#thornedmargaery

So now he walked through the halls of Highgarden, following a servant that he'd requested to take him to the queen. He waited just in the doorframe as he was announced. The initial small talk they had to go through irritated him, but he put on a polite smile as he stepped in. "Your Grace," a carefully practiced bob of the head. "I offer my deepest apologies that I was not able to be here in time for the funerals, and also that I was not able to come see you earlier today. I arrived very late last night and was kept up even later discussing matters with your husband. May I sit?"

     Lord Oakheart. Something Dontin had been called before but now it had real meaning. He was the new Lord of Old Oak, something that some would find cause for celebration but Dontin was grieving. He had lost a man he had long admired and loved and that was not something a man could easily forget.    The funeral was the traditional way of anyone from the faith of the seven would have. The silent sisters had come and arranged anything and after a few days, his father buried where all the former members of House Oakheart laid. Beneath a great Oak tree, where many had already been put to rest. Even with the delay that Dontin had insisted upon, his brother had not returned home for the funeral, instead sent a raven with a letter, explaining that he was busy with his duties as a squire.   Connin finally came, though after the burial and had tried to speak to his older brother in private. Dontin refused, even at the feast he sat his brother at the end of the High table while surrounding himself with distant relatives. When it came to call it a night, Dontin was met in his chambers by his brother. Apologies came pouring out of Connin’s mouth but Dontin ignored them. There was nothing quite like a quiet anger, words did not need to be spoken and instead of reconciliation, Dontin just let his brother alone.

        War was no place for a woman or a girl which is what Margaery had been on her wedding.  The horrors of the battlefield was something that a man could rarely handle but still, the cause they were fighting for was much bigger than fear and even bigger than a lot of the men’s lives. The majority of them would die for a cause they would never live to see, a sad fact but one still true.       Though a member of his queen’s guard, Dontin had actually hated it at first. He wanted to fight in a war, not protect a woman only just married. He was not child minder though of late, he felt as if that was his duty. Out on patrol, Dontin had his wish and partook in a battle, to protect the queen and the future her marriage promised though most men fell. Dontin was among the few that had survived, though he was cut up and could barely walk but he still returned to his post, still served his queen and cause.     It was his turn to guard the queen that night and no matter his grievances about his position, Margaery was kind and more mature than he gave her credit for. Though he was only four years her senior, Dontin had not realized how clever the queen was till she invited him to have some of the left over bits of supper. They chatted for hours, feasting on wine, grapes and various other cheeses and it was pleasant conversation. Mostly, they spoke of the war and politics which was refreshing to hear from a woman, most of the time women only spoke of husbands, dresses and children and to hear such wise words from one so young, well, he was impressed.      The night went on and their playful banter continued, as they laughed and ate and mostly drank, they moved closer, to keep their jokes private from prying ears outside. Dontin can not recall who kissed who first, but that didn’t quite matter. The moment that mattered was the ones afterward. Their first kisses were subtle, soft and tender. As if they were scared to break one another, but still needed that touch, that embrace more than ever in the midsts of war. The first kiss did not bring the first taste of love, but it did allow for Dontin to open his heart to more than just his duty and for that, he would never forget it. 

Casterly Rock had never been a place that had interested Bethany Blackwood, even when the Lannister’s reigned there, Bethany had never found that House quite agreeable. The once queen, Cersei Lannister, seemed cruel and distant and the words she would use to describe the bastard king was not some she felt comfortable voicing in public but the hatred was there. Now that Renly Baratheon was the new head and king of the Rock, invitations were sent out to the whole kingdom, inviting most to feasts and a tourney to celebrate the Kings new castle. Of course with a celebration hosted by Renly Baratheon, that meant that the entirety of House Tyrell would be in attendance. Given that Bethany was a lady in waiting to the Princess Sansa Stark, the princesses well-being was something that was the utmost importance to Bethany and she did not like seeing House Tyrell or Hardying using her like a pawn for whatever their reasons were and unlike most, Bethany had voiced these concerns not only to Sansa, but to the suitors involved. At the feast, Bethany wore a long sheath dress in crimson red tulle that was overlayed with a skirt adorned with flowers to honour the Tyrell’s and crystals for her own personal taste. It was a gown that had taken weeks but everyone in the kingdom knew how grand an Tyrell event could be and Bethany did not want to offend her hosts. She walked over to the high table, where the queen and her brothers sat and curtsied to them all. “Your grace,” Bethany smiled as she addressed the queen of the Reach and Rock. “I must offer my apologies for the last time we spoke, I fear I may have offended you and that was not my intention.”

Margaery would be a fantastic mother. She’d raise her little son or daughter in the proper way. She prayed Margaery’s son wouldn’t be a little oaf like her own son and husband. She moved to sit, nodding for Margaery to as well. She waved for the servant to come forward, and cut the pie. “Let us celebrate.” She commented, “There is must to discuss.” She began, intending to talk to Margaery about pregnancy and what to expect. It was never too soon to begin discussing such matters.