[open]

[tyrellrose]

Who: Margaery Tyrell, open
When: December 21
Where: Outside the new arrivals apartments
Format: Paragraph
What: Girl in a wedding dress chilling outside the apartments.
Warnings: None. Well, ASoS spoilers.

Comments

[tyrellrose]

She listened intently as Renly explained about Anatole, though he could not answer all of her questions. She had begun to express incredulity at some of his words, but the fact that he was alive made all of her objections trivial. Somewhere in the middle, he had asked her about something called a Forge, and when she mentioned she had nothing of the sort, they had retraced her steps to the room in which she had awoken. Apparently the chirping brass annoyance in the corner she had ignored was this Forge, and it was of paramount importance in the city. A short lesson on how to use it had her head spinning, as unfamiliar terms bombarded her at every step.

Eventually they found their way to the small apartment Renly was sharing with his brothers, although thankfully the other two Baratheons were not present. Seeing the place only hardened Margaery's resolve to ensure that Renly found a more pleasant place. I am thinking as though I've already accepted this fate. "We shall have some money to start with, at least," she said, pointing at the jewels adorning her neck and arms and the pearls that lined her dress. "This is one benefit of being abducted the day of one's wedding."

I cannot go home, she repeated to herself, wondering if that would make it seem more real. She would never spend a lazy summer day in the expansive gardens of Highgarden again. This Anatole still seemed so much like a dream; if she had not had Loras with her, she would have thought it one.

[therainbowking]

"Yes, and I have some as well, but not much." He gestured to his clothes. "I rather needed some clothes without, ah, blood on them." There was a slight pause, but then he barreled through the awkwardness of that last comment.

"Yes, Stannis had mentioned something of the sort. My poor dear, set to marry Joff of all people. I am sorry," Renly continued, giving her a fond smile. "Though I do suppose you have your choice of husbands, now, since we are both here. Of course you are welcome to stay here, if you wish to."

[tyrellrose]

"Joff's here," she said flatly. Today seemed fated to be a day of elation and dread entwined. "I cannot escape him, even here. I haven't married him yet. I won't marry him." Joffrey could be charming when he wanted, but she had hated every moment of the past month that she had smiled and fawned over the boy king. For a brief moment, she regretted that she did not have the black amethyst with her here, surprising herself with her own blood thirst. He does me no harm here, she reminded herself. She was not a killer.

[therainbowking]

"Well then, I suppose we are still married." He took the opportunity to give her another fond hug. "There are -- all sorts from home here, actually. Only three Lannisters, thank goodness, but the Targaryen girl is about somewhere, I've heard. I have not had the opportunity to speak to her yet." A pause. "Though that is quite probably a good thing."

[tyrellrose]

He looked happy, and she was glad for that. He had been happy too when they had feasted at Bitterbridge, but she hoped that this story would have a happier ending. "Our marriage dissolved upon your death, Lord Renly," she said. She placed further emphasis on her next words, trusting he would understand her meaning. "It was never consummated, as you left for war too soon."

He would always love her brother first. She had accepted that long ago. She would never be Joffrey's wife, but she would not be Renly's wife here either, the one he professed to love before the eyes of the Seven. They had been so young, then, and all three of them had agreed upon this sham and willingly made their sacrifices. She did not want to make those sacrifices now.

She laid a hand gently on his. "But in its stead, I would be happy to continue this alliance between Highgarden and Storm's End."

[therainbowking]

"Was it not?" He gave her a quizzical look, eyes alight with surprise (and yes, a bit of relief), and then gave a graceful shrug. "Of course. That detail seems to have slipped my mind in the midst of arriving here."

Well, he did love her. Just more as a friend than a wife, to be honest. But he was pleased with her decision, in any case, though he did not know what he and Loras would yet do in this strange new city.

"As would I, my lady," he continued, and that smile grew broader.

[tyrellrose]

Later that week, she would meet Renly's brothers, learn things about her brother she really would rather not, and avoid Joffrey all the while insisting that she wasn't hiding from him. Later that week would find her huddled in her own room, crying at the loss of all her family save for Loras. Renly -- well, Renly was dead back home, and Loras's sun had set, but Margaery still had cousins to help, a court to run, and a life to live.

But this moment saw Margaery thread her fingers through Renly's as she smiled brightly in return, feeling a surge of hope run through her. She could begin anew here, bask in that bit of freedom highborn girls never had. Her worth was not based on the man she married; instead, she would carve her own path through the world. Associating with the wrong sort would not risk her life. Loras would return soon, and she would be with two people she loved.

It was not a perfect life, but it would be a bearable, and perhaps even enjoyable, one.