[King's Landing - Red Keep, Courtyard]
Upon hearing word of his sister's imprisonment, Loras had upped his efforts to resolve the crush the rebel pirates. In the process, he had sustained a serious wound to his torso.
But, with the rebellion crushed, at least for now, Loras rushed back to King's Landing. To his sister.
Upon his arrival in the courtyard, a number of Faith's Militant, all armed, walked down a stairwell.
The militants, including Lancel, approach the soldiers.
Loras, having carefully dismounted his horse, removed his helmet. He handed his sword to another man, who handed Loras a drink for the pain. It was then he suddenly became aware of the presence of the militants.
"Seize him." One of them ordered.
The militants grabbed Loras.
"Get your hands off of me."
"Ser Loras of House Tyrell, you have broken the laws of Gods and men." Lancel announced.
"Who do you think you are?"
"Justice."
Loras grunted and struggled, but quickly relented due the pain from his wound.
Inside the Keep, Aelinor walked down a hallway. She pushed a set of doors open, entering her brother's chambers, and angrily placed her hands on a table. Tommen, who was eating, looked up at her, surprised.
"Why is my husband in a cell?"
"I-I don't know. I-I didn't order it."
"We both know who did. In a cell and she still manages to have my husband arrested upon his return. Perhaps Margaery was right. You should have sent her back to Casterly Rock."
Tommen stood up. "Are you saying our mother is behind this?"
"She's already had your wife arrested on charges of adultery and now my husband, your wife's brother. It's salt in the open wound. She can't stand that you're not hers to control anymore."
"Aren't you and mother getting along?"
Aelinor scoffed. "Brother, you are far too naive. Mother may love us, but she has been preoccupied with attacking anyone she deems a threat to us. Not to mention getting Myrcella home." Tears began falling down her cheeks. "I don't have the energy to deal with this. I'm a mother. I don't have time to be worried about my husband's fate. Not when Aegar is depending on me. Then, with this High Sparrow... it's just too much."
Tommen grabbed his sister's hand. "I'm sorry Aelinor. I had absolutely no idea she had planned this."
Aelinor squeezed his hand in return. "I know you didn't. I just wish we could go back to a simpler time. I wouldn't wish Aegar away for anything; he is the love of my life. But everything else was so much simpler."
"I miss it too. But, on the bright side, Cella should be arriving soon."
"Yes, I suppose that is true. I've missed her."
"Me as well." He looked up at his eldest sister. " really am... sorry."
"I know." She kissed his forehead and exited his chambers.
[Red Keep - Cersei's Chambers]
Tommen walked into his mother's chambers, where she would remain, closely watched, until her trial. Cersei was staring out of a window and drinking wine.
"Why was Ser Loras immediately arrested upon his return?"
Cersei turned around. "Did I arrest him?"
"Well, no... But you armed the Faith Militant. You gave the High Sparrow an army."
"I did. And your wife, and sister, have every right to criticize." She began walking towards her desk. "Can't allow fanatics to arrest the Queen's brother, no matter his perversions."
"Then can I tell Aelinor you'll have Ser Loras released?"
"I told you I am not holding Ser Loras. You're the King. I'm sure if you speak to the High Sparrow, he'll release the poor boy."
As he left, her daughter came storming in. In her arms, her son.
"What have you done?"
"It is for the better."
"It is not!" She shouted, causing Aegar to cry. "Oh, I'm sorry. Shhh. Mommy didn't mean to startle you."
"Motherhood becomes you."
Aelinor's head shot up. "And yet, it is now one of my greatest threats."
"Threat?"
"I know you were the one who told the High Sparrow, or had someone tell him about Loras. You're the reason my son's father is rotting in a cell."
"So was I!" Cersei exclaimed. "I was left to rot. Neither of my children came to visit me."
"I have my own life now. You can't expect me to drop everything because you had to lie in a grave you dug."
"A grave I dug?"
"You cannot stand the idea of someone other than yourself having influence over Tommen. So much so, you preemptively attack the last Kingdom that still supports us."
"Preemptively? That is what rulers do. You lie on a bed of weeds, and rip them out, root and stem, before they strangle you in your sleep."
"Yes, and sometimes you find yourself pricked by the Thorn. You forget mother. You are not Queen. You had the Queen imprisoned."
"And I would do it again if it meant you all were safe."
"Don't. Don't use that excuse again. You did this for yourself. Because you crave the power your father would nevr give you."
[King's Landing - Sept of Baelor]
A group of kingsguard lead Tommen to the Great Sept.
"Halt!" One of the Kingsguard's ordered.
The party stopped and Tommen got out, walking to the steps of the Sept on foot, followed by guards. A number of people were milling about around the base of the steps. Some Faith Militant stood guarding the steps. They blocked Tommen and his guards from walking up.
"His Holiness is praying. He will not be disturbed." One of them told Tommen.
"Give the order and we'll tear out this rebel." A Kingsguard told his King.
"You mean, kill them? Here, in the sept?"
"You'll be sending them to meet the Gods that they love."
The kingsguard and militants both adjusted their stances, ready for a fight. A number of other people began to watch. Some people started yelling at Tommen.
"Bastard!"
"You're an abomination!"
"You're born of sin!"
"Filthy bastard!"
"We'll find another way." Tommen began walking away, followed by his guards.
"Abomination!" A fourth man yelled as they began the journey back to the Keep.
[High Sparrow's Chamber]
Loras was brought to the chambers of the High Sparrow, much like his sister had been, on charges of adultery.
"You are aware of the rumors concerning you and Renly?" The High Sparrow questioned.
Interestingly enough, Margaery was also present. She looked nothing like how he remember. Her skin, caked with dirt, eyes dull, hair limp, and a simple woolen dress that resembled the robe worn by the High Sparrow.
"I don't pay attention to rumors." Loras replied, defiantly.
"You were said to be despondent when he died. Witnesses said that you refused to leave his bedside, even as Stannis' army closed in."
"He was my friend. He was my king."
"Wasn't Joffrey your king? He was anointed by the Seven, not Renly."
"I was wrong to support Renly's claim. I know that. But I was forgiven by Joffrey. I fought for him at the Battle of the Blackwater."
"Wearing Renly's armor."
"Why does it matter what I wore?"
"Do you deny all of the charges against you? Fornication, buggery, blasphemy." A Sparrow took over the questioning.
"Of course I deny them."
"You nevr lay with Renly Baratheon."
"Nevr."
"Nor any other man."
"Nevr."
"That will be all Ser Loras."
Loras walks back to his seat.
"Well I think that's quite enough of that." Olenna said.
"Faith calls Queen Margaery forward." The Sparrow announced.
"You call me forward?"
So this was why she was here.
"Yes. We have some questions for you."
"I am the queen. I have answered your questions, and then you threw me in a cell."
"You are. And according to Law of the Seven, neither kings nor queens are exempt from testimony at a holy inquest." The Sparrow reminded her.
Margaery looked to her grandmother, who shrugged, and walked to the stand.
"How do you respond to these charges against your brother?"
"They are lies."
"All of them?"
"All of them."
"Queen Margaery, in the presence of the gods, do you swear that your brother is innocent of these charges against him, to the best of your knowledge?"
"Yes, I swear it."
"Thank you, your grace."
The Faith brought Olyvar in. Loras looked shocked, as did Aelinor. She knew exactly who this man was, and knew immediately this would not end well for her husband.
Cersei wore a thin smile at this new witness.
"Do you know this man?"
"Yes, very well. He is Ser Loras Tyrell, heir to Highgarden." Olyvar answered.
"How did you come to meet?"
"I squired for him. He took a liking to me. He summoned me to his chamber the first day we met."
"And what occurred in his chamber?"
"We engaged in intimate relations."
"You laid with him?"
"That night and many others."
"Liar! He's a liar!"
"Is there anyone else who can support your claim?"
"Yes, yes, Queen Margaery. She walked in on us once not long ago. She didn't seem surprised."
"This testimony is an insult to a great house. Why should The Faith or anyone else take the word of a squire over the heir to Highgarden?" Cersei questioned.
"He has a birthmark, your grace. Quite high on his thigh, wine-coloured, and roughly the shape of Dorne."
Loras jumped to attack Olyvar, but was restrained by members of the Faith. He was forced to stop due to the pain from his wound. Instead, he resorted to shouting.
Margaery and Olenna each stood up to leave, Margaery to her cell and Olenna to her chambers, but The Faith blocked their way.
"Liar!" Loras shouted.
"What are you doing? Let me pass." Olenna ordered.
"The Faith is satisfied that there is enough evidence to bring a formal trial for Ser Loras... and Queen Margaery."
"What?" Margaery exclaimed.
"Bearing false witness before the gods is as grave a sin as any. Take her." The Sparrow told her.
The Faith grabbed her and carried her out of the room.
"Tommen! Tommen!" Margaery yelled.
King Tommen looks around the room, unsure of what to do.
"You can't do this, I am the queen! Tommen, Tommen! I am your queen, how dare you!"
Olenna glared at Cersei, who smiled in return.
It did not elude her that this witness failed to mention anything regarding Aelinor, only heightening Olenna's awareness that Cersei had hired this witness to ensure a conviction and protect her daughter in the process.
The Lioness thought she had won. But, this was only the first round.
The Tyrells would need to remind everyone that while they were civil, they still had thorns.