randomosity | [For Hannibal] Alliance of Fire

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.

Margaery smiled as she thought of building her new home with Hannibal. "I've heard the castle is built near volcanic vents to keep it warm, is that so?" She smiled when he mentioned the furnishings. "You're married to a southern woman now, I'll give it a proper woman's touch."

Moanna had been resting at Margaery's feet, but when Hannibal gave the order for Vhagar to hide, she shifted her body and further concealed her brother from view. Margaery reached down and gave the dire wolf a pat of praise.

When Margaery identified Jaime Lannister her entire body stiffened. She didn't bother to acknowledge him. She hadn't cared for him as an uncle-in-law....or was it technically father-in-law? Either way, she had never enjoyed his company. Margaery had no polite words for him, so she said nothing but listened carefully, curious as to why they had been stopped.

Jaime was awfully far from King's Landing, awfully far away from Cersei. Something was wrong.

There had been numerous reports of multiple caravans of Boltons moving North and South at varying speeds. It had made Cersei quite suspicious. She had sent the only person she could trust to get to the bottom of all the traveling. Along with reports of Roose Bolton being killed.

Jaime gave a bow to Hannibal and spotted Margaery within the carriage. He was actually pleased to see her there. She was a clever woman and being promised to the Bolton's would keep her far away from Tommen and his sister. "Really? It seems that you have been doing a fair amount of crossing lately. It would have simply been a matter of time until we crossed paths." He said.

Hannibal gave a humble nod of his head. "Two of those journeys were related to the bastard who stained the honor of both my house and my wife's house."

Jaime listened carefully, based on the reports that explanation sounded possible. "I heard recently you were seen dragging a man behind your horse. Or at least most of a man."

Hannibal gave a nod of his head. "The Lord of house Tyrell had requested the bastard alive for them to meet out punishment. I chose to deliver him in Bolton fashion so that he could represent our sigil properly before being executed as a kinslayer."

A few of Jaime's men flinched a bit at that news. Jaime did not have a strong reaction. That last point shed some light onto the severity of the punishment, but not why the Tyrell's would be so cross with him. "Kinslayer? Does that mean the rumors of your father being murdered are true? Why would the Tyrell's care how he was punished?"

Hannibal shifted his horse closer to Jaime to speak lowly. "When I returned with my bride. He had the skin of the heir of high garden hanging above what was supposed to be our bed and his meat on the center of the bed being consumed by his hounds. It was a very upsetting sight for my wife and I do not wish to discuss it further. During his arrest he shot my father with a crossbow." He said before moving back near the carriage.

Jaime did not move as Hannibal approached. He felt his stomach turn a bit at the thought. He adjusted his seat in his saddle before looking at Hannibal again. "I am truly sorry for your loss Lord Bolton. The King had made your father Warden of the North..."

Hannibal cut in before Jaime could continue. "He was. I am prepared to take on that responsibility as my fealty to the King. Some of the men in the North were speaking of a revolt. My father did not see it as a threat as I do. I will remind those in the North that their King resides in King's Landing and that they need to remain loyal. I have also heard rumors that the Blackfish has plans to retake Riverrun from the Frey's. I intend to send small squads to try and flush the elusive man out of hiding and cut him down before he gets close to Riverrun." He said.

Jaime was at first annoyed before he heard the words. He had not heard anything of the Blackfish. That was disturbing news indeed if that man was trying to retake Riverrun. "The King would like to see both you and your bride soon. Pledging your fealty in person would please the King."

Hannibal nodded. "I must first bury my father in the Bolton tradition and establish myself as the head of my house. I will then send a raven when I will travel to King's Landing."

Jaime gave a bow of his head. "We would like to see the Lady Bolton as well. Safe travels Lord Bolton." He looked to Margaery. "Lady Bolton." He then kicked his heels into his horse and rode towards the red keep. Cersei would be both pleased and displeased with this news.

Hannibal signalled to his men and they continued their journey North.

Margaery listened very carefully. When Jaime pressed to know why the Tyrells would want Ramsay Bolton dead, Margaery looked away and straightened her shoulders. She would not cry, not in front of a Lannister. Besides, Loras had been avenged, there was nothing more to be done.

Closer she listened to Hannibal swearing his loyalty to the King and his plans to continue as Warden of the North in his father's stead. Margaery did not let Jaime see her perplexed or suspicious expression, but she wasn't thrilled taking her husband's words at face value. Silently she wished and fantasized of Hannibal cutting off Jaime's head and defeating the small group that acconpanied the lion. But of course this would lead to open war, for which she wasn't certain they'd be supported in the North, so Margaery was not upset when her fantasy did not become a reality.

She said not a word to Jaime Lannister, but did tilt her head as he bid her farewell. When his band was out of earshot, Margaery leaned closer to the carriage door to whisper to Hannibal.

"Truly you do not intend to grovel to the lioness or her cub, do you?" Olenna had talked of marrying Margaery to Tommen, but Margaery was happy that she hadn't.

Tommen was weak and naive. He'd be a good, fair king if only his mother wasn't so involved with him. But he was too soft for Margaery, she would have grown bored, surely. She did not want to watch her husband swearing an oath to King Tommen, even if it was for the continuation of a scheme against the Lannisters.

"I tell you now, I have no intention of going to King's Landing," not unless it was for her own coronation.

Hannibal had noted his wife's composure and her mask when Jaime spoke to her directly. He was quite proud of her for not giving the game away. He chuckled at her questions and gave her a sly smirk as he glanced at her. "There is still a war going on My Lady. There could be a great disturbance that requires the Warden of the North's full attention and make him quite unable to travel so far south as King's Landing." He said.

He had no intention of groveling before the bitch Cersei Lannister. His father had bent the knee to secure the Bolton house in a place of power. However, Hannibal had no intention of ever bending his knee. Especially not to those golden pricks for Lions.

Margaery smiled and leaned partially out the window to kiss her husband. "I knew you had a plan. And of course it's not safe for a lady to travel alone, so of course the Lady Bolton couldn't leave Dreadfort without the Warden."

Moanna sensed the danger was gone and yipped a signal to Vhagar. Then she jumped up onto the bench with Margaery and cuddled in close to raise her spirits.

"So then, what to do when we arrive at the Dreadfort? After we christen every room in the castle, that is," she teased.

Hannibal chuckled at her words. "Once we arrive we will have about a day to ourselves before we will have our first visitors. It would be good if you could sway the Lady who arrives tomorrow to support us in our endeavors. " He said.

At the last part of her statement he gave her a smirk as he leaned in to speak lowly into her ear. "It would take us a month to christen every room. I suspect you will miss a bleeding before then." He said.

Margaery smirked at his latter point and whispered back. "Are you up to that challenge, my lover?" She teased.

She titled a brow when he mentioned their visitors. No one had visited in Winterfell, so Margaery was curious who it could be. "Oh? What makes you think I have any sway over such a lady? Who might it be?"

Hannibal smirked to her. "I am indeed ready for that challenge my dear. I wonder if you are." He sat back up in his saddle and gave her a look that suggested he was quite thrilled with himself. "You have met her before. Although the circumstances were quite different then. Rumor was she was the only friend you had on your prior stay in King's Landing." He said as a hint.

He had intentions of using his wife to sway the young Stark into being allies.

Margaery thought for a moment, and when it dawned on her the answer she nearly stuck her whole head out the window. But she held back and managed to only grasp the ledge and stare up at him with wide eyes.

"Sansa? Sansa Stark?" Her voice was hushed to keep from drawing unwanted attention. "Coming to the Dreadfort?"

To take back Winterfell? Oh...Margaery was now terribly embarrassed that she'd made love with her husband on Sansa's father's bed. The thought of that made her sit back and blush.

"Is she well? What have you heard? Keeping secrets from me, how cruel!" She smiled up at Hannibal. "Tell me."

The blush was very amusing to Hannibal. "Here I thought I did not have a blushing bride." He teased.

Hannibal chuckled at her quick response. He nodded to his captain who took the reigns of his horse. Hannibal smoothly slid to the side of the carriage and slipped within it without pulling to a stop. He shut the window as he looked at her with a smile. "She is as well as she can be. Littlefinger smuggled her out of King's Landing. He had two different plans concerning her. One was to marry her off to my brother. The other was to marry her himself and to use her as his way onto the iron throne. Neither is a good option for Sansa. Do you believe she has any desire to live anywhere other than Winterfell on her own terms?" He asked his wife.

He had kept it a secret until he felt she was absolutely trustworthy.

Margaery glared playfully at him when he teased her. But as he jumped from his horse and settled into the carriage beside her, she couldn't help but regard her husband in wonder. He was so agile despite his muscular frame; Loras had been skilled in the arena because he was lean and agile, while men like the Mountain were renowned for their brute strength.

Hannibal seemed to be the best of both.

Margaery leaned into him as he sat beside her. The mention of Littlefinger made her tense though, and she looked to Hannibal with worry in her eyes. She shook her head in answer.

"No. Starks belong in Winterfell." Not Boltons. Not Tyrells and certainly not Lannisters.

Hannibal put his arm around her shoulders to hold her close. "That is my sentiment as well. I would offer to Sansa her ancestral home in return to promising troops should I need them and also promising to name her Warden of the North once our ambitions are reached. I won't make her promise herself in marriage to anybody. Do you think you could convince her that our opportunity is far greater than anything Littlefinger whispers into her ear."

Margaery leaned in and looked up to Hannibal as he explained. "I could, I have no doubt of that," But something tugged at the back of her mind. "But what army could she possibly have, darling?"

The Sansa that Margaery knew was meek and quiet. Margaery knew not of any army that Sansa had amassed on the name of her reclaiming her ancestral home.

"Who will she be traveling with? Littlefinger? Don't tell me that you intend to let him into our home?" Margaery didn't like sneakier lord. She had always been suspicious of Littlefinger.

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