(Disclaimer: I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire nor its characters. Those all belong to George R. R. Martin, aside from my OC.)

(Highgarden, the Reach)

Olenna Tyrell was annoyed.

Ever since the rise of House Mudd, she had been gaining wrinkles faster than what should be considered normal.

She hadn't truly felt her age till the day they sent Margaery and Janna to Firmridge. Her favorite grandchild was in the hands of someone who had little reason to look favorably upon the Tyrells.

The only reassurances they had of their safety came from that mad maid Malora, someone not even Alerie had the utmost confidence in. While Janna did send ravens every moon turn, there was no doubt whatever was written inside of it was being reported.

It was only after Alerie was allowed to visit the Mudd's seat that they gained some reassurance that the two were treated well by the Royal House.

It had taken quite a toll on her, but she held on. House Tyrell still maintained a strong position and had done its best to avoid earning the ire of the new King.

Olenna had done her best to keep watch over his movements. Trying to anticipate his every move in order to see if she could make a corresponding one that might earn his favor.

While not necessarily the best action, it would have to do at the moment. She had gotten reports of the completion of his projects. Ones that had turned the previously unenviable position of the Riverlands into its most prominent feature.

A man-made fortress that had the potential to control the trade flow of nearly the entire continent.

Olenna sought to exploit that potential.

She could perhaps use that to enrich House Tyrell even further. With increased security, they'd be able to sell more grain and crops to the other kingdoms more easily. Even with the destruction of the Ironborn, the threat of pirates still existed after all.

Where there was money to be made, there would always be someone there looking to steal it. That was a truth no one would be able to deny.

There was also the issue of House Tyrell's regional rivals, who she knew for a fact targeted its ships and caravans that carried grain and crops.

Unfortunately, they never managed to gain enough evidence to use against them.

Olenna wasn't an idiot, she knew that it would be difficult to trace back anything of note to their enemies. Only a fool would leave behind a rope for them to hang them with.

The Iron Islands fiasco had proved to Olenna the importance of being careful when it came to the young King. With no hesitation, the man ended entire lines that could trace their lineage further back than some of the most prideful fops that came from the reach.

Adding salt to the wounds, he had his beasts destroy the squid's ancestral home in front of its last remaining members. Seven knows what happened to Asha Greyjoy.

Apparently, it was enough to turn one mad, well more than he already was, and drove him to kill his own brother. A gruesome event that benefited the Mudd King quite significantly.

If there were any thoughts about rebellion, this war more than likely ended it.

House Tyrell on the other hand could do better. Ever since Mace first insulted Randyll Tarly, she was weary of any retaliation from him. The man was more than popular enough to rally the Lords of the Reach to usurp her House.

With House Florent greatly weakened, Tarly had become their greatest worry. Sure there were the Hightowers, but those fools had set their sights on more than just the Reach, so she didn't care enough to worry about them.

Sure she was suspicious and weary of what exactly they were plotting with the Crown, her spies doing their best to uncover what exactly was going on. That largely was a failure and ended up losing some of her most talented men.

The only thing she gained from it was a headache.

There was also the fact that Willas, the heir to the reach had Hightower blood in him. That should be more than enough to trust that not to do anything drastic.

Her grandson was truly all she could hope for. The boy had grown quite well, both physically and mentally. He had a charisma about him that both his father and grandfather lacked.

Many of the younger heirs and heiresses of the reach flocked to his side. Giving him a solid support base once he ascended as Lord Paramount.

She had contemplated sending him to ward with Tarly, hoping to mend relations with the war hawk, but decided not to. It was far too risky and the man still held a grudge.

Instead, with the help of Paxter, negotiations had begun in the hopes of betrothing Willas to Talla Tarly. This staved off the stubborn resistance that the Tarly lord had been presenting since the end of the conquest.

Garlan the sweet musclehead did his best to support his brother, the young fool proving himself quite the warrior which worked to impress the more martial inclined. The same could be said about Loras, though that boy was developing rather odd tastes that offended the sensibilities of the more conservative.

An annoyingly familiar whine could be heard coming her way breaking her from her thoughts.

'Mace', she sighed with irritation.

Olenna seated herself properly as the voices of her son and good daughter came close.

Alerie's irritated voice could be made out, "Mace, you cannot tell you just realised that now." She said with displeasure.

"But… But… Who are we going to sell our crops and grain to if not the savages." Mace whined petulantly.

"The northerners are hardly the only ones we've been trading with and it's not like they have stopped buying from us." Alerie retorted.

"Still, think of the gold we've lost. I bet those bastards are just laughing at us behind our backs."

Olenna could practically picture her good daughter Rolling her eyes at his words, "Those 'bastards' as you call them also sell to the northerners like us and are losing just as much gold."

"You don't understand dear… though it's not your fault, it can hardly expected of a woman to know the trade," Mace spoke to her in a condescending tone.

Silence filled the gardens at his words before a loud crack could be heard and hurried footsteps followed after.

Olenna closed her eyes, as she despaired at the thought of having to fix yet another of her son's messes.

Hesitant footsteps came close, as a red-faced Mace came into view.

There was a deadpan on her face as she observed the marks of a slap on his face. Her son to his credit did his best to avoid looking at her as he sat himself down.

One of the maids quietly poured him a cup of wine, before bowing and excusing herself.

Olenna merely stayed silent as she waited for the oaf to speak.

"Willas has sent word that the talks were a success. The wedding had been scheduled once she's flowered." Mace prompted.

Olenna stayed silent as she stared tiredly at her son.

"The girl was quite taken with Willas. Paxter says that if all goes well, this marriage could prove fruitful." He continued.

Again, Olenna said nothing.

She had expected the talks to succeed. As angry as Tarly was, the stuck-up cunt would never forgive himself if he didn't take agree to such a beneficial opportunity.

No one wanted to marry a dwarf, not when it would damage their pride. The Durrandon heir was out for anyone from the reach. The same could be said about the Dornish who had a female heir and Tarly was certainly not going after that can of worms.

She could imagine the succession crisis that would pop out, not to mention the unrest it would cause.

The Vale's heir was of royal blood despite his birth status, but he was already engaged to a Royce. The crown prince was tied to the Dragon heiress and the North was too far and brought little immediate benefit.

Willas was Tarly's best option at being tied with a Great House that didn't see House Tarly paying too heavy a price.

"At least Willas's marriage would be happier than yours." That silenced whatever Mace was going to say next. He looked pained at that reminder. "Oh get over yourself child, who told you to bring that whore to your marriage bed."

The man had the sense to look ashamed at that.

Ever since Margaery and Janna had been sent to Firmridge, the relationship between Alerie and Mace had turned tense. It had mended after Erlend permitted Alerie to visit whenever she could.

Unfortunately, Mace had to make a mess of it by bringing his mistress onto their marriage bed, and by the seven was that a surprise to her.

She knew her son wasn't a complete Oaf, at least not all the time, otherwise their lands and status as Lord Paramounts would have been in jeopardy. It must be the Tyrell blood in him.

Then again to be able to hide a mistress of all things from here, certainly came as a shock.

It caused quite a scandal and had undone whatever mending their relationship had been going through.

His words just now hammered in the broken nature of their marriage. Reminding her of the last few years of her own.

"I assume I won't be getting another grandchild from you then."

"MOTHER!"

[Note: Initially, I was gonna do a similar reaction to Ch66, but that would just be repeating the same thoughts the Lannisters already gave. Instead, I decided to dive into the current situation in the Reach and see how the Tyrells were doing. The reach isn't completely reliant on the North, while they do make a significant chunk of the sales, they can be replaced, There will always be a high demand for food after all, it would just be more troublesome to change things.]