[For Hannibal] Alliance of Fire

[tyrelltempest]

Renly Baratheon was dead, leaving his claim to the throne empty and his wife Margaery Tyrell a widow. Roose Bolton, of course, could spy an opportunity a mile away. He sent a raven to Highgarden, to Lord Mace Tyrell. Roose proposed that his youngest son and only legitimate heir be married to Margaery. Mace agreed, rather quickly as well - likely out of fear for the Bolton name.

But of course, Olenna Tyrell wasn't about to let that agreement happen. At least not on any terms but her own. So the agreement was made, but a time for delivering her to Winterfell had not been determined, and Olenna was not about to agree to one.

Ramsay Snow, wanting to be useful to his father and acknowledged as a true Bolton, decided to take action on his own. He took a small band of Bolton men and rode to Highgarden - he knew Margaery was there, after her day-long marriage to the late King Joffrey had ended. He kidnapped the Tyrell heiress and rode back to Winterfell. When he arrived, he dragged Margaery in with no amount of mercy or delicacy. He found his half-brother and father in a sitting room going over charts and battle strategies. Margaery, clad in a light dress with a keyhole opening at the front showing her cleavage and wrapping around her lower back, showing off the curves of her back and the lean muscle beneath her skin. Her skin was cold and covered in goosebumps, her lips slightly dark and a light shade of blue. But all the fire and anger was in Margaery's eyes. She wrenched herself free of Ramsay's grip and pulled her lips back to bare her teeth.

"Unhand me, mongrel!" she hissed.

"Dear father, brother - see what I've brought? We'll not have the Tyrells welching on their agreement any longer," Ramsay grinned. "The flower is a little frosty, but only because she did not appreciate my generosity of allowing her to ride in the carriage."

"What I did not appreciate was a bastard snatching me from my ancestral home and dragging me with no proper clothes into the North," Margaery snapped.

She so badly wanted to shift towards the fire, but she was bound and determined to stand tall and tough. Ramsay obviously thought her weak, she would prove him wrong.

Comments

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal returned the kiss and tilted his head to her with some light in his eyes. "Do you suspect you are? Or do you know and are simply toying with me?" He asked with a smirk.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery chuckled and leaned down to kiss him. She gave a playful smirk a day there was indeed a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You think I could keep a secret from you, my love?"

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal smirked when he saw that light in her eyes as well. "Indeed I do. At least until you have the opportunity to tell me in your own way and on your own terms." He teased her.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery smiled and kissed him again. "I doubt I could keep a secret from you for very long. Is be too excited to share the joyous news with you."

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal chuckled softly at that. "Indeed, you might give the game away in such a manner. Perhaps you should refrain from strong wines for the time being until it is confirmed." He said as he slowly stood and offered her a hand.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery looked almost offended for a moment, but playfully so. She lightly smacked his chest and smiled. "I'll refrain from drinking wine when it is confirmed that I have a baby in my belly and not a moment sooner!" She laughed.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal chuckled as he allowed the hit before offering his arm to her. "Come my lady. We should inform our guests that it is time for dinner." He said.

He would lead her out into the hall and down towards the chambers Sansa was staying in to knock on her door and collect her.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery took his arm as she stood and nodded to him. "Yes, let's go before Littlefinger thinks he has time to pester Sansa."

They left the room and made their way down the hall to Sansa's chambers. Margaery knocked and was surprised by the timid tone that bid her to come in. But she opened the door and smiled. "Sansa, dinner is ready."

Sansa blushed even darker upon seeing the couple together. But she nodded and offered a smile to Margaery before stepping out of the room, her pup following close behind.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal found the blush to be odd, but he gave her an easy smile to show that he was no simply a cold Bolton like he suspected Littlefinger made him out to be. "I see your pup follows you quite eagerly Lady Sansa. Have you chosen a name for her?" He asked as they led her towards the banquet hall.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery released Hannibal's arm to take Sansa's instead. Sansa gave a slight jump, a little startled. She did smile though and glanced to Hannibal when he spoke to her.

"Well, I would like to remember my past direwolf," Sansa replied. "But her name was her name and this pup's name shall be this pup's name. Similarly I would like to remember my house...Winter seems a good name for her."

Margaery grinned. "Winter it is then. Though how ever shall we know whether you are repeating the words of your house, or telling us your pet is on her way?" She teased, Sansa laughed.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal found the jump curious before he led them both into the dining hall. He could hear Littlefinger behind them, walking quickly to catch up to them. His face turned more towards his mask of stone before he turned to look over his shoulder at the man. "Ah, Lord Baelish. I am glad to see that you were able to remember your way here to the dining hall." He said.

When they went to sit down. Margaery sat on Hannibal's right, and Sansa was off to her right. Littlefinger was placed at Hannibal's left. Hannibal was curious as to how long Littlefinger would allow this seperation before having concerns.

[tyrelltempest]

Sansa was happy for the separation. She sat beside Margaery at the table. To her surprise, Margaery had ordered light dessert to be served first - lemon cakes and soft cheese with light ale. Sansa happily ate a few lemon cakes and nibbled at bits of cheese.

Margaery was happy to see her friend so at ease again. Her attention then turned to Littlefinger. "Things are well at the Eerie, Lord Baelish?" She wanted to hear for herself just what he was up to.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal kept an eye on Littlefinger and was curious if he would in fact tip his hand.

Littlefinger finished his lemon cake and began to wonder what exactly Lord Bolton had in mind. It seemed very clear to him that soething was afoot. He had kept Sansa away, it appeared she had a new pet, and they were serving one of her favorite treats.

Littlefinger cleared his throat a bit before nodding. "Indeed they are. The Lord of the Eerie is now settled and ruling the Vale very securely. He has grown fond of his cousin and has pledged to come to her aid should she ever need it."

Hannibal took a sip of his ale as he considered that. He was tempted to keep Littlefinger here and begin their hunt once Sansa went North to Winterfell. However, that might be pre-mature until he could secure the ear of the Lord of the Vale.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery smiled and turned to Sansa, as though Littlefinger was completely forgotten. "Sansa, does that mean you plan on traveling back home to Winterfell?"

Sansa looked to Margaery with some degree of nervousness. "Well, yes, but...Winterfell currently flies the Bolton banner."

Margaery sipped her ale and looked to Hannibal. The expression was one of insistence, but of course it was meant to make Littlefinger think his plan to play on their friendship was working.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal sipped his ale as his wife made the carefully prepared move onto the chess board. He waited just long enough for Littlefinger to believe he was struggling with his decision. "Lady Sansa, to an extent you are still being looked for and hunted. What better place to hide than behind a Bolton banner in your own backyard where you know every hall and secret passageway. I am willing to allow you to return to your home of you wish. As long as you promise not to interfere with my trusted Captain and his garrison." He said.

Littlefinger's eyes danced with delight. Giving Sansa a toehold in Winterfell was exactly what he needed to achieve his end goals. She was pliable enough that he could get what he desired.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery squeezed Sansa's hand, seeing the disappointment in the redhead's eyes. Clearly Sansa wanted her full home, and Margaery couldn't blame her. But until Littlefinger was dealt with, they couldn't give it to her.

"That's fair, right?" she tilted her head. "Taking back Winterfell and putting up the Stark banner will be an invitation for Cersei...and she still thinks you took a son from her."

Sansa listened carefully and then nodded. "Yes...yes that is fair - you're right." She looked to Hannibal. "I am much obliged, my Lord."

"I've met the Captain - all the guards and men who were loyal to Ramsay have been dealt with - you will find no enemies in your home at Winterfell," Margaery smiled.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal had instructed his captain to serve and guard Sansa as well as he had for Hannibal for the past five years. His captain was remarkably young for holding the position he did. He was close enough to Sansa's age that perhaps something might develop between the two of them. However, that was not a certainty. Nor was it mentioned or commanded.

Hannibal have a bow of his head towards Sansa. He took two sips of his ale that was a signal to his wife to tell Sansa that a private meeting between the three of them would be good to discuss.

Littlefinger said nothing for the time being. He was quite pleased that Sansa was eager to return home. With the right persuasion, and perhaps a bit of coaching, she could sway her way into the hearts of those likely very lonely men so that they fight for her rather than Lord Bolton.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery caught the signal and smiled when Sansa agreed. "Wonderful, ah but those are details better discussed in private. The three of us can discuss the details later."

Sansa was surprised by Margaery's bravado and how she so bluntly cut Littlefinger out of the matter. Margaery took a sip of her own ale and glanced to Hannibal.

"Darling, when your captain reported to you, did he say Winterfell had been cleaned to my specifications?" Margaery asked. "Can't have Sansa coming home to a dirty castle!"

[notavegetarian]

Littlefinger did not care for that side comment and intended on listening in on that conversation.

A servant stepped forward and refilled all if he glasses with more ale. There was a special sleeping tonic placed into Littlefinger's drink. It would take until after dinner to go into effect.

Hannibal gave his wife a wink to signal that he had consumed the drug. After dinner they all moved to retire for the evening. Hannibal would wait until Littlefinger passed out.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery smiled coolly at the signal, and continued with the meal. When they stood to retire, Margaery eyed Littlefinger carefully. The older man was indeed looking drowsy. But better to wait and be certain than to make him suspicious.

If they implied that they would be soaking now, it could give him the adrenaline and drive to power through the tonic. They couldn't allow that.

Margaery bid then both good night and made back to her chambers with Hannibal. Putting on the facade that they were indeed going to sleep. But if course she waited until Littlefinger had broken away to go to his own chambers.

She looked to Hannibal for her next cue on how to proceed.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal gave the slow signal that they should wait until the servant tasked with checking reported in. Soon enough the servant reported that Littlefinger had passed out. Hannibal went by to check for himself before nodding to his wife to go an fetch Sansa.

He went to a small library near their chambers so that Sansa would not feel as if she was imposing upon them directly by being in their chambers.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery went and found Sansa in her chambers. At first, when she told Sansa to follow her, the redhead seemed tentative. But she seemed calmer when Margaery told her they were going to the library.

Sansa had feared that Margaery had come to summon her for some kind of sexual Gane with Hannibal.

But she followed Margaery to the library, and she bowed her head when she saw Hannibal.

"Sorry for the secrecy and the strange behavior, Sansa," Margaery said. "But we had to be sure Littlefinger want spying on us."

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal gave a bow to Sansa and offered her a seat as he waited for Margaery to sit next to him on the small stool available. Although, he suspected that she may just sit upon his lap if she truly felt like she desired to.

He gave her a softer look. "Lady Sansa, you have grown quite a bit since I last saw you. I do not know if you remember meeting me when you were quite small. My father sent me to live at Winterfell for a time when I was very young. I sparred and trained with your brother Robb when he was about six or seven and I was twelve. I recall your father giving me sound advice and your mother being very wary of me and did not like me being near you without her being present." He said.

Sansa was very small when he was at Winterfell. He very much doubted that she would remember. Unless she recalled the time Theon was teasing her red hair and Hannibal had punched him for disrespecting a young lady when he was a hostage in their home. Theon had left with his tail tucked between his legs and Hannibal had given her a lemon cake to soothe the little girl.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery started off standing beside her husband. She pressed her hands to his shoulder as he spoke. Beside his hard, tough frame, she gave him a slightly softer edge. She helped Sansa feel at peace sitting beside them.

Sansa listened carefully and nodded politely as he spoke. She remembered indeed how he'd punched Theon. But she also remembered his presence being unsettling, which could have been her mother's influence.

Either way, there was a slight jealousy in Margaery's eyes and it was at that point she chose to settle into Hannibal's lap. The romantic in her almost wished that she had grown up in the North and that she had met Hannibal as a ward to her father, not as a kidnapped captive.

"Now, now my love, you didn't call Lady Sansa here to reminisce," Margaery pointed out.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal knew that his wife had grown jealous when she settled in his lap. He chuckled as his strong arms wrap around her waist to hold her close. "I do apologize for reminiscing Lady Sansa. I was simply curious if you remembered." He said.

"Now, onto business. I am not proud of what my father did to your family. However, he is my father and there are moments when I must obey him regardless of what I wish I could have done. Now I am the head of my house and I fully intend to make amends for my father's sins. You have been robbed of so much and have been at the mercy of those who had influence to do things for you at a cost." He said.

He paused a moment. "Your half brother Jon Snow is now the Lord Commander at Castle Black. I believe your younger brother Bran and Rickon are alive, but hiding in the wilderness surrounding Winterfell. They are hiding quite well, my men have not been able to find them in the past month. I promise to you that I will work diligently to try and reunite you with your remaining living siblings in Winterfell. My captain will serve you for as long as you desire him to serve you. If you find your own warriors he will return to my services. I fully intend to restore Winterfell to you and your family. All I ask in return is that we can repair our alliance and once again be each other's allies. Until our enemies in King's landing are removed, this will be a secret alliance." He said.

He was being very plain with Sansa, he expected her to ask questions and seek out any hidden motives. There were none. This was a very simple request. Be equal allies and restore her home to her. No other strings attached.