Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"You look jus' fine," he muttered, his arms draping around her. He laid his head against her shoulder and took a deep breath, feeling at least a little more grounded.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Even in the darkness, I will be there for you, Sam." Fiona said softly as he wrapped his arms around her as well. "Even if we don't end up together in the end, I will love you and protect you as long as I'm able."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam slowly took her hands, welcoming her to follow him out to where Kennah was waiting in her usual tack. She looked over as they approached, seemingly pleased with Sam's current state.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm glad that Roman is a good father as much as we leave him alone with Elin." Fiona said as she pulled herself into Kennah's saddle, waiting for Sam to mount behind her.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I was goin' t'bring him, but Elin was curled up on 'is back an' I didn' want t'move 'er," Sam murmured. "Kennah's been lookin' after me anyway." He patted the drake's neck before climbing up as well. They set off at an easy lope and eventually broke into a run once they were away from the village and out in the highlands. Sam directed Kennah toward the cliff up to the tree, fastening his harness so he could hold both himself and Fiona in the saddle when they climbed. He could do it alone without the harness, but he wasn't willing to risk it with a passenger until he tested it several times.

When Kennah climbed up over the edge and came to a halt at the tree, Sam unfastened the straps and slipped down to get the meal he'd brought from his saddlebags, as well as a cord of wood he'd fastened to the saddle on the other side for a small fire.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Looks like the tree survived without us." Fiona said as she slipped from Kennah's back and took a look at the old, windswept tree. "I supposed it's been around a lot longer than either of us have been alive."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Since King Ingvar," Sam nodded. "Used t'be lots o' trees out here. This is th'last one." He set to making a fire close enough to.the tree for them to sit against it but not damage it.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, hopefully it lasts for our lifetime." Fiona said as she took a seat at the base of the tree, watching as Sam tended the fire and started to set out the meal that he had put together. "Sam, how many people did you expect to feed tonight?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Like I said, I 'ad help. An' apparently Suara's idea of 'a little extra' is enough t'feed us an' Kennah even though she already ate," Sam murmured, separating out large portions of meat and wild greens for his drake.

 

[heartofcourage]

"So you went crawling to Suara for this meal?" Fiona teased, stopping him as he worked and leaning in to kiss him with a soft sigh. "Thank you, Sam. It means the world to me that you're willing to do something like this for me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well... It was also t'talk to 'er about Tidannon," Sam murmured after her kiss. He still looked forlorn about the topic altogether, but not as dark and angry as he had been before.

 

[heartofcourage]

"And what did she tell you?" Fiona asked softly, knowing that talking to Suara about her husband was a hard subject for Sam.

 

[KieranSoares]

"She was quiet for a long time... Then said th' only person she ever blamed was 'er older son, th'one who killed Tidus t'continue the war out o' revenge for Tidannon's death. She said tha' no matter how she loved him, Tidannon was a fool to try t'steal Inverness an' he let religious fervor overtake common sense an' decency. She never blamed me 'r Rho fer defending our people... If anythin' she's​ glad someone stopped Tidannon, though she wishes it hadn't taken his death to do it."

 

[heartofcourage]

"And I'm sure she wishes that it hasn't been a young boy that did it." Fiona said softly, reaching out to touch Sam's cheek gently. "You were a boy, no matter if you were in your teens or not. It's horrible to do something you are not prepared for."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam sighed, meeting her gaze. "I don' know if I feel any better... But I guess it's done me some good t'know I really am th'only one tha' blames me. I 'aven't met a good soul yet tha's blamed me or my family..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"And you shouldn't blame yourself either." Fiona said softly, wishing that Sam believed in what she was saying to him. "Maybe one day you won't blame yourself."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Maybe," he murmured, drawing her in for a kiss before continuing to set everything out. It was growing dark as they sat down to eat and Sam had set aside a meal for Kennah as well after unsaddling her.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona dug into the delicious food, sitting pressed against Sam's side as if she was afraid he might disappear if she moved too far away. She was so content to be there with him. She was happy that he was willing to work on himself and be vulnerable if it meant getting better for their future together.

"I hate to say but my Da might want to have a word with you." Fiona said softly, looking up at her lover with her clear blue eyes. "I ran to him today when I left the keep. He saw me in a pretty bad moment and he knows what that feels like."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Tha's fine. Wouldn' expect any different." Sam glanced down at her. "Probably gonna get th'same from a lot o' my family along the way."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I would do anything for you, Sam." Fiona said in a soft voice, completely honest with him in that moment. "If it meant walking through fire to make sure that you were safe, I would."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Never do anythin' like tha' jus' fer me," Sam muttered, laying his head against her own. "Then again... Considerin' the war ahead... Y'might have to. I'm plannin' on takin' a regiment down t'Normandy in a few weeks t'support our allies an' try t'win back th'southern part o' the country... You Riders 'ave full autonomy as t'where you work, so I'm sure some migh' come an' others migh' stay. I'm takin' Gaiann no' necessarily t'fight, but more fer scouting an' running messages. But if things get dire, I'll take 'im out on th'field an' give those bastards a taste o' dragon fire."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona wrapped an arm around Sam's waist, letting out a soft sigh as he told her about his plans. "If that's what you wish to do, there's not a lot I can do to make you change your mind." She said softly, resting her head against his.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I feel like it's a good opportunity. Barbarossa's runnin' a war on two fronts an' one more front is about to start to his east. The Rus isn' happy with 'im after Barbarossa sent spies t'Kiev t'try to get some Russian nobles on 'is side. He didn' realize most o' the nobles would die before they turned against Monomakh an' his son."

Sam wrapped an arm around Fiona, kissing her cheek. "An'... Yer welcome t'come if you think yer ready. I won' force you into battle or force you t'stay."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Invah won't let me claim someone's life." Fiona said softly as Sam made his offer to her. "Maybe I'm better suited to stay here and work with Justin. Or perhaps I should go and see if there are any other dragons that need to be called."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Invah migh' not be able t'protect you from tha' one day," Sam muttered, going silent as she offered her other abilities. "It's up t'you. I'm sure there's plenty o' dragons tha' need convincing 'r help t'get here, an' there's more t'war than jus' battle."