The Unyielding Stag (Game of Thrones AU/Invincible)
Chapter 41: Scheming Rose

A/N: Margaery Tyrell has a plan!

-x-X-x-

Weeks. It's been weeks since Sansa Stark and Arianne Martell arrived in King's Landing. Longer still since she managed to seduce Axel Baratheon into taking her maidenhead, only for him to tell her that would be the one and only time they would couple with one another.

It was almost enough to drive Margaery mad. She hadn't thought it would be like this. He should have been obsessed with her, not the other way around! And yet, every night she lay in bed thinking about their singular encounter. Every night she touched herself to the memories of how good it had felt to be impaled upon Axel Baratheon's big fat throbbing member.

The women in her life who claimed to have experience with this sort of thing had either lied to her or been woefully deprived, because sex with the King hadn't been nearly as miserable as they had assured her it would be.

Not that Margaery had told Olenna that. Nor had she told the older woman that he refused to sleep with her again. She'd simply explained to her grandmother that Axel was proving… difficult to pin down. In return, the Queen of Thorns had told her to either settle for what she had… or try harder.

Obviously, Margaery couldn't just settle for what she'd had and leave it at that. The experience Axel had given her went beyond her wildest expectations. It gnawed at her mind with every waking moment. She was desperate to worm her way into his good graces again, to get another taste of the handsome young king.

Only… the competition was decidedly fierce. And far more legitimate than she was. All Margaery Tyrell had left to her was her beauty and her wits. Her family name was more of a poison than anything else in this situation and her House's connections mattered not a bit here in King's Landing, especially not after they'd helped Renly march on the Crownlands and laid siege to the city.

Frankly, House Tyrell had been lucky not to be attainted. They'd been lucky to keep ahold of the Reach, really. But Margaery… Margaery still wanted more. After experiencing what Axel had to offer, she knew she couldn't settle for anything less than making her way back into his bed somehow.

Sansa Stark and Arianne Martell were all that stood in her way, but Margaery couldn't exactly remove either woman, now could she? Not only had they doubled the taste testers in the Red Keep a while back, but she would also be one of the first suspects if anything did happen to one of the two women.

Well, maybe not if the Northern Lady died. If Sansa were to die of poison, than the first suspect would no doubt be Arianne, given the Dornish's propensity for such things.

However… Margaery had ultimately discarded that idea. For one, there was the aforementioned doubling of taste testers. But for two, Margaery balked at the thought of killing an innocent woman, even if it got her what she wanted.

And besides, if Sansa's death could not be fully pinned in the Princess from Dorne, than all it would accomplish was opening the pathway for Arianne Martell to become Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, just like that. And Margaery would only be worse off than when she started!

After all, Margaery had seen how Axel interacted with both of his prospective brides over these last several weeks. With the Realm at peace, he typically arranged outings with one or other of the two women every single day, interweaving them with his daily visits to both the Great Sept and the Training Yard where he continued to remain undefeated.

The King made sure to balance things so that he either saw each of them at least once a day or saw the other of them the next day after seeing the first. And everything Margaery saw made it clear that he got on rather well with BOTH women.

Margaery was pretty sure he wasn't sleeping with them yet at least. Though not from lack of trying on the Princess' part. Hmph, Arianne Martell probably thought herself a match for Margaery's beauty, all because of those fat cow udders attached to her chest. And given how Axel's eyes constantly drifted down to them, he might even agree with that assessment irritatingly enough.

But to make matters worse, the Dornish Princess had backup in the form of her handmaiden, the ever-nearby, ever-silent Tyene Sand. She was always there, presenting another sort of beauty to go alongside her mistress' provocative and crass visage.

They made for quite the pair… and Margaery had come to realize that was exactly what she was missing. Or rather… what Sansa Stark was missing.

"Wait here, Brienne."

"Lady Margaery…"

But Margaery won't hear of any objections. Turning to face the towering woman, she smiles softly.

"Actually, better yet… I release you for the day. Please, go and find something else to occupy your time with. Perhaps you will find Clegane in the Training Yard and be able to cross swords with him… though admittedly, his new role as Kingsguard might see him busy at the moment."

And hadn't that been quite the shock to the court, even if Margaery had insider knowledge and so knew it was likely coming even before it was announced. Sandor Clegane, the Lannister's Hound, had been knighted by the King and then named as the final member of his Kingsguard.

The burned man hadn't looked too happy about it, but then he never looked happy about anything. From what Margaery understood, he'd had ample time to leave King's Landing too. He could have easily returned to the Westerlands to continue serving House Lannister as he'd been doing pretty much all his life.

Yet he hadn't. He'd stuck around despite Axel's warnings and the King had finally made good on his threats and graced the man with the greatest honor a knight could hope for. And he wasn't even a knight until that very moment!

Brienne scowls at the mention of her favorite sparring partner (even if she would never admit it), probably still a little upset that he was busier now that he had a cloak of white and not available quite so often to fight her in the training yard. Still, she hesitates all the same.

"… I am supposed to keep you safe my lady."

But Margaery just shakes her head, gesturing behind her.

"I'm going into the Red Keep's godswood, Brienne. There is no danger to be had here. I'm perfectly safe… and you, for all that I appreciate your protection, are not truly my sworn shield. You are free to go and I will see you later at dinner."

Finally, Brienne's shoulders slump and she nods, giving Margaery a bow of her head before turning and departing. Margaery watches her go for a long moment before hurrying into the godswood, not wanting to be too late and miss her opportunity.

See, Margaery had figured out a solution to all of her problems. She might not ever be Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, but that didn't mean she couldn't be Axel's Mistress. As far as she could tell, the only thing holding him back from taking her to bed some more was the fact that it might make the two women he was currently courting upset.

… So all Margaery had to do was seduce one of those women and she'd be good to go!

Obviously, Arianne Martell wasn't an option. The Princess of Dorne was a hussy with massive tits and a handmaiden who already acted as her second and was reportedly her best friend and closest confidante. Margaery was content to be third in the arrangement, but fourth? Ugh, she might as well not exist at that point.

Sansa Stark though… she was all alone in King's Landing. Technically, her mother had come down to the city with her, but word had quickly spread around the Red Keep that Catelyn Stark was overbearing to the point that even Sansa was no longer putting up with it.

The Lady of Winterfell had been pushed out of most of the meetings between her daughter and the King, and there were even some servants who said she was considering leaving and returning North altogether at this point… even if it meant doing so without Sansa.

Margaery didn't know the veracity of that last rumor, but she did know that Catelyn Stark was currently having tea with her grandmother as Olenna ran interference with her… and that Sansa Stark should currently be praying at the heart tree in the center of the Red Keep's godswood.

Fortunately, that's precisely where she is, almost like she's waiting for Margaery to arrive. Kneeling in front of the heart tree with her head bowed, Sansa Stark is definitely praying to her Old Gods as Margaery quietly approaches. Unfortunately, as much as Margaery tries to quiet her steps… Sansa hears her all the same, her head turning in her direction after just a moment.

Stopping, Margaery smiles and gives a curtsey.

"Lady Stark. My apologies for disturbing you."

When Sansa just continues to stare at her in cool, icy silence, Margaery continues on.

"… It wasn't my intention, but I've discovered the godswood to be quite relaxing and a great way to escape from the expectations of the court ever since I found myself in King's Landing. And when I saw you… well, we haven't really had a chance to meet properly, have we? You may not even know who I am-!"

"Lady Tyrell."

Margaery stops, Sansa's voice cutting through the air quite suddenly. The Stark woman is soft spoken but not in a shy or timid way. Instead, she's soft like a dagger wrapped in silk. There's something in her eyes that sends a shiver down Margaery's spine as Sansa observes her for a long moment.

"Come. Sit with me."

Well, given that sort of invitation was precisely what Margaery hoped for, she doesn't hesitate to accept. Scurrying over, she gathers her skirts beneath her and sits down on the grass right there next to Sansa's kneeling form. There's no room for hesitation here, no time to fret over getting stains on her dress. Not when there are moves to be made.

And judging by the look of approval in Sansa Stark's eyes, Margaery has passed an unspoken test with flying colors, just as she hoped to. There's something else in Sansa's eyes though as well. Something… measuring.

"… I'm sure you've heard all sorts of things about me, Lady Stark. My family has not had the best start to our relations with the new King…"

Sansa raises an eyebrow.

"That's certainly one way to put it. And you can call me Sansa if you wish. No need to be so formal here in the godswood with just the two of us."

Yes! Margaery makes sure to make a show of perking up and smiling brightly at that.

"Oh! Then please, call me Margaery! And don't worry, I know full well that my family were foolish to stand with Renly. And to marry me off to him like they did. Ugh, my father should never have so readily bought his lies…"

Sansa hums, smiling back in a more subdued manner as she slowly nods.

"I'm sure you tried your best to convince them otherwise… but from what I understand, you noblewomen down here in the South don't have much choice but to obey, do you?"

A shiver runs down Margaery's spine at the way Sansa says 'obey', but ultimately she thinks nothing of it, even as she ducks her head and lets out a sigh, staring down at her hands in a practiced manner.

"… No, you have the right of it, Sansa. There's not much I can do once my father's mind is made up. If anything, being sent here to King's Landing to be the King's ward is something of a blessing. At least I'm no longer a pawn of my father's."

Her plans to make Sansa feel sorry for her seem to be working perfectly, but Margaery is nevertheless caught off guard when the Northern woman suddenly takes her by the chin, lifting her head back up to look her in the eyes.

"Yes. We're both out from under the thumbs of our Lord Fathers now, aren't we Margaery?"

Blinking, Margaery smiles again and bats her lashes as coquettishly as she dares.

"I suppose we are, Sansa."

After a moment where the tension between them seems to build, Sansa lets go of her chin and looks back to the heart tree. A moment later, she asks the question Margaery has been waiting for since she sat down.

"Why are you here, Margaery Tyrell?"

Perking up, Margaery straightens her spine and leans forward a little bit as she wets her lips and prepares to give her speech. This… this was going to be the tough part. Convincing Sansa to go along with her little plan would be hard, but so long as the Stark Lady wanted to be Axel's Queen, Margaery thought she had a pretty good chance of bringing her around.

After all, as things currently stood, it was two against one and Sansa was outnumbered. Princess Arianne brought that handmaiden of hers everywhere and Margaery didn't doubt for a moment that when the Dornish woman finally went for the kill, she would bring Tyene Sand along to give Axel an extra set of holes to fill with his juicy fat cock. And the King, as much as he caged his lustful side, wouldn't object she didn't think.

That meant Sansa needed help. Help that Margaery could give her if she could just persuade the other woman to go along with her scheme. Together, they could convince Axel that Sansa was the best choice for Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. And that Margaery deserved a place at their side as their mistress and concubine.

From the way Sansa looked at her, Margaery thought she might have an even easier time than she'd expected. The Stark woman seems to have a thing for both men and women if Margaery isn't mistaken… and Margaery is more than willing to use her beauty to get what she wants. No matter who she has to use it on…

-x-X-x-

Sansa listens as Margaery Tyrell carefully begins to lay out her thinking and what she hopes to accomplish, all without accidentally scaring Sansa away from the idea.

But truth be told, Margaery needn't have worried. From the moment that Sansa had met Axel for the first time all those weeks ago, she'd decided that she wanted to be Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Or rather, she'd decided that she wanted Axel. Becoming Queen was just the most straightforward way to get to the handsome King.

At the same time, from the moment she'd laid eyes on Margaery Tyrell, Sansa had decided she wanted her as well. Was this what it meant to truly be free with her desires? Perhaps. But she'd have to be careful not to get too bogged down by the Tyrell woman's plans. Margaery could very well become a noose around her neck… or she could be exactly what Sansa needed to finally score some points against that Dornish hussy and her 'pious' handmaiden.

… Only time would tell.

-x-X-x-

A/N: "I've got this Stark right where I want her!" – Margaery, foolishly not realizing she's the one who's right where Sansa wants HER.

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