Sionnach (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"I blame Rikke. He spent so many years babysitting her that of course he wanted another." Fiona said with a smile as Invah helped to get Gaiann back into shape.

When he was more comfortable, she hopped off and turned her attentions towards Invah. She palpated her abdomen, pressing up against her scales to see just how many eggs might be hiding.

"It seems that it's just the one." She murmured as she concentrated. "Which is good for Gaiann. Two might have killed him."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Thankfully two is rather rare." Invah stretched and laid down beside Gaiann. "And how are you today, little one? Finally get enough sleep? We saw Sam bringing you back last night."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He's being lovely to me, but he's also watching me like a hawk. I can't blame him, but he has to let me a fail a time or two." Fiona said as she sat in the grass in front of Invah and Gaiann.

 

[KieranSoares]

"You're right. But his fear that failure comes with death- even in safe places and peacetime- is difficult to tamp down. He's trying, though." Invah sighed lightly. "I've never met a man who worries more than Samuel Ghis."

 

[heartofcourage]

"His Ma said he worried when he was a boy too. He's always been like this." Fiona murmured with a small smile. "But he wouldn't be Sam if he didn't have that awareness and fear."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Julia worries almost as much for him, but she learned long ago that there's very little she can do for him." Invah shrugged. "No wonder he's turning grey young."

"I think it's fair to say most men in his family are like that," Gaiann added with a smile. "They're all protective, all worriers."

 

[heartofcourage]

"None worse than he and Soma." Fiona said as she caught up with the dragons. "And Schaller now too. He had an argument with Rikke and she took off early to Sweden. It seems that she wants to train as a soldier."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She's been thinking about it for a while," Invah admitted. "But I let her bring it up to him herself. After the losses and close calls we've had, she doesn't want to sit back and watch. I don't know if that courage will last through training and her first real fight... but like most of us, she can't stand to watch and do nothing."

 

[heartofcourage]

“He’s going to be sore when he knows that she talked about it with you first. He likes to be the one that she goes to with her problems.” Fiona said with a long sigh. “And now I get to deal with a cranky dragon in the lead up to a major undertaking.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"He's always been that way. And you can get Dzana to put him in his place if all else fails." Invah offered a little smile. "He'll come around. He loves Rikke too much to deny her what she wants and needs to do."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona let out a sigh and gave Invah a nod. She would just have to deal with his moods until Rikke was trained or back with him. She was about to respond when she saw Soma stalking off somewhere, a look on his face that told her that he had most likely had words with Riley over something.

"Soma." She called, getting his attention and welcoming him to join the dragons. "Have a seat, love."

 

[KieranSoares]

Soma stopped short at his mother's call but didn't take long to make his way over, composing his expression and straightening his shoulders as he walked. When he took a seat, Invah nuzzled his shoulder lightly in greeting.

"Hi," he greeted quietly in return to all of them, running his fingers over the finer scales on Invah's nose.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Your Da told me that you and Riley were having a disagreement in the forge this morning.” Fiona said softly as Soma gently traced his fingers over Invah’s scales. “While I don’t condone violence, you are old enough to knock your sister on her tail if she irritates you that badly.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm not going to hit her, that's her fallback," Soma muttered, his tone clearly annoyed with Riley. "She can just keep on acting superior to me and pretending I'm useless. She's been doing it my whole life. It'll come back to bite her one day."

 

[heartofcourage]

“What did she say this time to get under your skin so badly?” Fiona asked, a bit surprised hat her son was that angry with his sister.

 

[KieranSoares]

"The same things she always does. Treating me like a troublemaking baby who can't understand anything, and threatening me at every chance," Soma grumbled. "I'm just tired of her always acting like she's bigger and better. I'm not the one always in fights or letting my stupidity and pride trump logic. The few times we do get along and work together, she still works in name-calling and threats if I don't do what she wants or if I tell some secret, or whatever nonsense she's on. That's the last time I'll be curious about anything she's doing."

 

[heartofcourage]

“So, she’s acting like a big sister and you don’t want to be a child anymore.” Fiona said with a slight smile. “She’s always called you little mite. Your Gran called you that because you were so tiny and Riley just made it her own.”

“You know that she speaks before she thinks and is a disaster most of the time. If you don’t want to be a child in her eyes, then sit her down and set some ground rules. I had to do that with your Uncle Will after I married your Da. Our relationship had changed and we had grown. We needed different rules.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't mind the nickname, just the way she uses it to make me sound like a bother and like I'm not worthy to do anything without messing things up..." He sighed deeply. "I'll think about it. But she's not nearly as reasonable as Uncle Will."

 

[heartofcourage]

“So says my bullheaded son.” Fiona murmured as she kissed Soma’s cheek and nuzzled against him. “You just need to learn to give it back as good as she gives it. I think she’s respect that.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've never been interested in acting like her. I have no idea what Andre sees in her except a problem." Soma sighed deeply. "And I don't know how you and Da managed not to constantly lose your temper at her." Leaning into his mother's side, Soma laid his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes. "Anyway... Are you okay, Ma?" He asked quietly. "I've been worried about you for a long time."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Andre sees things that she can't see for herself." Fiona said softly as Soma leaned into her side. "Would you have her be with someone that has tried to change absolutely everything about her? Riley is who she is. She deserves happiness too."

Fiona knew that Soma was speaking out of frustration, caught between the worlds of childhood and adulthood. He so badly wanted to be an adult and respected as one. He technically was in the eyes of the Voya and Norway, but he was still a little brother that would still have to work for respect in the eyes of a big sister that both loved him and was irritated by him.

"For a long time?" Fiona asked as Soma asked about how she was. "I've been injured for a few weeks and that's all. Soma, you have too much on your plate right now to have to worry about your Ma too. Your Da worries enough for all of us."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Don't downplay the fact we almost lost you twice in a short time," he muttered. "And just because Da worries doesn't mean no one else should." Soma sighed deeply and sat up straight again, glancing to Invah and Gaiann who were listening but staying out of it for the moment.

"I think I'm going to spend some time with Idunn today and just stay out of Riley's path for a while," Soma murmured. "At least til I don't feel like throwing her off the roof."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll have a talk with her in the mean time and get her sorted out." Fiona promised him, touching his cheek gently. "I know she's abrasive, but try not to be too angry with her. She's the only older sister that you've got and she loves you fiercely. Ask Invah and Gaiann. She was insistent that she was going to be the only one that took care of "her baby" when you were born."

"Go on. Go off and get into some trouble." Fiona said as she kissed his cheek again and gave him a push to go off on his own.

She watched him rise and step away. Letting out a long sigh, she shook her head. "Maybe I should let you both put some fear into Riley. She never seems to learn anything."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She isn't afraid of us. But maybe let Dzana try. She's actually willing to make good on her threats," Gaiann chuckled. "Schaller too maybe, but less so since they've come to an understanding."

"Dzana will actually throw her off a mountain, though. We want her to learn, not die," Invah reminded.

"She won't go that far. She respects Fiona, as hard as she tries to act."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll let you both talk to her about it." Fiona said as she stood and chuckled. "I'm going for a swim. It's a nice enough day that I think the water won't be so chilly."

She said goodbye to her dragons and left on the short hike to the shadowed glen that was on the property. They had discovered it after buying neighboring land and she had spent much of her pregnancy with Soma there, beating the heat in the cold waters while the rest of the city suffered from a terrible hot spell.

When she reached the glen, she instantly slipped off her boots and stuck a foot in the water. It was cold, but not frigid. Perfect, she thought, as she stripped off her light armor and trousers. Down to her undergarments and she was soon wading in to relax and enjoy the rare sunshine.