Golden Rose

Chapter 1: The Days to Come

Darlessa Tyrell
A month had passed since me and grandmother had our talk in the Garden of Roses, and since then we haven't received any news form Margaery, Loras or Father. Margaery usually sends letters every week, signing "Her Grace, Margaery Baratheon" It made me scoff and roll my eyes at how stupid she was to believe that she was Queen, but at least I knew she was alright.

I was in my room, tossing and turning in my bed, trying to sleep. I was tired, because I hadn't slept properly in a month and when I did get to sleep I had terrible nightmares of what might have happened to my family. I pushed away my blankets and got up pulling my silk robe on me, I could tell that the sun was beginning to rise due to the thin line of orange light on the horizon across the golden fields, visible from my balcony. I opened the windows and the warm morning breeze blew my curtains and hair back. The sun was becoming more and more visible as the wheat danced with the awakening of the day. Seeing the sun rise, or set always reminded me of my mother. I missed her, she had loved walking with me in the sun as we held hands, she would tell me how just as a sun set makes us remember the days we've had the good and the bad ones, so can a sun rise give us hope and long for the days to come.    

"M'lady, come quickly. Your family is here!" Amber, my handmaid, said storming into my room in a hurry and heavily breathing. "What do you mean they're here? What happened?"
"I don't know, m'lady, Lady Ollena simply demanded me to come and get you." I ran across my room and exited through the door running across High Garden's halls. I could hear talking from the grand hall, I entered quickly, opening both of the large doors, and saw all of my family. I felt a wave of relief, wash over me. They were all alright, "Margaery!" I said opening my arms as she moved to hug me. "Darlessa, how I missed you sister."
"Father." I said with tears swelling in my eyes, as he kissed my forhead. "You look even more beautiful, Darlessa."
"Oh, Father I was so worried. Loras, what's wrong?" I questioned as I took in his appearance. He was pale, his deep blue eyes were blood shot red and swollen, he looked very frail. "Renly is dead." He said looking at his feet, I brought my hand to my mouth to stop a gasp from exiting, Margaery seemed fine, but then again she wasn't his lover or even his friend, only his queen. I embraced Loras, I could feel his tears on my shoulder. "Hush now, big brother I'm sure he would not want to see you in such sorrow." I said whispering into his ear he nodded, then I turned to Margaery "How did he die?"
"No one knows, some say it was one of his King's Guards others say it was Stannis Baratheon's shadow."
"No doubt the Red Woman was involved." I said as I heard my grandmother cough. "Darlessa, dear, I would like to introduce you to Lord Pyter Baelish."
"My lady, its a pleasure to meet you, the tales of your beauty do not do you justice." He said looking me up and down, before kissing my hand.
"Lord Bealish, may inquire what the Master of Coin and a well known brothel keeper is doing so far away from King's Landing?" I said. "Well the tales of your audacity have not done you justice either." He said smiling in a wicked way. "I believe I asked you a question..." I said impatiently.

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"A raven arrived from the citadel this morning, Your Grace." Maester Pycelle said in his old stinking breath."The conclave has met, considered reports from maesters all over the Seven Kingdoms, and declared this great summer done at last." He continued in a long and breathless voice. "The longest summer in living memory." Varys stated placing his arms on his chubby belly. "The peasants say, a long summer means an even longer winter." Little Finger smirked at his own remark."A common superstition." Master Pycelle said scoffing.
"We have enough wheat for a five-year winter. If it lasts any longer, we'll have fewer peasants." Little Finger, never cared about peasants or anything other than himself for that matter of fact. The room could feel their attentions pike at his sudden concern.
"The city's drowning in refugees, Your Grace, fleeing the war. We have nowhere to house them. And with winter coming, it'll only get worse."
"You command the city watch, do you not, Lord Slynt?" The queen demanded in a cold voice."I do, Your Grace."
"And are you not a lord at my command?"
"I owe my title and lands to your generosity, Your Grace."
"Then do your job. Shut the gates to the peasants. They belong in the field, not our capital."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Your grace forgive me, but what if there was a way of ensuring King's Jofferey's popularity with the common people and the Crown's survival."
"Explain." She said in a distant yet curious voice. "When you called this meeting I thought it was for another purpose, it was my understanding that everyone knew."
"Knew what?" She said rolling her eyes. "That Renly Baratheon is dead." The room fell silently in shock, and the queen displayed a hint of a smirk on her face. Lord Baelish continued. "If we want to ensure that the people obey, and that the incidents on the street that put the king's life in danger the other day never happen again we need to ensure that the people are happy. Joffrey needs to hold more than the people's fear, he needs their devotion."
"What are you suggesting?" The queen demanded impatiently. "With Renly's death his supporters have scattered, most have now sided with Stannis, which makes his threat on King's Landing more dangerous. However, his so called queen is now a widow. Margaery Tyrell is one of the most beautiful women in the seven kingdoms and her family has one of the largest armies in the kingdoms as well as an infinite amount supplies for the coming winter. Allying with the Tyrells will help us defeat the imminent threat of Stannis Baratheon on the Capital and keep our population as well as our King safe."
"Did she lay with Renly?" She questioned. "Renly was a famous pillow biter, I've heard that her maidenhood remained intact."
"The Tyrells, will pay for their treason, but only after we don't need them." The Queen said looking at the horizon and sipping from her wine.
"I wonder how you know so much about Lord Renly, Little Finger." Varys stated. "Let's just say that the Tyrells realized that they were on the wrong side of this war."

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"Lord Bealish and I have been exchanging knowledge for the past month. The Lannisters aren't the only ones that never loose." Grandmother said as she looked at me. She took my hand and we moved to sit down, "The crown needs our aid, the Kingdoms are starving and Stannis's threat is becoming more and more eminent on the capital. Margaery is to marry King Joffrey and your father will take a place in the small council." I could feel anger boiling up inside of me. "How could you? I told you to be careful, and instead you put us right in the Lion's den! I'm not going, I'm staying right here. If you expect me to leave my home, to go to that shit sticking city and be one of Margaery's ladies, you are mistaken. I am not one of those girls, I don't daydream about a handsome knight or an old and fat rich lord. My place is here! I will not be shown off around the capital like some common tart!"
"Darlessa Tyrell watch your language! You are in the presence of the Master of Coin!" My father exclaimed, his head turning red. "I'm sure he has heard much worse in his whore house." I said, turning my attention to my sister. "Margaery, you just got home and you want to leave already? What would mother say, we're putting ourselves in a dangerous situation."
"Mother, would want me to follow my dreams. I want to be Queen, and I will see to it that it happens. Please just be happy for me."
"Margaery, I love you, and I want you to be happy. But this ambition is dangerous."
"This is how I feel I can make a difference, I can't do it without you by my side, baby sister. We have been watching out for each other ever since mother died. The Tyrells need to stick together." She was right, she needed me, and I needed her and the rest of my family. I need to watch out for her, I want to be with my family. "When are we leaving?" I asked turning to Grandmother. "At first light." My grandmother said smirking.

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