#about marg literally forcing herself to forget rhaenys

[rcsegilded]

AN OLD MEME BUT I KEPT THIS ONE FOR ✨REASONS✨ | @oraiososta​​

❝ i can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. ❞ // aegon

The prince had invited her on yet another long, ambling walk through the castle gardens. They were, as ever, bright and beautiful but the repetition had begun to wear on Margaery. She had memorized every path, every dead end, and had even begun to recognize hedges and flower bushes by the number of steps from the keep it took to reach them. Her ladies and septa trailed after them as always--often making her feel like a mother duck wanting to escape her loud and frivolous little ducklings--but kept enough distance to allow them the pretense of privacy. 

Their conversations remained mostly courteous and rarely strayed from the sort of topics her septa would approve of: the upcoming wedding, how she was liking the city, little anecdotes from her childhood. She didn’t always mind it, truly, and understood that--though they were to wed in less than a fortnight--every moment of the courtship should be handled with care. That aside, the simple subject matter allowed her mind to wander through memories of more lively conversation, of raspberry tarts and ringing laughter. Of stolen looks from eyes so alike and yet unlike the prince’s. 

She’s broken form her usual reverie when Aegon’s hand--usually clasped behind his back as they walked--reached for hers and led her to a stone bench beneath a large, sprawling tree. It was a deviation from their usual routine and she found herself at attention, intrigued. Her ladies, once caught up to them, had enough tact to leave them be and make for a set of tables across the way. Margaery sat as he bid her, folding her hands in her lap and looking up at him expectantly. He starts off as expected--praising her beauty and grace and gentle nature--but then something in his face changes, softens, and she feels as though she is looking at a different man entirely. There is a hint of hesitation in his expression and then in his voice as he says those words so softly and so earnestly. It is the sort of thing any maid would dream of--a true confession of love and affection--but all Margaery feels is guilt. 

All this time with the prince--her future husband--had been spent thinking of and pining for Rhaenys: her smile, the strong scent of her perfume, the way those elegant hands felt upon her thighs. Most days, she could pass off the flush in her face as a sweet, demure response to Aegon’s compliments but now? For the first time, she truly felt the shame of it and understood it as the betrayal it was. He offers me his heart, she thinks. And what of mine? 

Margaery pulls her hand from his and--before confusion or hurt can cross his features--reaches up to gently press the same palm against his cheek. It is a bold gesture--even this far along in their courtship--especially since she was the one to initiate it and not the prince himself. In his stunned silence, she gazes into that heartbreakingly-familiar face and forces herself to forget.

Forget the long dark hair, ever-smiling  lips, and the purple eyes just a few shades too dark. Forget soft skin and gentle fingers and ringing laughter so sweet as to rival a bard’s song. Feature by feature, she lets it all fade until all she sees in that face is the prince himself. Even the princess’ name is lost to her, if only for a moment. It’s easier this way, to return Aegon’s gentle expression and allow all her love to belong to him.

“Nor can I,” she says at last, finding that she means it. And how not, when he looks at her so sweetly and her heart swells with barely-contained emotion. After all, there is no one else, only Aegon. “We’ve not too much longer now. Though I sometimes wish we could skip all the fanfare and just be, it will all be worth it to call myself your wife and to share my love with you forever more.”

#[ margaery tyrell everyone #queen of compartmentalization #lowkey had this reply in the back of my head for ages #bc there's just something heartbreaking #about marg literally forcing herself to forget rhaenys #just to convince herself she loves aegon #anyways enjoy :) ] #oraiososta #. : : V. A DRAGON'S ROSE #. : : IC