(Fowler's Fowl AU. Margaery Tyrell. The original story was written by the Brothers Grimm. Violence, blood, death, angst.)

Margaery sat in the parlor, listening to her father and grandmother talking. She couldn't deny that she was bored. When she had conversations with her grandmother, just the two of them, Margaery felt she had someone to talk to that matched her intelligence. Otherwise, the young woman simply remained quiet unless something needed to be said. She didn't know that her boredom would soon be relieved in the most interesting and...dangerous way.

When the knock echoed through the manor, Margaery made her way to the window. Standing outside was an older man carrying a large basket on his back, presumably with all the food and clothing generous people gave him. Margaery watched as one of the maids handed him a loaf of bread. As soon as the maid's fingers brushed against the old man's, a glazed look came over her. Margaery's brows furrowed as the maid climbed in the basket and the man turned away, heading back up the road.

"Father," Margaery started, but stopped when she realized her father wasn't listening to her and her grandmother had chosen that time to leave the room. Margaery sighed, but decided not to say anything. The maid had left of her own will it seemed. So, Margaery went back to her business.

Two days later, there was another knock at the door. Margaery didn't see who it was, but another maid was soon discovered missing. When Margaery questioned the other household servants, they told her an old man came to the door and the maid must have left with him. It was then that Margaery began to formulate a plan.

Margaery was a brilliant young woman, everyone in the manor knew it. And when she set her mind on something, she NEVER gave up until she succeeded. So when her curiosity and suspicion was piqued, Margaery knew she had to figure out what had happened to those maids. She quickly formed a plan because in her heart she just knew that the old man would be returning.

Sure enough, after the passing of another two days, there was another knock at the door. Margaery practically ran to the door, stopping the maid from answering it. Margaery took the food from the maid and opened the door herself. "Good morning," she greeted with a smile. The old man looked surprised, but smiled in return. "Good morning. Perhaps you have a bit of food to spare an old beggar?" Margaery handed in a basket of apples, his fingers brushing hers just a little bit.

Suddenly, Margaery felt light-headed, like everything around her was fuzzy. Everything except the old man. Only now, when she looked at him, she didn't see an old man. She saw a handsome young man. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes that drew Margaery in. His voice sounded muffled, like Margaery was underwater. "Would you like to come with me?" Without even realizing it, Margaery nodded. The person...probably a mage, smiled. "Good. Climb in my basket, why don't you?" Margaery's feet moved with a mind of their own as she climbed in the basket.

The fog didn't lift as Margaery rode in the basket. It didn't lift as the mage stopped and set the basket down. Margaery climbed out and realized she was in a castle. She turned to her captor and they smiled. "I have to return to town for real food and you have free reign of the castle. Explore. Get to know the place. While I'm gone, I'd like for you to take care of this egg. Here are the keys. You are welcome to explore any room except that one." He pointed to a door and Margaery nodded.

As soon as he was out of sight, Margaery's fog began to lift a little allowing her to think clearly. She hid the egg in a safe place, knowing that getting it dirty or dropping it was some kind of test she could not fail. As soon as she'd done that, she headed for the forbidden room.

Margaery nearly screamed as she opened the door. Blood. Blood everywhere. A huge vat of it sat in the middle of the room. Floating inside, she could make out the heads and bodies of her two maids. She could almost feel the magic radiating through the room and knew she had to get started quickly. After getting another dress to protect her clothing, she fished the maids out of the blood and, just like she thought, the leftover magic in the room caused her maids bodies to return to normal and life to enter them once more.

The two maids began thanking her profusely, explaining that they had dropped the egg in the blood and he'd killed them. "Never you mind. I'm going to find a way to get you out of here. I just need you to trust me and stay here a little while longer." They nodded and Margaery left the room again to clean herself up and wait for the mage to return.

When he did return, the mage asked for the egg. Margaery produced it from the pocket of her dress. He inspected it and smiled when he saw no imperfections on the shell. "Very good. You have passed the test. You are the first to do so and so I shall make you my bride. Margaery fought the urge to vomit at the thought of being married to this man. Still, as soon as he'd said it, Margaery could feel the fog lifting completely from her brain and she realized she had a way to get her maids out.

"Very well, but before we wed, I need you to return to my father's house with a basket full of gold and bring him back here. He must attend the wedding. You must not stop. I will be watching from my window in the tower. If you stop, I will not marry you." The mage considered for a moment before nodding. Margaery smiled as he left her to her own devices while he rested for the journey ahead.

While the mage slept, Margaery set her plan in motion. She had her maids climb into the basket, then covered them with gold. She made certain there was enough air coming through the holes in the basket that they could breathe. Then, she found a skull in the bloody room, decorated it with jewels, and placed it the tower. After the mage left, she would put it in the window so he would see it and think it was her. She also took time to sew some leaves and things on a dress she'd found. She didn't want to ask where it'd came from.

When the mage left a few hours later, she reminded him not to stop for anything. With difficulty, he hoisted the basket onto his bag and started out. Margaery let him get a little bit away before she placed the skull in the window, changed into the leaf covered dress, and snuck out after him. She followed behind, hidden by shadows.

Whenever the mage would stop, the maids would begin crying out from inside the basket for him to get moving again. Each time, he would force himself to move again. All the while, Margaery followed, her dress helping her blend into her surroundings so he would not see her.

By the time they all reached the manor, the mage was exhausted. He was too weak to move. He fell to his knees on the ground outside the manor. The two maids took the opportunity to burst from the basket. They ran into the manor, crying for Margaery's father and brothers. Margaery snuck in through the kitchens and explained everything.

The mage was still on the ground outside the manor when Margaery's father came barreling out of the house as quickly as he could. He wasted no time beheading the vile man. "His tower should be burned as well, Father! So that no other may attempt his foul tricks," Margaery said. Mace agreed and ordered Loras to follow him.

As Margaery stared down at the lifeless body of the mage. She smiled to herself. She had outwitted him. No one else would ever underestimate her. For she, Margaery Tyrell, had rid the world of cruel, foul man with just her wits. She was one of the most powerful women in the world and she had proven it. One day, she would rise above them all and rule the world.