Margaery couldn't remember the last time she had felt giddy. Yes, today was an important day for her family, yes, at the end of it she would be Queen Margaery. But still, it was her wedding day! She was getting married! All of the childish thoughts she had had of her perfect wedding to a perfect king, inoculated in her since childhood by her father.

So here she was, giddy, and barely able to eat the breakfast arranged for her. She had managed a slice of bread and a glass of cold water, but then her nerves had given out and she had pushed the rest aside. "Presents!" Leonette declared immediately, seeing Margaery's nerves. The rest of Margaery's cousins and ladies rushed to get the presents that had been prepared for her. Many were what could be expected, gems and jewels, dresses and cloaks. But some were less expected. Leonette brought out a cage with a magnificent falcon in to join her menagerie of birds. Lady Tarly brought in three kennels each with a puppy inside. Lelia Lannister had brought a tapestry from Casterly Rock, depicting a Tyrell queen giving out favours to three knights kneeling before her. "We commissioned it when we heard of your betrothal to the king," she explained when Margaery asked how long it had taken to weave.

She hadn't been sure what to make of Lelia. She was as beautiful as her aunt, but with youth and kindness to match it, but where Cersei's voice was imposing and powerful, Lelia's was light and engaging. When she replied to questions or comments she sounded as though she had listened attentively and taken in what you were asking or telling. Considering her family name and wealth, and she would be a force to be reckoned with if she became a fixture at court. Margaery wasn't sure what would be best right now. Try to take her on as a lady in waiting, perhaps arrange a marriage between her and Willas, or leave her to wed a Lannister bannerman. It would need some consideration, but not today, today was unashamedly about Margaery and she would not let another beautiful young woman take that from her.

When the gifts were done, Margaery asked Leonette to get everyone else prepared and went off with Elinor, Alyce and Meredyth to get into her gown.

She would have been entitled to wear black and gold to the wedding, she had, after all, been wedded to Renly. But whatever the truth, that marriage never happened. So she would go to the sept in ivory silk and myrish lace, woven with decorated in pearls arranged in floral patterns. Her maiden's cloak was more impressive than the one she had worn to marry Renly. That one had been her mother's before her and her mother's before her. But to wed a King in the Great Sept required something far more impressive. This one was made of green velvet with a hundred cloth-of-gold roses stitched into it. When she walked with it on her shoulders, the movement would make it seem like a spring field blowing in the wind.

A messenger arrived to inform them that the king and his entourage were heading down to the carriages, and Margaery led her ladies down to join them. As they were carefully descending one of the last flights of steps, Loras came hurrying up to them. Has something happened? But no, he was merely informing them that the rain required them to bring the carriages up to the doors of the keep, rather than outside in the first city square.

"Shall I go and make sure everything is in order, my queen?" Leonette asked, the last two words a wicked whisper.

"You shouldn't call me that yet."

"Forgive me, I just couldn't wait."

Margaery laughed and felt a little of her tension leave her with it. Leonette went ahead and returned shortly, informing her that the carriages were all ready for them. The Hand of the King seemed to be on top of things at least. She wouldn't be cursed by misfortune for having the groom see her before appearing at the ceremony.

When they were getting into their wagon, the rain was heavy, puddles forming and water coming in falls off the roofs and into the courtyard. The guards who would remain behind looked miserable as they watched Margaery and her ladies get into the wagon.

As the carriage set out Margaery looked out at the city and was surprised at what she saw. Nothing. No one lined the streets, the expected crowds weren't there. "Leonette, was word sent out about the distribution of food?"

"Yes, I made sure it was," her good sister replied. Four great wagons were coming up behind her, many times larger than the ones they were riding in, all stuffed with freshly baked bread buns and bags of poultry meat, ready to be cooked. These wagons were open-air and servants were riding in them ready to distribute the food, but there was no one to receive it.

Ungrateful bastards. First they kidnap me, now they can't even be bothered to turn up to my wedding, after all I did for them… She sat back. It was their loss at least, she would have it distributed to the castle staff. If the smallfolk didn't want her charity, then they wouldn't get it.

There were some, it turned out, waiting by the sept, but not enough to fill even that courtyard. Margaery gave those actual supporters her attention, waved through the rain and ordered the food be taken to them directly as she headed inside. Loras held his cloak up over her head to shield her, her hair and her dress from the falling rain.

The Great Sept of Baelor was filled to bursting with lords and ladies, septons and septas. An avenue down the centre was lined with knights, alternating in the colours of Houses Tyrell, Lannister and Baratheon. She walked slowly, smiling at everyone she saw and came up alongside Joffrey, dressed finely in a deep burgundy doublet under a scarlet cloak sewn with his lion and stag. The Most Devout entrusted with the powers of the High Septon stood above them. Septon Talman was tall, thin and wispy, but he spoke earnestly and his voice, near cracking, still carried. He led the prayers and had her and Joffrey recite the Seven Vows. Part of her worried that Joffrey would make a hash of it, but she needn't have been concerned. If all she had to judge him on was his performance today, then she would say he would be a fine king.

When the vows were spoken, Tommen stepped forward and held out the marriage cloak. Her own father stepped up and removed the maiden's cloak. Joffrey draped his scarlet cloak around her shoulders and fastened it at her throat. "With this kiss, I pledge my love!" He declared and kissed her on the mouth.

"With this kiss, I pledge my love!" She replied and kissed him back. She was more gentle than him, hoping that he would see what she preferred in a kiss in the future. Once the cheers and applause had died down, Septon Talman declared Joffrey of the Houses Baratheon and Lannister and Margaery of the House Tyrell to be one heart, body and soul. Myrcella stepped forward next, holding a soft purple pillow with a thin gold circlet resting on it. Joffrey took up the circlet and Margaery lowered her head allowing him to place it on her brow. At last, I am a queen.

Ser Loras and Ser Jaime, his missing hand replaced by a facsimile wrought in gold, led the procession down the aisle. The prince and princess came next, scattering flower petals before her and Joffrey, who followed hand in hand. His grip was surprisingly soft in her as they stepped out into the downpour.

The crowd was larger than it had been before the service and Margaery wondered if it was because of the food or because of them. Nevertheless, she and Joffrey waved and the crowd cheered for them. Perhaps it was the rain that had put them off, she reasoned, the people of King's Landing had gone through a lot. That certainly seemed to be the case as there were some lining the streets as the carriages took them back to the Red Keep who waved as they passed.

Once at the keep, Margaery turned to Joffrey. "Shall we get changed, my love?"

"Yes, I will see you outside the great hall." Joff kissed her again.

"I can't wait," she breathed.

The two of them parted, him heading to the royal apartments, her back to her rooms for the last time before she moved into the royal bedchambers.

The room was already largely packed, ready to be moved over in the coming days. "So, your grace, can I call you that, now, how are you feeling?" Leonette asked. Most of those who were not her formal ladies, like Lelia Lannister had asked her leave to change for the feast. She had granted it on the condition that they simply must speak at the feast, she would keep those ladies close. But Leonette had stayed.

"You may, in fact, I insist," she felt her grin splitting her face. While Leonette stood in front of her to watch, the rest of Margaery's ladies swarmed her like wasps, unfastening her hair to let it fall around her shoulders, removing her wedding dress and bringing in her chosen dress for dinner. It was a samite gown of vibrant green with woven gold. She wouldn't let anyone forget that, despite her marriage, she remained a Tyrell.

"Well then, my queen, you look ravishing," she picked up Margaery's crown, which had been set aside to do her hair. "May I have the honour."

"Only for you, good-sister," she bowed her head and Leonette gently reset the crown.

"Before we go, I think a celebration is in order." Leonette poured several glasses of Arbor gold, a personal gift from Lord Redwyne, and passed them out to the ladies, even a half cup for the young ones. "To Queen Margaery," she toasted and they all drank.

A page arrived at the door to say that Garlan had come to collect his wife for the feast. Before she went, Leonette poured one more cup for Margaery.

"You know there will be wine at the feast?" Margaery jested.

"I know that you have just wedded a thirteen year old. You will need several more cps in you before the night comes."

Several of the ladies gasped at the suggestion. Leonette laughed and bid them farewell. She opened the door, kissed Garlan sweetly and they left together.

Margaery drained the second cup of wine and smiled down at her ladies. She would leave an appropriate amount of time for everyone to be seated. Then she would ride in on white chargers alongside her king and husband and host her first of many feasts as queen.