Sionnach (closed)

[KieranSoares]

The young Wolf got Fiona settled back and spoke to her til she couldn't respond anymore, the strange, bitter mix hitting her suddenly and sending everything hazy and tilting for a few seconds til she was out.

Outside, Qira called in the leaders and they began shoring up the manor to hold it while the wounded were treated and stabilized before being taken home. Jani took control of the Riders while Kell took the ground forces, freeing up Sam to be with Fiona.

Though the medic had promised Fiona she'd wake within an hour, complications kept her under much longer. When she finally did wake, it was pitch-dark save for a low fire in the corner of the room. She was in the same room with clean bedding, free of her armor and dressed in one of Sam's longer tunics. She had no trousers, leaving her leg easily accessible, and it was propped up on pillows. She was covered in a light blanket as it was all that was available. But to offer further warmth, Sam's bear cloak was draped over her. Sam himself, partially-armored, was sitting in an armchair beside the bed, head leaning on one arm as he was half-asleep with papers in his lap and a half-burned candle beside.

Fiona's body was weak and it felt like she hadn't moved in years. It had been much longer than an hour.

 

[heartofcourage]

She knew that things hadn't gone to plan by how hazy she was when she woke. It was much darker, much quieter, and she was feeling no pain for the moment. That meant that she'd been given something stronger, but she wouldn't complain. As painful as the wound had been, she was happy that she couldn't feel it that instant.

It took a long moment of gathering herself before she managed to speak. "I told him that everything he had was mine now after he called me a vixen whore. I only wish to burn this place to the ground now."

She looked over at Sam with a long sigh. "How many died? It was carnage down in the cellars."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam took a deep breath as he woke from his dozing, looking over as Fiona seemed to want to get back to business immediately. He set aside his papers and moved over to sit beside her, leaning down to kiss her and brush her now-loose hair back gently. "Evenin' to you too, love." Taking her face in one hand, his thumb brushed over her cheek as he looked down at her in quiet relief. "We lost seventeen total between th' cellar an' a couple footsoldiers lost t'the mercenaries. Th'Riders are all good, but Kell's ranks got hit the hardest an' he's been beatin' himself up over it a bit. Thankfully, Qira's alright, though he's been told he's off-duty fer a month. An' the same applies t'you. We need you in good shape fer when we drag von Morden t'Trondheim's best prison an' watch 'im realize he's lost fer good."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona sighed as Sam moved closer to her, kissing her and gently stroking her hair and cheek. She was pained to hear that so many had been lost to this operation. It was the life of a paid soldier, but it still didn't make the news any easier to hear.

"I'm not bloody staying here for a month." Fiona grumbled as she turned her face into the warmth of Sam's hand. "I can hardly stand to know that I'm even in the same manor house as von Morden. It makes my skin crawl."

She opened her pale blue eyes and stared up at Sam for a long moment. "How bad was the wound? I've never seen a weapon like that before. It reminded me of the stories you Da tells of wars in Inverness."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yer not stayin' here," Sam agreed with her. "We're gonna move into Normandy to join Elizabeth an' John an' their family for a while. You can get plenty of rest there an' still help set the stage fer the invasion. I won't leave you out. Then we'll head home t' get things ready an' take a breather. You should be back in fightin' shape in time fer the first strike."

When she asked about the wound, Sam leaned in to press his forehead to hers. "Kell says it's called a hand cannon. It's a tiny version of what Da an' his brothers faced. It can't blow a man apart, but it can kill a person with a single shot." Sam sighed, wrapping his arms around her. "Yer so fuckin' lucky, Fiona... Th'medics said it missed th'artery in yer leg by less than an inch, an' it didn't break th'bone. If it'd done any more damage... you'd be dead 'r chair-bound fer the rest o' yer life." He sighed, pulling back and adding quietly, "You've been out three days... we weren't sure if you'd make it."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Three...days?” Fiona asked, her brow furrowing slightly as Sam admitted that she almost didn’t make it. “That’s not possible, Sam. It’s like it was all just yesterday. He told me one hour.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Tha' was the plan originally. But when they were working, they said you stopped breathing fer almost a full minute. You'd lost too much blood. Even if it didn't hit th'artery an' kill you right away, you nearly bled out before they could close up th'wound."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Samuel.” She said softly, a wave of guilt washing over her as he told her that she had died and been brought back only to drift between life and death. “Love, I’m so sorry...”

She was interrupted by a knock at the door and it opened slowly, Riley stepping in with a small tray of food. When she had been told her Ma was gravely injured, she had come straight away. Her father needed her and she wasn’t going to let him down. She had taken care of him and made sure he ate, but he wouldn’t leave Fiona’s side.

“Kell says if you won’t eat, he’s going to come in and make you.” Riley murmured, paused in her tracks when she saw her Ma awake and alert. “Ma?”

Fiona glanced over at Riley, too exhausted and weak to love much and she gave her daughter a small smile. “Good. Your Da needs a strong female to kick his ass when I’m not around.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam sat up straight as Riley entered, his eyes shadowed with exhaustion, but a little hope back in his gaze now that Fiona was properly awake. "C'mere love," he muttered, welcoming Riley over as he pulled the armchair closer for her. "Bloody women anyway, tryin' to make me grey as my Da," he sighed with a small smile.

 

[heartofcourage]

“You didn’t have to come all this way, Riley.” Fiona said softly as Riley took a seat and placed the tray on a small side table. “Especially with the von Mordens around.”

“Yes, I did. Soma insisted. He stayed to take care of Tati and attend to business in Trondheim. He and Andre practically threw me out.” Riley said as she looked between the two of them. “And I decided for once in my life to not argue.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Conrad's been mindin' her presence here, keepin' to himself." Sam sighed, almost frustrated. "There's a part o' me tha' wants t'believe he's worth th'second chance we offered. He did as we asked and then some, even saved Qira from bein' crushed. But I still wanna have 'im drawn and quartered fer what he did."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's up to me and me alone to decide what happens to him." Riley said as she looked at her father, reminding him that Conrad's fate was in her hands. "So far he knows to stay away from me and Kell is making sure that happens."

Fiona was already fading as Riley spoke, exhausted from blood loss and illness. Her eyes were a struggle to keep open, but she fought it as hard as she could.

"Do you want something to eat, Ma? I'll go get you something." Riley asked as Fiona shook her head no.

"I just want some sleep." Was her reply, her hand reaching out for Sam's/

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam leaned down to press a kiss to Fiona's forehead. "Then sleep, love. There's no rush." He let his head rest against hers for a long moment, soothing her to sleep before he pulled back slowly and looked to Riley. "Stay with her a while, love? I need to check in with Kell. Then I'll eat an' get some sleep myself, promise."

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley watched her parents as her father soothed her mother into sleep once more. When she had gotten to the manor with Marth, he had been beside himself. She had never seen him cry, but she knew that he had been doing so privately before he had put a brave face on for everyone else. She had been shocked to see Fiona, half-naked, and incredibly pale. She looked nothing like her bright and vibrant mother. It had scared her. Not knowing if she would live or die had shaken her to the very core.

"Is she going to be alright, Da?" Riley asked as Sam told her to stay with Fiona while he took care of some business.

 

[KieranSoares]

"She's managed so far..." Sam murmured, his voice weaker than usual. "Th'doctors say she's past th'worst of it. She's gonna have to go through a lot o' what you did t'get her leg back in workin' shape. But tha' shot destroyed so much muscle tha' we don' know if it'll ever be as strong."

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley gave him a nod as he tried to soothe her worries. She knew how long of a road Fiona had in front of her even if everything went perfect.

"Go take care of your business. I'll watch her." Riley said softly, giving her Da a small smile. "I don't think she can get into too much trouble."

After Sam had left the room, Riley moved to the window beside the bed and opened it. Using her whistle, she gave a short blast to get Schaller's attention. When his great eye appeared at the window, Riley moved out of the way so that he could see into the room and see Fiona resting peacefully.

"She woke up," Riley said. "I thought you would like to know. She was alert and talking to Da, but she was too tired to stay awake for long.

 

[KieranSoares]

Schaller sighed as he saw Fiona resting, laying down outside the window and resting his head on an arm on the snow. "Why they won't let me rip von Morden in half, I have no idea... He's dangerous alive. But I suppose they're going to let your mother have final say whether he lives in prison, or dies."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She might let him have a trial by dragon when this is all said and done," Riley said as she moved the chair closer to the window to keep Schaller company. "I wish she would have stayed awake long enough to speak to you. I know you've had a rough go of it the past few days."

 

[KieranSoares]

"My troubles are nothing compared to your father's. I'm fine." Schaller deflected concern from himself as ever. But he had told Riley many times how Fiona was his dearest love as his partner. He had been worried sick from the moment he'd heard she was hurt.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Don't be a stubborn old dragon." Riley murmured as Schaller deflected the deep hurt that he felt. "Especially around me. I know what's going on in that head of yours right now."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Wallowing will not help me, little love," he murmured, much gentler and more communicative with her since the war and finding common ground. "I am terrified for the woman I love most. Both that something will go wrong and take her suddenly, or that she will never fully recover from such a wound."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Da said she might never recover fully, but Ma is a stubborn fox. She'll do everything in her power to make sure that she isn't down for long." Riley said softly as Schaller expressed his fears about what might happen in Fiona's future. "Do you want a few moments alone with her? I can go get some snacks for myself."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's alright. I appreciate everyone leaving me be... But I'd rather not be on my own for now." He then offered a small smirk. "Even if you're my only choice for company at the moment."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, I suppose I'll eat what I brought Da since I know he won't." Riley said with a slight grin towards Schaller.

Riley sat in silence with Schaller and ate what she had brought for Sam, letting the elder dragon guide their conversation when he wanted and if he wanted to. When Sam returned, Riley settled on a pallet by the fire to get some sleep. Sleep had been in short supply at the manor house, with both her mother being injured and with the von Morden's around.

When Fiona woke next, it was quiet. The fire had burned low and she could see Sam and Riley sleeping soundly. Pushing herself up onto an elbow, she bit back the pain that shot through her hip and side. It was then that she saw the white scales just outside of the window and she quietly called to Schaller.

 

[KieranSoares]

It was about an hour before dawn when Fiona woke, and Schaller was awake and keeping a quiet vigil. When she called, Schaller lowered his gaze to the window, a claw gently swinging both sides of the panes open. It was cold outside, and growing cool in the room.

"Good morning, little Fox," Schaller greeted softly, reaching a hand through to gently caress her arm with the back of a claw. "You scared us."