Over the years, Lady Olenna Tyrell was given much council on how to act and behave by the male courtiers she labelled as "clever men". However she ignored all the advice they had given her, coming to the conclusion that because all these men had died whilst she lived, the best way to survive was to think independently and not let them underestimate her because of her gender.In an effort to protect her family from harm, she had either personally carried out or ordered numerous - what she deemed to be "unspeakable" - acts with no hesitation or regret for her actions, viewing them as necessity to their survival. Among these action was her partnership with Lord Peter Baelish, who supplied her with the means to put the Strangler inside Joffrey Baratheon's wedding cup and pin the blame on Tyrion Lannister and Sansa Stark.
She was the only surviving member of House Tyrell, after Cersei Lannister used wildfire to destroy the Sept of Baelor and everyone in there. She was intrigued by Varys proposal of "Fire and Blood" and committed the Tyrell army to both Daenerys Targareyen and the Targaryen restoration when it was proposed to her at the Sunspear.
Operating out of High Garden, Lady Olenna Tyrell openly rebelled against the rule of House Lannister and Queen Cersei.
"Stormborn"Summoned to Dragonstone to sit on Daenerys' war council, she sat in silence as Yara Greyjoy and Ellaria Sand petitioned the Queen that they should strike King's Landing with all they had and end Cersei's rule then and there.
Listening to Daenerys' statement that she would not be the "queen of the ashes", Olenna sarcastically remarked that it was good to hear, however that is what became of the previous Queen - her granddaughter Margery - who was well loved and respected by the people of Westeros. She went on to say that she would never earn the love and respect she demanded without fear, comparing the people of the nation to "children."
Demanding to know how Daenerys wanted to take the Iron Throne if they would not attack King's Landing, she coldly asked if they were just going to "ask them nicely". Learning that the Tyrell army would be deployed to areas around the capital with the Greyjoys and Dorne, she questioned why they even bothered to bring the Unsullied and the Dothraki, if she was not going to use them in battle. When asked if she had there support, Olenna silently nodded her approval.
Requested to stay behind at the end of the meeting, Daenerys tried to reassure her that they would get vengeance on Cersei for the decimation of House Tyrell at the Sept of Baelor, and that they would have peace when she was on the Iron Throne. However Olenna retorted that no monarch had true peace in the world. Imparting advice to the young queen, she expressed her belief that the reason she had survived so long in the courts of Westeros was because she ignored the council of "clever men". Musing on the notion that the Lords of Westeros were "sheep" that would switch allegiance with very little pressure put on them, she told Danerys that she should embody the Targaryen name and be "the dragon."
"The Queen's Justice"Going to investigate the report that the Lannister forces - backed by House Tarly - were marching on Highgarden, she watched from her balcony as the soldiers stormed the ancestral home of House Tyrell.
Realising that her forces were not match for the oncoming legion, she waited in her private quarters for Jamie to come to her with news that the castle had fallen.
Addressing the Captain of the Lannister army as he entered the room, she sardonically quoted the "Rains of Castamere" to him. Asking if they fought well, she admitted that they were not the best when it came to military prowess, adding that they lived up to the sigil of the "Golden rose" for their occupation mainly being that of farmers. As Jamie poured them both a glass of wine, she expressed her surprise that they had not been at Casterly Rock to defend it from the Unsullied. Olenna complemented his ability to learn from his mistakes, however also ridiculed him by stating he must have been "very wise." Hearing Tywin's name being mentioned, she wondered why - if the Lord of Casterly Rock was as intelligent as he gave himself credit for - he had not plundered High Garden after all of the gold ore from his seat had dried up. However she shrugged this off as she would be joining him in the afterlife soon enough and could ask him that in person. Asking him how she was going to be executed, she looked to Widow's Wail expectantly, recognising it to be Joffrey's wedding gift. Upon hearing the name, she remarked that he was a horrible and repulsive creature.
As Jamie attempts to leave, finding the conversation with her to be beneath him and pointless, she reminds him that she was going to die anyway, so anything he reveals would be safe. However she agrees with him that it was pointless trying to convince him of her insanity - calling her a "disease I regret my part in spreading," - repeating her question about how she will be executed after seeing she had gotten to him.
Disgusted at Cersei's suggestions of execution methods, she is grateful to Jamie for providing her with a poison that would result in a painless death, drinking down the entire of poison laced wine in one go.
Fully aware she had nothing else to lose, Olenna mused that she was going to die in a far less violent manner that Joffrey did. Continuing her recount of the events of the murder, she sympathised that it was horrible for them both to witness; for Jamie as Joffrey's father and sworn guard, and for her as she had never seen the effects of the poison in person. She went on to say that she regretted how gratuitous it was, finally confessing that it was her who killed Joffrey - requesting that he tell Cersei it was her. She stared him down in silence, before he took his leave, enjoying having the final laugh as the poison began to take effect.
Appearances:
- "Stormborn" (First Appearance)
- "The Queen's Justice" (Last Appearance)
