The Long Road Home (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"I had no idea you had wolf blood in your veins." Sarah said softly, sitting next to his fire as she studied the amulet around her neck. "It makes sense though. You've always been interested in nature."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's not somethin' y'tell people t'day," he sighed. "So many people either hate 'em fer no reason, or are afraid because o' fake children's stories. My Da was a soft-hearted guy who'd do anything t'help out a stranger. His reward was bein' chased out o' Monaghan by th' usual tavern crowd. But he still sent things t'his friends through me an' Ma. In fact if I r'member th'story... He sent yer Ma a wooden wolf for you when y'were four."

The wooden wolf now lay on the shelf in her room, a gift from an unknown friend of the family. Shia had made many other wooden animals for her too, but the wolf was the first and favorite.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I still have that wolf." Sarah said softly. "Shia made me an entire assortment to go along with it. I had no idea it was your father that sent it to me."

She could see just how much Ian missed his family as he talked about them. As she had been off trying to stop her aching heart, he had been left behind to live a lonely life. It seemed that fate had done a lot to try and harm both of them.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's alright though. Those who took th'time t'know 'im loved him. That's all tha' matters. Tha's th'kind of man 'e taught me t'be, an' that's how I'll be if I can." Ian sat down on a huge old stump outside his home with his axe on the ground beside him. "I'm never sad when I think of 'im, even if I miss 'im."

 

[heartofcourage]

"But you should never have been left alone." Sarah said softly, taking his hand in hers. "And I promise you that you'll never be left alone again."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ian chuckled almost bitterly. "S'alright. Y'don't need t'make promises like tha', love. I was okay alone. I'll still be okay if I'm alone again in th'future." Despite his love for her, he still didn't seem to think he had a future with her, what with her being a noblewoman.

 

[heartofcourage]

Sarah felt her anger rise at the comment. She was trying to build something with Ian that she'd built with no other man before and he was still treating her like she was going to turn and run.

"If I hear you say that again, I certainly will leave you." She said in a fiery tone, turning away from him with a slightly wounded expression.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ian's expression fell guilty and sad. After several minutes, he muttered softly, "I'm sorry, love... I guess I'm still just not used to the idea that... tha' you chose me... I'm still stuck in th'past when I 'ad no chance compared t'the nobles tha' came lookin' fer yer hand..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"If I wanted them, I would be with them and absolutely miserable." Sarah muttered with a mouth full of disdain. "I chose you and if we don't both want that, then I need to know now. My heart can't take another rejection."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Of course I want you, Sarah. I've only ever wanted you." Ian came to kneel before her, taking her hands in his own. "I love you, more than anything in th' world, Sarah." He tried so hard to show her his sincerity, and how unwilling he was to lose her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Then never think that I'll ever just cast you aside because you live a simple life." Sarah said softly, reaching out to touch his cheek gently. "I love you no matter what you chose to do. I can make you a Duke and give you titles and position...or you can stay on your farm and we can raise a little family working the fields like you did with your Ma."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don' want you t'make me somethin' I'm not, Sarah. I was never meant t'be a lord, I'm just a simple man," he told her softly. "I'll be happy t'work with ya an' do what I can, but... I'm just nothin' more than a farmer," he explained softly. His heart was in the right pace, but he doubted the good leader that many knew him to be.

 

[heartofcourage]

Sarah simply leaned forward and pressed her lips against Ian's. It hurt her to see the uncertainty in his eyes and she knew that she had done a lot of the damage in their relationship. She would work the rest of her life to make him happy if that's what it took.

 

[KieranSoares]

It was an incredibly welcome and well-timed kiss, but Ian was caught a bit off guard. He simply relaxed at the feeling of her lips pressed to his. When they parted, he summed up the courage to tell her three things; "Sarah... I love you. You're mine now, an' I ain' ever lettin' you go again. I don't think I could make it without ya now. Could 'ardly make it before."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Good." Sarah said softly as she looked into Ian's eyes with a slight smirk. "Because you're mine now and I'm never letting you get away."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm perfectly fine with tha'," Ian smiled peacefully.

Stephen kept up with his estate and people quite well for another couple weeks, and Jessie continued to improve. But one day, they all received word that a new child had been born to the Ghis- a red-haired, tiny lass by the name of Katherine Valencia Ghis, or Kate as Brogan would call her. For Sarah, the news of the girl's oddly red, almost mahogany hair color told her that she was quite responsible for the girl's existence.

 

[heartofcourage]

Sarah was sitting in her mother's garden, mulling over the news that had been delivered. She was stunned to learn that Katherine Ghis had been born with red hair. She knew very well who had been the little girl's father. She felt sick to her stomach as she let out a long sigh.

"I did some horrible things, Shia." She said to her constant companion. "And that little girl is a result of those horrible things."

 

[KieranSoares]

Shia sat down beside her, wrapping her up in one broad arm. "I know, sweetheart... but... knowing the Ghis, that little girl will never feel out of place. You know the sort of man Brogan is... he'll love her anyway."

 

[heartofcourage]

Sarah pressed her cheek against Shia's furred shoulder, letting out a long sigh. It didn't matter how far away from her childhood she got, she still needed Shia there to support her. She trusted her dear wolf's opinions and he gave her greater comfort then he would ever know.

"Send them a carved animal for her." She said softly, knowing that the wooden animal very well might be broken or discarded.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Of course," Shia kissed her cheek. After a long silence, he asked softly, "So what are your plans from here...? And with Ian?" He was worried for her future, that much was clear.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't know." Sarah said softly, thinking over what her future would hold. "I know I want to be with Ian, but I don't know if I like the idea of a marriage."

She didn't have to say it, but she knew that Shia would know that she was still scared of that great commitment. One thing she wasn't afraid of though as her role in her father's rule.

"I've talked with Da and I'm going to start taking more responsibility from him. I'm afraid that his health is too fragile to keep the heavy load that he has."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Perhaps you should ask Ian to help you. Stephen's carrying the weight of many leaders rather than just one. Ian might be able to lighten the load further," Shia suggested. "And... you know you don't have to be married to be with Ian..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I feel like Ian expects it." She said softly, knowing that he had never mentioned marriage. "And I feel like if I did marry him, I would ruin what we have."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ruin it...? How would marrying the man you love ruin your relationship with him? If anyone in this world is fit to be a husband, it's Ian. And I'm sure you've known that for a long time. But, no one is going to force you. Ian certainly won't. He'll wait for you, just as he always has."

 

[heartofcourage]

Sarah was quiet after that, mulling over what Shia had said. She didn't want to hurt Ian's feelings by not doing what he wanted. If he wanted marriage, she would give him that...she just had to convince herself that everything would be alright in the end.