Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"I must be doing something right, then," he answered softly as a hand rose to brush her hair back lightly. It felt like such a natural thing to do even though he'd never done it before.

 

[heartofcourage]

"One day I'll have to take you to my grandpa's cabin. It's falling down now, but it's one of my favorite places in the entire world. Even better than Loch Fae." She murmured, her blue eyes closing in contentment as he brushed his warm hand through her long hair.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll look forward t'tha', then," Sam muttered in return, pressing a kiss to her forehead before relaxing completely. Eventually Kennah and Roman returned, laying side-by-side near their keepers. Everyone seemed content to enjoy the quiet and solitude.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona slumbered in contentment next to Sam for what seemed like forever. She enjoyed his warmth and the feel of his strong arm around her body. She felt safe for the first time in a long time. She even had a slight smile on her face as she relaxed.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam only finally moved as he woke to find the moon high in the sky. The night air was crisp, so he pulled off his cloak and wrapped it around her. "Y'think Will's wonderin' where you are?" He asked softly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"'He's a smart lad. He probably already knows." Fiona murmured as Sam moved to wrap his cloak around her in the chill of the evening. "He knows what there is between us. If he didn't, he wouldn't tease me so mercilessly."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I feel a li'l lucky, then. Ma's been keepin' my siblings out o' this, much as Ashelin wants t'ask me every possible question about you an' Rho probably wants t'tease me about fallin' fer the lass I spent years chasin'."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, you haven't caught me just yet." Fiona murmured as she pulled the cloak tighter around herself, soaking in the warmth of Sam and the hint of leather that his clothing carried. "I'm not sure how you'll finally do it, but I'm sure that you'll have a good plan in mind."

 

[KieranSoares]

"This doesn't count as caught?" Sam asked with some amusement as he sat up and looked down at her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Nope." Fiona murmured as he sat up and looked down at her. "Caught is a ring on my finger and a nice, cozy little house. Until then, we're still chasing after one another."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You're chasin' me too now?" Sam asked and leaned down to press a kiss to her lips. It was very sweet for such a hard man who not so long ago had thought of Fiona as nothing more than a street thief.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Chasing you and enjoying the chase completely." Fiona said with a smile as he leaned down to kiss her.

She sighed, her hand coming from beneath the cloak to cup his cheek. When he kissed her, she could forget all of her troubles. The world narrowed in on the both of them, leaving her without a care besides loving Samuel.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, I oughta warn you now tha' my kinda caught is a little different," Sam told her with a grin though it was all in good fun. He rested lightly against her, enjoying the simple contact of her lips. Not six months before, he wouldn't have even wanted such a thing.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, how do you define caught?" Fiona asked, quirking her eyebrow at his as he pressed against her, kissing her again until her toes curled.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, let me put it this way... My Da taught me never t'go any further than where we're at now, unless I meant t'keep th'lass I'm with." Sam's family was half made up of those who spent years in love with marriage as an afterthought, and half those who only waited to marry for the sake of reputation even though they knew they wanted to be together.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona blushed as Sam said that, her heart skipping a beat as Sam admitted that he might want something more. "And how do you feel about me, Sam?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"I wouldn' mind keepin' a lass li' you," Sam said after a moment of thought. He was still trying to tell her he'd fallen in love, but the words just wouldn't come yet.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona was quiet for a moment. No one, save her grandfather, had ever told her that they wanted a lass like her. It was very different this time, however. Sam was a kind man, honorable, and lawful. He wanted her to be his girl.

"Do you love me?" She asked him in a soft, almost fragile voice.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Will y'forgive me fer bein' too much a coward t'say it?" Sam asked in return, his deep voice almost soft as her own. He wanted to tell her just how he felt, but his cold and serious life made such warm sentiment extremely difficult. He would try anyway for her sake, but it'd take time.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Only if you can forgive me for the same." Fiona said softly as Sam found himself unable to say the words. "Some day...hopefully soon...I can say those words to you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Other people make it look so easy," Sam murmured, drawing her into his arms once more. "It's not... Not when yer afraid o' openin' up an' losin' more people..." He was already haunted by the knowledge that he'd lose family members one day, and she was haunted by those already lost.

 

[heartofcourage]

"We can't live in fear, Sam." Fiona murmured as she tucked her head against his throat, letting his warmth surround her again. "If we do, we'll never see how beautiful life can be."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Easier said than done, lass... But I'll do m'best," he murmured. He didn't want to move from their quiet little spot by the stream, so they didn't. Dawn finally woke them, Sam's cloak having protected them from the morning damp and their shared warmth having kept the chill off. Roman and Kennah were curled up together, a little romance of their own blossoming.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona had never had a better night's sleep than she did in Sam's arms. When dawn came, it was far too early for her. She let out a groan and turned her face into his neck again, blocking the sun that came through the trees to reach them on the bank of the river.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam, whose usual wakeup was before dawn, stirred as the sun shone on his face. When Fiona curled closer, his embrace around her tightened ever so slightly and he muttered, "Come t'breakfast with me a' the keep."