chapter 197 part 1
Chapter 197: Blood and Fire of the Same Source 5
Margaery Tyrell's brown eyes were filled with astonishment. "Lord Glyn?"
Lady Olenna's eyes were deep. Her slender, wrinkled fingers tapped on the armrest of her chair. "I always thought that boy deliberately approached my foolish pig of a son because he was easy to deceive, flattering him with that clever tongue of his until he was puffed up with pride. But I've seen that little wildling serve the 'Wild Boar Lord' with utmost dedication. This old woman is beginning to doubt her own judgment..."
As she spoke, Lady Olenna looked at her granddaughter. "My Margaery, is your father one of the gods' favored? Otherwise, I truly can't find a suitable reason to explain to my foolish son why helpers keep appearing at his side, one after another."
An image of Glyn crabbe, a man who only seemed to hold Queen Cersei in any regard, surfaced in Margaery's mind. She harbored doubts about Glyn's sincerity.
She quickly recalled the dawn they "fled" King's Landing. At that time, Glyn had no intention of letting Renly go, so she had been forced to intervene. But before she could say much, he had chosen to let them pass... Was it because of the charm of the 'Light of Highgarden'? Perhaps, but only a little... To be precise, it was the charm of the Lord of Highgarden.
The Little Rose's lips curled into a slight smile. She remembered her father's smug look, stroking his beard after hearing of the matter. He couldn't hide the gratification on his face, repeating several times, "Glyn is a good lad."
So, was everything Lord Glyn said true? Did he really admire her father that much? At this thought, Margaery's heart fell into turmoil.
...
Lady Olenna spoke slowly, "Before this old woman left King's Landing, I met with that little fox in private. Before we parted, he said something that left a deep impression on me. He said he believed that under the leadership of Lord Mace, the Golden Rose would always have the power to choose."
Margaery's pupils constricted slightly. "Why would Lord Glyn say such a thing to you?"
Lady Olenna looked at her granddaughter's face with affection. "My Margaery, it was a hint that carried no judgment of right or wrong. That's why I say Glyn is an anomaly to have come from a den of wildlings."
Margaery pondered her grandmother's words. "Yes," she said, "He's like a southern knight."
After speaking, the Little Rose furrowed her brow and continued to think, and it seemed her grandmother had seen through to her thoughts.
Lady Olenna said, "My Margaery, in the game of thrones, one must learn to be flexible. The final outcome depends directly on it."
Margaery nodded lightly.
Lady Olenna patted the back of Margaery's fair, delicate hand. "This old woman tells you this because I want you to know that even without Renly, your grandmother has ways to place a queen's crown upon her granddaughter's head."
As Margaery stared in shock, she continued, "Obviously, this old woman doesn't yet see any possibility of Renly failing. So... when he sits on that iron chair in the Red Keep, I will come again, my Margaery."
"Grandmother..."
"When that time comes, Grandmother will teach you your final lesson."
Margaery's eyes reddened slightly. She rested her head gently on her grandmother's frail shoulder, her heart filled with reverence and gratitude for her.
Lady Olenna stroked Margaery's hair. "The only thing that worries me is that Renly and your father are treating this war as a game... a grand tourney. They're like children engrossed in songs and stories, and children always think themselves invincible."
She sighed, "I see the danger, and yet I do not. Your father is so captivated by the prospect of one day seeing his grandson on the Iron Throne that he cannot extricate himself. Any advice I offer now, my foolish son will dismiss as the nagging of an old mother."
Lady Olenna said indignantly, "I won't waste my time on useless endeavors."
After a pause, she sighed again. "But as I said, none of us can see a path to Renly's failure, so I won't be that annoying old woman."
Margaery comforted her softly, "Grandmother, Father won't dismiss your advice as nagging. He is just overjoyed."
Lady Olenna snorted coldly. "Margaery, you can believe you'll see a legendary dragon tomorrow before you believe in that blockhead father of yours."
Margaery couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
Lady Olenna patted the Little Rose kindly, a rare smile gracing her lips. "Clever Margaery, remember your grandmother's words."
With that, she rose unsteadily. "This old woman has to travel tomorrow. You should rest early."
Margaery took her grandmother's arm. After a few steps, she suddenly asked, "Grandmother, do you think Lord Glyn can be trusted?"
Lady Olenna replied as they walked, "As long as you maintain a vigilant heart, you can trust anyone, my Margaery."
Margaery nodded slightly. This was a lesson her grandmother had taught her before, one she never forgot.
Lady Olenna mused for a moment, then murmured, "He speaks beautifully and acts beautifully. He truly is an anomaly."
...
...
Crackclaw Point, Mermaid Port, Administration Hall.
Lord Glyn leaned back in his chair, once again picking up the handwritten letter from Daenerys. Between the lines, the letter was brimming with the purest love—the love between a man and a woman.
The usually composed Lord Glyn tapped his long, slender fingers one by one against the armrest of his chair. One moment his brow would be furrowed, the next it would relax, again and again.
Lord Glyn was focused on the stepping stone to the Iron Throne—the Vale. Through his careful maneuvering between the great powers, Crackclaw Point had finally gained an opportunity to challenge the Vale. But given the peninsula's overall strength, it was an opportunity that would only come once.
If he won, Glyn's power would grow exponentially. But... if he was defeated, or fell into a stalemate, crabbe's holding on Crackclaw Point would suffer a grievous blow, losing both the strength and the initiative to contend for supremacy.
Along his journey, Glyn had occasionally been moved by beautiful women, but he had never seriously considered such matters, for a lord's marriage was more than just a romantic love story.
Glyn drove the stunningly beautiful face from his mind, forcing himself to think rationally... What changes would a marriage between a crabbe and a Targaryen bring to the chaotic situation in Westeros?
What was the future Daenerys described? Glyn would help Viserys take the Iron Throne, and after his success, he would live out his days happily with the silver-haired princess in the fertile Vale... He had to admit, it was a beautiful picture, and a tempting one, but it was not Glyn's dream.
Could Viserys hold the Iron Throne? Dany's brother was not capable of it... Glyn rose from his chair, strode across the room, and stood before the window.
Outside was a magnificent view of the sea. The azure water stretched to the horizon, like a dazzling blue sapphire inlaid upon the earth.
Glyn's eyes trembled slightly... There was only one Iron Throne. To the Targaryens and their supporters, anyone who sat upon it who was not a Targaryen was their enemy.
The Targaryens were originally the final piece in Glyn's plan to reach the Iron Throne, but Daenerys's love had introduced a great deal of uncertainty.
Did this change bring more advantages than disadvantages, or vice versa? Glyn felt it was fifty-fifty.
Time... Glyn suddenly gave a low laugh. How could the human heart be calculated with precision? A young girl's love comes quickly and goes just as fast. Perhaps by the time he received this letter, she already had a new love. This was, after all, a world of ice and fire.