Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"Your family would make comment if I did." Fiona said softly as his arms tightened around her ever so slightly. "You said you weren't ready for those kinds of comments."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Then jus' come 'ave breakfast with me, maybe th'two lovebirds over there too," he turned his head to the drakes who were still sleeping peacefully.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona lifted her head to look at Roman and she chuckled. "Well, it didn't take her long to crumble in her resolve to not have anything to do with Roman. A little bit like her owner, I think."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Even a working girl like her needs someone to distract her," Sam insisted with a chuckle as Kennah lifted her head to look at them, knowing she was being talked about.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I suppose we should go." Fiona said with a soft sigh, loathing to leave her warm spot in his arms. "The beasties will get restless and soon I'm going to be hungry. I get cranky when I'm hungry."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Pretty used t'tha' with my family," he muttered before he finally rose and stretched his powerful arms. Kennah left Roman's side to come to Sam who was her first and foremost love still. Roman would have to work much harder to be first in her heart.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona was up as soon as Roman was, the drake coming to her side and lifting her to her feet with his strong, clawed hands. She laughed and patted his nose, adoring her drake as much as Sam adored Kennah.

 

[KieranSoares]

Roman's love for Fiona was much more playful and child-like, whereas Kennah was far more serious like Sam and the two shared quiet moments and Sam often spoke to her. He'd never had the same connection with his horse Dun, who was now Heather's horse as she knew him and he knew to be gentle with her.

 

[heartofcourage]

Once Fiona got herself into the saddle, she waited for Sam to do the same. When they were ready to go, Fiona followed behind Kennah as the drake led the way towards the keep. She wondered if he would go through with the offer of breakfast with his family or if he would hide her away, content to simply keep her a secret for a little while longer.

 

[KieranSoares]

As they entered the courtyard, whatever secrecy they hoped to keep was thrown out the window when Brogan saw them. He was settled on a stone bench beside Julia, enjoying the warm morning before breakfast.

"Hiya, kids," Brogan called.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I told you that they would come back sooner or later, love." Julia said as she watched the two of them come into the courtyard with the drakes. "I'm happy for you, Sam."

She smiled at her son, joyful at the idea that he had found someone to brighten his otherwise dreary life. She had worried after him for years and not it seemed that he was growing content.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam could only sigh, but he smiled back to his mother and guards came to take Kennah and Roman for them. "Well, now tha' they know we're here, I guess we can' jus' grab food an' run."

"Y'could, but it'd be nice t'have Fiona's company," Brogan spoke up with a smile to Fiona as he rose. "Y'look well, lass."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Your son has been taking care of me, sir. I believe he thinks that I am not capable of taking care of myself sometimes." Fiona said, glancing towards Sam with a smile. "He makes sure I'm fed and clothed. I guess I need to stick around him a little more often. He might see it fit to put a roof over my head and help me to see the world."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Careful what y'wish for, lass. Sam doesn't back down from any challenge except 'is mother." Brogan welcomed her with a friendly embrace and brought them all into the keep. Things were a little quieter than usual as it was just the main royal family, but Vincenzo was there with Heather and Rho had finally brought his sweetheart around. She was a gorgeous jet-black werefox with dark amber eyes. Her attire marked her as a hunter from the Erygonian village and she had already proven herself to be a quick-witted spitfire.

 

[heartofcourage]

Heather said nothing as Sam sat down next to her, but she did smile at him as he patted her hand. "Papa's going to take me and Dun to the pasture today. He said that I'm ready to finally give him a proper ride."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Maybe I should stick around t'see tha', then," Sam smiled down at her, brushing her hair back behind her ear.

"Welcome back, Fiona," Rho spoke up, turning to Fiona with a smile. Beside him, Naiya examined Fiona with some interest as if she recognized her.

"You're Owen's girl, aren't you?" Naiya asked suddenly with a smile.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona paused as she was asked if she were Owen's girl. She was a little frightened that someone might have recognized her as such, but she knew that Naiya was simply curious about her. Slowly, Fiona nodded, glancing towards the werefox.

"Owen was my father. Ephriam was my grandfather. Both have been gone a long time." Fiona said as diplomatically as she possibly could.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ephriam was a friend of my father's," Naiya told her. "I never met Owen personally. Still, it's nice to see another member of a fox family around. There aren't a lot of us around here."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I didn't grow up with other foxes or the tribe." Fiona said softly, Sam's hand taking her own and squeezing it under the table.

 

[KieranSoares]

"That's fine. You're still a sister to the tribe," Naiya assured her kindly. "You should come meet people sometime. A lot of our people loved Ephriam." That was the first time Fiona had ever heard someone talk about the Erygonians as her people too since Ephriam. Owen had always said 'my people' and excluded Fiona for being human.

"Li'l bit of a touchy subject, Nai," Sam murmured.

"I know. But I want Fiona to know she's welcome, and we'd like to see her back home sometime." Naiya let the subject go, leaving Rho's side to go properly speak to Julia. She'd been around a few times but always seemed to slip away before Julia got a chance to talk to her. Brogan and Julia barely knew her name, she was so elusive.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona was very quiet after Naiya left the table. Her grandfather had been the only person to encourage her in exploring the tribe, but she could never bring herself to do it. Her father's words were still in her head, telling her that she was not a fox and no one could ever love her. So many years had been spent thinking that there was something wrong with her for not being a fox.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Y'know if y'ever did want t'do tha', anyone 'ere could show you around. An' Suara would be glad t'have you come t'festivals an' whatnot."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We'll see." Fiona said in her noncommital tone, not prepared to have that conversation with Sam in that moment. "There is a lot to do in the mean time."

 

[KieranSoares]

"No rush," he assured her, letting the subject drop. But it wasn't long before his attention was turned to Heather who was asking all kinds of questions about Dun and saddles and tack. She was determined to learn how to care for Dun entirely alone.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Da thinks I need a special saddle all my own. One that I can find and put on him easily. He's going to ask Van to see if something can be made." Heather commented as she and Sam talked about Dun. "Are you sure that Dun won't be upset that you gave him to me? He's been your horse a long time."