Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"Likely," he murmured, turning on his side to nuzzle against her neck adoringly. He kissed at her throat and finally settled despite the voice in the back of his mind running through all the work he had to do.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Just hold me, wolf." She murmured as he nuzzled and kissed at her throat, sighing as her green eyes closed and she finally relaxed in her husband's arms.

As the sun started to set outside, Julia made sure to check on all of her children. Sam was resting with the help of the herbs that Valentina had given him. She knew he was hurt, but he still looked like his regular self. Gently, she kissed his cheek and brushed his hair back from his forehead, leaving him to get the sleep that he needed.

Annie and David had decided to stay at the keep in case any of the drakes needed them over night. She helped them to put the little ones to bed, smiling as Silas sleepily told her that one of the drakes would be his one day. Julia kissed his forehead and told him to have sweet dreams. When everything was quiet, she moved on.

Ashelin was slumbering next to Brogan, still frightened after all that had happened. She needed her father's strength and he was able to give it to her in spades, even though he felt weak himself. Vincenzo was slumbering now too, sent to bed by a concerned Valentina. Rho had snuck off to be with his lovely wolf and Julia knew that he was in good hands.

Stepping into the courtyard with two blankets over one arm and Heather's stuffed cat in the other, she gently draped a blanket over Fiona who was sleeping in Roman's arms. She petted the drake's nose, telling him to sleep before she went to find Invah.

"If she bothers you, tell her to go to her own bed." Julia whispered softly to the dragon as Heather slumbered in the crook of her arm. "She tends to have a narrow focus when it comes to things."

She handed Invah Heather's blanket and stuffed toy, watching as the dragon carefully took them and tucked the slumbering girl in.

 

[KieranSoares]

"She doesn't bother me at all, dear. She just needs a little security, and if being in the arms of a dragon is what it takes, I'm happy to give it to her," Invah murmured in her quietest voice.

 

[heartofcourage]

"She use to be very fearless, especially when she first lost her eyesight." Julia said as Invah assured her that things were alright. "Over time, she lost that courage. I think when we lost her Gran, it became much worse. Kitty adored Heather, perhaps more than any of her other grandchildren. She reminded Kitty of Brogan when he was little."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She'll find her way, Julia," Invah said with a nod. "My father wasn't unlike her. He lost both his eyes in battle and he lost all confidence when my mother fell fifty years later. But last I knew, he was revered as a great, wise teacher in the mountains in Southern Asia, and monks made pilgrimages to him every year to ask for his advice. Heather may not become a revered elder, but she will make her way and she will stand on her own one day, or perhaps with someone who captures her heart."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She wants a necklace with one of your scale designs on it." Julia said as she gave Invah a smile. "I think that in some small way, you give her strength. She has asked her grandfather every single question under the sun about dragons since she met you."

Julia glanced towards a figure approaching the both of them and she smiled as Justin came to her side. "Hello, love."

She took the bag that he held in his hands, glancing inside with a wider smile. "These are in Fiona's size?"

She and Brogan had paid for new dresses for Fiona and a new pair of shoes. She might not have accepted charity, but she had done a great service to the Ghis family.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Should be," Justin said with a nod. "Ma threw in some trousers and tunics too, in case she might want some." He then glanced toward the keep. "How is Ciaran?" Justin had been to and from the keep since his love was injured, trying to help his mother with work but also trying to care for Ciaran.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He's resting right now. Vincenzo said that he's been doing better since Heather was returned." Julia said as Justin seemed so concerned for the man that he loved. "Go in and take care of him. He should sleep until morning."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll leave these aside for you to give to Fiona, then." He kissed her cheek once more before making his way inside. Invah looked to Julia once more after tucking Heather in a little more securely.

"Your little ones make me miss my own. And you even treat their loves like your own."

 

[heartofcourage]

"They're turning me grey." Julia said as she watched Justin go towards the keep where Ciaran was. "But I love them more than life itself. Each one was a struggle to bring into this world but each gave me something that I had no idea that I was missing. Watching my husband light up and thrive each time they come to him for guidance and love is one of the greatest things in the world."

 

[KieranSoares]

Invah could only smile. "I think I may bring my own family back here. If only to visit."

She laid her head down beside Julia. "You seem very young to be a grandmother, though. Tell me about Annie. She doesn't look like you or Brogan."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Annie isn't my daughter by birth. I am Brogan's second wife." Julia said as she took a seat next to Invah, relaxing now that everything was calm. "I raised her from the time that she was a child, though. Her children all call me Gran."

"Cassandra was Brogan's first wife. She was a princess from Ireland and Annie is the spitting image of her mother. She was murdered when Annie was barely two." The story was still hard for Brogan and Annie to think about, but over time they had come to an understanding about the woman that they had loved and lost.

"I will be a grandmother for the first time come winter. My Katherine is having a baby."

 

[KieranSoares]

"So I noticed. Her wolf likes to pace when he thinks about her and their future," Invah chuckled softly. "I wonder if I'm a grandmother yet... I might be. Fiona wants to come with me to Scandinavia to find my children, hopefully my mate too. She hopes to find her mother's family there."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It might do Fiona some good to get away from Inverness for a while." Julia said softly as Invah talked about going to Scandinavia with the girl. "Although, I'm certain that if she went, Sam might follow. He's never acted this way about a woman before."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Would he? He seems too responsible to go gallivanting off after a girl. Then again... I imagine your husband might encourage him to do just that. Brogan seems like an old romantic from what I've seen of him."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Brogan is a man who still believes in love. He romances me every chance that he gets." Julia said with a laugh. "I think the only child that takes after him is Ciaran. He believes in love and loves Justin with all that he has."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Your Kate certainly likes the romantic that her wolf seems to be, but I can see what you mean by Ciaran. He seems to be so much more... alive, around Justin. But young Rhodan is quickly learning to be a romantic from what I've seen so far."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I believe Rho has already mated and simply won't tell us. He can have his secrets, but the moment he brings a cub into the world, we'll all know." Julia said with a smile. "And then there's Ashelin and Heather, both too young for all of that. I have a dream that Heather will find someone some day that loves her completely."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She will. The Ghis seem to have a knack for finding their soulmates," Invah assured her. "It's only a matter of getting her out into the world to find that person."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know her Da will be far more protective of her than he was with the other children. She was his Ma's favorite and he promised Kitty that he would care for Heather for the rest of her days."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Things will turn out," Invah said quite confidently.

It wasn't until late the next afternoon that Sam finally woke. He wasn't terribly cut up, but the sheer blast from the blocked cannon had knocked him out and given him a severe concussion. After talking with him and keeping a close eye on him for a few hours, however, Valentina couldn't see any permanent damage. Any damage would reveal itself shortly, but the worst of it was the concussion and a small bit of hearing loss that the other men had suffered too. Sam was simply lucky to be alive after several men around him had died in the blast.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia was there to dote on Sam when he woke, using the moment to give him the attention that he wouldn't let her give him otherwise. She was bright and cheerful, sitting at his side and holding his hand as he slowly regained his senses. She noticed that he was glancing towards the door every so often and she squeezed his hand.

"She went home with Roman this morning." Julia said softly. "She's afraid to see you. The poor girl wants to blame herself for all of this. Your Da had to talk her into staying."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam let his head rest against Julia's shoulder as she explained about Fiona, and he let out a quiet sigh. "She's gonna blame 'erself forever... An' she'll never listen when we tell 'er she saved Heather..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She's a lot like you." Julia said softly as she combed her fingers through his short, dark hair. "You never wanted to listen when we told you that you had saved Rho."

Julia leaned her head against Sam's with a sigh. "Samuel, Fiona has led a very hard life. Her father hated her and did all he could to break her spirit. Your Da told me that she fears he might still come back some day even though he hasn't been seen in years. She had to learn to survive and support herself, which has put her at odds with you. I know you have feelings for her but I want you to think very hard about this. I don't want to see either of you getting hurt."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She saved Heather an' risked 'erself to try t' keep us safe. If tha's not worth a pardon, I don' know what is." Sam laid back in his bed with a sigh and twinges of pain, his whole body aching from the shockwave he'd experienced.