[For Jorah/Hannibal] Homecoming

[tyrelltempest]

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."

Comments

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal listened and gave a single clap as he chuckled in amusement. "It would seem the young captain had left quite an impression on you both. Lady Greyjoy is not the fairest maid in the seven Kingdoms, I wonder if that is what your difficulty with the notion is Ser Jorah." He said in a more pointed attack to send some of Danaerys anger upon her husband. Likely for a thought that had never crossed his mind.

[motheroftitles]

Rhys shot up when Jorah insulted his mother, but the laugh from his father and the sharp look from Margaery made hime sit back down.

Daenerys tilted a brow and glared at Hannibal. "And just what is that supposed to mean?" She demanded.

Her eyes furtively glanced to Jorah for some sign or movement that would confirm or deny Hannibal's accusation.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery appreciated her son wanting to defend her. But she smiled in approval as he sat back down.

"Isn't it obvious dear?" Margaery tilted her head a bit. "He means that if Yara Greyjoy were a great beauty, the idea of you sleeping with her would not bother him so much. But because she is not a fair lady, he does not find the idea arousing."

"That's not it at all!" Daenerys snapped.

[bearinshiningarmor]

Jorah usually prided himself on not reacting too quickly, but to consider what might occur should he react. Unfortunately, he was hesitating in a way that would make him appear guilty for just a moment before he answered. "I have never had such thoughts, nor will I ever." He said defensively.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal chuckled in amusement when Jorah made it so easy. "Perhaps it was a thought with Lady Greyjoy, but you lack the spine to say it." He taunted.

[motheroftitles]

Whether it was true or not, Daenerys was not about to sit around. She stood up, rage in her eyes. "I will not sit here and let you attack my husband's character. We are leaving. Now." She snapped.

Daenerys nearly knocked her chair over in her rage and turned on her heel to leave.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery scoffed as Daenerys stood and began to walk away with her child in her arms. "Where to, if I may ask? Back to the ship that brought you here, back to Yara Greyjoy?"

That stopped Daenerys dead in her tracks. She handed Daella to Missandei and turned to approach the table again. Those violet eyes almost glowed in rage.

"You know, it's almost as if Cersei Lannister never left this hall, Lady Margaery," Daenerys sneered. The brunette was acting just like the Lannister witch.

That remark wiped the smile clean off Margaery's face. Rage and tension filled the room immediately.

[bearinshiningarmor]

Jorah had stood to follow her out. He heard that last barn and knew what was coming. He turned to watch and was wary do their surroundings once more. He was worried about the safety of both his wife and his daughter. Margaery had gone too far with that comment.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal's face darkened when Danaerys made that little quip. "Children, take your brother to the shooting gallery and practice your knife techniques." He said in Valeryian.

If Margaery was not with child, he would not have interfere. However, he did not want their child to be out in danger. Once the children had left the room, he leveled a stern look at Danaerys. "That whore tore the seven kingdoms apart with her incest and bastard children. I almost wished she wasn't so easy to break so that I could have tortured her for a full year before she died. I guess he people fucked her and her brother half to death after all before I flayed them alive. You will apologize to my wife for even insinuating she is similar to that whore. Her comment was a farce that if there were no truth in it, would not have bothered you one bit. Your anger is entirely misplaced. You don't know how you feel about another woman showing interest in you, instead of handling it with maturity like a true ruler would, you lash out like a petulant child." He scolded.

His eyes were filled with intensity, but he remained in his seat. Any further aggression would not be met with any more leniency from him. His posture told Margaeru silently to hold her tongue. She was not to instigate things further.

[motheroftitles]

Daenerys paused for a moment after Hannibal spoke. Waiting for Jorah to defend her; to say that he was wrong and Margaery should apologize.

But no such word came. Daenerys glared slightly to Jorah. They would have words about this later. For now she shook her head and looked to Margaery.

"I apologize if you were offended by my anger," Daenerys gave a half-apology. "You offended me with your implications. That is something I cannot and will not tolerate."

She bit the inside of her cheek, she was so furious. Daenerys looked to Hannibal, unflinching from his intensity. "Satisfied?"

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery caught that look from Hannibal. And the intensity in Daenerys' gaze. She fully intended to fight. If she weren't pregnant, Margaery would have met her ferocity.

But she didn't want to risk their new baby. So she obeyed her husband and took a slow sip of her drink.

"Apology accepted. We all become subservient to our emotions, on occasion," it was a jab, but a soft one.

[bearinshiningarmor]

Jorah had frozen from the barrage of words. He was still processing how Hannibal had tortured the Lannister's and had missed that he had an opportunity to speak and defend his wife. He did not realize his missed opportunity until he spotted that glare. That was when he saw the trap that had been laid out. They had been invited to provoke a defensive reaction. They wanted them to show aggression and fly off into anger. That would only help solidify the distrust of the people. Perhaps they should have landed farther north and marched upon the city. This was feeling like they were getting locked into a path that would lead to further danger.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal smirked inwardly when he saw Jorah get into trouble for not defending her. His comment had distracted the tactician just long enough. This was working out beautifully. He expected to have his report from the North any moment now. He had warned Margaery beforehand and he wanted her to not show an ounce of fear or concern when the report was heard.

Just at that moment. The two remaining sand snakes entered the dining room. Both gave leering glances to both Jorah and Danaerys before moving before Hannibal and giving a courteous bow. Jorah could not stop his gaze from wandering for just one second. He hoped Danaerys hadnt seen that.

Hannibal again smirked inwardly knowing Jorah would get in trouble for that. He also gave a glance to Margaery to hold her tongue on stirring that flame. He then focused on the Sand Snakes. "I am glad to see that the two of you did not freeze atop the wall. What news do you have from the Lord Commander? Will he be able to re-open any of the forts with the additional men who volunteered to join?" He asked.

The Snad Snakes smirked, "We had no trouble staying warm in Castle Black. Quite a bit of good company there." The one without a hand said. He other was a bit more somber, "He can fully garrison the three in use and start men working on opening up two more with the extra men you sent. He would need twice that number to fully fill the wall with able bodied men."

The one with the missing hand began speaking again. "We saw some of what is feared. If the fraction that we saw is how aggressive these creatures are...it will take every warrior to strike down those creatures and secure the wall. I certainly hope your dragon's have been reserving their fire." She said.

[motheroftitles]

Daenerys cast a shocked glare at Jorah when he looked to one of the Sand Snakes. Very slowly her head turned back to face Hannibal and Margaery. Carefully she listened to the information reported by the women, and tilted her head when they mentioned creatures beyond the Wall.

"What lies beyond the Wall?" She asked. "What terrifies the Lord Commander so that he needs more men to guard the desolate iceland?"

She didn't like the smirk on Margaery's face when she asked that. Daenerys refused to look at Jorah after that.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery caught Hannibal's look and again remained silent. She reached out to take Hannibal's hand, rubbing it in Daenerys' face that her husband wouldn't dream of looking at another woman in the presence of his wife.

She listened to the report and paled slightly. Margaery feared the beasts beyond the Wall. She feared for her children and what these creatures might do if they ventured further south. For once in their conversation, Margaery looked up to Daenerys and answered seriously.

"White Walkers. Other Beasts. Things that could bring about the ruin of our people," she replied.

[bearinshiningarmor]

Jorah knew immediately that he was in serious trouble after that glare. He ducked his head slightly and began thinking on how he would apologize to her so that she would at least allow him to sleep on the floor near her. He had no hope for her forgiving him enough to allow him to share the bed with her for at least a week.

However, he did hear the report and his head snapped up quickly. "White walkers?" He asked with concern. The sand snakes turned and gave him a brief glance.

The one with a missing hand chuckled. "Ah, the coward exile knows about the white walkers? Very good, why don't you take your little girl here and go back where you came from. Only true warriors will stay to fight the army of ice and dead to defend their homes and families." She said.

Jorah stood a bit taller when she prodded at the large age gap between him and Danaerys. Missendi and Grey Worm were quite a few steps away holding Daella. "She is my wife, and I am not a coward." He said.

The Sand snakes laughed, "Your wife? A wife as pretty as that and you still stared at our asses when we walked by? You must be a perverted old fuck to be so greedy."

Jorah's face flushed Crimson with anger at her words. However, he had no comeback for that without sounding like more of a fool. His eyes showed anger and hate.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal listened to the report and enjoyed the banter the Sand Snakes were instructed to begin if the opportunity presented itself. "Do not overstep yourself in insulting my distant family." He warned with a low rumble in his voice. The sand snake bowed her head and quickly apologized to Hannibal for causing any offense.

He brushed his fingers over his short beard thoughtfully. "We're any of the weapons Insent with you effective in killing the creatures?" He asked.

They nodded, "About half of them were effective. The best method is to burn them. The problem is that they are already dead, so they don't stop until the flames consume them entirely. Wildfire would be quicker, but it is not stable." She said.

Hannibal frowned slightly at that report. "Are you suggesting we burn everything North of the wall until nothing is left?" He asked.

[motheroftitles]

Daenerys reeled for a few minutes, angry at the banter with Jorah. For a moment, she let herself get distracted. How could he betray her this way? How could his eye wandered after he had confessed his undying love for her? Were the women of Westeros truly so lovely that he preferred any of them over the women of Essos?

She listened then as the Sand Snakes gave details of the attack. She nodded slowly as she formed a plan.

"You can't use Wildfire. Everyone would die. It should never have been created in the first place," Daenerys said. "My dragons could roast am army of White Walkers. They would be unable to move in the inferno of flames. I take it you did not take a dragon with you?"

Of course they shook their heads.

"If fire hurts them, dragon fire will utterly destroy them," Daenerys concluded.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery glanced to Hannibal and considered Daenerys' words. Of course they had thought of using the dragons on the White Walkers.

"You seem so sure of that even when you haven't seen them or how they fight," Margaery pointed out. "They may have some defense against fire that we do not yet know about."

But already she was planning in her head, and cast a glance to Hannibal to silently convey to him that she had an idea.

[bearinshiningarmor]

Jorah was saddened when Danaerys did not rise up to his defense when he was attacked. He supposed he deserved it, but he still began to slouch slightly as he began to realize exactly how much trouble he was in.

He listened as they discussed how to battle white walkers. "Dragonfire would be safer. Then the fighters would not need to get so close." He said.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal saw the glance from Margaery. He gave a slight nod. "We had considered that yes, but at the same time there are so many, that Infear eve four dragons is not enough. I do not fear an immunity on their art. Otherwise the men at the wall would all be dead from attacks." He said before turning to Margaery. "Have you found something while you were recently staying inside?" He asked her.

[motheroftitles]

Daenerys would have defended him, but he had not given her the same courtesy. She felt guilty, but he had hurt her. She couldn't just let that slide.

She focused on Margaery when Hannibal addressed her, curious of the woman's apparent plan.

[tyrelltempest]

Margaery gave a stiff nod, having hoped to convey her plan to Hannibal in private. But perhaps he intended to use the opportunity to win Daenerys' trust.

"Corral them," she replied. "Drive the White Walkers into a trap that they can't escape- a pit of stone, perhaps, and have our dragons perch over them and roast them from above. No only would they burn, but the heat of the stone surrounding them would bake them alive...or...dead, rather."

She looked for a response from Hannibal, but Daenerys seemed happy with the idea.

[bearinshiningarmor]

Jorah listened to the plan and raised an eyebrow slowly. "Could a trap of that magnitude be hidden well enough? Even a creature with no intelligence would know not to walk into a hole." He said.

[notavegetarian]

Hannibal's eyes shine with pride at her suggestion. A tunnel could be dug starting from below the edge of the wall. The earth can be dug up deep and wide beyond the wall, but under the snow and ice. Men could build what would look like additional defensive equipment around the gate just above what will be dug below. Stones could be placed along with pieces of sharp metal around the floor. Once the hole is deep enough and prepared, men can post themselves in the safety behind the barrier to lure the creatures closer. Once the hoards of creatures begin their attack, we can use explosives to destroy the supports beneath the ground and open the trap. That is when the dragons can begin roasting the creatures." He looked to the sand snakes. "Did they have any weapons? Nor was their touch alone, along with their speed enough to kill?"