Chapter 157: The Auction (I)
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Chapter 157: The Auction (I)
**** Sorry, guys. But for over a week now I have been succumbing to mono. I can barely write five sentences a day. I don't know if I will be able to maintain the pace of two chapters a week until I get over it.****
------
POV: Olenna Tyrell
Silk Road, in a mansion assigned to the Tyrell family.
Half a day before the Great Show of Steel began...
For years the Queen of Thorns' restful sleep had been growing shorter and shorter. Even if she wanted to, the woman would never be able to sleep for more than four hours a night.
Not that she minded. In her youth, Olenna rarely wasted her noble beauty with closed eyes. And now more than ever, each new dawn could be her last... And Olenna did not want to waste a minute savouring the few remaining wonders the world could still offer.
"Good morning, Lady Olenna... Do you wish to have breakfast in the Hall, or would you prefer to settle in the balcony again?" Gabe, her personal assistant, asked politely.
The boy, who had become a man, had been in her direct employ for almost a decade. He who had lasted longer than the many...
"It's still too early to slap you verbally, Gabe... Balcony. I'll always choose a panoramic view over a cramped room surrounded by bricks. And for the sake of one's self-esteem, make sure that at least today the hard-boiled eggs aren't boiled to the point of overcooking them into throwing weapons." Olenna replied as she passed the boy waiting in front of her room.
"Certainly, my lady! I assure you that such an unfortunate incident will not happen again! Everything has already been arranged according to your specifications!" The boy leapt, holding himself at the exact distance of five feet back to his lady's right, tensing his pace.
Olenna loved this little personal morning routine. So rare were the moments of the day when the Queen of Thorns could be alone in her thoughts. But it was not only moments of profitable solitude that Olenna sought. The Grandmother of House Tyrell always made sure she was the first person to say good morning to her own grandsons and her granddaughter.
The most precious treasures in the old woman's memories were Willem and Garlan's genuine, sleepy early morning smiles as they ran into her arms. By now, the first two heirs were too old to gratify Olenna's affectionate whims, but there still remained little Loras and tender, sweet Margaery...
The manor assigned to House Tyrell for the tournament festivities on the Silk Road was an architectural masterpiece. Granted, the gardens were not up to the standards of Highgarden, but the estate was still worthy of rivalling the finest noble villas of Pentos.
Olenna crossed the gateway's end that led to the coveted area for her moment of refreshment.
And there, the glare of the first light of dawn blinded Olenna's vision for a few moments. Time to adjust to the rays, and she saw him, the shadow of a hooded individual little more than five feet tall.
"Good morning, Lady Olenna... The time since our last meeting seems to have flown by." The twelve-year-old lowered the hood of his dark cloak, thus showing white hats and piercing green eyes with silvery streaks.
"Oh, heavenly glory!.... But what an unexpected honour and pleasure, Ser.
The First Green Knight of the Seven Kingdoms granting a withered thorn like me his "good morning" on this beautiful day." Olenna said, noticing that Gabe was no longer behind her. Not even the twin knights, members of her personal escort, were present at their usual guard stations...
"Yes, yes, it is... This is a beautiful morning, and the sun should be shining all day long." So replied the boy, inhaling cold air into his lungs as he took a second glance at the blue sky still speckled with faint stars.
"Aye, splendid, but not to the point of choosing this one as the 'last one'... Has my old kidnapping attempt of six years ago finally climbed to the top of the agenda towards your conquest of the Known World?
...You haven't come to take the trouble to assassinate me yourself, have you?" Olenna asked more if the idea was idiotic than the fear that someone might snatch her fragile short life.
"Ahahaha! I would never hurt an old and sincere friend!" the boy analysed his own garment and continued, "Oops, how careless of me...! Forgive my manners, Lady Olenna. Dressed like this, I must look like a flea bottom cutthroat hitman." The boy unfastened his soiled dark cloak, showing underneath much more acceptable clothes befitting his noble rank. Then Duncan Tallhart gallantly moved a chair, offering her a seat.
Olenna cast a second glance around her, signalling to the boy that something else, or rather "someone else", was missing to make the scene more credible.
"Fear not, my lady None of your men has betrayed you, nor has any harm been done to them.
Of course, it would be gracious of you to give those three poor souls a well-deserved day of rest and a piece of gold or two to leisure themselves and forget the morning's trauma.
Let's just say that the twin's Ser Dex and Ser Crex, and young Gabe will be confused for a while ..." Olenna fearlessly stepped forward, indulging the boy's game, who took it upon himself to serve and revere her with food and drink.
"Why did you have to stress my fragile heart by taking me so by surprise, Ser? Couldn't you have sent a raven or a herald to request an audience like any other normal noble in Westeros?" Olenna. This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com
"I apologise for the rudeness. In the eyes of many, I should still be on my way back twenty miles from port... Besides, I require our conversation to remain private. I don't think it is necessary to specify that this meeting never took place." Explained the boy, filling her cup.
"You know how to tease the attention of a hard-to-surprise woman. I'll give you that one, Ser." Bloody Snow greeted the compliment with a modest grin.
"Freshly squeezed strained blueberry juice and hard-boiled eggs boiled for two minutes, seasoned with two pinches of rose-flavoured fine salt and a pinch of nutmeg..." With a few feats of servile elegance, Bloody Snow showed her that he could get anywhere and know everything...
Olenna quietly took a sip of the sweet and sour juice that had been rinsing her palate every morning for over thirty years. After the boy sat down in front of her, Olenna said
"Mff! Your spies in Highgarden are mostly mediocre, boy. I've been enjoying blueberry juice with two ice cubes for almost two moons now."
"Well, mediocre spies are better than none." So replied the boy carelessly, filling a cup with milk and bringing a bowl of strawberries closer.
"Pff, mh, mh, mh... I notice you also keep tempering that poisonous tongue of yours in addition to your sword arm. You should show more gallantry and humility towards the old ladies... but especially towards the 'Queens'." Bloody Snow did not seem interested in discussing his disagreements with Cersei Lannister. The boy dismissed Olenna's jibe with a simple:
"Shall we skip the pleasantries? We have an hour before young Loras and little Margaery arrive to bid their loving grandmother good morning."
"You show up uninvited to my abode-"the boy corrected her " technically, my lady, this manor belongs to House Tallhart. I would say more like entering the guest room uninvited." Olenna snorted irritably. "Nevertheless, a rather unchivalrous gesture... To make up for such offence, you could at least stay long enough to get to know my grandchildren better. Loras really admires you, you know. He would swoon at the idea of squiring you. And Margaery..."
"I'm sure Loras will make a fine knight. Margaery is a wonderfully sweet, witty and virtuous child. Every lord or 'prince' on the continent will fight to woo her in the future." The little devil did not even want to give her a try... But Olenna did not demur.
If only there was a way to unleash the fiery impulses that every glory-seeking youth makes in dangerous and unpredictable situations." Olenna felt the vein shoot out of her forehead in anger.
"What are you alluding to?! Do you really think I would ever purposely harm my family?!" Roared the Queen of Thorns.
"I am not alluding to that, my lady. I am merely saying that what has happened to Willas is a blessing in disguise in more ways than one." Said the demon, making the woman's eyes widen.
"Since the dawn of Aegon the Conqueror's reign, House Tyrell has always been a significant supporter of House Targaryen. Unfortunately, you were the last to bend the knee to Robert Baratheon after his victory at the Trident, and that did not put Highgarden in a good light in the eyes of the new King...
It would take years of steadfast display of loyalty, a royal wedding to reverse the unfavourable situation or... an opportunity.
And what better demonstration of loyalty than an open enemy in common? Therefore, it would be wise for House Tyrell to magnify any friction with the Baratheon/Lannister Kingdom enemy.
But... in my personal opinion, I believe the true mastermind behind Highgarden has chosen this path for much more than that... Need I continue?" Olenna felt a long shiver run down her entire spine... The Crimson Demon had sensed her every move.
In fact, Her Grandson's accident, though unintended, was a golden opportunity for the House of Tyrell. Her Willas could have focused on learning the art of ruling, leaving it to the other pawns on the chessboard to lead the armies in other possible future wars. Should she be recalled by the Stranger, Willas would be the future pillar regent of House Tyrell.
The Rose would wither away in less than a season if the House was in the hands of heirs such as her son Mace... It was an undeniable truth for all the lords of the Reach who had come to know better the foolish and naive Lord Paramount of the South.
As for the Martell matter... House Tyrell needed to get into the good graces of the current Kingdom. Even if her son had pushed to support the return of Aegon VI, offering the hand of her daughter as a possible future queen, Highgarden could not risk openly siding with a faction in such immature and uncertain times...
Too many players were at stake, and many revolutionary events were twisting the Known World too quickly.
Bloody Snow & and the new era of the Green Knights, the long-awaited return of Aegon VI, Khal Drogo & the unification of the great Khalasar, whispers of a revolutionary Septon nicknamed High Sparrow, and now even the fearsome Titan of Braavos would take the field against a likely new contender...
"No, I do not wish you to elaborate, my lord," Olenna replied dryly and more condescendingly.
"Good... So. I have come to you, my lady, because I need your cooperation." Announced Duncan Tallhart.
"Of my cooperation? And how might I be of assistance to you, Ser? But, more importantly, what would my House get in return?" Olenna asked with considerable interest.
"My gratitude, for starters. A miraculous healer who, over time and gradually, will allow your grandson to regain much of the functionality of his leg, enough to ride, but not enough to spur him on to the merry-go-round again..."
Olenna was about to stand up and shout ["Can you really help my Willas?!"]. Over the last few months, dozens of the best healers in Westeros and Essos came to Highgarden only to break her boy's last hopes. Not even Archmaester Embrose, the citadel's best healer, sent to help Willas by his grandfather, Lord Leyton Hightower, was able to do anything meaningful...
Olenna even considered asking for help from that Septon who, according to the Trident and the Vale rumours, was spewing divine miracles to the people of all the villages and towns where he had stopped during his pilgrimage.
The retinue of worshippers, called 'sparrows', ready to follow and defend their guide to the last breath, was becoming more numerous every day...
But the woman held back. Bloody Snow was not yet finished...
"Prosperity and wealth for House Tyrell, excellent marriage proposals for Willas and Margaery, who will seal equally excellent political alliances, and... Damascus Steel." The Old Rose's spines quivered with excitement, but Olenna maintained control by asking in response, "How much Steel? And what parties would be considered excellent for the heir of Highgarden and the most dazzling Rose in the south?"
"How much Steel will depend on how willing you are to play your part, my lady. As for marriage proposals, for the sake of your family, these will remain unknown at the moment. You will have to be content with my word..." Olenna felt the urge to get up and slap the devilish brat's face to purple mush.
Now the poor woman would spend sleepless nights and several headaches trying to figure out which parties Bloody Snow was referring to!
"Tsz!... Damn the demons that weaned you, boy!" Olenna blurted out, clucking her tongue.
"So you accept?" Bloody Snow.
"Depends on what you ask in return..." The Queen of Thorns.
"Oh, nothing you cannot afford, my lady. You have my word.
Now that summer is here, the fertile fields of the Reach will produce vast quantities of grain. House Tallhart will reveal to Highgarden some of the secrets shared with House Cerwyn, increasing, at the very least, your production by 80%. I wish all that surplus wheat, barley, and rye to be sold, at a fair and unchanged price, for the duration of the summer, exclusively to Lady Barbrey Mormont..." Olenna was interjected by the first request.
"I do not doubt that you have the means to increase the yield from our fields, my lord, but all the surplus? From the Tyrell fields alone, we produce-"
"Almost 10,000,000 bushels* of wheat per year. Yes, I am aware of that." The boy knew his way around numbers and estimates...
'Buying such an amount of wheat and grain at the dawn of summer?!... For what purpose? That they have a method of storing supplies for longer? But even if they did, the price of the accumulated grain would lose value with each summer semester... Unless...' The woman thought with a clear head, accepting the first request with a nod, then asking:
"Any other requests?"
"Only one... Tonight, a demonstration and grand opening will be set up, and after that, an Auction will follow.
I ask that, during the Auction, House Tyrell highlight some of Highgarden's prosperity, rivalling that of Casterly Rock."
*****
End Part I.
*****
[Author's Note: 1 bushel = 60 pounds (approx. 27 kg)]
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 157: The Auction (I)
**** Sorry, guys. But for over a week now I have been succumbing to mono. I can barely write five sentences a day. I don't know if I will be able to maintain the pace of two chapters a week until I get over it.****
------
POV: Olenna Tyrell
Silk Road, in a mansion assigned to the Tyrell family.
Half a day before the Great Show of Steel began...
For years the Queen of Thorns' restful sleep had been growing shorter and shorter. Even if she wanted to, the woman would never be able to sleep for more than four hours a night.
Not that she minded. In her youth, Olenna rarely wasted her noble beauty with closed eyes. And now more than ever, each new dawn could be her last... And Olenna did not want to waste a minute savouring the few remaining wonders the world could still offer.
"Good morning, Lady Olenna... Do you wish to have breakfast in the Hall, or would you prefer to settle in the balcony again?" Gabe, her personal assistant, asked politely.
The boy, who had become a man, had been in her direct employ for almost a decade. He who had lasted longer than the many...
"It's still too early to slap you verbally, Gabe... Balcony. I'll always choose a panoramic view over a cramped room surrounded by bricks. And for the sake of one's self-esteem, make sure that at least today the hard-boiled eggs aren't boiled to the point of overcooking them into throwing weapons." Olenna replied as she passed the boy waiting in front of her room.
"Certainly, my lady! I assure you that such an unfortunate incident will not happen again! Everything has already been arranged according to your specifications!" The boy leapt, holding himself at the exact distance of five feet back to his lady's right, tensing his pace.
Olenna loved this little personal morning routine. So rare were the moments of the day when the Queen of Thorns could be alone in her thoughts. But it was not only moments of profitable solitude that Olenna sought. The Grandmother of House Tyrell always made sure she was the first person to say good morning to her own grandsons and her granddaughter.
The most precious treasures in the old woman's memories were Willem and Garlan's genuine, sleepy early morning smiles as they ran into her arms. By now, the first two heirs were too old to gratify Olenna's affectionate whims, but there still remained little Loras and tender, sweet Margaery...
The manor assigned to House Tyrell for the tournament festivities on the Silk Road was an architectural masterpiece. Granted, the gardens were not up to the standards of Highgarden, but the estate was still worthy of rivalling the finest noble villas of Pentos.
Olenna crossed the gateway's end that led to the coveted area for her moment of refreshment.
And there, the glare of the first light of dawn blinded Olenna's vision for a few moments. Time to adjust to the rays, and she saw him, the shadow of a hooded individual little more than five feet tall.
"Good morning, Lady Olenna... The time since our last meeting seems to have flown by." The twelve-year-old lowered the hood of his dark cloak, thus showing white hats and piercing green eyes with silvery streaks.
"Oh, heavenly glory!.... But what an unexpected honour and pleasure, Ser.
The First Green Knight of the Seven Kingdoms granting a withered thorn like me his "good morning" on this beautiful day." Olenna said, noticing that Gabe was no longer behind her. Not even the twin knights, members of her personal escort, were present at their usual guard stations...
"Yes, yes, it is... This is a beautiful morning, and the sun should be shining all day long." So replied the boy, inhaling cold air into his lungs as he took a second glance at the blue sky still speckled with faint stars.
"Aye, splendid, but not to the point of choosing this one as the 'last one'... Has my old kidnapping attempt of six years ago finally climbed to the top of the agenda towards your conquest of the Known World?
...You haven't come to take the trouble to assassinate me yourself, have you?" Olenna asked more if the idea was idiotic than the fear that someone might snatch her fragile short life.
"Ahahaha! I would never hurt an old and sincere friend!" the boy analysed his own garment and continued, "Oops, how careless of me...! Forgive my manners, Lady Olenna. Dressed like this, I must look like a flea bottom cutthroat hitman." The boy unfastened his soiled dark cloak, showing underneath much more acceptable clothes befitting his noble rank. Then Duncan Tallhart gallantly moved a chair, offering her a seat.
Olenna cast a second glance around her, signalling to the boy that something else, or rather "someone else", was missing to make the scene more credible.
"Fear not, my lady None of your men has betrayed you, nor has any harm been done to them.
Of course, it would be gracious of you to give those three poor souls a well-deserved day of rest and a piece of gold or two to leisure themselves and forget the morning's trauma.
Let's just say that the twin's Ser Dex and Ser Crex, and young Gabe will be confused for a while ..." Olenna fearlessly stepped forward, indulging the boy's game, who took it upon himself to serve and revere her with food and drink.
"Why did you have to stress my fragile heart by taking me so by surprise, Ser? Couldn't you have sent a raven or a herald to request an audience like any other normal noble in Westeros?" Olenna. This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com
"I apologise for the rudeness. In the eyes of many, I should still be on my way back twenty miles from port... Besides, I require our conversation to remain private. I don't think it is necessary to specify that this meeting never took place." Explained the boy, filling her cup.
"You know how to tease the attention of a hard-to-surprise woman. I'll give you that one, Ser." Bloody Snow greeted the compliment with a modest grin.
"Freshly squeezed strained blueberry juice and hard-boiled eggs boiled for two minutes, seasoned with two pinches of rose-flavoured fine salt and a pinch of nutmeg..." With a few feats of servile elegance, Bloody Snow showed her that he could get anywhere and know everything...
Olenna quietly took a sip of the sweet and sour juice that had been rinsing her palate every morning for over thirty years. After the boy sat down in front of her, Olenna said
"Mff! Your spies in Highgarden are mostly mediocre, boy. I've been enjoying blueberry juice with two ice cubes for almost two moons now."
"Well, mediocre spies are better than none." So replied the boy carelessly, filling a cup with milk and bringing a bowl of strawberries closer.
"Pff, mh, mh, mh... I notice you also keep tempering that poisonous tongue of yours in addition to your sword arm. You should show more gallantry and humility towards the old ladies... but especially towards the 'Queens'." Bloody Snow did not seem interested in discussing his disagreements with Cersei Lannister. The boy dismissed Olenna's jibe with a simple:
"Shall we skip the pleasantries? We have an hour before young Loras and little Margaery arrive to bid their loving grandmother good morning."
"You show up uninvited to my abode-"the boy corrected her " technically, my lady, this manor belongs to House Tallhart. I would say more like entering the guest room uninvited." Olenna snorted irritably. "Nevertheless, a rather unchivalrous gesture... To make up for such offence, you could at least stay long enough to get to know my grandchildren better. Loras really admires you, you know. He would swoon at the idea of squiring you. And Margaery..."
"I'm sure Loras will make a fine knight. Margaery is a wonderfully sweet, witty and virtuous child. Every lord or 'prince' on the continent will fight to woo her in the future." The little devil did not even want to give her a try... But Olenna did not demur.
If only there was a way to unleash the fiery impulses that every glory-seeking youth makes in dangerous and unpredictable situations." Olenna felt the vein shoot out of her forehead in anger.
"What are you alluding to?! Do you really think I would ever purposely harm my family?!" Roared the Queen of Thorns.
"I am not alluding to that, my lady. I am merely saying that what has happened to Willas is a blessing in disguise in more ways than one." Said the demon, making the woman's eyes widen.
"Since the dawn of Aegon the Conqueror's reign, House Tyrell has always been a significant supporter of House Targaryen. Unfortunately, you were the last to bend the knee to Robert Baratheon after his victory at the Trident, and that did not put Highgarden in a good light in the eyes of the new King...
It would take years of steadfast display of loyalty, a royal wedding to reverse the unfavourable situation or... an opportunity.
And what better demonstration of loyalty than an open enemy in common? Therefore, it would be wise for House Tyrell to magnify any friction with the Baratheon/Lannister Kingdom enemy.
But... in my personal opinion, I believe the true mastermind behind Highgarden has chosen this path for much more than that... Need I continue?" Olenna felt a long shiver run down her entire spine... The Crimson Demon had sensed her every move.
In fact, Her Grandson's accident, though unintended, was a golden opportunity for the House of Tyrell. Her Willas could have focused on learning the art of ruling, leaving it to the other pawns on the chessboard to lead the armies in other possible future wars. Should she be recalled by the Stranger, Willas would be the future pillar regent of House Tyrell.
The Rose would wither away in less than a season if the House was in the hands of heirs such as her son Mace... It was an undeniable truth for all the lords of the Reach who had come to know better the foolish and naive Lord Paramount of the South.
As for the Martell matter... House Tyrell needed to get into the good graces of the current Kingdom. Even if her son had pushed to support the return of Aegon VI, offering the hand of her daughter as a possible future queen, Highgarden could not risk openly siding with a faction in such immature and uncertain times...
Too many players were at stake, and many revolutionary events were twisting the Known World too quickly.
Bloody Snow & and the new era of the Green Knights, the long-awaited return of Aegon VI, Khal Drogo & the unification of the great Khalasar, whispers of a revolutionary Septon nicknamed High Sparrow, and now even the fearsome Titan of Braavos would take the field against a likely new contender...
"No, I do not wish you to elaborate, my lord," Olenna replied dryly and more condescendingly.
"Good... So. I have come to you, my lady, because I need your cooperation." Announced Duncan Tallhart.
"Of my cooperation? And how might I be of assistance to you, Ser? But, more importantly, what would my House get in return?" Olenna asked with considerable interest.
"My gratitude, for starters. A miraculous healer who, over time and gradually, will allow your grandson to regain much of the functionality of his leg, enough to ride, but not enough to spur him on to the merry-go-round again..."
Olenna was about to stand up and shout ["Can you really help my Willas?!"]. Over the last few months, dozens of the best healers in Westeros and Essos came to Highgarden only to break her boy's last hopes. Not even Archmaester Embrose, the citadel's best healer, sent to help Willas by his grandfather, Lord Leyton Hightower, was able to do anything meaningful...
Olenna even considered asking for help from that Septon who, according to the Trident and the Vale rumours, was spewing divine miracles to the people of all the villages and towns where he had stopped during his pilgrimage.
The retinue of worshippers, called 'sparrows', ready to follow and defend their guide to the last breath, was becoming more numerous every day...
But the woman held back. Bloody Snow was not yet finished...
"Prosperity and wealth for House Tyrell, excellent marriage proposals for Willas and Margaery, who will seal equally excellent political alliances, and... Damascus Steel." The Old Rose's spines quivered with excitement, but Olenna maintained control by asking in response, "How much Steel? And what parties would be considered excellent for the heir of Highgarden and the most dazzling Rose in the south?"
"How much Steel will depend on how willing you are to play your part, my lady. As for marriage proposals, for the sake of your family, these will remain unknown at the moment. You will have to be content with my word..." Olenna felt the urge to get up and slap the devilish brat's face to purple mush.
Now the poor woman would spend sleepless nights and several headaches trying to figure out which parties Bloody Snow was referring to!
"Tsz!... Damn the demons that weaned you, boy!" Olenna blurted out, clucking her tongue.
"So you accept?" Bloody Snow.
"Depends on what you ask in return..." The Queen of Thorns.
"Oh, nothing you cannot afford, my lady. You have my word.
Now that summer is here, the fertile fields of the Reach will produce vast quantities of grain. House Tallhart will reveal to Highgarden some of the secrets shared with House Cerwyn, increasing, at the very least, your production by 80%. I wish all that surplus wheat, barley, and rye to be sold, at a fair and unchanged price, for the duration of the summer, exclusively to Lady Barbrey Mormont..." Olenna was interjected by the first request.
"I do not doubt that you have the means to increase the yield from our fields, my lord, but all the surplus? From the Tyrell fields alone, we produce-"
"Almost 10,000,000 bushels* of wheat per year. Yes, I am aware of that." The boy knew his way around numbers and estimates...
'Buying such an amount of wheat and grain at the dawn of summer?!... For what purpose? That they have a method of storing supplies for longer? But even if they did, the price of the accumulated grain would lose value with each summer semester... Unless...' The woman thought with a clear head, accepting the first request with a nod, then asking:
"Any other requests?"
"Only one... Tonight, a demonstration and grand opening will be set up, and after that, an Auction will follow.
I ask that, during the Auction, House Tyrell highlight some of Highgarden's prosperity, rivalling that of Casterly Rock."
*****
End Part I.
*****
[Author's Note: 1 bushel = 60 pounds (approx. 27 kg)]
Chapter 157: The Auction I**** Sorry, guys. But for over a week now I have been succumbing to mono. I can barely write five sentences a day. I don't know if I will be able to maintain the pace of two chapters a week until I get over it.**** ------ POV: Olenna Tyrell Silk Road, in a mansion assigned to the Tyrell family. Half a day before the Great Show of Steel began... For years the Queen of Thorns' restful sleep had been growing shorter and shorter. Even if she wanted to, the woman would never be able to sleep for more than four hours a night. Not that she minded. In her youth, Olenna rarely wasted her noble beauty with closed eyes. And now more than ever, each new dawn could be her last... And Olenna did not want to waste a minute savouring the few remaining wonders the world could still offer. "Good morning, Lady Olenna... Do you wish to have breakfast in the Hall, or would you prefer to settle in the balcony again?" Gabe, her personal assistant, asked politely. The boy, who had become a man, had been in her direct employ for almost a decade. He who had lasted longer than the many... "It's still too early to slap you verbally, Gabe... Balcony. I'll always choose a panoramic view over a cramped room surrounded by bricks. And for the sake of one's self-esteem, make sure that at least today the hard-boiled eggs aren't boiled to the point of overcooking them into throwing weapons." Olenna replied as she passed the boy waiting in front of her room. "Certainly, my lady! I assure you that such an unfortunate incident will not happen again! Everything has already been arranged according to your specifications!" The boy leapt, holding himself at the exact distance of five feet back to his lady's right, tensing his pace. Olenna loved this little personal morning routine. So rare were the moments of the day when the Queen of Thorns could be alone in her thoughts. But it was not only moments of profitable solitude that Olenna sought. The Grandmother of House Tyrell always made sure she was the first person to say good morning to her own grandsons and her granddaughter. The most precious treasures in the old woman's memories were Willem and Garlan's genuine, sleepy early morning smiles as they ran into her arms. By now, the first two heirs were too old to gratify Olenna's affectionate whims, but there still remained little Loras and tender, sweet Margaery... The manor assigned to House Tyrell for the tournament festivities on the Silk Road was an architectural masterpiece. Granted, the gardens were not up to the standards of Highgarden, but the estate was still worthy of rivalling the finest noble villas of Pentos. Olenna crossed the gateway's end that led to the coveted area for her moment of refreshment. And there, the glare of the first light of dawn blinded Olenna's vision for a few moments. Time to adjust to the rays, and she saw him, the shadow of a hooded individual little more than five feet tall. "Good morning, Lady Olenna... The time since our last meeting seems to have flown by." The twelve-year-old lowered the hood of his dark cloak, thus showing white hats and piercing green eyes with silvery streaks. "Oh, heavenly glory!.... But what an unexpected honour and pleasure, Ser. The First Green Knight of the Seven Kingdoms granting a withered thorn like me his "good morning" on this beautiful day." Olenna said, noticing that Gabe was no longer behind her. Not even the twin knights, members of her personal escort, were present at their usual guard stations... "Yes, yes, it is... This is a beautiful morning, and the sun should be shining all day long." So replied the boy, inhaling cold air into his lungs as he took a second glance at the blue sky still speckled with faint stars. "Aye, splendid, but not to the point of choosing this one as the 'last one'... Has my old kidnapping attempt of six years ago finally climbed to the top of the agenda towards your conquest of the Known World? ...You haven't come to take the trouble to assassinate me yourself, have you?" Olenna asked more if the idea was idiotic than the fear that someone might snatch her fragile short life. "Ahahaha! I would never hurt an old and sincere friend!" the boy analysed his own garment and continued, "Oops, how careless of me...! Forgive my manners, Lady Olenna. Dressed like this, I must look like a flea bottom cutthroat hitman." The boy unfastened his soiled dark cloak, showing underneath much more acceptable clothes befitting his noble rank. Then Duncan Tallhart gallantly moved a chair, offering her a seat. Olenna cast a second glance around her, signalling to the boy that something else, or rather "someone else", was missing to make the scene more credible. "Fear not, my lady None of your men has betrayed you, nor has any harm been done to them. Of course, it would be gracious of you to give those three poor souls a well-deserved day of rest and a piece of gold or two to leisure themselves and forget the morning's trauma. Let's just say that the twin's Ser Dex and Ser Crex, and young Gabe will be confused for a while ..." Olenna fearlessly stepped forward, indulging the boy's game, who took it upon himself to serve and revere her with food and drink. "Why did you have to stress my fragile heart by taking me so by surprise, Ser? Couldn't you have sent a raven or a herald to request an audience like any other normal noble in Westeros?" Olenna. This chapter is updated by novelbiin.com"I apologise for the rudeness. In the eyes of many, I should still be on my way back twenty miles from port... Besides, I require our conversation to remain private. I don't think it is necessary to specify that this meeting never took place." Explained the boy, filling her cup. "You know how to tease the attention of a hard-to-surprise woman. I'll give you that one, Ser." Bloody Snow greeted the compliment with a modest grin. "Freshly squeezed strained blueberry juice and hard-boiled eggs boiled for two minutes, seasoned with two pinches of rose-flavoured fine salt and a pinch of nutmeg..." With a few feats of servile elegance, Bloody Snow showed her that he could get anywhere and know everything... Olenna quietly took a sip of the sweet and sour juice that had been rinsing her palate every morning for over thirty years. After the boy sat down in front of her, Olenna said "Mff! Your spies in Highgarden are mostly mediocre, boy. I've been enjoying blueberry juice with two ice cubes for almost two moons now." "Well, mediocre spies are better than none." So replied the boy carelessly, filling a cup with milk and bringing a bowl of strawberries closer. "Pff, mh, mh, mh... I notice you also keep tempering that poisonous tongue of yours in addition to your sword arm. You should show more gallantry and humility towards the old ladies... but especially towards the 'Queens'." Bloody Snow did not seem interested in discussing his disagreements with Cersei Lannister. The boy dismissed Olenna's jibe with a simple: "Shall we skip the pleasantries? We have an hour before young Loras and little Margaery arrive to bid their loving grandmother good morning." "You show up uninvited to my abode-"the boy corrected her " technically, my lady, this manor belongs to House Tallhart. I would say more like entering the guest room uninvited." Olenna snorted irritably. "Nevertheless, a rather unchivalrous gesture... To make up for such offence, you could at least stay long enough to get to know my grandchildren better. Loras really admires you, you know. He would swoon at the idea of squiring you. And Margaery..." "I'm sure Loras will make a fine knight. Margaery is a wonderfully sweet, witty and virtuous child. Every lord or 'prince' on the continent will fight to woo her in the future." The little devil did not even want to give her a try... But Olenna did not demur. If only there was a way to unleash the fiery impulses that every glory-seeking youth makes in dangerous and unpredictable situations." Olenna felt the vein shoot out of her forehead in anger. "What are you alluding to?! Do you really think I would ever purposely harm my family?!" Roared the Queen of Thorns. "I am not alluding to that, my lady. I am merely saying that what has happened to Willas is a blessing in disguise in more ways than one." Said the demon, making the woman's eyes widen. "Since the dawn of Aegon the Conqueror's reign, House Tyrell has always been a significant supporter of House Targaryen. Unfortunately, you were the last to bend the knee to Robert Baratheon after his victory at the Trident, and that did not put Highgarden in a good light in the eyes of the new King... It would take years of steadfast display of loyalty, a royal wedding to reverse the unfavourable situation or... an opportunity. And what better demonstration of loyalty than an open enemy in common? Therefore, it would be wise for House Tyrell to magnify any friction with the Baratheon/Lannister Kingdom enemy. But... in my personal opinion, I believe the true mastermind behind Highgarden has chosen this path for much more than that... Need I continue?" Olenna felt a long shiver run down her entire spine... The Crimson Demon had sensed her every move. In fact, Her Grandson's accident, though unintended, was a golden opportunity for the House of Tyrell. Her Willas could have focused on learning the art of ruling, leaving it to the other pawns on the chessboard to lead the armies in other possible future wars. Should she be recalled by the Stranger, Willas would be the future pillar regent of House Tyrell. The Rose would wither away in less than a season if the House was in the hands of heirs such as her son Mace... It was an undeniable truth for all the lords of the Reach who had come to know better the foolish and naive Lord Paramount of the South. As for the Martell matter... House Tyrell needed to get into the good graces of the current Kingdom. Even if her son had pushed to support the return of Aegon VI, offering the hand of her daughter as a possible future queen, Highgarden could not risk openly siding with a faction in such immature and uncertain times... Too many players were at stake, and many revolutionary events were twisting the Known World too quickly. Bloody Snow & and the new era of the Green Knights, the long-awaited return of Aegon VI, Khal Drogo & the unification of the great Khalasar, whispers of a revolutionary Septon nicknamed High Sparrow, and now even the fearsome Titan of Braavos would take the field against a likely new contender... "No, I do not wish you to elaborate, my lord," Olenna replied dryly and more condescendingly. "Good... So. I have come to you, my lady, because I need your cooperation." Announced Duncan Tallhart. "Of my cooperation? And how might I be of assistance to you, Ser? But, more importantly, what would my House get in return?" Olenna asked with considerable interest. "My gratitude, for starters. A miraculous healer who, over time and gradually, will allow your grandson to regain much of the functionality of his leg, enough to ride, but not enough to spur him on to the merry-go-round again..." Olenna was about to stand up and shout "Can you really help my Willas?!". Over the last few months, dozens of the best healers in Westeros and Essos came to Highgarden only to break her boy's last hopes. Not even Archmaester Embrose, the citadel's best healer, sent to help Willas by his grandfather, Lord Leyton Hightower, was able to do anything meaningful... Olenna even considered asking for help from that Septon who, according to the Trident and the Vale rumours, was spewing divine miracles to the people of all the villages and towns where he had stopped during his pilgrimage. The retinue of worshippers, called 'sparrows', ready to follow and defend their guide to the last breath, was becoming more numerous every day... But the woman held back. Bloody Snow was not yet finished... "Prosperity and wealth for House Tyrell, excellent marriage proposals for Willas and Margaery, who will seal equally excellent political alliances, and... Damascus Steel." The Old Rose's spines quivered with excitement, but Olenna maintained control by asking in response, "How much Steel? And what parties would be considered excellent for the heir of Highgarden and the most dazzling Rose in the south?" "How much Steel will depend on how willing you are to play your part, my lady. As for marriage proposals, for the sake of your family, these will remain unknown at the moment. You will have to be content with my word..." Olenna felt the urge to get up and slap the devilish brat's face to purple mush. Now the poor woman would spend sleepless nights and several headaches trying to figure out which parties Bloody Snow was referring to! "Tsz!... Damn the demons that weaned you, boy!" Olenna blurted out, clucking her tongue. "So you accept?" Bloody Snow. "Depends on what you ask in return..." The Queen of Thorns. "Oh, nothing you cannot afford, my lady. You have my word. Now that summer is here, the fertile fields of the Reach will produce vast quantities of grain. House Tallhart will reveal to Highgarden some of the secrets shared with House Cerwyn, increasing, at the very least, your production by 80%. I wish all that surplus wheat, barley, and rye to be sold, at a fair and unchanged price, for the duration of the summer, exclusively to Lady Barbrey Mormont..." Olenna was interjected by the first request. "I do not doubt that you have the means to increase the yield from our fields, my lord, but all the surplus? From the Tyrell fields alone, we produce-" "Almost 10,000,000 bushels* of wheat per year. Yes, I am aware of that." The boy knew his way around numbers and estimates... 'Buying such an amount of wheat and grain at the dawn of summer?!... For what purpose? That they have a method of storing supplies for longer? But even if they did, the price of the accumulated grain would lose value with each summer semester... Unless...' The woman thought with a clear head, accepting the first request with a nod, then asking: "Any other requests?" "Only one... Tonight, a demonstration and grand opening will be set up, and after that, an Auction will follow. I ask that, during the Auction, House Tyrell highlight some of Highgarden's prosperity, rivalling that of Casterly Rock." ***** End Part I. ***** Author's Note: 1 bushel = 60 pounds approx. 27 kg
