randomosity | [For Hannibal] The Raid

[For Hannibal] The Raid

Since the Lannister execution and the overthrowing of Tommen Baratheon, Hannibal had settled into the Iron Throne rather comfortably with Margaery at his side. The Bolton reign had begun. And having already amassed a strong brood of children, the dynasty looked as if it would be set for some time.

Of course there were those who opposed their new King. Remnants of those loyal to the Lannisters, or the true Targaryen loyalists who considered Hannibal an unworthy successor in comparison to Daenerys. There were minor uprisings, which were put down with ease between the Bolton and Tyrell army.

But a raven arrived one morning from Winterfell.

The royal family sat at the breakfast table. Rhys and Reina were bickering over the last biscuit, while Aenar crumbled his food between his tiny fingers, and Margaery held Lorys to her breast to feed her. A servant brought the note, addressed to Margaery, which Margaery took with her free hand. Her expression turned grave as she looked to Hannibal.

"It's from Sansa. She says a few days ago a messenger from the Dreadfort arrived and told her that there was activity stirring on the Iron Islands..." she was nervous. The Ironborn were a salty, devious lot. Her grandmother had always preferred the quasi-savage Dornish to the Ironborn.

No sooner had she read the message, then the signal horn sounded and Gold Cloak rushed in. Black sails bearing the golden kracken were approaching Blackwater Bay at top speed - faster than any ship they'd yet seen. Margaery went pale.

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Hannibal let Margaery go into that embrace. There was a question hidden deep in his eyes, but he did not leave it there for long.

He nodded at Olenna's question. "Before we went to sleep last night and first thing this morning." He answered.

It was then that Hannibal realized what had bothered him. Margaery hadn't cried in his arms about this. She had been upset and traumatized, but had not cried. He felt off balance about it...something about that didn't sit well with him and he couldn't place it.

Margaery sat back after a moment and wiped her eyes on a kerchief. She cuddled in close to Hannibal. Olenna nodded slowly as she understood what happened.

"You two could use time alone after all this," Olenna declared. "I'll summon a carriage and take the children with me to Highgarden."

"Oh grandmother, I don't want my children away from us with this open hunt on for more Ironborn," Margaery was clearly concerned. "They need to be safe."

"Is there any safer place than with their grandmother?" Olenna scoffed.

"Yes! With their mother!" Margaery protested.

Hannibal recognized the gesture from Olenna and gave a nod of his head. He looked to Margaery. "Highgarden is a safer place my love. No one would think the children are there. Brienne did an excellent job watching over them. With your brother there as well...I feel they would be plenty safe. Besides, Rhys and Reina have been among bout learning of the history of House Tyrell. What better place to learn it than Highgarden?" He asked her.

Margaery glared at Hannibal for not siding with her. She looked between them and sighed in a huff.

"Very well, since you all have decided what would be best for my children," Margaery snapped. "When will you be taking them?"

"Today," Olenna replied.

"What?! But I've only just returned home!" Margaery exclaimed.

"And you need rest," Olenna answered, flatly.

"I need my children!" Margaery countered.

Hannibal was debating what would ultimately be best. He did need time alone with Margaery, and the children would distract her from getting the horror of what happened outnif her system. However, they were soothing to her and she was still very sensitive from the whole ordeal.

He frowned for a moment. "Today is a bit early. There is not enough milk for young Loerys set aside. It is true that we have begun to limit how much she feeds from Margaery, but she still requires some of her milk. Tomorrow would be better."

He then recalled something Willas had told him. "Perhaps a different alternative is possible. I recall hearing of a luxurious little castle tucked away behind all of the expansive gardens at Highgarden. What if we all went there today? The children can sleep in Highgarden while Margaery and I stay in the small castle. We will be close enough to make certain they are more than safe, but leave them in your care while we spend some time away. What do you think of that my dear?" He asked.

He had not said it aloud, but all of this was for Margaery's sake. Something he was not certain she had pieced together yet.

Margaery considered the option Hannibal proposed. Her brow furrowed and she looked to him.

"Are you certain that leaving King's Landing so soon after an attack is a good idra?" She tilted her head. "Does that not leave us open to ridicule? Will people think us weak?"

Margaery didn't want to endanger the strength of the crown. Hannibal couldn't afford to run away. Not now, not even for her.

Hannibal knew that was a risk, but he glanced to Margaery with softness in his eyes. "I will suffer that loss if that is what you need." He said as he held her tighter. "I have no intention of letting you out of my sight again." He swore.

He knew he could save any loss of face quickly if Highgarden would be better for her recovery.

Margaery tilted her head. She wanted to go back to Highgarden, but she didn't want to show even the slightest weakness to their enemies. She shook her head a little and looked up to Hannibal.

"No...its not just you who would suffer the loss. Our children would suffer too, Hannibal. We can't afford even the slightest weakness, not now," Margaery protested.

"Then stay here with your husband and I'll take the children with me," Olenna shrugged and began to walk out to give then privacy. "Discuss it amongst yourselves then."

Olenna cast a look to Hannibal to convey to him that he needed to talk some sense into his wife. Then she was gone.

Hannibal waited for Olenna to leave. He knew Brienne would maintain their privacy. Hetirned Margaery to face him. "You need time to recover my love. I will be by your side every step f the way....but the children don't need to be here to distract you from tending to yourself." He said bluntly.

Theee was nothing but love in his eyes as he looked at her.

When Hannibal addressed her, Margaery gave him a shocked look. "They're our children! They're hardly a distraction! It's my duty as their mother to be here for them and protect them."

Sge did not yet realize that Hannibal had been slightly put off by how she'd cried I her grandmother's arms.

"Forgive me, but I think our place is here," Margaery insisted.

Hannibal sighed softly as she spoke. "It's my duty to ensure that you and our children are happy, healthy, and whole. Our children are all of those things....I can no longer say that I have been as successful with you. I love our children and I don't truly want them away right now. However, I need to spend time with you. Just you and I. This encounter has obviously shaken your trust in me and I need to rebuild what was lost." He said. That was the only thing he could think of that would cause her to fly to Olenna's arms and cry.

The last time Margaery had cried in his arms was when they had discovered poor Loras.

Margaery looked into his eyes, feeling guilty again. "I trust you! I love you!" She took his hands in hers and looked into his eyes. Perhaps her subconscious was saying otherwise, but she truly did trust him.

She leaned into him and kissed him softly. But she reflected in his words and considered the possibility. Margaery sighed and looked defeated.

"I truly don't think we should leave...but if you think the children will be safe in Highgarden..." She relented.

Hannibal didn't want her to feel guilty, but he knew that this guilt opened her eyes to the fact that he had been affected by this as well. He kissed her forehead tenderly. "If there is any living person in all of the seven kingdoms who I trust completely to keep our children safe....it is your grandmother." He said honestly. Her craftiness could not be discounted for her amazing survival skills.

Margaery nodded slowly, agreeing even if she was reluctant. "Very well. What do you suggest we do then?" She asked. "If you're sending my babies away you had best have a plan to put into place to address these issues."

Hannibal gave a nod of his head. "I do indeed have a plan. They will be in Highgarden for three full days. It should only take them a day and a half to go there. I expect them to return in a week. I have many plans to help you my love. We will begin immediately after we see the children safely out of King's Landing." He said.

Margaery narrowed her eyes at him but nodded slowly. "Very well. I will accept your word as my king an d matter that my children will be safe. If you think this is best, I will accept and agree."

Hannibal gave a nod of his head. He leaned forward to kiss her tenderly. "I truly think that this is for the best my love. I swear to you that I believe this is the best." He said with pure love and absolute conviction in his eyes and voice.

Margaery nodded slowly and looked into his eyes before kissing him back. "I'm worried...but I know you know best. What shall we do?" She tilted her head to him. "Shall we prepare the children to go with their grandmother?" Clearly she was not happy about this.

Hannibal held her close and rubbed her arms soothingly. "Yes, let us prepare the children. We will keep this secret so that word does not get out that we sent them off to Highgarden." He said softly. "Come, let us prepare." He said softly.

Margaery rose slowly and smoothed out her gown. "They will not like being separated from me for so long. Be warned, my dear."

Rhys would probably have the worst reaction. Margaery wasn't looking forward to it either way. But she was unaware of Hannibal's concern that she did not trust him. She looked to him and waited for him to take her arm and lead her out of the room.

Hannibal gave a nod of his head. "They will understand once I talk to them. Come, let us go and see how they are really doing with their studies." He said with a smirk as he offered his arm to lead her out of the room and to find their children.

Margaery took his arm and nodded slowly as he lead her out. Rhys and Reina were with their advanced tutors. Loerys was with Olenna and Aenar was with his own tutor. The younger children would understand, but Rhys and Reina needed to have a talk.

Margaery walked in slowly and smiled at Rhys and Reina before dismissing the tutor.

Hannibal walked with Margaery and gave a not Olenna as they walked past her. They sat down with their two oldest children and Hannibal smiled to them. "We have decided...to finally allow you to go to Highgarden to learn about the history of House Tyrell. You will go with Mimi tomorrow to begin your studies and will return in a week. We could not possibly be away from you any longer than that." He said.

Rhys and Reina were happy at first, until they realized that they would not be going together.

Hannibal saw the concern before he focused in on Rhys. "Your mother and I cannot go with you right now. We must stay here to settle down the people after what happened. Otherwise, we would go with you." He said. Both. Holden had been taught the basics of politics from both Margaery and himself. He knew they would understand it in this manner.

Rhys and Reina both cried out in joy when they were told they were going to Highgarden. But then it registered that their parents would not be coming and of course they were upset. Rhys pouted and Reina felt tears welling in her eyes.

But when had in all exclaimed, they both bowed their heads and nodded. They understood. Reina held her mother and began to cry a little. Margaery wrapped her arms around Reina and kissed her cheek.

"It's going to be fine, Papa will the care of me and Mimi will take care of you all," Margaery assured her.

Hannibal pulled Rhys off to the side. Rhys looked up at his father in deep thoght. "This isnto help fix Mama?"

Hannibal pat his son on the back proudly. "Yes son. I need time with Mama." He said.

Rhys frowned a moment before nodding in understand. "I will help by going with Mimi." He promised.

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