The moment Garlan looked away, William slipped behind the wheelhouse.
The ground there was steeper, and no wagons had been positioned on that side.
A small detachment of soldiers guarded the high ground nearby.
Margaery and her companions stood together discussing something, a game perhaps, or merely trying to pass the time.
William cleared his throat.
The girls turned toward him.
Margaery looked calm.
Unlike earlier, she wasn’t ignoring him.
Yet neither was she behaving warmly.
She treated him exactly as she treated everyone else.
William couldn’t decide whether that made him happy or disappointed.
Regardless, an opportunity remained an opportunity.
“Lady Margaery.
I need to speak with you privately.” “We can speak here.” Her voice was calm.
Firm.
The refusal left little room for argument.
“The situation isn’t exactly peaceful.
Everyone is busy.” Fortunately, William had come prepared.
He immediately dangled the bait.
“I have a solution.” Margaery blinked.
Then realization dawned.
“Oh.
You mean what I mentioned earlier.” She crossed her arms.
“And what solution could you possibly have, ser?” William smiled.
“Think about my nickname.” Margaery hesitated, then glanced toward her companions.
Lady Alerie looked concerned, while another girl quickly tugged her sleeve.
The three moved several paces away, not far enough to lose sight of them, but far enough to grant a little privacy.
William stepped closer.
Very close.
Then lowered his voice.
“Magic.” His eyes gleamed.
“Magic creates miracles when all hope is gone.” “Miracles?” Margaery shook her head.
“I don’t want miracles.
I want to protect my people.” “Magic can do that.” William’s confidence never wavered.
“It grants power beyond ordinary men.
The sort of power that lets one person face a hundred.” Margaery’s shoulders trembled slightly.
She was trying very hard not to laugh.
“War isn’t a tournament, William.” Then she sighed.
“If this is really about convincing me to study magic…” She looked away.
“…I don’t mind learning a little.
As long as it doesn’t involve anything improper.
But please stop making ridiculous claims.” William grinned.
“Ridiculous?
Fine.
Let me awaken your magic.
Then you’ll know I’m serious.” Margaery took half a step backward, studying him carefully.
William met her gaze without hesitation.
Just as he prepared to continue his argument, he saw her eyes shift slightly.
Then came the words he had dreamed of hearing.
“Very well.
How do I do it?” YES!
William almost shouted.
Instead, he somehow managed to maintain his composure.
This had taken far longer than expected.
Originally, he believed simply holding Margaery’s hand would activate her magic.
Reality had proven otherwise.
Valyrian steel never resisted his power.
People did.
Without Margaery’s cooperation, he could accomplish nothing.
Now, finally, she had agreed.
William wanted something dramatic.
Something unforgettable.
After a moment’s thought, he pointed toward a nearby patch of flowers.
“Do you see those blossoms?” Margaery nodded.
“Look at that bud.” He indicated a tightly closed flower.
“I’ll lend you my magic.
Then I’ll recite a spell.
Through you, the spell will become real.
The flower will bloom.” Margaery looked at him, then at the flower.
She seemed about to say something.
Instead, she remained silent.
“Trust me.” William smiled.
“This spell matches your affinity perfectly.” Then he took her hand.
A genuine smile appeared on his face.
“Open your mind.
Don’t resist.
Our spirits need to connect first.” “Exactly.” “Like that.” The sensation stunned him.
William had never linked minds with another person before.
Reality seemed to blur.
At the same time, he could vaguely sense Margaery’s thoughts.
It felt somewhat like a lucid dream, yet he remained completely aware.
Completely in control.
He began reciting the spell.
As the ancient words echoed through his mind, Margaery’s latent magic stirred.
Her power mixed with his.
Together, they became something new.
Something invisible.
Something wondrous.
The energy flowed toward the flower.
Margaery felt it too.
The moment William took her hand, the world changed.
Everything seemed distant.
Dreamlike.
She could sense fragments of him.
And one thought emerged before all others.
How does he see me?
The answer came in emotions rather than words.
Affection.
Admiration.
Respect.
Tenderness.
Something warm.
Something comforting.
Is that how he truly feels?
Before she could explore the question further, another sensation swept her away.
A new world unfolded.
Pure.
Brilliant.
Filled with sunlight and fertile earth.
A place of freedom.
A place without burdens.
Without expectations.
Without duty.
Everything she had once worried about seemed far away.
Unimportant.
Then she saw the flower.
The bud trembled.
The petals slowly parted.
One.
Two.
Three.
Layer after layer unfolded.
The bloom opened before her eyes.
Not over days.
Not over hours.
But in moments.
A miracle.
A living miracle.
The flower blossomed completely.
Then the connection broke.
Margaery staggered slightly.
The magical world vanished, yet the feeling lingered, as though she had forgotten part of a conversation, as though words had been exchanged somewhere beyond memory.
A fragment surfaced.
William…
If I refuse you…
will you still save my people?
And another answer followed.
Of course I will, Margaery.
Maybe I’m not noble enough to spend my life chasing justice across the world.
But I’m not cowardly enough to ignore evil standing right in front of me.
Take your time.
Stay here.
I’ll be back soon.
“Margaery!” A voice shattered the haze.
She blinked.
The world snapped back into focus.
Garlan stood before her, concern written plainly across his face.
“Margaery!” Only then did she fully awaken.
Her eyes widened.
The realization struck like lightning.
William was gone.
“William!”