Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Julia was still panting as Brogan filled her with his seed and then slipped from her body. She felt the slow trickle of his spending on her inner thigh, but didn’t think much of it as he turned her around and enveloped her in his strong embrace. She never really though about how strong her husband was until they shared moments like these. He moved her about as if she weighed nothing at all.

She sighed softly as she pressed her head against his uninjured shoulder, her own arms wrapping around his broad chest. She felt like she fit perfectly in his arms and as his words from just moments before came back into her head, she felt the first few trickles of tears down her cheeks. She didn’t deserve a man like Brogan. He was sweet and kind and caring…all of the things that she’d never had before.

“I love you, Brogan. I hope that you never forget that.” She said in a watery voice, her eyes clenching shut against all the pain that was surfacing on her heart.

 

[KieranSoares]

"An' I love you, Julia..." He answered in a warm rumble. But looking down at her, he saw her tears. "Wha's th'tears for, darlin'...?" He asked lovingly, wiping one away with his thumb across her cheek. "There ain' nothin' t'cry for..."

 

[heartofcourage]

“It’s nothing…” She said, sniffling as Brogan wiped away her tears with one of his thumbs. “I promise…”

Julia saw from the look in his eyes that he wanted the truth. She blew out a short breath, a fresh wave of tears clouding her eyes as she looked up into his concerned features. How could she tell him what was bothering her?

“I just…” She started and stopped, gathering her thoughts before she started to speak again. “All my life all I’ve ever wanted was a family that loved me. I just can not believe that you’re here sometimes. It all just feels like a dream.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I ain' a dream, Julia, I'm real as can be," he comforted her lovingly. "An' I'm stayin' right 'ere with ya. Chester wasn' an 'ome, but Inverness is. It's our 'ome, an' ya belong 'ere with me an' all th'people who love ya." He kissed her lips lightly, but in that kiss was encouragement and reassurance.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia sighed softly at his reassuring words and nodded slightly. She knew that this was her home now and that he wouldn’t let her go, even if he had thoughts of it when he’d first discovered her with Ciaran. His gentle kiss wiped all other thoughts from her mind and she tightened her embrace around him. She loved this man with all of her heart, something that she never thought would happen with anyone.

When the kiss broke, she looked up at her husband with a clear and honest gaze. She could see all the pain and worry in his gaze, all of the need to protect and love her. The look in his eyes only came from loving and losing someone before and she supposed that she needed to thank Cassie for making her husband the man that he was today.

“How about we get dressed and get some food? I’d hate for you to quit on me because of an empty stomach.” She said softly with a small smile on her face, her tears finally drying.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Soun's jus' fine t'me, love," Brogan rose before Julia and took her hands to help her to her feet. With one last kiss, he pulled on a pair of simple dark trousers and he once again needed her help to pull on his tunic, but he didn't mind so much this time.

Once they were both dressed well enough, he walked hand-in-hand with her into the Great Hall and they sat down while many others, mostly women and young children, were gathering for an early lunch as well.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia sat at the chair that was offered to her by Brogan. She grinned up at her husband before she turned to spare a few words to Kitty. It was hard to forget that a battle still raged outside and she counted herself lucky that her husband was still there with her.

Emma sat a short distance away, her eyes locked on Julia as the drinks and meals were served. Nervously she stroked her belly, watching as a mug of ale was placed in front of an unsuspecting Julia.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan was drinking his own ale when he looked over and caught the woman who'd served Julia the ale, "'Scuse me, love, could ya get th' wine out o' th' cellar? Our ale's still just a touch strong fer m'queen."

The woman nodded, "Yes, m'keng," and she hurried off. When Julia had the proper drink, Brogan took the thus-far untouched ale, and he drank it himself without a thought.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia glanced from her conversation with Kitty as Brogan called for another drink. She shook her head slightly and gave him a slight smile. "Love, you don't have to give me special treatment."

Reaching over she placed her hand on his thick forearm as the wine was brought and he drank her ale without comment. Emma sucked in a deep breath as she watched the scene unfold.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yes, I do," Brogan smiled before kissing her cheek. He didn't notice the incredibly nervous serving man who was staring at him, disbelieving that he'd failed again to kill Julia. He exited the room quickly, intent to flee before his mistress punished him for his folly.

Through the meal, Brogan appeared entirely fine. The poison was slow to act on purpose, so that by the time it took effect, it would be too late. As everything was being cleared away, Brogan paused in the hall with Julia to talk with a passing woman, and just as she left, Brogan leaned back against the wall lifting a hand to his forehead as if he was in pain. "Christ," he growled at the cracking headache that'd suddenly come over him.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Brogan? What's wrong, love?" She asked softly, looking at him with eyes wide with concern. She had never seen her husband in such pain before and it frightened her immensely.

"Brogan, talk to me." She said, her voice laced with urgency.

Gripping his arm, Julia pulled him from where he rested giants the wall steering him down the hall towards Kitty's room. "Let's get you situated in your mother's room."

 

[KieranSoares]

"No, love, I'm fine..." Brogan grunted, but just as he stepped away from the wall, he stumbled and collapsed to his knees, clenching his head with a deep growl. He knew this wasn't sudden sickness, that something had been done to him. "Julia... get Valentina..." he muttered, knowing the Italian woman was knowledgeable in poisons and maladies.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia gasped as Brogan stumbled to his knees, his head clenched tightly between his hands. She knelt at his side quickly, her own hands cupping his cheeks as she felt his clammy skin. She started to shake then, fear pooling in her belly as he told her to get Valentina.

“Alright. Just stay here, love.” She said softly, kissing his forehead before she stood and ran towards Kitty’s chambers.

Throwing open the wooden door, her green eyes searched the interior in a panic. Emma sat next to Kitty, both looking at her with a look of surprise. “What’s the matter, Julia?” Emma asked in a calm, collected voice.

“I need Valentina…now!” She said, panting as her eyes finally focused on the Italian woman. “Something’s wrong with Brogan.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Valentina immediately rose from her seat beside Kitty, bolting out and down the hall to find her lord. Kitty rose shakily, "What's 'appened...? What's going on with 'im, Julia?" She looked terrified and had paled even more than usual.

Valentina slid to a halt beside Brogan, and managed to haul him to his feet despite his sudden weakness, getting him into the nearest room, which happened to be his own bedroom.

 

[heartofcourage]

“I don’t know, Kitty. He just asked me to get Valentina.” Julia said softly, seeing the fear and concern in her mother-in-law’s features. “But why don’t we get you settled and I’ll send for something warm to drink.”

She was more concerned for Brogan at that moment, but she knew in her frail condition, a shock might be devastating for Kitty. She made her way to Kitty and helped her to settle back into her seat. Glancing at Emma, she swore that she saw something cold and calculating in her gaze. Shaking it off as nothing but speculation, she then turned and caught a passing servant, asking for some heated wine.

 

[KieranSoares]

The servant hurried to fulfill her request, and soon returned with said wine in hand. As she placed it down before Kitty, she looked to Julia, "M'queen, Lady Valentina's asked for ya, says it's important."

Kitty, meanwhile, looked entirely miserable. In her younger years, she could've helped her son, but now, with illness and fading memory, she'd lost any healing skill she had.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia nodded at the servant asked for her presence. “I’ll be there in a moment.” She said softly, looking towards Kitty and noticing the miserable look on the older woman’s face.

“Kitty, he’ll be fine. I promise you that.” She said softly, stooping to cradle the woman’s face in her hands. “He’s stubborn enough to get through this, just you wait and see.” She added in a small smile for the woman before she leaned in and kissed her cheek.

With that, she turned and left the room, following the way back to her bedroom to see just what Valentina needed from her.

 

[KieranSoares]

Valentina was beside Brogan, who was only half-awake and entirely unresponsive. She turned to face Julia, and sighed, "He's been poisoned, my lady, and I think it's a poison from the highlands by how slow it's taking effect and the headache he has."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Well…what does that mean?” Julia asked, looking at Valentina as she gave her the awful diagnosis. “What can I do to help him, Valentina?”

She stood beside the bed, reaching down to stroke her hand over Brogan’s cheek, hoping that he knew that she was there and not giving up so easily.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't know exactly what it is yet, but I just need a little time." Valentina sighed, "I want you to stay with him for now, while I try to understand what it is that he's been poisoned with." She exited the room leaving some simple instructions for how to care for Brogan.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia was terrified as she took a seat next to their bed, her hand cradling his gently as she looked over his still features. She hoped that this wouldn’t be the last moment that she had to share with her husband, not after they had such a beautiful morning together. Leaning forward, she pressed her ear against his chest, listening to the gentle thud of his heart.

“You can’t leave me now, Brogan. Please, love, don’t leave me.” She whispered, fresh tears coming to her eyes as she struggled to come up with some solution as to how to help her husband.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan stirred only slightly, turning his head and closing his eyes, and his hand gave hers a gentle squeeze as if to reassure her. "Julia..." he muttered, "I'm okay..."

 

[heartofcourage]

“No, you were poisoned, Brogan.” Julia said through her tears as she squeezed his hand back and turned to look at him. “Valentina is looking for a cure so I just need you to hold on until then.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll be fine," he grunted like a wounded beast. "I jus' want t'know who's responsible... I thought tha' ale didn' taste righ'... They were tryin' t'poison you, love..." Even speaking normally, he just couldn't take in enough breath to keep up with his words.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia shivered violently at the words that someone was trying to poison her. Reaching towards Brogan’s lips, she pressed her fingers against him gently to silence him. It was taking too much out of him to even speak. It broke her heart, especially after the beautiful morning that they had spent together.

“Don’t speak, love. Please save your energy. We can find who did this when you’re better.” She said softly, trying to calm her husband before he caused himself further injury.