Sionnach (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"Yes you can. I can't think of anyone else in this world that would appreciate it like you would." Fiona said as Soma tried to give the watch back. "It means the world to me and you mean the world to me. Seems that it's perfectly safe in your hands."

Fiona couldn't help but chuckle as Soma seemed stunned by the gift. "You wanted to be an adult. I can't think of a better gift to celebrate that."

She watched him as he looked over the gift, part child in the way that he seemed so giddy about it and part adult by not wanting his mother to give up something that was so precious to her. It made her smile slightly.

"How about we go down to the great hall to get a meal together? I didn't eat breakfast and it might lessen your father's anger knowing that I got at least something in me." Fiona said softly, inviting Soma with her as her equal.

 

[KieranSoares]

Soma hooked the watch chain to his jacket and tucked the precious piece into his chest pocket before rising with his mother to help her make her way to the main hall.

Many were gathered there already, eating and talking, some checking in with their orders for patrols and scouting. Prior to the actual invasion, the North was cutting the main isle of England, Scotland, and Wales off from any outside supplies and trading, so things were already underway per Soma and Sam's recommendations. It was still being decided who would attack from where, but Sam was certain that he, Fiona, and their entourage would attack from Norway with Riders and the larger ships to take back Edinburgh, while another large force would cross from Calais to Dover and begin working toward London. The Irish had been in close communication via Riders and were set to join some independent Scottish clans in attacking Ayr and Glasgow to join up with the Norwegian force and cut Scotland off from England, thereby dividing the rebel Imperials from each other and destroying their supply lines and communications. And in the north, Wick would start putting pressure on Inverness with other independent clans, and weaken the defenses til the others advanced and took it back. A war on four fronts would be immense pressure on their enemies, but Brogan and his brothers made sure to remind the strategists that Inverness and lands like it were very self-sufficient and had withstood immense enemies before. If the rebel Imperials had learned to use the lands and defenses well over the last decades, Inverness and Edinburgh in particular would be very difficult to crack, especially if they were trying not to cause damage to the cities or the common folk.

As Soma and Fiona arrived, they were greeted by a number of the Riders and notable officers overseeing Calais. Jani and Ezra were among them, and it seemed they'd welcomed Joachim and Tanya as well. Tanya was holding her son, sharing his care with Joachim rather than relying too much on nannies and such. Tanya didn't want little Arnulf to be estranged from them just because they were busy.

Sam was also among the group, explaining to the Calais forces how the invasion would work. A couple older Imperial officers who'd been young soldiers invading England twenty years prior were also helping, giving advice on how to smoothly move everything along.

 

[heartofcourage]

Walking into any room at the manor always caused a bit of a scene where Fiona was concerned. There were still many getting used to the idea that she was injured and walking with an aid. It bothered her, but she tried her hardest not to let it show as she walked between the various tables to Joachim, Tanya, Jani, Ezra, and Sam were seated. Taking her place beside her husband, Fiona quietly listened as he struggled to explain to the Calais forces what would be happening when they charged on their front.

"Mon mari est un homme brillant, mais il a parfois besoin d'aide." Fiona said softly to the Frenchmen, giving them a slight smile. "Il est beaucoup plus habile à donner des ordres sur le terrain."

That drew some chuckles from the men and women at the table and Fiona had successfully broken the ice with a force that she hadn't had the chance to interact with yet.

"We assume that things haven't changed in twenty years, but we have to be prepared for anything. I think it might be best if we send a few riders to scope out anything that might be changed and mark that on the maps that are being made for everyone." She suggested as food was served to her by the quiet serving staff.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Already ahead o' you, love. Or, Soma is," Sam nodded to her and looked to their son. "Been here twenty minutes and he's already taken over."

"You have a lot to think about, so I figured I'd help," Soma reasoned as if it were nothing."

"He's been a similar help in Vienna," Joachim spoke up with a smile. "I didn't expect such a military mind to also be adept at domestic government."

"Soma's a jack of all trades, an' master of strategy most of all. Doesn't matter if it's war 'r planning fer budget." The pride in Sam's voice was clear and Soma had to smile.

"He's also a fine Rider," Tanya added as she settled her son against her shoulder. "As to be expected of a Blackstone, but impressive nonetheless."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Are you going to keep the young prince all to yourself or would you allow a heathen queen and Fox to hold him?” Fiona asked as she spied the little prince for the first time in Tanya’s arms.

 

[KieranSoares]

"You forget I'm a heathen too," Tanya chuckled. "I was born a Northerner, you're a friend to my rightful queen. You're welcome to hold my son anytime." She rose and stepped around the table, confidently settling the little prince into Fiona's arms. "He already knows his name, even so early. It's Anselm to our friends, but Arnulf when he needs to be a prince."

"She's insisted that we're going to keep a stable and separate private life, and she's damned stubborn about it," Joachim spoke up with a smile. "And despite the Empire's best efforts to overwork us, she's managed to keep some private family time each day."

"You can't be an effective Emperor if you're too exhausted to see straight," Tanya insisted firmly as she retook her seat.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Sam and I struggled with the same. It was hard at first, but we knew that having our family around us was the most important thing." Fiona murmured as she looked down at the young prince, smiling at the precious little boy that stared back at her. "Hello, love. You are a handsome child."

 

[KieranSoares]

The young Imperial prince was the spitting image of his mother with only minor features from Joachim save his darker complexion, and he seemed to share his mother's fearless disposition, unbothered by the noise in the hall or being moved around. As he looked up at Fiona, he seemed perfectly content there and his tiny hands curiously reached out to her face.

A hand laid on Fiona's shoulder as Sam leaned down with a smile as well. "Hiya, lad," he murmured, Anselm's eyes turning to him as well. "You make me miss havin' little ones. All of ours are too big t'hold like this."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, if we could catch soe good luck, we might have one of our own again." Fiona murmured softly as Anselm touched her face with such a serious expression. "Or before I'm too old."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's a possibility, love," Sam murmured, kissing her cheek before returning to his work.

Meals were brought around for everyone present, and a number of the French and Norman officers took theirs with them as they headed out to dole out orders. Ezra carried orders off to the Riders who'd be attacking from Calais, while Jani ate before heading off for Trondheim to start getting things ready ahead of Sam and Fiona's return.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona quietly watched everyone around her, holding the infant prince as her lunch also grew cold. She couldn't shake the feeling that she wasn't needed or that people believed that she was more of a burden than a help. She let out a soft sigh as Alsem stared up at her and studied her intently, the baby paying more attention to her than anyone else.

"Keep that suspicion and intensity about you, little one. It'll serve you well." Fiona whispered to him before she offered him back to his parents.

 

[KieranSoares]

Joachim took Anselm back when Fiona returned him. While he was still learning to be a father, he seemed to be doing well.

As a number of others went off to their duties and Tanya and Joachim went off to spend time with their son, Soma's attention was on Fiona. While he was helping Sam, Soma was well aware that something was off with his mother. Sam knew it too, but Fiona simply wouldn't believe him when he said she wasn't the burden she made herself out to be.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona let out a soft sigh as she felt Soma watching her like a hawk. Her son had never missed anything when it came to his surroundings and this was no exception. She gave him a small smile and kissed his cheek before she stood from the table.

"I don't think that I'm probably the best company today, love. I'm sorry." She said as she took her crutch and looked down at him. "Thank you for taking care of me, Soma. For taking charge when I needed you most."

She moved past him then, limping out of the great hall to wander aimlessly for a bit.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam paused as Fiona stepped out, but Soma motioned him away. "Give her a while, Da. She needs to prove her usefulness to herself before she'll listen to anyone else."

"Damned stubborn Fox," Sam muttered before forcing himself to focus on his work.

 

[heartofcourage]

When Sam found Fiona again that afternoon, she was quietly sitting on the balcony of their state room. She had a far away look on her face, sad and depressed as she looked out at the scenery around them. It didn’t register at all and all she could feel was sadness.

 

[KieranSoares]

After entering their chambers, Sam paused to look at Fiona for a long moment not letting her know he was there just yet. Seeing her so faraway, he quietly went about his of putting some letters away, before he picked up a chair and brought it out to join her. Settling into the seat right beside her, he sat back and looked out at the half-melted landscape as well. His hand rested, upturned and open, on the arm of her own chair, giving her a choice depending on how she was feeling.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona glanced down at Sam’s hand as it was offered to her. She let out a soft sigh and placed her hand in his, lacing her fingers through his.

“Even after I had the children, I bounced back immediately. I’m not used to being an invalid.” She said softly. “We can’t run together like we do. We haven’t been intimate in just as long. I feel lost in more than just my career.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Love, it's gonna take time," Sam murmured softly for what felt like the hundredth time since she'd been injured. But he remained patient as possible, knowing she was struggling.

 

[heartofcourage]

“I’ve always been the one to help pull people from the darkness. To convince them to keep going.” She said softly as Sam insisted that it was just going to take time. “But I just can’t do it for myself this time.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"You sound like Kate used to," Sam murmured, his brows furrowed in deep concern. He remembered well how depressed Kate had once been, and how it still came back on occasion in hard times.

 

[heartofcourage]

“She also isn’t a wild animal, Sam. My Fox is as restless as she ever has been.” Fiona murmured as she looked over at her husband.

It took a moment before she got to her feet, moving without the crutch to settle in his lap. She then curled against his chest and found her comfort that way.

"I can understand that others need to handle my tasks as far as the dragons go. I can even accept that Soma is taking charge of the strategic side of things, but I simply miss you, love." Fiona said softly, admitting to Sam that he was what she needed the most.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam's broad arms settled around her and he nuzzled into her neck. "I know I'm busy... I guess we got a little too confident with von Morden."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona let out a long sigh as Sam nuzzled against her, admitting that he had been busy. She didn’t fault him for how much he had been working. It was a monumental task that they were doing.

“Do you have training swords here? I want to train.” Fiona murmured against Sam’s chest. "Screw what the healers have to say. I'm not going to stay idle forever."

She looked up at Sam then, giving him a small, sly smile. "It's been a while since you've gotten up to any trouble with me."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam sighed dramatically. "Two weeks is hardly forever... But I suppose a little exercise would do you good. Jus' be careful." With that, he scooped Fiona up and stood, setting her gently on her feet. "If you can make it outside an' still have energy, we'll go a couple rounds. But no overdoin' it."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Sounds like a challenge to me." Fiona murmured with a spark back in her eyes as Sam focused on her. "Which means I'll just have to push myself."

She grabbed her crutch and seemed ready to go as she waited for Sam to lead the way. Walking did not tire her out as it did a few weeks ago. One of the few things she did every day was walk the length of the manor several times. It gave her strength and a sense of purpose and schedule. When everyone else took her duties to lighten the load, she did other things to fill it.