[For Hannibal] The Raid

[tyrelltempest]

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.

Comments

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery gave a small, almost childish nod. She didn't want to risk the rumors that her child was Euron Greyjoy's. Her child would be Hannibal's. Her child would be Bolton. Her child would be descended of Targaryen blood. She nuzzled him as she leaned down and kissed him again. "Shall we dry off? And...I would like it if we could take dinner in our chambers. Might that be possible?"

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal nodded his head as he kissed her temple. "Very well my love. I will arrange everything as you desire. Come, let us dry off and enjoy the view over the city while our dinner is brought up." He said as he scooped her into his arms before standing and stepping out of the tub so that they could both dry off. He sent a servant to bring their dinners up as she had requested.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery smiled and kissed his jaw as he lifted her up. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him deep over and over again as he carried her to the bedroom. When they came to the linens, Margaery picked one up and began drying off Hannibal's body lovingly. She nuzzled along his neck and nipped at his collarbone.

Margaery had no issue standing naked so near to their balcony. But she leaned into him and made sure to stay close to Hannibal. She didn't want to be seen, lest her body be taken as an invitation.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal had seen how she curled into him. He grabbed a nearby curtain to pull around her body to cover her. "You are my Queen. I will not allow any other person to look upon your true beauty and live." He said as he kissed her temple tenderly.

Hisnarms were around her to hug her tenderly. He smiled as he looked at her. "We will only hold court for a very broef time tomorrow. We will be going on a hunt together in the afternoon. Does this please you?" He asked her with a smile upon his face.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery looked up to him when he pulled the curtain to cover her. She smiled and gently pushed the curtain away, baring herself to him once again. A slight blush rose in her cheeks and she leaned into him again. "I'm not hiding," she replied. "I will not hide my body from you. I know you will protect me."

The idea of a hunt had her curious. She tilted her head and looked up at him suspiciously. "A hunt?" she wondered if it was a true Bolton hunt, or something more traditional. "It does indeed sound lovely."

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal smiled as he pulled her close before pausing to look over her bounskowly woth absolute approval. He then pulled her close and kissed her tenderly. "Yes, my love. I have planned a hunt for us. Do you feel up to such activities? We will take the dragons along with a few of my personal guard." He said.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery kissed him back and leaned into him, nuzzling her nose against his. She smiled as he asked her about a hunt. "I do indeed. Is this like our first hunt together when I killed the wildcat? Or is it...something more akin to a Bolton hunt?" she asked. If the guards were coming, likely it would be a hunt of wild game.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal chuckled at her words. He pulled her tight into his body as he looked deep within her eyes. "Our personal guard will be my three assassins. Lowyalnservants who will not question or flinch at whatever we decide to hunt." He said with a dark light in his eyes. This was indeed set up as a proper Bolton hunt. He wanted to give his wife her appetite for true hunting again. It would help her to see past what had happened and realize that the future was still there.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery blushed as he pulled her in tighter and explained how they planned on hunting. She tilted her brow in interest and looked into his eyes. "Oh? And just whom have you arranged as our prey?" She was nervous for a proper hunt once again, but she wanted to move forward, and not drag her husband down.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal chuckled as he pulled her body tighter against his own. "Someone quite special that you will enjoy hunting." He promised her. Hannibal kept the prey hidden for now. He wanted her to be curious before they left. It would keep her in a better mindset.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery's eyes lit as he spoke. She leaned against him and ran her fingers over his skin. "So mean to me, my lover. And to think I bore you four healthy children." She chuckled as she nuzzled him again. "Very well. Have it your way. Do I not even get a single hint?"

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal chuckled at her words as he kissed her temple tenderly. “If I give you any more hints, your clever mind will riddle out the surprise.” He teased her as a praise of her intellect.

“Now come...we should rest before our hunt tomorrow.” He said.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery pouted, but smiled. "Very well." She cuddled into him, continuing to run her fingers over his skin. She was tired, but still...haunted. Margaery buried her nose against his neck. "I love you..." she whispered softly. Sleep could not come soon enough for her.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal smiled as he easily lifted her into his arms and carried her back to their bed. “I love you Margaery.” He said.

He laid them down in bed and pulled her close to him. He began to massage the back of her neck and the top of her head. He also began to hum an old lullaby. He hoped it would help her drift off to sleep. He had noticed that she struggled falling asleep the past few nights.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery was glad to be in bed, their bed, soft and warm. The lullaby he hummed for her made her smile as she breathed in his scent. "I love you Hannibal..." she whispered against his skin. She couldn't wait to have the babies back again. But this was nice, just being alone with Hannibal.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal didn’t stop until she fell asleep. He then allowed himself to drift off as well.

When morning came, Hannibal woke first and smiled when he found Margaery still asleep in his arms. He carefully shifted one arm to make her a moon tea without waking her. He then kissed her temple tenderly. “Wake up my love. We have a special hunt today. We must have breakfast.” He whispered lowly into her ear.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery felt Hannibal moving when the sun rose. But she was so comfortable and happy just lying there, she didn't open her eyes. Even when he beckoned her, she grumbled in protest and burrowed against him, burying her face against his neck. Quietly protesting, not wanting to leave the bed just yet.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal chuckled at her grumbling. “This is where Reina and Loerys learned how to protest waking in the morning. Although I must admit, your beauty makes it quite adorable.” He said with a smile upon his face.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery glanced up from his neck and looked to Hannibal with surprise and scolding. "As though Aenar and Rhys are so easily woken in the morning! They are just as cranky as you," she grumbled before again burrowing in close. "Must we wake so early? Is it such a crime for a wife to want to stay with her husband all day long?"

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal chuckled as he kissed the top of her head tenderly. “Staying in bed all day with your husband is highly encouraged. However, a good hunt is done at this hour. Come, o have a special breakfast for you, I fixed tea along with juice.” He said with a smile on his face.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery huffed, but turned over in bed to press against him and kiss him again. "Very well, since you are so insistent. But once our hunt concludes, we should come back to bed and remain here all day long." Margaery sat up slowly. "But for now, breakfast will do. What is it that you have prepared for me?" She reached for the moon tea to drink it down - effectively preventing her pregnancy.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal smiled as he watched her finally relent. He moved to tuck a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. “Of course my love. Afyerbour Hunt we can stay in bed together to your hearts content.”

He watched her reach for the moon tea and felt slightly sad. He hoped that one day she would refuse the tea one morning. “If my memory is correct...you should bleed over the next few days.” He head learned that there was a pattern.

He smiled at her question as he turned to set the breakfast tray across her lap. “All of your favorites. Including fire plums.” He said.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery could see his disappointment. She understood it, but they could have no doubts in the minds of the people. If she was to be pregnant again, the father could only be Hannibal without a doubt.

"Yes, you are right my love," she reached up and brushed her fingers over his cheek. "Then after that, it will be only a few days more. Then I will no longer require the tea."

She picked up a fire plum and offered Hannibal the first bite from the soft fruit. "Do you remember when you first had these?" She smiled at her memories of their early marriage in Highgarden.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal smiled tenderly before he took the offered bite from the very sweet fruit. He chuckled at her comments as he looked up at her. “I do indeed. Although I recall indulging in a far sweeter fruit nearly to excess.” He teased with a wag of his eyebrows.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery chuckled and pressed her forehead against his. "Indeed. You were insatiable. My poor grandmother, you ruined four of her good mattresses."

She blushed, recalling their first times together and how gently he had claimed her maidenhead. But then he had steadily gotten rougher with her, in the best way. He was so incredibly strong.