Since Samwell had sent word ahead yesterday, a welcoming party awaited them when they arrived outside the castle.
"Sam!" A young girl in a deep crimson dress rushed into his arms.
"Talla." Samwell hugged his younger sister in return, feeling the unique bond of shared blood. "You've grown taller—a real lady now."
"You too, brother. You look taller—and thinner!" Talla laughed, her eyes glistening with happy tears. "And you're a hero now!"
Samwell gave her a warm smile and ruffled her hair, saying self-deprecatingly, "A hero or a villain—who knows these days."
"Definitely a hero!" Talla declared, unflinching. "You killed a false king! Everyone knows that."
"Yes, everyone knows, but not all will acknowledge it."
Seeing Talla's confusion, he didn't elaborate but instead introduced her to Margaery.
The two exchanged a warm embrace and friendly cheek kisses, while Talla's wide eyes darted back and forth between her brother and Margaery, as though holding back a dozen eager questions that courtesy wouldn't allow her to ask.
"By the way, brother," Talla said excitedly, "I heard you hatched a dragon. Is that true?"
"It's true. The little troublemaker's out hunting in the woods again, but I'll show you later."
"I Can't wait!"
"How's Father? And Mother?" Samwell's tone grew somber. "Did they bring back…my brother's body?"
"Body? Brother, what are you talking about?" Talla looked perplexed. "Dickey was hurt badly, yes, but he isn't dead."
Samwell's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Not…dead? You mean Dickon is alive?"
"Of course! He was gravely injured, but he's with the main army, returning now. Mother was so worried when she heard that she went herself to bring him back."
Overwhelmed with joy and relief, Samwell struggled to find words. He realized immediately that this had to be the work of Melisandre's resurrection spell.
But why was it so delayed?
Inwardly, he chuckled at his own thoughts. Did the Lord of Light have connection issues?
With a smile spreading across his face, he replied, "That's wonderful news! I must have misheard."
Talla gave him a playful scowl and led him and Margaery into the castle.
Inside the front hall stood Lord Randyll Tarly, waiting for them.
He was exactly as Samwell remembered: dressed impeccably in a tailored gray velvet tunic, his expression calm, and his eyes sharp.
Samwell stepped forward with Margaery, bowing respectfully.
After brief formalities, Lord Randyll directed Talla to entertain Margaery while he looked sternly at his son and said, "Come with me."
In a small adjacent room, his father's tone turned cold and scolding:
"You did something foolish in Skyreach."
Samwell knew he was referring to the killing of Joffrey. Politically, executing a king—even a false one—openly was more trouble than it was worth.
However, politics aside…
"Father, my dragon hatched because I used Joffrey's blood."
Lord Randyll's expression shifted, though it was unclear what thoughts ran through his mind. After a moment, he asked in a low voice, "So, dragon eggs can be hatched with the blood of Kings?"
"Yes, a king's blood, a fire sacrifice, and the red comet. I found this method in an ancient scroll from Asshai."
Lord Randyll scrutinized him, as though uncertain whether to believe his son.
Samwell held his father's gaze, silently hoping he would let it go without further questions.
Fortunately, Randyll Tarly chose not to pursue the matter, perhaps aware that some things were better left unspoken.
Instead, he shifted to another pressing topic:
"Taking Margaery Tyrell with you was reckless."
Samwell immediately countered, "But what if I can persuade House Tyrell to recognize our marriage?"
"Are you confident of that?"
"We'll see. Sometimes you can't know without trying." Samwell's voice held steady. "Did you know the outcome of every battle before it began, Father?"
Lord Randyll studied him in silence for a long moment. Finally, he spoke, his tone unreadable:
"A single dragon—especially a hatchling—won't be enough to convince House Tyrell to marry Margaery to you willingly."
Samwell relaxed a little, encouraged by the faint sense of support in his father's words. "Do you have any advice?"
But instead of answering directly, Lord Randyll asked, "How much do you know of the current situation?"
"Lord Stark has openly backed Stannis Baratheon's claim to the Iron Throne, and Tywin Lannister must have ordered a retreat by now. But I haven't heard whether he's reached an agreement with Dorne…"
"They have." Lord Randyll gave a single nod.
"Really?" Samwell was taken aback by the speed of the old lion's actions. "What terms did the Lannisters offer?"
Lord Randyll's tone grew dark. "Tywin sent Dorne two men."
"Who?"
"Gregor Clegane and Renly Baratheon."
Samwell's brows knit in confusion. "Sending the Mountain to Dorne makes sense—it's a powerful offering. But what about Renly?"
Lord Randyll recounted the events that had transpired in Sunspear.
"So Tywin had Renly killed." Samwell was both impressed and appalled. "He managed to frame the Martells for it as well."
"I believe so," Lord Randyll agreed. "But Dorne can't prove its innocence. They executed Clegane publicly, and when Renly died in Sunspear, few will believe they had no part in it."
"Didn't Lord Stark send messengers to Renly's forces? Why would he leave himself so vulnerable?"
"He did, but the Lannister messengers reached him first."
Samwell sighed, though he couldn't say he was surprised. For Tywin Lannister, the events at Skyreach would have been a disaster of unprecedented proportions, and his messengers would have ridden with everything they had to reach him first. Stark's would not have been so urgent, which meant Tywin had seized the opportunity.
It was a brutal and effective move, one that both quelled a powerful rival and forced Dorne into a corner.
Not only did it force House Martell family to bow to the Iron Throne in order to protect themselves, but it also eliminated the Lannister's biggest competitor.
Although Renly Baratheon is the younger brother of the late King Robert Baratheon, he is actually a greater threat to Cersei's illegitimate offspring than his brother Stannis Baratheon.
Stannis's fiefdom, Dragonstone, is too barren, and he can only mobilize two or three thousand troops at most. Renly's fiefdom is Storms end, the stronghold of House Baratheon, and the army he can organize is of a completely different order of magnitude.
In the original book, Renly was also the most powerful "king" in the early stage of the "War of the Five Kings". At that time, he also married Margaery Tyrell, causing him to gained the support of the Reach, and had an army of more than 100,000 people. He was the one with the greatest hope of sitting on the Iron Throne.
But unfortunately, this man was later killed by the shadow born to Stannis and Melisandre, and the army under his command fell apart.
Originally, since Stannis didn't have Melisandre's help this time, Samwell thought that Renly would definitely cause great trouble to the Lannister's, but unexpectedly, this guy died even faster than in the original book.
"Tywin is efficient, I'll give him that." Samwell's voice was low, filled with reluctant admiration. "What of the forces in the Riverlands, the Vale, and the Stormlands? Surely the old lion has something planned for them as well."
"On the eve of his retreat, the Westerlands forces burned the other three armies' food supplies and left the strongholds to the Dornish."
"He's ruthless," Samwell noted with a dark chuckle, but then added, "Tywin Lannister is clever, but he risks underestimating Doran Martell. The Prince of Dorne won't be content to be his pawn."
"Prince Doran's allegiance is uncertain," Lord Randyll agreed, but he was quick to warn, "but do not forget that the Red Viper died because of you. Dorne will consider you an enemy, even if they do not align with the Lannisters."
Samwell grimaced, feeling the weight of his father's words.
"The Lannisters now have the upper hand," Randyll continued. "Lord Tyrell has already agreed to marry Margaery to Tommen Baratheon. If the Westerlands and the Reach unite, Lord Stark and Stannis Baratheon's chances will dwindle."
It was true. With the Reach and Westerlands united, the alliance would be an economic and military powerhouse. In the original timeline, this alliance had nearly cemented the Lannisters' dominance over the Seven Kingdoms, despite doubts surrounding the Baratheon heirs. Had Tywin not lost control of his family, it would have been an age of lions.
"So if I don't want to see the Lannisters on the throne, I truly have to marry Margaery," Samwell concluded.
"In theory, yes," Randyll conceded. But then he gave Samwell a sharp, cold look. "But why would House Tyrell abandon a certain alliance with Tommen in favor of you, a mere lordling?"
"I could ask them to help seat Stannis on the Iron Throne instead. It's his by right, and with the Reach's support, the Lannisters would be helpless."
Lord Randyll shook his head. "But what could House Tyrell gain from Stannis? He's married, and his wife is a Florent."
Samwell fell silent. It was true that the Florents, though Tyrell bannermen, had often disputed the Tyrell claim over the Reach and felt that they were more entitled to Highgarden.
Randyll Tarly let his son's silence linger, then said, "You must understand, Samwell, the Reach is only unified under House Tyrell's rule."
For a moment, Samwell said nothing. Then he murmured, "Perhaps the Reach does not have to be ruled by House Tyrell."
Lord Randyll's eyes narrowed, studying him with an unreadable expression.
"That," he said slowly, "is a dangerous thought."
Samwell met his father's gaze, recognizing the implication behind the words. It was a warning—but it was not a condemnation.
(End of Chapter)