Margaery smiled. She slid her hand through his arm, locking her elbow around his and pulling herself close. She leaned her weight into him as they walked slowly through the dirt path between the tents.
"I am your Queen," Margaery said simply, looking up at him with clever brown eyes. "It is my job to know exactly what you are thinking. Besides, you were tapping your finger against the wood. You only do that when you are bored and thinking about hitting someone."
Alaric let out a short, rough laugh. "I wasn't going to hit anyone today."
"Good," Margaery said lightly. "Because we have much better things to focus on right now."
"Like what?" Alaric asked, guiding her around a group of working soldiers.
"A ride," Margaery said smoothly. She looked toward the thick trees of the Kingswood in the distance. "Some of my scouts mentioned a beautiful waterfall just a few miles outside the city walls. I want to go see it."
She glanced up at him. A playful, knowing spark danced in her brown eyes. "Besides, I know you had a very good night with Lady Roslin. I made sure my guards kept everyone away from your side of the camp so no one would disturb you."
Alaric raised an eyebrow, a little amused by how casually she talked about it. He didn't bother denying it.
"And Lady Sansa is finally with her father and sister," Margaery continued, her voice light and easy. "She has months of tears and stories to catch up on. She will be busy with them all day."
She stepped a little closer, her shoulder pressing firmly against his arm. She lowered her voice, making it warm and private just for him.
"Which means," Margaery murmured, looking up at him with a soft, teasing smile, "I think we have more than enough time to be completely alone today. Don't you think so, husband?"
She reached her free hand over, lightly resting her fingers against his dark tunic. "Don't I deserve some of your time too?"
Alaric looked down at her. He saw the genuine desire mixed right in with her clever charm. She never demanded things; she just knew exactly how to ask for them. He stopped walking and turned to face her fully.
"A hidden waterfall," Alaric repeated. "Just the two of us?"
Margaery nodded, her eyes bright. "Just the two of us."
"Alright," Alaric said. He reached out and gently brushed his thumb across her cheek.
A short time later, they left the noise of the camp behind.
The heavy black warhorse walked at a slow, steady pace through the thick trees of the Kingswood. The smell of ash and smoke was completely gone, replaced by the clean, sharp scent of pine needles and damp earth.
Margaery sat in front of Alaric in the saddle. She held the thick leather reins, confidently guiding the massive horse along a narrow, overgrown dirt path.
Alaric sat right behind her, letting her take control. His arms were wrapped loosely around her, his hands resting comfortably on her waist. He let out a slow, quiet breath and rested his head on her shoulder. The gentle sway of the horse and the solid warmth of her back pressed against his chest made the tension finally drain out of his muscles.
Margaery felt him relax. She leaned back into him just a little more, adjusting her grip on the reins. She turned her head slightly, her soft hair brushing against his cheek.
"Are you falling asleep back there, my King?" she asked, a teasing smile in her voice.
"Just resting my eyes," Alaric mumbled. His voice was a low, tired rumble right next to her ear. "You said you knew the way to the waterfall. I am letting you do the work."
Margaery let out a bright, quiet laugh. She took one hand off the reins and placed it over his hand on her waist, giving his fingers a gentle squeeze.
"I do know the way," she said, steering the horse smoothly around a large, moss-covered rock. "But I didn't expect the great conqueror of kingslanding to use me as a pillow."
They rode in comfortable silence for a few more minutes. The thick canopy of leaves blocked out most of the sun, casting long, cool shadows across the path. The only sounds were the crunch of the horse's hooves on the dirt and the faint rustle of the wind in the trees.
Soon, a new sound cut through the quiet forest. It was the steady, rushing noise of falling water.
Margaery squeezed his hand again. "Listen," she whispered, her eyes lighting up. "We are almost there. You can open your eyes now, husband."
Alaric lifted his head from her shoulder. He opened his eyes and looked past her just as the horse stepped out from the thick tree line and into a wide, hidden clearing.
The clearing was exactly as she promised. A steep stone wall sat at the far end, with a stream of clear water falling into a deep, quiet pool below. Smooth white rocks lined the edge of the water. The air felt cool and misted.
Alaric pulled the reins, bringing the heavy warhorse to a stop. He swung his leg over and dropped to the dirt with a soft thud. He turned and reached up, grabbing Margaery by the waist. She let go of the reins and slid down smoothly, letting him lift her to the ground.
She didn't step back right away. She kept her hands resting lightly on his shoulders, looking around the empty, quiet woods.
"Perfect," she murmured.
They started walking side by side toward the edge of the pool. The rushing water covered the silence of the forest. Margaery looked up at him, studying his face as they walked. A small, wicked smile touched her lips.
"So," Margaery said casually, her voice just loud enough to be heard over the waterfall. "Was the little Frey girl wild last night?"