Fire and fury | Daenerys Targaryen

First of her name

The faction of Tyrell and Lannister army surrounded the Sept on the day of Margaery's atonement. Ardella Baratheon watched the ordeal from her windows at the Red Keep, unconcerned since she kept her side of the deal.

Only when Margaery returned to the castle, Ardella welcomed her. The queen stared at her with tenderness that she didn't bother to hide.

"Welcome back, your grace."

"Thank you." The double meaning wasn't lost by Ardella but she turned to the boy king who is ecstatic to have his wife by his side again. "Your grace, a solemn news came for me from Stormlands. A lord from house Penrose has died due to an illness."

Ardella offered the scroll, "As lady of the Storm's End, I must go back to pay my respects. Lord Penrose has been a loyal bannerman for house Baratheon."

Tommen nodded in agreement and said, "Please send my regards to them, cousin." While the boy allowed her to leave his den unscratched, Margaery's face fell at Ardella's intent to sail back home.

In the following days that Ardella prepared to depart, the queen devoted herself to the Faith of the Seven, reciting the Seven-Pointed Star all while refusing to share her marital bed with the king. The whispers of the enlightened queen filled the court with many worrying for the king's marriage.

In the morning of her last day at the capital, "The queen invited you to have a tea, your highness." Ser Luwin reported and escorted Ardella to the familiar spot at the garden.

Ardella immediately frowned to see the same septa, standing behind Margaery who gracefully greeted her, "I wished to bid a proper goodbye, dear cousin. Shall we pray for your safe travels?"

Without responding to the queen, Ardella snarled at the septa, "I won't tell you to leave twice this time."

Only when Ser Luwin's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, the septa left the two women to converse in peace and seclusion.

"She shadows me all the time. Even when I am meeting with my grandmother." Margaery said dismissively in an attempt to lighten the Baratheon's sour mood.

Scoffing, Ardella replied, "I heard you stay at the Sept even at nights. Your devotion may spare Loras's life but we both know his claim to Highgarden is gone."

"Yes, but.." Margaery started but Ardella cut her off, "I convinced the high sparrow that your duty is to the king before anything else. A duty you are neglecting ever since you have been released."

The coldness in her voice alarmed Margaery who took a moment to appraise the Baratheon's hardened face carefully. "Are you really leaving me?" She whispered softly, her mask falling off at Ardella's presence.

"You are not mine to leave, your grace." Her title sounded taunting from Ardella's lips which pricked her heart.

The Baratheon shut her eyes and breathed out to calm down, she reminded herself that the source of her fury is not the Tyrell in front of her.

"I killed the grand maester." Ardella confessed out of a sudden, her tiredness to keep playing the game finally getting to her.

Meeting the questioning gaze of Margaery, she continued, "You asked me why I came to the capital right here in this garden, knowing full well that I am a threat to the Lannisters."

"Everything I did, everything I sacrificed, everything I schemed until now is because I have someone I love. Maester Pycelle just happened to have the news that she is married and expecting a child." Ardella didn't hide the pain of betrayal from her voice.

Despite her chest tightening, Margaery asked, "Did you gave up your throne for the same reason?"

Ardella chuckled, "Shouldn't you defend your husband's claim?"