Picture to Burn // Sandor Clegane (2)

21. High Garden

Joffrey held out his crossbow and Avalon tried not to falter back. He pointed it at her and her heart skipped a beat. 

"Well, just like this." Joffrey told her. "I want it to look like when others see the picture that the arrow is coming right at them." Avalon nodded nervously. 

"Of course..." Avalon agreed and when there was a knock at the door she jumped out of her skin. 

'Lady Tyrell my king,' the guard declared with a knock at the door

'Enter,' Joffrey declared and Margaery entered so elegantly walking up to Joffrey. She looked around his room offering him the sweetest of smiles.

'You wanted to see me your Grace?'

'I'm leaving on a hunting trip I just wanted to make sure you have everything you need before I left.' Joffrey told her. Avalon pulled at her fingers nervously, she hadnt been excused yet a meeting with his future bride did seem a intimate time. 

'That's very thoughtful of you your grace,' Margaery told him 'I have everything I could want.'

'Good,' he told her. "Have you met our artist, Avalon?" Joffrey nodded to her. 

"You were high garden." MArgaery remarked. "werent you?" 

"Yes, my lady." Avalon agreed. "I did some work with Lord Willas."

"Yes, I saw the pictures you did of his hawks and hounds, he is still very proud of them." Margaery informed her. 

"That is certainly good to hear. Your brother has such a kind soul." Avalon told her. 

"I miss him." MArgaery admitted "But I'm very glad to be here." Avalon nodded her gaze shifting to Joffrey's mural. "DId you do this?" Margaery asked. 

"Yes, my lady." Avalon answered. "A few years back... I always thought the King's Lannister Lion roots were so beautiful."

"She is remarkable.'' Joffrey agreed turning his attention back to Margaery. 'how are you finding life in the capital? Must be quite a change after Renly's camp.'

'Oh and a welcome to one,' she assured him 'one military encampment is no place for a Lady.'

'And the bedside of a traitor?' Joffrey added he had a crossbow in his hands he had it held in a way that it was pointed at her without looking threatening but being threatening all the same. 'is that a place for lady?'

'Your Grace... I tried to do my duty as a wife that is all.' Margaery insisted.

'What was your duty to this traitor?' Joffrey questioned.

'The duty of any wife to any husband,' Margaery told him 'to provide him with children.'

'You failed to do this? Why?' Joffrey sneered. "Avalon you are free to go. I know my grandfather wants his mural worked on..." 

"Thank you, your grace." Avalon said leaving quickly. 

'I... I would not speak ill of the dead your grace.' Margaery told him as the door clicked closed. 

'You think we're not to speak kindly?' Joffrey countered 'of a traitor merely because he was stabbed through the heart?"

'No I do beg your pardon the subtleties of politics are often lost on me... Renly... I don't believe he was interested in the company of women.' Margaery told him

'What makes you say this?'

'Whenever I wanted to make a child with him he...' She sat down next to him 'he had so many excuses so many late night war council he never wanted to try except one evening after he had far too much wine to drink he suggested some thing... Something that sounded very painful and currently possibly resulting children.' Margaery told him looking away from him a distance in her eyes but she turned away 'maybe the problem was with me,' she said innocently

'No.' Joffrey told her 'he was a known degenerate..'

'It's such a relief to hear you say so you're Grace.' she said grabbing onto his arm lovingly

'It's OK... I've considered making his perversion punishable by death.' Joffrey told her

'As you're right,' Margaery told him 'you must do whatever you need to do,' she said running her hands along the bow of his crossbow 'you are the king.'

+

'Over there are the ashes of Aerion Targaryen bright flame they called him,' Joffrey said as he walked Margaery through the sept. 'He thought drinking wildfire would turn him into a dragon.' Margaery laughed, 'he was wrong of course... over there is the mad king killed by my uncle. Would you like to see where the last Targaryen's are buried?'

'Are you sure lady Margaery doesn't find us all a bit macabre?' Cersei asked, and Olenna looked over at Margaery and Joffery.

'I am sure your grace. I would love to see the tombs really,' Margaery said 'it's like taking a walk through history.' she said offering Joffrey a smile as he kept a hand around her waist

'The tomb is just up here.'

'How exciting.' Margaery went on.

"And Avalon is doing touch ups as well. This place needed some color." Joffrey went on. Olenna turned her gaze to Avalon, quiet as a mouse working diligently. 

'The Targaryen's are buried here your Grace?'

'The last of the dragons.' Cersei remarked.

'Yes,' Joffrey told Margaery 'and he was going to have their bodies burned and thrown into the black water but the high Septon convince them otherwise.'

'I'm glad he didn't'. Margaery told him and he stopped walking. 'I'm sorry your grace I know they did terrible things at the end but their ancestors built this,' she gestured around the sept 'sometimes severity is the price we pay for greatness.'

'I couldn't agree more,' there was screaming and cheering heard outside the sept

'Shall we go and see them?' Margaery questioned and Joffrey hesitated. 'If you give them your love they will return it a thousand fold.' she assured him 'I've spoken with them I know how they feel about you... you lead the defensive of Kings Landing,' she reminded him 'they adore you.' He looked at her hesitantly before swallowing the lump in his throat

'Open the doors.' he declared Cersei turned around nervously

'Joffrey,' they heard screams and applause from outside Cersei nervously watched her son leave. 'Wait!' she demanded but he kept going Margaery at his arm as Margaery and Joffrey walked out among the people.

'Lady Margaery, lady Margaery,' the people declared happily. She waved to them Joffrey looked over at her and she offered him smile he waved at the people as well.

"Avalon..." Olenna said coming up to her she turned to look up at Olenna. 

"Yes my lady?" 

"Goodness, it is you." Olenna remarked. Avalon smiled softly up at her. Olenna reached down and grabbed Avalon's shoulder with a reassuring hand. "You are not alone here, among the lions." Olenna told her. 

Avalon didnt know what to say, no matter where she went, she was always appreciated and taken care of, but coming to the capital she still got the benefits of being the renowned artist from Bravvos but she felt very much trapped. She missed sandor and felt alone more than not. She had gotten used to his body next to hers at night and now she was waking up in a cold bed, her heart aching and she didnt know if she would ever see him again.