Pure Moonlight (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"Well if you can give 'im a chance, I'm sure Kjotva can bring 'erself to consider his case." Brogan wrote a note for himself so he could write the letter that night. "And if Jan does go wrong... You know our entire family will be at yer back."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You better be. That's what Ghis do in times of trouble." Selena said as she kissed her brother's cheek once more and their conversation turned towards happier topics.

Meanwhile, Luna was at Ghell's home, checking in on Norr and Arin. Arin's leg had been damaged during her capture and she made it around the house now with the help of a wooden crutch. It still remained to be seen if she would ever get back to her full strength again. She was learning to do things in a new way now, growing slightly frustrated when her mother or father would move to do it for her so she wouldn't struggle.

"Uvore, I can do it." Arin said in her own soft way as she got herself a mug of water, shooing him away as Luna sat at the table and watched her closely.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know, I know," Ghell sighed. Since Arin had been hurt, he'd been incredibly worried for her. It certainly wouldn't do her shy nature any favors. But Norr had really come into his own and gotten closer to the family again, less interested in running off to make a name for himself anymore. Though he wasn't quite as worried about Arin as his mother and father, he'd taken more interest in her future.

 

[heartofcourage]

Arin gave her father a soft smile as she took her mug out into the garden to sit in the shade and enjoy the day. She most definitely had learned to enjoy the little things that life had to offer since the trauma her family had suffered.

"The wolves in Ireland could help her leg. If not bring it back to full strength they could at least give her back more motion." Luna told Ghell softly. "If she would want it though. I wouldn't force her to do something that she doesn't want. She would come to resent you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I want what's best for her health, but all you young cubs are teaching us parents that you don't want us interfering much anymore," Ghell sighed with a small but bitter smile. "It won't be long now before she and Norr go off too. Probably not far, but far enough. Even just having Telma around only every couple days is too little for me."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't think Arin would ever go very far, Uncle Ghell." Luna said softly, knowing that he was having problems with the same things that her own mother was. "I could talk to Grandpa about contacting the Irish wolves if you would like."

She stood and gave him a tight hug, knowing that he probably needed one right then. "I'll make you an herbal mix that should help with some of the stress you're feeling. Just something to make you feel better."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Thank you dear..." Ghell nodded and sat down. Since Arin had been hurt and Luna taken, Ghell hadn't been sleeping well. Luna knew it was stress and nightmares, but he didn't tell anyone else.

 

[heartofcourage]

Luna set to work mixing up the herbs that would help him relax. She knew that he and Katina needed help after the stress of the past few months. First they had given Telma to her brother as a mate. Then their younger children had been attacked. It was enough to make anyone buckle.

"There's enough in here for Aunt Katina too. If you need more, I'll be more than happy to mix it up for you." Luna said softly as she handed Ghell the packet. "And I'll make something up for Arin if she is ever in pain. Sometimes it helps to have something around to help take an edge off."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You're too good to us, dear. But I can hold down the fort here. I'm sure you have more important things to do than look after an old Wolf." Ghell kissed her cheek and hugged her close.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I saw Jan walking towards the house. I figured I didn't want to be there if he was going to talk to Ma and Dad." Luna murmured as Ghell hugged her tightly. "Ma doesn't like him. I can understand that she wants us to be cautious with who we chose as a mate, but sometimes fate takes that decision out of your hands."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She doesn't want to see you in the same situation she was in with Ruben before your father managed to return to her. But she doesn't understand that love transcends parents' orders. I learned that the hard way with your brother and Telma." Ghell kissed her cheek and went to fetch a couple snacks for them.

 

[heartofcourage]

"She never talks about her childhood." Luna said as Ghell went to gather them some snacks. "She loves Gran more than anything in the world, but she never says a word about her father. All she says is that he was a bad man and she had to make the choice to leave Inverness to get away from him. That's where she met Dad."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Your mother had the worst of it next to Durban. Tamblin was... Mad, to say the least. Paranoid and frightened of every shadow. With Oliver Cotton's influence, he used that paranoia to justify murder, war, even betraying his own people. Tamblin would've been just a scared and damaged man, but not cruel, if Oliver hadn't gotten hold of him. The same goes for many who fell under his grasp. Lochlan O'Hennessey, Lord Cavan of Ireland, Arland Wick... And from what I understand, he tried to get hold of Brogan too after his first wife was killed. It was because of Oliver that your mother suffered by Tamblin's hand, but I'm afraid the only one who really understands that is Brogan. They all know Oliver was a part of it, but they blame Oliver most. Durban didn't open his eyes to that truth until he aided Queen Sarah in ridding Ireland of Oliver, when he saw Cavan under the same influence."

Ghell sighed quietly, "I won't give away all your mother's secrets, but I will say that her first moment of true happiness in life didn't come til she fell in love with your father. She's lived a very difficult life, physically and emotionally. But Tamblin gave her one thing that helped her get through it all; his stubbornness and pride. I doubt she'll ever really talk about him ever again... But if you really want to understand your mother, you might talk to Durban. The two of them were their younger siblings' guardians, even more so than I was. I was always taking care of Kitty and keeping her alive... I couldn't always protect them."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't want Ma to be upset." Luna said softly as Ghell came back with fresh apples from the garden, placing one in front of her. "I never want her to be upset or disappointed in anything that Ruben or I do. I know that Telma took her by surprise, but she's always adored her. Jan...is different. He's a thief and a murderer. He confessed to both and she can only see the bad in him. He does have a lot of good though. He loves poetry and books. He's incredibly kind. He has a wild streak in him, but I think in time that can be tamed. She doesn't see him like I do."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She doesn't want to see her little girl go off with a heartbreaker. It's the same problem Brogan had with David, but much more dire in Selena's mind. I don't think she can fault him for killing in self-defense, not when she's done the same many times. But she can see the possibility of you ending up like her. Except your Prince Charming won't fight for ten years to get back to you. She's afraid you'll be alone, possibly with an unexpected child, and you'll only find fleeting moments of happiness with family. But it will never be enough to hold back the tide of regret and loneliness." Ghell met her gaze quite seriously then. "Luna... She can't decide for you. If you want Jan, there's nothing that can stop you. But the question is whether or not you want to risk your mother being right."

 

[heartofcourage]

"That's the thing. I don't think I could ever be sure until I tried." Luna said in a soft voice as her uncle gave her advice. "Even if I did end up with a child and Jan left for his home again...I would have at least tried. I don't feel like it's wrong, though. It feels very, very right."

 

[KieranSoares]

"And if you end up with a happy family and a bright future... Well, you might restore just a little faith for your mother. I don't think Jan would leave if he could help it. Not after he led the journey across the world to get you. He put every coin, favor, and resource he could into finding you. Your father is still wary of him, but wants to give him a chance. Volgo and Dayja apparently adore him even if they scold him when they see him. And Taqu'un sees potential, the same potential you and your brother have. Personally... I think he's a good cub who ended up in a bad place and so he tries to dig himself out by risking it all. Perhaps if you have a serious talk with him, you might figure out why. You really don't know much about him, nor do any of us. I think that scares your mother most. Comparing Jan and David again... At least the family knew David and had watched him grow up. Jan comes from a country only your Aunt Kayla and Uncle Brogan, maybe even Durban knows anything about. He's a mystery."

 

[heartofcourage]

"With a family like mine, I don't think they would let me make the wrong decision on who I mated with." Luna said with a smile towards Ghell. "I'm not a baby any longer, even if Ma wishes that I still was. I have a job that I love. I'll soon have a home of my own. It's time that I stood on my own two feet. I'll be careful, I can promise you all that."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You've got a good head on your shoulders. Even if your heart leads you astray, you'll be alright." Ghell had always been very fond of Luna and had been nearly as close with her as Selena. He was very much the wise old caretaker of the two families and Taqu'un strived to be like him so that he might do the same and be better at his job as Head Elder.

When Luna returned home later, Selena was still away at the keep. Kreston and Jan were settled at the foot of the great tree before the house and talking over mugs of Kreston's homemade hard cider. Kreston smiled to see his daughter returning, and Jan looked up with a smile of his own. "Hey, Lu."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Jan." Luna said, slightly startled that her father was sitting so comfortably with the man that she was falling for. "Dad. Is Ma gone?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Off to the keep to ask Brogan to send Queen Kjotva a letter about Jan," Kreston said with a nod. "Get a mug and join us, love."

"She wasn't too happy with me... but your dad convinced her that she'd never know if I was worth giving a chance unless she actually gave me one," Jan added.

 

[heartofcourage]

"No thanks, Dad." Luna said, declining a mug of ale as she sat down next to her father and let out a sigh. "I need to keep my head about me in case someone needs my help. Aunt Valentina is going to the Fells with her family so Grandpa needs my help."

She glanced towards Jan as he told her about her mother. "Ma doesn't trust easily. It'll take her time and you'll need to be on your best behavior."

 

[KieranSoares]

"This weak stuff is hardly going to make you tipsy," Kreston murmured in return before she spoke to Jan.

"I'm gonna try my best not to screw up," Jan nodded. "Ruben said he'll let me go back to my job floating logs down the river for the lumber camp, or I can join the fishermen. So I've got an okay start." Of course Jan had lost his room at the boarding house for being gone so long, so he'd pitched his own little camp just beyond the village gate where it was still safe but not in the way.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Dad, you know I've never been able to handle my ale no matter how weak it is." Luna murmured as she rested her cheek against his shoulder briefly before Jan told them that Ruben was giving him his job back. "Ma will want you to have a house before agreeing to is being together. Are you willing to wait that long?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Lu, as long as you're willing to wait too... Yeah. I'll do whatever it takes to prove to your Ma that I'm worth all the heartache she's going through to give me a chance. She's got it the hardest."

"You have no idea," Kreston murmured before rising to leave them alone.