Highgarden was at its most beautiful time when Spring. As the seat of warden of the Reach, region with the second most populations, and the most fertile corps across seven kingdoms, the palace during spring covered with colourful flowers – as various as common folks could imagine. The flowers were bloomed from the city wall on the way to the lord’s chamber. Ivies twisted across every column along the hallway. The sunlight reflects on the roof of small picnic area where it surrounded by many colours of roses. Lady Olenna Tyrell was enjoying her day routine. The sharp eyes locked at three young girls running along the hallway. While the other two girls were laughing with happiness, one of them only had the huge smile on her face, and instead of running, she seemed to walk fast instead.
That’s because the girl was trained since she started walking. The proper lady shouldn’t be running around like monkey, unless they have chores to do.
Of course, Lady Maryanne Tyrell didn’t have any chores to do. That’s the job for low-born folks that worked for them. She never had to be rush into place, when her handmaiden and septa made sure that whatever she was doing, they would stop her beforehand so Maryanne could walk gracefully to do the next thing. That might sound silly to anyone outside this palace wall – or men even – but these small trick of being a Tyrell Woman always does its job and married them off to Targaryen for generations.
Olenna only gave her only niece a small wave when the girl looked at her. Maryanne bid goodbye to her two friends who turned to Olenna and gave her proper courtesy before they ran off. Young lady made her way to the picnic area. The sky-blue eyes quickly scan around the table, then met with the same pair of eyes of Lady of the house who was already looking at her.
“Maryanne”
“Grandmother” The girl gave old lady a courtesy, then went sit in front of her.
“If you were looking for the lemon cakes, …” The beautiful face went pale, afraid of being scold from her grandmother. As she shouldn’t have sweets during meal. Lady Alerie, her mother, insist that Maryanne could only eat fruits during meal, as the sweets would ruin her perfect body.
“I didn’t …”
“… they’re bringing it here as we’re talking” Lady Olenna finished her sentence before Maryanne could start denying. It took her seconds to process what she had just been told.
“That’s very kind of you, grandmother, but I thought I’m not allowed sweets during meals?”
“Your mother told me that you bled this morning?”
The young girl’s cheek turned crimson. Memories from this morning rushing back in her head. The girl woke up with strange pain and exhaustion that she thought she catch the wild fever and would die. She was too tired and shock to scream or ask for help, instead she laid in pain until her handmaiden came in. Only to make it worse when the handmaiden helped her got up only to see blood everywhere on the mattress. That’s when she passed out.
“Even though I kept praying to the sevens to make it happened. I couldn’t say it’s the good impression” She recalled the chaotic morning with smile.
“How are you feeling right now?”
“I feel like I could sleep for many moons, and – I don’t know is this usual? – but I found it’s very difficult to move during the day with this pain”
“Here’s another lesson from me, child. The pain would be with you for a long, long times, unless you’re with child”
“I presume that wouldn’t be soon, grandmother”
“Then in meantime – eat! – only sweets could make you less exhausted”
The girl’s eyes sparkled with joy when a big plate of lemon cakes was served in front of her. Lady Olenna gave Maryanne a nod, before the girl start eating her favourite cake. The eyes of old lady observed how Maryanne’s tiny fingers delicately picked a small bite of the cake to her mouth. Maryanne was never not be a proper lady. The young girl always found her way to make everything proper -- as it was what she had been told that only proper high-born lady would have a chance to be queen.
“Maryanne”
The girl looked up and stopped eating. “Yes grandmother?”
“Now that you’re a woman, no longer a girl, have you ever thinking about marriage?”
Maryanne thought for second before slowly nodded her head. “Yes, I have”
“What about it, child?”
“When I went to the town with Jenny, I heard a song about a maiden who married to her true love. They live in the beautiful castle, along with their children. Until death do them part”
“Hmm” Lady Olenna slowly nodded. “That’s not marriage”
Maryanne’s smile slowly faded away. “It could be mine”
“Yes, if you want to be wed to the banner man in the north and live in the old castle deep forest somewhere – The Dreadfort, perhaps? – Lady Maryanne Bolton?”
“That’s not what I meant” the young girl mumbled
“Now, what did I tell you about mumbling? Speak up girl. No one hear women voice if they keep mumbling. Let’s alone the voice of young girl”
The young girl inhaled “I don’t want to live in the north, grandmother” she said, this time, louder.
Olenna watched her oldest grandchildren calculatedly. Thanks to the sevens that so far, Maryanne was still on the path of Tyrell women.
Since Aegon Targaryen named House of Tyrell as the warden of the reach, the dragon had become main goal of roses.
Only powerful soil would make the rose bloom wonderfully.
Only Targaryen would be the perfect match for Tyrell.
“Alright, let’s make sure your father would do stupid things at the tourney then. Sevens, every lord in Westeros would be there, including other great houses. The last thing we want them to know is how useless their future good-father could be”
Maryanne raised her eyebrows, uncomfortable for the perspective of Olenna having towards her son, in the other word, Maryanne’s lord father. Since she could process things in life, Maryanne came to realise that no matter how the world seems to be leaning towards men’s favour. Provide titles, fortune, heritage, or even name for every man. Somehow – behind the close door – the women’s opinion seems to be the force to push that to happened. She spends hours study her family trees since the first year of Aegon Conqueror, only thing Tyrell men mainly achieved was Harlen Tyrell bending his knee in front of the dragon king, right after the dead of King of the Reach at the time. Ironically, that might be the advice from his lady mother.
Tyrell women, with her charming personality and appearance, blooming gracefully like roses in summertime, were succeed in having men wrapped around their fingers. With the powerful intelligent women who know how to play the Westeros politic game, and the mighty force of Highgarden Honour Guard, led by skilled knights of Tyrell men, house of golden rose was continually blooming vigorously than ever.
“Don’t you worry, grandmother. I will marry well”
Olenna finally smiled. It was a genuine smile that the queen of thrones herself only preserve for the family. “I know you would, precious rose. You’re Tyrell after all”
#
Maryanne always loved supper at Highgarden. Born in the reach, where it was named the most fertile land in the kingdom, was truly a bless. She enjoyed every bite of her food. Today it was braised lamb. The meat was tender beyond believe. The savoury flavour was eased by the summer salad where fruits and greens vegetable brought out the taste of summer. Unfortunately, the happiness of a young girl didn’t last long when servant started to serve them the rose cream with berries sorbet. That’s when adults decided it was perfect time to talk about business. Normally Maryanne wouldn’t engaging in any of that topic. As usual, she was focusing on the sweet and sour sorbet in front of her, while her name was mentioned multiple time in the conversation. Eventually, the young lady channelled her attention to the conversation.
“… we’re not the only one in this humiliation” her father stated from the head of table, with her mother sit next to him. They were talking to grandmother, who sit in the other end of table.
“May I remind you what you missed, Mace?” her grandmother didn’t even look up from her dessert “humiliation”
“And I am assuring you that the king has made his decision, years ago, reasonably I might add”
“I know his reason why he married his eldest son to Dorne Princess. Everyone knows that. I just simply pointed out that now, we can support his army as much as Dorne can do, and Maryanne is now a grown woman” she looked at Maryanne, who – despite fully paying attention to the conversation – but still manage to almost finish her rose cream “Don’t you think we should think about betrothal with Targaryen again?”
“But we all heard about Prince Viserys and his resemblance to the king” Lady Alerie spoke up without turned her eyes away from her firstborn. “I don’t want her to have the same fate as Queen Rhaella”
“Only if her husband could be Prince Rhaegar”
Lady Olenna exhaled. As much as she hated to admit, the situation of Targaryen in this time isn’t as normal as it was. When she was young, the mentioning of marriage with Targaryen deserved the seven nights of celebrations. Now, it deserved to be thinking about couple times before making final decision. That’s why when they missed the betrothal with the eldest prince, who seemed to be the good side of the coin, Senior Tyrell couldn’t be more disappointed.
“Either we arrange the proposal now or we wait until the queen has daughter, which of course the prince would marry his sister, and there won’t be any chance for Maryanne”
“What about Tywin’s son” Alerie suggested
“Hopefully you meant the Knight one” Lady Olenna chuckled. “Because we didn’t raise Maryanne to be the wife of the imp”
“Imp?” Maryanne interrupted the conversation. “Do I have to marry the imp?”
Lady Olenna laughed but didn’t answer, Alerie was the one who quickly assure her daughter “No sweetheart. You won’t marry the imp” then she turned to Olenna “Yes mother, I meant the oldest one. Jaime Lannister”
“Well, we could see the possibility if Tywin agree. However, as we have talked about before, Maryanne won’t be the princess”
“Yes, but she would be the wife of Hand of the King’s son”
“Of course, and that would make us the most powerful house in Westeros” Olenna sarcastically chuckled at her good-daughter’s idea
“Mother, what about the Starks” Mace wavily voice echoed from the other end of table. The lord had been waiting until his wife and mother finish the heat discussion before he decided to jump in again. Only his idea seems to receive the glare from both women.
“We are talking about making her the powerful woman in Westeros and you suggested us to marry her off to the North?” Alerie asked her husband with high voice. “Brandon already betrothed to Tully girl. Now you want Maryanne to be wife of banner man and live somewhere in that cold place?”
“But if we’re worried about prince Viseryse might turned into the man like the King, marry her to Eddard Stark would be the good idea. He’s the honourable man, better than Lannister. I would feel better if my firstborn is in the care of Stark man”
Somehow, the two ladies went quite after lord Mace explained his reason. It is true that Maryanne should marry someone powerful. But give the current state of the King. Being anywhere near him could mean she will be in the grave danger.
“Does that make us less powerful than Lannister? If I have to listen to lord Tywin as his good-daughter” Maryanne who finished the dessert spoke with her sweet voice. Cut through the silence on table. Her parents looked at her, unexpected the young girl to join the conversation, as Maryanne seemed to prefer ran off and play with her friends in the garden every time after supper. They barely noticed that today, the girl stayed and listen to the conversation after she finished her supper.
“Don’t you want to go out and play? Sweetheart?” Alerie asked her daughter softly
“I’m not a girl anymore, mother. I am a woman now, and a woman don’t play anymore” Maryanne answered confidently. She sat with her back straight, her dark honey hair reflected the moonlight from garden next to the supper room. “I’m ready to talk about my marriage, if you would allow me into this conversation”
“Go on, child, speak your mind” Olenna encouraged Maryanne. The old lady looked at her niece proudly.
“Father, that’s very sweet about what you think about the Stark. But I don’t think I will be happy up in the north” she gave her father a sweet smile, which Mace gave her in return. Then Maryanne turned to Olenna “Like I told you, grandmother, I will make you proud. I will marry well” then she looked at the person who sit opposite of her “Mother, after I see what you and father have every day, I want it too. I want love in my marriage. I know it’s almost impossible, but I believe that being Tyrell could make it possible”
Three adults shared the look. It was the mixed feeling of proud and joy. Maryanne did really grow up. The young lady not only know what her want, but also do not afraid to speak her mind in the sweetest way.
Mace sighed, seeing his firstborn talked about marriage wasn’t easy for a father. It felt like yesterday when he held the seven days celebrations for her birth. When he held her the first time, knowing she was his first unconditional love. Maryanne might not be heir of Highgarden, and one day she would be called by her husband’s name. He still wanted that name to be her protection, as what Tyrell had been her protection for ten and three years.
“Fine, we will see who your first choice would be. If it’s bad, then it’s up to your grandmother and us”
Alerie swore that Maryanne’s smile that day was brighter than the moon. This was the first proof that being Tyrell came with choices. Every lord in Westeros would do anything to marry a Tyrell. Although, high-born girls rarely got a chance to say in their own marriage, but being Tyrell meant you had upper card in your hand in this game. Now, her daughter was about to experience that.
“The tourney in Harrenhall is only weeks away, I’m sure you will enjoy the event, my love” Alerie gave her daughter an encouraging nod. “Mace, I don’t think you should take the boys to Riverland. They’re too young to travel” she referred to young Willas and baby Gerland.
“I’ll go with Mace” Olenna stated. “I have something to take care of with Lord Whent” the old lady mentioned Lord of Harrenhall.
“That’s settled then” Mace sipped his rose wine. “Sweet dream, mother, Maryanne” then he left.
Olenna looked at Maryanne “You’ll need the whole new wardrobe for the tourney”
The sky blue eyed went wide. She loved getting new things, especially gown. This time she would finally get her own women gowns with sheer fabric.
“Don’t worry lady mother, I will make sure Maryanne get everything she need” Alerie assured. Lady Olenna only nodded before left for her chamber. Her mother gave her a hand, implied that she would walk Maryanne back to the chamber. It was this time when Alerie could feel Maryanne’s time in Highgarden started to count down. This must be what Lady Hightower felt when Alerie was getting ready to marry off. After all Maryanne was her firstborn, and she had no clue on how to cope with this feeling.
Still, the Lady of Highgarden simply walked down the corridor with her daughter, hand in hand. Maryanne seemed to forget her adult moment in supper room and became a young girl again. The girl filled silence at night with her story of what happened today. When they reached the chamber, Alerie kissed her oldest goodnight
“Sweet dream, my precious rose. We will talk about your new hair tomorrow”
Maryanne’s hand quickly went to her long braid that decorated with roses and gold ribbon. The braid reached her small waist, and it was her favourite hairstyle.
“But I love the braid”
“Now that you’re a young lady who’s ready for marriage, I think letting your hair down would suit you better”
“You think?”
Lady of Highgarden hummed. She kissed Maryanne’s cheek and left for her chamber. The girl went to her vanity desk, waiting for her handmaid to come and get her ready for bed. However, her sky blue eyed never left her own reflection from mirror.
She would finally look like a grown up tomorrow with her new hair.
No longer a little girl, Maryanne Tyrell was a woman.
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