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Sansa reddened。 Any fool would have realized that no woman would be happy about being called 〃the Queen of Thorns。〃 Maybe I truly am as stupid as Cersei Lannister says。 Desperately she tried to think of something clever and charming to say to him； but her wits had deserted her。 She almost told him how beautiful he was； until she remembered that she'd already done that。
He was beautiful； though。 He seemed taller than he'd been when she'd first met him； but still so lithe and graceful； and Sansa had never seen another boy with such wonderful eyes。 He's no boy； though； he's a man grown； a knight of the Kingsguard。 She thought he looked even finer in white than in the greens and golds of House Tyrell。 The only spot of color on him now was the brooch that clasped his cloak； the rose of Highgarden wrought in soft yellow gold； nestled in a bed of delicate green jade leaves。
Ser Balon Swann held the door of Maegor's for them to pass。 He was all in white as well； though he did not wear it half so well as Ser Loras。 Beyond the spiked moat； two dozen men were taking their practice with sword and shield。 With the castle so crowded； the outer ward had been given over to guests to raise their tents and pavilions； leaving only the smaller inner yards for training。 One of the Redwyne twins was being driven backward by Ser Tallad； with the eyes on his shield。 Chunky Ser Kennos of Kayce； who chuffed and puffed every time he raised his longsword； seemed to be holding his own against Osney Kettleblack； but Osney's brother Ser Osfryd was savagely punishing the frog…faced squire Morros Slynt。 Blunted swords or no； Slynt would have a rich crop of bruises by the morrow。 It made Sansa wince Just to watch。 They have scarcely finished burying the dead from the last battle； and already they are practicing for the next one。
On the edge of the yard； a lone knight with a pair of golden roses on his shield was holding off three foes。 Even as they watched； he caught one of them alongside the head； knocking him senseless。 〃Is that your brother？〃 Sansa asked。
〃It is； my lady；〃 said Ser Loras。 〃Garlan often trains against three men； or even four。 In battle it is seldom one against one； he says； so he likes to be prepared。〃
〃He must be very brave。〃
〃He is a great knight；〃 Ser Loras replied。 〃A better sword than me； in truth； though I'm the better lance。〃
〃I remember；〃 said Sansa。 〃You ride wonderfully； ser。〃
〃My lady is gracious to say so。 When has she seen me ride？〃
〃At the Hand's tourney； don't you remember？ You rode a white courser； and your armor was a hundred different kinds of flowers。 You gave me a rose。 A red rose。 You threw white roses to the other girls that day。〃 It made her flush to speak of it。 〃You said no victory was half as beautiful as me。〃
Ser Loras gave her a modest smile。 〃I spoke only a simple truth； that any man with eyes could see。〃
He doesn't remember； Sansa realized； startled。 He is only being kind to me； he doesn't remember me or the rose or any of it。 She had been so certain that it meant something； that it meant everything。 A red rose； not a white。 〃It was after you unhorsed Ser Robar Royce；〃 she said； desperately。
He took his hand from her arm。 〃I slew Robar at Storm's End； my lady。〃 It was not a boast； he sounded sad。
Him； and another of King Renly's Rainbow Guard as well； yes。 Sansa had heard the women talking of it round the well； but for a moment she'd forgotten。 〃That was when Lord Renly was killed； wasn't it？ How terrible for your poor sister。〃
〃For Margaery？〃 His voice was tight。 〃To be sure。 She was at Bitterbridge； though。 She did not see。〃
〃Even so； when she heard 。 。 。〃
Ser Loras brushed the hilt of his sword lightly with his hand。 Its grip was white leather； its pommel a rose in alabaster。 〃Renly is dead。 Robar as well。 What use to speak of them？〃
The sharpness in his tone took her aback。 〃I 。 。 。 my lord； I 。 。 。 I did not mean to give offense； ser。〃
〃Nor could you； Lady Sansa；〃 Ser Loras replied； but all the warmth had gone from his voice。 Nor did he take her arm again。
They ascended the serpentine steps in a deepening silence。
Oh； why did I have to mention Ser Robar？ Sansa thought。 I've ruined everything。 He is angry with me now She tried to think of something she might say to make amends； but all the words that came to her were lame and weak。 Be quiet； or you will only make it worse； she told herself。
Lord Mace Tyrell and his entourage had been housed behind the royal sept； in the long slate…roofed keep that had been called the Maidenvault since King Baelor the Blessed had confined his sisters therein； so the sight of them might not tempt him into carnal thoughts。 Outside its tall carved doors stood two guards in gilded halffielms and green cloaks edged in gold satin； the golden rose of Highgarden sewn on their breasts。 Both were seven…footers； wide of shoulder and narrow of waist； magnificently muscled。 When Sansa got close enough to see their faces； she could not tell one from the other。 They had the same strong jaws； the same deep blue eyes； the same thick red mustaches。 〃Who are they？〃 she asked Ser Loras； her disfit forgotten for a moment。
〃My grandmother's personal guard；〃 he told her。 〃Their mother named them Erryk and Arryk； but Grandmother can't tell them apart； so she calls them Left and Right。〃
Left and Right opened the doors； and Margaery Tyrell herself emerged and swept down the short flight of steps to greet them。 〃Lady Sansa；〃 she called； 〃I'm so pleased you came。 Be wele。〃
Sansa knelt at the feet of her future queen。 〃You do me great honor； Your Grace。〃
〃Won't you call me Margaery？ Please； rise。 Loras； help the Lady Sansa to her feet。 Might I call you Sansa？〃
〃If it please you。〃 Ser Loras helped her up。
Margaery dismissed him with a sisterly kiss； and took Sansa by the hand。 〃e； my grandmother awaits； and she is not the most patient of ladies。〃
A fire was crackling in the hearth； and sweet…swelling rushes had been scattered on the floor。 Around the long trestle table a dozen women were seated。
Sansa recognized only Lord Tyrell's tall； dignified wife； Lady Alerie； whose long silvery braid was bound with jeweled rings。 Margaery performed the other introductions。 There were three Tyrell cousins； Megga and Alla and Elinor； all close to Sansa's age。 Buxom Lady Janna was Lord Tyrell's sister； and wed to one of the green…apple Fossoways； dainty； bright…eyed Lady Leonette was a Fossoway as well； and wed to Ser Garlan。 Septa Nysterica had a homely pox…scarred face but seemed jolly。 Pale； elegant Lady Graceford was with child； and Lady Bulwer was a child； no more than eight。 And 〃Merry〃 was what she was to call boisterous plump Meredyth Crane； but most definitely not Lady Merryweather； a sultry black…eyed Myrish beauty。
Last of all； Margaery brought her before the wizened white…haired doll of a woman at the head of the table。 〃I am honored to present my grandmother the Lady Olenna； widow to the late Luthor Tyrell； Lord of Highgarden； whose memory is a fort to us all。〃
The old woman smelled of rosewater。 Why； she's just the littlest bit of a thing。 There was nothing the least bit thorny about her。 〃Kiss me； child；〃 Lady Olenna said； tugging at Sansa's wrist with a soft spotted hand。 〃It is so kind of you to sup with me and my foolish flock of hens。〃 Dutifully； Sansa kissed the old woman on the cheek。 〃It is kind of you to have me； my lady。〃
〃I knew your grandfather； Lord Rickard； though not well。〃
〃He died before I was born。〃
〃I am aware of that； child。 It's said that your Tully grandfather is dying too。 Lord Hoster； surely they told you？ An old man； though not so old as me。 Still； night falls for all of us in the end； and too soon for some。 You would know that more than most； poor child。 You've had your share of grief； I know。 We are sorry for your losses。〃
Sansa glanced at Margaery。 〃I was saddened when I heard of Lord Renly's death； Your Grace。 He was very gallant。〃
〃You are kind to say so；〃 answered Margaery。
Her grandmother snorted。 〃Gallant； yes； and charming； and very clean。 He knew how to dress and he knew how to smile and he knew how to bathe； and somehow he got the notion that this made him fit to be king。 The Baratheons have always had some queer notions； to be sure。 It es from their Targaryen blood； I should think。〃 She sniffed。 〃They tried to marry me to a Targaryen once； but I soon put an end to that。〃
〃Renly was brave and gentle； Grandmother；〃 said Margaery。 〃Father liked him as well； and so did Loras。〃
〃Loras is young；〃 Lady Olenna said crisply； 〃and very good at knocking men off horses with a stick。 That does not make him wise。 As to your father； would that I'd been born a peasant woman with a big wooden spoon； I might have been able to beat some sense into his fat head。〃
〃Mother；〃 Lady Alerie scolded。
〃Hush； Alerie； don't take that tone with me。 And don't call me Mother。 If I'd given birth to you； I'm sure I'd remember。 I'm only to blame for your husband； the lord oaf of Highgarden。〃
〃Grandmother；〃 Margaery said； 〃mind your words； or what will Sansa think of us？〃
〃She might think we have some wits about us。 One of us； at any rate。〃 The old woman turned back to Sansa。 〃It's treaso