A Shadow and a Wolf

Margaery I

Margaery Tyrell was sitting in a comfortable chair in a corner of the Red Keep gardens. She was wearing one of her lightweight gown that displayed all her back and half her shoulders. King's Landing may be colder than Highgarden, but winter wasn't yet here and climate was still warm. And Margaery liked to say Tyrell blood runs warm. She looked at Blackwater Bay, where shipwrecks from the battle could still be seen. The work from Sansa's husband. She had sent Mira to fetch the new Lady Lannister. They would be there in a very short time. Margaery had a lot of questions for the Stark girl.

While she waited, Margaery's thoughts went to her handmaiden. She couldn't express how lucky she was to have Mira into her service. Margaery didn't really know what to think of her when she arrived in Highgarden three years ago. Her clothes, her accent, her behaviour, everything put her aside from the others. But Margaery had welcomed her with open arms as she did with everyone. Mira was all alone, she knew no one in Highgarden, so Margaery decided to take her at her personal service. She taught her everything about the Reach usages and, very soon, Mira made herself a very good place in her family household. She even passed the test to stand an entire supper with Margaery's grandmother without losing her composure a single time. The Lady Olenna had told her granddaughter then she should never let this one leave her service. She said she would be very useful. And she was.

Mira adapted very quickly to the world of the Reach. She adopted their clothes, their lifestyle, even their accent (mostly). She became a very good friend of Margaery's favourite handmaiden, Sera. She shared the same pleasures than the other girls, though in a less extreme way. She would drink wine, but never get drunk. Eat at feasts, but never more than she could. Talk with very charming boys and men, without withdrawing a single time with one of them. Laugh with the others, but always lower. She dressed beautifully, but simply. Margaery's cousins and other handmaidens tried more than once to bring to do some dirty things, but never succeeded. And no one could laugh of Mira without getting a reply that would bring the others to laugh at him even more. And her replies were always diplomatic and well placed. A true example of righteousness in Highgarden.

But that wasn't why Mira became in time Margaery's favourite handmaiden and friend. Mira was sociable, yet discrete, so Margaery began to confide her some of her thoughts and secrets. Mira proved to be very attentive to her, but also a very great help. She was intelligent, cunning, and resourceful, though not many people could see it. But what surprised Margaery was her entire loyalty toward her new mistress as soon as she entered her service. Mira would never do or say anything against her. She would prefer to shame herself instead of betraying Margaery, even for the most insignificant things. Mira called it "honor", something Margery didn't entirely understood. But no matter, Mira had been someone who Margaery could always count on. That was very strange for a person as intelligent as Mira. She would prefer to put her cunning and her skills at Margaery's service instead of her own service. Mira didn't even seem to have personal ambition. She could be so much more than what she was, but didn't seem to bother about it. She looked happy to be Margaery's handmaiden and did her duty better than anyone else. The young woman could entrust her northern servant with everything. And right now she would bring her Sansa.

As she thought the latter, Margaery saw the two northern girls walking in her direction. Mira was carrying Sansa's needlework materials while they quietly spoke. Mira never asked to be presented to Sansa, since she never asked anything. But Margaery thought her friend would be happy to have the opportunity to speak with the sister of her liege lord and it seemed she was right. Both of them were smiling timidly. As both reached Margaery's corner, Mira made an imperceptible bow with her head and put Sansa's work next to an empty chair.

"You may leave us Mira. I'm sure you have more interesting things to do than listening to two ladies gossiping." Mira gave a thin smile. She didn't enjoy very much woman's talk, though she participated to it from time to time.