randomosity | [For Jorah/Hannibal] Homecoming

[For Jorah/Hannibal] Homecoming

In Essos, Daenerys had given birth to a healthy and lively baby girl. She had her father's dark eyes but the light hair and full face of her mother. It was shortly after her birth that a letter arrived from across the Shivering Sea - too far for a raven to fly. It came from King's Landing and bared the Bolton seal. The letter invited Daenerys back to Westeros, but not to reclaim the Iron Throne. Apparently, Hannibal Bolton had taken control of King'sLanding, and the Starks had all but been demolished. The Lannisters, in turn, had also been eradicated.

Daenerys was shocked. But more than that, she suspected treason. As did Tyrion Lannister. With her newborn daughter to her breast, Daenerys took council with Jorah, Grey Worm, Missandei and Tyrion.

"Who does this Bolton think he is?" She snapped. "Inviting me back without promising to relinquish the throne to me? It is mine by birthright, I will not allow some savage northman to take what is mine."

Lannister, Baratheon, Bolton - the name didn't matter. A thief was a thief.

"If he took King's Landing and defeated the Lannister army, my queen, then we can conclude that he indeed has a powerful army of his own," Tyrion pointed out.

****

A few weeks had gone by, and Margaery's belly had begun to swell only slightly with their fourth child. Of course Olenna could spot this a mile away and was already declaring name options. Aenar was with the pair of them while they took tea in the gardens overlooking the ocean. The boy was now sitting up on his own in his mother's lap, but still feed from her breast. The twins were studying with their tutors.

"So tell me child," Olenna sipped her tea. "What is your husband's intention by inviting the Targaryen girl back here?"

Aenar cooed when Roose came close and he patted his hands over the dragon's nose. Margaery glanced up to her grandmother, who added more to her question.

"Don't tell me he means to surrender his throne to her, now that they have a confirmed common lineage?" Olenna scoffed.

"Certainly not, grandmother," Margaery replied sharply. "Do you honestly think my husband is the type of man to relinquish power? No. But if you're so curious, all him yourself, he should be joining us shortly."

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Jorah frowned as he listened. "Do you have any contacts in King's Landing to find out what exactly he has up his sleeve? I had met his father, he was a very cunning man. I had heard that his bastard was a psychopath and his son was equally strategic. I don't trust anything he says at face value. I don't like the thought of attempting to spring the trap. We would have to be prepared on our ships. It is more dangerous for us. He will have something prepared to damage our ships." He said.

Tyrion held his hands up defensively. "My contacts have long since cut ties with me I'm afraid. They may provide information, but I cannot attest it's truth."

Daenerys sighed and lifted Daella to burp her. "We cannot let his invitation go ignoree." She said. "Unless - do we accept it without issuing a response? Do we dock farther north and march on the south?"

"Such a large fleet, someone might see and report to the king," Tyrion pointed out. "But it may catch him off guard."

"He's not the king," Daenerys reminded him sharply.

Jorah had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. "I do not think it wise to attempt a secret landing. If he discovers this, he will assume that we are declaring war and unleash his full military strength upon us. Even if we take him by surprise he could still destroy our ships and we could be stranded there with no way to retreat." He said as a concern.

Daenerys was more than a little frustrated. She looked to Jorah with ferocity in her eyes. "Then what do you suggest? That we accept his invitation and walk straight into his open arms?" That to her seemed foolish.

"If I may, we might send a small scouting party ahead?" Tyrion suggested. "A very small group, passing on a ship in disguise, who could go into King's Landing without being discovered and report back to ensure it's safe."

"That will take time," Daenerys pointed out. "Too much time, do we suppose?"

Jorah knew she was angry, but he noted that Tyrion seemed to agree that provoking Hannibal's anger would not be wise either. He did not like the idea of sending spies to Kings Landing either. "Why not send men to Bravos? There are plenty of traders there who speak of what is happening. That would be far closer and less risky. Sending spies into the city could antagonize them." He pointed out.

In his mind the Tyrell's were like a hornets nest. He did not want to strike the hive and get stung.

Tyrion's brows lifted and he nodded in agreement with Jorah. "A good idea, but you must take care who goes. The last thing we need is someone to hear we're sniffing around and send weird back to Westeros."

"Agreed," Daenerys nodded. "Who then should go? Tyrion is too conspicuous, everyone knows who he is. I certainly cannot go..." nor did she want Jorah to go.

Jorah nodded his agreement that who went was most important. Missendi stepped forward a bit and volunteered to go. Jorah looked at her and saw how Grey Worm seemed to grow more tense when she volunteered.

"Or you could just ask me." Said Varys as he stepped out of the shadows. "I must confess that I fled from King's Landing before the flayed man made his entrance. However, I do know of some of his secrets not mentioned in his letter. He has a dragon. I dare say his red dragon is the same size as your black one. He rides atop it and commands it using high Valeryn. His wife gave birth to two healthy twins, one boy and one girl. He used his dragon to fry the Twins and destroyed the entire Frey clan. I heard rumors that he won Riverrun and captured Jaime Lannister without firing a single arrow." He said before bowing low before Daenerys. "Your highness. I am afraid your counsellors are woefully underestimating your enemy."

Daenerys was startled by the Spider's entrance, but even more so by his news. Tyrion also stared in shock.

"A dragon?" She hissed.

"Alive? How could he have found one, much less tamed one??" Tyrion exclaimed.

Daenerys was suddenly overcome with fear. Who was this Hannibal Bolton?

Jorah had shifted close to his bride when Varys began to speak. He frowned and that frown deepened at this news. "I have seen how they are hatched. It is not possible." He said.

Varys gave a bow to Jorah as well. He had that simple smirk on his face that he usually had. "I heard he acquired his dragon as a gift from his bride. My little birds said that after he dragged his bastard brothers flayed carcass to Highgarden he tossed an egg into Wildfire. They said it immediately went to him and he began its training." He reported.

Daenerys looked to Jorah, mortified that someone else had found a way to hatch dragons. For all the trouble she'd had with hers, hatching and training them, even her control of Drogon was debatable. She looked to Varys with anger in those violet eyes.

"His bride. Margaery Tyrell, is it?" she hissed. "...how did she get a dragon?"

"The Tyrells have an immense sum of money at their disposal. Enough to rival even the Lannisters," Tyrion admitted sheepishly. "She likely bought it."

It was not unheard of. Daenerys' dragons had been purchased, after all. Daenerys was upset, but she kept her face calm, and only fell silent. She had such trouble with her dragons, and Hannibal Bolton had controlled his with ease...what was wrong with her?

Jorah rested a hand on her shoulder to give her a comforting squeeze. He knew she was doubting her self. "Hasn't he been training dire wolves since he was five?" He asked. If he had experience training deadly animals like dire wolves it would be considerably easier for him to train dragons.

Varys nodded. "He has indeed. He breeds and trains them from their birth still." He said.

All the same, it was little comfort to Daenerys. The dragon was her sigil, she should have more power and control over them than any other. Yet there was a man of the North in Westeros who had better control of his dragons than she. It was humiliating. She would discuss it with Jorah later - she would not show weakness to her council.

"...how then shall we proceed, Lord Varys?" she was curious his thoughts on the matter.

Jorah knew they would discuss this in private. He was rapidly thinking of how he would comfort her.

Varys nodded when she asked her question. "I suggest accepting his offer. Taking half of your troops and leaving orders to the remaining half to anchor halfway to Kings Landing. Send a raven to them when you are ready for them to come in and clear out the harbor to secure your back defenses." He suggested. "And entering under positive terms would be easier to gain access inside to discover what he has up his sleeve."

Daenerys didn't like the idea of submitting and accepting Hannibal's offer. Something was wrong with this whole thing. She needed more facts. But unfortunately, she hadn't the time to gather them.

"You don't think that's unnecessarily risky?" Tyrion asked Varys.

"We have no other choice," Daenerys finally admitted with a soft sigh. "We'll accept his offer then."

Jorah frowned, he didn't like this idea at all. It felt far too much like a trap they were walking into. "How certain are you Varys that he doesn't intend to outright kill us if we arrive unarmed?" He asked. He did not like the fact that his wife and young daughter would be in so much danger.

Varys bowed his head lowly. "I do not, but he is far too clever a man to do all of this simply to kill. Perhaps here is something that troubles him and he needs our aide. Most powerful men are hiding behind their power to not prick their pride and ask for aide."

"He's not wrong about that," Tyrion nodded. "Hannibal Bolton is a clever man, as was his father before him." He had heard rumor tell of the Faceless Men in Braavos being descended from the Bolton line. "A simple death trap isn't his style - that was his bastard half-brother's scheme.

"Furthermore, I am told that his wife is a patient and kind woman," Tyrion continued. "The Lady Margaery may find a kinship with you, your Majesty, in that you are both young mothers. She may persuade her husband to be merciful."

"And it is then that we would strike," Daenerys growled. She was not about to accept mercy from another usurper.

Her council nodded in agreement. Jorah looked to her, "Shall we send our reply now? If so, we should retire afterwards." He pointed out. He did not desire to continue these public discussions. He needed a private word with his wife.

Daenerys nodded and looked to Missandei. "Send word back to Westeros. We will be accepting his offer." With the order given, Daenerys rose, holding a sidelong Daella, and excused herself. She moved to their sleeping chambers with Jorah so that they could speak in peace.

Jorah nodded as he quickly moved to escort his wife and daughter into their private chambers. Once the doors were shut, he put his arms around her to hold her close. He said nothing, he just held her tight to his body to comfort her.

When they were alone, Daenerys leaned into Jorah and let him hold her. It was Daella who cried out sharply when Jorah's embrace caused her to be pinned between her parents. Daenerys moved back and have Daella some space. "Dragons...he controls dragons...she whimpered. "I had thought...I had thought I was special..."

Jorah shifted so that he could still hold her close without pressing to much around Daella. He kissed her forehead tenderly. "He did not walk through fire to hatch it, nor did he stay by its side as it hatched. You are special. He is not blood of the dragon." He insisted. He looked deep into her eyes, "You are blood of the dragon....do not be intimidated by a man who has trained deadly animals as a hobby. He was lucky to come across an egg." He said as a way to comfort her.

Daenerys was comforted by his words but clearly she was still upset. She cuddled their daughter closer and looked up to him. "Am I making the right choice? I do not want to put out daughter in danger..."

Jorah considered her question for a moment before answering. "To return to Westeros will be dangerous no matter what. The crossing itself could prove more dangerous than what awaits us there." He pointed out. He looked deep within those perfect violet eyes. "I swear that I will keep the pair of you safe. No matter what happens while we are there." He said.

Daenerys suddenly felt guilty. She sighed and leaned into him, resting her head upon his shoulder. "Should I not risk it? Should I stay and protect the safety of my subjects?"

But she had fought for her throne for so long...she couldn't give up now...

Jorah kissed her tenderly. "I will not make the choice for you. However, it is an option for you to still take. Even if we go there it is an option to return." He said softly. He wanted her to know that he would support whatever decision she made.

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