Sionnach (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"I've always had a quick temper," Riley said softly after she and Schaller had settled. "But I've never lost control like that. I think that's what I'm ashamed of the most. As soon as I saw von Morden, I saw red. Then I was on him."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Was it just for the sake of what he's done to your mother, or did you take out a long buildup of anger on him?" Schaller asked quietly, one green eye half-opening to look at her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Da was crying. Ma could barely even move to comfort him. Da doesn't even think that she will get her full strength back. It's a lot to think about on top of what that fucking bastard has already done to my family." Riley said as Schaller listened to her quietly. "I just lost it. I guess I really am no better than the both of them. Just hurting someone to hurt them.”

She let out a long sigh and shook her head. "I wish Andre had come with me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You have never lashed out for nothing, my love." Schaller moved his head closer, nuzzling against her side. It wasn't often that he offered such comfort. "And we can send for Andre if you need him."

 

[heartofcourage]

“He had things to take care of in Trondheim. I’m not going to call him all the way here just because one bad thing happens.” Riley insisted, stubborn as ever.

 

[KieranSoares]

"One very significantly bad thing," Schaller reminded, but he didn't push. "But I'm sure he'll be in Calais by the time we get there to set final plans."

 

[heartofcourage]

“I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” Riley said as she effectively ended the conversation in her usual stubborn way.

She stayed with Schaller until the lunch call was given out. Slinking back into the manor, she gathered lunch for her family and refused to even look at any of the soldiers. She knew they wouldn’t say a word about what had happened but it wasn’t something that she really wanted to talk about yet.

When she entered the room, she saw her Da awake and working beside the bed. Fiona had been moved slightly and she looked pale. No doubt they had come to check on her and it had absolutely wiped her out. She quietly placed the tray of food next to her father and paused for a moment, letting out a soft sigh.

“Da, I need to tell you something.” She said softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yeah, love?" Sam asked quietly, setting his papers aside to give her his attention. He still looked exhausted. Despite starting to get sleep again, it wasn't very restful as he kept waking up here and there to check on Fiona.

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley could see the weariness on Sam’s face and she faulted for a moment, wondering if she should really burden him with what she had done.

“I attacked von Morden this morning while they were walking him around the courtyard. I don’t really have an excuse for it other than I lost myself and I couldn’t stop once I started.” She said softly. “Kell has already spoken to me and I’m not injured, but I wanted to be the one to tell you first.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam was quiet for a long moment, not breaking eye contact as he considered her words. He reached up to smooth his thick beard as he thought. "... Alright... What did Kell say?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"He...didn't say much of anything." Riley said as Sam stared at her and never once looked away. "He said that he didn't blame me but it couldn't happen again. I expected to be punished."

"That man has terrorized you and Ma. What I did is only a fraction of what he deserves, Da." She took in a short breath and fidgeted slightly under her father's intense stare. "I know I was wrong to go about it that way."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam finally looked down, resting his arms on his knees and leaning on them. "Riley..." he began, but paused to rethink his next words. "... You know why we haven't just outright killed him, don't you? Why we didn't just take his head off the second we found him? Or why your mother didn't rip him to shreds last time she had a chance?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"No, I don't." She said softly, slightly concerned by her father's reaction to the news.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Some... fifty or so years ago, Scotland an' most o' the north were different. Kings murdered their enemies on sight or tortured them t'death, and killed their own soldiers when they questioned anything. It was ruthless. Mercy didn' exist. The Ghis had built a reputation of war an' domination over three generations thanks t'Tamblin, his father, and grandfather. Tamblin's father murdered his own father fer the throne. Tamblin followed suit. The throne of Inverness would drive Kings mad with pressure an' war. It nearly did th'same t'yer grandfather too, early on. He killed Tamblin t'free Inverness, but after he lost his first wife, he nearly fell down tha' same path o' war an' fighting t'the top o' the chain o' clan kings. But yer grandmother an' great-grandmother managed t'save him from buckling under it all. Even when th'other clans kept on fighting, especially Wick, they reminded him of mercy, family, an' home over anything else. Because of their love an' care, yer grandfather remembered th'mercy he gave Tamblin by lettin' him go honorably in battle, rather'n lettin' him waste away 'r be murdered by some assassin. He remembered th'mercy an' second chances Gran gave Tamblin, an' how she loved him t'the end an' let him know that he wouldn't be alone. Tha' care an' mercy is why Sarah Monaghan lived t'her eighties, why th'thrones of Ireland an' Scotland and some of the clans enjoy a friendship now. It's why we made peace with Suara Corel an' her people an' the Gol Dun to turn Inverness into a haven... It's why I gave yer Ma a chance, when she was a thief t'be caught, an' I was supposed to be a by-the-books lawman. Mercy was what brought us Schaller, when we chose to parley over Rikke rather than swarm an' kill him. Mercy brought us Jani, when we tried to bring Riders to our side rather'n kill them all; we knew some had to love their partners enough to fight for what was right instead of money. It's why yer Ma an' I don' allow torture unless absolutely necessary, why we allow people who surrender to live."

Sam sighed. "Mercy is why we didn't murder Conrad von Morden the moment we saw him. We believe in justice, yes. An' Misha von Morden will get justice. But we won't be barbarians. We won't be vengeful for the sake of revenge alone. We will take people to trial, or give the victims power over their punishment, whenever possible." He motioned toward Fiona's sleeping form. "Qira would've killed von Morden fer what he did t'yer Ma, an' the atrocities he's committed over th'last two decades. He wanted to, and he nearly did. But he stayed his blade when von Morden had no line of defense left, so that those most hurt could judge him accordingly. Sometimes a fair trial an' justice aren't possible up against an enemy who's too stubborn an' strong to surrender... but we treat even the worst demons with humanity, because we refuse to stoop to their level."

Sam met Riley's gaze again. His own was grave, but understanding. "We need to keep our sense of justice, mercy, humanity, an' respect for life, Riley. Even lives tha' are better snuffed out fer th'common good. An' we need t'give th'victims an' those who have lost the most, the chance for satisfaction an' closure. Misha von Morden will either die very publicly, or have a taste of the pain he's caused by spending the rest of his days in prison an' servitude t'the public. It's up t'yer Ma. Others have lost more to him, but our people have made it clear that they trust her with the decision. I can't blame you fer wanting a chance at him personally, especially after what he did to her, and what he encouraged to happen t'you. But in the future, you need to think before you do these things. In this family, in our holdings an' scope of influence, you can ask fer satisfaction an' revenge, an' we'll support you outside of petty things. But you need t'go about it with honor, dignity, an' humility.

"You're a Ghis and a Blackstone, an' you earned those names this past year. Do right by them an' the reputation we uphold. Whether we like it or not, people look up to us, depend on us, to do what's right an' just. We can't let our anger threaten that trust. Even if you don't become a public figure like Soma, just mind your actions in public. I don't expect you to be saddled with grim responsibility in private... I want you to feel free. But when it comes to things in the public eye like the fate of Misha von Morden, you need to remember who the rest of the world knows you as, love."

Sam seemed even more exhausted now, trying to explain the difficult position that public outbursts could cause, without ever trying to dim Riley's spirit or blame her. "It's... difficult to explain, lass," he finally sighed. "Don' ever change. But... be mindful. Yer Ma an' I have lashed out in public before too. But we do our best to keep a reputation of being approachable, reliable, and caring for the common good over the good of just our favorites and family. It's earned us a respect that no amount of money 'r power can grasp. An' we want you to be respected too. Your anger is not who you are. You're loyal, dedicated, resilient, you get things done, and you've shown restraint even in some of your hardest times. That's the Riley Ghis the people should know of."

 

[heartofcourage]

Sam always had a way about him that made her feel thoroughly chastised even if he never raised his voice. He explained to her the duty that was firmly on her shoulders and how incidents like what happened that morning couldn't happen again. Riley lowered her head as he spoke, her ears flicking backward. She knew that her name carried weight and her reputation was known around the world. If she made one mistake, then it could bring problems to her entire family.

"I'm sorry, Da. I promise that this won't happen again." She said softly, looking up at him. "I heard you and Ma this morning, how miserable you both sounded. When I saw him...I couldn't help myself. I wanted him to feel as miserable as the both of you were."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Don't be ashamed of being protective and loving your family. All we ask is that you temper that anger with better things." Sam stood and stepped over to her, making her lift her head and square her shoulders. "I'm no' going to punish you fer somethin' I'm certain I would've done if I saw von Morden before I was ready. An' punishment isn't necessary fer someone who owns up t'their mistakes fully." Once she was straightened up like a soldier, Sam took her face in his hands and kissed her forehead. "I will never blame you fee bein' angry. How could I, with who I was at yer age? All I ask is that you think first, an' don't let anger rule your decisions. There is forgiveness for some situations, opportunity for others, and then with people like von Morden... The greatest blow we could ever strike him won't be death. It'll be proving him and everything he stands for wrong, and managing to improve an' move forward while he gets nothing because he was on the wrong side."

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley's gaze drifted over to her ma as Sam spoke, telling her that she shouldn't be ashamed for what she did. "I know that I've been difficult, especially for her. I know I make things very hard. I just hope that she knows that I would protect her just as she's protected me. He knew she was coming and he waited for his moment to hurt her. Hell, he was probably happy that he almost killed her."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He knew he lost. So instead of taking his loss with some grace, he decided t'hold onto his cruelty an' get in one last shot. His entire goal has been t'be superior. An' if he could've killed th'abomination he's been tryin' to chip away at fer years, he'd have proven to himself tha' he was better than her, tha' he outlasted her. But, Misha von Morden's aim is lacking. An' yer Ma has survived some terrible conditions before. She's gonna make it, we're past the hard part. And von Morden is gonna face her in court to show him how ineffective he is, how he couldn't stop her even with one o' the most devastating weapons we've ever seen."

 

[heartofcourage]

"That was the hard part?" Riley asked as she looked back at Sam with surprise. "Look at her, Da. She's as weak as a newborn."

"I've had worse." Fiona murmured, her eyes fluttering open as she heard her husband and daughter talking. "Much, much worse."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Dyin' an' comin' back was the hard part," Sam muttered as he moved back to Fiona's side, brushing her hair back gently. "She's stable now. It'll be slow going... But she's here to stay." He leaned down to kiss Fiona's forehead. "Need anythin', love?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"If that was dying, I wish I could have at least seen my grandfather again. The old man and I have a few things to talk about." Fiona murmured as Sam came to her side dutifully and brushed her hair out of her face. "Yeah, I need you to punch that healer in the nose the next time he comes in. If he moves my leg like that again, I can't promise what I will say or do."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam cracked a small smile and glanced to Riley. "See where you get it from?" He leaned down again and helped Fiona sit up slowly so she could drink some water. He was incredibly gentle, letting her wrap her arms around his neck so she could sit up without flexing her hip or anything that might hurt too much. Propping her up with pillows, he gave her a glass of water from a pitcher that had been left for her.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona took the glass of water with a small smile, drinking until she couldn't anymore. She didn't have much of an appetite because of her pain and medication, but she couldn't seem to drink enough water. She glanced towards Riley as the young fox kept standing there, watching the both of them.

"Come here, love," Fiona said, welcoming Riley to her side and hugging her tightly. "What was happening this morning? I felt Schaller running around outside. Something must have upset the old man for him to run that fast."

"I got into a fight," Riley said softly as she leaned her head against her mother's shoulder. "Defending your honor."

"Is it going to come back to haunt me?" Fiona asked as she leaned her head against Riley's, a rare moment shared between mother and daughter.

"No. Everyone seems to be on my side in this one." Riley said with a shrug as Fiona chuckled softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Gave von Morden somethin' to think about. Whenever he wakes up, I assume," Sam added, sitting in the chair beside the bed so Riley was between him and Fiona.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I think the greatest insult to von Morden is for all of us to simply go about our lives. Act as unbothered about the circumstances as possible. I know it's hard, for all of us, but that's what gets under his skin." Fiona said as she looked at Riley and then at Sam. "He wanted to maim me. To kill me. To inflict pain. Little does he know that this is nothing."