Pure Moonlight (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"Wait until you meet Kayla's Christopher and Ashien's Dylandra. You'll be even more in awe. Not a single person has made a bad choice with the person that they want to spend the rest of their life with." Selena said, noticing the way that he sat stiffly as if hurting. "I'm so happy that you're back. You'll have to walk me down the aisle tomorrow."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Brogan said I had to be back in time to do it in his letter that came to free me," Ghell nodded with a chuckle. Vincenzo had originally been the one intended to walk her down the aisle, but he'd insisted it should be Brogan as the patriarch of the family. But Brogan knew it had to be Ghell when he'd learned the old Wolf was in Spain. "You children have always treated me so well... I could hardly believe it when the slavers took my collar off and showed me Brogan's seal on the letter... Kitty told me he's been looking since the day I disappeared, and the rest of you were always sending money to help the search."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You've always been like our Da, Ghell." Selena said softly as she took his hand in her own and squeezed it gently. "Of course we would do anything for you. Even Warwick, bless his soul, is coming back for this wedding. He hasn't been back to Inverness since Ashelin passed, but Brogan insisted he wanted everyone together."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ghell's heart squeezed tightly when he heard Ashelin was gone, but he was glad to hear Warwick was still alive. He'd heard already about Cassie and the most recent war, but his heart was lifted as he saw each Ghis sibling making their way well and in love, and several with beautiful children. "To think... Little Brogan grew into a king... He was only just beginning to really grow when we left, seventeen and still so small. He's a giant. I never thought he'd end up larger than Boar... And you, you're taller. You were already so tall when you were eighteen. You look so much like your mother did when you were born." As a small girl, Selena had looked a bit more like Tamblin, but womanhood had turned her into a strong, tall mirror of her mother.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He had to grow up quickly when he fell in love with Cassie. No one out there was going to beat him for a chance at her hand. It's a shame that the first person he had to use that new found strength on was our father." Selena said as Ghell talked about how tall she was and how much she looked like Kitty. "Poor Boar was worried that he would take after Da. Ashien still looks the most like him, but Emma was worked so hard to soften Boar. Three children have also done wonders for his temper. He's a big softy now."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've seen. But that distrust of men hasn't faltered, I see," he chuckled. "He didn't recognize me at first, and practically demanded to know what I was doing in his brother's study. He nearly broke down in tears when he realized who I am. That's certainly new to me." He shifted to get comfortable, and winced terribly, a hand rising to his ribs. "I'm sorry, eli... I'm still a bit fragile..." Never in her younger days had Ghell ever been fragile even at his worst when Tamblin had nearly had him killed for helping Kitty try to escape with Seamus, nor when he'd taken a serious beating by werewolf hunters only to be saved at the last minute by a then-fifteen year old Durban. He had always hidden his pain and acted as if nothing was wrong.

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's alright." Selena said as she stood and went to get some of the herbs that Vincenzo had left her in case she needed them after Luna came. "I'll brew you some tea to help with the pain and then first thing tomorrow we'll take you to see the tribal healer."

Once the tea was made, she pressed the mug into his hands and sat down beside him. "I'm going to take care of you now, uvore. It's my turn to protect you from all the bad things in this world. You gave up so much for us."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I never gave up anything I didn't get back tenfold in love and pride," he told her with pure honesty. "Your mother made me your father, and that's all I ever needed, but I happened to have five other children to love too, and a sixth little one much later. I was happy, those days that Tamblin let us all alone. Perhaps the happiest time was when we were in Skye to see Martin when he was ill. I spent all day with you children and didn't have to worry about anyone hurting you. Your mother was happy at home and with Vincenzo. Jealous as I was... I was so glad to see her smiling." Ghell had admitted to Selena when she was sixteen that he'd loved Kitty, but he didn't mind her choosing Vincenzo because he wanted her to be happy.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Don't you worry. Staying here with us, I'll make sure that we find you someone that you can love and will love you in return." Selena said with a smile as he talked about the past and how much he loved the times he had spent with the Ghis children. "I'm sure Ma already has someone in mind for you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I did have a love, in Spain," he admitted quietly. "But I'm afraid she wasn't strong enough to survive in the mines where we were put to work... She joined me in my first year..." But he seemed unwilling to speak about her for the moment. "I won't mar tomorrow with such sad talk. We can discuss the past ten years another time."

 

[heartofcourage]

"If any of us have our way, you'll never have to work or experience a day of sorrow for the rest of your life." Selena promised him, seeing the sorrow in his gaze. "I know you'll feel the need to pull your weight with the tribe and there are so many ways to do that, but we want to take care of you, uvore."

 

[KieranSoares]

"What would I do with myself then, my love?" He asked with a chuckle. "Of course I'll pull my weight. Anything would seem like a vacation now. Besides, there are things I haven't gotten to do in a long time that I sorely miss. It'd be nice just to go out fishing again. I haven't touched a net or cast a line since the last time I took Boar and Brogan out when they were barely teenagers."

With the tea, he'd begun to relax back into his seat. "You'll have to show me around once everything is settled down. I'll find my place before too long if the Elders will have me."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Ruben will have to take you fishing then. He loves going with his uncle to fish for the tribe." Selena said as Kreston appeared with some fresh blankets and she helped to get Ghell settled in front of the fire. "Sleep well tonight, uvore. There will be a lot of excitement tomorrow."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I can't tell you how glad I am to see that you've made such a good life for yourself, Selena," Ghell murmured as he laid on the sofa and gladly pulled the blankets over himself, cold and tired as he was. "I'm very proud of you, eli. I hope you know that."

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena kissed his cheek, giving him a warm smile. "I always knew that you would come back to me, uvore. It seems that you made it just in time."

She left him to sleep, joining Kreston in their room where the smile on her face threatened to stay there forever. She was in the best mood in ages, hugging her mate and kissing him to show her joy.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kreston smiled as she kissed him and he gladly held her closer. He murmured quietly, "I haven't seen you this happy since we fell in love." But he was so glad to know she had such a big part of her life back.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I feel complete now, Kres." Selena murmured as he held her so tightly. "I've wanted him back for so many years. Now, I'm never going to let him go."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I have a feeling he feels the same about you." Kreston nodded. "I'm sure Donan will be glad to welcome him to the tribe. And we'll make sure he has a proper home here." He'd heard about Ghell often enough to feel his own affection, if not gratitude for the Wolf, so he felt it was the least he could do for the Wolf that Selena loved so much.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Let's get some sleep, love. Tomorrow will be long enough and I'm sure Luna will wake soon to nurse." Selena said as she kissed Kreston one last time before she turned to dress for bed.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kreston settled easily into bed, tired from the long day of last minute planning and arranging. The next morning started quietly. It was generally decided that the procession would leave the village at noon so they had time to get ready and have a family breakfast. When Selena woke, Kreston was already up and making the meal so that she could tend to Luna and Ruben and their outfits.

 

[heartofcourage]

Luna was bright eyed that morning, more alert than Selena had seen her. She was dressed in a lovely gown of blue, a soft blanket made for her by her Aunt Julia. She looked lovely as she moved and squirmed on the blanket, squealing at her mother as she was ready for the day.

"Ruben!" Selena called out as she let Luna stay on the blanket, playing in her own little world as she got her son's outfit ready. "Did you clean your fur?" Selena asked when he finally appeared.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yeah. Does it look okay?" Ruben asked as he stepped out in the dark trousers that went with his outfit. His fur shone beautifully and was nicely combed with a little help from Kreston. "Ma, who's that strange Wolf sitting outside?" He asked, having noticed Ghell sitting quite peacefully out in the grass.

 

[heartofcourage]

"That's my uvore." Selena said with a smile as she helped him put on the blue shirt that had been made for the occasion. "His name is Ghell and he's extremely excited to meet you."

Once Ruben was dressed, she pulled out a special leather vest that Taqu'un wanted to surprise his nephew with. It was stamped with beautiful Lunar designs, dyed various colors of blue and gold.

"Just like your Uncle's vest, huh?" Selena asked as she watched his eyes light up brightly as she helped him button the vest up.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I can't believe he made one for me," Ruben said with an awed tone, but then he looked up at her. "Is he gonna bring Ellen and Adane? Luna would love to see her again." He knew his sister well by this point and how much she loved Adane.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Everyone is going to be there, love. It's a celebration for the entire city and the whole tribe." Selena said with a smile. "And I'm putting you in charge of Luna for the day. Gran will take her from you if you want to play, but otherwise, you're in charge."