The North (Closed)

[heartofcourage]

Fiona was silent for a moment as Blair admitted that she didn't know what to believe about her. "Everything they said is true." She whispered. "Every single word of it. From orphan to whore to queen."

"The offer to come to the North will always stand, whether you were my blood or not. I would protect your mother as I do with the rest of the were that need protection. The choice is yours, however." Fiona said as she heard her father call out to the both of them. "Go on. Meet him."

 

[KieranSoares]

Blair looked over to see Owen still standing a respectful distance from Nora, and Nora turned to the side with her arms wrapped around herself as she failed to hold back tears. From where she stood, Fiona watched Blair walk toward the two, pausing as Owen spoke to her. While Fiona couldn't hear what was said, she could see Blair look at Nora, then ask something of Owen. Fiona could see a pained expression on her father's face as he nodded and confirmed whatever Blair had asked. She looked at Nora again, who also nodded, before Blair stepped in and quietly embraced her father for the first time. He didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around her, hugging her tightly for a long moment until she retreated back to Nora to comfort her as well. It seemed the Wolf wasn't letting Owen too close just yet, her heart still raw.

Owen turned back toward Fiona, welcoming her to join them. "I think... we've reached the start of an understanding," he told her quietly. "It's going to take a lot of long, difficult conversations, and there will be anger and tears on everyone's part..." He looked to Nora once more. "But Nora has been gracious enough to let me explain... and Blair knows she wasn't unwanted. By either of us."

Laying a hand on Fiona's arm, he added quietly, "And I hope you know I wasn't trying to replace you with a new family, little kit... I was the worst kind of fool to leave you. But my worst mistake was how I treated you before then."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona didn't say anything as she approached the group, looking up at Owen as he explained that there was an understanding and that he was sorry for how he had treated her in the past. "If I might, let me call in my husband and we can have a meal together. We brought enough for everyone."

 

[KieranSoares]

Owen looked to Nora and Blair at Fiona's question, and Blair gave Nora the final say. The Wolf nodded slowly, speaking in a deep feminine voice that sounded stronger than she felt, "He is welcome to join us."

Before Fiona could call out for Sam, however, two dragons came speeding into view, and several drakes and their riders came sprinting from behind cover. Schaller and Dzana and Orion spotted them and came rushing, but Royer's dragons got there first. Blair looked up in shock and instantly pulled her mother to the ground to take cover. Owen pulled a long dagger, but it was useless as one of the two dragons batted him to the ground harshly and reached out to grab Fiona.

Overhead, Orion smashed into the other dragon still in the air, having been much faster than the elder dragons thanks to his smaller size. The drakes closed in and one paused by Blair and Nora, his Rider watching the chaos closely but seemingly protecting the mother and daughter. Blair looked up in confusion and shock, grabbing for her own blade but realizing she wasn't being attacked.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Blair demanded.

"Helping you fulfill the king's orders," the mounted rider told her, a bit of scolding to his voice. "This should've been done weeks ago."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona turned at the sound of other dragons speeding down upon them. Owen was thrown aside and Fiona made a move towards him, blocked as the dragon reached out for her. She dodged and hit the ground, rolling to avoid grasping claws. Shoving herself to her feet, she assessed the drakes that were closing in and the dragons that were swarming. It was sheer chaos as she ran, her eyes searching for Sam and for safety.

 

[KieranSoares]

Dzana and Schaller were closing in as Fiona dodged out of reach of her attackers, and Schaller quickly scooped her up and let her climb into the saddle. The rebels all turned to flee, seeing Sam and Fiona each mounted up with elder dragons, but now that Owen was separated from Fiona, he was an easy target. One dragon snatched him up from the ground and rocketed back north, the drakes and other dragon keeping Schaller and Dzana distracted a moment longer. Blair's partner butted into the entire mess, pulling Blair and Nora away.

From his saddle, Sam loaded a bolt and shot one of the fleeing drakes in the thigh, causing its leg to collapse and send rider and drake tumbling. The others fled and the drake got up on three legs to follow, leaving its rider behind with a broken shoulder and twisted leg. "Grab him," Sam ordered Dzana, and she roughly snatched up the rider.

Looking after the dragons that had taken Owen, Sam snarled to himself. "Fuck..." Seeing Blair's partner hadn't fled, Sam immediately dismounted and stormed up to Blair, grabbing the young woman by the collar as she was still too shocked and confused to resist. "You look me in the fuckin' eye an' tell me you didn't plan that," he commande as Blair grasped his wrist to steady herself, nearly lifted off her feet. Nora grabbed Sam's arm, prying his fingers away.

"Of course she didn't. She's not some honorless sellsword," Nora muttered, fixing Sam with a freezing glare of a protective mother.

"The commander must've spotted you and realized what we were doing," Blair murmured to her mother. "And Royer's going to know soon if they haven't already told him."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona could hear the snarl of her husband, the fighting of Nora and Blair as they tried to convince him that they hadn't planned any of this. However, there was a loud buzzing in her ears as she stared off into the distance where her father had been taken.

"Fly." She commanded Schaller, panic in her voice when her dragon didn't respond. "Dammit, Schaller, fly. We have to go!"

It was too dangerous and she knew it. They wouldn't be going anywhere. Fiona cursed and dismounted, slipping from the saddle as she stalked towards Dzana.

"Put him on the ground." She growled, insisting that she put the captured rider down. "Now!"

As the dragon placed the injured rider on the ground, Fiona was upon him in an instant. "Tell me where they're going." She growled, meeting the man's gaze before she kicked his broken shoulder and then stood on it, placing her entire weight on the wound. "Tell me where they're fucking going and I might allow you to live to see your goddamned family."

 

[KieranSoares]

Fiona was faced with a young man barely younger than Riley, yelping and screaming in pain when she disturbed the broken bones. "Edinburgh!" He wheezed, his free hand grasping Fiona's boot to try to push her off. "All prisoners go to Edinburgh!"

"Don't you fucking lie to her!" Blair suddenly snapped at her former comrade, just as angry and confused at all that had just happened. "Prisoners go to Aberdeen, Royer never keeps them in the capital."

"Any-" the boy gasped for breath in the midst of his pain, "any Ghis or their family... go to Edinburgh directly..." He was beginning to pass out, his grip starting to weaken on Fiona's boot.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona released the man when he gave his information, stalking a short distance away as fiery anger coursed through her. For the first time in days, she forced the other caller from her mind brutally, twisting the pain and rage back on them.

When she turned back to Sam and Blair, her normally clear eyes were nearly all black, her pupils huge and dragon like. She needed her armor and her weapons and then Royer’s callers would know what it was to be hunted.

“You kept me away from Vienna.” She said to Sam. “You will not keep me away from Edinburgh.”

Her gaze then turned towards Blair, regarding her for a moment. “The name of Dyne marks you as a bastard. Come with me and earn your true name.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Fiona-" Sam tried to stall her, but Blair stepped forward, facing her half-sister with a similarly murderous expression.

"I dreamed of meeting him my whole life," Blair admitted softly. "And I could see in his eyes that he loved my mother and me unconditionally the moment you two arrived. If Royer wants to play this game... He picked the wrong family. I'm with you, Fiona."

"I've wanted my mate back for twenty years," Nora spoke up quietly from beside Blair's partner. "Whether we come together again is beside the point. He doesn't deserve this."

"Goddammit," Sam sighed heavily. "Before you two go off an' die, come back to camp right now. Fiona, you need your gear. Blair, your armor's fine but your weapons aren't great. I'll outfit you." Looking then to Nora, he gave her a nod. "I'll get Nora to Kell an' he'll assign some guardians for her. We'll keep you as safe as we can, ma'am."

"I'll pull my weight," Nora promised quietly, stepping out from the dragon's shadow to allow Sam to help her up onto Dzana's back.

"Let's go. An' fer God's sake, Fiona, don't you an' Blair go alone. I'm sending Ezra, Costa, and Dani to back you up whether you like it or not." He then grumbled to himself about wishing Jani were there, before Dzana took off to lead the way west to the camps. Blair was quick into her own saddle, her partner silently rocketing after Dzana while Schaller scooped up Fiona again and Orion hesitated, but followed despite wanting to chase his partner.

 

[heartofcourage]

Back at camp, Riley was working with Ezra when she noticed something unsettling. All the dragons seemed to have stopped at once and were staring into the same direction, none moving or even really daring to breathe.

“What’s wrong with them?” She asked Ezra, holding a pile of dried hay in her arms.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ezra glanced up, pushing his greying dark hair out of his face. Glancing among all the dragons, he seemed just as confused at first, then he began to grow a bit pale. "Oh, shit..." he murmured. "I only know one Caller who can pull their attention like that." He dropped his rake and hurried toward Sadah nearby who'd been helping them. "Sadah!" He called up at her, but she didn't respond. Her eyes were slitted, unblinking as she looked eastward where Fiona had gone with her father and husband and partners. It wasn't til Ezra pushed against her arm with all his weight that she finally snapped back to the present and looked down.

"Our Caller is..." Sadah paused to search for the word to encompass Fiona's sudden explosion of rage, but couldn't find any more appropriate than, "... very angry."

Some of the other dragons were beginning to move toward the east side of the camp to meet Fiona as Schaller and company appeared in the distance. Riley's fellow Riders were all just as confused, though Ezra, Costa, Danica, and some of the other veterans were a little more able to recognize what was happening.

 

[heartofcourage]

As soon as Schaller touched down, Fiona was out of the saddle and dismounting. She paused only briefly to look around at all of the dragons gathering, riders hurrying to catch up.

“They have taken one of our own.” She announced in Erygonian, a low rumble of growls following her words. “And I will show them the night of a Blackstone. No council will stop me this time in bringing them home.”

 

[KieranSoares]

As word spread, the Northern dragons all silently began to fetch saddles and gear, and all but those Riders unable to join or needed in camp quickly gathered their weapons. Fiona's most trusted officers were the first in their saddles, no question in their mind about the fight ahead. Their Queen's father had been taken in no-man's land during a peaceful meeting, and they wouldn't stand for it.

Sam, meanwhile, roared orders to the ground troops to prepare and for Soma to be brought to meet him. Then, he stepped into his and Fiona's tent and when she followed, all of her gear was laid out and Sam met her with the first layer of padding. He looked absolutely livid, but he was silent as he tightened ties and buckles, secured the leather-wrapped plates, and buckled Fiona's safety harness around her armor. Last to be attached were her weapons. Sam checked her blades before resheathing them, and he restrung her crossbow with fresh sinew before folding in the limbs and placing it on the holster over her shoulder.

Bringing her helmet to her, Sam paused before her with a hard stare, but it was clear to see any exasperation or anger he'd felt for her had been replaced with rage at Royer. "Don't you dare die," he warned her with a growl. "He knows you'll follow. You use your resources an' fellow Riders, don' be some fool doin' everythin' yourself. Meanwhile, Soma an' I are gonna crush this goddamned vanguard an' with any luck, we'll be beyond the ruins within a few days." He let her take the helmet. "I'm keepin' a handful of Riders here with me as messengers. But I want you to take everyone else. Alstadts and Johania included."

Tanya hadn't returned yet due to some delays on Joachim's end, leaving the German Riders under Fiona's control with the aid of Lukas Bergsholt at the head of the Johania. All considered, she had around a hundred trained Riders and dragons at her command, and a handful more that were training or serving outside of combat.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona let Sam dress her in her armor. Part of it was ritual, but the other part was that it was his way to make sure that she would be safe when they parted. Every single piece was meticulously built for her and tested to make sure that she would survive any number of scenarios. When he was done, she turned to face him, her helmet in her hands as they stared at one another in the silence of the tent. Her eyes were still black like the dragon's outside, her fury palpable.

"The Alstadts and Johania will stay here." Fiona murmured in Erygonian, finding it hard to process anything in English at the moment. "You need them more than me. They can help you take Hadrian's wall and hold it until we come back."

"We both know that the fighting in Edinburgh will be catastrophic. I cannot go into the city with hundreds of dragons and expect anything worthwhile to happen. I will take Ezra, Dani, and Costa to help and Blair to fight. All I need from you is to hold the wall. Drive them north." Fiona insisted.

She lowered her head for a moment, eyes closing as she thought about what she was going to do once she arrived in Edinburgh. "See if you can't find Tanya and Joachim and get their asses in gear. I can't tell you anymore."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Goddammit, Fiona..." Sam murmured when she made her own plans and refused to follow his advice. He wouldn't admit how disturbing it was to see her in such a state, having not seen anything like it since the day Andre's father tried to force their dragons to kill them. Shaking his head, Sam clenched the hilt of his sword. "I'll find 'em... But if yer not back in two days, I'm comin' for you myself," he warned. "I know it's your Da, love... Gods know I'd charge off in an instant fer mine too. But I need you to be careful. Royer's gonna use your anger against you."

Stepping closer, Sam pressed his forehead to hers for a moment. "Just come back to me. That's all I ask." With a brief kiss, he stepped out with her. He needed to meet with Soma, and she needed to follow the rebels as quickly as possible so that Royer wouldn't have much of a chance to interrogate Owen.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona walked through the ranks with great dragons following her moves. She knew she needed to calm but she was unable to. The fury cloaked her like a shroud.

She paused as she came upon Lukas, waiting for his orders as Sam had mentioned. “You’ll be staying here to take the wall.” She said in German. “I need a small group for this.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Lukas, usually cheery and bright, was much more serious as Fiona came to face him. At her orders, he nodded. "We will be over the border as fast as I can manage," he promised her. "And I will keep a close watch on our fellows in your stead. You know the Johania Riders are always at your service, Your Majesty." Their loyalty to the North was unquestionable. Even if they still resided in the Empire, they had remained independent and never returned to the throne's control.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona reached inside of her armor and withdrew her necklace, passing it to Lukas. “Make sure my husband gets this.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Lukas took the necklace, glancing up at her with some concern. But he nodded and tucked the necklace away into his own armor. "Yes ma'am," he confirmed, stepping out of her way with a small bow. "Best of luck."

As Fiona's chosen Riders gathered and her orders were relayed around the rest, the entire camp was preparing in the dark for a surprise attack. It wasn't clear if the rebels were prepared for such a reaction, the darkness and the wall and barricades making it difficult to see what they were up to. Sam sent Rangers to take a look as Fiona's troupe prepared to take off.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona stood beside Schaller for a long time, her mind warring with her heart for a moment. She looked up at her dragon, knowing that he understood her more than anyone else on Earth...besides her husband. Even after her gloves and helmet had been secured, she still hesitated to climb into the saddle.

"I have to go say a proper goodbye." She murmured to Schaller. "I can't leave him like this."

 

[KieranSoares]

Schaller watched Fiona struggle silently with her own thoughts for a long moment leaning his head down to her level as she spoke. "Then go, my love," he encouraged quietly despite how serious the situation was. Angry as he was about Owen being taken, Fiona and her needs were his first priority. "We will await you as long as you need."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona placed her hand on his scales before she turned and walked back into camp. It didn't take her long to find Sam, the sound of his voice shouting orders carried over the chaos that surrounded them. Fiona didn't care who saw as she went up to him and wrapped her arms tightly around him, holding him tightly.

"I can't leave without a proper goodbye." Fiona whispered for only him to hear. "I'm sorry for all of this, Sam."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam stopped short as Fiona hugged him tightly, only hesitating a moment in order to wave away people approaching him. Other officers could handle them for a moment. His broad arms settled around her and he pressed his face into her white-blonde hair. "I understand, love," Sam murmured, his previous anger set aside after her close call. He couldn't blame her for trying to keep things peaceful, and he couldn't blame her for chasing after her father.

Sam pressed a kiss to her temple before pulling back to take her by the arms. "Don' worry about me, darlin'. You have things you need to do as a Caller, a Rider, an' a daughter. I'm behind you, always."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona pulled him down for a kiss, her hands cupping his face as their lips met. For a brief moment, she felt centered and knew she was making the right choice. As they parted, she stared into his green eyes and then gave him a small nod, turning to leave him to his duties.