#[ i went w the assumption that mace would have put marg forward as a match for aegon

[rcsegilded]

ASOIAF: A CLASH OF KINGS STARTERS (accepting) | @rhaegxr

❝ the unseen enemy is always the most fearsome. ❞

Of all the martial games, the melee was one Margaery enjoyed the least. They lacked the dance-like cadence of the joust and the chivalric splendor she'd come to love about tourneys as a whole. The 'battles' were chaotic and brutal and—if her father was to be believed—more war-like than the other events. At any of the Reach's tournaments, she would have paid the melee little attention or forgone attendance altogether.

But this was King's Landing. She could not afford to miss a single moment of the tourney, even if she hadn't been invited to sit in the royal box. That had been Prince Aegon's doing, she was certain. No doubt, he'd wanted her to have a good view of him in the melee for however long he lasted. It boded well for their budding courtship, such that it was.

Margaery had taken note of the of the crowded field—nearly forty participants—and wondered aloud at how anyone could keep track of so many opponents. The king's voice at her right nearly made her jump but she managed to stifle the reaction. Their interactions had been limited thus far, save for her introduction to court and a handful of passing greetings. He seemed kind enough to her, if rather reserved.

“My brother Garlan believes so, Your Grace. It's why he trains with three or four opponents instead of only one. He's said that it helped him learn to expect the attacks he cannot see coming.” The brother in question was located in a group closest to the stands, stretching his limbs and chatting cheerily with the men nearest him. She could see Leonette's favor where it had been tied to his right wrist, the green ribbon fluttering in the slight wind. Though favors were more commonly given to jousters, Garlan always insisted on wearing his wife's during the melee. The thought made Margaery smile.

“Do you have any predictions for the melee? Any favorites?” she asked, turning to face the king once again. He did not seem the sort to make waivers but he likely knew many of the fighters and their abilities. As for favored participants, well...she was curious to see if Aegon was among them.