randomosity | [For Hannibal] Alliance of Fire

Ramsay was placed in his chair before them both as the letter was being read. Hannibal looked over his brother slowly as he considered the message. He turned to his captain. "With just the vanguard and no carriages, how long would it take to reach Highgarden?" He asked.

His captain answered, "Two days at a full gallop my lord. Three for a moderate pace."

Hannibal turned to regard his bloodied brother. "Send four riders now. One is to find a place for us to sleep for each of our journeying days in a place where we can store our prisoner. How soon can we have horses ready for the journey?"

The captain answered that three hours was all that was required.

Hannibal turned to his wife. "We can return with a carriage, would this amount of haste please you my Lady?" He asked. He would let her ride with him upon his horse if she grew weary of riding by herself.

Margaery listened carefully and was absolutely giddy with anticipation. She smirked triumphantly to Ramsay and then turned to Hannibal with genuine excitement. "That suits me fine, my Lord. Gives us plenty of time to get settled and prepare for the journey."

She looked to Ramsay and seized his jaw in a tight grip. "You think the Tyrell's are incapable of cruelty? I promise you, my brother has vengeance in his heart unlike any you've ever seen. He will kill you, and it will not be quick or merciful."

Ramsay spat in her face, and earned a sharp backhand from his sister-in-law.

Hannibal made certain that preparations were made in haste for their journey. He then nodded to his captain who stepped forward and forced Ramsay to open his mouth and kept it open nice and wide. Hannibal placed metal tongs on Ramsay's tongue and pulled the muscle out of his mouth. A red hot knife was placed in his hand. "I hope you had nothing more to say brother." He said before slicing his tongue off with the red hot blade to prevent bleeding.

He then regarded his brother slowly. "You don't look a proper Bolton brother...perhaps that will change after you have been drug down to Highgarden. Fit him with a nice harness of our largest, roughest rope. We don't want him breaking his neck after all." He said.

Ramsay was pulled behind Hannibal's horse. Galloping across the lands and with Ramsay naked, there were many cuts and pieces of his flesh missing. Hannibal's wolves would nip at him along the way, but never actaully bit him.

The last stop before the reached High Garden. Hannibal shaved his brother and trimmed his hair. He then flayed what remained of his body in strips along his entire length. Ramsay was still very much alive, but hardly anything remained of what he was originally.

Once they finally arrived at High Garden, there was very little of Ramsay's skin left on his body. He was coughing up blood at the bottom of the steps of the castle where Hannibal had stopped his horse. Many of his teeth had been broken from a variety of rocks he had encountered along the journey. He also had broken rips and his feet were completely mangled.

Hannibal looked up at the welcoming party. "I have brought the traitorous prisoner you have requested." He said. They had sent a raven ahead of them to inform High Garden of their prompt arrival, and how Roose Bolton had been killed during Ramsay's arrest.

Margaery had taken great pleasure in the method of transporting Ramsay to Highgarden. She did love riding but every so often she would ride with Hannibal, enjoying leaning into his strong frame and kissing over his nape.

Once they arrived at Highgarden Willas and Olenna were at the entrance waiting. Willas wore armored that he hadn't donned in decades, but still seemed to suit him perfectly. For a moment, Margaery forgot that he was a cripple. Olenna stood beside him dressed all in black instead of her usual pastels. Margaery hated it. She looked so sad.

Willas hobbled forward to investigate the victim who had been brought before him. He tilted a brow and looked up to Hannibal. "Looks as though he's already endured a great deal."

Margaery dismounted and let one of the men take her horse. She approached slowly, though it was her grandmother who had approached her first, kissing her cheek and holding her arm. Willas tipped his head to his sister before smirking down to Ramsay. "But if you think your suffering has ended, you're mistaken. Bring him."

He gestured for his men to cut Ramsay loose and drag him to the courtyard. Margaery and Olenna followed. Willas seized Ramsay by what remained of his scalp and threw him into a great black cauldron in the center of the courtyard. He gave a low whistle.

Two men brought forth a great black box, and Margaery smiled. Willas looked to her. "Which will be first, sister? The execution? Or the gift?"

Margaery looked to Hannibal and gestured to the box. "For you, my love. A wedding present from your bride. I apologize for its tardy arrival."

When Hannibal opened the box, he would find nestled amidst red and black and green and gold silks a great egg, a glistening red with streaks of gold running over it. "Dragon eggs are hard to come by," Margaery would add, after he opened the lid. It was petrified, she'd been told, but she thought it a good gift all the same.

Hannibal put on a grave face of his own as what remained of his brother was dragged further. He found the cauldron curious and wondered if they were going to roast him or boil him. Either way it would be quite excruciating indeed.

He looked at the ornate box and gave her the smallest of smiles. He opened it and pulled her close slowly by her chin to kiss her tenderly. "It is most exquisite My Lady. I will need to think of a way to thank you properly." He said as his eyes danced. He had heard of petrified eggs. However, he had also heard rumors that they could indeed hatch.

Margaery kissed him back and smiled to see him so pleased with his gift. She nuzzled her nose against his playfully before looking up to his eyes again. "It is petrified, brought from the Shadowlands. But, my dear, I've heard tales that such was the case for Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons."

She looked to her brother, who looked to his own captain and gave a nod. The captain left the courtyard with four other men in tow. Margaery looked to Hannibal and smiled mischievously.

"So perhaps, with the right application of flame, you may awaken your own beast," she pointed out.

Just then, out stepped the captain and his men, carrying a large barrel, slowly, carefully. When they came to the cauldron they poured the contents of the barrel over Ramsay - a green, almost glowing liquid. Wildfire.

Willas was given a torch, which he held far from the cauldron so as not to ignite it prematurely. He gave a look to Hannibal, then to Margaery and Olenna. "Let this serve as a message to those who cross house Tyrell: we have grown strong, and even the fairest roses may yet have poison in their thorns. Such a crime and insult to our clan will not go unpunished. Nor shall kinslaying in any form."

With that, he dropped the torch into the cauldron and stepped back quickly as the green fire burst, burning Ramsay alive straight down to his bones. He didn't last long, but for those moments, it was the greatest agony he had ever felt.

Margaery watched and looked from Hannibal to the egg as the wildfire continued to burn.

Hannibal knew what that liquid was before they poured it. He gave a dark smirk to his brother as he watched the liquid pour. He felt a small thrill when he saw his brother consumed in the flames. It was a sense of relief to now have the power he had desired for years now.

He saw Margaery looking from him to the flames. He looked to her for a moment. "Was it natural flames she used?" He asked her lowly.

Margaery considered his question. "From what was explained to me, yes. But something supernatural happened that day. Targaryens are not fireproof, my love. But she set upon the pyre with her dragon eggs and walked away unscathed and unburnt."

Margaery focused on the crumbling ashes of Ramsay's body. "I think it was her powerful emotions that stoked that fire and woke her dragons. Not the natural fire itself. Else the dragons would have been awoken in the Shadowlands if they happened to be caught up in a blaze."

Hannibal considered her words very carefully. He gave a nod before finding a cart. He set the box in the cart and opened it. He touched over the egg and spoke lowly in high valeryn. "Come out and we shall have some fun." He then gave the cart a push so that it rolled next to the cauldron. Halfway there a piece of the wildfire landed on the cart.

The cart and box caught fire and were destroyed in an instant. However, the egg seemed to absorb the wildfire and glowed a brighter red. Hannibal watched with great interest as the egg seemed to grow brighter and brighter.

The wildfire had slowly died down within the cauldron with nothing else to consume. Hannibal still kept his distance. He thought he saw the egg moving.

Margaery jumped back a bit when the cart and box went up in flames. She clutched Hannibal's arm as she watched the green flames devour everything it touched until finally it died down.

She looked carefully as the egg glowed. Margaery definitely saw the egg move and begin to rattle. "As I thought...what better flame to wake a sleeping dragon than the flame created for Aerys Targaryen himself?" She whispered.

Soon enough the shell pieces began to break away. Margaery swore she heard a low, almost croaking sound.

Hannibal watched as the egg continued to move until the dragon did indeed hatch. All of the wildfire had died down and Hannibal approached the Crimson dragon with golden eyes. He strode forward to the creature and reached down to pick the creature up and place it on his leather padding on his wrist.

He spoke to it in Valeryn. "Welcome my son. I will feed and protect you until you grow large to protect me." He said as he pet over the top of its head.

Margaery stepped forward carefully and looked closely at the new creature. Willas abs Olenna looked on in shock.

"Gods be good..." Olenna whispered.

Margaery smiled and carefully stroked her fingers over the dragon's little head. "Hello little love." She then looked to her husband and kissed his cheek. "Well? What are we to call him?"

Hannibal considered her question and nodded to the small dragon before continuing to speak to it in Valeryn. "I am your father, and this is my mate your mother. You will obey us and we will give you all of the land to fly, stretch out your wings, and grow." He said before petting over it's small chest. He could see hints of gold along his spine and tail as well. "Vhagar." He said, naming his dragon after one of the great three that once conquered the seven kingdoms and united them under one banner.

The small dragon puffed up it's chest at the name and turned to shoot fire from it's mouth away from it's parents so that it would not singe them.

Hannibal smiled as he turned to Margaery and kissed her temple. "A splendid gift indeed. My gift of a dire wolf pup does not seem to equal in rarity. I will have to add an additional gift." He said.

Margaery smiled and nuzzled close to Hannibal so that their draconian son could see that the two of them came together. That they were a united front.

"Our Vhagar," she whispered in valyrian. "I'm so very glad to see you, my boy."

She chuckled, thinking herself the western mother of dragons, while Daenerys Stormborn was the mother of dragons in the east across the Shivering Sea.

Margaery chuckled up at him. "Moanna if you recall was a gift before I agreed to the marriage," she pointed out. "Technically, if you think you owe me, you owe me another present altogether for our wedding." She teased.

Margaery looked to her grandmother and kissed her cheek. "House Tyrell is avenged, grandmother."

"Yes, and hopefully your father, the great oaf, will get up and out of bed and tend his responsibilities," Olenna laughed. "But tell the truth, things have gone very smoothly with Willas in charge."

Her brother blushed a bit but smiled l, justice having been served.

Hannibal chuckled as he kissed her temple and whispered lowly into her ear so that only she could hear. "Gods willing I planted a gift within you on our wedding night that is growing as we speak."

"I shall put my entire wit behind an appropriate gift to match this magnitude." He promised her. He followed her up and gave a bow to them both.

"I am sorry for the mournful situation, but am glad to see that there is some light for both of our houses at the end of this tunnel." He said.

Willas nodded lowly, as did Olenna.

"We were sorry to hear of the passing of your father, Lord Roose," Willas replied.

"So then, will you remain in Winterfell with the passing of your father, or return to the Dreadfort?" Olenna asked. She was curious where her granddaughter would be.

"I've never actually seen your ancestral home of the Dreadfort," Margaery pointed out. Though she had heard a great deal of fearful tales from it.

Hannibal considered the question for a moment before answering. "There is a Lord of a very small house who swore loyalty to me on the day I came of age. I am inclined to leave the care of Winterfell to him as I now have the burden of caring for my ancestral home since my father passed away." He said.

He intended to give the castle to the trump card little finger held as a bid to win them to his side when the time came.

Olenna had heard tales of the Dreadfort as well, and was not thrilled to think of Margaery in such a macabre place. But she had come to trust Hannibal and Margaery seemed genuinely happy with her husband. Happier than Olenna had seen her in some time.

So if the Dreadfort was where he intended to take her, Olenna would not object. Besides, it was the Bolton ancestral home; a clan should make their camp in the home of their clan.

"Very well, Winterfel belongs to the Boltons, what you do with it is your business," Olenna replied and stepped forward to take Margaery's hands into hers. "As long as my girl is happy. That is all that concerns me."

Margaery smiled and stepped up, kissing her grandmother's cheek. "I'm beyond happy, grandmother."

Hannibal smiled as he set Vhagar on his shoulder to perch there. He slipped an arm around his wife and held her close. "The Dreadfort is not so far north as Winterfell. Perhaps next time you can visit us and allow us to show you true northern hospitality." He offered.

He was curious if they would be happier with Margaery not being quite so far north as before.

Margaery leaned into Hannibal and brought up a hand to gently stroke over Vhagar's neck. The idea of hosting her family at the Dreadfort made her chuckle.

"The North is a bit cold for these old bones," Olenna replied. "But for my Margaery I may risk it."

Margaery smiled. "Hardly a risk, Grandmother," she teased. Then she looked to Hannibal. "Might we stay in Highgarden for a while longer, my love? Or must we make haste back to Winterfell?"

She wanted to stay and have some time with her family, but she knew he was newly a lord and had responsibilities back home. Affairs to put in order. Olenna chimed in again.

"A newborn dragon will likely need a great deal of warmth to survive his first few days. Something the North lacks," Olenna pointed out.

Hannibal considered the offer before summoning his Captain. "Have the Dreadfort cleaned and prepared for our arrival in a fortnight. Tell them to send a proper carriage and some men as an escort." He added a silent signal for his Captain to write to Little finger to meet at the Dreadfort at that time as well.

He then looked to Olenna. "Are you certain Highgarden has enough mattresses to accommodate our stay?" He asked with a glint of glee in his eyes.

Olenna frowned and started off towards the interior of the castle. Before she got too far though she glanced over her shoulder and smirked to Hannibal.

"When you sent word to us, I arranged for a delivery. There are at least a dozen extra mattresses at our disposal - not that I'm posing a challenge to the pair of you!" Olenna scolded playfully.

Margaery lightly swatted Hannibal's chest and smiled to him. She practically jumped in happiness, a whole fortnight in Highgarden, she kissed his cheek and nuzzled against him. She was beyond happy.

Hannibal knew it would please his wife to spend some time with her family. Without his father or brother around to worry about he would enjoy some more time in the south. He gave her a nod and kissed his wife's temple. He chose not to banter back, but he did intend on ruining at least one mattress a day during their stay.

He pet over Vhagar's head as they walked into the castle proper.

Their time in Highgarden was a whirlwind for Margaery. Much to her grandmother's annoyance they did indeed ruin several mattresses during their stay. For a few days Vhagar would not eat, until Moanna grew bored and began to hunt the castle mice, which she brought to her draconian brother. He proceeded to gobble them up.

But soon enough they were packing and preparing to leave Highgarden and return to the Dreadfort. Margaery was excited to see her new home, and wondered if it would become the new seat of power in the North. She kissed her brother, father and grandmother goodbye before mounting up and leaving Highgarden.

They were several miles from the Southern city before she addressed Hannibal with curiosity. "Tell me, love, what is the Dreadfort like?"

She was curious for their future. From the takes she'd heard, it was not the ideal place for women and children. But, it was to be her home all the same. She wondered if it had been built at all similarly to the Stark home to keep warm in the winter.

Hannibal had rather enjoyed ruining quite a few mattresses during their stay. He was also pleased that Vhagar's training was coming along splendidly, as was Moanna's. The two were becoming quite the pair of trouble makers as they began to rapidly grow.

By the time they were prepared to leave for the Dreadfort, Vhagar was the size of Moanna. Moanna was now tall enough to lick at Margaery's knees without having to stand on her hind legs. They both seemed to be growing quite rapidly.

Hannibal intended to have them ride with Margaery in the carriage so that they would not be seen. He suspected some Lannister's along their return to the Dreadfort might attempt to sway their path to King's Landing.

He would postpone that for as long as possible before going there. He did not want the Lannister's to know of his dragon. That would be dangerous indeed.

He was currently riding alongside the carriage with the window down for easy conversation. "The Dreadfort is a castle that honestly is the Red Keep's rival as far as sheer size and capacity goes. However, it does not feel like the friendliest of places at times." He said.

He turned to her and gave a gentle smile. "I have ordered more furnishings so that it looks more hospitable once you are inside." He said.

He caught a glint of gold on the horizon and ordered Vhagar to conceal himself. He slid beneath the bench under Margaery. He knew he was still small enough to be killed by his parents' true enemies.

Their small procession halted as a small core of golden lions rode towards them and moved straight towards Hannibal. Hannibal's men were on alert, but none drew their weapons. Hannibal gave a slight bow of his head as he saw who was leading the small group of lions. "Sir Jaime Lannister. I did not expect to cross paths with you on our journey home." He greeted the other man. They were allies and Hannibal would be respectful of that.

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