Not Just a Kingslayer

Chapter 19

Daena stayed the night with Margaery once she was told that Margaery's ladies often shared her bed so they wouldn't be alone. She woke fairly early and saw something white across the room through her hazy sleepy vision.

"Jaime? Up so early again?"

The voice that replied jerked her vision into clarity.

"Daena?" Margaery said softly."Its me." Margaery was standing in the middle of the room, attempting to lace up her white dress.

"Oh," Daena replied in a whisper. Then she remembered that she was mad at Jaime, and her face hardened into angry lines. "Well I suppose that's better."

Margaery frowned. Daena and Jaime almost reminded her of one of those tragic songs that Sansa Stark had liked, what seemed so long ago. Nobody knew what had become of her, but they all agreed that it couldn't be good. Although some said, quietly of course, that it couldn't be worse than what she had gone through with the Lannisters. Margaery caught herself reminiscing and brought herself back to the present. "You don't have to be angry with him for going to her, Daena," Margaery said in that soft voice of hers. She felt almost as though she were talking to a kitten. Or a child. "It doesn't seem as though he did it on purpose this time. You have a right to be mad at him for many other things, but not for this."

Daena made no reply, looking down to her hands in her lap.

Suddenly she looked up, the anger gone from her face, but tears replacing it. "But Margaery, what if he doesn't come back? What if he stays away for a year or more? There's so much fighting going on how could he end it all? What if he's not back in time?" Daena broke into sobs but Margaery was eyeing her suspiciously.

"In time...for what...?"

Daena took a moment to calm herself, then began to speak very softly. "Margaery...I was supposed to have my moon blood a few days ago. I thought nothing of it at first but after a few days passed I went to a maester and..." she stopped, her eyes full of emotion.

Margaery gasped. "Oh, Daena, already?" Daena nodded, blushing, a tear or two still running down her cheeks. "I'm sure he'll be back soon Daena. But I think the best thing for you to do is go out and cheer yourself up. I would stay with you, but I have somebody I have to speak with. You'll be all right, won't you?"

"I'll be fine. Perhaps I'll go find Petyr," she said with a slight smirk.

"I'm sure he'll try to cheer you up."

Daena gasped. "Margaery!" But the queen was already out the door, her laughter floating behind her like the sound of bells tinkling in a breeze.

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Margaery stepped into King Tommen's chambers after assuring the guards that she wouldn't be long. She rolled her eyes as she swept past them. What does Queen Cersei think to accomplish with that? She found the king playing with his cats. "Hello, my king, how are you this morning?" she asked, planting a chaste kiss on his forehead.

He blushed. "Fine, my lady." He began playing with his cats until he remembered what he was supposed to say, and, blushing again, said "And how are you?"

"Wonderful, my king. Would you like to go for a walk with me? I must speak with your lady mother and she may be more inclined to do so if you come along."

"Why is that?" he asked, puzzled.

She smiled at his innocence. "I don't know, my king, I don't know."

"Oh," he said. "Well I'll come along. Can I bring Ser Pounce?"

"Of course you can. You are the King."

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Daena stepped from the room and began to walk through the halls, glimpsing into doors half-closed and humming quietly to herself. Before long, she felt a presence beside her. "Petyr," she said simply, without turning to him.

"I see you were expecting me, my lady."

"I didn't want to look for you, so I figured if I just walked around long enough you would find me yourself. I see I was right."

He chuckled. "That sounds fair. Are you alright, my lady? I heard what happened with your lord husband as I..."

"Make a habit of knowing things, yes, I know Petyr. I'm quite fine. We had an argument but now he's gone and I'm not so angry anymore. Margaery helped me think. By the time he comes back, I suppose I'll be over it."

A pity, Petyr thought. "Well that's good. Would you care to walk in the gardens, my lady?"

"Alright," she replied, taking the hand he proffered. They walked for a while, talking of random little things, when they heard soft voices, and up ahead, saw people conversing near a wall.

"Care to take a look, my lady? I seem to recall offering you employment at some point."

She pulled him to crouch down behind a bush.

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Margaery and Tommen found Queen Cersei in the gardens. "Hello, Your Grace," Margaery said. "Isn't it a wonderful morning?" She smiled, discreetly pulling Tommen closer to her.

It was fine until you showed up, thought Cersei. "Yes, it is quite lovely, isn't it? Did you wish to speak to me about something?"

"Yes, actually. We came to speak to you about Ser Jaime."

"Oh?"

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The bush was the perfect hiding spot. They could see the faces of both queens and hear every word they said.

"We came to speak to you about Ser Jaime."

"Oh?" Cersei replied, raising a golden brow.

"Yes. Why did you send him away? He's almost like a father to our little king. Isn't he, my sweet?"

Petyr clapped a hand over Daena's mouth before she could burst out laughing as King Tommen nodded vigorously. "Oh, yes, Uncle Jaime is almost like my father!"

Cersei, meanwhile, looked like she'd tasted something sour, and Margaery looked like the cat who'd caught the canary. She looked almost like she was trying to wipe the smirk off her face but physically couldn't. Tommen was oblivious.

"Tommen, dear, why don't you go play with Ser Pounce," Cersei said, eyes still locked with Margaery's.

"Okay," he grinned, running off.

Once he was gone, Cersei got to the point. "What do you care?" she asked pointedly, once again arching her eyebrow.

"I have a friend who is...concerned. Not that I'd expect you to understand. You don't really come across as having feelings," she said with a sweet smile and laughing eyes.

Petyr was too late. Daena let a tiny laugh and both faces turned towards their bush. The two queens began to walk over. "If we run there's a chance they won't recognize us," Daena said.

Petyr knew that wasn't true, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her up, and they sprinted inside the nearest doorway, leaving Cersei and Margaery to look after them, watching the girl with the auburn hair and the man who looked like he'd never run in his life. Margaery grinned, as Cersei scowled, as per usual.

"Thanks for having this talk," Margaery said sweetly, leaving Cersei to gape as she walked over to the king.