Chapter Text
Nine Years Later
The sun was high and well past noon although only a few rays reached the throne at the end of the hall, all the better to cast the man upon it in slight shadow, to guard expression and encourage a touch of unease. Hannibal had found himself distracted since he had risen and for the first time in many years feeling he was short of sleep. With the traces of his mate’s scent all but gone from the rooms they shared the empty ache that had plagued him for weeks was only made worse, a weakness that frustrated him to no end, and found himself drifting to the omega how had been his bonded mate for almost ten years (and all but owned his heart for years before that). None of this showed in his exterior.
“A legal marriage.”
It seemed far too many of his days lately were spent in the drudgery of court, delegations and petitions, doubled now as many day to day duties had for a time been taken by his mate. The visit of an old acquaintance, the Lady Du Maurier, had appeared as a pleasant change only now, standing before him be wondered if he could have heard her correctly. Beside him his young half brother Anthony inclined his head, smiling foolishly.
“You wish to remarry my lady? I can only congratulate you; it must have been challenging these past few months after you and your husband being…so happy,” he paused suggestively. “Together for so many years.”
“No, my lord,” she said, the clipped tone slight enough to not be overtly rude but only just. The alpha woman remained striking despite being some years his senior and he remembered in their youth she had been a force to be reckoned with, enraged when her father had sent her away to be married at the same time he was being taught to rule. She gestured behind her and a slim young woman stepped forward. Dressed in a version of one of the fashions becoming common among omegas, a gown reaching just below the calf with lightly embroidered splits up the sides worn over lacy stockings, but made of such a sheer material that each curve of her upper body was highlighted obscenely.
“My eldest daughter,” she said. “Now that you have set aside your mistress it is high time for a match worthy of your name.”
Silence hung for several minutes. Though still somewhat infamous for his past deeds, what was referred to in murmurs as his bout of madness, in world of city states almost constantly at odds trade and strong alliances were a requirement of the smaller regions.
The celebrated bastard laughed heartily and Hannibal had to fight the urge to join him at the look on his old friend’s face.
“I’m afraid you have been misinformed,” Hannibal said politely. “I do not have a mistress as I find my interests lie solely with my bonded mate. I have no need or desire to acquire other company, lovely though you are.” He addressed the last to the young woman who blushed furiously as he mother scowled at the way her words were twisted.
“I have saved my beloved Alana a long time for you Hannibal,” she went on as if discussing nothing more dangerous than the weather. “Talented, obedient and a far greater than you could wish to find elsewhere. Not to mention fertile.”
Hannibal thought he saw a flash of anger cross the girl’s face but so fast he did not believe he had seen it. Looking at her more closely he could admit that she was beautiful but older than he had taken her for, early thirties perhaps and a few years older than his mate. To be kept unmated so long for a poorly planed political manoeuvre… It was crueler than he would have expected of Bedelia.
“You overstep yourself Bedelia,” he said coldly. “Nonetheless I hope you will both remain as guests as it has been far to long.”
“So gracious, my lord,” Bedelia said, smiling again. She turned, taking her leave without dismissal and taking her daughter with her. Hannibal waited until the doors had closed, leaving him alone with Antony before pushing to his feet with a growl.
“This is your own fault you know,” the younger alpha said.
“How do you make that?” Hannibal growled. He had barely killed anyone in the last seven years, having only been driven to the point of desperately needing to a few months earlier.
“Give him another child to fuss over,” Anthony said, waving a hand dismissively. “All that omega needs is to be reassured that you haven’t lost interest. Hannibal, after everything that’s happened in the last year… and you blamed him and locked him away when he didn’t get over losing a baby as fast as you did then wonder why people believe he’s out of favour and you are looking for a new wife.”
That may not be so simple
Hannibal didn’t answer. Too many rumours had been circulating concerning Will of late from his common birth to questions of his fidelity (“been a prostitute half his life, I heard”) and Hannibal knew his own actions, both in shunning Will after he could not get over his grief and later in attempts to bring him back to his side that had cost them so dearly.
It made no sense. Will had previously undergone two uncomplicated pregnancies with their sixteen year old daughter and the twins who had followed two years later not showing any ill effects but the third had proved harder than expected of a still young and apparently healthy omega. Twice in less than three years not long after his belly had started to swell he’d begun to bleed heavily and lost the child. By any rights, Will should not have entered heat again as soon as he had after the second miscarriage, mere weeks later before his body had recovered completely from the ordeal. Hannibal knew he bore some blame for not being reasonable, shown self control and taken measures to prevent his omega from getting pregnant yet again but Will had been so desperate for another and he to make his mate happy again.
He had mourned all the loses, the miscarriages and the poor child later that had almost taken Will from him too.
Of course it remained a fact in the public eye that they were at odds as Will had left their home months ago and retreated to the cottage the alpha had built him before the birth of their first child.
He had been beyond words, beyond rational thought and the control he valued so much.The bruises left on the omega’s wrists spoke louder than any accusation. Will had begged him to stop and he hadn’t…
“Tell me Anthony, why must you speak when you have nothing to say.”
Hannibal considered what more he could say as he trekked across the grounds after leaving Antony, oblivious to the beauty around him determined again to reason with his mate. He did not want to take stock in Antony’s words but could not reject them out of hand. His relationship with his half brother had often been complicated even if Anthony expressed little ambition. Still it had been at the behest of his mother that he try to care for the other alpha, one of the few bastards his father acknowledged for reasons known only to him. In recent years the stronger cause for dislike towards Antony had been the familiarity the man took with his mate and Hannibal endeavoured to never leave Will alone with him even if the omega had never expressed more than required politeness.
Omegas were for the most creatures ruled by instinct, delicate, easy to manipulate and if given the chance prone to slutish behaviour
Hannibal drew up mid-step shocked at the thought and, shamefully something he had once believed. Will had forced him to see the exception to so many of his preconceived notions based heavily, more so than he would care to admit on the flighty and scandalous behaviour of the omega his father had forced on him.
The omega handled himself admirably at court with intelligence that surpassed almost all he interacted with but the life didn’t truly suit him. His own life had been one of responsibility and privilege and he he aches to know that Will had spent most of his life unsure of his future, subjected to indecency to survive. Although born a commoner Will knew too well the challenges many people in their care faced but never allowed his rational mind to be compromised with quick schemes or reckless kindness, his quiet and unofficial counsellor and voice of reason. Hannibal truly was fortunate in his mate and found himself thinking again of how easily he could have missed that if his beautiful little mate had not been so clever.
Will had done more for him and their people than most would ever know.
He reached the cottage, a quaint tiny building bordered by trees, had been empty for some years although maintained as all residences were if needed. Will sat underneath one of the sweeping willow trees cast in a shadow from the swaying curtain, eyes half closed. Unwittingly Hannibal recalled another image from beneath the same tree; Will’s smile as he watched their young daughter play alongside his maidservant’s son, his petite frame almost dwarfed by his belly, swollen almost fully with their unborn sons.
Hannibal slowed his pace as he watched his mate, admiring how the sunlight cast gold streaks though dark curls, clear blue eyes and full lips, down to the how the fine material and fitted lines of his clothing highlighting his slim form. For the first few months he had not questioned the simple clothing Will had chosen, happy not to waste finery even if he was surprised that an omega would no anything other than seek the finest garments and jewels only to quickly be distracted by something else.
No, Will was nothing like that vapid creature
The new style, a well fitted gown reaching to the ankles but on either side spilt up to the knee to reveal thin, lightly muscled and stockinged legs became Will quite nicely although he expected he would find his omega enticing in any garment.
The omega truely was beautiful and he only wished he had better news to discuss. He realised with some surprise that Will was not alone. He recognised the woman lying on the grass beside him, the one handmaid Will had maintained through the years (with no qualms about her illegitimate son), and scowled as he recognised the young guard leaning against the trunk.
“Leave us.”
The maid stood but the young man hesitated and looked ready to argue the point. Hannibal stepped forward glaring furiously at the insolence.
“It’s alright Mathew,” Will said calmly, his gaze directed to the surface of the lake rather than either alpha. “Please…”
After another moment of hesitation the young man obeyed but not without throwing an outright glare at Hannibal as his hand closed over the hilt of the sword he carried. Beyond indecent. If he had not cared for upsetting his mate further he would have had the man whipped or worse.
“My lord.” Will turned his pale face up as he greeted the alpha for a moment before returning to the water, soft and always calm.
For a moment he remembered Will as he had first seen him. Trussed up in ceremonial garments and jewels, pretty young face an appropriate mix of wonder and fear as he was presented to his king and future alpha for approval. Even if he had not noted much at the time about the newest toy at that point he did not miss his eyes; the clear, dark blue that showed just enough defiance and intelligence to betray the submissive facade he was portraying. A blink however and this was gone.
Had it really been more than ten years since that day?
“We are alone now my love,” Hannibal said. “You may use my name.”
“Say what you come to say, and then leave.”
Hannibal suppressed a flinch at the coldness in Will’s voice but moved closer to sit beside him on the grass. Will was no less beautiful now as he had been then at barely eighteen. Feeling clumsy and foolish as he realised he had not spoken for several seconds Hannibal struggled to form a rebuttal.
“You are not safe here,” he blurted out, embarrassed as Will glanced sideways at him. Colour was beginning to show in his cheeks at the flippant way the omega was acting, now feeling both embarrassed and frustrated.
After Will had repeatedly refused his summons over the past few months Hannibal had been tempted more than once to have him forcefully removed or simply walk down, sling the disobedient omega over his shoulder and carry him back to the manor himself. Still he had refrained expecting Will to give in by his own accord but made sure to post extra guards around the little house both to guard and report back on him. Now he realised that apart from the one Will had been so happily talking to they were alone.
“You have left enough soldiers to keep anyone from approaching unawares and to keep me from leaving,” Will replied still sounding as if this information did not concern him very much.
“And where are they?”
Will shrugged.
“You have not been yourself of late,” he said trying another tact. “I know you would never by choice...”
The omega chuckled darkly, stretching out his legs. Hannibal followed the movement unconsciously, admiring the slim calf as the split side of his gown was drawn up to the omega’s stocking clad knee.
“Is that it,” Will said calmly though the coldness snapped Hannibal back to attention. “Have I failed you in some way? As it is, it seems I am to be absent from discussion while my future and children’s are decided so why would I not wish to avoid being burdened by your presence or you by mine.”
“Will please. You have been sequestered these past weeks by your choice,” Hannibal protested thoughts already regretting the choice of words. “In light of your recent…incident…there are new rumours,” Hannibal began. “Questioning why a royal spouse would require a private retreat of their own particularly during their heat cycles unless salacious acts were occurring. And with your actions lately and refusing aid during your heat...”
“Is that what you are here to ask?” Will whispered, fury dancing evident in his dark blue eyes. The alpha looked at him imploringly.
“I would never insult you by asking that, though the company you keep…” Hannibal interrupted himself. “but to suffer heat alone without just cause-”
“No. You have actively worked to humiliate me in the past but how dare you suggest…”
“Now Will-”
“‘A weak-minded creature with no purpose beyond breeding like all of your kind and now not even good for that’,” Will said quietly. His own words replayed uncomfortably in Hannibal’s head as he had snarled them as Will continued almost blandly. “Shrinking from your duties and the children you already have. Perhaps life in a whorehouse would suit you better.”
Hannibal flinched as the words were thrown back in his face. He had for a long time held no illusions about his own actions or regret but looking on how he had treated Will he was disgusted with himself.
“Will, those were words spoken in anger, the loss we were both feeling and I was not in control of my grief-"
“I see the way you’ve changed. You are cruel, without any valid reason and beyond measure. You spent three years butchering innocent women and omegas for the crime of a single person. That is the logic of a child not a man. I pity you,” Will said coldly. “Do as you please, my lord, as you have always but do not insult me further with your so called regret.”