The North (Closed)

[heartofcourage]

As one branch of the Ghis family started to settle into their rightful home, there was an air of tension outside. Fiona quietly left Schaller behind and made her way to her father, clearing her throat to get his attention as he settled with Orion.

"Da." She said softly, greeting him with a kiss to the cheek. "I'm glad that you made it."

 

[KieranSoares]

Owen smiled warmly to Fiona as she approached, hugging her close. "Hello, little kit," he greeted, but his smile faltered a bit as he noticed she seemed troubled. He looked back to Orion and gave him a nod, dismissing the dragon to find a place to rest. Owen turned back to Fiona and laid a hand on her arm. "How are things? I heard London was tougher than expected and some close family was hurt. Are you alright?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Samuel was injured, but that's to be expected." Fiona said as Owen greeted her warmly. "Da, there is something that we need to talk about. Sam and I have never thought it was fair to make you remember the hard times you went through in the slave camps, so we never asked. I've never pried into your private matters as your travel from place to place for business. However, there is something that has come up that I need to know some hard truths from you."

 

[KieranSoares]

Owen's brows furrowed in a bit of confusion, but he didn't shrink away from Fiona or hide from a difficult conversation like he might have as a younger man. "I've never talked about it with you, but I've also never tried to hide anything you've asked about since I returned. But if it's of a more personal nature... I'd rather we talk somewhere less open. I don't need any of my past coming back to cause rumors about either of us."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona nodded and took his arm, escorting him to a more private location. The stables were deserted as the riders all had tasks that took them out on the grounds. Once they were inside, Fiona closed the doors and made sure that they were alone before she turned to look at her father with a long sigh.

"I need to know if there is a possibility that you have any other children." Fiona said softly, straight to the point.

 

[KieranSoares]

Taking a seat on a farrier's stool, Owen looked up at Fiona as she asked her question. Immediately, she saw his gaze unfocus. He was silent for a long moment, his head slowly lowering as he thought. "I... assume you wouldn't ask unless you had reason to believe you came across someone related to us." Folding his hands in his lap, he sat back. "It's... possible. I wasn't interested in anyone for a long, long time. But there was a time, before I was freed, that I was paired with a Wolf against our will. These sick bastards wanted to create hybrid children with the constitution of Wolves and the speed of Foxes." His pointed ears tilted back slightly, not in embarrassment, but sorrow. "She was very sweet to me... and we agreed we'd support each other and go along with the slavers' demands to avoid either of us getting skinned or sold someplace worse."

He sighed deeply. "I was sold anyway... She was five months pregnant, sick, and they were sure she was going to lose the baby. They blamed me for it, decided I was too old to be part of their sick breeding scheme. But if she made it..." Owen shook his head slowly. "Gods, I almost hope she didn't. The way they treated us... death would've been a mercy for her. She was so sick the last time I saw her."

Looking up at Fiona again, Owen murmured, "Her name was Nora, and she originally came from the Orkney Islands north of Scotland."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona leaned against the wall as Owen told her the story of the wolf that he had been pair with and the child that might have survived. There might be a sibling out there that neither of them had ever known about. Fiona cursed under her breath, not at her father's plight but at the problem that she was now faced with.

"Before Hess killed himself many of the Riders saw a young woman with light blonde hair and green eyes in the area. She was a rider for Royer, someone of importance for him. Shani confirmed it, said that she spoke with a Scottish accent, was much younger than myself, but looked just like me." Fiona reached into the pocket of her armor and handed her father the sketch of the young woman that Kell had returned to her. "I don't want to believe that I'd be fighting against my sister..."

 

[KieranSoares]

Owen took the sketch gingerly, but his expression showed nothing but confusion. "Another... human?" He asked quietly, having thought Fiona being born human was a one-in-a-million chance. "But how the hell would they even know...? The slavers didn't know who I was. They didn't keep records. And for her to be Scottish..." Owen looked up at Fiona, completely overwhelmed. "If this is true, if she is mine, then someone had to have tracked her down long before now and Royer found out after he took over."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Sam thinks it's a distraction. Considering that the Blackstones hardly bred outside of a fox line, I would think another human would be rare as well. Soma being born human is because of Sam. Maybe they believe that the Blackstone line is capable of producing more than they think." Fiona suggested, hating to see her father in such a state. "Da, you need to understand what they're up to. They have Callers that can delve into our minds. The children have been dealing with minor complaints like headaches and illness, but..."

She stopped herself for a moment, gathering her thoughts before she went any further. "They are making me relive my most horrific moments over and over again. My life on the streets. My fights with Barbarossa and Zaufberg. Ma's death..."

 

[KieranSoares]

Owen cursed quietly to himself, his head resting in his hands. "I'm sorry, little kit..." He murmured. "I know it's not something I could've helped in my situation, but I still hate being a weak link for you. Regardless of whether she's a real Blackstone, the fact that they're trying to do this to you... It's disgusting."

Glancing up, Owen's brows furrowed. "But if she really is mine... I... I hate the idea that she'd be used like that. I want to know if it's true. And if it is, I want a chance to see her."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I forbid it." Fiona said as her father looked at her with a lost expression, wanting to see this rider and find out if she really was his child. "Especially right now. I can't risk them getting close to you, Da. Kell is working on finding out her name and where she is from. Sam and I are working on other plans and I'm sure some truth will come to light soon. I need you to promise me that you won't do anything irrational."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm not a fool, Fiona. I'm not going to charge into Scotland alone just because they wave a slim chance in front of us." Owen stood stiffly, shaking his head. "All I want is a chance to speak to her if a safe opportunity arises. No doubt they let her be seen in order to get your attention. So she'll surely be sent out again or even sent to speak to you. But until a safe chance arises... keep me updated. I can vet their knowledge about Nora and our time enslaved, and help you figure out if there's any merit to this."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're not a fool, Da, but you have your own demons that these people can use against you. I'm not going to let you go through that again." Fiona said as they stared at one another, their shared painful past hanging between them with those words. "They can and they will turn you back into the monster you were. I'm not going to lose you like that."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm too old and tired to go back to that life," he murmured, stepping forward to wrap her up in his arms. "And I have too much to lose. I'll keep my distance."

Owen sighed deeply as he held his daughter. Even if he was younger than Sam's father and uncles, the harsh time he'd spent far from home had made him old before his time and it had started to show in the last couple years. And as he pulled back to look Fiona in the eye, she could see his once-beautiful, roughened orange fur getting greyer especially around his face and chest. "I'm worried about you, Fiona," he admitted quietly. "Hearing what Royer may have in store for you... And after what you went through last year."

 

[heartofcourage]

Not even yet forty, Fiona had led many lives before that moment. As Owen looked into her eyes, he could see years of pain and heartache, stubborn determination that had kept her alive long enough to find a family that adored her and have children that she simply hoped she was doing her best with. Owen had played no part in that, they both knew. Ephriam hadn't really played a part either. She had done it all herself.

"What choice do I have, Da?" She asked him softly. "This is the only life that I've ever known."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know," he sighed with a nod. "I'm not asking you to hide away or seek something safer, because that's not how anyone in this family works. Just... be careful, little kit. We need you." He didn't have to say everything on his mind to make it clear. It was the same sort of worry Sam had for her, that she'd go off to do things alone or take on challenges that weren't meant for one person.

Taking her hand and patting it, Owen finally stepped back. "Now... I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted. I think I'll go catch up with Orion and take a long nap. Tomorrow, I'm headed back out on messenger duty." Owen wasn't a man to sit by and let others do all the work despite his age and regular issues moving around. He believed that as long as he could ride and walk, he could be of use.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona let her father go and rejoined Schaller, much more subdued than when she had left him. She said nothing as she stepped into his embrace and hid against his scales. She felt defeated by the world at that moment.

 

[KieranSoares]

Schaller instantly curled in around Fiona, hiding her from the world in a giant mass of white scales, black fur, and warmth. "Hello, my love," he murmured softly, feeling her distress. He didn't ask anything, instead lowering his great head to lay beside her. If she wanted to tell him, she didn't need to speak aloud. With how vicious and distrustful he could be to outsiders, his gentleness with Fiona was even more profound. "Stay a while. Rest," he encouraged, scooping her into one arm where she'd spent many nights while out traveling, camping, or even just on nights when being inside was too stuffy.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona leaned against his chest, melting into his strength as she allowed herself to be weak. There was too much at once that needed her and her father was right. She wouldn't be able to shoulder everything without breaking. Luckily, her dragon would support her. As he curled around her, telling her to rest, she sobbed. Deep, shuddering, and soul breaking in her grief and stress, she lost herself in Schaller's embrace.

 

[KieranSoares]

The downtime ordered by Soma drew on, fairly peaceful save for some small, stubborn lords skirmishing with the Northern forces between London and Hadrian's Wall. By the end of the second week, a path north had been fully secured for the main army, and more family was coming to London to follow along and help with non-military issues wherever it was safe. Brogan and his brothers all welcomed their families to London, and Durban was given leave to take his family to Wales. Before the great battle for the channel with the empire twenty years past, Gabriel had requested to be buried in Caernarvon if he fell. Thanks to the empire's rapid march north, Marri and Durban were unable to do as he'd asked. So, for two decades, they'd kept his ashes, waiting for the day they could go to Marri's homeland and bury their son beside his great-grandfather Lysander.

At the end of the second week, a new face appeared outside London looking for the long-retired former queen of Inverness. Brogan and Julia were staying along with his brothers and their families in guest rooms at Windsor. While Brogan was acting as an officer, he had Julia close at hand as his best advisor and supporter, just as they'd always done since their youth. They were just finishing a quiet breakfast together when a knock sounded on the door. Brogan rose to answer, and Julia could hear him laugh with absolute delight the moment he opened the door. "Julia!" He called brightly, a surge of energy in his voice.

Soon Brogan came walking back into the dining room with his arm slung around a slim younger man with long, wavy chestnut hair and green eyes, dressed in fine breeches and a spring jacket. It seemed he'd just arrived, but taken care to wipe off some of the mud from his long journey. Even if they hadn't seen him grow up beyond age ten because of the empire taking the isles, his looks were so perfectly like Julia's that it was obvious who he was at a glance.

"Aunt Julia," the man addressed her, nearly beaming with excitement. Julian of Chester was practically a mirror to her, with hints of his mother's broader features and his father's sharper face.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia glanced up from her meal, sipping on her tea as Brogan called out to her. His tone was bright and cheerful, youthful in a way she hadn't heard in ages. She was curious as to who had interrupted their meal, but who had brought such a mood to her husband. The moment she saw the young man, she knew just who he was.

"Julian." She murmured, placing her cup back on the table to greet him warmly, wrapping the young man up in the tightest hug that she could give him. "Oh, my love, it's been ages."

She pulled back and held him at arm's length to get a good look at him. He looked so much like a Chester that she would have known him anywhere. Tall and handsome, he reminded her of Ciaran as a younger man in way that he carried himself with a slender grace.

"What are you doing all the way down here in London?" She asked him, slightly concerned for a moment that something was wrong back at home.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Official business for the Lord and Lady of Chester," Julian chuckled, patting a satchel at his side. "We thought it'd be a show of good faith and support to send a personalized answer to King Edward's call for unity across England. But unofficially, I couldn't get out the door fast enough when the vanguard marched through on their way to the border. They secured the main roads, so getting here was safer and faster than it's been in a long time. I had to come see you in person, and make sure you knew that when you all head north, Ma and Da are waiting for you. But really, it was Uncle Brogan's idea first."

Brogan clapped his nephew on the shoulder with a warm smile to his wife. "I might've sent word ahead a couple months ago askin' if our nephew wanted t'come see you when it was safe fer you to come to England. An' Ezra was kind enough t'double-check the way was safe fer him."

Taking Julia's hands, Julian's smile grew even brighter. "I can't wait to introduce you to my children, Aunt Julia. Da and I have told them about you since the day each of them was born."

Julia knew of her nephew's family thanks to letters secreted across the North Sea for years. He had two sons aged three and six, and a daughter aged nine. He'd married at nineteen to a Chester Knight's daughter whom he'd grown up with, and they'd made plans for a family almost right away. Unfortunately she'd died in childbirth with their youngest son, but Julian had pushed through a shattered heart with the same kind of strength his aunt was known for. He'd not even considered remarrying, but he'd been an incredibly loving father and managed to go on with his parents' and father-in-law's constant support. He'd even joked in some letters that he'd wanted a big family so that Beth could have all the babies she never got the chance to have herself, and to keep making the once-hard and stern Maxwell softer and softer.

Julian reached into his satchel then and withdrew several letters. "They all sent these along. Ma and Da each wrote one, and Maria. Hal wrote one mostly on his own," he chuckled at his middle child who was fully capable with speech and writing, but still learning how to write proper letters to people. "And Charlie drew you a picture."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm sure that if I read all of these, I'll be a weeping mess." Julia said as he held out all of the letters to her and she took them without hesitation. "We'll get to them in due time, my love. You have business with the king, and we will introduce you personally."

It took her a few moments to gather her cloak from the bedroom, but they were off shortly after, her hand tucked into Julian's arm as Brogan followed behind. The smile on Julia's face as she caught up with her nephew was luminous as they made their way out to the long walk where Edward was working that day.

The new prince and princesses of England had been brought to Windsor at Ashleigh's insistence from France. She couldn't be away from them any longer and with Dylandra and Burke close at Darkwood, she finally felt it was safe to bring her most precious possessions along to English soil for the first time. The mood outside was one of business as Fiona and Edward walked together, joined by the young Prince Vincent close at his father's side, inspecting a line of four young haven dragons.

"All have been chosen for their gentle ride, as you are not a Rider." Fiona explained as Rory stood by to provide assistance where needed, the head escort for all four of these young men in their role of honor. "But make no mistake they can fight with the best of them. They will also still grow, but due to the size of your cities, they will stay slim enough to fit within the city streets. Any would be fit to be a King's dragon and protector of Windsor, if I'm honest. It speaks highly to each young man's skill."

The young Princess Royse was chomping at the bit to get a closer look, the most fearless child of the royal couple. Royse could often convince her father to do anything, but she was struggling so hard to mind her manners and be the good example that Ashleigh needed her to be. The Queen followed behind with her eldest daughter's hand in her own, watching Royse like a hawk to make sure that the young princess stayed out of trouble.

"If I were you, Edward, I would choose the one that you felt would make the best pair for your entire family. Dragons are often passed down through family lines, especially those that protect a place." Fiona offered as they looked over the four candidates.

 

[KieranSoares]

Edward stopped along to speak to each dragon, asking their personal thoughts on the opportunity and treating them with immense respect as he knew Rory and Fiona had hand-picked them. "I would be proud to welcome any of them," Edward said quietly to Fiona as they stepped away to discuss. "I'm worried about offending those I don't pick... but I also know that I would happily take them on as partners for some of my royal guardsmen. That way we have backup protectors and my men could get the children away quickly if needed."

Turning to face the line, Edward's gaze went to Vincent. As Crown Prince, he'd be the inheritor of any loyalties and positions. And he saw Vincent's gaze settled firmly on the youngest of the four dragons, a sleek lavender-colored fellow with a jet-black underbelly and mane. Seeing the King's eyes drift to him, the young dragon stood up a little straighter.

"Master Novan," Edward spoke up, and the young dragon bowed his head briefly.

"Sire," he answered quickly.

"You said you were trained by our friends Costa and Danica primarily, and often worked with their sons. Considering that and your experience working in and around cities in Scandinavia, you may be the best fit for Windsor."

Novan's eyes widened in surprise. Despite being eager to prove himself, it seemed he hadn't expected to be picked when put into a line with the other three. The three older males all offered good-hearted smiles to their childhood friend from the haven, watching as he stepped forward to face Edward and Fiona. He looked to Fiona first. Even if the haven was Rory's now, most of the dragons considered her very much still their queen. "Your Majesty," Novan murmured to her. "If you think I'm ready... I accept."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona smiled as Novan, the most informal dragon she had ever met besides Avi, was suddenly as dignified as she had ever seen him. "No need to act so stuffy, Novan. You'll find that Edward and his family are much like Sam and I."

She glanced at the other three dragons and saw that none took offence to the final choice. "Baltazar, Ion, Ahti are simply meant for someone else. That's what we teach at the haven. If you would like them to stay here in England to form your own riding corps, I don't think you could find three better dragons to work on that together."

Turning to Rory, she bade him to come closer before she turned back to Edward. "Rory will make Novan's new tack by hand in your colors with your symbols. Have your herald send him what you would like. It's our gift to you."

"And Vincent, we'll train you to ride as well. Alongside your father. You're old enough." Fiona said as she looked at the young prince who had barely said two words since they had met that morning.

"And me." Royse piped in, popping up at her father's other side after she just couldn't contain herself any longer. "Right, Papa?"

"Perhaps just a few things. You're about the same size as my Tati. She's just now learning." Fiona said with a grin towards the young princess.