Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"That's not what I mean, Sam." Julia said as he settled back in bed. "You've guarded your heart since you were a young man. I think it's time that you found out what was out there for you. She's a nice girl. I'd be happy to see her become a part of your life."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I doubt tha'd ever happen, Ma. Besides, I work too much an' I doubt she'd trust me not t'be away constantly an' not t'break 'er heart. I care about 'er, yeah. But that's as far as it's going."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Even your Da makes time for me when he's busy." Julia said as Sam gave her the same tired excuse that he had used for years. "How do you think I had six of you?"

She laughed softly as she leaned down and kissed Sam's cheek. "Don't fight it if it happens, Sam. That's all I ask for."

Julia was soon standing, patting her son's chest gently. "I'll get you something from the kitchen. Any special request?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Whiskey'd be great," he muttered miserably, but he knew he couldn't drink hard alcohol in his condition.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Beef stew and some hearty bread is better, I think." Julia said as Sam muttered miserably. "Maybe something sweet for dessert. If you're good and finish everything, I might think of something a little stronger."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Aunt Val'd kill you if you did," Sam reminded her with a bitter half-smile. "I'm okay, Ma. I just need to sleep..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Humor me, Sam." Julia murmured softly as she leaned in and kissed his forehead. "You know I only want to take care of you. You wouldn't make your Ma worry, would you?"

It was a dirty trick to play on her children, but Julia knew that they could be as stubborn as their father if she let them. She simply gave her son a smile and left the room to get him something to eat.

 

[KieranSoares]

In the kitchen, Chessie was only accompanied by two of her cooks. The other six, all interrelated cousins and brothers, were gone to mourn a cousin and a father lost to the Greeks' attack. But Chessie was keeping up beautifully anyway, and she still managed to keep a merry atmosphere and a smile despite all the trouble.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Chessie." Julia said as she stepped into the kitchen, smiling as she saw the familiar face of their cook turning towards her. "Can you put together something for Sam? He's being stubborn as always. And something that I can take to Fiona. I worry that she won't eat otherwise."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Of course, love," Chessie assured her, and she quickly gathered up a bowl and plate for Sam, and a basket with a small sealed pot of soup and bread for Fiona and a little extra for the boy Chessie knew Fiona lived with.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Thank you." Julia said gratefully as she took the soup for Sam and the basket for Fiona. "And maybe send him something a little stronger than herbs when Valentina goes home for the night? Sam would appreciate it."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll get him something special out of Brogan's private stock," Chessie assured her. "Also, love, I think you ought to have a chat with your other twin. His dear love came and visited, and she happened to mention talking to Rho about arranging a wedding."

 

[heartofcourage]

"They haven't mentioned a thing to me about it." Julia said as she thought about Rho and the woman that he loved. "I'll talk to him."

Once Julia had the food delivered to Samuel, she took the basket for Fiona and went to find Rho. Knocking on his door, she didn't even wait for an answer before she walked inside and stared at her son for a long moment.

"Are you going to tell me about this wedding, Rhodan Brian Ghis?" Julia asked him in that soft voice that told him that he was in trouble.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Uh... Yes?" Rho murmured. "We were just discussing it, Ma, not making plans. I wouldn't do that without you and Da knowing."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Talking to the cooks sounds more like planning than discussing, Rho." Julia said as she let out a sigh, knowing that she couldn't stay angry at any of her children for long. "We haven't even gotten you on the throne yet, love."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We both know that's not going to happen for a while. Much as we think it will, Da still doesn't believe I'm ready. Almost, but not quite," Rho reminded her. Such was Brogan's constant worry- that Rho wasn't prepared enough. "Besides, I know what I want and Naiya does too." Her full name was Naiya Corel, the granddaughter of Suara. She was two years older than Rho, a graceful beauty who had grown up around Ria and Gerald working for them so she could be independent. She had a mature sense of humor and liked a little danger. Rho was crazy about her.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia sighed as she moved into the room and sat the basket down at her feet before she took a seat next to Rho. She knew that he was very serious when it came to Kim and she had never questioned the idea that the two of them would end up together. It was still a little bit of a shock to learn that they had been talking marriage.

"If you want to get married, then we will plan a wedding." Julia said softly as she took his hand in her own and gave it a squeeze. "No more sneaking around though, Rho."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I never sneak around. I just don't always tell you where I'm going," Rho said with a charming grin, not unlike Brogan when he got into trouble.

 

[heartofcourage]

"That grin might work on Kim, but it will never work on me, love." Julia said as she leaned in and kissed her son's forehead. "Why did you have to grow up, Rho? What happened to my little boy that loved to snuggle and read stories with me?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"I still love to do that with Heather and Ashelin, Ma. I don't know if you want a full grown man on your lap, though." He smiled but he knew it was painful for Julia to have to accept he was grown up. He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Now you have Annie's little ones and soon you'll have Kate's. You'll probably even have my own before long if Naiya has her way. Family is everything to us. You're going to end up being just like Gran before long. Only with a little more English flair."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Your Gran would have your hide if she were here right now. Then you would have a lovely little wedding that she put together with nothing but sweet talk and promises." Julia said softly as Rho brought up the fact that she had little ones around to take his place. "And no one can replace you, my moon."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Maybe not. And I'll always need you. But there are some little ones around who should get the chance to have all the love I did and still do. From both you and Da." Rho hugged his mother close. Once he'd been too small to even reach around her. Now, he towered over her and completely enveloped her in every embrace like most of the men in the family.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia hugged Rho tightly, staying with him for a few moments longer before she left him alone to deliver the meal to Fiona. She worried about the girl and knew that she was probably having a hard time with what had happened. When Julia knocked on the cabin door, she was smiling as Will answered, his eyes wide as he came face to face with the queen of Inverness.

"Good evening. Is Fiona home?" She asked, chuckling softly at the lad's reaction.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yes, Ma'am," Will managed to say after struggling for words a moment longer. He welcomed her inside and offered her a seat before he went to Fiona's room where she was having a nap. He came to lay a hand on her shoulder, murmuring, "Fiona. Fi, wake up. The Queen's here!"

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona was exhausted when she returned home. Roman had been restless the night before, twisting and turning to get comfortable from his injury. He would twitch each time he heard another drake calling out and her sleep had been greatly interrupted. When she got Roman to his stable, she had gone home and crawled into bed, getting the sleep that she had missed the night before.

She frowned as Will shook her shoulder, telling her that the queen was there. Her blue eyes opened and she looked at him as if to gauge whether to see if he were joking or not. She was up in an instant, smoothing out her hair with her hands as she went to greet Julia.

"Will, get us something to drink." She told him, glancing over her shoulder towards him as she turned back to Julia. "It's a surprise to see you here."

"I brought you both some food from Chessie. She seems to have taken a liking to the both of you." Julia said with a smile as she offered Fiona the basket. "And I understand that Kayla has too."

"Kayla makes sure that Will is fed when I'm not around. He helped her husband move a baking stone the other day." Fiona said with a slight shrug of her shoulders as if it weren't a big deal.