The North (Closed)

[KieranSoares]

Sam let Fiona doze against his shoulder, keeping conversation quiet but fairly normal with the others. Eventually, he dozed off too, both resting back against Avfairn's side. Jani followed at some point curled against Avfairn's neck, and it wasn't quite clear when he drifted off as well.

When Dola, Andre, and Riley were left, Dola chuckled softly to herself. "Don't fall asleep on me too, I can't carry all of this back myself," she said to Andre and Riley. Andre was leaned back comfortably, enjoying the peace and twilight around them. Days were getting longer and longer with the spring, so it was nice to enjoy the sun more often again.

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley glanced around at everyone who had fallen asleep and glanced over at Andre as he relaxed beside them. "I'm not going to leave it all to you, Dola. I promise."

"Although, I do admit that Andre is responsible for our camp. He packs it and gets it secured when we travel." Riley murmured. "I think he's tired of lost items."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Sure am," Andre teased.

"But you each do what suits you. For every fire-keeper, there is a hunter." Dola smiled serenely to herself. "Jani and I operate much the same way. She's not much for cooking and homemaking, and I'm not much of a hunter or protector. We play to our strengths. And when one is down," she glanced toward the sleeping Jani curled against Avfairn's chest, "the other is ready to shoulder a little more."

"Pós eísai, Mama?" Andre asked softly, and Dola only smiled in return.

"I'm fine, Koah. As long as she's still here, I'm fine." Dola looked to Riley, adding, "Keep each other close, my loves. In war, anything can happen. I'm lucky enough that my mate survived what would've been certain death for most others. Very lucky."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Andre and I have been talking...and we think we would like to be married here in Windsor. Our immediate family is here except for Tati. She would be cross with me, but I'm sure the Voya would want to hold a ceremony of welcome anyway." Riley mentioned as Dola mentioned keeping one another close. "I think we would be foolish to not take the opportunity now."

 

[KieranSoares]

Dola tilted her head slightly at the idea, but her smile remained. "Well, if you're prepared to face the wrath of Miss Tatiana... I think it'd be a lovely reprieve from all this stress for everyone. I know your grandmother would be especially delighted. She seems to be the lady in charge of all things weddings. And I would love to help out together something for Koah too."

"We have to share our people's customs with everyone," Andre agreed. "I know you started working on some things as soon as we were engaged."

"And I have all my projects with me. I assumed you'd be married after Inverness was retaken, but I can finish some pieces up early."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm sure we could get her here if we are sure about this. It would take a few days." Riley said as she glanced at Andre and gave him a small smile. "And we would have to tell Gran. She'll get everything in motion. After Jani got hurt, we realized that we just didn't see the need to wait anymore. Time is short."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We can get things started and go fetch her ourselves," Andre suggested. "But only if we're sure it's safe for her. I wouldn't want to bring her and incur your Ma's wrath."

"Let her be for today, we'll gather everyone tomorrow morning to start planning." Dola began packing things back into baskets then. "But as for myself, I think I need to get my wife back in bed, and then I'll get a head start."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Thank you, Dola." Riley said as she moved to help her pack things up, putting aside enough food for Fiona when she woke.

Riley wrapped the food in a cloth and placed it next to her father, kissing his cheek and waking him briefly as Andre moved to help his mother and get Jani ready to go. "We're going back to the castle. I'm leaving you something for Ma if she wakes. I need to talk to you at breakfast about things."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll see ya then," Sam assured Riley as she woke him. He looked to Fiona and smiled to see her still asleep. "We'll go inside in a while."

Avi didn't wake as Andre carefully scooped Jani up when she found it too difficult to stand. She grumbled protest, but Dola shushed her and followed alongside with as much as she could carry once Riley joined them. Once everything was inside and Jani was settled back into bed with Dola at her side, Andre slipped away and came to take Riley's hand.

"Hey," he murmured, taking the moment alone with her to pull her into an unexpectedly warm, even sensual kiss as they stood in the dark, empty hallway. Nuzzling against her cheek before he pulled back, he gave her a handsome smile. "Have I told you I love you yet today?"

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley was surprised when Andre gathered her into his arms and kissed her there in the dark hallway, "Not today." She murmured as he gave her that handsome grin that she had become so accustomed to.

"You're sure you want to go through with a marriage?" She asked him softly. "You still have time to back out."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ri, I'm with you whether I have a ring or not," Andre told her with a soft chuckle. "I made that decision already. And we've been through more together in a year than most couples face in twenty. I'm all yours as long as you want me." Leaning in for another kiss, he let his forehead rest against hers and she immediately felt that adoring warmth from him.

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley closed her eyes and simply let him love her. Andre had the ability to convince her that she was worthy of his love and so much more. She wrapped her arms around him and leaned her head into his chest, letting him hold her tightly. He was all that she needed in the world. The next morning, she and Andre met with Fiona and Sam to inform them of what they had planned. Fiona was quiet while she ate, listening to her daughter lay out what she wanted.

"Of course, I want Tati here..." Riley said. "And Andre and I can get her if we need to."

"Riley, I'm not saying no. It's just...dangerous..." Fiona said as she looked up at the couple. "For you both and for her."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam had a hand on Fiona's arm as she spoke, nodding slowly in agreement as she expressed her trepidation. "I have t'agree kids. If somethin' happens, she doesn' have th'ability t'defend herself or th'faculties t'see things comin'. We'd all be there t'protect her, but if someone got t'her before we could react..." He sighed with a shake of his head.

"We'd want to keep everything as quiet as possible to avoid word getting out," Andre agreed. "And I know we could have Marth or Gia front and center to pick her up at the first sign of danger."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She's already missed out on so much. I don't want her to be upset that she missed out on this." Riley said, knowing that their concerns were valid, but Tatiana was still her little sister.

"Let me speak with Ezra." Fiona said as she looked up with a sigh. "We'll do our best to make sure she's here, but I'm not going to make any promises. Her safety is the most important."

"Then I guess I'll have Gran start on the plans? With Dola, of course." Riley said, looking over at Andre.

 

[KieranSoares]

"We both will." Andre took Riley's hand before looking back to her parents. "And we'll make sure safety comes first. If there's any hint of danger, we'll postpone."

"Go on, kids," Sam shooed them away gently. "We'll let you know."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona watched the pair leave their parlor before she looked over at Sam. "I could go get her myself. I know she would want to be here." She offered, thinking through all of the options for Tati and her safety.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Would you trust anyone else t'take up your mantle while you're gone?" Sam asked quietly, knowing Fiona was carrying a lot on her shoulders and often felt pulled in every direction. "It might be better t'send someone who won't draw as much attention, love."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Even when she's on her best behavior, Riley is still a pain in my side." Fiona muttered as she ran her fingers back through her hair and pulled at it in frustration. "I'll have Ezra send someone to Sweden to get her. All of us together can protect her if something were to happen."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We can ask them to hold off, love," Sam reminded her gently. "I understand why they want to do it, but it's a tough time..."

He sighed deeply, shaking his head. "To be fair, we did things like this in the middle of a war too. Tryin' to put on the Solstice and other celebrations, encouragin' people t'chase after love between battles, that sort o' thing.'

 

[heartofcourage]

"We've told them to hold off before, Sam. Riley needed to mature. They did as we asked and now, she is on more stable footing. I don't think it's fair that we ask her to put off a marriage again." Fiona said as she looked over at Sam. "Your Ma and Dola will plan a lovely little ceremony and we will all be there. We'll be happy for a day and then we'll return to war. That's how these events tend to go."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know all that, but you can't stop me worryin'," Sam reached out to brush his fingers through her hair, leaning in to kiss her forehead. "Especially when it comes to you. You carry too much, love. This whole damned family does."

Pulling her close against his side, she had a quiet moment with the soft Sam she'd known in peacetime since Riley's birth. As he'd assured her before, there was no trace of that hard lawman who tried to be heartless to protect himself and keep others out.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona leaned into his side and sighed. “We’re too young to have a married daughter.” She muttered, her head resting against his shoulder.

 

[KieranSoares]

"You certainly are," Sam teased gently, laying his head against hers and closing his eyes for a long moment of peace. "But she picked a good lad, an' he an' his Ma are already family. I'd almost go so far as t'say he's the first smart decision our girl's ever made." He chuckled at that. It had been obvious since the moment Sam welcomed Andre into his forge that Sam adored him. He'd put up perhaps the least resistance to Riley finding her love, while all the other Ghis men at least gave him a hard time now and then.

 

[heartofcourage]

“You just want someone that can work the forge with you.” She murmured with a grin as Sam gave the union his own quiet stamp of approval. “But it’s good to know that Andre will love and support her just the way she is. I don’t think Riley could survive any other way.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I half expected her to just end up like Jani. No ties til she was old enough to want to slow down a little." Sam smiled to himself. "But it's nice to see Jani find someone who doesn't want to change her either. Never thought I'd see the day she committed to a relationship, much less a wife."

Looking down at Fiona, he added, "Not forgetting Bo an' Shani either. Much as it makes us feel old, it's good t'see th'kids in love, no' wastin' time actin' all heartless an' distant like me when I was their age."