A/N: Poor, poor Margaery…
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"Alright, what's this all about?"
As the King sits down at the table with them, its clear that he's concerned. Which… wasn't what Margaery and her grandmother had intended for this meeting. Not for the first time, Margaery shoots a frustrated glare over at Tyene Sand, who sits on the other side of the table with a knowing smile on her lips and a serene look in her eyes.
Gods, she was just… so infuriating! This zealous bitch better not ruin everything, especially after Margaery had been working her ass off for months now to make this work. She'd spent every free moment that she had learning at her grandmother's feet… that is, when she wasn't on her knees or bent over some surface taking Axel's cock of course.
This was supposed to be her big, triumphant moment, her and her grandmother, but instead Tyene had inserted herself into the conversation. Which in turn led to Olenna giving Margaery a single disappointed look when they'd first sat down.
Seething inwardly, Margaery nevertheless forces a smile on her face as she looks to the King. She just… needed to focus. They'd talked about this. She knew what to say, even with Tyene getting in the way of things.
"My King… House Tyrell has been out of your favor for quite some time now. And for good reason at that. My brother Loras convinced my lord father to foolishly tie our family's fate to the traitor Renly Baratheon and it was only by your benevolent mercy that our family's punishment was not as bad as it should have been."
Axel just stares at her, making Margaery fidget a bit. Truth be told, she wasn't sure that all of this flowery language was really necessary. This was her grandmother's script more than anything, with Margaery meant to play the soft, elegant, and beautiful flower while Lady Olenna played the role of the thorns, like always.
However, the feeling in the room was… off with Tyene Sand's presence. The Dornish Bastard was making everything so much harder than it had to be!
Margaery sucks in a breath and prepares to continue on with her role in this by trying to further soften him up… only to be cut off by the most unlikely of sources.
"You've been without a Spymaster since the death of the Spider, Your Grace."
Margaery's head whips around as Olenna suddenly inserts herself into the conversation. This… this was not the plan as they'd discussed it! She can't help but feel a little betrayed by her grandmother. When they'd plotted this entire conversation out, Olenna had made it clear that Margaery was to do the majority of the talking! Her grandmother was only supposed to step in if absolutely necessary!
… Surely… surely it was not already necessary, was it?!
Axel just grunts, his gaze locking on the Queen of Thorns now.
"Indeed I have, Lady Olenna. What of it?"
Sitting back in her chair, steepling her fingers together, Olenna purses her lips before doing what she's known best for. Speaking bluntly without reservation or restraint.
"You have willfully blinded yourself to the threats lurking in the shadows, Axel Baratheon."
Oh by the Seven, she was going to get them killed. Or maybe just herself killed, Sansa would probably step in to save Margaery… but even still, she didn't want her grandmother dead!
Though… while the King does narrow his eyes, he doesn't actually seem to get all that angry. In fact, he doesn't say anything at all, prompting Olenna to continue on.
"When the Spider died, his network did not die with him. I believe he called them his… little birds. But to strip away the obfuscation and niceties, Varys' spy network were children… children one and all, their tongues cut out of their mouths, leaving them supposedly unable to spill their secrets to anyone else."
Margaery shifts in her seat, even as Axel frowns. It disgusted her a little bit. The practice was so distasteful… and honestly, it felt like it was rather over the top. Their tongues might be cut out, but they could still read and write. That was how they had delivered their findings to Varys and his messages to others, after all. So then what was the point of making them mute? It just felt so wasteful, in the end.
"In the wake of Littlefinger's duplicity and the Spider's death, I saw a chance to make myself useful… seeing as I could not exactly replicate my granddaughter's methods when it came to worming my way into your good graces."
Margaery blushes hard at her grandmother's incredibly dry tone. Tyene continues smiling serenely. The King, not one to be embarrassed easily, just snorts in derisive amusement… before narrowing his eyes.
"And how exactly have you made yourself useful, Lady Olenna?"
Letting her hands relax into her lap, her elbows perched on the arms of her chair, the Queen of Thorns smiles thinly.
"I collected those discarded, mute children that were left behind by the Spider's death. I brought them into my bosom, decrepit as I am, and gave them a new… purpose under me. I tended to the shepherdless flock and made it my own. And of course, I brought my granddaughter here in on all of it, training her and teaching her these past few months."
Axel narrows his eyes, frowning harder now.
"And you did all of this under my nose. Why now? Why did you wait this long to let me know what you were up to? Why not tell me right from the start?"
The Queen of Thorns scoffs.
"And have nothing to show for it? I am an old, old woman, Axel Baratheon. I have lived a long time and seen hundreds of men underestimate me and others of the fairer sex. If I had come to you with nothing, you would not have taken me seriously. My granddaughter is little more than your cock warmer. You would not have taken her seriously either."
Margaery's blush grows even stronger and she squirms in her chair more as Axel shoots her a look. Truthfully? She didn't think that he saw her as nothing more than a… a sheath like Olenna was insinuating. Sure, Margaery might feel at times like she was the least among his women, but she still had a place by his side. She had his ear. She was sure of it.
Unfortunately, her grandmother hadn't agreed with Margaery's beliefs. At the very least, the Queen of Thorns hadn't been willing to risk their scheme on the chance that Margaery was wrong about her value in Axel's eyes.
Sitting quietly for a long moment, Axel finally lets out a sigh.
"I suppose that we're having this meeting now means you finally have something to say that I WILL take seriously, yes?"
Olenna nods sharply, projecting strength even now despite her advanced age.
"You suppose correctly, Your Grace. You'll be glad to know that the Seven Kingdoms, by and large, are quiet. There are no rebellions fomenting and no lords trying to make a mess of things… not after what you did to Euron Greyjoy and the Iron Islands. And so soon after you dealt with Renly as well. But while those within the Seven Kingdoms might fear and respect you too much in equal measure to make a move… those outside of our borders have no such qualms."
Hmph, now who was being rather verbose with their prose? Margaery has to resist the urge to cross her arms over her chest as she listens to her grandmother talk. Honestly, Olenna was usually better about getting to the point… but fortunately, they were finally there anyways.
"To the North, beyond the Wall… an army of wildlings larger than anything seen in almost a hundred years currently gathers. They have a King Beyond the Wall at the head of their host, and it is said they are massing to push further and further South with each passing day."
That gets Axel's attention. He straightens up and his jaw clenches.
"Why am I just now hearing about this?"
Chuckling, Olenna shakes her head.
"It is rather fresh information, Your Grace. And news takes time to travel. The First Ranger Benjen Stark and his nephew Jon Snow returned from the ranging that confirmed the wildling march quite recently. They rested at Castle Black for a single day before traveling south to Winterfell to take word to Lord Eddard Stark. As the Warden of the North, it would be his duty to send word to you."
Growling, Axel leans forward.
"And why hasn't he?"
But Margaery's grandmother isn't intimidated. She just smirks.
"He has, actually. Jon Snow comes south even now, taking a boat from White Harbor to make good time to King's Landing. He comes to bring word of the King Beyond the Wall and the Wildling Army to you directly, Your Grace, in the hopes that your Northern Queen will convince you to provide assistance, even if you do not intervene personally."
That seems to be a balm on Axel's budding anger, causing his fury to fizzle out before it can even start. After all, it's not that he hasn't been told… it's that he hasn't been told yet. Because traditional methods of information are slow. This is why Axel needs a proper Spymaster. To get him information long before it could come by way of rumor and gossipmongers, and certainly long before it could reach him through official methods.
Axel sits quietly again for a long moment before finally giving Margaery's grandmother a look that has some real respect in it. And perhaps some understanding as well.
"What exactly do you hope to gain here, Lady Tyrell?"
Spreading her arms wide, Olenna's, smile becoming more humorless and cutting than ever before.
"What do I hope to gain? I think it should be obvious, truth be told. I am an old woman, after all, Your Grace. Once I'm gone, someone else will have to take over what I've been rebuilding from Varys' network. That someone should be my granddaughter, so long as she keeps up her training. But until that time, I should think you would appreciate having a new Spymaster… specifically, a new Mistress of Whispers. One to tell you all of the things you're missing."
Silence falls over the room at that. Axel staring at Olenna and Olenna staring back at him unflinchingly. Margaery licks her lips as she looks back and forth between them. This was it. This was their big moment. Sure, she would never be one of Axel's Queens. That, Margaery had made peace with long ago. But her grandmother would not settle for her simply being one of Axel's concubines either.
No, Olenna wanted more for Margaery… and truthfully, after training under her grandmother for months in the arts of spycraft, she'd found she had something of a knack for it. At this point, Margaery wanted it too. She wanted to be Mistress of Whispers on Axel's Small Council after her grandmother was gone.
Of course, there's just one final fly in the ointment, isn't there? The… addition to today's meeting that neither Margaery nor Olenna had been anticipating. They'd planned this all out as carefully as possible to really impress upon Axel that he needed their services. Only, they hadn't accounted… for Tyene Sand.
This whole time, Margaery has been waiting for Tyene to interject and reveal why she was here. She'd hoped that maybe the Sand would do so in such a way that she could turn it around on the other woman and make her look like a fool for daring to interrupt.
Unfortunately, Tyene has remained silent and calm this entire time, her serene smile never faltering even a single time as Olenna laid out what they'd found for Axel. And of course she'd stayed quiet. After all, she didn't need to speak because she knew just by being present that eventually… Axel would ask for her input.
Looking from Olenna to Tyene at long last, Axel raises an eyebrow.
"And what is your part in all of this, Tyene? Why are you here?"
Margaery almost speaks up, almost says something about how Tyene HAS no part in it… but under the table, Olenna's foot touches hers and keeps her quiet. And for good reason too, she realizes a moment later. She almost fell into the same damn trap that she was hoping Tyene would fall into, by interjecting and interrupting when it wasn't wanted OR warranted.
Flashing Margaery an amused flicker of her eyes, Tyene hums as she then looks back to Axel.
"I'm afraid that it's not good news, my King. Much like these fine ladies, I saw the absence of a proper Spymaster in your court and moved to fill it. Your place as the Blessed Champion of the Seven and a Living Saint cannot be denied… but it does not stop the ants from scurrying. As Lady Olenna has said, the Seven Kingdoms are at rest… but the same cannot be said for those in Essos."
Margaery shoots a look to her grandmother at that, with Olenna's lips thinning out again as she gives her the smallest shake of her head. Shit, the part of Varys' network that they hadn't been able to make much of any progress with… had been in Essos. While they'd started developing their own spies over on the other continent, the fact was, they were pretty much starting from scratch over there and were still terribly behind.
"Essos. What's going on in Essos then?"
Tyene's serene smile finally drops, replaced by a furrowed brow and a frown.
"Daenerys Targaryen, Your Grace."
Axel twitches at that, while Margaery clutches at the arms of her chair.
"Daenerys Targaryen… I'd heard rumors that she survived. But wasn't she in Qarth after managing to struggle her way through the Red Wastes? What is she doing now?"
Shaking her head, Tyene sighs.
"Apologies Your Grace, but that is extremely outdated information. Though, in all fairness… it should be acknowledged that the Dragon Queen's speed is unprecedented."
Dragon Queen?! Margaery's eyes are wide as she shares a concerned look with her grandmother. Of course, Tyene is just getting started.
"Since leaving Qarth behind, the Last Targaryen moved onto Astapor… where she claimed every Unsullied in the city before sacking it and killing all of the Good Masters there. Then, she moved to Yunkai and burned it to the ground. And then onto Meereen, where they opened the gates and surrendered to her. But that didn't help them. At the direction of her Red Priestess, Daenerys Targaryen sacrificed the Great Masters of Meereen, Your Grace. Every man, woman, and child of slaver blood."
B-By the Seven. Margaery's eyes are wide as she listens to Tyene speak. But the Dornish woman still isn't done.
"They call her many things at this point. Dragon Queen. Mother of Dragons. Breaker of Chains. They say that her eyes glow with an internal fire that blazes just beneath her skin and that all three of her dragons are the exact same way. They say that every sacrifice she makes to the Red God empowers her and her dragons further. And… they say that each of her dragons is of a size with the legendary Vhagar at this point… if not the Black Dread himself."
What? That wasn't possible. That… Margaery shivers. She's seen the dragon skulls deep in the bowels of the Red Keep. Just by themselves, they were frightening. She could only imagine how large the creatures that they once belonged to truly were. And to have three such creatures alive and well was… terrifying.
But no… no, it would be alright, wouldn't it? Axel had killed Euron's Kraken, after all, and that beast was said to be overly large as well. Plus, the King could fly unaided… no dragon could hope to escape him, let alone fight him.
"… Terrible tidings, though if Daenerys Targaryen does not turn her burning gaze towards Westeros, I see no reason to care that much about the fates of these slavers. Surely she should have her hands full ruling her new lands if she's conquered the three greatest cities of Slaver's Bay, right?"
Tyene shakes her head, gaze lowering.
"I'm afraid not, Your Grace. In this, I must admit my own error… I should have warned you about her movements after Astapor but like you, I believed she might be content with slaughtering slavers and freeing slaves. I wanted to have a fuller picture of her motivations before I came to you with this. I thought she might remain in Slaver's Bay and reform it, much as you reformed the Iron Islands."
There's a pause as everyone, even her grandmother, Margaery notes, finds themselves hanging off of Tyene's words.
"… Unfortunately, the latest information is far more dire. Daenerys Targaryen is collecting ships, Your Grace. And she's building what she needs to fill the gaps in her fleet. She's turned her gaze in our direction, Your Grace. All signs point to her coming to Westeros sometime in the next few months."
That… that was bad. Very bad. Margaery shoots her grandmother another glance, but it's a testament to how shaken even Olenna is by this news that she doesn't have anything for her at this point.
Axel, meanwhile, seems to almost be made of stone as he takes this all in. He looks from Tyene to Olenna to Margaery and back again, silent as a rock for several long moments that feel like they stretch on into eternity.
Finally, he sighs.
"… I suppose you would also like to become my Mistress of Whispers, Tyene."
Tyene smiles and simply nods, causing Margaery to scowl. Sure, the bitch might have gotten further in Essos than her and her grandmother, but damn it all, Tyene already had a leg up in Margaery on the bedroom! She would be damned if she let her win here too.
However, before she can figure out what to do or say to make sure they appeal to Axel more than Tyene does… the King abruptly rises from his chair.
"Excuse me, please. I need a moment to think. But feel free to remain seated… I'll be right back."
And then he walks right out of the room. Margaery stares after him with wide eyes, before looking back to her grandmother. But the Queen of Thorns just looks quietly contemplative. Meanwhile, a glance at Tyene finds her smiling serenely again in a way that makes Margaery want to groan and sink down in her chair until she's under the damn table.
She doesn't of course, she has more decorum than that. But that doesn't change the fact that this might just wind up being the most uncomfortable wait of Margaery's entire young life…
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A/N: And so the wool that Axel pulled over his own eyes is finally dragged away. We'll see how he feels about all of this next time~
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