Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Heather miserably refused the food, shaking her head as the Nadia try to get her to eat. She didn't want to. Her belly ached from misery and she wanted her Ma in the worst way. She hadn't eaten since the day before and that only added to the sadness that she felt.

Fiona hid quickly as she saw the woman enter the cage, struggling to reach the little girl who was wallowing in her misery. She would get her out of there today, no matter what the outcome was.

 

[KieranSoares]

Nadia could only sigh and leave the bowl where Heather could reach it before stepping away back to her own campfire. The way was clear for a moment.

 

[heartofcourage]

Once the coast was clear, Fiona made her way to the cage quickly. She paused at the bars, reaching through to touch Heather in silence.

"It's me, love." Fiona whispered to the little girl. "I'm going to have you home soon. Your Mama is waiting for you."

Heather was startled to hear Fiona's voice and she suddenly felt hope. "Did you bring Da? Or Sam?"

"No. It's just me, love. Don't worry though. Roman will run you home as fast as he can."

 

[KieranSoares]

Just as Fiona was beginning to fiddle with the lock, a voice shouted over the camp and suddenly everyone looked straight at her. Roman broke away from the crowd of men around him, coming to defend Fiona and give her a few extra seconds.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona cursed under her breath as she continued to work the lock. Roman came to defend her, giving her a few extra seconds to work on the cursed thing.

"Think you can ride Roman, Heather? You'll need to hold on tight and not let go until you're home." Fiona said as she worked the lock until it clicked open. "It's time to be brave, little one."

Heather was standing, looking around with a lost expression until she felt Fiona's fingers wrap around her wrist. She as tugged out of the prison wagon for the first time in days. Before she could say anything, she was lifted onto a strange saddle, Fiona's hands guiding her to hold on to certain parts of the saddle.

 

[KieranSoares]

The moment Heather was ready, Roman burst through the crowd at full-tilt and disappeared into the forest. A few crossbow bolts were shot after them, but none hit. Then all the weapons were turned on Fiona and she was surrounded and alone.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona lifted her hands as Heather was free, letting out a soft sigh as she found many different crossbows pointed at her and angry faces trained on her.

"I believe that you've been looking for me." She said, looking at those gathered. "Fiona Blackstone."

 

[KieranSoares]

The crowd of soldiers parted and one man stepped through, taking off a wide-brim, feathered hat. He looked very different from the others, clearly African from his dark skin. "Miss Blackstone," he spoke in a strange, rich accent unlike the Greeks. "I am Kibwe Marjani, the captain of these witch-hunters. You stand accused of witchcraft and beastmastery. We have come for you and the dragon."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You assume that the dragon is real." Fiona said as she looked towards the man that came forward and introduced himself. "Dragons haven't been seen in decades in this area, sir. I'm afraid that you're here on a wild goose chase."

 

[KieranSoares]

"That is not what your little friend told us this morning," Marjani said, crossing his arms calmly. They'd forced Heather to talk, at the threat of death or the deaths of her parents.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You would take the word of a blind girl over that of my own?" Dylan asked as the man told her that Heather had already confessed that the dragon was real.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I would take the word of a terrified Ghis child over that of a thief trying to save her own skin." Marjani nodded to a couple of his man and Fiona was grabbed from both sides, her wrists and ankles shackled.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're smarter than you look." Fiona said as she was suddenly grabbed, shackled as she put up a fight against the men who were intent on making her a captive.

She bit and scratched at them until she was face down in the dirt, huffing to gather her breath.

 

[KieranSoares]

Fiona was thrown into the prison cart and left there for a few minutes under heavy watch until the cart was attached to a drake's harness and they took her away toward the loch.

Roman came charging into the keep's courtyard, snorting with effort after the long sprint, the bandage on his neck having been scraped off and the wound now bleeding quickly and freely with his rapid heartbeat. He let out several loud barking roars, and that drew the Ghis outside to find the golden drake pacing nervously with a terrified Heather on his back.

"Heather!" Brogan called, sprinting from the door to halt Roman and scoop his daughter from the drake's back. He cradled her close against his chest and kissed her forehead, murmuring softly, "You're okay, sweet'eart... Yer home..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Da!" Heather cried out at the sound of her father's voice, his strong arms wrapping around her body and holding her tightly.

She clung to him tightly, her forehead pressed against his bearded cheek. She was trembling from her quick run through the forest, scared to death but secretly thrilled. She was starving, terrified by the men that had held her captive, and her hands were cut up from exploring the cage she had been in for days.

"Fiona set me free." She said softly. "I don't think she followed me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Sam!" Brogan called, and Sam was at his side in a moment. "Take Roman. Find them!" He wasn't happy Fiona had gone off alone and been so reckless, but he was incredibly thankful to have Heather back in his arms.

Between Sam and Rho, a group of fighters were quickly gathered and off with Sam on Roman and the rest on horses. Julia would see Brogan enter with their little girl in his arms. He hadn't been well while she'd been gone, but he looked equally relieved as he was worried now that she was back.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Heather." Julia said as she hurried to her little girl, hugging her tightly as Brogan decided to keep her tightly in his grasp. "Little love."

Kissing her cheek, Heather hugged her mother tightly, whimpering as she finally relaxed at being with both of her parents again. "They told me that they would kill you if I didn't tell them about Invah. Mama, I'm so sorry."

"It's alright, little one. There's no reason to apologize." She said softly as she looked at Heather's torn hands. "Let's go see Papa about these cuts and then I'm sure Chessie will get you a good meal."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm goin' t'let Ciaran know an' send a few more men," Brogan murmured, leaving Heather with a kiss. Ciaran had been worried sick and wasn't healing well. Valentina still wasn't sure if he'd lose his eye. Brogan hadn't been doing much better just in the realm of stress.

Vincenzo was told ahead of time, so he had things ready when Heather arrived. He scooped Heather into his arms and kissed her forehead, murmuring to her in Italian how worried he'd been. He let her sit in Julia's lap while he tended to her hands, and Chessie brought a meal in for her.

At about that moment, Fiona's prison on wheels rolled to a halt in the shallows of the loch, a clear threat to drown her if she resisted as Marjani stepped up and the ballistas and swiveling cannons they'd brought were all set for use. "Call it," Marjani said calmly, not even looking at Fiona.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona simply sat there in the cart, looking at the men as they expected her to call Invah. She leaned back against the bars, calm as could be.

"I told you there is no dragon here." She said in a calm voice. "A blind girl, who's family only wanted to make her happy, gave her a day she would remember. It was all made up. Cannons are unnecessary."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Humor me," Marjani said dryly while his men pushed the cart further into the water until its wheels and floor of the cage were submerged.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona glanced down at the floor of the cart as water washed over her feet. She knew that she had to make a decision, either she was going to sink or survive.

"No." Fiona said softly as she looked at the man that was demanding so much from her.

 

[KieranSoares]

The cart was pushed further and further, until there was only about a foot of space between the roof of the cart and the surface of of the water, and Marjani demanded one last time, "Call the dragon or die."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona was struggling to keep her head above water, gasping as she took in a few breaths of precious air and heard the man tell her to call the dragon or die. She would die either way and Invah would as well.

"Stay away." Fiona gasped in a whispered voice. "Stay in the water."

 

[KieranSoares]

Marjani simply sighed, giving the order for the cart to be submerged. Just as it went under, a roar in the distance told her Roman had returned. But she didn't get to see him before she was trapped under the surface. Only distant sounds of clashing metal reached her.

Twenty horrible, long seconds passed and just as her lungs were burning for air, great claws wrapped around the cage and lifted it clear out of the water. Below, Sam and a battalion of guards and rangers were fighting viciously against the Greeks. Sam was on Roman's back, his sword soaked in blood already. Invah rose with a deep roar that made a few Greeks freeze, and she ripped the prison cart open, lifting Fiona free and holding her protectively to her chest. Invah's first targets were the great weapons. She shattered cannons, but two massive ballista bolts pierced her hide at her shoulder and her neck. That only made her angrier. And for the first time in centuries, humans witnessed dragon fire.

Careful not to scorch their allies, Invah leveled her head toward the massive bows, and Fiona could feel the heat travel up from her chest until it exploded from her maw in blue fire.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona sucked in a breath as they pushed her into deeper water, her blonde head going beneath the loch as she heard Roman roaring. She struggled against her bonds, pushing against the cage as she thrashed and sought air. It was hopeless. This was it. Her time was over and her lungs were burning intensely when she felt the wagon jerked upwards.

Water coursed from the wagon, horrible noises passing her lips as she struggled to breath like a fish out of water. She whimpered as Invah ripped the wagon apart, cradling her close as the sounds of a battle raged around her. Invah raged, an intense warmth building in her chest before it erupted forth in spectacular blue fire.

"Fly, Invah." She choked out, water still burning her throat. "They'll kill you!"