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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Hannibal looked to her in surprise. "Reina will be disappointed. She has been wanting to ride with her Mimi on her horse." He teased. He knew she had not ridden a horse in a long time. He knew she would ride in the carriage and Margaery would consider it in her condition.

Olenna laughed. "It has been many years since I've ridden a horse. I don't think my old bones could take it. I will break the news to my Reina. She will understand, she's a good girl."

Margaery nodded in agreement. "Perhaps Reina will ride with us, grandmother. Back from the hunt of course."

Hannibal chuckled in amusement. "It is settled then." He said.

***

The next day started off well. Everything was in place for their picnic and the children were excited to hunt and eat what they killed.

They rode and Hannibal called a halt. Margaery joined him on his mount as Olenna fussed over the servants setting up camp. He took the children and Margaery into the woods to find their meal.

They had left young Aenar sleeping in her arms.

For the majority of the journey, Margaery rode in the carriage with Olenna. But when they arrived and Olenna supervised the camp setup, Margaery carefully climbed into the saddle with Hannibal. She rode sidesaddle, hoping to keep the pressure off her abdomen, not that she was showing yet. But still, she didn't want to risk it.

Aenar was cuddled in her arms, his face buried into his mother's breast.

Margaery kissed over his head and leaned into Hannibal as they rode out into the woods. Reina and Rhys were vigilant, arrows notched as they listened and looked. Waiting for prey.

"They're so attentive," she whispered to Hannibal.

Hannibal nodded with a smile. "Indeed they are. They have been training very well indeed." He said with pride. He that they had caught onto the trail of a herd of deer. He kissed her temple tenderly. "They have begun their tracking. We will see how close we are to the herd." He said.

Margaery nodded and smiled, cuddling in close to him. She kissed along his jaw. The twins went farther ahead, Rhys pointing out tracks while Reina spied broken brush where the deer had run. The deer weren't far. Rhys pulled out a small horn that mimicked the call of a buck, and blew into it.

Hannibal watched with pride as his children worked diligently to lure the stupid deer closer. He was very proud as he watched his son expertly mimic the sound of a male buck. He was even prouder of the fact that it was an exact replica of a male challenging another male. He was curious which creature would answer the challenge. He guided Margaery to stand beside his horse on the ground. He pulled out his bow and had an arrow notched as well. Natural predators could also be drawn in by these calls. He wanted to be certain his children were safe. Vhagar and the other dragons were close by, but it would take at least thirty seconds for them to be here. Hannibal did not sense danger, but he was prepared just in case.

Margaery followed as Hannibal guided her to stand beside the horse. She watched carefully, Aenar was startled and awakened by the sound of the call his brother made, but he didn't cry. He just looked up at his mother with wide eyes.

Sure enough, a large, 12-point buck approached, answering the call Rhys had issued. The twins didn't hesitate, they'd been taught better than that. Rhys fired, striking the creature in the shoulder - Reina fired, striking the creature in the eye.

Margaery's eyes lit as they made the first kill of the hunt. She bounced excitedly and grinned madly.

Hannibal smiled proudly when they expertly brought down the buck. "Tie it off and let's get it back to camp." He said.

He scanned the area until the buck was secured to the extra horse and they began to ride back towards the camp.

As the twins tied off and secured the buck, there came a slight rustling in the bushes. Rhys paused, Reina continued her work. Then suddenly, a great badger leapt out at her, teeth gnashing and claws ready. Rhys acted quickly and threw a dagger at the beast, hitting it in the head before it could get to Reina.

Margaery had cried out in terror, but when Rhys moved so quickly, she grinned and threw an arm around him, holding Aenar with the other. "Oh my darling, such a good protector for your sister!" She exclaimed.

Hannibal was just about to fire his arrow when Rhys killed the creature with his knife. He nodded his approval. "Well done my son. Why don't you skin that and make a nice hat out of it?" He asked as Rhys began to tie the badger down on his own horse before hey all mounted up again.

They rode back to camp without any further problems. Hey returned to find everything in ride and ready to butcher the catches of the day.

Rhys beamed with pride, happy for the praise, but more so happy that he had protected Reina. He secured the badger and mounted up when they were ready to move on. Reina was a little shaken, but she pushed through it, happy that her brother had protected her.

Olenna glanced up when she heard them return. She saw the buck and smiled to Hannibal. "A fine catch. I see we won't be going hungry."

"We caught it, Mimi!" Reina exclaimed.

"Gods be good!" Olenna was surprised, but not shocked. "Well done then! Both of you, and a badger too, yet!"

Olenna silently thanked the gods - the children knew how to hunt, and she knew Hannibal had taught them. She knew he would stop at nothing to protect Margaery. For the first time in decades, Olenna felt she could relax, that there were no true enemies anymore that could threaten her Margaery.

Hannibal smiled and gave a courteous nod at her praise. "Indeed he gods are good. He children have trained well. I have no doubt that once they are full grown they will be able to hunt anything in the seven kingdoms." He said. He looked to his children with pride, but especially young Reina.

He watched as the two of them set to work on skinning the deer. He looked to both Olenna and Margaery. "It is far too soon yet, but it will be quite difficult for us to match Reina when she comes of age. Unless the boys will bend and obey her commands, it will be very difficult for them." He pointed out. He saw Reina growing more confident every day. He knew that one day they would both likely test his authority. That would be a true test on how obedient they are.

Reina and Rhys were both happy at the praise, and eagerly took to skinning their kills. When Hannibal brought up a match for Reina, Margaery pursed her lips in thought.

"You are right," she admitted. "She's much like me, independent and strong."

"But you were taught to be compliant and timid when the situation demanded," Olenna pointed out. "Reina has no need of that, she's a princess."

Margaery nodded, taking no offense in the words. It was a fact, she had been bred and groomed to be a queen at whatever cost. She had been meant to be molded to whatever situation necessary to make her queen. It was only her good fortune that she had been betrothed to a man who had admired her true personality.

"Likely she will need a Northman," Olenna pointed out with a smirk.

"Indeed. They're not afraid of strong women," Margaery winked at Hannibal.

Hannibal chuckled softly at that. "That is true, a Dornishman would also be respectful of her strength and independence. We will need to keep our eyes open for options. Our sons will be easier. We can wait for a few new young ladies to be born for them." He said. It was more difficult if the woman was older than the man.

Olenna scoffed. "The men of Dorne are unruly and promiscuous. If she married a Dornishman he would never be faithful to her. She deserves better."

"But, as we said, it is far too early to discuss such things." Margaery pointed out. "We have much to celebrate now anyway."

"Good food and good wine, I quite agree," Olenna laughed.

Hannibal chuckled and nodded in agreement. "It is just something to think about. However, yes. Let us enjoy the good food and drink." He said in agreement.

Margaery smiled and the three of them retired to a set of portable chairs that had been brought for the hunt. A servant set out pastries and mint tea Margaery had been craving, as well as fine cheese and wine.

The twins finished skinning their kills and washed up to join the adults. Margaery smiled as the pair sat beside them.

"So then, what do we think the new baby will be?" She chuckled.

"A brother!" Rhys proclaimed.

"No! A sister!" Reina protested.

"Another girl would be a welcome change," Olenna replied, reaching out to hold Aenar, which Margaery handed him over happily.

Hannibal smiled and chuckled at the banter. "I think it will be another Princess." He said. He had noted that her belly was growing differently than when she carried Aenar. He woul keep that observation to himself.

Margaery had only just started showing her pregnancy. Her belly was barely swelling, but it was lower than Aenar had been.

"Be prepared children," Olenna warned. "Your mother is not the most gracious of expectant mothers."

"Everyone deals with carrying children differently, grandmother," Margaery rolled her eyes. "What shall we call her if she is a girl?" She posed the question to the twins and to Hannibal.

Reina piped up quickly, "Elaena!" She said.

Hannibal chuckled in amusement. He was proud that she was studying her history so well.

Margaery smiled and kissed the top of Reina's head. "Elaena. Very pretty my darling! Have you been reading about your ancestry?"

"Yes Mama," Reina grinned. Very pleased with herself.

"Very well, and if it's a boy?" Margaery asked again.

Rhys smiled before getting up to hug his mother. "We should call him Loras." He said. He had heard his mother speaking of her brother a few times. He had not asked about it, but in his studies he had learned the name and listened more carefully to conversations.

Hannibal pat his son on the back. He was proud of his son being so sweet towards his family. It was a trait he would be certain his son only reserved for family.

Margaery froze when Rhys suggested the name. She and Olenna exchanged looks, the older woman gave a sad smile before taking a generous swig of her wine. Tears formed in Margaery's eyes, for a moment she was forced to remember how Loras had died. She pulled Rhys close and hugged him tight.

"Loras, yes my little love. You're absolutely right," she agreed. "Loras, if it's a brother. Elaena if it's a girl."

She glanced to Hannibal, tears still in her eyes.

Hannibal slipped his arm around Margaery to hold her close. "What had happened to Loras was terrible and should never have occurred. He knew that she missed her brother terribly. It seemed fitting to honor him by naming a son after him, if it was a boy.

He kissed Margaery's temple tenderly.

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