บท 13: Part 10
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***
Margaery watched from the window as the soldiers taught the young men and children as young as ten years old how to shoot a bow and use a spear, and they were fully engaged in their studies. For the King of the North, to whom his people were almost fanatical in their devotion, had commanded it. His orders were immediately obeyed, and it never occurred to any of the lords of the North to question them.
From the first moment they met, Margaery had the feeling that she was being subtly mocked, but it was done so carefully that there was nothing to cling to. When Sansa introduced her half-brother to the guests, he corrected her:
- Jon Snow was my name a week ago, now my name is Jon Stark.
- Oh, sorry, brother, I can't get used to it,' Sansa's face showed remorse, but there was none in her eyes. - It won't happen again.
- It's all right, I'm not used to it yet,' Jon smiled, but the strange lights in his eyes... Margaery had the feeling that her brother and sister were having fun at her expense. And if that was indeed the case, then they had succeeded, for as soon as Sansa introduced her brother to her, Tyrell, in addition to the incredible surprise, felt hurt.
She, the rightful queen of Westeros, had to run like a criminal, trembling at every rustle and hoping that Cersei was still unaware that she was alive, even if she had to pay with the lives of her brother and father to save her. And then, like a spit in her soul, there sits a bastard, who by all laws has no right to the throne at all, but now he is King of the North. He fears no one, and he spat on Cersei from a high bell tower.
Still, she had to keep her face and smile at the King of the North, for now she would have to negotiate with him, and Margaery, to be honest, knew nothing about Jon-already-Stark except that he had gone to the Night's Watch.
- Jon Stark, I am Margaery Tyrell,' the girl smiled, stepping forward. - I'm pleased to finally meet you.
- Tyrell? - Jon interjected. There was no hint of pleasure in his voice. - Didn't you become a Baratheon?
- I prefer not to use my late husband's name,' Margaery replied.
- Your right,' Stark only shrugged and glanced at the girl's protector. - Your name is Deacon?
- Deacon Tarly, Your Grace,' the knight nodded.
- Are you Sam Tarly's brother? - John asked, and Deacon's face changed. The last thing he wanted to hear was talk of Sam.
- I don't have a brother anymore,' Tarly replied haughtily. - A man named Sam disgraced our house by bringing a savage woman under our roof and stealing my father's sword. The next time I meet him, I will personally cut the heart out of his chest.
Stark's eyes darkened like a stormy sky, and his face became rigid. It seemed that one more word and he would tear Deacon apart. After a moment, Margaery realised why Tarly's words had caused such a reaction in the King of the North:
- 'If you do that, Deacon Tarly,' John's voice rang in the ears of those present, 'I will find you even on the other side of the world and kill you. Sam is my best friend and one of the bravest men I know.
- Bravest? - Deacon was indignant. - That cowardly pig?!
- Enough! - Stark jumped up and shouted, and Tarly's knees buckled in surprise. The men sitting at the tables stood up, and only now Dickon noticed that two of them were in black. Watchmen.
- Tell me, Ser Deacon, have you ever killed anyone? - Stark's voice was calm again. Perhaps because of Sansa, who sat at his right hand.
- I personally killed a wild boar on a hunt--
- I'm not talking about hunting,' Jon said. - I'm talking about people. Have you killed them?
- No,' Tarly admitted.
- Then you didn't take part in the battles either? - John clarified.
- No.
- Then how dare you call Sam a coward? - Stark asked. - Sam fought and killed, looked death in the eye, but he didn't back down. What's more, he won the fight against an enemy most warriors would flee at the sight of.
- Don't cross Sam Deathwing,' one of the sentries said.
- Exactly,' Stark nodded. - He may not be a great warrior, but I'm willing to let Sam watch my back. Not to mention that his main weapon is not his sword, but his mind, which he knows how to use very well. Now be quiet, and I don't want to hear any more of this.
John looked at Margaery again, stood up silently and left the table. As he approached Tyrell, he apologised:
- Please forgive me for that outburst, Lady Margaery. It's just that I can't stand it when shallow individuals have the nerve to insult my friends without knowing anything about them.
- Defending your friend in his absence is a noble thing to do, Jon Stark,' Margaery said, 'and it honours you.
Stark smiled back and asked:
- You must be tired from the journey?
- Not without it,' Tyrell admitted.
- My sister has already had your quarters prepared. Rest now, and I expect you for dinner tonight. Tomorrow you will tell me why you have come North.
- As you wish,' Margaery agreed.
She moved away from the window and clenched her fists in frustration. It had been almost a week since she'd met Stark, and she hadn't had a chance to talk to him since the next morning the King of the North had left Winterfell, leaving the castle in his sister's care. His sudden departure was motivated by a letter from Castle Black. Its contents were unknown to Margaery, but the fugitive queen thought it contained something very important.
As a result, Margaery was bored all these days, only occasionally leaving her chambers to stroll around the castle grounds. She was most interested in Winterfell's mantis, where Margaery went most often for solitude. For some strange reason, it was there, under the wide branches of the holly tree, that she felt peace and the pain in her burned hand receded. Maybe it was her disappointment in the Seven, for on the day the sept of Baelor had exploded, Tyrell had cursed the gods for their indifference, and her faith had crumbled like a tree overcome by disease.
- I see you like it here,' Sansa's voice came as Margaery decided to sit in the quiet of the godswood once more. She turned round and saw Stark walking towards her, a look of weariness on her face. Sansa shouldered the burden of running the castle in Jon's absence, so Margaery had only seen the king's sister a couple of times in the past few days.
- It is quiet and peaceful here,' Tyrell replied. - I never thought I would need such simple things, and they are not easy to get. I saw an abandoned sept. Where did it come from?
- My father built it for my mum,' Sansa said, sitting down next to Tyrell. - I used to go there once, before I went to King's Landing.
- Why don't you go now? - Margaery asked.
- Why don't you?
Margaery only grinned bitterly, but remained silent. Each of them had their own reasons, but they were all connected to the capital in one way or another. They had both lost their fathers there, and in both cases Cersei had been involved. Each had suffered terrible disappointment, which, coupled with the monstrous blows of fate, had destroyed faith in both of them. But while Sansa was able to find salvation in the Old Gods her ancestors had worshipped, Margaery found it more difficult - having lost faith in the Seven, she could not accept another's faith.
- When will your brother return? - Tyrell asked.
- If nothing distracts him, it won't be long now,' Sansa replied. After a moment's silence, she asked. - You still haven't told me why you've come.
- What do you think? - Margaery asked.
- You want an alliance against Cersei,' Stark answered immediately. - You want to overthrow her, but I don't know why. You lost your claim to the throne the moment Tommen died, unless you're going to proclaim yourself Queen Margaery Tyrell in your first name.
- 'That would be nice,' Margaery admitted with a sad smile, 'but I am driven by a far simpler goal: revenge. That thing killed my father and brother, wanted to kill me, and my rescue can only be called a miracle. Besides, there is another queen claiming the Iron Throne.
- Which one? - Sansa asked, sensing something wrong.
- Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons,' came the reply. - Across the Narrow Sea, she gathered a huge army of Dothraki and Unsullied, and then we heard rumours that the Greyjoys had arrived with the Iron Fleet. She has three huge dragons and she intends to reclaim her throne.
- What does that have to do with us? - Sansa frowned.
- 'My grandmother went to meet Daenerys Targaryen,' Margaery admitted, 'with the intention of making an alliance. The Tyrells were betrayed to the ruling house during Baratheon's rebellion, and we intend to restore the old vows.
- But the negotiations will go much better if you bring new allies,' Sansa realised. Her shoulders straightened, her voice harder. - You've decided to use us to strengthen your own position, once again ignoring what we want.
Margaery covered her eyes, inwardly feeling annoyed. Unfortunately for her, Sansa had wised up enough to understand the Tyrells' motives, and she certainly didn't like what she'd heard. But without giving up hope of changing Stark's mind, Margaery continued to insist:
- 'Understand, Sansa, we will all have to face her anyway. Wouldn't the North be better served by having a word with the Mother of Dragons?
- And what word would that be, Margaery? That the Northmen are stupid savages to be used for their own good? - Sansa stood up, looking down at Tyrell. - That's what your grandmother thought when she wanted to marry me to Loras and you helped her do it, wasn't it? You didn't care about my future, you just wanted to get your grasp on Winterfell.
- You're only partly right,' Margaery stood up, but she was still less tall than Sansa. - Yes, we wanted to, as you put it, lay our hands on Winterfell, but only so that Petyr Baelish wouldn't. And for your information, it was Lord Varys' idea.
- The spider? - Stark wondered. - What good would it do him?
- I have no idea; all their conversations with Granny were in private,' Tyrell replied. - Anyway, we really wanted to help you, and we felt sorry for you. Marrying Loras would have gotten you out of the capital and as far away from Joffrey as possible. But Littlefinger ruined everything.
- I've realised that,' Sansa's face grew hard and determined. - But that doesn't change the point. You have and continue to think of us as shallow barbarians who can be easily manipulated. What will Lady Olenna say to the dragon queen? That Sansa Stark is a brainless fool who can be manipulated at will? She doesn't know about Jon, does she? She doesn't know my brother won't listen to the South or make any alliances with them. She doesn't know that the North will no longer recognise any king or queen from the South.
- And then what? - Margaery asked. - What will you do when an armada comes to the North? Daenerys Targaryen will not back down until all the kingdoms bow to her. Understand, she doesn't want war now, she's against the methods her mad father was so fond of. She doesn't want to burn the unruly and she certainly doesn't want to turn cities to ashes. But if necessary, Queen Daenerys will throw her troops into battle.
- No army, Dothraki or Unsullied, can pass the Isthmus, and you and I know it,' Sansa smiled. - Besides, winter has begun. Are her troops ready for it? Can the Dothraki horses go into battle chest-deep in snow? I doubt it. As for the Unsullied and the Ironborn, we can handle them somehow.
- You forgot the dragons,' Margaery retorted. - If your brother acts foolishly and does not bow to the Targaryens, they will send their own dragons.
At that moment Sansa smiled, and it was a smile Tyrell did not like. It was a smile of superiority, as if the Starks had an advantage no one knew about. Stepping forward to hover over Margaery, Sansa asked in a husky voice:
- What makes you think my brother is afraid of dragons?
***
A week earlier.
- Subjugation of the will? - Ser Davos interjected. - Did I mishear that?
- That's right,' John nodded. - I've been puzzling over this... Let's call it the Scream. Well, I've been puzzling over the Scream for a long time, and I realised that it subjugates the will of anyone who falls under it, human or animal.
The ghost raised his head and looked at John with mute reproach with his red eyes, to which he immediately reassured him:
- Don't worry, my friend, it's none of your business,' after which the direwolf resumed gnawing on the pig's leg.
- The most important thing,' John continued to explain, "is the last part of the cry - the word "Dov'. It means dragon.
- How did you understand that? - Vel asked, at which Sansa squinted slightly - it was a little unusual to see a wildling so openly with Jon.
- Partly because of the dreams I keep having,' Jon replied. - I don't know why I have them, but they're the ones that most often reveal things to me.
- Skagos, for example? - Davos suggested.
- Exactly,' John nodded. - Sometimes these dreams are repeated several times before I get the point.
- So you think you can subdue even a dragon with that Scream? - Brienne of Tarth asked.
- Yes,' replied the young man.
- Are you sure? - Davos clarified.
- So far, everything I have seen in these dreams has been confirmed,' nodded the King of the North. - In the same way, I have realised the meaning and essence of Ruthless Power and Fire Breath. Yes, I've tested my ideas before, and every time I've been right. I see no reason to doubt it now.
After thinking for a while, John confessed:
- Besides, I've already tried out that Creek in the Wolfwood.
- What?!' Sansa exclaimed, and the others joined in. - When?!
- A couple of days ago. I subdued a pack of wolves and then told them to get out of the forest.
- And how was that? - Davos asked, while the others were digesting what they had heard.
- They listened like their mother.
***
- You want my advice, Margaery? - Sansa looked at the girl she'd once considered her friend. - Leave right now. Go back to Highgarden or go straight to your new queen.
- I must speak to the King of the North first,' Tyrell's voice became as cold as the snow that surrounded them.
- Once Jon knows why you've come, he won't even listen to you,' Stark parried. - He will not bow to a foreigner at the head of an army of savages, castrati, and pirates. The Dothraki have a reputation known even to children, and there is no place in Westeros where the Ironborn are more hated than in the North. Your queen has chosen very bad allies, and I'm sure a great many lords will refuse to swear allegiance to her. I fear Daenerys Targaryen cannot escape her father's stigma.
- Then you will be alone,' Tyrell promised her. - Do you really want to die so badly, Sansa?
- Watch your words, Lady Margaery,' Brienne of Tarth's angry voice sounded like a thunderclap behind her. At what exact moment the Maid of Tarth found herself in the boghorn, no one noticed. - Your kind, unlike the Starks, knows nothing of loyalty. You sided with the Targaryens during Robert Baratheon's rebellion, that's true. But you took Renly Baratheon's side first, and after his death you defected to the Lannisters. Now you're running back to the Targaryens. If I were the Mother of Dragons, I'd think three times if she needed such unreliable allies.
- I don't recall asking your opinion, Lady Brienne,' Margaery replied, unhappy that she hadn't noticed the Maid of Tarth's appearance. - It is none of your concern.
- Oh, you are mistaken,' Brienne stepped forward, seething with anger. - 'It does concern me. As does every man who cares about the fate of Westeros. Your clan is dead, and now, in your thirst for revenge, you're willing to ally with pirates and savages who make even the Wildlings seem civilised.
Tarth's words had the effect of a slap in the face. Tyrell gasped with indignation, unable to find the right words.
- What will happen when your queen sits on the throne? How does she intend to rule a country whose people are tired of the Targaryens and their madness? She will have to destroy all the lords of the Seven Kingdoms who refuse to bow down to a foreigner and her savages. She would have to kill all the Lannisters, for Cersei would not give her power.
- Not all of them,' Margaery parried. - Tyrion Lannister serves her.
- So what? - Sansa asked. - Should we start dancing for joy now?
- All I'm saying is...
- Enough!
Sansa turned round sharply and saw Jon walking towards them. The King of the North was giving Margaery a look that made her uncomfortable.
- I come home with good news, and what do I hear?
- Your Grace,' Margaery turned to him, 'I just wanted to say....
- I heard everything you said,' John interrupted her, 'words were more than enough. Lady Margaery, I strongly advise you to pack your things, take your tame Tarly and leave the North immediately. You are not welcome here.
- You are being foolish and shortsighted,' Tyrell hissed.
- Go back to your home and tell everyone that the North will bow to no one else,' Jon looked into her eyes and added quietly. - Better yet, start praying hard to all the gods you know, lest we come for your souls. You may go.
Margaery Tyrell, who at that moment was shaking with anger or cold, walked away with a less than pleased look in her back. After waiting for her to leave the mound, Jon turned to Sansa and she rushed to him with a question:
- Well?
Jon smiled happily:
- It's true, Sansa. Bran is alive, and I have brought him home.
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