Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"You can try, love," he murmured, knowing Heather needed her chance. He'd still be close, but he wouldn't lead. "Jus' let me know if y'need help." He took her hand and gave her the lead. He'd be there to keep her from accidentally walking out in front of horses and carts or any people.

 

[heartofcourage]

Her green eyes were sparkling as he gave her permission and holding his hand, she took the first steps away from the shop. It was slow progress as she mentally counted her steps, listening to the sounds around her to gauge where she was. She paused a time or two when everything seemed a little unfamiliar, but when she felt the familiar stones of the keep beneath her feet, she knew that she had made it.

Fiona was sitting on a stone bench at the entrance of the keep, waiting for Sam. She knew that Invah was expecting her but she felt she needed to see him first. She had cried out her guilt and sorrow in the woods and was feeling better about the situation. She felt strong enough to see him. She smiled slightly as she saw Heather leading the way, her hulking brother allowing her the moment to live like a normal little girl.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam's eyes met Fiona's own, but he said nothing until Heather was sure of where she was. He knelt down and let her take her things. "Well done, love," he murmured, kissing her cheek. "Why don' you go show Da? I saw 'is horse bein' put back in th'stable, so 'e must be back." He sent her off and finally approached Fiona, laying a bundle in her lap. "It's not a gift," he told her immediately. "It's out o' necessity."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't know how many more gifts I can take today." Fiona said as she handed him the paper she had been given and opened the package that he had placed in her lap. "Sam...this is too much."

She looked down at a beautiful cloak, the inside fabric the same color as Invah's scales. It was practical and probably cost him for the fine workmanship. She hugged it close briefly before she glanced up at him.

"I'd kiss you, but I wouldn't want to give people the wrong idea." She admitted.

 

[KieranSoares]

"An' what wrong idea d'you think they'd get?" Sam asked, settling beside her. "My business is my own. People know tha' here." He finally looked down at the paper, and Fiona saw his normally rigid form begin to relax as a sense of relief washed over him. "No' sure what I was expectin'... But I guess Taqu'un knows as well as I do tha' you don't belong in a prison cell," he muttered.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, the idea that you're kissing an ex criminal." Fiona said as he sat down beside her, finally looking over the note in his hands. "I think he went too easy on me but I couldn't convince him otherwise. He said I Was entitled to a bounty but Indont think I want the money. Not the way that I had to get it. I wouldn't feel right."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Why no' donate it t'the families tha' lost men t'the Greeks?" Sam offered. The money wouldn't do anyone any good if it was left aside. "An' y'could use a few coins t'get this fine out o' the way. But it's up t'you." He handed the paper back, and took her hand for a moment. "I can' tell ya how relieved I am, Fiona..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're note said you would do anything to make sure that I saw Scandinavia. Is that true?" Fiona asked him quietly, a little stunned that the man beside her really cared that much. "It's a lovely gesture, Sam."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It was a toned-down version of a threat t'help you escape if I thought Taqu'un's ruling wasn' fair," Sam admitted with some embarrassment. He was usually the most professional of lawmen, but Fiona's long history of bad luck and abuse made him protective of her goals and dreams. "But it's the truth. You're going t'get there an' 'ave a chance t'find what yer lookin' for, no matter what anyone else says."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Samuel Ghis would have broken the law for me. Well, now I think I've heard of everything." Fiona said with a soft smile on her lips. "Maybe that does deserve a kiss."

She reached up and turned his head towards her, pressing her lips to his own in the light of day. If he didn't care who saw, she wouldn't either.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam gladly kissed her in return when she lifted a hand to turn his head. His own hand laid over hers and he gave her a rare smile when their lips parted. "I just hope you won't stay away too long when y'do go..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, I was hoping that I might convince you to chase me." She said with a small smile as his large hand closed over her own. "If you had the time, that is. I wouldn't want to pull you away from anything important."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Chase? I thought tha' was somethin' we only do when yer in trouble." Sam chuckled at her. "I migh' be able t'talk my officers into takin' over for me... But no promises jus' yet. I don' want t'leave anythin' important."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll be gone with Invah a while. She wants to find her family and see if her mate is still alive. They might come back here with her if things work out. Then she wants me to find my Ma's family. I'm not sure if that will be a happy occasion or not." She said softly, moving to rest her head against his broad shoulders."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll 'ave t'talk to Da about it... But I'll try t'follow," Sam assured her softly, wrapping an arm about her shoulders.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona let out a soft sigh, relaxing for perhaps the first time since her ordeal began as Sam's strong arm wrapped around her shoulders. She felt strangely at home there in his embrace.

"I could get use to this." She admitted softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yeah... So could I," he murmured, leaning back against the wall and taking a long moment to relax for the first time in days. Knowing she was free and safe and things were turning out well was a massive weight off his shoulders.

 

[heartofcourage]

"That frightens me a little bit." She said as he leaned back against the wall, still holding her tightly. "What if I mess all of this up and you hate me in the end?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"I doubt I could hate you. I don' really hate anyone," Sam murmured. "Just because things didn' go right in th'past doesn' mean we're doomed t'failure, Fiona."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You had a Ma and a Da that showed you what love was. They've been together so long and so successfully. I never had that." Fiona said as Sam claimed that he would never hate her and that they weren't automatically doomed. "I don't want to mess up something good."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know what family love is. I can' say th'same fer any other kind," Sam admitted. "All I ask is tha' y'talk t'me if anythin' bothers you. Tha' way we can work t'gether." He pressed a kiss to her temple. It felt so natural, but that was probably because he'd grown up watching proper and loving relationships in his family, especially Julia and Brogan's.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I can try." Fiona said as he pressed a kiss to her temple.

About that time Julia and Ashelin made their way up the stone walkway, pausing when Julia saw Sam holding Fiona. She glanced down at Ashelin and gave her the look that meant she needed to be serious.

"Not a word, Ashelin Mary." Julia said to her daughter. "Let Sam have something joyful in his life without us prying."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam glanced over as he saw Julia, but he didn't say anything or try to hide that he was with Fiona. They shared a look and he nodded to his mother before laying his head against Fiona's.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia took Ashelin's hand, marching her past the both of them before the girl could speak her mind or tease her brother. She gave Sam a slight smile, pleased that he was opening himself up to a new and beautiful experience.

"I should saddle Roman up and go to the loch. Invah is waiting for me." Fiona said quietly as Sam rested his head against her own. "You should bring Kennah. Roman would like another drake to wrestle with."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Then let's go do tha'," Sam murmured, rising from his seat without letting go her hand. He helped her up and welcomed her to follow him to get Kennah before they fetched Roman. Roman was still slow after his injury, but he needed to get out and stretch his legs.