Bringing the Dawn

LXV.

Margaery Tyrell

Kings Landing, 301 AC

She had not been in the council meeting when the news had broke, instead opting to remain in the shadows as she had come to do often now. Yet the news had travelled, and it had travelled fast and wide. Reaching her a mere hour after the meeting had concluded and the first thing she had wanted to do was to go to her betrothed to speak to him on the matter. Yet Jaeron refused to see or speak to anyone confirming that he had truly been shaken to his deepest core.

Not that Margaery could blame him, because it wasn't a knife thrown in his plans. It was a full pot of wildfire. Everything he had worked for all seeming to be for nought, and everything she herself had worked for also disappearing like ash in the wind. Ever since she was little, she'd known she would have an incredibly high standing. If not the Queen, then a great Lady in her own right. Although the former was the much more preferable option of the two. For as long as she could remember, ravens had come from all over the Reach of their vassals and their vassals' vassals ogling a match with one of their sons with her hand. All of which were firmly put down before the letters were even read fully.

Even now, she recalled the first true match she'd been interested in. She'd been ten name-days at the time and Lord Jon Arryn had sent them a raven stating he was trying to tie the Reach further to the Crown. King Robert may have accepted their oaths but he had not forgiven them for only bending their knees after Lord Eddard Stark had broken her fathers siege outside of Storm's End. She'd been a babe herself at the time, not remembering any of it at all despite how hard she tried. Yet when the offer was made to betroth herself to Prince Joffrey who at the time was seven, their spies within the Red Keep reported King Robert had all but pissed himself laughing before throwing it in a fire.

Her father had been furious at the blatant disrespect, as had her mother. Alerie Hightower may be a Tyrell by marriage but her first priorities were to her entire family which was heavily tied to the Faith. To insult House Hightower, was to insult the Faith, which was a grievous thing indeed. A few years had passed since this and names had been thrown her way and Margaery had done her duty. She'd learned what she could of them all, thought on how to work them to her advantage, and decided for herself what she wanted. The first after Prince Joffrey had been Prince Tommen which was easily shot down due to his age. Eight name-days younger than she herself was and that was too long of a wait to secure not only the royal line but the line of House Tyrell. The next had been Prince Quentyn of Dorne but her father refused such a thing after Willas' injury from Prince Oberyn. Even now, her brother and the Prince had long since made up and regularly corresponded, but her fathers roses were pricklier than most gave him credit for. Then it was Viserys Targaryen yet he had died screaming. Finally, it was Lord Renly Baratheon.

She wasn't dumb, she knew Loras had been the one to spread the doubts in Renly's head and to try and get him to declare himself to be the King. By this point, it was obvious her family were not going to support Joffrey's rule- even more so when news of him being an abomination in the eyes of the Seven broke. So they had accepted. She wouldn't lie, Renly treated her well and allowed her to make her own decisions which many Lord's never mind King's would do. So many only wanted a pretty little ornament to dangle in front of those they deemed as lesser than them.

And now she was betrothed to a boy- no, a man for he was no boy anymore. One who held many Kingdom's, had inspired a lot of loyalty, had given her a standing she had always wished for, had two living breathing dragons at his behest, and he held Kings Landing. Everything had seemed to finally fall into place, her own plans and her families plans finally converging into place right before her eyes. It had been so close, so near. They were set to wed in a few short weeks and were in the process of planning their wedding. Then the shadow reared its ugly self.