The North (Closed)

[KieranSoares]

Edward chuckled at his children, his son simply nodding while his daughter was immediately ready for anything. "Let us get our new friend settled in first, darling. And we'll get you started with a drake like I promised, then we can look at dragon-riding for you."

Looking at the remaining dragons, Edward faced them with a smile. "I'd like to introduce you all to my most trusted men. It's an unpredictable world, and the more help I can get, the better."

Rory chuckled to himself and patted Novan's shoulder, leaning on him lightly. "Well, Your Highnesses, I dare say I have some work ahead of me. And Dani's already volunteered to help get you started, Edward. She trained Sam, so I'm sure she'll do a fine job with your family."

It was just about then that Julia arrived with her nephew and husband in tow, and Edward turned with a look of surprise to see someone who looked so much like the former queen. "Milady," he greeted her properly, having always deeply respected her. "And another new guest?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"A peer of your realm." Julia said with a wide smile as Edward greeted them and she pulled Julian to a stop. "This is my nephew, Julian Chester, son of my brother, Lord Maxwell of Chester. He brings you my brother and sister-in-law's oath personally."

The pride on Julia's face was hard to miss as she presented Julian to the new king, taking a step back to stand next to Brogan. Ashleigh stepped up next to her husband to greet this young man as well, leaving her children to watch as they conducted business of state.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Your Majesties," Julian bowed deeply before them. "Please allow me to extend my sincerest welcome back to England. My mother and father have been looking forward to the day we could reinstate our oath to the English throne and House Beauclerc."

Standing up straight, Julian reached into his satchel and extended a formal letter with a wax seal. "It is our honor as Englishmen and women, and as family, to declare Chester and all her holdings loyal to the true King and Queen of England, and offer all we can to help this country begin to recover and aid her allies in regaining their homes."

Looking to Julia and Brogan, Julian smiled. And as immediate family to the true heads of Inverness and Scotland, we will extend the same vow of aid to Queen Katherine Ghis and King Samuel Ghis."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Don't call Sam a king to his face. He's libel to punch you." Fiona said as Julia sighed, and Ashleigh couldn't help the laughter that bubbled from her lips.

"Sir Julian. Thank you for your allegiance and for coming all this way." Ashleigh said after he bowed.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I could barely wait," Julian chuckled. "And the rest of my family will be coming down when the border is secure. While my father is a fairly minor noble in the grand scheme of things, he and his peers made a vow to King Henry before England fell that they would help him or his successor when you returned."

"I certainly need all the help I can get." Edward shook Julian's hand and gave him a nod. "Chester has my thanks and any aid I can spare as we all recover. But don't let me keep you from your family, Sir. You have a lot of catching up to do."

Soon the small gathering split up as Edward took Vincent to start working with Rory and Novan, and Julian joined his aunt to go greet the rest of the family. As Fiona was preparing to leave, she heard her name called from across the grounds.

"Hey, Blackstone!" Came Jani's shout as she stiffly made her way across the lawn. As a close friend of the family, she'd been kept near while healing. And while she was nowhere near recovered, she had refused to stay bedridden any longer. Since getting on her feet, she had been nearly inseparable from Avfairn who was still in bad condition and fighting a vicious case of pneumonia. But now she'd come seeking her captain, despite how it pained her to walk any distance.

Fiona hadn't seen her much in the past two weeks, but Alex had reported on Jani's extensive wounds. She'd suffered deep slashes and gouges all over. The worst of which had been to her lower back that was an inch from paralyzing her. Her left shoulder had been damaged badly to the point that Alex had to perform an intense surgery to extract a bolt head. It also seemed she'd been caught in a small explosion at some point considering all the shrapnel he'd had to pull out. Jani had kept the pieces, intending to melt them down into a memento of the occasion in her usual glory-seeker way.

Stepping up to Fiona, winded just from the walk, Jani took a moment to gather herself. She gave a half-hearted smirk and faced Fiona, trying to put on her usual devil-may-care attitude. "Leaving me out of the dragon dealings now? I guess it's fair play after we left you out last year, huh?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Halfborn." Fiona said with a dry, humorless look as Jani struggled to walk even across the smooth lawn "Turnabout is fair play. When the King of England says that he wants a dragon, you bring him the best that you have to offer."

She looked over her shoulder as Novan tried his hardest to be stiff and formal while he walked with his new riders, but she knew that it wouldn't last. He wasn't made that way. "Rory has it well taken care of."

She turned back to Jani, her hands on her hips as she looked her up and down. "I would guess that Dola doesn't know you're here. Nor Avi. Nor Sadah."

 

[KieranSoares]

"And Sam and Schaller didn't know all the times you went sneaking out either," Jani half-chuckled, though it was clear it hurt to do so. "Cut me some slack, Fiona. You're too damn busy so I had to come catch up."

Still holding her side, she tried to straighten up and her usual smirk faded a bit. "I saw Avi this morning... He's looking pretty bad, huh...?" She met Fiona's eyes and Fiona saw the grief already beginning. "He'll hold out a long, long time. But if this pneumonia doesn't break..." She shook her head. "I guess what I'm saying is... If he doesn't get back up, I... I don't know how much use I'll be. But before you yell at me for being hopeless like your ridiculous husband, I want it made clear that I'm not giving up and Avi isn't either."

There was a little fire in her voice as she made that proclamation. "Avi and I agreed twenty years back that we'd see you all home. Not die trying, but see you there in person. And we promised to see Dola and Andre home, and I swore I'd prove I was worth the chance you all took on us and the trust you put in us. That's not changing if I have anything to say about it. But if he does... die... I don't know if I'll be able to fly anymore. He's my wings, no one else. So... I wanted to make sure you were prepared."

Jani's head sagged, her fiery spirit starting to crumble as she tried to logically face the future and her heart shattered. "He's dying," she whispered, finally falling to her knees in front of her sworn sister. Jani was not one to share grief and negative emotions, so this was a new sight to Fiona. "He's fucking dying and I'm too small to save him, Fiona," she murmured, looking up through brimming tears. Fiona knew that pain from when she thought she'd lose Invah and Schaller. It was far too similar.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona watched Jani for the longest moment, the proud woman weeping openly as she tried to come to grips with just how seriously injured her dear dragon was. They had been doing their best and Fiona still hoped that now Rory was there, they might be able to do more for him. It was all touch and go for them, but Avi was strong and Avi had the will to keep going if only for Jani's sake.

"I won't tell you that things are good." Fiona said softly. "You visit him enough to know, but he's not dead yet and we are not going to speak of him as if he is. He's holding out for you, Jani. He's wanted to see you more than anything in the world, so maybe seeing you up and on your feet will do him some good."

She sat in the grass next to Jani, letting out a long sigh. "And if he does pass, it's your choice what happens. You have enough wealth to live on until you die with Dola in peace. I won't ever begrudge you that. Rory, Ezra, and Sadah...we can all work together to find you another partner if you wished. You have choices, but we aren't going to give up on him yet. Rory and I have plans now that he's seen him in person. I'm taking over his care personally since the invasion of the North has stalled. I promise you that I'm going to fight like hell."

 

[KieranSoares]

Jani's whole body shuddered with nearly-silent sobs, not allowing herself to wail and completely fall apart. "He's been everything to me for so long," she whispered between sharp breaths, a hand pressing to her side as her wounds ached in response. "Anywhere he goes, I can't help but follow. He's my Schaller..." Jani looked to Fiona as she said that, knowing a fellow veteran Rider understood the depth of that relationship better than anyone. The bond of a dragon and their Rider transcended any other label save for soulmate. And Jani had had her partner longer than any of the other Riders at this point. Even Ezra and Sadah hadn't been partners as long. Jani had told the story many times of how she found Avfairn as a young woman and they nearly killed each other before sharing a drink and settling things with a shared love of hunting, fishing, and wandering.

Sitting back on her knees with her arms wrapped around herself as if that would help the emotional and physical ache, Jani forced herself to lift her head pridefully and take a deep breath. Even in her state, she was stubborn and refused to bow her head to anything.

"I'm sorry," she muttered hoarsely. "I didn't come here to fall apart like a fucking child." She swiped in annoyance at her tears and took a few more deep breaths, pulling herself together in record time out of pure bull-headedness. "I came because I wanted to make two requests. And you're the only person I trust to carry either of them out properly. Almost everyone else is useless."

Jani met Fiona's eyes fiercely. "If my boy dies... Here or anywhere else, I promised him I'd take a piece of him home to Iceland. If I go before him, I hope you'll do that for both of us alongside Dola. It's not going to be soon," she promised more to herself than Fiona. "Secondly... Dola and I talked about it a lot this last year, and she decided that while she does want to see home again, she wants to live in the north with me. So I wanted to ask for her sake, if you'd let us settle in Inverness."

It was a strange step for Jani to make such a request. She rarely asked permission for anything, and in all the time Fiona had known her, she never lived in a permanent home. She was of nature, a nomad who never put down roots because her home was wherever Avfairn was, and they both had an untamable wanderlust. But it seemed with Dola and with age, Jani was considering a change. And like many things involving Dola's happiness and comfort, Jani was more subdued, more afraid to fail.

 

[heartofcourage]

"If Avfairn falls, Schaller and I will personally take him to Iceland." Fiona promised, knowing that Jani was asking for the world by asking that of her. "And the same would go for you. We would take you back. The entire family would."

"As far as Inverness goes...Jani, you don't have to ask my permission. Just as Riley doesn't have to ask my permission to return to Trondheim. Home is where you make it and if you wish to stay with us in Inverness, you will always be welcome." She reached out and placed her hand on Jani's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Now, we've had enough of acting like fools today."

She stood and helped Jani to stand as well, looping her arm around Jani's chest to support her and steady her on her feet. As they walked back towards the castle, she saw Sam and waved him down, stopping before they entered the great stone structure.

"Would you see Jani back inside? I'm sure Dola is searching for her by now." Fiona asked her husband. "And then call Alex, Luna, Yasmine, and any other healer that might be of help to me to the great hall. I have things that I need to discuss with them."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Don't make me rely on him," Jani teased half-heartedly as Sam drew her against his unhurt side for support.

"Come on, love. We've learned pretty heavily on you before. Time t'return the favor." Sam nodded to Fiona then. "I'll send 'em along right away. Then I've got some work t'do with Soma, if y'need me." He stepped away with Jani in tow, walking at her pace back to her room where Dola was probably waiting or searching nearby.

 

[heartofcourage]

As soon as the healers were gathered in the great hall, Fiona didn't wait to escort them to the infirmary that she had set up for dragons. Dry nests and bedding gave them some semblance of privacy and comfort but allowed for Riders on patrol to easily access them. When she came to Avfairn, she was thankful that he was sleeping. She paused a distance away as not to disturb him.

"I've called you all together because I come on bended knee. I know there are things beyond your medical expertise, but maybe with us all together, we can come up with a plan for Avfairn. If I lose him, I lose part of my command that I cannot afford to lose. Not this close to Scotland. On a personal level...I don't think I need to state his importance." Fiona said to all of the healers gathered.

 

[KieranSoares]

Among the healers, many of whom had seen Fiona through her own nearly-mortal wounds, Fiona saw many concerned faces as she asked them to redouble efforts for the dying dragon. Even Valentina and Theo, who'd arrived with the rest of the family, had come to Sam's call and stood alongside Alex and Yasmine. Jan and Luna shared a look and turned toward some of the tribal healers who'd recently arrived, looking for their opinions. And despite being busy with the new guardian of Windsor, Rory had come as well being the most experienced with dragon care.

Of all of them, it was Loren who stepped up first. Despite his youth, he was a fully-fledged doctor and more than that, he was intensely loyal to his aunt who'd been a motherly figure all his life. "Dragon medicine isn't my specialty," he murmured. "But I've been studying as much as I can with the veteran Riders. And I've learned about some things that are toxic to humans and werefolk that would be helpful to a dragon in Avfairn's condition."

Alex spoke up then, realizing what Loren was getting at. "We'd need the aid of a few Riders to gather rarer materials. But if Loren's suggesting that... I recall Schaller and Invah telling us about a moss that grows in the Faroe Islands that helped them survive the fall of Inverness. That would be a good start, but there are many other things we could use."

"I've got some younger Riders who'd love to help," Rory offered. "They came as trained medics for the dragons, so this would suit them well. And their partners are all older dragons who already know some tricks when it comes to first aid."

"We've got tribal knowledge on our side," Jan offered with a nod toward Luna. "While we don't have much experience with dragons, we do have knowledge of some more complicated procedures and treatments that should help keep him going. If we can get a little help from Val and Theo, I think we can help him hold out. The most important thing is making sure he can breathe, and they have more experience than anyone with lung maladies and wounds. We just have to scale it up for dragon size."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Riley, Andre, and I can calm him if he’s agitated. There are other things I can possibly do if needed…” She said, looking over at Avi. “But we will try conventional methods first. It will broaden our knowledge for the future.”

She turned and looked at Rory, her arms crossing over her leather armor. “I’m taking over his care. Jani can be told the truth, but he is mine to care for. Send out your riders immediately. Use Schaller if needed.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Got it," Rory confirmed immediately before jogging away to the nearest dragon to get the word out. Meanwhile, the healers among the group who hadn't yet seen Avfairn's wounds gathered to discuss with those who had.

Loren immediately began writing down anything he could think of that might help, as well as suggestions from the others. They all seemed to agree a visit to the Faroe Islands was a good first step for gathering rarer materials, and Loren seemed to be taking the initiative to begin recording what they were working on with room for the results later, much like Alex and Vincenzo before him.

When Rory got together the Riders and dragons he wanted to send, Loren didn't hesitate to accompany them, and Alex allowed his son Yasir to go along as well. Both had plenty of experience riding along with dragons thanks to wide travel with the Riders and visits to the haven. It was also decided Schaller would accompany them to the islands to show them how to find the moss, but he'd return as soon as possible while the rest went on to gather other materials.

In the midst of the planning and the healers looking over Avfairn, he eventually stirred on his own. One great blue eye opened, unfocused and a little dim, and he looked over the gathered people with some confusion. Slowly lifting his head, he looked to Fiona. "What's all this...,?" he questioned hoarsely as if he barely had breath to speak.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Your last chance, my friend.” Fiona said softly, her hand resting on his maw as the healers did things that were potentially painful. “But I have hope that it won’t be the last. I need you to recover for Jani’s sake.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Avfairn's head came to rest back on the ground, unable to hold it up for long. It seemed even as the healers examined, he didn't have the strength to react much to anything painful. Looking back to Fiona, he muttered, "No one else can handle that ridiculous girl... I wouldn't leave that on your shoulders if I can help it," he joked weakly, though the way he pushed his maw into Fiona's hand gave away that he was desperate for some kind of comfort. As strong and stoic as he could be, he had the same soft heart as Jani, seeking friends and family for comfort at his lowest moments when he couldn't hold up a facade of strength anymore.

"Did I hallucinate, or was she up walking around?" Avi asked softly. Jani had visited him anytime she could, but he was too lethargic to remember. "How is she?"

 

[heartofcourage]

“She’s surviving.” Fiona said softly. “Wishing that she could do more for you, which is why I’m taking over your care. She would worry herself to death.”

Fiona placed her other hand on his maw and closed her eyes, muttering in an ancient language that came and went when needed. She never truly understood the words, but she didn’t need to. Her ancestors would guide her in what needed to be done, but she was leaving herself vulnerable in the quest to help Avfairn. Her very being was at risk, especially with what was happening in Scotland. It was a risk she had to take.

 

[KieranSoares]

As Fiona tapped into the knowledge not in her mind, but her bloodline, Avfairn was allowed past the mental defenses she'd carefully cultivated for years so that he could connect with her. While she didn't feel his pain herself, she was certainly aware of it. His entire body ached terribly from his crash and from sickness, and his lungs were barely functioning enough to keep him alive. She could see the moment great ballista bolts struck him and how he managed not to panic despite crashing. He'd kept enough presence of mind to defend his partner from a lethal fall and avoid hitting buildings and harming civilians and their property. Then the moment he hit, everything went black. There were flashes of a tilted view of Jani, her hands on his maw and speaking Icelandic to him in a shaking tone.

Then a whole squadron of Hess's men attacked, and Jant went into a rage like a berserker of her people's myths. Fiona saw through Avi's eyes the ferocity Jani had cultivated from years of training and a youth full of battle. She didn't need a massive claymore like the Ghis brothers to hack off limbs, and she didn't play fair. With a round shield and longsword, she took on an entire squadron alone and won, but not without nearly-fatal wounds herself. Avi even had a flash of the moment Fiona arrived and snapped Jani out of her rage, but then it all went black again for a long, long time. He didn't remember being moved by Schaller or even the first week in recovery.

Fiona could also see other memories as she often did when tapping into a dragon's mind. A harsh youth surviving in Iceland with no memories of a mother, but a gruff and proud father always nearby. A young Jani with sword in hand, teasing him about being a pushover who didn't have the guts to fight her. A peaceful moment spent staring over a mountain lake with Jani perched on his arm painting her shield. All of his most precious memories included her.

Drawing a bit on Fiona's strength, Avfairn soon drifted back to sleep with some pain eased. At the very least, if he wasn't in so much pain, he wasn't as stressed, and that would keep him going a little longer.

 

[heartofcourage]

As soon as Avfairn was breathing easier and asleep without pain, Fiona pulled herself free. She was dazed as she came back to herself, stomach turning sickly. Pulling her hands off his maw, she took a step back and blinked against the harsh light of day.

 

[KieranSoares]

Steady hands caught Fiona as she stepped back, and she found Ezra there looking on with a quiet concern. He recognized when Fiona was connecting with a dragon, so he hadn't interrupted.

Making sure she was steady on her feet, Ezra let her go. "Just checking in for Jani. She wanted to come out to see him, but she exhausted herself apparently sneaking out to talk to you. Are you okay?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm alright." She murmured softly as she turned to look up at Ezra. "And Jani did indeed come to see me when she shouldn't have. I'd expect that she'll be bedbound for a few days."

"We are going to do the best we can for Avfairn. An entire army is behind him at the moment. That's all the Jani needs to know." Fiona said as she knew that he would be reporting back. "He's resting comfortably. She doesn't need to know what I did."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll keep it vague so she doesn't go charging off," Ezra agreed. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he gave her a reverent nod. "I know how much helping such massive creatures can drain you. But know that as your lieutenants, we're grateful. Losing any one of this close-knit circle would lay us all low. I don't mind admitting Sadah and I have shed some tears in private worrying about these two fools. I'm sure many have."

Giving her shoulder another pat, Ezra stepped away to head inside and report to Jani. In the meantime, some of the healers remained to look after Avfairn and learn what they could from those who knew more about dragons and their health.

 

[heartofcourage]

Come early afternoon, things had calmed on the estate as the different parties were given their tasks and had set off on their duties. Ashleigh had retired to her quarters, exhausted and in need of rest. Both she and Edward had been pushing themselves to get things under control. She knew that her role as Queen would be taxing, but she had no idea it would be like this. They were both doing too much, especially now that the children had arrived at Windsor.

She napped in the silence of her chamber, the quiet breeze drifting in through the open windows. That was until she felt the familiar weight of arms wrapping around her chest and a beard scratching against her cheek. Ashleigh turned her head and kissed her husband properly in greeting, sighing as her hands found his own and she laced her fingers with his.

"To what do I owe this honor? You've been gone every morning before I wake and I barely see you in the evenings any longer." She murmured.

 

[KieranSoares]

"That's exactly why I sent the children off with your brother and some responsible cousins, and asked our advisors to clear a bit of time for me," Edward murmured as he drew back from her kiss. "We've talked and planned for this for so long... and the first rule we agreed on was that we'd always make time for each other even when we returned."

Everyone knew Edward was a stoic man. He loved easily and wholeheartedly, but it was quiet and subdued in nature, hearkening back to the quiet young man he'd once been that his own son now embodied. Settling beside Ashleigh, that quiet young Prince was with her again, offering his gentle love freely and without hesitation. Even when they were too young to understand love, he'd been her constant companion and supporter and she his.