The night wind was cold.
It lashed Margaery's face until it stung, but she dared not stop.
She lay low over her horse's back, only daring to glance behind her out of the corner of her eye.
The outline of Highgarden grew smaller in the darkness until it vanished completely.
She had escaped.
Yet she felt no joy at all.
Unknown dangers lay ahead, and her family might still be pursuing her from behind.
She did not know how far she could flee.
She only knew that she had to reach King's Landing.
She had to find the one man who could save her.
Two days and two nights.
Margaery felt as though she was about to fall apart.
Branches had long since torn her magnificent dress to shreds, leaving it covered in mud and bits of grass.
She had not eaten for two days and was dizzy with hunger.
Her horse was panting with exhaustion too, its pace slowing.
"Faster. Just a little faster."
Margaery patted the horse's neck.
Just then.
A rapid pounding of hooves came from behind her!
Margaery's heart leaped into her throat!
She whipped her head around.
Seven knights on tall horses were galloping straight toward her!
They wore the armor of House Tyrell's guards!
Pursuers!
They had caught up with her after all!
Margaery's face went white.
She clamped her legs against the horse's flanks, desperately urging her mount onward.
But the horse had reached its limit too.
It let out a mournful whinny and slowed even further.
The hoofbeats behind her grew closer and louder!
"Lady Margaery! Please stop!"
"The Duke has ordered us to bring you back!"
The guards' shouts echoed behind her.
Go back?
Go back and marry that madman Stannis?
No!
A flash of resolve crossed Margaery's eyes.
She