Margaery I
Highgarden was as green and colourful as ever when Margaery Tyrell walked through the gardens towards the courtyard with Elinor and Mira; they were going to watch the young boys and men train with Igon Vyrwel. They had not done it in a long time, as Highgarden has been unusually quiet and eerie for some time, or perhaps it was just her. She was sure, however, that the curse would lift once her brother arrived. Loras was on his way home; the last they heard from him was from Oldtown, where he had arrived on a ship from Eastwatch by the sea. The excitement was bubbling in her bowels just at the thought of him being home so soon; they had not seen each other for a long time. Though the circumstances could have been better. He must be devastated by Renly.
He was not the only one who must be feeling queer by his murder; Renly Baratheon was a friend of House Tyrell, so her father and mother had been both devastated by the news. Her grandmother, though, had been reserved; even though she had grown up with Olenna mostly by her side, she could still not read her face, but she did not have to read her face that time in order to conclude that her grandmother must have felt slightly uneasy; the gods know that she still was. They had plotted with him to have King Robert cast her wife and queen Cersei Lannister aside for herself; it had been mostly Renly's work in truth. King Robert is a whoremonger and a drunk, so the prospect of marrying him did not sit well with her grandmother, nor with Margaery herself, for that matter. But after Olenna and Renly had a private meeting about the matter, her grandmother, to Margaery's horror, had in a sudden manner truly started to consider it. It was only Margaery's begging with tears that was somewhat of a mummer farce and somewhat real that made The Queen of Thorns relent and refuse Renly's scheme. It was Margaery's duty to make her house grow strong, and being queen was something that she and any lady dreamed of. But she would have gladly cast that dream aside if it meant marrying King Robert.
''I have heard that Lady Ella is hiding a swollen belly beneath her dress.'' Elinor whispered as they passed the inner gate, already hearing the sounds of swords clashing when they climbed down the stairs.
''Truly?'' Margaery asked.
''It would seem so; the girl has always been a bit too bold. But I wouldn't imagine she would soil herself in such a manner.''
''Bold like you, you mean?'' Mira teased. And she was not wrong; of all her cousins, Elinor Tyrell was the most flirtatious. But maybe that was to be expected; she was a woman grown; a maiden flowered, where most of her other cousins were mere girls still.
''What? You don't do courtship in the North?'' Elinor rebutted, lips curved.
''The others take your courtship!'' Mira answered with a playful, rough northern accent. Making Margaery and all the ladies giggle in a very unladylike manner. Mira Forrester was from the North, Ironrath to be precise. Her mother was good friends with her mother, so Lady Forrester had arranged for Mira to be shown the 'southern' ways of court. She had learnt a lot about the North with her here, more than she would ever do without her here. Blunt and honest, with no love for 'flowery games'. Margaery herself thought they sounded more grey and dull, with no love for chivalry. But she liked Mira anyhow, and they had fast become friends.
When they eventually arrived at the courtyard, they sat at one of the long benches overlooking the training yard. Men were training and sparring; she could smell the sweat even from where they were sitting, and when most of the men had noticed that she and her lady companions had come to watch, they all tried to straighten up unnoticed and train even harder. She rolled her eyes at the sight, and she could hear giggles coming from her left. She tried to spot her brother Garlan but had no luck doing so.
''Will your family make an attendance at the tourney, Mira?'' Margaery found herself asking.
''I don't think so, my lady. I should hope so; I have not seen my family in so long.'' Mira answered with a drop of melancholy in her voice.
The entire Reach had received King Robert's invitation to the grand tourney at Harrenhal. From what she heard around Highgarden, it seemed that the entire realm would make an appearance. Margaery was excited by the prospect; it was to be a very ambitious one, if you would believe the rumours. One moon of feasting, celebrations, and tourneys. She knew from reputation that King Robert was a lavish spender, but not even Viserys would have thought of that.
''A shame; I should have hoped to meet them. If you'd like, I can make my father write to Lord Forrester.'' Margaery offered with a smile. Mira returned it.
''Why wouldn't your family attend? Everyone will be there.'' Elinor asked with a tiny frown.
''The North has no love for tournaments. Anyhow, there is no need for your letter, Margaery. It is not my father, Lord Gregor, who he needs to ask; it's Lord Eddard. My family or any northern house will only attend if House Stark will.'' Mira said while looking at the training yard, it looked like she was trying to spot somebody.
''I'm sure they will attend as well, and you don't need to worry about Ser Cobber, Mira. He is not there.'' Elinor said the last part playfully, with mischief in her eyes.
Mira tried to hide her reddened face but could not hide the giggle that escaped her. ''I don't know what you're talking about.''
''And here I and Lady Olenna thought that northerners loved only leeches.'' Elinor said, and this time it was Margaery who could not stop the laughter from escaping her gullet when she remembered what her grandmother had said to them about Lord Bolton. Mira had joined in as well in the giggles.
''My lady!?'' She heard a voice coming some yards away from where they were sitting; she turned her head and found Willum. Dressed in a green cloak, as was befit for all the Tyrell guardsmen.
''Willum? What's the matter?'' Margaery asked.
''It's your brother, Loras. He has returned and was asking of your whereabouts.''
Margaery's heart skipped a beat. ''Loras! Where is he?''
''I saw him last at the Great Hall. I've been instructed to escort you there if you would follow me, my lady.'' Willum answered firmly, causing Margaery to frown. Instructed?But she paid it no matter. She was overwhelmed with excitement at seeing her brother again. He was finally home, where he belonged.
''Go. We shall see each other later.'' Elinor added quickly. But Margaery had barely heard it; she had already risen before walking as fast as her gown allowed her towards the Great Hall. Willum was close behind her, trying to keep up with her pace. She would not have been able to hide her curving lips even if she had to; Loras, he is here. He had missed her name day for some unseemly adventure far up north. Perhaps he simply needed some time alone, far away. She was still disappointed though, and all of her family except Garlan was displeased when they heard that he had gone to The Wall after Renly's untimely death instead of Highgarden.
When she arrived at the Great Hall, she spotted him talking to Willas. Her father and mother were also there. Loras' head turned, and their gazes met. ''Happy late nameday, sweet sister!'' Loras declared, smiling warmly.
Margaery Tyrell embraced him, giggling sweetly. ''Your present better make up for your absence.'' She teased.
''It will; I brought two of them.'' Loras answered, slightly downcast when he said the last part. Margaery frowned but did not have time to ask him how he was before Erryk had opened the door to the hall, and her brother Garlan walked inside the hall, escorting Olenna Tyrell with their arms entwined.
''Brother! How was the wall? I thought you might have returned wearing a black cloak instead of a green one.'' Garlan said with a sprinkle of irony, smirking.
Loras smirked. ''It was tall, and it was ice. The place was cold, and the men were colder. I think Brandon the Builder did a better job with the Hightower.''
''It seems that my grandson has inherited my oaf of a son's idiocy.''
''Mother!'' Lord Mace gasped.
''Hush, Mace. I've gone through great pain to squirt you out all those years ago; do not take that tone with me.'' Olenna replied candidly; her eyes met Loras, whose eyes turned defiant.
''I delivered justice! They killed Renly!'' Loras hissed defensively.
Olenna did not reply. She simply observed him for some time until Loras calmed down, then she turned her head and looked at Erryk and Arryk, who quickly left with the rest of the guards in the hall and closed the door, leaving their family all alone in the hall. ''Did they? Well, then I'm surprised the king let them go to The Wall.'' she replied sarcastically.
''They were supposed to guard him!''
''Oh? From what I heard, Renly had dismissed them that very same evening. And it was Ser Mandon Moore who had failed in his duties.'' Olenna replied nonchalantly. Loras did not have a reply, looking down to his feet with his fist clenched. ''I even heard that you managed to make a fool out of yourself in front of the Starks.'' she added.
''He gets it, grandmother.'' Margaery tried.
''Oh, not you too.'' Olenna replied quickly, disappointed. ''I don't know if any of you possibly noticed, but he was murdered. And we had somewhat of a pact with the man. We have to be more careful now; the people who did this might or do know of our plans.''
''You refused him.'' Loras said bitterly.
''Yes, I did. Because it was too dangerous and too foolish. And it would have most certainly started a war. Or did you think that Tywin Lannister would have simply allowed it all to happen?''
''We would have outnumbered them—the Stormlands, Reach, Riverlands, Vale, and North—five kingdoms against one.'' Lord Mace boomed pridefully, sounding like he had thought of the plan all by himself.
''Do not underestimate Tywin Lannister. We should have stayed well out of all this if you asked me.'' The hall turned eerily quiet, with nobody saying anything after her grandmother's declaration. Loras eventually lifted his head and turned to Margaery with a sad expression.
''He wanted to marry you.'' He said, and Margaery's eyes widened slightly. ''After I told him that you and grandmother were unsure, the very same day he died.'' Loras finished; a tear had managed to well out of his eye.
Margaery embraced him, and Loras returned it. Olenna sighed. While the rest of the family looked uncomfortable. Garlan eventually walked towards him and laid a hand at his shoulder, and her mother walked over to him. Margaery let go of him to make way for his mother, who quickly embraced him.
''My sweet boy. I'm so sorry.'' Alerie said softly. Loras was weeping quietly against her mother's shoulder. Margaery's heart broke at sight. He truly loved Renly; I wonder if I could have ever felt that kind of love for Robert Baratheon.
''So, what now?'' Willas asked as he made his way towards a chair and sat down. Margaery looked towards her grandmother, who seemed to be deep in thought for a while. She eventually met Willias' gaze.
''Now we wait. And we act as if nothing is strange. We don't know who has done this, and we don't know how much they know of our involvement.''
''We know who did this.'' Loras quickly added, releasing their mother. He looked towards Olenna, his eyes determined. ''It was the Queen, Renly said as much. He told me that something needs to be done about her.''
Garlan frowned. ''Are you certain?''
''Yes, I'm sure of it!'' Loras practically roared. ''Lord Stark is suspicious of us; he thinks we are involved. Gods knows what Stannis thinks.''
''That means that the Lannisters have a firm grip on the crown; what's going to stop them from doing the same to King Robert?'' Willas asked no one in particular; his tone drained in concern.
''If the Queen did it, she most certainly knows of our involvement. It only nourishes my point in that we have to move more carefully now. I was hoping to send Margaery to the capital to begin court work on this crown prince. But not now, not after all this. We all stay right here, in Highgarden.''
''What about the tourney?'' Lord Mace asked, in a tone that Margaery imagined a child would take if they were told that they were on house arrest.
''Yes, that damnable tourney. We will attend; it looks like the whole bloody realm will show up. It would only look suspicious if our flowery knights did not participate.''
That seemed to be the end of it, as her father and mother walked out of the hall when a guard called for him. Margaery also left with Loras; he wanted to give her the nameday presents, which were located in his chambers.
Once they arrived at his chambers, Loras was all smiles as he gave her his present. It was wrapped in green linen, with yellow roses decorated above it. She rolled her eyes at the sight and proceeded to open the package. Inside it she saw tiny seeds; her head bolted up to Loras, and she frowned.
Loras chuckled. ''For your garden, I have it on good authority that the flowers it will produce are something foreign, something you have not seen before. But I have seen them; you will love them.''
''You could not just have sent the flowers already grown?'' She groaned playfully.
''Patience, sister. I thought you were something of a master at the matter.''
She sighed happily, ''Very well, you had one more?'' She said, smirking. Loras did not return the smirk though; instead, his face fell as he gave her a wooden box. She felt uncertain at his demeanour but could not help herself from taking the box and opening it.
Inside was a beautiful golden necklace, and as she picked it up to admire it, she noticed a silver heart with a stag and a rose engraved on it.
''It was from Renly.'' Loras said in melancholy.
Margaery smiled sadly. ''It's very beautiful; I'm so sorry, Loras.''
Loras did not reply but returned the sad smile with an equal one. ''How have you been?'' He asked.
''Good, what about you? Did you see anything of note?''
''The North was very beautiful, yet also very barren. Winterfell was ancient, while The Wall was truly a wonder. I think you'd like it. The people were rather dull though.''
''You met Lord Stark?'' Margaery asked, thinking of Mira.
''Yes, he did not look like I imagined he would. A grim man. His two eldest were kind,'' Loras answered, smiling for himself at the last part.
''Do you know if he will attend the tourney?''
Loras looked thoughtful ''I did not ask, but I think they will. I heard in Oldtown that King Robert intend for him to be his new Master of Laws.''
Margaery hummed as an answer; if Lord Stark would attend, it would mean that Mira's family would as well. She would've liked to meet them; she had heard much about the Forresters. They were one of the only houses in Westeros who owned and controlled the only Ironwood grove in the realm. And her father had expressed interest in making a trade agreement with them.
After the evening meal, and when she lay in bed and felt her eyelids growing heavy, she thought about Renly. He was a very well-dressed and courteous man, and now he was dead.
''If the Queen did it, she most certainly knows of our involvement.'' Her grandmother had said. Could she be right? Does the Queen know that we planned to cast her aside? She wanted to do her duty—to make her house grow strong—but she never wanted to marry Robert Baratheon. She had very much preferred to marry the crown prince, Joffrey, but Renly was insistent on his parentage.
In truth, not even Loras seemed to believe him. All of her family very much doubted his 'discovery'. A discovery that conveniently put himself further up the line of succession, a discovery that meant that only the stern and humourless Lord Stannis, with only a daughter to his name, stood between him and the Iron Throne if King Robert were to pass.
There was no proof to this discovery either, and she already knew of Renly's ambitions. How does one even prove such a thing? That Prince Joffrey bore his mother's looks instead of his father's? Uncle Baelor looked nothing like his father, Lord Hightower; he is all Rowan in looks. Did that suddenly mean that his real father was Rowan Gold-Tree come again? That he was a bastard?
She felt anxious at it all; now it seemed that she never would be queen. But all those feelings and thoughts of that eventually sank when she closed her eyes, and welcomed the dream in front of her.