The North (Closed)

[heartofcourage]

"I adore this family, but they make me want to pull my hair out sometimes." Fiona said as she scanned the horizon. "The most stubborn group of individuals to have ever lived."

 

[KieranSoares]

"And you manage to outdo them all on occasion," Schaller chuckled lightly as he gracefully banked around the edge of the city. The pair stayed out til the blue-grey of dawn began peeking up over the horizon. Beyond a few stray animals in the city streets and deer out in the countryside, they saw little out of place.

It was just as Fiona and Schaller came in to land that they found a small one-horse wagon outside the castle. The driver was loading a few bags and one of Kell's agents was helping. Alex and Ruari stood close by in a quiet but heated argument. Kell watched over it all with a sharp eye. He stepped away when Schaller approached, greeting him and Fiona.

"Things have been quiet across the city all night," Kell reported. "It gave me plenty of time to be sure of Ruari. He's no traitor but he's a liability. Alex and I agree that even though we hate to lose his skill here, he's less likely to do something stupid in Norway. He's leaving with the next ship out. It'll be up to Kayla whether he serves any time for breaking martial law. Kate's already got enough on her plate without dealing with fools. And I don't care to have him here complicating things further when we're about to be inundated with Mongolians who all need to be vetted too."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I hope he learns from this and doesn't grow bitter." Fiona said as she looked over to where the two brothers were arguing quietly amongst themselves. "He could have easily been killed."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He's desperate to get his family home. He's old enough to remember Inverness and the heartbreak everyone had to deal with. He wants it for Val most of all. With her health as fragile as Kitty's was, he wants to make sure she has plenty of good years back home. She hasn't seen Italy since before we lost Inverness. And with plague still around the Mediterranean, she won't be able to go for a long while yet. She's far from old, but Ruari can't assume she'll live as long as Kitty did. While I can't blame him for his emotions, I can't trust him right now."

Ruari finally pulled away from Alex and stalked toward the wagon with a dark look on his face. His brother was left standing there with a worried frown, but he nodded to himself and let Ruari go. It would take time for Ruari to settle his anger, and distance from the stress of the war might help soothe him. Kell watched the wagon go by silently. It hurt to send away such skill, but moreso it hurt to have to punish someone for trying to help even if they'd gone about it foolishly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm sorry for this, Alex." Fiona said as the wagon trundled away from Edinburgh Castle. "This isn't the way that any of this should have turned out."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Better an idiot than a traitor," Alex murmured as he crossed his arms over his chest and watched Ruari's wagon leave the gates. "And while we won't tell him, he may have actually gotten some good information. Qira took his notes and he's going over them."

Alex looked to Fiona and his shoulders fell a bit as his anger gave way to melancholy. "We have far too many vulnerable people for risks like that."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He'll have to live with this decision for a long time. I'm sure that your mother and father will have plenty to say to him when he returns to Norway." Fiona said as she unbuckled her harness and slipped down from the saddle.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Hopefully they'll beat some sense into him." Alex looked Fiona up and down as she seemed to be doing just fine in the saddle since her injuries from Hesperus. "And how are you doing, Fiona? You and Sam have been doing much better physically than I expected."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I hide it well." Fiona answered, looking at Alex as he inquired about her health. "There's still...darkness and pain, but there are much more important things to attend to at the moment."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know there's no convincing you to attend to that darkness and be a little selfish," Alex murmured. "Gods know everyone in this ridiculous family has had to learn it the hard way. But I hope that you and Sam won't put yourselves through that again. And I don't want you stuck on sleep aids for the rest of your life either. Dependence on such things is terrible for your health long-term." As the primary doctor for their family, Alex knew she was growing reliant on drugs to sleep again. But he didn't push it any further. "I'm going to get a bit more sleep... You and Sam should too."

With that, Alex walked away. Kell had already set off back to his own room for a bit more rest. Schaller lowered his great head down beside Fiona, pressing his maw to her arm just as a gentle reminder that he was there for her.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona sighed as they were left alone again, Alex's parting comment deeply wounding. Sleep was a luxury that she wasn't afforded. It was the curse of being a caller, especially one of her caliber. The sleep she had with the dragons the afternoon before was the first time she hadn't take an aid in months.

"He's right. I'm harming myself." Fiona said softly as she looked at Schaller.

 

[KieranSoares]

"You have more than earned the right to step away and heal, my love," Schaller rumbled gently. "I have worried for your health in hard times for as long as we've known each other. But you have never sunk so deep that you've cut yourself off from everyone before." He didn't speak of himself or how alien it was to be mentally detached from her. "In this time above all, I don't want to push you. But I fear for you."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona instantly dropped the shield that she had erected between herself and Schaller, letting him feel every dark feeling that she had inherited from Hesperus. She had taken on the dark hole in her own soul, the one that was more painful than the broken bones in her chest and threatened to swallow her whole.

 

[KieranSoares]

Schaller rocked back on his heels slightly in surprise, then immediately responded by curling in tightly around her. He could feel the weight settle into his bones and sympathetic pains deep in his chest. "My dearest love," he whispered, nuzzling against her as his great hands cradled her. "I will help you carry this if you will let me. I would never want you to walk alone."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Schaller, it drove one elder dragon mad. I would never forgive myself if it did the same for you." Fiona murmured softly, leaning against his great scales. "Please don't ask me. Please."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We are not alone like he was," Schaller encouraged her gently. "His madness echoed in his own head and never had the chance to be corrected by someone who loved him. We have many. You taught me long ago that I was twice as strong when I had a partner. I would like you to trust in your own advice. None of this will be quick or easy. But it can be less lonely and less intense."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's hard." Fiona said softly, still unable to give in completely. 'Especially now in the middle of a war. I can't afford to be weak when there is such a threat to our family."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I understand. I won't push. But don't be afraid to give yourself a rest if you need me to take on more." Schaller kept her cradled in his hands, a great thumb gently stroking her back to offer some comfort. He was glad to stay with her as long as she liked. And no matter what flashed through her mind- even if it deeply disturbed him- he was steadfast.

It wasn't clear how long they stayed curled up before Schaller was nudged and he lifted his head out from under his wing to see Dzana there. To his surprise, Sam was perched on her back. They wouldn't go flying without a saddle while Sam was wounded, but they'd spent a while together walking about the grounds in the quiet pre-dawn hours. Now with the sun fully above the horizon, Dzana tilted her head back to lift Sam up and deposit him gently on his feet beside Schaller He had his crutches at hand, so when Schaller uncurled a bit more, Sam limped forward to see his wife.

"Hey, love," Sam murmured hoarsely. He looked a little less lost for the first time in days. "I figured I'd find you out here with your other love."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We needed some time together." Fiona said softly, patting Schaller's scales before she turned towards Sam. "I suppose I can't scold you."

She gave him a soft smile and wrapped her arms around him, mindful of the crutches that were helping him to stand upright. She rested her head against his chest, letting out a long sigh as she settled into peace with him.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam buried his face against her hair and he was able to at least put one arm around her. "I spent a while with Dzana myself," he murmured. "I'm startin' to understand you an' this old man a little better. It's nice t'clear our heads together."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona smiled to herself as Sam held her. He was her Sam, not the man that was mired in his grief as he'd been since the great battle.

"I suppose I should be thanking her for bringing you out of the darkness for just a little while." Fiona said as she pulled her head back to look up at her husband. "Even if it doesn't last."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We'll always have our lows. But it wouldn't be fair t'you if I stayed there forever." Sam lifted his free hand to her cheek. Even if his gaze was still tired and troubled, he let her see the Sam she had been looking for. He even managed a slight smile of his own, though it was nearly lost in his thick beard. "It's nice t'see you smile again, darlin'."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's....difficult.." She admitted, leaning her cheek against his hand. "I don't want anyone to know the pain that I'm in. Except Schaller."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam pressed his forehead to hers in a quiet show of support. He wouldn't ask her to open up when the memories were still so fresh. Instead, he asked, "I was gonna go out to the woods with Dzana ... Would y'come with me? I'm slow as hell, but I need t'get the hang of these damned things." He nodded slightly toward his crutches. "An' I'm startin' to get claustrophobic bein' inside all the time. I miss the forest."

"I'm happy to take you both to the forest south of town where it's safest," Schaller offered. "I imagine Dzana's not enjoying the city either."

"Decidedly not," Dzana huffed in her usual dry way. "But I'm more concerned for Samuel. His gifts are still new. He needs time to connect with the land more deeply."

Schaller could only smile, glad to see Dzana wasn't too proud to admit she loved her Caller in a way.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I suppose all four of us can go." Fiona murmured as the dragons spoke about wanting to get away from Edinburgh. "Sam and I can wander and you and Schaller can...do whatever you wish."