keep her hold over her son and Margaery could not let that happen. There was also a problem with Sansa. Margaery could see that the girl suffered while she was alone with the Lannisters. Margaery wanted to find a way to help the girl but she still did not know how.

Now she was heading to the gardens to meet her brother. Garlan was furious at their grandmother for her actions and even more at himself for not doing anything about it. Her brother was her greatest ally in this place. Once she reached the gardens she found to her contempt that her grandmother was sitting at the table and not her brother.

"Where is Garlan?" Margaery asked, glaring at her grandmother.

"He is elsewhere dear, now sit, we need to talk," Olenna said.

"No we don't," Margaery said and turned to leave only to be stopped by Left and Right.

"Child you will sit down with me and we will talk this out," Olenna said sternly.

Margaery looked at the two giant guards, she knew that there was way past them and that she will have to do as her grandmother says again, much to her disgust.

"Make it quick," Margaery said as she turned back around and sat opposite of her grandmother.

"I hear that you have been spending time with the king, that's good my dear. Men can rarely resist the charms of a woman."

"I have to don't I, I don't really have a choice."

"Oh, but you do, you did, and you chose wisely. You will forget about the bastard in time and then it will be as if he never existed, a short love affair nothing more."

"I don't, because of what you did, if I don't play along I just might end up being Joffeys next victim."

"Oh please child, so the boy was a bit of a temper, so did Robert. And when it comes to Ned Stark, that fool got what was coming to him, he trusted those goldcloakes and lost his head for it."

Before Margaery could say anything else, she felt the smell of perfume and not any that she or her ladies wore and soon a voice was heard.

"Ah, lady Margaery and lady Olenna what fine day for sitting in the gardens," a man's voice said and Margaery turned to see lord Varys standing few meters from them. She hadn't even heard the man walk up to them.

"To what does he owe the pleasure of your company lord Varys?" Olenna said. Margaery was aware that lord Varys had come to speak to her grandmother once before and if what she was told was true, they were talking about Sansa, her grandmother wasn't the only one with eyes and ears n this keep. Margaery still hadn't managed to get the girl to trust her.

"Nothing my lady, I was just strolling through the gardens when I noticed you so I decided to come and say hello. Ser Garlan not with you?" Varys said raising an eyebrow.

"No, he is not," Margaery said.

"You said you hello so am I correct to assume that this is more than just a friendly greeting. Say what you have to say say it quickly I have to talk with my granddaughter?" Olenna said.

"Forgive me, my lady, I did not intend to intrude on I just wanted to ask where lady Margaery brothers were, Ser Loras as well. I was expecting to arrive with you."

"My grandson decided to stay at Highgarden for now," Olenna said and Margaery frowned at the lie. Varys straightened himself a bit.

"Then the man who lifted the siege of castle Hasty could not possibly be your grandson," the spider said and Margaery's eyes went wide while her grandmother chocked on some tea.

"What?" Olenna asked.

"Yes, it seems that men matching the descriptions of Ser Loras, Ser Robar Royce and Ser Jon Snow beat the force that Stannis sent to bring the Hastys to heal. They attacked and broke the siege."

"How? When?" her grandmother said and Margaery enjoyed seeing Olenna confused and out of her element. Not knowing something was always the thing that her grandmother hatted the most and now it was about her grandson which made it all the sweeter.

"Your grandson and his two companions somehow managed to get themselves a force and charged the ones besieging the castle, killing the commander of the force, lord Fell in the process and decimating the rest. It happened sometime around Stannis's attack on Kings Landing."

Margaery could not believe it, she now knew where Jon and Loras where. That they fought and won a battle made her excited and scared at the same time. What if they were hurt or if one of them died?

No, she could not think like that, her brother and Jon were both strong men, the battle could not have been too large considering the force Stannis brought to the capital. It warmed her heart to know that the two of them were far away from here, as safe as they could be which won't be long now that her grandmother knows where they are. If they are smart they won't linger too long and will continue somewhere else.

"You are saying that my grandson won a battle," Olenna said and by the tone of her voice, Margaery could tell that she composed herself.

"Yes my lady, a small one but a victory nevertheless," Varys said.

"And why did you bring this to me?" Olenna asked.

"Ser Loras is your grandson, after all, I thought it right that you should know what he has been up to since he left the camp at Bttierbridge," Varys said and at this point, both Margaery and her grandmother were not surprised that the Spider knew about it. Margaery knew stories about the master of whisperers well, a man who had eyes and ears everywhere and now it seems that those stories were completely true. She would have to see if this man could be an ally or would he be another enemy she would have to face in this city.

"Thank you for bringing this information to us lord Varys, we are very grateful," Margaery said with a practiced smile and the man returned the same one.

"Yes, thank you," Olenna said.

"You are welcome my lady or should I start calling you your grace," the man said.

"Only after the wedding my lord," Margaery said and the man nodded.

"I wish you a good day my lady, lady Olenna," Varys said and left the gardens.

Margaery looked as the Spider left and then turned to her grandmother who was watching the man more carefully than her. Olenna was certainly pondering the same thing as he was, what to do with Varys and with Loras.

Her grandmother will send someone for her brother that was certain, Loras might not be as smart as Willas but he is capable and if he managed not to get caught by now Margaery believed that he will continue to stay like that and that meant Jon as well.

Castle Hasty

Bonifer

Bonifer had been feeling solemn since he told the story of his love to Jon Snow, the feeling of sadness would come about every time he talked about her, things could have been so much different if he just had the bravery to stand up for his love, to not give up so easily and yet now there was nothing he could do about it, the past can not be changed. He could see that there was something similar in Jon Snow's eyes, the sadness just like his.

When he and Lucas were told that the kingsguard were taking on some of our knights he saw intrigued. The three were talented there was no denying that but they were still young and green, the siege being the first real taste of battle to them. By what he saw and heard from his men Robar and Loras took it well but Jon seemed to still be getting over it. In the first battle, the first act of killing was always the hardest. Some say it gets easier over time but it doesn't you just learn that its either you or that man in front of you and you do what you have to do to stay alive, nothing else matters.

Seeing Ser Robar and Jon take on their knights was interesting and when Ser Loras proposed a wager he was against it having a good feeling who will win in the fight but his brother took the bet and lost.

Out of all three, the one he took most interest in was Jon Snow, a bastard from the North raised by the Tyrells was a unique thing. The boy had typical Stark features, he heard people that were in Kings Landing say that his mother left little of herself in him but when the boy stood next to Lord Stark Bonifer could see some differences. The people it seemed were wrong. Some say that the boy's mother was nothing more than a whore but Bonifer knew what kind of a man Eddard Stark was and that there was only one woman he would break his vows for, Ashara Dayne. The boy did not have any features that would indicate that Ashara was his mother but maybe the boy had his uncle's skill with a blade. Arthur could wield two swords at the same time, this talent either being passed down by blood in some cases or having to be learned with great effort.

He was walking in the courtyard with his nephew when he spotted Jon and Loras talking to some of the castle guards. His curiosity got the better of him. "This might be a good chance," Bonifer thought and walked over to them.

"Ser Jon I saw you fight yesterday and I saw wondering if you would do me the honor of sparing with me," Bonifer said.

"Of course Ser Bonifer, it would be an honor," Jon said and Bonifer nodded. They walked over to where swords were being held and Bonifer picked up a sword and a shield, while Jon picked up just a sword.

"I was meaning to ask if you are good at using two swords?"

Jon looked at him "I did practice with two but I believe that I'm better with just one."

"Indulge me ser, please," Bonifer said and Jon agreed, picking up a second sword. The two moved to the center of the yard and on Bonifers mark they began.

The first strike came from Jon hitting Bonifers shield, while the second came from Bonifer which has blocked by Jon's second sword. Bonifer used his shield to push Jon back slightly and then attacked again. He needed to push the boy, to see how good he truly is. The next several strikes that came from Jon were harder and Bonifer blocked them, going on the offense right after. At some moment during their fight, the young knight started picking up speed more and more. They exchanged more blows, Bonifer tried to perform a fake attack on the right and then to move on the left only for his attack to be anticipated and parried. Bonifer moved back, carefully watching his opponent.

The lad had skill with two blades but Bonifer could see that he still preferred the one in his right hand. Attacking once more, first high on the left with his sword which was blocked by the Jons sword only for Bonifer to use his shield to hit Jon's right hand and to hit the sword out of the young knight's hand. Jon looked at the sword and took a step back.

Bonifer looked at Jon thinking that he had the lad right where he wanted him only for Jon to smile and to attack again, this time faster than before. Bonifer was caught off guard and started moving back, using his sword and shield to block the attacks. Before he fully realized it his sword was out of his hand and Jon spun around him putting his blade to Bonifers back.

"Do you yield Ser Bonifer?" Jon asked in a chicky tone.

"I do lad, I do," Bonifer said and Jon pulled his blade down. "You really have skill. You made me believe that you favorited your right arm above your left."

"I do but I'm good with my left also, you never know what can happen so better be prepared. You came up with a good plan too Ser, and it worked almost." Jon said.

"I thank you lad," Bonifer said and Jon smiled at him. Bonifer stared at the boy, the smile familiar somehow until Ser Loras's voice broke him out of it.

"That was a good show by the looks of it," Loras said and Bonifer looked around to see that they had an audience, not as many people as the day before but enough. "I think that has been enough for one day, shall we get something to eat?"

"Aye," Jon said and the two left leaving Bonifer there with his thoughts.

In the evening he sat with his brother, Loras, Jon, Robar and their poacher friend Grenn. Bonifer told his brother about the poacher and how Jon gave his word is Grenn fought for them that they won't hand him over. His brother agreed that they would turn a blind eye to Grenns actions because of the help he gave them.

"So you are leaving tomorrow?" Bonifer asked.

"Aye, we agreed that he should not linger here too long, We might attract unwanted attention to you and you already have enough of that as it is," Jon said.

"If that is what you wish, we don't stop you. But know we are grateful for everything you did for us," Lucas said.

"You have nothing to thank us for, we did what was right. The three of us took out knights vows and we will uphold them to best of our abilities," Robar said.

"Are the four of you continuing or will it be only the three of you?" Lucas asked as he looked at the group. The three knights turned to Grenn.

"What do you say Grenn, will you be staying here?" Robar asked.

"I don't know, I did not give much thought to it," Grenn answered.

"You are welcome to stay with us," Bonifer said. "Or you can leave, it's up to you."

"I'm not sure," Grenn said looking at Jon and then to Lucas.

"Well we are heading for Dorne, the journey won't be easy but if you wish to join us you can," Jon said.

"Really?" Grenn asked shocked.

"Aye," Jon said.

"You would trust me?" Grenn asked surprised and Bonifer smiled at the young man's reaction. The lad might be a poacher but he was not a bad person, just a misguided one. If he went with these men he might just become someone.

"You proved yourself on the battlefield, you bought beside us, so yes," Robar said.

"I don't know, Dorne is far, right?"

"Yes it is, but not as far as you think," Jon said.

"And what will you do there?"

"Find a ship and join up with my brother," Jon said.

"You are going to join the war?" Grenn said.

"We are," Jon said.

"I don't know, I am honored but," Grenn said.

"What, are you too much of a coward to join us?" Loras said mockingly with a smirk on his face.

"I'm not a coward;" spat Grenn.

"You are right, you are too stupid to be a coward."

"And you are too stupid to..." Grenn stared but was caught off.

"Too stupid for what? You cant even finish a sentence," Loras said mockingly and Grenn growled at him.

"Enough both of you," Jon said. "So what will it be Grenn come with us or stay here?"

A long moment passed as Grenn pondered about it. Looking at Loras he smirked. "I'm going with you. I never liked being in one place too long anyway."

"Good, get your things ready tonight we leave tomorrow," Jon said.

"I will," Grenn said.

After retiring for the night Bonifer sat on his bed, contemplating what he saw. The smile he saw on the boy was so familiar but there were only two people with that smile his love Rhaella and her son Rheagar. He first met the prince at the tourney at Highgarden, the boy then being more of his mother's son than his fathers. He was gentle, kind, a bit serious but with the same smile, he remembered his mother for. Now he was seeing that same smile on a bastard boy from the North.

Bonifer wept for his lost love. The guilt he felt for leaving her to her faith that he felt all these years was starting to get worse it seems, seeing her smile on a random boy. His mind felt with old memories, happy memories about her, then memories about her son the son that could have been his and finally with the thoughts about her grandchildren. He heard that Rheagar's daughter took after her mother with only her eyes being like her fathers, while his son seemed to take completely after his father. One or both of those children could have had Rhaellas smile and her beautiful purple eyes.

This Jon Snow had neither her eyes of her hair but there was that smile. Bonifer sighed, his eyes must have started to deceive him, the lad was a bastard but he was still a Stark. After a long moment, a thought crossed his mind. "Wait, a Stark," Bonifer said and looked at the mirror in front of him. No, it could not be, Boonifer saw Arthur fight and lad fights just like he did and the story about Ned and Ashara, it has to be true, right?

Bonifer spent most of the night contemplating this bastard boy's origin. The boy had Stark blood that was true but on whos side, mothers or fathers. The lad fought like a Dayne and was brought back from Dorne sometime around Ned Starks visit to Starfall but on the other hand, there was that damn smile that kept bothering him. In the end, he decided that it would be for the best to let it go, there was no proof of anything he thought mind be the truth and the more he thought about it the less plausible his sudden idea was. If her grandson was truly alive he would see it and he would do anything to protect that boy but unfortunately, he was not and he now was left with only the ghosts of the past.

The next morning the three knights and their poacher companion were ready to leave. All four of them were on their horses, Grenn being given a better horse from the castle stable and also some equipment by Ser Jon's request.

"I thank you, Ser Lucas, once more for your hospitality," Ser Jon said.

"It was the least I could do good Sers," Lucas said with a smile.

"I hope we see each other again Ser Bonifer, it was an honor to meet you," Jon said.

"Likewise Ser Jon," he said.

"I wish you, lads, good luck on the road, that you might reach your destination safely," Lucas said.

"Thank you, Ser Lucas," Loras said.

"And I wish you good fortune in the battles to come, for there will be more considering where you are heading," Bonifer said.

"We thank you," Robar said.

"Stay safe," Marya said.

"We will my lady, goodbye," Loras said.

"Goodbye," Bonifer and Lucas said and watched as the four men rode through the castle gates until they could see them no more.

"An interesting lot, wouldn't you say?" Lucas said with a smirk.

"Aye," Bonifer said.

"Especially that Jon Snow fella," Lucas said.

"Indeed he is," Bonifer said and walked back into the keep, his mind once again fixed on Jon Snow.

Kings Landing

The Spymaster

He was moving threw the shit covered streets of Flea Bottom, in all the years neither Aerys nor Robert tried to do anything here and that was fortunate for him although not for its inhabitants. Reaching an old and rundown house he knocked three-time and the doors opened and an old lady stood in front of him biding him in. Entering the house he closed the door and sat at the table at the center of the room while the lady left. A moment later a cloaked figure entered from where the old lady went and sat opposite of him.

"Has anyone seen you come here?" he asked.

"No, I used the route you told me to, no one saw me."

"Good. What news have you?"

"Lady Jeyne Poole is still in the brothel, Littlefinger is training the girl to become a whore." the man sighed "The poor girl is beyond terrified," the spy said with pity in his voice. "He is making her do things which for a girl like that are… simply… she is not meant to do those things. I have been doing them my whole life, she is not like that, she is a fragile thing in a hands of a man like Baelish."

"I get it, she doesn't deserve it but do you have anything more on Baelish for me?"

"He has been coming and going, some knight called Osfryd has come once or twice with him, they would talk in Littlefinger private room but I could not hear what about."

"Its alright Satin. Littlefinger is careful and he is up to something. I need to know what it is."

"I will try to find out more," Satin said.

"Do that but do not endanger yourself, if you even think he suspects you you know where you need to go."

"Aye, I do," Satin said and got up walking towards the back door. He turned around and looked at him. "Baelish in whipping her to make her submit faster, something has to be done."

"I know, I will try to think of something but she is not our goal you know that."

"I do but still the girl doesn't deserve that," Satin said and walked out of the house.

Satin was a good informant, he was a bastard born in Oldtown raised in a whorehouse and became a whore himself. He found the lad when the boy was thirteen and offered him a deal a better life for information and the lad agreed since then he has been a part of the spy network. The decision to place Satine in Littlefinger whorehouse has a good one, the man was the master of coin and a man of ambition, having someone to watch him had been needed.

He did feel bad for the girl, he truly did, no child should be subjugated to something like that but compared to the grand prize she was nothing. The true king will in restored, Rheagars son will rule, as soon as they can find him that is. The Tyrells fucked up everything, years of planing all gone thanks to them or some specifically Olenna, he knew that the Queen of thorns was truly behind this move. The Tyrells would have a queen and the Lannisters an ally who had plenty of resources. Olenna was the reason he never did anything near her, never said a word about the prince, the woman could not be trusted and Myce even less so, the man's mouth as large as his coffers. The Tyrells could have been a powerful ally but he did not trust them.

He had spies places amongst the Lannister household guard and amongst the Tyrell guards. According to what he had been told Cersei has been trying to keep her hold over her son who was slowly slipping away and getting close to the rose. He had also been informed that Varys had taken interest in the roses, speaking with Olenna several times.

He needed more information, his agents were doing a good job but he needed more. With Tywin now here the things became more complicated, he would have to be more careful if Tywin somehow even began to suspect that there was someone else involved in the game thing would become damn near impossible.

The prince was the key to everything is he could find him all of their problems would be solved, but the boy vanished. He damned Ned Stark for taking the boy, damned the Tyrells and damned Howland, the plan was not going anything as he had said it would. His distrust for the Tyrells had been there even before Mace decided that it as enough to stop at Storms End. The war would have turned out differently if those forces were where they should have been, at Rheagar's side, with them the battle would have been over before it began.

Watching the prince die had been the hardest thing he ever had to do, watch a man he called friend die in the waters of that river. Rheagar should have won, he should have been king, Elia and the children should have lived and yet non of that happened, their fate now lay with the boy, a child that was born out of love that started the war. He will see that boy crowned, Rheagar's son will rule even if this war between the kingdoms has to last another ten years.

He got up from his chair and went towards the door, opening in and exiting on the street. Looking around he saw no one and proceeded to make his way to the harbor.

Once he reached the harbor, he entered the inn he purchased a room in and went to it, locking the door immediately after. Looking beneath the bed he found what he was looking for, a small chest with new messages.

The young wolf continues his assault but will be in need of help soon.

The fish and the sparrow refuse to leave their cage in the sky, some lords are becoming restless.

The huntsman has been acting strangely, ravens sent to several keeps.

The snakes are yet to pull their heads out of the sand.

The stag licks his wounds on Dragonstone.

He sat back on a chair, the Stark and the Tully would be excellent allies, with Ned Stark dead his son would be much more cooperative. The prince had Stark blood in him so it was more than possible to persuade the wolf to join them, the only problem would probably be his mother.

The Vale has stayed out of the war so far and there was no doubt in his mind that Littlefinger had something to do with it. His spies had informed him that there was more to Lysas and Baelishs relationship then just childhood friends and that the next lord of the Vale might not be an Arryn at all.

Randyll Tarly was a new thing and an interesting one. The lord was up to something it seems. Tarly did send his rides far and wide after the prince and Ser Loras left the camp which did surprise him somewhat. Tarly is a loyal man but his disdain for the Tyrells was well known which meant that his offer to track down Ser Loras and the prince was out of character for him, the man would have probably only had don't it if he was ordered to do it otherwise. Could it be possible that Tarly had figured it out?

Rheagar and he did meet Randyll Tarly on several tourneys and once or twice in the capital, Tarly was steadfast and loyal even then, a Targaryen supporter through and through. If this damn war had not started so soon, Tarly would have been one of the men who would have been brought into the fold.

Dorne was what worried me, the Martells were always an arrogant bunch, they would see the prince as a bastard even with all the evidence and they would deny him to the end unless Doran gets what he wants. Oberyn was another story entirely, the prince did follow his older brother but was as reckless and impulsive as Doran was patient and cunning.

Stannis might have lost his army and for that he was glad but he still possed a threat. The Baratheon lord was a capable commander and was not the one to ever give up. Stannis will rather die than give up his claim. The only man that could even talk Stannis out of something was his maester, the old man once managed to persuade Stannis not to catapult a group of deserters who tried to leave Storms End during the siege at the Tyrells. But alas the old maetser was long dead according to what he heard, died trying to kill the red witch.

There were so many things to take care of now and he could have to see each and every one of them himself.

Olenna

Olenna was sitting in the gardens of the Red Keep, the only place that reminded her of home in this stinking city, Oldtown might not the royal residence and the Sept of Baelor but it was superior to the capital in her eyes, but she was ready to put up with it for her prize. Her granddaughter seemed to get over the bastard at least partially, enough at least to start using her charms on the boy king and it seemed like it was working. Joffrey and Margaery have been spending more and more time together and the boy seemed to like her more with each passing day. The only problem was that Margaery had refused to talk to her ever since the bastard left.

She needed all of her family with her but her stupid grandson had not yet been found, she cursed her spies for not finding his location before the Spider but she welcomed his information nevertheless. Varys was playing a strange game, on one hand, he was supporting the Lannisters turely but on the other, he had spoken to her several times and given her interesting propositions and valuable information. She would need to get to the bottom of it.

Mace was being his typical self, galavanting around as the new member of the small council but behind closed doors he still worried for Loras and even the bastard. Why everyone in her family loved the boy so much she had no idea but that optical had been removed which allowed Margaery to be queen once more but it also caused Loras to run off. Garlan was distanced too but al least he still did as he was told.

When Randyll Tarly offered some of his best men to track down Loras she took it, the lord of Horn Hill might not be the sharpest tool in the shed but when it came to matters such as this he excelled at it, or at least that was what she thought at first, now not so much. The lords repeated failures to find Loras proved that.

The conversation she had with her granddaughter after Varys left was still on her mind.

As the spider walked away Margaery got up from her chair and turned her back to Olenna, staring to walk away.

"We are not done child," Olenna said in a stern tone and Margaery looked back at her. "Sit."

Margaery did as she was told while glaring at Olenna. "What more?" Margaery asked.

"I meant to continue what I started before we were interrupted," Olenna said. "As I said you are doing a fine job with Joffrey, continue like that and he will be under your sway in due time. The only optical you face is Cersei, she has been the queen for almost two decades now and she will not let go of the power and prestige that come with that title so easily. She is a fickle woman from what i heard and seen so far and will do whatever she can to oppose you. Your advantage is that she is not as smart as she thinks she is, Tywin is the real power in his family, the one with a mind created for the game, while his children are less so," Olenna paused "Maybe Tyrion is the one with the brains besides his father."

"I know all of this," Margaery said. "I have made a choice I had to make thanks to you, I know that I have to make the most of this situation now. I won't lose anyone else I care about to this game. I will become a queen but not because you want me to be, I will do it to stop this slaughter the Lannisters started, I will see my family safe."

"You will do that and we will grow strong thanks to you but the chances of you stopping this war are slim. With our troops, the Lannisters gave more than enough manpower to crush Robb Stark and deal with any further inconveniences that may occur."

"I have Joffrey's ear, he is listening to me. With enough time I will persuade him to make peace with the Starks."

"Make peace," Olenna scoffed "The Lannisters will never seek peace with the North, and Robb Stark won't seek peace with the South. The only way this war is going to end is with one of them losing his head and it's in our best interest that Joffrey keeps his," The two women stared at each other for a moment, their eyes locking. "I know you feel some kind of obligation to try and safe that boy's family but its a fruitless effort, you need to forget about your little love affair and move on."

"Love, what do you know about love?" Margaery asked in anger.

Olenna leaned on the table in front of her. "I know a great deal about it child, I know how it feels to love a man and how it feels when that love disappoints you, leaves you alone," Olenna said and Margaery's look of anger was switched to one of confusion. Olenna sighed "You know the story about me and prince Daeron, about our betrothal," Margaery did not say a word but Olenna knew the answer. "People know the story well enough, that the betrothal was broken and that the two of us went out separate ways."

"You always said that you broke the betrothal first," Margaery said.

"Aye I always did, but that does not make it true," Olenna said and her granddaughter looked her with confusion once more. Olenna leaned back into her chair, her eyes looking a bit lower to the table. "I loved that sword swallowing bastard. I first met him on a royal visit to Oldtown, the royals were visiting and my father thought it a good idea to go to the city and present ourselves, this was before he became a squire at Highgarden. We were children then barely seven name days old, even then he was a perfect prince. Several years later I found out that my father and the king had reached an agreement to Daeron and me to get married once we come of age. Years later when we were fourteen I met him again at the celebration of his mothers nameday. He was so regal then, his silver hair, purple eyes, that smile, he was perfect and I fell for him. I felt so excited that one day I would get married to a prince. We spoke, got to know one another, he seemed like any normal man. It was decided that I should spend more time with Daeron to get to know him better so the king let me stay in the keep for a while. The more time I spent with Daeron the more I loved him, back then I was too stupid to see the sighs that were there in front of me. He grew to be fond of me that was true but to him, I was nothing more than a good friend and I didn't even realize that.

I left the Red Keep and still believed that he loved me as I did him. A foolish girl's dream that was, to have a man that truly loved you, a dream that came crashing down when a letter arrived at my home with the dragon sigil on it. In it, Daeron said his true feelings, how he truly felt and that he was sorry for not telling me earlier. He loved another, finding out that a woman had stolen the man you love was a had thing finding out that a man did so was even worse. It showed that I never had a real chance to be with him. That it was all in my head, in the head of a love-struck girl. I hated him for years, I still do. I realized that love will not get you anywhere in life, that it will only hurt you."

Margaery stared at Olenna in silence for a long moment, before finally, she spoke. " And do you love us, me, father, Garlan, Willas, the rest of your children and grandchildren?"

"That's a different kind of love child, you will learn that once you become a mother as well. Heed my advice forget about the boy once and for all, I did you a favor by making you let him go, you will see that in time. I love you Margaery, more than you know, you are my little rose, my granddaughter. Some things I do might hurt but they are in your best interest. Now you are to be queen soon and that could not have happened if you continued to cling to him as you did. Everything I did lead to this moment, the moment when a crown will be placed on your head. I did it for you."

"For me?" Margaery asked in a silent tone.

"Yes," Olenna replied. Margaery did not say a word more she just looked Olenna in the eyes for a short moment before getting up and gracefully walking away from the table. Once Margaery left Olenna sighed. "She will learn, she is still young," she said to herself. Looking around she saw Right and Left in their positions around her and a member of her household guard walking away from them.

AN: Sorry it took this long, but college has started. I will try to get one update a week, if I can there will be more but I can't promise anything yet. I'm glad you guys liked the Tarly part, I think there should be more to him than just Reach version of Stannis who hates his firstborn son. As always leave your opinion on the chapter.