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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Olenna glanced up when her granddaughter and grandson-in-law appeared. She returned Loerys to her father and nodded slowly in response.

"Indeed, I would have it no other way," she replied. "I'll send for a carriage and make sure they think the extra room is for my extravagant tastes."

Margaery kissed her grandmother's cheek before looking to Hannibal and moving to leave the room. There was a small pond in the gardens that she liked to frequent with Loerys. Aenar enjoyed it as well. Margaery thought it would be the perfect choice for their brief outing.

Hannibal chuckled as he nodded to her. "Excellent, no one will question it." He said before leading hud family outside. He smiled as they walked out to the fountain.

He smiled as he held young Loerys. "Tell me love, is this your favorite place in King's Landing?" He asked her.

Loerys was content in her father's arms. Of course young Aenar was squirming and reaching for the water and the fish within it. Margaery held him closer to the water and let him touch it, laughing when he reacted to the cold temperature.

"Here? No," she replied softly. "You know my fondness of the gardens. I much enjoy the solitude and peace of the flower hedges and of course the canopy by the bay. Grandmother and I take tea there often enough."

Hannibal played a simple game of hide and seek with young Loerys to her delight. She giggled at the game and kept sayin Papa over nod over again as they played.

Hannibal gave a nod as she listed off her favorite places. "What about inside he castle? Are there any places you enjoy spending time there?" He asked her.

Loerys had grown bored of their game and also began to reach for the water like her brother.

Aenar saw his sister reaching for the water and playfully splashed at her. Margaery allowed this for a short while before pulling Aenar back from the fountain and kissing his head.

"Inside? Our bedroom makes me feel safe I suppose," she replied. "The library and the sitting rooms are also comforting to me. But why ask all this?"

She was a little put off that he was asking, implying that he didn't know.

Hannibal gave a nod and pulled Loerys back to curl into his chest. He gave a soft sigh and nodded his head at her answers. He smiled to their children before speaking in Valerian to Margaery. "I have noted favorite locations throughout this place. Although, I do recall a time when your answer to such questions was in my arms." He said to her.

There was a hint of sadness in his eyes as he said it. She might not be intentionally doing it, but subconsciously she had lost her complete trust in him. Something he would work to remedy quickly.

Margaery's eyes widened and immediately she knew her mistake. She looked sheepish, looking away from Hannibal out of guilt once more.

She stroked Aenar's hair and looked down at him for a long while before speaking. "I'm sorry..." She finally whispered in High Valerian. "I did not mean I do not wish to be in your arms. Surely there is no safer place in this world than in your embrace..." She whispered.

Hannibal moved to her and pulled her close as he kissed her temple tenderly. He continued speaking in high Valerian. "I will fight to regain your trust my love. I know that you are not doing this on purpose my love. I will be here to help you let go of your doubts and fears. I will make you whole again. That I swear to you." He promised her.

Margaery nuzzled his neck when he pulled her in so close. Tears welled in her eyes as she took in his words. "Have I truly made you so tormented?" She asked in High Valerian. "Forgive me...I should be praising you as a god, as the Warrior, for saving me as you did." Margaery leaned in and kissed him softly. She would not allow this feeling to rule over her.

Hannibal held her close and kissed the top of her head as he saw the moisture gathering in her eyes. He kissed her eyes tenderly before returning her kiss. He looked deep within her eyes and saw a small spark there. He gave her a genuine smile. "Be careful my love. I do believe the gods will grow jealous if you continue to praise me so highly." He said as a very gentle jest.

He felt a sense of hope when he saw her determination. Perhaps she would come back to him after a week.

Margaery smiled at his jest and nuzzled him again. "They know I am in a damaged state of mind, they know I need my husband now more than ever."

She was determined to get over this horrible event. Margaery was not about to let it rule over her life. She pressed her forehead against his, and closed her eyes for a moment. "Be patient with me...I am trying."

Margaery would have said more, but curious Loerys reached out and tugged a lock of Aenar's hair, causing the boy to yell loudly and tears formed in his eyes.

Hannibal smiled as he kissed her temple tenderly. "I promise to be patient my love." He said to her. He shifted Loerys away from her brother and tutted her softly. "Now, now Loerys. We will have none of that. You will wait your turn to have attention. Come now, apologize to your brother." He said with a calm voice. There was no harshness in his tone as he scolded their youngest daughter.

Margaery bounced Aenar in her arms to soothe him. "Now, my little love. That's hardly how a young man behaves, is it? Don't despair, the pain is nothing to such a big boy, surely."

Aenar sniffled a hit, but yes he had to be a big, brave boy for his Mama. He stopped crying and curled in close, glowering a little at Loerys, but not holding a grudge.

"That's better," Margaery smiled.

Hannibal gave a nod as both children calmed down. Loerys even reached over towards her brother to kiss his hand as an apology. Hannibal gave a nod of approval as he looked at his young son. "Do you accept your sister's apology son?" He asked.

Aenar pouted a bit, but eventually nodded before leaning out to kiss Loerys's forehead. "Very good, son." Margaery praised him. "Shall we get a treat from the kitchen?" Of course both children were alight with excitement.

Hannibal nodded his approval at the children's quick forgiveness and eagerness to get a treat. He led the group inside for their treats.

The rest of the evenin went well and soon the dawn came when the children were taken into the carriage to travel down to Highgarden. They were able to leave in secret as Hannibal led Margaery to their session in the throne room where they heard requests from the people for an hour. It was important for them to establish that nothing was amiss with their reign.

Margaery had said her tearful goodbyes to her children early that morning. She knew her grandmother would take care of them.

As they progressed into their typical routine, Margaery focused all her strength on letting composed. True though, she was distracted. Many of the people looked at her longer than she would have liked. Brienne was right, the truth had been contained, but the people knew only one thing would make their king take off so quickly as he had. They wondered what had happened to their queen, but of course Margaery didn't let on that anything was amiss. Though that did eventually take its toll on her energy.

Hannibal smiled to Margaery as they went through the motions of running the country. He knew the crowds were curious as to what had happened. He would kiss her temple on occasion and whisper lowly into her ear. He told her to try and laugh and perhaps even blush. It would erase some suspicions of the people saw them appearing as if they were working on the next Prince or Princess.

Soon they were finally alone. Hannibal pulled her close and kissed her forehead tenderly. "How about a bath my love? You look exhausted. No need to have a mask before me. I know you are battling within." He said softly.

Margaery did indeed laugh softly when prompted and she even nuzzled him lovingly. There was a little hollowness to the motions, but she was trying.

When they were finally alone, Margaery was relieved. She sighed and leaned into him, nuzzling his neck. "A bath sounds wonderful, yes please, my love." She looked up at him with wide, loving eyes.

Hannibal knew that earlier was hollow, but it was believable enough for the crowds. He smiled at her before he scooped her up and into his arms and carried her into the bathroom. He set her on a bench as he started the water for her bath.

He placed a variety of oils into the water to soothe her. He turned back to look at her with a smile. "I hope you didn't mind me carrying you my love. I know you enjoy it when I spoil you." He said as he worked to remove his clothing until he was down to just his small clothes and pants.

Once the water was ready, Hannibal knelt down before Margaery. "Would you like assistance out of this gown?" He asked her.

Margaery clung to Hannibal when he lifted her. She breathed deep, trusting him that he wasn't about to drop her. Margaery smiled, put at ease with how he held her. She kissed him and nuzzled along his jaw, showing true affection as he carried her.

When they arrived and he began drawing the bath, Margaery relaxed and smiled to him. "Not at all, I feel truly safe and comforted in your arms."

As he knelt before her, Margaery blushed. Slowly she nodded in response to his question, reaching out with both hands to touch over his chest.

Hannibal smiled at that as he began to kiss up her arm. "And here I thought you had nothing more to blush about with me. I shall endeavor harder to make you blush more often." He teased as he kissed across her collarbone and reached around her tonundo the laces of her gown in the blink of an eye. He then stood and offered his hands to assist her in standing before removing the rest of her clothing carefully.

He then lifted her once again and set her in the water. He set a chair behind the end of the tub and sat upon it. "I will wash your hair and then join you in the water. Is the temperature to your liking?" He asked her. He knew she enjoyed it when he washed her hair so diligently.

Margaery smirked and laughed playfully. She tensed a little when he kissed over her collarbone, but she allowed him to continue. Margaery kept her eyes open so that she could clearly see that it was Hannibal touching and kissing her. Slowly sge stood up and leet her gown fall away.

Then again she was in his arms, giggling like a girl again. She smiled as he set her in the water. "It's perfect, thank you my love. You've been so kind to me through all this, thank you my dearest."

Hannibal noticed her hesitations and understood them completely. "As I will always be my love."

He removed his remaining clothes before he began to wet her hair to begin washing her long locks. "Close your eyes my love. Listen to your surroundings. Tell me what you hear. Smell the air. What is it you smell?" It was a simple, basic game to expand her senses. It was also a very simple trust exercise.

Margaery closed her eyes and relaxed. She basked in the feeling of his fingers working through her dark tresses. Margaery smiled. "Some would envy me, I have the King of the Seven Kingdoms at my beck and call to wash my hair."

But she grew quiet to do as he asked. "I hear water, the waves in the bay. I hear birds talking to each other. And it's distant... but I can hear people talking."

After a moment she heard the distinct sound of flapping leather and chuckled. "I hear or very first child enjoying himself as he flies through the air."

As for scents, Margaery paused and breathed deep. "I smell the oils in the bath - lavender and jasmine and vanilla. I smell your skin and heat, odd though that may seem."

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