Chapter 66
- Sept of Baylor - Royal Wedding Day -
Margery was nervous. How could she not? She was about to be married. To a King! No. THE King. The King of the Seven Kingdoms. Hero of the people. Not just in Westeros, but in Essos too. She was to join House Tyrell to House Targaryen. The dragon and rose united as one through marriage and one day by blood through the child she would conceive with the King. A boy or girl. Her Grandmother was hoping Margery would produce a boy so the child could be the future King. She wouldn't mind a girl of course, but there was always a risk of said girl being one day manipulated or controlled by her future husband.
And the one thing Olenna Tyrell hated was the thought of such a thing happening to someone of her blood being put in such a position. Even if she was not alive to see it.
For Margery, she would rather be at the Small Council meetings, learning about the recent affairs her soon-to-be husband was handling. Aegon wanted her to be there too. Along with his Aunt Daenerys, but the planning of the wedding had come up and Olenna had insisted they handle everything regarding this event. To spare no expense on the wedding, paid for with Tyrell coin to further prove how far they were willing to go to make this happen. When sharing her desire to be in the Small Council, Olenna just smiled and told her Granddaughter not to worry since she was sure Aegon would tell Margery everything.
And he did. Olenna knew what type of man Aegon was from the way his men followed him, listening to him, and obeyed his commands. Not simply because he was the King of the Seven Kingdoms. But rather it was due to the decisions the King made that were the right ones.
Margery heard his plans. Of what he had seen with his powers. The Wildlings going over the Wall. The White Walkers being real. A painful truth if there ever was one. The cold darkness and storm these dark things were bringing with them in a slow methodical pace. She had become scared when he told her the White Walkers were real. Margery laughed at first about the White Walkers being real, but the laughter died when Aegon looked at her with a serious face. She realized it was not a jape on his part and asked him immediately all types of questions. Was the Wall okay? Did the Wall have enough supplies? Food? Men? Coin? She would drain all of House Tyrell's gold and give it to the Wall if it meant keeping those dark things where they were for the next 1,000 years.
Fortunately, Aegon was able to assure her the Wall was standing. It still needed men, supplies, and was currently having his Master of Coin looking at the finances to see if any coin was ever sent to the Wall during Robert's time as King. He assured Margery everything was being done to improve the Wall and a plan was set in motion to ensure it would be back in top form by the time the White Walkers made their move on it.
It was also one of the reasons for getting the Wildlings over the Wall in the first place. Over 100,000 of them were there and if they died, the enemy would absorb them into the fold to use. Even better, there would come a time when the Wildlings could help repel the White Walkers and their army when fighting those vile creatures was upon them.
When Margery told her Grandmother, she saw the elderly woman was stone faced since Mace had seen fit to inform her of everything after the Small Council meeting. It was clear the Queen of Thorns was still trying to wrap her head around this information about the White Walkers. Mace could be an idiot and a buffoon at times, but he never lied to her. Not once in his life. He had enough brains to realize it was not wise to do or try something with her. Like Margery, she wondered if the Wall had enough men, supplied, and coin to keep the Wall running. Mace had spared no details on the plans the King had and while she did approve of some, the Wildlings being over the Wall was not one of them. Oh, she saw what the King intended from what Mace had explained to her about keeping so many out of the hands of the White Walkers. But keeping the Wildlings in check, from scattering or ripping the Seven Kingdoms apart was another matter entirely. The King seemed confident he could reach out to the King Beyond the Wall, this Mance Rayder, and convince him to stay in the North to keep them all in check.
Whether it involved showing off three fire breathing dragons, Olenna did not know. But she would like to hope and assume their presence would make them think twice before doing something stupid.
But now was not the time for such dark and worrisome things. Aegon had assured them both that the threat would not come for some time. Time, which Aegon intended to use to his fullest. Time spent on protecting the Seven Kingdoms and being there for his future wife.
Which was why she was here and about to be married to her husband.
All were in attendance. High Lords and Ladies. All representing their Houses, Kingdoms, and territories were here to watch the new King marry the soon to be new Queen. The new High Septon, one who was not corrupt, or hypocritical of his duties, was present to perform the ceremony. The third one to be performed that day. Earlier, they had wed in front of one of the few remaining Weirwood trees within the city in order to honor the Old Gods. Members of the Small Council, Aegon and Margery's family, and quite a number of other people attended the ceremony to witness this event. To many, it was not just a wedding in front of a tree, it was a symbol of change. A new union between the North and the South to bind them together. In many ways, the sight of this was history repeating itself yet again. With a few difference of course, but the similarities were there.
The second wedding was to honor R'hllor and performed by the Thoros of Myr and the Red Priestess Melisandre in the Dragon Pit. This one being more a bit more intimidating given how the couple had to walk through a wall of fire of all things and come out unburned. If the fire did not cause them harm, they had R'hllor's blessing. While she loved Aegon unconditionally, Margery was still very much afraid this particular God would not deem her worthy of him. Thoros and Melisandre thought otherwise since it was clear to them regarding Aegon's feelings for her were unquestioned and he was their God's chosen. If Aegon deemed Margery Tyrell worthy of his love, R'hllor would not oppose the union since it would make his champion happy.
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I will not be burned? You are sure?
I do Lady Margery. R'hllor has chosen Aegon as his champion. Aegon wishes to have you as his Queen. Not for duty, but for love. Love is a fire unto itself. Just like dragon's fire.
Thoros is correct Lady Margery. R'hllor favors his Grace. He has done much not only for Westeros, but for Essos too. If you genuinely love Aegon, the Lord of Light will bless this union because he knows that his Grace loves you just as much as you love him.
I do love Aegon. He means everything to me. He is kind, caring, attentive, and wishes to help the people live long happy lives long after our own are no more. The fact he is the King means little to me in this matter. While it does help for our union to be allowed, I would still love him regardless of his position in life.
All the more reason to not fear the fire. You love his Grace for all the right reasons. The fire would burn away all that is impure when it comes to intentions. Have faith in your love for Aegon and the flames will never burn you.
---------------------------------------------------
And she did. Margery held Aegon's hand the whole time while staring at the wall of fire. The fire itself was made by the three dragons no less. On either side of them as the two walked, a row of Unsullied, spears and shields in hand, stood tall and unwavering. If they feared what would befall them, it was not known, but Margery had believed in her heart they chose to be there. To be among those worthy to see this happen and witness the ritual that would bless these two in the eyes of R'hllor himself. She wished to believe they believed in their King and his decision when choosing his bride and Queen to help him rule the Seven Kingdoms.
A reassuring squeeze from Aegon's hand to her own helped when they were about to walk into it. He believed in their love and that R'hllor would bless their union. She looked at him and smiled at her love in that moment while believing in their love too.
~ I am yours Margery Tyrell. ~
~ And you are mine Aegon Targaryen. ~
Before stepping into the fire with him at the same time.
She had imagined her Grandmother had been secretly terrified out of her mind along with her Father when they saw the walk into the Wall of fire. Both no doubt hoping and praying the fire would not burn their precious rose about to become Queen.
Their faith had been rewarded when they saw the two walk through the fire. Both of them were seen walking through it unscathed, unburnt, and unharmed. It was a terrifying experience all the same, but one that would prove it was no mummery. Some among the Seven Faith would claim the fire itself was fake in some manner if it were from a torch, but any protest they wished to make would be moot now with dragon's fire being used for everyone to see.
And now here she was, being married in the Light of the Seven. Margery still remembered how some of the Septons had demanded they be married in the Light of the Seven Faith first. Some even threatening to denounce their union if it wasn't. Those fools were soon beaten bloody, arrested, and thrown into the Black Cells by Aegon. The King clearly did not take kindly to threats and showed the idiots what did happen when a dragon became angry. He made it clear to the other Septons that the order in which the different faiths blessed their wedding would up to him and his future wife.
She said the words. As did Aegon. Once more putting their feelings into it when spoken. Looking each other in the eyes when they said them. It was still the most boring of wedding ceremonies when you compared it to the previous two performed, yet it was required all the same, if only to appease those of the Seven Faith.
With sigil cloaks wrapped around them, the passionate kissing done, and the blessing of the High Septon himself, the two were wed in the Light of the Seven Faith. Cheering was heard all throughout the Great Sept of Baelor and the entire city when word spread of the wedding ceremony being finished.
Following that moment, everything was blur to Margery with the wedding feast, the festivities, and the joy the people were having as a result. This wasn't a party meant only for the High Lords, Ladies, and the wealthy friends they know. The entire city of King's Landing was enjoying the wedding feast and the fun that came with it. For the first time in some would say forever, they were witnessing the reign of a King and Queen who actually cared about the people. A King who wasn't fat, drunk, whored, or went mad with the desire to see people be burned alive. A Queen who didn't drink as much as the King. A Queen who didn't conspire to murder others to hide the fact she had inbred children with her twin brother.
The King and Queen they always wanted. A King and Queen they always needed well before this point and could finally say they now had.
"To new beginnings," said Aegon with his goblet raised and many did so in joining him.
"To a brighter future," added Margery with many cheering when they heard that.
"May we leave this world in a better place for our children and our children's children than when we were born into it," finished Aegon while smiling at Margery and she returned it.