hadriel | Video 3 - Margaery's Apartment

[The video opens not in the Sewing Shop but in Margaery's apartment where she's sitting in the middle of her bed, a pillow clasped in her arms. she's looking down from the camera and she's in a bathrobe and nightgown, both wrinkled. her hair is disheveled and her eyes are heavily rimmed with red, as though she's spent a long time crying. which she has been. a whole day and night and a new day of crying.

she tries to look up at the camera, clear her throat and speak, but the words don't come. fresh tears well in her eyes and she looks down again, biting her lower lip.

a long moment passes with nothing but Margaery fighting back tears and silent. finally, she looks back up at the camera and speaks]

I--I thought people may want to know that Matt Murdock is no longer among us. His. His help was invaluable in the time before the Null invasion and [her voice breaks] he will be missed greatly.

[she brushes a tear off of her cheek, looking down again. she forces herself to look back up and continues]

I need to apologize to those I promised garments to. I. It will be at least another month before they're finished. I'm--I'm sorry.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I deserve it.

[ He says softly]

After all the pain I brought to others, how can I shirk from the pain that comes to me?

Perhaps you do. But perhaps I don't want a friend to suffer in such a manner?

[she clasps his scarred hand with hers]

You can't. Not and be able to look at yourself in the mirror. But how can those who care for you abandon you to such a fate?

[ Maglor blinks at her and manages a faint smile]

Thank you, Lady Margaery. You are very kind.

[she gives him a faint smile in response]

Thank you.

Do you know, for years I endeavored to appear kind, but wasn't truly kind in my heart? I think. . . this place is changing me.

[ He squeezes her hand ]

I think that those who wish to appear a certain way eventually do become so - the outer becoming the inner, if you like? A deliberate action becoming habit, becoming part of you.

[she squeezes back]

There are certainly worse things to become. I could have become cruel, callous, like so many in King's Landing.

A hard world can do that. [ He nods ]

It can take fear and distrust and warp it easily. I am glad you proved the stronger.

From what I've found here, there are few worlds harder than Westeros. There, death is cheap. Betrayal is easy. And people are only as good as what they can do for your next.

...I didn't trust my mother-in-law. With good reason as she's the one who killed me along with countless innocents. But I don't want to be like Cersei in any way.

It seems that way. [ He sighs ] My brother's fosterling also comes from that land - the Lady Sansa. The tales she tells of her home... [ He shakes his head ]

We are going to try and take her with us, if we ever get free of this place.

I am glad you are here, Lady Margaery - at the least, you are free of them!

You know Sansa? She's a dear friend of mine. If you know Sansa, then you've surely heard of the cruelties Westeros can inflict.

I would miss her greatly, but I can't go to Westeros and it sounds as though she does not wish to.

[she takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly] Yes, free. Though locked in another sort of cage.

I do - she calls me uncle, and I am very fond of her, myself. But aye - the tales she tells of Westeros does not endear your world to me!

[ He grimaces ]

Aye - a gilded cage remains still a cage. But at the least, we have hopes to escape this one, one day.

If she calls you uncle, what shall I call you? Would by your name be out of line? And I'm not surprised. Much of what she suffered, she did before I arrived at King's Landing, but one of her tormentors--Cersei--was as cruel to me as she was to Sansa. Just. In a different way.

Yes. Hope to escape. And leave Westeros behind me for good.

Just Maglor is fine! [ He shakes his head with a small smile ]

Tis only because my brother has claimed her as his fosterling - I would not impose that on anyone else.

[ He squeezes her hand ]

To escape and to return to your beloved. [ He agrees ]

And you must call me simply Margaery. [she smiles back. a real smile]

I should like to meet this brother of yours. If he's taking care of one of my dearest friends, I owe him a debt.

[she squeezes back.

a single tear runs down her cheek] Yes. Yes, to both. There is no alternative.

Margaery then. [ He echoes, and his face falls a little ]

My brother... sleeps and will not wake. Elrond says he has seen this before, in another place like this Hadriel, and he will wake unharmed, but I confess that it worries me.

[ He offers her the handkerchief ]

There is not - I am sure you will succeed.

Thank you. [his face falls and she worries]

Of course it worries you. He's your brother. You can't help but worry about him. It's part of being family. I worry about my brother all the time and he died at the same time I did.

[she takes it gratefully and dabs at her tears]

So am I. I must be.

It's foolish, I suppose but... I cannot quite help it.

[ Maglor sighs a little and smiles at her gratefully ]

Thank you, Margaery. It is nice to be able to speak of these things with someone who understands.

I don't think it's foolish at all. I'd be beside myself were Loras--my brother--in a similar position.

You have no need to thank me. You've been unerringly kind and gracious and understanding towards me. I'd be a poor friend if I didn't reciprocate.

No need, but I thank you all the same. [ He smiles at her ]

For you have been kind to a stranger, although I am glad to call you friend, now.

[she smiles back, though hers has a tinge of melancholy]

And I am grateful to call you friend as well. In a place like this, you need friends like a garden needs water.

In all places, I think, friendship makes the dark nights warmer and the dark days brighter.

You have certainly made my dark day better. I can never thank you enough. We'll--have to spend time together more in the future?

I would like that. [ he smiles ]

Perhaps over tea?

I would like that very much. [she smiles back]

Yes. There's this blend of tea that I found at the shops. It's called Chai and it's very good.

Ah, I don't think I've tried that yet! Then we will agree to do so - perhaps once a week?

(no subject)

roseofthetyrells - 2018-02-16 23:21 (UTC) - Expand

bythewaves - 2018-02-17 16:01 (UTC) - Expand