As the Northern army marched, Highgarden was also furious over the cancellation of Joffrey's and Little Rose's engagement.
Originally, House Tyrell was hesitant about whether to support Renly, as Little Rose and Joffrey I were engaged. Even if they supported Renly, the final gains would be similar to what they had now. Therefore, most people in Highgarden believed there was no need to support Renly, and Duke Mace even placed Loras Tyrell, who had been constantly lobbying the ministers for Renly, under house arrest.
However, what Highgarden could not understand was why King's Landing would announce the cancellation of Joffrey's and Margaery's engagement, openly betraying the engagement set by the former king, especially at a time when King's Landing needed allies, making such an illogical decision.
So, upon hearing this news, almost everyone thought it might be someone spreading rumors to sow discord between Highgarden and King's Landing. Although no one said it explicitly, many believed Renly was the one spreading the rumors.
Thus, they repeatedly confirmed with their people in King's Landing and finally confirmed that Queen Dowager Cersei had indeed publicly canceled Joffrey's and Margaery's engagement in front of the King's Landing nobles; all the rumors were true.
"War! Only through war and blood can such humiliation be washed away!" Aegon Revell, Captain of the Highgarden Guard, was undoubtedly a knight with a strong sense of honor. He could be said to represent the vast majority of knights in Highgarden, and his words were the heartfelt sentiments of most knights.
Little Rose Margaery was a symbol of purity in Highgarden and even throughout The Reach, the dream lover of countless knights and even lords. When King Robert forcibly arranged Margaery's engagement to Joffrey, they were already very displeased. Now, King's Landing had directly canceled the engagement in such a humiliating manner, trampling the dignity of the entire The Reach underfoot.
For a time, not only did the knights of Highgarden shout for war against King's Landing, but knights and lords from other parts of The Reach also requested to join the war.
"Of course, we must fight. If our House Tyrell does not react to such a great humiliation, what right do we have to rule The Reach?" The Queen of Thorns Olenna Redwyne, rarely leaving the private garden, came to the Highgarden council and, before Mace Tyrell could speak, made a direct decision: the war between The Reach and King's Landing was inevitable.
"I have already issued a summons to the various lords of The Reach. Lords south of Highgarden will gather in Highgarden, and lords north of Highgarden will gather at Bitterbridge." Duke Mace, with a gloomy expression, also stated his decision, then turned to Gals Tyrell, the Highgarden Steward, and asked, "Gals, how many people are willing to answer my summons?"
"The Hightower Family of Oldtown, House Rowan of Goldengrove, House Florent of Brightwater Keep..." Gals loudly read out the names of every responding family, ensuring everyone present could hear.
It could be said that all the noble families of The Reach responded to Highgarden's call. The cancellation of the engagement by King's Landing had angered the entire The Reach.
"What about Summerhall? Has Summerhall responded?" Before Gals could finish reading all the responders on the list, someone impatiently asked.
Everyone looked at Gals upon hearing this. Everyone present knew that Summerhall's attitude was crucial to the outcome of this war.
"Prince Linde has publicly stated that he will not intervene in the internal struggles of the Seven Kingdoms, so he has not sent troops, nor has he supported King's Landing," Gals responded to everyone's questions, and as disappointment appeared on their faces, he added, "But the Tumbleton garrison has stated that it will guard the south bank of the Blackwater River, preventing any conflict from entering The Reach."
Upon hearing these words, the disappointment on the faces of the Highgarden nobles in the hall vanished, because everyone knew that Tumbleton and Summerhall were one entity. Tumbleton's promise also represented Summerhall's promise, which undoubtedly removed The Reach's worries. Even if they were defeated in the war, as long as they defended the coastal road on the west coast, The Reach would not be in danger of falling.
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