Bringing the Dawn

XLV.

Willas Tyrell

Highgarden, 300AC

Despite having lived here his whole life, Highgarden still somehow managed to take his breath away.

From the pure white walls which were covered with ivy crawling up the sides, with a few roses of numerous different colours being weaved within to give the illusion of their sigil. To the numerous towers from the newer ones to the older ones that if the tomes were true- were built prior to the Age of Heroes. Sitting atop a hill where at the base of said hill were large rose bushes with none of their thorns cut off from them. When House Tyrell had ordered such a thing be planted when they were raised to Paramount position, other Reach Lord's had laughed at them. Something they found out the hard way there was a reason for it.

Due to the thorns, horses could not get through them. Even the most heavily armed man would struggle to do so. The only reason they themselves never were harmed nor were anyone else that resided within the castle walls, was because they could lower a bridge that covered them. Something that could only be opened from within. Thus making Highgarden almost impregnable. Many had tried to take their Seat for themselves, and every time they had been repelled and had been left licking their wounds. A saying his grandmother said often ringing in his ear.

Picking at roses is all fine and dandy until the thorns bite back.

When Willas was younger, he had not understood her words. But as he got older the meaning became known to him. Looking around his father's solar with a strange sensation gnawing away in his gut. Thousands of times he had stood in this very room watching almost embarrassed as his father worked through everything. If it weren't for himself, his grandmother, Margaery, or his mother, things would not run smoothly. He loved his father; he really did. But gods, was the man someone that made him want to rip his hair out at times. When news had reached them of Lord Eddard's execution, he had been beaming with delight. Completely convinced that King Joffrey would set aside Sansa Stark as he would not wed a traitors daughter, and this giving them the perfect opportunity to offer his little sister to the King.

Margaery was born to be Queen. She was kind, graceful, helped the smallfolk surrounding the town at the bottom of the hill whenever she could and he didn't doubt she was doing the same in Bitterbridge right now. Not only this, she shared his wit, leading to numerous barbs hit at one another to see who was the smarter sibling. Garlan joined in on occasion but he always failed after a few minutes whereas Loras would rather remain with the company of boys and play at swords than waste his time practising his wit. His sister and himself were their House's future.

When his father had rallied them all into this very solar and exclaimed with joy that a betrothal had been made for his golden rose, hope set in for Willas. A feeling which was crushed when he revealed who it was he had struck a deal with. His grandmother even pinching her nose and smacking her son across the back of the head ordering he reconsider the absolute farce of a marriage. But he'd already agreed it, and as his father was Lord of Highgarden, he overruled them all. Meaning they had to make the best of the situation.

All of their forces had joined Renly as a result and making him have the largest army, something which many of those who were fighting were cocky about. He knew better though. When he had fallen from his horse only for the animal to fall on his leg and crippling him, he could no longer fight physically. But what he couldn't fight physically he could fight verbally and knowledgeably. Pouring through the thousands of books there was and writing to his grandfather to lend some from the Citadel. Reading of the battles of the Freehold against the Rhaynar, the Ghiscari, and the Dothraki. To the Jogos Nhai with their pointed heads and riding zorses against the Golden Empire of Yi-Ti. To the Unsullied against the Dothraki.