Deep within the gardens of Great Lord Mace Tyrell's estate in King's Landing, a rose-covered pavilion shut out the noise of summer. Renly lounged against a carved bench, a faint smile playing across his handsome face as he drained his cup of spiced wine.
"Lord Mace, you've seen it yourself. My royal brother is deeply grateful for Highgarden's generous aid. The Lannisters' arrogance is no longer what it once was, and even our esteemed Queen's ever-prouder face has finally shown a touch of restraint… Perhaps it's time we take the next step."
He set down his goblet, his bright gaze locking on the Great Lord of Highgarden seated across from him.
Great Lord Mace sank into a broad, velvet-cushioned chair. Though still in his prime, the richest lord of the Seven Kingdoms already showed the fatigue of premature age. Silver threaded through his curling brown hair, and his carefully trimmed beard was dusted with white.
Since the news arrived that his second son, Garlan, had led an army to war only to fall captive to the Easterners, Great Lord Mace had been restless. He'd immediately boarded the fastest carriage and rushed to King's Landing, dust-covered from the road. He had even sent his third son, Loras—still serving as Renly's squire—off with Lord Eddard's delegation to the Stepstones.
The wealthy lords of the Reach all kept manor houses in King's Landing, and the Tyrells owned several in prime locations. These estates now served as the anxious Great Lord's bases of operation.
For months, the reports from the Seven Kingdoms' envoys grew increasingly alarming. The Easterners had not only conquered the Free City of Tyrosh but had even crowned themselves kings in the palaces of the fallen Great Kings. Their terms for peace and demands for ransom sent the Small Council into a fury.
King Robert raged, vowing to summon his bannermen again and crush Tyrosh. Had it not been for the steady restraint of Lord Jon Arryn, who as Hand of the King commanded the envoys to negotiate the treaty to an "acceptable" level, war might have reignited.
Yet things progressed better than expected. The Seven Kingdoms' delegation sent back frequent good news—many harsh conditions were withdrawn or relaxed. But two issues remained deadlocked: a war indemnity of one million golden dragons, and the Easterners' demand for territorial concessions.
The eunuch envoy, the Easterners' lackey, declared that only after the treaty was fully signed would the captive nobles be released. So the Seven Kingdoms' envoys spent another two months bargaining, reducing the reparations to three hundred thousand golden dragons and convincing the Easterners to postpone their claims over Estermont and Tarth until the treaty expired.
Still, the reality was harsh. Three hundred thousand golden dragons was a staggering sum for the Iron Throne, its treasury empty and debts towering. Who would pay it?
While the Small Council struggled for answers—and even Lord Jon Arryn prepared to swallow his pride and borrow from the High Septon—Great Lord Mace Tyrell brought good news to the king and his lords.
He publicly announced that he would pay the entire indemnity himself, asking nothing in return but to honor his oath of fealty to King Robert. This timely fortune instantly relieved the Iron Throne's dire crisis.
King Robert, before the assembled council, praised Great Lord Mace's steadfast loyalty at length.
And the Tyrells' pride swelled further when the king, upon learning that the armies of the Westerlands, Dorne, and the Iron Islands had openly defied Lord Paxter's command in their scramble for Valyrian steel, flew into a rage. Robert not only sent a scathing letter rebuking all three, but in front of Queen Cersei herself, he cursed her father, Lord Tywin, in the foulest terms imaginable.
In an instant, the winds of power in King's Landing shifted. House Tyrell was now the hottest name on every noble's lips, and Great Lord Mace had become the most dazzling figure in the throne room. Meanwhile, the once-arrogant House Lannister had fallen into an awkward silence.
Great Lord Mace, his rounded belly thrust forward, wore expensive silk robes soaked through with sweat, clinging tightly to his skin. He extended his well-groomed hand, carefully plucking a plump, juicy green grape from the fruit platter and popping it into his mouth. The sweet juice burst on his tongue, yet it seemed unable to fully dispel the pain etched between his brows.
He nodded slowly, the fleshy cheeks trembling slightly with the motion. "Indeed, we must proceed to the next step. I have already ordered the finest painter in Oldtown to create a portrait of Margaery."
Renly's face lit up with a bright smile as he lowered his voice. "That would be most excellent. It would be best to paint it within the pendant itself, to guard against prying eyes. Once all preparations are complete, Great Lord Eddard should have returned to King's Landing. At that time, I shall take this pendant to test him."
Great Lord Mace gazed at the well-groomed, clear-eyed Renly before him, a murmur rising in his heart. Long before this campaign, Renly had claimed to have overheard some intriguing tidings from "Brightsmile" Baelor. Baelor Hightower's sister, Alerie, was Margaery's mother. According to Baelor, during a dance in Oldtown, Lady Margaery's face had reminded him of Lyanna at the Tourney of Harrenhal over a decade ago.
Thus, Renly secretly sent word to Highgarden through Loras Tyrell. He declared that he would petition his kingly brother to strip Cersei Lannister of her title and have Lady Margaery wed him instead.
When Great Lord Mace received the letter, he nearly jumped out of his skin. Lady Olenna pondered long in the gardens of Highgarden with her precious grandson Willas before finally agreeing to Renly's plan. She believed that House Tyrell and the entire Reach should distinguish themselves in the campaign against the Stepstones to please King Robert.
Lady Olenna, mother of Great Lord Mace, secretly conspired with House Redwyne and House Hightower. They resolved to reinforce their forces, mustering over ten thousand men to outnumber the other houses and march upon the Stepstones.
When the Seven Kingdoms suffered defeat and nobles could only be ransomed through enormous reparations, Renly once again persuaded Lady Olenna to offer aid in their hour of need. Their contingent was the largest, driven neither by greed for Valyrian steel nor hidden motives, and they even assisted the Iron Throne in repaying its indemnities.
This series of maneuvers finally bore fruit, earning House Tyrell unprecedented favor and trust from the King. King Robert now spoke of Highgarden and the Reach with admiration, even hinting at his desire to bring Reach nobles into the Small Council to fill the void left by his brother Great Lord Stannis's long absence.
It was exactly what House Tyrell had hoped for, fulfilling the Golden Rose's long-cherished dream of entering the core of power. Together with Renly, they planned that once Great Lord Eddard returned, they would present him with the portrait and then seize an opportune moment to advance the plan to replace the queen.
Renly set down his silver goblet gently, his smile broad. "Great Lord Mace, Highgarden's coffers are deep. Repaying the indemnity would certainly earn you renown, but there are still many lords to be ransomed. Golden dragons are not cheap. I have already instructed my Castellan, Lord Cortnay, to send a hundred thousand golden dragons to Highgarden."
Lord Mace froze, a flicker of shock crossing his eyes. He stammered, "Lord Renly, this…"
Renly was deeply invested in the queen's replacement. He acted as a go-between for Highgarden and the Iron Throne, intent on bringing down House Lannister.
But what was Renly's true purpose? He was pushing so eagerly for the queen's replacement—yet even if the new queen came from House Tyrell, what benefit would it bring him? The line of succession to the Iron Throne was worlds away. He stood to gain nothing.
Then Lord Mace recalled Lady Olenna's warning: be ever wary of Renly. Lady Olenna had already sensed Renly's ambition for the Iron Throne, though she did not yet know by what means he intended to pursue it.
But was Highgarden not also using Renly? With Margaery as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, House Tyrell would rise to the forefront of politics, closer than ever to the supreme power of Westeros. Leveraging Highgarden's formidable strength, they could even impose their influence upon the King's decisions.
The child that the new Queen Margaery would one day bear would have a rightful claim to the throne—just as it had been in the days of Viserys I.
Renly waved his hand with a smile. "Enough of that for now. We'll discuss it in detail when Great Lord Eddard returns. As for the portrait…"
Lord Mace replied, "We'll hasten the preparations."
He glanced at the confident smile on Renly's face, unable to discern what game the man was playing. Still, he raised a crucial question.
"Lord Renly, Margaery is only twelve now and has not yet reached her flowering…"
Renly smiled. "It matters not. This need not be rushed. Once our campaign against the Stepstones concludes and the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms return, we may deliberate then."
Lord Mace nodded.