Sionnach (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"I'd march right into Edinburgh and toss the bastard out on his ass." Kate growled, glancing over towards Kell. "Years of planning and all for nothing."

Riley stood to the side listening to her aunt rant. She was worried that her mother was unusually quiet, pensively staring into the fire in the middle of the turmoil.

"Ma?" Riley asked softly. "What do you think?"

Fiona glanced up at her daughter and let out a long sigh. "I grew up without a home, love. What difference does it make to me if they don't want to give Inverness back? I'm nothing but the landless rider queen to them."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We planned to face the Empire, not people caught between us and them," Kell reminded quietly. "Circumstances change. We need to be flexible. And if we do this the wrong way, we'll have an entire generation of Scots and mixed-heritage youth thinking we really are the villains. You've been a stateswoman for near thirty years, Kate. You know the importance of compromise and treating difficult situations with a delicate touch. It's frustrating, but it'll be worth it to seek a compromise and come out the other side with respect instead of fear. We need to talk them down where possible, but we may need to conquer others to gain their respect. Mercy is going to be incredibly important."

Sam, meanwhile, had heard Fiona speak to Riley, and he made his way over to Fiona's side. "Inverness is your home, Fiona," he said firmly but quietly. "An' we're gonna get it back."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm already the most hated woman in the empire. I don't think I can handle being the same in my own homeland." Fiona said as she looked up at her husband. "And I'm in no shape to take on a warlord in a duel."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You're not going to duel anyone. You did enough o' tha' with Barbarossa," Sam murmured, leaving it at that before turning back to the main discussion.

"Listen up," he spoke over the conversations, waiting til they all quieted. "We need t'make a decision. There's gonna be people who hate us fer takin' back our homes, or people who hate us fer not helpin' them get home. What we need t'decide is which we can deal with an' still sleep at night. But we need to decide as a family. We can't be split, or else we're gonna fall apart an' start fightin' each other."

"We need to decide if we are comfortable with what we have and what we've built, or if our old home is more precious, and we leave the new behind with those who don't want to return when this is over," Kell spoke up. "I will follow Kate, always. And we already know the elders among us have wanted to go home since the day we fled. The rest of you need to decide which decision you will regret least. It will not be easy either way."

"Let's take some time to think this over," Brogan spoke up amongst his brothers. "Let everyone talk to each other an' see what's best."

 

[heartofcourage]

The family broke apart into their respective parts then, each going off to have difficult conversations about what they wanted out of this fight. Riley had never seen her mother so quiet and tense in her life and it physically pained her to feel the indecision that her mother was grappling with. When they came back to her parents' private quarters, Riley stopped her father with a hand on his arm.

"Ma, I need to speak with Da first." Riley said to Fiona.

Fiona turned to look at the two of them, a bit of confusion in her eyes. "Of course, love." She said softly, not questioning for a moment as she continued into the room and closed the door behind her.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam didn't let Fiona go without a kiss pressed to her cheek, well aware of her struggle, before he turned to Riley. Away from his work and the larger family, he looked exhausted. His shoulders sagged slightly as he let out a deep breath.

"Yeah, love?" He asked softly, laying a broad hand on her shoulder.

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley could see the immense weight that her father held on his shoulders. He seemed to age before her eyes as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Andre and I have talked a lot about this already. We were going to wait until things were more settled, but I want to buy the Yellow House from you. If you go back to Scotland, that is.” Riley said, looking up into his green eyes with all seriousness in her gaze.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam's mood seemed to lighten instantly as he realized she wasn't bringing him another worry. He cracked a small smile and chuckled. "Love, it's yours if we go home." He leaned down to kiss her forehead. "I wish Scotland could be home t'you too, but I know Norway is your place."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I intend to pay you a fair price for it. No gifts." Riley insisted as he seemed pleased that she wasn't about to make more trouble for him.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Save tha' money for somethin' useful, love. Like takin' Andre an' Dola t'see their people." Sam kissed her forehead before heading into his and Fiona's chambers. He sought out Fiona, coming to join her side and kiss her forehead, letting Riley decide if she'd join them.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona had settled in front of the fire, practically deflated as she sank into the armchair. Glancing up as Sam came to her side, kissing her forehead and taking his own seat, she glanced towards the door to see Riley quietly closing it to leave both of them in peace.

"You know I would take on a duel," Fiona said softly. "But I don't feel as if I could win one at the moment."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You're not going to duel anyone, I already told you tha'," Sam murmured, his hand resting over hers. "No one's gonna duel anyone if I can help it. Royer an' his people migh' want tha', but I'm gonna try t'the bitter end t'convince 'em otherwise."

 

[heartofcourage]

"So, what would you do then, Sam? Go to Scotland? We're still just as unwanted now as we ever were. I don't think they would appreciate the former king and queen of Inverness walking through the front gates." Fiona said as she squeezed his fingers tightly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"We'll wait fer what th'others decide. But I know Kate an' I want t'continue this path we've started on. We head fer London as planned, an' we talk this over if they're willing. If not... I'm not opposed to fighting." Sam stared into the fire like his father and grandfather before him, pensive and worried. "I want t'go home, love..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I do too." She admitted as Sam turned his attentions towards the fire. "I just don't think I'm strong enough to actually make it there."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Then I'll get you there," Sam promised firmly. "We've been waiting an' planning fer this too long for anyone to trip short o' the finish line an' be left behind. Even if I need to carry you across, we're gonna make it."

 

[heartofcourage]

His words were the most honest and loving words that she had ever heard him say. He wouldn't leave her behind, no matter how weak and depressed she felt by her physical state. Sam wanted to go home and he was going to do his best to bring her home, just as she had worked so hard to give him a good home in Norway.

"You won't carry me. We'll walk side by side." Fiona said softly as she leaned over and kissed her husband.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam gladly leaned into her kiss, taking that bit of comfort even though he was trying to be the strong one. "We always have," he murmured, letting his forehead press to hers.

 

[heartofcourage]

That evening as things started to quiet down, Riley and Andre had retreated back to the ger. After dinner, they had turned in early, but Riley found sleep near impossible. She was turning over in her head all of the different things that had happened that day. She tried her hardest not to toss and turn and wake Andre, but it was difficult.

"Are you sleeping?" She asked softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Nope," came Andre's answer in the dark with a defeated sigh. He wasn't as physically restless, but his mind was racing too. Slowly, he sat up, the blankets slipping from his bare shoulders and pooling in his lap.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Da is willing to give us the estate if they go back home. I offered to pay, but he said no." Riley murmured as Andre set up in their bed. "I can't help but feel bad for the position that they were all put in by this sudden turn of events."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's hard to avoid being vilified when you're up against people who think honor is worth more than life and not compromisable, people who are just like the old warriors in your family," Andre murmured, looking down at her in the dark. "It's not just self-important Imperials anymore. It's Scots and English and Welsh people who have readjusted over the past twenty years under Imperial rule. And now that they have their own kings and clans again, they're skeptical of the Ghis family's abilities, and wary of outsiders coming in to exploit what the people rebuilt. Imperial nobles would certainly do that. But you all have an advantage. Your family and allies built Inverness, upheld Edinburgh, made comrades out of enemies between clans and kingdoms... I'll bet you anything that a majority of folks want your family to come home and revive traditions and the way things used to be. But a vocal minority and the people in charge think they're better off without you all, or that your family is too weak or too long removed to be real Scots anymore. It's going to be a fight, but some people will listen. There will always be people who listen, because they remember who the Ghis are, how your family's been trying to support allies and Inverness in secret all these years, and planning to get home someday."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We could go to Scotland ourselves and start to lay the ground work. We don't work for anyone else." Riley suggested as Andre explained the situation to her. "And I am not in the line of succession anymore. I have no skin in this game save for my family name."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We have no idea what it's like there right now for people like us," Andre reminded quietly. "And it isn't that I don't have faith in your abilities... But do you think you can handle being some kind of ambassador? I'm worried you're going to get in trouble with the first pompous noble who insults you. Or did you mean a different kind of groundwork?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, according to the pompous asshole who came to us today, they might like my style over that of yours." Riley murmured. "We could see if there is still a want for the family to come back. Act as spies in a way."