Notes:
So frankly, this chapter has been done for four or five days but I was a bit nervous about the perception of it. It is kinda angsty but that specific thing will only be present this chapter and very slightly in the next two chapters. Sorry.
This will probably be a chapter I'll clean up at another time if I ever get motivated to do so.
Jon will be referred to as Jaehaerys throughout most of this chapter as that is mainly the name that Margaery will think of him as.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Castle Cerwyn had been a needed respite. The North was damn near bloody empty. Though like Riverrun and the Twins, their party was hounded for matches.
Cley Cerwyn was a year or two younger than Margaery and had annoyingly hovered around her during their stay. He was not homely but neither was he comely, his elder sister was much the same but her fatness made her undesirable enough to be near thirty and still a maid. The boy had been an unfortunate victim of Laerra's stormy mood, being with child and days in the saddle made the woman a bit snappish and she had no qualms about not holding it back as currently she was not a queen. She sent the Cerwyn heir scampering much like a dragon would terrify a dog.
Their two stops at the Crag and the Twins had yielded the expected results, Jeyne and Roslin had joined their party and it moved all the slower for it, even Aerea's odd and random nut gathering sessions did not delay them so badly. Neither of the two girls were particularly skilled or experienced riders. Though both were quite pretty, both like Margaery were rather plain and lacked a more curvaceous build. Jeyne was the only one of the three to not be accompanied by a brother, Roslin's older brother Olyver had wished to join them and they allowed it. Altogether Marg rather liked the two girls.
Finally seeing the ginormous keep in the distance was the most welcome of sights. It kept getting colder and colder as they traveled and they were almost forced to purchase warmer clothes as they traveled. After a moon and seven days of travel, they were finally on the last stretch.
They had stopped nearby the previous night to ensure the party looked as up to Tyrell standards as possible. She needed to make an impression. Her hair was done, she looked as well rested as possible, her clothes however…were not up to her standards. Riding breeches were to be expected but she was forced to wear a warmer pair over the ones she would prefer to be seen in.
Aerea had already fallen asleep riding with Lorys by the time they decided to make camp, and Marg had not wanted to deprive the girl of meeting everyone with the rest of them. So they had halted for the night.
Soon enough they were greeted by a pair of riders bearing the banners of House Stark as they neared the castle. The two lead them along the King's Road towards the keep.
The town outside Winterfell was rather large but surprisingly the population did not quite match its scale. But they still passed through it quickly, as the smallfolk watched them.
"It's so big," Jeyne commented in awe as she, Roslin and Olyver stared up at the castle. She was not wrong the keep was bigger than even Highgarden and the Red Keep and it's walls towering, the inner of the two walls more so the the outmost. As tall as the Wall's of Storm's End but nowhere near as thick. Practical, but neither beautiful or ugly.
Inside the gates it was as practical as the outside. Every building had stacks and stacks of dry firewood, piled high under covering or made up the whole bottom floor of one building. There was little color even the large banners that were hung around added nothing, being a boring blot of grey on white, just like the rest of everything in the North.
As they neared the heart of the keep, Margaery felt her nerves rise a bit, not that she wasn't prepared but this was her first time playing the game without any aid. Annoyingly Lya and the other two looked excited, at least Jeyne, Roslin, and Mira looked nervous. How badly can she have a first impression? She's done this hundreds of times.
All the color of the North seemed to reside in the courtyard. A row of Stark awaited her and at the end in red, white and black was her dragon. Each of the younger generation of Starks had pups at their feet, direwolves she recalled.
Garlan led the party as was expected of the elder and male, he was the first to dismount. Both he, Lorys and some of the men helped the girls down like gentlemen. When everyone was on their feet he offered a bow in greeting to Lord Stark and everyone followed. "Lord Stark."
Eddard Stark had the long face the Starks were known for, the brown hair and grey eyes as well. "Welcome, Ser Garlan." The man offered a hand for a shake.
"A pleasure to meet you my lord." Taking the hand, Garlan shook it. He was of height with the lord. Soon enough he moved on to Lady Stark and began working his way down the line.
She approached next with a curtsey. "My Lord." Putting forth her hand.
"Lady Margaery. Welcome to Winterfell. You'll find it much warmer inside." Up close the grey in his beard made him look older than her father though that was inaccurate. He took her hand and laid a kiss on her knuckle as was expected of him. "My wife, Catelyn and our youngest Rickon," he said with an arm directing attention to the woman and the young child standing at her feet.
Lady Catelyn Stark's greeting was less warm but still professional. Though considering Margaery is to share a husband and queenship with the woman's daughter, she thought it fair, Olenna might have poisoned the girl had the circumstances been reversed. "My son, heir to the North, Robb Stark" she introduced with a smidge of hope in her tone and on her face.
Robb Stark was quite handsome with brownish-red hair and eyes like sapphires, any girl would be lucky to be his wife but Margaery had her target set on another man, Jeyne was welcome to claim him once again if she wishes. Like his father he kissed her hand when offered.
Greeting Margaery with her own perfect cursey was Sansa Stark, her could-have-been rival. She was a cute girl with red hair that lacked any hint of brown unlike any of her siblings or her mother but shared the same blue eyes. A beauty in the making.
"Lady Sansa, from what I have heard we should get along, quite well I might add." Margaery had assumed the girl would not understand that she was referencing their future couplings but the girl clearly did if her bright red face meant anything. To add wood to the fire she grabbed Sansa's hand and placed a soft kiss on her knuckle. She smirked as she moved to the younger girl, knowing she could fluster the elder girl could come in handy if not solely for entertainment.
Not offering a hand or curtseying, the brown haired girl had a scowl. "I'm Arya." Aerea's namesake! This was Jaehaerys's favorite sibling turned cousin. The girl was in breeches and leather and caked in mud.
"Perhaps you'd like to go on a ride with me sometime, show me the best trails, at least when my rear isn't sore from doing so." Marg's offer and jest was able to bribe a smile out of the girl.
Her introduction with the second youngest boy was as common as could be, the boy being a little red and embarrassed. His hair was the closest to brown of Catelyn's boys.
And finally her man. Aerea had done what Marg wished she could have and skipped the line going right to Jaehaerys. She stood snuggling into his side and petting the direwolf pup with a free hand, lucky girl.
Jaehaerys had a sheepish smile as he looked between the little girl and Margaery. His kiss on her knuckles was sweetly soft. While Robb was handsome, Jon was a mix of handsome and pretty, dark but hinting at beautiful like his father. The contours of his face were a mainly soft and youthful but there was a hint of sharpness. His long face looked a little awkward but seeing it on Laerra and those among and behind the line of Starks, she knew he'd grow into it. He would be the perfect mix of the gruff Northmen and the beautiful Valyrians, he'd be heavenly. She nearly purred at the thought and his voice, "My lady."
His accent made her shiver. She liked it, she liked all of it. Coming back to her senses, Marg ran a hand through Aerea's curling waves, definitely not touching his leg, hip or side at all. "This is Aerea or Rhea, not to be confused with Arya."
Those beautiful lips curled into a smile as he looked down at the girl. "This one is troublesome, isn't she."
"No."
"Quite. She nearly scared the life out of me when we first met." Marg couldn't help but smile at the cute little girl. "I screamed like I was her age, before soaking her with water I kicked up."
He chuckled, the soft roll of his laugh was pleasant. "They share more than a similar name then."
Everyone was watching their interaction. Not just those she figured were already aware of their future relation but the castle staff as well. That was the challenge, getting close but not suspiciously close or maybe that would be preferable. Create a scene to distract while also letting her be close.
Regardless, she reluctantly retreated to Garlan as the others completed introductions.
Aerea also detached herself from her father when a little redheaded girl named Rohanne, Robyn in actuality, was introduced. Spotting each other they merged together in a hug. Before they started bouncing and running around like crazed rodents as they zigged and zagged around everyone in the yard. Margery didn't understand how that little girl had so much energy after over a moon of riding, she felt even more tired watching the girl.
Eddard Stark seemed to be in a similar state watching the girls, he fixed Jaehaerys a look before addressing her party. "Come, I'm sure the warmth of the keep will be welcome after your travels."
Walking into the speedy five nameday old's path, Jaehaerys sidestepped as he caught Aerea in a dramatic swing. The chasing girl halted as well. "Inside we go." Aerea squirmed attempting to escape but her father seemed to have experience restraining wildly children. How very fatherly, Margaery finds she likes that.
And so they entered the keep, while most of their guards were given guest quarters, Margaery, Garlan, Jeyne, Roslin, Mira and the time travelers were given quarters among the Starks in the Great Keep. They certainly had the space, though the bloated king and his queen would certainly fill a many of rooms as they abused Northern hospitality.
As Jaehaerys made to leave them near their rooms to rest like everyone else had, Lya called out to him, "Can I speak to you for a moment?"
He startled a bit as he turned back towards them. "Uh, of course."
Lya waved Margaery, her father and siblings into the room she was given to share with Aerea. Fortunately the others had quickly disappeared into their own given rooms to let their sore rears and thighs recover. As soon as the door closed Laerra embraced her father swinging him from side to side but still on his feet. "Father!"
Jaehaerys returned the hug but seemed at a loss of words for the most part. After moments when they finally pulled apart he asked, "Laerra, after Grandmother Lyarra?"
"Yes, but our grandmother was also a source of inspiration." Lya's confirmation made Jae pause for a while until a large smile grew on his face realizing that her reference was to his mother. "Also… the big news. You are soon going to have a second grandchild from me." Laerra pulled one of his hands onto her still flat belly.
While Lya's sisters squealed Jaehaerys just stood there speechless staring at the belly with a babe inside, his jaw was slack and everything. When he did speak he still looked like a fish as he stuttered, "Y-you're… you're… I'm a… I have a grandchild?"
"A few. There would be more if anyone else would contribute to ensuring the continuation of your line." Laerra fixed a glare at her older siblings. Soon she was swamped by her sisters as they pried her for details.
"Wow…" Jae blinked twice, thrice, five times before he regained his senses.
Seeing that the impromptu meeting was essentially finished, Margaery sprung into action or as quickly as she could in her tired and sore state. "Would you mind giving me a tour of the keep? I would like to know my way around."
He was taken aback by the question. "If you wish, surely you must be tired? There is no shame in requiring rest." Though his face became relatively impassive, his eyes still held skepticism of her state.
Yes, while she would prefer rest, she would also like to work her magic on him a bit. "I'm well rested enough, I can find more rest at night." That was a big fat lie. Besides, if she does collapse from exhaustion her man might carry her back in his arms, though that would not send the ideal message to the staff of Winterfell.
"We would require a chaperone, I don't think it would be appropriate for us to be without it." He just had to ruin the fantasy.
"Lors, come along." Marg prompted her son, commanded really.
Groaning and mumbling, Lorys stood and followed his parents out of the room.
Margaery will certainly be even more lethargic by the time they dine, why in seven hells did she ask for this.
She found him atop the secondary wall by the Godswood looking north on the second day since their arrival. With a hand on two crenellations, the wind blowing his cloak and through his hair, he was a living painting of a hero, a hero with the world on his shoulders. The children were right, he was broody but still very pretty. A displaced royal orphan does have a right to the practice she figures.
The cold wind hit her too and she shivered. "Jaehaerys," her call was soft, even if there were no guards in sight she'd prefer to play it safe though Margaery still addressed him by his true name.
He froze and quickly whipped in her direction. Calming as he recognized it was only her. The barest hint of a smile graced his face. "You shouldn't call me that," his tone lacked any mirth. Sensing he came off a little rude he added in a somber voice, "Besides, I'm not used to it yet."
Moving a few steps closer, she gave him a sweet look. "Precisely why I should use it in private,"
His face remained mostly inpassive, no reaction to the implication of being in private with her. "It is unnecessary. With the king approaching, best you call me Jon."
"You are the king." She poked him in his firm chest.
Turning north again, he looked out at the forests and mountains which seemed to be the only thing the North had besides open fields. His frown had returned. "Every house has officially recognized Robert Baratheon as their king. Besides, I cannot declare myself king until I speak with my brother." Would he really support his brother's claim?
Marg nearly panicked, if he wasn't to be king then her family would have little interest in him if they could pair her with Aegon. A prince was a good match but not as fine as a king or heir apparent. Smiling at him, she gave him an admiring look. "That is very honorable of you. Few men would pass on the chance to be king."
"Respecting the line of succession is what is right, it hardly deserves praise."
"You must praise the good as well as punish the bad. Not everyone can be as good as you, they need incentives beyond not getting whipped."
Turning to her, Jaehaerys met her eyes. "Fair," he muttered before turning back towards his view of grey and white.
A silence fell on them with that. Eventually she slipped one hand underneath his arm to rest on the inside crook of his elbow, her other reached for his hand. "It is a beautiful land."
"I doubt the sincerity of that," he admitted after huffing. Jaehaerys was not wrong, not that she would admit it.
She pulled back minutely to appear offended. "It's true!" Marg insisted. "Though it lacks color, there is a dule beauty to the North. Do you not like the view?" The only place she really liked at Winterfell was the glass gardens and all of its color, the green and gold colored glass panes only made her like it more. Moving close to his arm again, she pushed her chest out subtly to offer him a better sight than the landscape.
He hummed before responding, "I do enjoy it. Though I don't always favor the cold winds." Jon gave her a pointed look. "You should be wearing more appropriate clothing my lady. The cold winds of the North are no friend to exposed skin. Especially that of southerners."
If Margaery didn't have the sense she did of his personality she might have taken that as the insult it could have interpreted as. "I confess I was hoping to rely on the heat of the hot springs in the walls, forgetting the chill outdoors. It is still summer after all." She was really hoping he'd be warming her but hugging his arm doesn't do enough.
Sighing he removed his cloak and placed it atop her shoulders, it still carried a bit of his warmth and smell. "A stupid mistake," that time he was clearly trying to insult. "Winterfell is big enough for many to get lost and go missing. I'd rather find you starving and warm than frozen with a full belly." His words were strangely sweet despite the almost scolding tone. They were also an exaggeration but it had heart.
Not knowing what to say for once in her life Marg just settled for pulling his cloak tighter around herself and staring out at the distant mountains. Wearing her lower neckline dress with no cloak had been a mistake, it seemingly ruined the positive impression she had made. Hopefully she can still fix that.
Damnit. Damnit. Damnit.
Marg sat alone on her bed half fuming, and in tears.
The reciting of the future or the possible future only made her look worse in not only Jaehaerys' eyes but those of all the Starks. Her children didn't even try to make House Tyrell seem any better, or if they did it wasn't much help. How were the Starks to trust her now? And the way Jon observed her as it was revealed about each of her marriages, the way the corners of his lips were pulled slightly downward.
Agh!
On top of that she had to learn about Loras' death, her father's, and her grandmother's. She had to hear about the initially frosty relationship between her and Jae-Jon. Altogether it was enough to make her cry, made even easier by her anger and frustration at herself and Jaehaerys.
Her only respite was that she wasn't the only one to look bad, Sansa, Catelyn, Eddard, Theon, even Robb and Jae at times, and much to Margaery's glee: Val.
Gods, did that woman's existence bother her. Margaery hated to admit but she was jealous and envious of the blonde. The woman had his attention and spent the most time with him, and after the meeting... The nerve of that woman to steal Margaery's man and his attention. Val despite being a wildling savage had all that Marg wanted at the moment.
How was Margaery to fix this? Everytime she tried it only resulted in lowering Jae's opinion of her and she doesn't know why, she is doing all that she was trained to do. He was even interested in Sansa more than Marg, and the girl was just that: a girl. A part of her was tempted to start flirting with Robb or the Greyjoy to make Jon jealous as well but she had a sense that would only result in him retreating further from her.
She gave a sob of defeat and fell backwards onto her bed. She half wanted to start kicking and punching the area around her like a whiny babe. When was the last time she was like this, if she ever was?
Margaery walked with the other ladies, they tailed Catelyn Stark to better learn the process of running a great house in preparation for a king, not that Marg had not already learned such. It had rained the previous night so they kept to the main paths when outside.
While her relationship with Val had taken a strange turn, Marg and Jon were no better for it. She also learned from the woman that Jon wasn't necessarily avoiding her but he is very busy throughout the day between practising his swordsmanship, learning politics or tactics, and still spending time with family.
Suddenly Lady Stark halted mid step nearly causing chaos as the women behind her walked into eachothers' backs. "Oh my."
Taking a step to the side to peer around the lady of Winterfell, Margaery saw what caused such a shock. She didn't know how to react, while she had the urge to giggle like the other girls, she also was highly embarrassed.
Held up in the air by her armpits was Aerea, or a mud replica of the girl. She was completely covered in mud, the only thing still pure about her was the whites of her eyes and her white teeth showed proudly in a massive grin. This had to be from her father's blood, for all that the Tyrells are roses, they do not play in the mud, except Loras in a way.
Holding her was Jon who's tired and strained look was highly entertaining. He looked just how you would expect a man to look when suddenly given care of his children for long enough for them to misbehave. His arms and knees were shaking from the weight as he paused when caught by the group of ladies.
Continuing on his path across the hall to the courtyard with the ladies hot spring revealed the small equally muddy redhead clinging to his back followed by the clean pristine white furred pup. The revelation ended Sansa's giggles abruptly, at least Marg is not alone in her feelings.
Heavily sighing and giving an amused shake of the head, Lady Catelyn spoke, "Sansa, go fetch the girls a change of clothes and Lady Margaery would you be willing to watch over the girls and ensure they are safe by the hot spring?"
"Yes, Mother," Sansa said before doing as she was told with a slight smile on her face. A dutiful girl.
Margaery could only be happy about the task, it gave her a chance to interact with Jon once more which had become harder since he seemed to avoid her most days or busy as Val claimed. "My lady, I can watch over the two, hopefully I shall not also require a change when the task is complete." Saying her goodbyes she hurried off to prevent a bigger mess.
Jaehaerys- Jon stood outside of the entrance to the building with a guard, as of now they were still training some women to take the position. His clothes were splattered with mud from the two girls. Even this tired he still had the energy to eye her curiously.
No more was she wearing the low neckline dresses that were probably far lower than that of most Northern whores, it wasn't as if she favored them anyway. Giving him a genuine loving look Marg asked, "Are they in there?"
His eyes narrowed for a tenth of a second before he graced her with that almost smile of his. "Aye. You best get in there before they somehow flood the place."
"Yes. If they ruin this dress, it is on you." Margaery didn't wait for an answer before heading inside the building.
Thankfully both girls were doing as they were supposed to, stripped of the muddy clothes and were cleaning themselves of mud and dirt with the cloth and water buckets provided. Marg had to admit it was a smart choice to have everyone clean themselves before entering the pools.
Everything only went wrong when Aerea spotted her. The little girl grinned like a mad woman as she ran over to the pool and kicked a torrent of hot water at Marg. Perhaps it was revenge for doing the same to the girl when they first met.
Embarrassingly Margaery shrieked. Even worse was the fact Jon heard.
"Uh, everything alright in there?" His worried call sounded from the serpentine entrance.
Turning to the girls, "Finish cleaning, don't go in the pool, I'll be right back. You are in trouble princess," Marg told the five nameday old girl before turning on her heels to have a word with the girl's father. It would have been worse had the girl kicked up her muddy washing water but luckily it had been the clean spring water to soak her form.
When she emerged Jon gave her a strange look as she fixed an exaggerated and angry frown at him, it was almost approving.
"This is your fault." She pointed all over herself. One benefit of these Northern outfits was when wet you didn't look nearly naked. "This is on you." Perhaps rudely she flicked her wet hair in his face before moving to reenter the building. Giving him one last look she was surprised to find instead of annoyance; the biggest smile she'd seen on him yet directed right at her.
Puzzling.
"Your father dislikes me."
Laerra looked up from the floor of Margaery's room. "What makes you say that?" The slight annoyance in her tone was noted. Evidently Marg's daughter holds her at fault for the bad relations.
She didn't like asking for help but this was in both of their interests, why can't Lya see that? "His mood always worsens when he sees me?"
"He seemed to like you well enough when you met." Lya gave her a look that once again put the responsibility for the change on Marg. "Besides, he naturally looks that way."
"I'm aware," she responded curtly, perhaps rudely.
Humming, Lya shrugged. "So how did you muck it up?"
Recalling the talk on the north wall of the stronghold, "He didn't like my clothes." There was more to it than that but it was the clothes that bothered Marg the most, not that she liked the low necklines either, but it just seemed controlling.
"The days before you started wearing normal clothes, then?"
'Normal clothes,' does everyone really think her other clothes are abnormal? How insulting is that. Damn her grandmother, but not to death, Marg amended. "Yes"
A smirk grew on Laerra's face. "We did warn you he was practical." The woman even wagged a finger at her mother. She sure knew how to get under Margaery's skin.
Jaw tightened in annoyance, Marg crossed her arms. "That doesn't tell me that he dislikes seeing breasts."
"No, no it doesn't, because I'm sure that he does like seeing them, most men do. What it does tell you is that he wouldn't like it if you deliberately wore something detrimental to your health for the purpose of getting his attention." Lya stopped to sigh. "When we said he has a hero complex we didn't mean he likes being the hero, we meant he puts everything on his shoulders so as not to burden others."
Whether or not it was intended Marg spotted the insult in the words, she was putting more of a burden on Jon in an effort to seduce him. Margaery could admit that the man had enough to deal with and sacrificing his cloak for her when she has her own was simply selfish. But she must surely be more than just a burden upon the man?
Laerra's voice brought her back from her spiral, "Remember he joined the Night's Watch voluntarily and lived most of his life as a bastard, he has no wish to dishonor you. Also I don't imagine he would be much in support of you showing yourself off to everyone for the same reasons as before. He hasn't had much of his own and you are to be his as he is to be yours. Discuss it sometime. There are bedroom clothes and court clothes. Know what he likes for both and compare that with what is comfortable for you. You don't own each other, you share each other."
"What should I do now?" That was a direct call for help if there ever was one.
Giving Marg a wise look, Lya lifted a hand to stroke a nonexistent beard. "Think. That is something you need to figure out on your own. I can't make you into the person you need to be."
Interesting…
"Why can't this man be like any other and fall for all that I was taught?" Marg complained to Garlan as she paced her room. She had another day of Jon treating her like anyone else, but she wasn't just anyone, she was to be his wife!
For his part her brother looked concerned, tired and amused at her ranting. "If he was like any other man, I don't think we'd be having this conversation as you would already have him under your finger and wouldn't care much for him."
That was a fair point, part of the reason she likes Jon so much already is likely due to being unlike anyone else. He was a challenge and that intrigued her, he was hard to catch and that made him more valuable. Though his good looks certainly help, not that she'd tell her brother that. "Perhaps I'm just spoiled."
"I think all four of us are a bit. You know how father can be." He smiled fondly at the thought of their father, despite the man being a fool sometimes, Mace Tyrell still loved his children greatly and may have spoiled them all.
"We must ensure they live. I want my children to have their grandparents around. Even grandmother, though Lorys as a babe might just annoy her to death." Mother lived long enough to see all but Aerea but one of four wasn't good enough, neither was three of ten.
Garlan moved to sit next to her and pulled her into his side in a one arm embrace. "We have the advantage, but we best not get overconfident and lose it."
She hummed in agreement. They stayed like that for a while before she broke the pleasant silence, "Have you had any dreams?"
He chuckled, "Of course, I've had dreams."
"I mean ones that seem real, of the future or the other future," Marg clarified. She has been having them since her children arrived, sometimes she doesn't even realize what they are or they are just inconsequential moments.
"A few, I dreamt of the Battle of the Blackwater after hearing of it. The green flames lingered in my mind all day." He gulped, likely remembering that the green tendrils of wildfire were present in the story of the death of Loras and their father. Had he dreamed that day as well.
She decided to mention a better dream of hers, perhaps not the most appropriate for a brother to hear but it will certainly take his mind off death or just give him a different target. "I've dreamt of Jon kissing my bare belly when I'm round with his child as he stares at me oh so lovingly. I want that. It is perhaps the first thing I have truly wanted that really matters to me. I honestly want him."
It was then that she realized just why Jon was not taken with her and why Lya couldn't tell her. She has hardly been honest around him, he has even called her out on her lies. Didn't one of her children mention the Starks value honesty back in Highgarden, while the Tyrells are not offended by lies, the Starks likely are… She should be kicking herself silly.
'I can't make you into the person you need to be,' Marg is glad Lya did not even try. Would that not have just made Margaery try to be what she thinks is genuine or is she not now in the same position?
Regardless, from now on she is going to be herself around Jon however odd that may be and perhaps one day she'll apologize and make it up to him in a special and very pleasant way.
Notes:
Poor Margaery. It hurt to do but Marg and Jon were not going to get along so long as she tries to get him to like her by being dishonest or in 'Game Mode' or seductress mode. For a girl who was basically raised to manipulate everyone but family, it was bound to clash with the honest Starks. He would be both turned off and insulted. So once again a rocky start between the two but they'll get there eventually. It'll be a lesson for both of them. Hopefully the scenes she was being fake were fairly evident, I did basically spell it out.
I might have made the angst between Jon and Marg last multiple chapters but I felt Marg was smart and it wouldn't take her months to realize her mistake and plus I wanted them to be unified by the time Robert arrives.
Dad Mode Jon was fairly prevalent in this chapter, I just can't see Jon not being a complete sap for his children especially Aerea and Robyn. Probably a bit weird to not have a super badass Jon for a Jon/Multi fic but he can be both sappy and tough, plus he is only 14, a 14 year old can only be so badass. He definitely gets sexy dad points with his future wives though.
There are some hints at the animal companions for Aerea and Robyn in this chapter. I also included their names.
Also let me know if you all want me to add some portrait sketches that I may do of the canon characters or OCs. I haven't done any yet, at least to a level I'm happy with but I have edited a few personal sigils from the house sigils from the wiki.
I had a moment where I was tempted to make this have a larger harem but it doesn't feel like it would fit this story well enough so I think I'll stick to these four. Maybe I'll do an offshoot of this with small chapters that include different pairing that I won't include in the main story. I don't quite know what I want to do with Daenerys in terms of pairings. Also Theon, who to pair with him? And Arianne? Edric Dayne already has a pairing so not him.
Had to push back Robert's arrival by a chapter to conclude a few plot points before Robert's arrival, Margaery and Jon's relationship being one of them.
Next chapter will be the discussion of the other timeline or future. We'll see just what Val did. This chapter has moments before and after the next chapter so Jon and Marg will still be a little frosty. It will be in a non-limited perspective so everyone's thoughts can be read as they learn of the events. I've never done that before so we'll see how it turns out. It may take more than one chapter, I'll try to pace it well though and only cover the main events in text.
Upcoming Chapter POV Order:
Everyone I (Non Limited Perspective)
Shorts II
Ned II (Robert's Arrival)
Multiple POVs III (Robert, Jaime, etc.)
Elia II
Sansa I