Only A Northern Song ~ Game of Thrones / Willas Tyrell ~

Chapter Fourteen: The Gardens

All Eddmina could think as Margaery led her through the gardens of High Garden was how much her sister would love it. In Eddmina's mind, Sansa belonged to a lifestyle like this, surrounded by beauty, happiness and sunshine. She, however, missed the snow and felt out of place, like a thorn surrounded by roses.

Thankfully, Margaery didn't seem to notice, not as she chatted to her contentedly, as if she was already her sister. Margaery had always seemed like the sort of girl who was completely secure in herself, even when she was in Winterfell, a place that was of no doubt out of her comfort zone as it was to so many other southerners, but now she was in her own environment, a rose surrounded by the flower bushes of the Reach once again, she seemed even more confident. Eddmina would've admired it, if she hadn't been so focused on herself and keeping her own emotions in check.

There were no gardens like this in Winterfell, the closest equivalent being the godswood, but that was a holy place. That was where she and her father would go to prey. It was a place of peace and tranquility. The grand gardens of High Garden were very different, seeming like a statement of the Tyrell's great wealth and status. That idea only seemed to be added upon when Margaery led her into an alcove among the flower bushes, where a white iron table was set. A mountain of food was set upon it, full of cakes and rolls and cheeses, food stuffs that would usually be reserved as delicacies in Winterfell. It was an overwhelming sight, but not nearly as overwhelming as the fact that sat at the table were three other women, one of them being lady Alerie, the other two complete strangers.

Eddmina assumed the first, sat at the head of the table, must be Lady Olenna, Willas' grandmother. An aged woman, wearing gold and a headdress to show status, she watched Eddmina with curiosity and a wry smile, as if the northern girl so far from home was an amusement. The other woman however must have only been a few years older than herself, and with her sun kissed skin and buttercup yellow hair, she was the most beautiful woman Eddmina had ever seen. Her eyes seemed to light up as she saw Eddmina, a warm smile growing on her face, and as soon as she was close enough, got up from her seat to hug the northern girl. This must be Leonette, Garlan's wife.

"You must be Eddmina! It's so wonderful to finally meet you," she greeted her as Margaery took a seat, and as soon as she broke away from their embrace she sat back down, gesturing for Eddmina to sit next to her.

"Edda this is Leonette, my sister-by-law, and this is my grandmother, Lady Olenna," Margaery introduced as Eddmina took a seat.

The older woman was still watching her with some interest, her emotions unreadable behind her sly smile, so Eddmina nodded her head at her respectfully, breaking her stoic, northern expression with a slight smile to be polite. She wasn't particularly nervous, mostly just aware of how out-of-place she appeared, and for someone who was so used to holding the power, it was different. She was used to people watching her out of respect, the people back home knowing her and liking her, whilst here it felt more like curiosity, like it had done when the Tyrells first arrived in Winterfell.

"Well, you certainly don't seem like the wildling we were promised," Lady Olenna mused eventually, and though it probably hadn't been long it felt like an agonising wait for her to speak her opinion. As soon as she'd spoken though, she must have noticed Eddmina furrow her eyebrows slightly as he let out a smug laugh and continued, "Perhaps there is more Riverlands to you than the North,"

That only confused and irritated Eddmina more. She didn't look anything like her mother, not like Sansa or her little brothers. Even if Robb was her twin she favoured the Stark traits far more than him, with her and Arya the only ones to take on their father's dark hair rather than their mother's flaming red. She looked nothing like the Tully's, and she certainly didn't feel any sort of loyalty to the Riverlands. She was northern.