Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Fiona smiled as she leaned in and kissed him one last time before she rested her head against his chest. She sighed in contentment as he held her tightly. She felt safe with him and secure in the knowledge that he loved her.

"I hope you keep that promise." She said softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

The chuckle in return was warm, as he muttered in return, "I do my best not t'break promises, lass."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Good." Fiona said as he chuckled in return to her question. "Because I've never said that to anyone else."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Me either." Sam laid his head against hers. They were only interrupted a while later when the tavern door opened and Ria and Gerald came out with Heather.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Sam, Ria said that I can stay and help her at the tavern." Heather said as Gerald guided her patiently by the hand towards her older brother. "Can I stay? Please?"

She rarely asked for much, but Ria had always taken a shine to the young Ghis and Heather had always been particularly helpful in the tavern when she was given the chance.

"Papa said he would stay and make sure I got back home."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam leaned down to kiss Heather's cheek and smiled adoringly at his little sister. "Alright, love. Just don' make Papa stay out too late. He's got an evenin' planned with Aunt Val." He hugged her close before letting her go back inside. "Make sure Dun gets a good brush-down before y'stable 'im fer the night."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I promise!" Heather said with excitement as he leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Papa said he'll have me home just after lunch."

Heather was so excited about doing something for the day that she normally didn't get to do. Fiona laughed softly as the little girl suddenly became so animated and active, bounding from back towards the tavern as Gerald held her find the way.

"She's eager to learn." Fiona murmured as Roman pushed against her side with his broad head. "And you, beastie, are impatient."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, if Kennah won' give 'im the time of day, he knows you will," Sam smiled before pulling himself into Kennah's saddle. "I think these two need a good run."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I agree." Fiona said with a grin as she saddled up on Roman, buckling herself into the harness as the drake nearly shook with excitement. "A good run, perhaps another good meal, and then I need to get serious about Justin's proposal."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It'd be nice, bein' so close t'the keep. I could stop by on patrol, an' I'm sure ye'd like workin' with Justin. He's a good sort." Kennah led the way along, finding the path to the northwestern Highlands where they could run freely.

 

[heartofcourage]

"It warms my heart to know that you're already planning visits." Fiona said with a chuckle as Roman followed behind Kennah, the drake already raring to go on another chase. "It's like we're planning a little life together or something."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't know about you, but I might be," Sam said with a shrug and a smile back to her before they hit the open Highlands and Kennah took off. Sam leaned low over her back, practically laying across her spine as she picked up speed.

 

[heartofcourage]

Roman was off after Kennah the moment that the green drake started to run. Fiona did the same, laying low over Roman's back as he easily caught up with Sam. Fiona was much lighter on Roman's back and her drake had more power, but Kennah had a swiftness that couldn't be rivaled. Fiona smiled and laughed as they raced, her blonde hair flying behind her in the wind as she lived in the moment without a care in the world.

 

[KieranSoares]

As they reached a little basin in the highlands and pulled up, Sam flashed a grin at Fiona. "Ghell taught me a little somethin' about drakes th'other day. Watch this." He spurred Kennah on toward the cliff face and stood up in her saddle just before she dug her claws into the tiny holds in the rock and began ascending at an incredible speed for going absolutely vertical. She hardly needed to look at the holds and cracks in the stone, a deep instinct helping her avoid loose stones and find the tiniest holds. The drake saddles were made with such vertical travel in mind, the stirrups able to shift back and the back of the saddle curved into a high perpendicular seat. Sam's own saddle didn't have the safety fits that Fiona did, but that was because here's was a casual riding saddle while his was combat and military.

Kennah neatly scaled the full forty feet, and sat down happily on the cliff edge at the top.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona watched as Sam and Kennah were soon scaling the cliff face, leaving her and Roman far below. She felt Roman wanting to do the same, not liking the fact that Kennah was far ahead of him in something. Briefly considering not following, Roman didn't really give her a choice. He was soon scrambling up the sheer rock face on his own, Fiona thanking her lucky stars for the harness that held her into the saddle as her drake followed after the female that he loved.

 

[KieranSoares]

Roman wasn't quite as graceful a climber, but his sheer power made him quicker and that earned him a brief, interested glance from Kennah before she remembered herself and turned all her attention back to Sam's guidance, making Roman deflate a bit after being so sure she'd be impressed.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You'll have to try harder, Roman." Fiona said with a soft laugh as Roman deflated as he settled next to Kennah on the cliff ledge.

 

[KieranSoares]

Roman rumbled indignantly, following after Kennah and Sam as they led the way out to a lone tree, grizzled and tough from taking on the high winds alone for years, but healthy as ever. There were all sorts of stories behind it that Inverness and knew, like how Brogan was shot with a bolt nearby on his family's escape from Wick, or how the great battle that killed General Cole's brother had taken place in the valley below. The tree was a landmark for travelers as it was just out of sight of Inverness and it's highest branches pointed toward the town. It was a part of the full Ghis crest since Brogan had changed it from the simple bear his father had had, making the change official after Kate's birth. Now it was a black bear against a white tree on a green cross over a blue field.

There were many other stories, some only the Ghis knew, and the tree was carved into Queen Kayla's throne in Norway, but it was such an unassuming thing. Sam often came to check on it.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I've never been up this high before." Fiona commented as Sam showed her the tree that her grandfather had written about many times in his poetry. "Grandpa loved this old tree. He would bring me to the base of the cliff when we had time away from my Da."

 

[KieranSoares]

"The way around is almost a mile walk, so I'm no' surprised." Sam slipped from Kennah's saddle and stepped up to the tree, placing a gloved hand against the bark. "My family loves this tree... I always come check on it once 'r twice a year."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It has a lovely view." She said as she looked at the area surrounding them. A lovely spot to have special occasions."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam sat down at the foot of the tree, giving Kennah free rein to chase around with Roman. The two drakes wandered off and Sam offered Fiona a smile. "Whenever I get a free moment, I like t'come up 'ere. Doesn' 'appen much anymore."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona sat next to Sam and cuddled up against his side with a smile. She enjoyed listening to him talk about his life and the way that he explained things made her believe that things would work out for the better.

 

[KieranSoares]

When she settled at his side, Sam drew Fiona close and pressed a kiss to her temple. "Y'know it's strange, I never thought I'd be one o' those men t'just sit an' hold someone."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm glad that I proved you wrong." Fiona murmured as he pressed a kiss to her temple. "Because there is no place that I'd rather be right now."