Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

Brogan rose slowly, "I'll be righ' back, love." He kissed her forehead and went to the door, stopping a passerby and telling them to get hold of a doctor. Brogan could care for Julia, but he knew nothing about treating pneumonia.

 

[heartofcourage]

She moaned softly as he kissed her forehead, his lips feeling cool against her heart flesh. “Don’t leave me, Brogan…” She whimpered, her eyes struggling to follow him as he walked towards the door.

She was racked by a coughing fit that rattled inside of her chest, the sound carrying through the open door and down the hallway. She felt a burning sensation deep in her chest that frightened her and she couldn’t help the tears that start to course down her cheeks. She didn’t want to die…not so soon after coming to Inverness.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan returned to her side, "It's okay, darlin', I'm not leavin'. Yer gonna be jus' fine..." He settled beside her, brushing the tears from her face and smoothing her hair back.

 

[heartofcourage]

It wasn’t long before the doctor came, poking and prodding until Julia thought that she would lose her mind. A heated poultice placed upon her chest was the first order of business and soon the noxious smell of medicine filled the air of the bedroom. A thick brew of herbs was placed to her lips and she shook her head, clamping her mouth shut and refusing to drink like a pouting child.

 

[KieranSoares]

"C'mon, love, it'll help ya," Brogan asked softly, kissing her cheek. "Ye'll feel better sooner..."

(Sorry it's not longer)

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia protested a while longer before she finally sighed and parted her lips, accepting the bitter herbal drink. It was barely choked down, each swallow accompanied by a cough until the entire mug was drained. If ever there were a moment in her life that she were truly miserable, it was then. Everything ached and Brogan was siding with the doctor…the traitor.

“I’ll remember this moment the next time you’re ill.” She croaked out, her green eyes staring up at him with a hint of humor.

 

[KieranSoares]

"We'll deal with tha' if it e'er 'appens, I don' get sick much, love," he smiled down at her and settled beside her to watch over her. He always had water close at hand and a doctor within earshot.

 

[heartofcourage]

As Julia lay secure in Brogan’s arms, Emma had left her husband to start on her end of the bargain. She had pulled on her best gown, a soft yellow color that clung to her curves. Pre pregnancy, she had been a sight to behold in the gown, but now her bump detracted slightly. Her glossy black hair lay in a thick curtain down her back, pin straight and flowing in its perfection.

She entered the great hall, her clear blue eyes searching out the man that she wanted to speak to. She wondered briefly if Ciaran had even made it back from their harrowing adventure on the loch.

 

[KieranSoares]

Indeed Ciaran was there, his head resting on the table with a mug of ale beside him. No doubt he was lost in his worry for Julia, hating himself for letting her be the one to jump in. He was unbothered by the others, who figured he was just upset about his dear friend and charge having fallen ill. No one knew the torment in his heart.

 

[heartofcourage]

“You look as if your favorite hound was killed during a hunt.” Emma said as she leaned against the table next to Ciaran. “Why the long face? It’s not as if you had anything to do with Julia being injured today.”

Emma gently reached out and placed her hand on his head, stroking through his thick red hair slightly to try and gain his attention. She smiled to herself, thinking of how much fun she was going to have with this poor man.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ciaran immediately lifted his head when she touched him, "Whoa, now. Y'don' know me well 'nough t'do tha'." He stood from his chair, "Not t'be disrespectful, lass, but I ain' in th' mood fer talkin'..."

 

[heartofcourage]

“No disrespect meant.” Emma said, holding up her hands in a gesture meant to make him feel at ease. “Where I come from when a tragedy happens, it’s always best to tackle the situation with empathy and people you can talk to.”

She watched as he stood from his chair and she gave him the most understanding smile that she could muster. “Julia is a lovely lady, isn’t she? She will make a lovely aunt to my child.” She could most certainly turn on the charm when she needed and she hoped that this man took the bait.

 

[KieranSoares]

"She is... she's one o' my dearest friends..." Ciaran sighed. "I shoulda been out on th' ice t'save th' kid, not her..." He sighed.

 

[heartofcourage]

Emma gave him a friendly smile and nodded in her understanding. “We can’t change what’s already happened…but perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad idea if you were to go off Brogan a hand in caring for the ailing girl. She would probably be very happy to see you.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Ciaran looked at her, having not thought of doing such a thing. "I don' think Brogan'd want me there..." But then, a thought came to him, "Well... I doesn' matter what 'e wants, Julia's my frien'." He nodded then turned to head to the King and Queen's chambers.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia was exhausted, the herbs having sapped her pain and made her drowsy. Combined with Brogan’s strong embrace and warmth and she finally found the peace to sleep. It seemed as if she were only asleep minutes when a knock sounded at their chamber door and she woke coughing with the same wretched rattle that had settled in earlier. As a mug of cool water was pressed to her lips, she drank gratefully and then nodded at Brogan to see who was there.

 

[KieranSoares]

"What do you want?" Brogan growled at the door, and Ciaran stepped in.

"Jus' t'see her." He looked to Julia worriedly.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Brogan, let him come in.” Julia said softly, looking between her two lovers as Brogan glared at Ciaran.

The blanket of their bed seemed to weigh a ton as she struggled to drag it up her body to cover herself from Ciaran’s gaze. He had already seen everything that she had to offer but for the sake of Brogan, she knew that she had to play the part of the shy little wife.

“It’s good to see you, Ciaran. I’m glad you came.” She said, struggling to cough without losing it completely.

 

[KieranSoares]

"So am I..." He knelt by her. Brogan found himself a bit surprised at how she seemed to light up at Ciaran's presence, and so, from there on, he and Ciaran took turns caring for her. With their love and care, she recovered within two weeks.

Once she was back to full health and everything settled, there came a morning when Brogan went off to the lumber camp, and Ciaran stole Julia away immediately once he left, hiding in a small room just across from the bedroom that was rarely used for anything more than storing tools.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia whimpered from the heat of Ciaran’s kiss that had started the moment the door had closed. She smiled softly, laughing under her breath as her hands tangled in his thick red hair. When the kiss broke, she stared into his handsome face and nibbled on her lower lip.

“You are incredibly insatiable, Ciaran.” She whispered, laughing softly. “Brogan’s only just left and you’re already pulling me into closets for a tryst?”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've been waiting two weeks to have you in my arms again," he answered with a grin before kissing her again with just as much, if not more fire. He had just tossed aside his shirt and was unlacing her dress when the door opened. Ciaran froze as he saw Brogan, who'd come to retrieve the axe he'd forgotten from the small room. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, even Brogan didn't know if he would explode or break down from heartache.

"Julia..." Brogan whispered, looking at her and how she held Ciaran. "How... why...? Then the rage hit. Brogan seized Ciaran by the arm and threw him out of the room and against the hallway wall. Ciaran grunted painfully as he slid down the wall to a sit, and as he opened his eyes, his breath caught in his throat as he found his king's claymore tip at his throat. Brogan couldn't even form words for several seconds through his blind rage, and glared death down at Ciaran.

Finally, he formed a sentence, his accent dulled, "By this time tomorrow, traitor, your neck will be under the blade of an axe..."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia laughed again as Ciaran kissed her again with incredible passion. Her made her feel so incredibly beautiful and she loved the feeling of his hands upon her skin. She moaned as his fingers started to pull at the ties of her gown. She was panting with need when the door suddenly opened and a familiar figure filled the doorway.

She turned her green gaze towards her husband, her eyes widening in shock…and terror. She couldn’t even for a scream as Ciaran was jerked from the room and Brogan pulled his weapon. He pronounced a death sentence against Ciaran and that is when Julia finally sprang into action.

“Brogan…please…” She said, her gown still open from where Ciaran had worked the ties loose. “Please, love…let’s talk about this.”

Her voice was soft and her heart racing as she reached out a shaking hand to place it on Brogan’s muscled forearm.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan's reaction was fast, catching her wrist in a tight grip before she could touch him, without removing the blade from Ciaran's throat. His hold was borderline painful as he turned agonized, enraged, heartbroken dark eyes to her. "Don't you dare ever call me 'love' again. You're going back to England." That clearly meant his treaty with Chester was done for, and Chester was at his mercy. He pushed her roughly away, and that sparked Ciaran's anger. Shoving the blade aside, Ciaran leapt to his feet, but Brogan was too quick for him, catching him by the throat and pinning him back against the wall.

Before it could go any further, a man slid round the corner, "M'keng!" He didn't dare ask what was going on. "Wick's at our border, m'lord! They brought all of their men!"

Brogan felt like he was about to erupt in rage. He threw Ciaran to the floor and glared down at him, "Do yourself a favor, Ciaran, and run away before I finish this battle. Maybe then you'll live."

"I ain' leavin'! Ciaran growled, picking himself up, "I'm fightin' fer my 'ome!"

"It isn't your home anymore," Brogan snarled, then his gaze turned to Julia, who he still had hold of. "Or yours. You want him? Take him and run before I set the huntsmen's hounds on him." He pushed her away and stalked down the hallway

 

[heartofcourage]

“Ow!” Julia yelped as her wrist was caught in Brogan’s tight grip. “Brogan, please…” She was cut off as he turned his broken gaze to her and growled that she was going back to England.

Tears immediately pricked her emerald gaze as the fear and guilt clouded her brain. She had no home to go back to…he knew that…and it was obvious he didn’t care. She had betrayed him in the worst way a wife could betray her husband. She deserved every bad thing that happened to her, but going back to England was a death sentence.

“Brogan, you can’t send me home…” Her voice was quivering as those tears fell and she let out a startled gasp as he shoved her aside roughly.

She wanted to scream in terror as Ciaran launched himself at Brogan only to be pinned to the wall. She was going to witness a murder right then and there. She was about to step forward again to stop them when a man came to give Brogan the news that Wick had mounted an attack.

Julia couldn’t even meet Brogan’s gaze as he told them both to leave. She sobbed as he pushed her away and stalked down the hall to mount his troops. Standing there alone with Ciaran, the tears flowed freely. Her heart was breaking…not for herself but for Brogan. How could she have been so foolish?

She didn’t even speak as she pushed past Ciaran and hurried into her bedchamber, slamming the wooden door shut before she collapsed to the ground and struggled to breathe. She would pack…and she would be gone by the time Brogan returned. It was the best that she could do for everyone.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ciaran didn't abandon her so quickly. He came to her side, "Julia... Julia, listen t'me... I want ya t'pack up yer things an' go westward t' th' highlands... There's a big tree there 'gainst a cliff, y'can't miss it. Go there an' wait fer me... I promise ya we'll make it t'gether, e'en if I 'ave t'build e'erythin' from scratch..." He kissed her cheek gently and rose, hurrying out. Even though his king had cast him out, he'd defend Inverness one last time.