Beyond Time (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"Is he friendly?" Gabriel asked before touching Pike.

"Very. Jus' real serious an' quiet. But once y'get 'im runnin' around, 'e's pretty energetic," Barclay assured him and Gabriel finally stroked the dog's ears. He enjoyed the attention but he wasn't quite as silly as Caer had been. Gabriel liked him anyway and nodded his approval.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I want this one!" Elise said in a fit of giggles, the smallest puppy of the little wagging her tail and licking Elise's face as quickly as she could.

The little girl and the puppy were almost perfectly matched and Dylan laughed at the little scene. Seamus yawned against her shoulder, his dark eyes opening as he started to wake. She glanced down at her nephew, giving him a gentle smile.

"You're missing the puppies, love." Dylan murmured as Seamus seemed simply content to rest against her shoulder.

 

[KieranSoares]

"None o' the pups 'ave names yet. What days want t'call 'er, lass?" Barclay asked with a smile while Seamus only glanced at the puppies before settling against Dylandra again, too dozy to care.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Sarnai." Elise said after a long moment of silence as she considered the puppy in her arms. "Da will like that name. It means rose in Mongolian."

Elise was just like her siblings, completely in love with a country that they had visited many times in the past. She had been born in Mongolia and honored by the tribe of Arslan as one of them because of it. The khan still sent her beautiful gifts regularly and Gabriel always ended up with a new knife or weapon.

 

[KieranSoares]

"She's all yours, lass," Barclay smiled. "Pike too. I've got collars fer both." He welcomed them all outside after giving Pike and Sarnai a last moment with their family, and he fetched their collars. Ashien paid him for the two and they were now members of the Ghis family free and clear.

 

[heartofcourage]

Elise was over the moon as she finally got to walk with her puppy. Sarnai was toddling along beside her father, pausing a few times to sniff at something new in the road before she dashed after him. Elise stopped every so often to pet the puppy, hugging her a time or two. Dylandra smiled as she watched over her niece and nephews, knowing that the outing had been good for Ashien as well. As they walked, she took his hand, holding it tightly as Seamus continued to rest against her shoulder.

"How about we stop for some treats before we go back to the keep?" Dylan asked, instantly getting approval from Elise.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Not too much," Gabriel reminded Elise, ever the responsible one when his parents weren't there. Pike followed close, stopping occasionally to redirect Sarnai when she got distracted, and picking her up every so often when she tried to run off.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I was only going to get a sweet bun." Elise commented to her brother, giving him a slight glare as he reminded her not to get too greedy. "And something for Ma and Da. Seamus doesn't like sweets."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm just making sure you don't make yourself sick again like last time," Gabriel insisted, remembering the time she'd been left to her own devices around sweets and ended up with a stomachache.

"Alright you two," Ashien cut in with a chuckle.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan chuckled at the two children. Gabriel was the responsible one and Elise the excited little sister. Seamus was a cuddly little boy, especially as he was waking up from his nap. He was a sweet toddler and Dulan found herself enjoying the role of doting aunt.

Elise soon scooped up her puppy as the little dog grew tired, carrying her as they made their way to the market. She sensibly picked out a sweet roll for herself and two cookies for her Ma and Da. Seamus was completely uninterested in the things that the store had to hold and Dylan soon caught his attention with a selection of toys. When he seemed interested in a few carved farm figures, she bought them for him in an instant.

 

[KieranSoares]

Gabriel wasn't terribly interested in sweets, but he settled on a spiced bun for himself. Ashien paid for everything and they stepped out into the street just in time to catch Casso passing by. Dylandra had gotten a few chances to talk to him on their way to Inverness, and his claim to fame in the town was the rumor that it was he and Kreston who had captured Sarah Monaghan after they terrified her officers into surrender. He was also known for the amazing run he'd made to Aberdeen without stopping to get the Ghis that were hidden there.

"Ah, kosovo, tekar. Echeli," Casso said with a nod to them, leaning on his walking staff. He'd suffered an arrow to the thigh in the final battle but seemed no worse for wear. "And little tekar and echeli," he said with a smile to Gabriel and Elise.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan was still slightly unsure of herself around werefolk, but she was getting use to seeing them in the cities and interacting with people regularly. Elise didn't miss a beat as she showed Casso her new puppy.

"Uncle Ash bought me a puppy. I'm sharing her with my baby brother." She announced, fearless in the way that only a child could be. "Her name is Sarnai."

 

[KieranSoares]

Being Durban's children, Gabriel and Elise had never seen different folk as anything more than just other people. There were times on the road that they'd seen a hunting party of werewolves, panther merchants from the east, and a motley collection of human and werefolk mercenaries all in one day. And though Seamus was new to the interesting mix of people, he seemed entirely unbothered by Casso.

"Sarnai? This is Mongolian, kei?" Casso asked, ruffling the pup's fur fondly. "Your father will like this. And this one?" He asked, looking to the older hound.

"His name is Pike. He's going to help Da and me," Gabriel spoke up, his hand resting on the back of Pike's broad shoulders.

"Good hunting dog," Casso said with a nod before his gaze returned to Ashien. "You look better, tekar. Kosta lu shayvek ef humai amaia," he said with a motioning glance to Dylandra.

"Kei. Amaia jule am, gim eha amato," Ashien answered in the flowing, crisp language. They shared an embrace as proper brothers in arms, and Casso turned to take Dylandra's hand and kiss it.

"Kosta hume," he said simply before saying his farewells and continuing on his way.

 

[heartofcourage]

"It means rose!" Elise said with a proud grin on her face.

Dylan smiled as Ashien seemed at home with Casso. He was a charming man and she nodded towards him even as she didn't understand a single word that he said.

 

[KieranSoares]

As they went on their way, Ashien murmured to Dylandra, "He said thank you." He smiled gently to her, taking her free hand.

 

[heartofcourage]

"For what?" Dylan asked as she glanced towards her husband, Seamus examining his new toys in her other arm. "I haven't done anything."

 

[KieranSoares]

"For saving me," Ashien smiled, leaning in to kiss her before they continued. Pike was beginning to warm up to the children and constantly checked on Sarnai like a dutiful father.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan smiled as her husband kissed her gently before they continued on their way. She was happy that Ashien seemed to be settling, able to relax despite what he had been through so recently with the war and his injuries. She would forever be amazed with his strength.

As Elise saw her house come into view, she excitedly started to run with her puppy in her arms. She wanted to show her Ma and Da what they had gotten on their trip.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ashien watched her go with a smile, but then something caught his eye that wasn't quite right, and he hurried forward to catch Elise. "Hold on, love," he told her softly. Then Dylandra saw it too. A window was broken and the culprit, a dagger, was laying in the front walkway. "Wait here. Don't let them come in, love," he murmured, making sure Dylandra kept the children back while he made his way toward the door. He picked up the dagger and tucked it safely into his belt before knocking and stepping inside.

He found exactly what he'd feared- several pieces of furniture overturned but thankfully nothing broken beyond the window. After a loud crash from men unloading lumber nearby, a half-asleep Durban had suddenly and violently reacted as if he'd lost his mind. He had tried to find cover for his men that weren't there and himself against the barrage of cannonfire he was sure was coming. He'd hurled his long knife at his own reflection in the window in his panic. Marri had only just gotten him back into his right mind and he was laying on the floor with his hands over his face in shame and fear as Marri tried to comfort him.

"Durban," Ashien spoke softly, coming to kneel by his brother as the huge man who never cried tried to stifle terrified and painful sobs.

 

[heartofcourage]

Marri was incredibly shaken, but thankful that the children hadn't been home to watch their father fall apart. She had never seen him react the way that he had and it was obvious that wounds on his mind would take much longer to fade. Marri was shaking as Ashien entered the house, helping to cal his brother.

"He was startled." She murmured softly, looking at Ash as Durban cowered beside her on the floor. "Ban, it's alright. There's no need to be ashamed."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Let him hide for a while," Ashien told her. "Dylandra has the children outside. We'll take them to the keep." He reached down to lay a hand against Durban's forehead and Durban finally looked up at them with the fear and uncertainty of a child. "You just relax and come see what your little ones want to show you when you're ready."

 

[heartofcourage]

Marri said nothing but she hugged her husband as Ashien stood to leave them alone. She kissed Ban's cheek and murmured against his ear as she would if one of the children had a nightmare. It was like a nightmare that he might never grow out of, however.

Dylan entertained the children as best as she could. Elise was slightly upset, nervous as to why she wasn't allowed to go see her Da and Ma. She kept glancing towards the house as Dylan played with the puppy, engaging both she and Seamus.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ashien finally emerged to scoop Elise up. "Your Da needs a little rest, love. Why don't we go show Gran first and then your Ma and Da will come by when they're rested."

 

[heartofcourage]

Elise looked at her uncle and then back at the house before she nodded slowly. She knew that he wouldn't let her go to see her Ma and Da even if she asked. She wrapped her arms around Ashien's neck, suddenly very subdued.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I promise it's okay, love," Ashien murmured. "He just needs a little time." Even little Elise knew what that was code for. Durban hadn't been the same since he'd gone to fight. None of those who'd gone were the same. Even Ashien was quieter, slower. And she hadn't seen her Uncle Brogan at all.

They arrived at the keep to find the evening meal being laid out, and Ashien let the children go to Kitty with their hounds while he found a quiet side table with Dylandra. He wasn't too keen on the crowd, diminished as it was at the moment.