It took every ounce of her self-control for the girl who would be queen not to suck in her stomach as she stood in front of the mirror.

"Just a little longer, my lady," the seamster said, feeling around where the skirts connected to the bodice. His fingers were firm and fickle as they followed the clothes on the contours of her body. Finally he stepped back and examined her on the pedestal. He placed his fingers on his chin and cocked his head to the side. It just needs to be adjusted a little on the left," he said and immediately his fingers were back at work with needles and pins in hand. With a speed that still impressed Margaery, he drew pins out from his cuff, where he kept them stored, adjusted the left shoulder of her dress, and in very little time the pins were back in his cuff and he stepped back again. "Much better," he said.

"Is there anything else?" Margaery asked.

"No, this dress is spot on," he said, sitting down at his chair and admiring his work. "Three perfect dresses for the perfect day."

"What do you think, ladies?" Margaery asked with a smile. Like a flock of birds answering a call, her ladies came in from the side of the room. "Perfect, my lady," Alla said quickly. Her young cousin clasped her hands in joy. The easiest of her ladies to be pleased with the simple things, not that this was such a bad thing.

"Indeed, you'll sparkle at the ceremony," Elinor added. Another cousin of hers, who had been with her when the ruffians attempted to capture her. She'd kept Elinor close since then. Elinor had covered her bruises in the days and weeks following that event, keeping the court from seeing her marred features.

"Before and after as well," said her dainty and bright-eyed good-sister Leonette Fossoway. The eldest and most senior of her ladies-in-waiting, Leonette was always a pleasure to be around. Unlike her other handmaidens, who had been obsessed with the dress for her wedding ceremony, Leonette had devoted her energies to the dresses for the before and after. With the blockade, first by sea and then the cutting of the roseroad, she had hunted down merchants who possessed myrish laces and silks for those gowns and found the perfect jewellery that would compliment them without outshining the wedding gown. There were some who said that Leonette should be kept at arm's reach. Her family had gone over to Stannis Baratheon after Renly's death and had yet to return to the fold. But Leonette had done everything perfectly. And why not, if the rest of her family were removed, she would be in prime position to become the noble lady of House Fossoway and through her grant Garlan a lordship.

"I quite agree," Margaery said. "Mellinore, you have outdone yourself."

"I had the perfect canvass to work with," the seamster said. "Now, I must insist you have a strict diet and exercise routine between now and the wedding, the dresses are perfectly proportioned for your body as it stands. If it should change," he fixed her with a glare designed to send a warning shiver down spines, "contact me immediately and I'll see what I can do to fix it time."

"I believe I can control myself until my wedding day, master Mellinore," Margaery assured him.

Mellinore nodded. "Then I will leave the dresses in your company, my lady."

"And I will have it known that you are the one who made them," Margaery promised him in return.

Carefully, her ladies removed the dress and lay it down on her bed beside the other two. Margaery changed into a simple green gown for the rest of her activities for the day. She looked over all the dresses. One for the morning breakfast with the notable ladies of the realm, one that was proper and showed piety and a dutiful nature befitting a hostess. Then there was the dress for the ceremony itself. White woven with green and golden flowers that followed her form in myrish lace and silks. The Maiden's Cloak itself was still being touched up. Then finally the dress for the celebrations and feast afterwards. One in gold and green silk and damask that bared her shoulders, easy enough to remove during the bedding ceremony. Unlike last time, hopefully this one wouldn't tear.

"Leonette, get them stored safely, won't you?"

"Of course, sister," she said, gathering up the dresses with great care.

Margaery rolled her shoulders, her arms were tired from holding them out so long to get the bodices fitted appropriately. Maybe she would keep away from hawking for a day or two.

"Shall we have some food prepared for you, my lady?" Elinor asked.

"Not just yet, but it will have to be something simple, I don't want to disappoint master Mellinore already. For now, let's discuss our other matters."

At once the atmosphere grew heavier. "I'm sorry, my lady," Megga said quietly from one corner.

Margaery forced herself to smile. "It's alright Megga, I don't blame you. The Queen Regent is a difficult woman." She should have sent someone different than Megga, one of the ladies from other Reacher houses, but at the time their loyalty was in doubt, and so there was no one else to trust. She thought that little Megga might be able to weasel her way into Cersei's graces, but apparently not. She would have to find another way to get someone into Cersei's household. If attendants weren't an option, then surely a servant would do. It hadn't been necessary at first. With Tywin holding the reins of power, Cersei had been largely sidelined, but now the regency had reverted to her, she could no longer be ignored.

But there were other matters as well. "What about the harbourmasters? She asked Elinor.

"Alyn's brothers have been to them and presented his case," her cousin said. "They are grateful that House Ambrose will assist them with their debts."

That was good. "And the ship captains?"

"Have accepted the guarantees of the Bank of Oldtown."

Even better. The harbourmasters oversaw the navigation of the docks, but their salaries had been cut to help fund the war through the royal coffers. Using Elinor's betrothed, Alyn Ambrose, the hope was that they would be a source of influence for the Tyrells, with their control of shipping and inspections, they could help or hinder shipping vital to their interests. They had been easy targets as well. With the blockade rendering their duties useless, their salaries had been cut by three-quarters during the war. The Ambroses had stepped in to prop up those salaries in return for placing their people in influence in the capital. But in truth, the money for the salaries was coming from House Tyrell. They avoided using Alyn directly as he was betrothed to Elinor, and instead used his brothers so that it would seem like House Ambrose was seeking influence directly, rather than the Tyrells.

Similarly with the ship captains. Unable to make a profit, their costs had soared as ships resting in dock still began to rot away. The Bank of Oldtown had offered cheap loans to keep them afloat. But in truth, the Bank of Oldtown was merely a vessel for the Tyrells. In the aftermath of the first Blackfyre rebellion, the Tyrells had taken it over and now used it solely as a vessel by which they could spread influence. It no longer held accounts or shares or made loans to kings and governments. It was just a means for House Tyrell to spread their wealth without alerting observers that they were.

"That's good, very good," Margaery said, pleased. The harbours and captains were the best bet for House Tyrell to expand their influence until they could assume more powers in the regency and start making official appointments to positions in the city. "Now, let us go for a walk in the gardens."

In the gardens they were joined by others from the Tyrell household. Guardsmen to keep watch, the fool Blue Boy for entertainment, singers and harpers to fill the air with song and music. The rest of Margaery's entourage followed on, ladies like Raeven Wendwater, Josamyn Rykker and Selyse Scales, brought into her entourage from houses of unknown loyalty to keep fathers and brothers from raising arms against them. There had been more, but following the defeat of Stannis and Lyonel Baratheon, they had allowed some of the girls to return to their families, but most were still with her. Most Margaery didn't trust and so she would keep them close. She provided food, entertainment, and company, when she could spare time, but unlike her cousins, they were not included in her plans. After an introductory toast to King Joffrey, she allowed them to part and watched where they went. Raeven Wendwater was soon in the company of a trio of knights who were competing for her attention. A witty and wily girl, if Margaery could turn her, she would make a useful ally. "Alla, arrange a dinner with myself and Ser Alekyne Florent before he leaves in three days time," she would invite the Wendwater girl to join them and hope the girl would charm the heir to Brightwater Keep. Alekyne would be a catch beyond her station, and such a reward, orchestrated by herself, could buy the loyalty of the Wendwaters in the longer term. If he survived the war of course. Soon the man would be making for the front to rejoin his father there. Margaery knew that Lord Florent had been keeping Alekyne, now thirty years old, for her, and had pushed the case more than once, but now that wasn't an option, perhaps he would be open to this charming girl of the Crownlands.

"It's been a while since I've seen a gathering like this."

Margaery smiled as Garlan approached, his gold-green tunic tied with his sword belt and a half cloak draped over his shoulders.

"My lord," Leonette smiled and rushed over, giving him a chaste kiss on the cheek.

"We don't need every hand to assist with the war now," Margaery pointed out, gesturing to the seat beside her for Garlan to sit in.

Leonette leant in and whispered something in his ear that made him smile. "Alright, I'll see you later."

"I look forward to it," she beamed at him, before bowing to Margaery and departing so they might discuss affairs of importance. Leonette went to Blue Boy and whispered something in his ear, and soon he was performing his most exuberant tricks to draw attention. Then she went to the singers and they struck up a louder song, covering Margaery and Garlan's voices to any who might be listening.

"There has been news from the war front." Garlan had spent the day with Lord Loren, the King's Marshall and his war council discussing the final stages of the war in advance of the royal wedding. "Lord Florent has taken the castle of Summerhall, the first step on the road to Storm's End."

"Summerhall is a ruin," Margaery said.

"Apparently Stannis reinforced it, true it wasn't a strong castle, but it had defences and a garrison, and both have fallen," Garlan said.

"Are there any hostages?"

"A few knights, but no lords were present in the garrison."

That was disappointing, a captured lord could be made to submit. "Did you put my proposal to Lord Loren?"

"I did."

"And?"

"He didn't think it appropriate at the current time."

Margaery clenched her hand on the arm of her chair furiously. She had proposed attainting all the lords who had not abandoned the Baratheon cause, allowing them to appoint new and loyal lords to their houses. She'd have thought it would meet with Garlan's approval since at a stroke it would make him the lord of Cider hall by virtue of his marriage. "What if I went to Cersei with this?" She asked. Whatever anger and resentment Queen Cersei might have towards the Tyrells, surely the chance to destroy those who openly took up arms against her son would make her inclined to agree to the proposal, and as Queen Regent, she could command it. When Lord Tywin had been Hand of the King, it never would have happened, but now he was dead.

"Then Lord Loren would be most displeased, and I don't think we want to be souring that relationship just yet. In the long term it will be of far more benefit to us than a Queen mother who hates us and will lose her powers of regency shortly anyway."

"Does he still think that they might be persuaded to abandon the Baratheons?"

"He does. A few captured castles, coupled with your wedding to Joffrey and he thinks that the lords who stand with Shireen Baratheon's cause will desert it, that we can end this war with minimal bloodshed. Attaint the lords, and they will fight for Shireen Baratheon simply because no one else will support their claims."

Margaery knew it made sense, but she didn't like it. She didn't want to cordially invite these people to the court as Queen when they had seen a chance to unseat her family. The lords of the Stormlands she could respect fighting for their ancestral lord, but the Reacher houses in hock to the Baratheons were hoping to supplant hers. The Tyrells had ever been watchful of those who saw themselves with greater claims to Highgarden than they, and now they had a chance to remove several of them permanently, and yet they couldn't take it. Despite being on the winning side of the war, they lacked the power.

"A few captured castles," she quoted. "Summerhall, any others?"

Garlan nodded. "Grandview is under siege as well, and we expect it to fall shortly. Lord Florent has ranged out to the River Slayne and found no sign of Baratheons there."

"Grandview and Summerhall. Hardly rich prizes."

"Steps on a path, a path that leads us to Storm's End. Once Storm's End falls, all Baratheon power on the mainland is done, only Dragonstone will remain."

"Any more?"

"No. Lord Loren has commanded us to hold once Grandview has fallen, to allow the lords of the realm to attend your wedding and give the loyalists of Baratheon a chance to reconsider their allegiance."

"Is there nothing more to be gained before the wedding?"

"Nothing on the war front, but Leonette tells me you've been busy here in the capital."

"Very," she replied and told Garlan of their latest efforts to expand Tyrell influence in the docks.

Garlan nodded slowly. "This is all good for us, but do we believe that the Spider won't notice, or Lord Baelish? Coin and all who handle it flow through him after all."

Margaery didn't doubt that. "And who would they report to? Like you said of Cersei, she will be gone soon and has caused enough chaos as it is, from the death of Ned Stark onwards. And let's not forget that Loren Lannister imprisoned both of them in the Black Cells during the siege of King's Landing. For that reason alone, they have little reason to love the Lannisters. Lord Baelish is the one most likely to see these moves, being Master of Coin, but where was the treasurer who loved war? Those who deal in coin like stability and peace to let their purses fatten. The Lannisters led the Kingdoms into war, Lord Baelish is dealing with more debt than ever before, possibly more than the Iron Throne has ever dealt with, they've only made his job harder, why should he oppose us?"

"If we are buying his men from him, that might be reason enough."

"It might be, in which case we'll respond later," Margaery said.

"I don't like waiting like this," Garlan said. "It's one thing to wait from the sidelines, but another to be at the heart of it."

"But sometimes waiting is all we can do, believe me, Garlan, I like it no more than you, but on some matters, waiting is all we can do."

"Like Cersei?"

"Like Cersei."

"There's no news yet then?"

Margaery shook her head. "Ser Kevan tried broaching the subject with her at the last meeting, but she refused to say whom she was appointing as her new Hand."

"The Kingdom cannot function without one for long, what if she falls ill, or gods forbid, she chokes like her father?"

"Then the council will have to choose a new Hand ourselves, but as Regent, the choice of Hand falls to her, and we cannot compel her to make that choice. If I were to guess, she is awaiting the return of the hostages before she makes her choice."

Garlan frowned. "You don't think she plans to name father, do you?"

That would be far too fortunate for their cause. "More likely her twin brother. Tyrion says that she was always closest to him of anyone." Cersei had already broken all precedent in removing Ser Barristan Selmy, whose whereabouts were still unknown to all, to name her brother the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Elevating him to Hand would be far less a stretch, several had served in both roles in the past.

"After so long in captivity, will he be ready to serve? He lost a hand, after all."

Margaery shrugged. "Who can say before we set eyes on him."

"Who can say indeed. What else has the Queen Regent been up to?"

"She moves her people as we move ours. The two remaining Kettleblack brothers have been put in command of the Red Keep's garrison. Osfryd has been named Captain of the Guards and Osmund the Master-at-Arms." Margaery didn't like the two brothers, crude warriors, and skilled there was little doubt, but they looked so like their brother Osney that Margaery saw the dead man's face when she looked at them, and the bloody tears drawn down his cheeks. That murderer was still out there. It had been some time since the last murder, but as far as Margaery was aware, no one had been executed for those crimes.

And it left them with another problem. "Has there been news from the Great Sept?"

Garlan shrugged. "Lord Loren didn't mention it, but we were discussing matters of war, not succession to the position of High Septon. Have you not heard anything?"

She shook her head. The election of the new High Septon was supposed to be done by now, safely before the ceremony. However so many candidates had put themselves forward, and now that the war was over, they didn't feel the need to rush. But her royal wedding had to be officiated by the highest churchman in the land. They hadn't anticipated that the selection process would take this long when they started spreading their gold around the various leading candidates so that whichever won would be inclined towards them for it. Had that been a mistake and prolonged the process? Perhaps, but the Lannisters were doing exactly the same and they weren't about to lose out on this matter.

"Then I think it's best that we don't force the issue," Garlan assured her. "For now, let us keep things going as they are. You keep working on Joffrey, we can make our next decisions once we know what is happening with the office of Hand."

"You're probably right, as long as Cersei doesn't try anything in the meantime."

"You'll be ready for her," Garlan assured her with a warm smile. "I know it. And soon, you'll be the queen, higher than the queen mother."

"I know, Garlan," Margaery said smiling back at him with the glee of filled ambition. "I will be."

Vandal55: Glad to hear it, great to have you along.

TheBaronDeRed: They weren't an item, no. They are the closest of the four, but Tristan has no romantic feelings toward Domeric.

MalSer: Good call, I'll do that