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[KING'S LANDING GARDENS]
[SANSA and LORAS stroll together through the garden, her arm in his. They approach LADY MARGAERY TYRELL.]
"You're such a dear."
"I'll take my leave. Lady Sansa."
"Thank you, Ser Loras."
[LORAS exits. MARGAERY leads SANSA to a patio, filled with maids.]
"That's a lot of maids" Sansa commented.
"Only a small part of Highgarden, I'm afraid," Magaerys said with a smile.
"Come. Lady Sansa, it is my honour to present my grandmother the Lady Olenna of House Tyrell."
[They walk to LADY OLENNA, who is seated on the patio. OLENNA extends her hand and SANSA kisses it in greeting.]
"It's so good of you to visit me and my foolish flock of hens. We're very sorry for your losses."
Jon couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. 'The Rose of Thorns' has a way with words.
"And I was sorry when I heard of Lord Renly's death, Lady Margaery. He was very gallant."
"Gallant, yes. And charming and very clean. He knew how to dress and smile and somehow this gave him the notion he was fit to be king."
Renly flinched at the sharp assessment. Had the Tyrells only supported him for the numbers? And not because they thought he was fit to be King?
"Renly was brave and gentle, Grandmother. Father liked him and so did Loras."
"Loras is young and very good at knocking men off horses with a stick. That does not make him wise. As to your fathead father-"
"Your father is a bumbling fool" Olenna finished for her future self.
Margaery could only sigh. There goes her father's reputation.
"Grandmother! What will Sansa think of us?"
"She might think we have some wits about us. One of us, at any rate. It was treason. I warned them. Robert has two sons and Renly has an older brother. How could he possibly have any claim to that ugly iron chair? We should have stayed well out of all this if you ask me. But once the cow's been milked, there's no squirting the cream back up her udders. So here we are to see things through."
Renly could only watch defeated at the wall. So this was what they truly thought of him then...
"What do you say to that, Sansa? Shall we have some lemon cakes?"
"Lemon cake's my favourite."
"So we've been told."
Margaery squinted at her grandmother.
"What are you planning?" she asked.
"Don't squint, it'll give you wrinkles" her grandmother chastised.
"I asked-"
"Be patient and watch. It will be revealed" her Grandmother cut her off sharply.
Margaery nodded meekly and turned away.
"Here, Sansa, come sit with me. I'm much less boring than these others."
[They move to a table away from the others.]
"Do you know my son? The Lord of Highgarden?"
"I haven't had the pleasure."
"No great pleasure, believe me. A ponderous oaf. His father was an oaf as well. My husband, the late Lord Luthor. He managed to ride off a cliff whilst hawking. They say he was looking up at the sky and paying no mind to where his horse was taking him"
"That's-what?" Robb blinked in shock.
"As I said, an oaf" Olenna rolled her eyes. Care as she might have for her husband, but she would not deny he was an oaf.
"And now my son is doing the same, only this time he's riding a lion instead of a horse. Now I want you to tell me the truth about this royal boy, this Joffrey."
"I,I-"
"You, you. Who else would know better? We've heard some troubling tales. Is there any truth to them? Has this boy mistreated you?"
[SANSA looks down.]
"Joff-King Joffrey, he-His Grace is very fair and handsome and as brave as a lion"
"Yes, all Lannisters are lions."
"You know?" Joanna questioned.
"Hard not to. Look at him, look at all of them, not a drop of Baratheon" Olenna shook her head. "Only a fool would think otherwise."
The fools in the room shifted uncomfortably.
"And when a Tyrell farts, it smells like a rose. But how kind is he? How clever? Has he a good heart, a gentle hand?"
"I'm to be his wife. I only want to know what that means."
[A SERVANT approaches and brings a platter.]
"Bring me some cheese."
"The cheese will be served after the cakes, my lady."
"The cheese will be served when I want it served. And I want it served now."
[The SERVANT nods and exits quickly.]
"You have not changed a bit" Rickard Stark shook his head.
"And become idiots like the rest of you? No, thank you" Olenna snorted.
"Are you frightened, child? No need for that. We're only women here. Tell us the truth. No harm will come to you."
"My father always told the truth."
"Yes, he had that reputation. And they named him a traitor and took his head."
"Joffrey. Joffrey did that. He promised he would be merciful and he cut my father's head off. And he said that was mercy. Then he took me up on the walls and made me look at it."
[SANSA holds back tears. She quickly regains her composure.]
"I-I can't. I never meant- my father was a traitor. My brother as well. I have traitor's blood. Please don't make me say anymore."
"That should be answer enough" Margaery whispered to her grandmother.
"She needs to come out of her shell" her Grandmother argued.
"She's terrified, Grandmother. Just look at her."
"Speak freely, child. We would never betray your confidence, I swear it."
"He's a monster."
"Ah. That's a pity."
"Please, don't stop the wedding."
"Have no fear. The Lord Oaf of Highgarden is determined that Margaery shall be queen. Even so, we thank you for the truth. Ah, here comes my cheese."
[The SERVANT sets down the tray and slips away. SANSA sighs in resignation.]
"At least you don't have to marry him" Arya whispered to her sister.
"Small consolations" Sansa murmured.
[RIVERLANDS WOODS]
[ROBB's forces move along a path through the woods. The direwolf GREY WIND watches as RICKARD KARSTARK and ROBB watch the men march past.]
"We're at war. This march is a distraction."
"My grandfather's funeral is not a distraction."
"It is," Rickard Stark said plainly. "You are at war, do not let anything distract you from your goals, boy. Doing so means death at best."
"What is worst if death is best?" Bran asked, horrified.
His grandfather could only smile at him and shake his head.
"You may see it happen after whoever caught your friend Theon is done with him."
The boy in question straightened as a shiver ran down his spine.
But Robb did not believe it. Family could never be a distraction.
"Are we riding to battle at Riverrun?"
"No."
"Then it's a distraction."
"My Uncle Edmure has his forces garrisoned there. We need his men."
"Unless he's been breeding them, he doesn't have enough to make a difference."
"Have you lost faith in our cause?"
"If it's revenge, I still got faith in it."
"If you no longer believe-"
"I can't believe till it snows in Dorne. Don't change the fact that we've got half the men."
"You've always had half their men" Arya pointed out with a frown.
"The Tyrell numbers make them even more formidable" Rhaegar spoke. "The last time the South and West banded together, Aegon the Dragon was out to conquer Westeros. And your brother does not have a Dragon to even the playing fields."
"You don't think we can win?"
"May I speak my mind, Your Grace?"
"Has he not been?" Lyanna asked in shock.
"No. Lord Karstark's normal way of speaking may make it seem he is" Ned explained with a small smile.
"I think you lost this war the day you married her."
[TALISA rides past.]
Robb shifted uncomfortably in his seat.