chapter 122 part 2
Glyn shook his head, a trace of sorrow appearing on his face.
Margaery glanced at her grandmother, who was staring intently at Glyn, and said, "Lord Glyn, although an accident has occurred, we hope to see it through to the end."
Glyn nodded with a solemn expression. "Miss Margaery, I agree with your point of view. A matter should naturally have a beginning and an end. But..."
Hearing this, Margaery recalled the line that had made her father roar with laughter during the feast at Highgarden. He had said... *but everything said before 'but' is meaningless.*
Margaery had been nearby at the time. She had heard it clearly, and it had left a deep impression.
Glyn continued, "After the old Lord passed away, Queen Cersei has already lost some of her enthusiasm."
Margaery pressed, "Some? Please speak frankly, Lord Glyn."
"Miss Margaery, when the Lord of Winterfell's name appeared on the list of candidates for Hand, everyone already knew the answer in their hearts. We still have fresh memories of what happened at the foot of the Iron Throne over a decade ago. In a way, the relationship between the Direwolf and the Stag is unbreakable. We must admit this."
After hearing Glyn's reply, Margaery was momentarily speechless.
The wrinkled Lady Olenna suddenly said, "Little fellow, I hear you are very fond of grain from The Reach?"
Glyn's eyes shifted. He first glanced at Margaery before speaking. "Yes, my lady! My lands are still at war, and my thirty thousand soldiers consume a large amount of grain every day."
Lord Glyn had always been frank. The Crabbe lands now had over thirty thousand subjects, and to him, every subject was a soldier of House Crabbe.
Upon hearing "thirty thousand soldiers," Olenna's pupils imperceptibly shrank.
Olenna seemed to be taunting, "This old woman's ears are not good, but the Golden Rose's ears are not deaf. You have already reclaimed your family's ancestral lands. The war could stop. Are you trying to swallow the entire Crackclaw Point whole?"
Glyn corrected her, "Lady Olenna, I must explain. The ancestors of House Crabbe once ruled Crackclaw Point. I am merely restoring the rule over Crackclaw Point that House Crabbe lost."
One of Margaery's eyebrows rose.
To understand Glyn, she had taken the time to consult many books recording the history of Crackclaw Point.
The civilization of Crackclaw Point had always been backward, and it received little attention in Westeros, so the records were extremely scarce.
Legend told of a Clarence Crabbe who had brought a brief peace to the chaotic Crackclaw Point... he could uproot a pine tree with one hand and throw it half a league... When Margaery read these accounts, she had been very skeptical of their authenticity.
Now, this "story" was being openly used by Glyn as the legal basis for House Crabbe's right to rule Crackclaw Point.
Perhaps this was one of the special circumstances of Crackclaw Point that Glyn had mentioned.
But what Margaery saw more of was a kind of power play within the game of thrones.
...
"With strength as the premise, any passable excuse will suffice. That is the right to rule. It has been hundreds of years, and some stubborn and annoying fellows still feel that the Golden Rose's right to rule The Reach is somewhat untenable, but so what? The Reach thrives under the rule of the ever-growing Golden Rose!"
After speaking, a trace of gentleness appeared on Olenna's face. "Child, it is a good thing to have needs. It's much better than being idle like our oafish, do-nothing Boar Lord. Come, let's set aside the fickle Lannister woman for now. I am more interested in hearing your suggestions. This old woman most enjoys energetic young people."
"Fickle." That barb had clearly been aimed at the Queen of Thorns' own family, and Glyn was quite pleased with Olenna's assessment of Cersei.
After a moment of silence, Glyn spoke. "I am very worried about Lord Eddard's safety right now. I heard that The Neck is their necessary route. That region is a dense forest soaked in a foul marsh. It would take at least a dozen days to get through there."
Margaery instantly felt the atmosphere grow heavy. Her expression did not betray her, but she was shocked by the deep meaning hidden in Glyn's words.
Before Margaery could compose her thoughts, she heard Glyn say again, "But if something were to really happen, it would be very easy for people to associate it with Lord Mace. King Robert is someone who doesn't like to listen to advice, because his warhammer is his only reasoning. We can only pray to the gods to protect Lord Eddard and allow him to arrive in King's Landing safely."
*But again.* Beneath the table, Margaery's fist tightened once more.
Olenna stared at Glyn and nodded slowly. "You raised a problem, then dismissed it. I know you are telling truths that most people don't like to hear. This old woman can take it. Continue."
Glyn bowed his head and continued, "The Northmen are not adept at handling complex situations, and there is no place in the Seven Kingdoms more complex than King's Landing. Before long, an exhausted Lord Eddard will quickly realize that he needs a reliable ally."
"An ally?"
Glyn spread his hands. "My lady, this is very easy! You only need to send the Light of Highgarden to Winterfell, and the alliance between the Wolf and the Golden Rose will be unbreakable!
"The heir of Winterfell is a union of the North and the Riverlands. It's rumored that Robb Stark inherited the red hair and blue eyes of House Tully. His blood is noble enough.
"Once the marriage alliance is formed, His Majesty Robert will also trust Lord Mace. He will confidently entrust the kingdom to the two lords to govern! From then on, the roses of King's Landing will bloom and never wither!"
As Glyn's voice fell, the hall suddenly became quiet.
Margaery's beautiful eyes widened. Although she tried to hide it, the look of disbelief on her face was unmistakable.
The picture Glyn painted was too beautiful. The scene of roses blooming all over King's Landing seemed to be right before her eyes. Margaery couldn't help but turn her small face to look at her grandmother.
Olenna remained silent. Margaery just looked at her and did not interrupt.
After a while, Olenna's gaze sharpened. She slowly opened her mouth to speak. "Lord Glyn, why not marry the Stark girl to the warm Highgarden?"
Glyn shrugged. "The answer is obvious, Lady Olenna."
Olenna turned to Margaery. "Margaery, you are the clever one. You tell your half-deaf grandmother."
Margaery blinked, thinking for a moment before she spoke. "Miss Sansa Stark... Prince Joffrey... The Starks will marry into the royal family?"
"My granddaughter, give your grandmother your hand."
Olenna's wrinkled hands grasped the hand Margaery extended. "House Tyrell has a clever one, at least."
After speaking, Olenna patted the back of Margaery's hand in comfort.
Seeing a quick-witted young person from another house made her worry for the future of House Tyrell. Only Margaery, who had been clever since childhood, could soothe the Queen of Thorns' heart.
A slight smile hung on Glyn's face as he added his own praise. "Miss Margaery, I only managed to discover a few things through acquaintances in the Red Keep, yet you were able to deduce the answer from just a few sentences. You are truly worthy of being called the Light of The Reach."
Margaery looked at Glyn's sincere face and suddenly felt her little fist begin to itch.
Olenna's expression was affectionate as she patted Margaery's hand again.
Olenna released her granddaughter's hand and turned to Glyn. "Speak. What is it you truly want? This old woman is actually a little curious now, Lord of Crackclaw Point!"
(end of chapter)