Sionnach (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"Riley, don't stay out here too long. Rikke has training this afternoon." Fiona said as she heard the soft purring of the tiny dragon as she nuzzled against her mother. "I won't disturb you anymore, Dzana. If you need anything, just send Sam along or tell Schaller."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Schaller looks after us just fine," Dzana murmured, though it still felt strange to admit.

As Fiona made her way out, Rikke stepped out as well. "I can drop you and the drakes down in the valley," she offered, knowing the drakes were trained well enough to stand being carried for a short time, and they trusted the family's dragon members.

 

[heartofcourage]

"No, love. Thank you." Fiona said as she climbed into Roman's saddle and gave a whistle for Kennah. "It's been a while since the drakes and I have gone on a proper run. It'll do them good. Soma will keep Elin with him for the time being."

 

[KieranSoares]

Rikke nodded, settling once more near Dzana. "Before you go, do you know when you and Sam plan to disappear yet?" She asked with a smile.

Roman barked in response to Fiona nearby, but he didn't come quite as quickly as he had in the past. He had gotten lazy and easily distractible, but he hustled when Kennah barked back at him, recognizing that he was being difficult.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Soon. He's deciding where he wants to take me." Fiona said as the drakes came to her side. "We never had a proper honeymoon. I think he's always felt a bit guilty about that."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, make sure it's someplace amazing where no one can find you." Rikke chuckled as Roman finally arrived, earning a stern nudge from Kennah.

 

[heartofcourage]

"And what, pray tell, would a young elder dragon know about a romantic get away?" Fiona asked with a grin as Roman finally showed up and groaned as Kennah chastised him.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Nothing beyond the stories your family has always told me," Rikke chuckled. "Maybe one day I will know. But no time soon."


When Fiona reentered the Voya valley, things were quiet and peaceful as usual. And when she drew near Rhett's home, she found Sam and Orla splitting firewood to store for winter while Rhett had all the windows in the house open, and was baking in an outdoor stone oven. Sam looked up as Fiona approached, and set aside his axe to come take Roman's lead as the drake meandered after his mate. "Managed t'distract th'kids?" He asked with a light smile, idly scratching under Roman's chin as the drake nuzzled in for attention.

 

[heartofcourage]

"For the time being. Soma will be studying the elder dragons and Riley will be helping Rikke with her training." Fiona said as she slipped off Roman's saddle. "This overgrown lizard needs more training of his own. He's growing lazy."

Fiona leaned in and kissed Sam's cheek as he held Roman by the reigns. "Rikke wanted to know if you had decided where we were going. I told her no but you were taking it seriously."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I am. But I'm still no' sure myself." Sam gave her a smile as she kissed him. "Any requests, suggestions?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Somewhere warm. Somewhere near the sea." Fiona said as he asked for suggestions. "And somewhere that you are."

She was easy to please and she knew that he had been working hard on deciding where their getaway would be. "I've already arranged with Ezra to take control of communications. We will truly be left to our own devices."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam nodded, idly scratching Roman's bearded chin. "I won' risk Greece 'r Italy... But we've got friendly territory in the south of France. Good wine, good food, an' a long summer, still ahead..."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona was about to speak when Tati emerged from the house, covered in flour and carrying her riding gear. "And just where are you going?"

"Schaller promised...I could ride." Tati said as she stopped and looked up at her mother through her thick glasses.

"Covered in flour?" Fiona asked with a grin.

"I was...helping...Uncle Rhett." She said with a slight shrug of her shoulders.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam sighed with a smile, kneeling to dust the flour off Tati and clean her glasses. "Go on, then. Don' keep tha' old grump waiting too long."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona couldn't help but chuckle at the both of them. Sam doted on their youngest and it was clear that Tati adored him. She turned as she heard Rhett appear in the doorway, a bundle of letters in his hands that had been delivered earlier.

"Thank you." Fiona said as she took them, Tati running off on her own a short while later. "Seems she's finally found what makes her happy."

 

[KieranSoares]

Rhett nodded with a smile of his own, signing to Fiona, 'All she talks about is Schaller and flying now.'

Sam took the drakes to get them unsaddled and out to the pastures with Elin, and eventually returned to continue his work.

 

[heartofcourage]

By the time Sam returned to his duties, Fiona had read through her messages. She approached him with a saddened look on her face, one of the letters still in her hands.

"Sam?" Fiona murmured to get his attention. "There's a letter...from Ireland."

She handed over the message that had been written by the new king, telling them of Sarah's peaceful death from old age.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam"s brows raised at the mention of Ireland, and as he read over the letter, his brows furrowed in concern and even disappointment. "Damn... I'd hoped we would've seen her one last time after we got home. Especially Da... This'll break 'is heart." He sighed, folding the letter away. "Well... We still have their support. They'll be hitting western Scotland an' Wales when we attack from th'south. Once things are settled, we can go pay our proper respects."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll send a letter to her family this evening." Fiona said as Sam tucked the letter away in his pocket. "Are you alright?"

She reached out and cupped his cheek in her hand, staring into his green eyes to gauge just what he was feeling.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam met her gaze and sighed once more, quieter now. "I didn't know her as well as my parents an' uncles. They all went through a lot because of her... But she also helped us with hard winters, took in people who needed safety an' fresh starts... An' her help in th'first war gave us that extra time we needed t'get everyone out. I jus' wish I could've seen her an' Ireland again. Da especially. I hope she knew she was still family."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Sam, every member of this family probably made her feel as welcome as possible. She's been waiting a long time to be with her husband again. I'm sure that this is a bit of a relief for the family to know that she's finally at peace." Fiona said softly. "And we will properly honor her when there's time. You're right."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam stepped a little closer, pressing his forehead to hers with a half-smile. "Poor Ian'll have to deal with her mood swings again." He chuckled softly. "I'm sure Shia'll be ecstatic."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona leaned into her husband and let out a small sigh as Sam held her tightly, his forehead pressed against her own. She kissed him gently to comfort him in the moment.

"Finish up your chores, love. I'll write my messages." She said softly, kissing him one more time. "Then we can spend the afternoon together."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm gonna drop this off with Ma," Sam murmured, the letter still in hand. "She'll know how t'break it t'Da. I'll be back." Stealing one more kiss, he headed off.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona watched him go, knowing that he had a difficult task in telling his parents that Sarah had died. It would be met with a lot of sadness and conversation. With a long sigh, she entered the house and settled at the table with a mug of ale to start on her stack of letters that needed to be addressed.

That afternoon Riley had found Andre in a particularly good mood. In fact, the two romps that they had back to back in the ger certainly sealed that point. Lying on the bedding, tangled up with his naked body, she could only grin.

"If I had known you were this ready, I would have come back earlier." Riley said with a laugh as Andre's hand smoothed through her fur.