Margaery Tyrell

Margaery Tyrell, the daughter of Mace Tyrell, Lord of Highgarden, and the wife of King Tommen Baratheon, is a central figure in the power struggles of King's Landing. Accused of high treason and adultery by the Faith of the Seven, her trial and the political maneuvering surrounding it become a key battleground between the Lannisters and the Tyrells, shaping the fate of the realm.

Identity and Background

Margaery is the daughter of Mace Tyrell, Lord of Highgarden, Warden of the South, and Defender of the Marches. She has been thrice wed and twice widowed, having been married to Renly Baratheon and then to King Joffrey Baratheon before his death. She is now the wife of King Tommen Baratheon. She is accused of high treason and held captive in the Great Sept of Baelor, along with her lady companions and cousins, Megga, Alla, and Elinor Tyrell, who are also accused of fornications.

Role in the Conflict

Margaery's situation is a major point of contention in the small council. Mace Tyrell, her father and the King's Hand, insists on her innocence and demands an end to the proceedings. He argues that King Tommen should declare her innocent and put an end to the "mummer's farce." Ser Kevan Lannister, the Lord Regent, acknowledges that no man doubts her innocence but insists that the High Septon requires a trial. The Tyrells' army is present in King's Landing, and the tension between the Lannister and Tyrell factions is palpable, with the potential for open conflict. Mace Tyrell's demand for a trial by the Faith, so the whole realm can bear witness to her innocence, is a strategic move to publicly clear her name.

The Trial and Its Implications

Margaery prefers to be tried by the Faith, a decision that contrasts with Cersei Lannister's choice of trial by battle. The outcome of Margaery's trial is directly linked to the legitimacy of Tommen's reign. Ser Kevan warns Mace Tyrell that if Cersei is proved guilty of treason, the legitimacy of her children will be called into question, and if Tommen ceases to be king, Margaery will cease to be queen. This underscores the high stakes of the trial, which is not merely a personal matter but a political crisis that could unravel the current power structure. The small council is divided, with Mace Tyrell and Randyll Tarly representing the Reach's interests, while Ser Kevan and others represent the Lannisters. The arrival of Nymeria Sand, a bastard daughter of the Red Viper, to claim a seat on the council further complicates the political landscape.