The North (Closed)

[heartofcourage]

The wind and rain had been merciful, dulling her senses and stealing away most of the pain that she felt. However, Fiona knew that the longer she stood out there in the elements, the closer she was to death. It reminded her of times when she was younger, so hungry and cold that she feared she might die as she camped in the woods. The only respite she had was to be arrested and thrown into jail in Inverness for a meal or two and a warm cot.

Opening her eyes at the sound of commotion, she noticed the kitchen staff unloading wagons, seemingly ignoring her plight. She winced as she pushed up with her legs, giving her arms a rest as the first raindrops pattered against her filthy clothing. It was then that she saw a familiar face and her blood truly ran cold. As Andre told her to hold on, she wanted to scream at him to run away, but she knew it wouldn't do much good. Instead, she looked away quickly, her head coming back to rest against the rough wooden post.

 

[KieranSoares]

The rainy day went on for what felt like forever, cold seeping into Fiona's bones along with hunger. It'd been a long time since she'd dealt with the familiar sensations to this degree. As a Ghis, there was always somewhere to find warmth or food if she had none. The family had tried to make sure she never dealt with those reminders of her past.

As night fell and the rain got heavier and colder, guards passed Fiona regularly on their patrols. But as the storm worsened, the men came less and less often. Hours into the night, the storm turned to sleet with the last frost of spring. The only people outside were Fiona and some miserable guards huddling under the gatehouse threshold a ways away. One occasionally glanced out at her, but there was nothing to see in the dark and heavy rain.

It was sometime past midnight that Fiona felt a boot step up onto the platform she was on, and a warm body pressed against hers as Andre reached up to carefully being prying one of the spikes loose from her hands. "Hey, Mama Bear," he whispered a nickname he'd given her in past year, a gentle tease at her role in the Ghis family, holding her against the post to make sure she didn't fall when he freed one hand. The spike came out with a quiet squeak against the cold, wet wood and Andre shifted to reach for the other, letting Fiona put her weight into him. Her hands were so cold that she could barely feel when they were freed.

Andre slowly lowered himself down with one arm, holding Fiona with the other. He took a moment to set her on her feet, still holding her close in case her knees buckled. "Can you walk?" He asked softly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're a fool." Fiona muttered as Andre pressed against her in the darkness, working to free her from the wood as she shivered against the sleet that pelted her. "A bloody fool."

She was draped against him as Andre slowly lowered the both of them down, helping her to stand on her feet. She couldn't support herself at the moment, shaking her head as her arms tightened around his neck. She could barely feel anything as she let her forehead rest against the crook of his neck for a moment.

"We have to go. If Markos returns...he's loyal to Royer." She whispered. "We have to go now."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm a fool who loves you to death. And a fool lucky enough to have three mothers because of you," Andre told her, leaning down to get her up over his shoulders so she could hold on and he could keep an arm free.

He set off at a fast walk, not wanting to go too fast lest he ended up short of breath in a dangerous moment. Hugging the wall and heading for the kitchen servants' entrance, he had to set Fiona down against the wall to get out a set of keys he'd found. When none of them fit, he cursed at himself and threw the keys aside. Pulling out a pick kit he'd borrowed from Brogan, he knelt to concentrate on the lock. But just as he got to the last tumbler, a key pushed into the other side and forced the picks out. Andre's eyes went wide and he rolled to the side. The door pushed inward and the instant the door shut behind the stranger, Andre grabbed them in a headlock and kicked the back of their knee to force them to the ground. His military training came in good use as he pinned the guard, choking him to unconsciousness. As the man fell still, Andre stole his sword and drove it down through the back of the man's neck. He couldn't risk the man waking to alert anyone. By the time they found him, Andre and Fiona would be long gone.

Taking the man's sword belt and knife, Andre fastened them on and sheathed the blade before scooping Fiona up again. "Gia's in the woods just on the south end. If we get separated, I need you to try to get there," he instructed, breathing heavily as he jogged into and down alleyways in the city. "If things get bad, I'll hide you and draw attention away."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona was fading, dragging herself in and out of consciousness. She was going to be useless if they were caught out, her hands mangled and unable to hold a sword or dagger. The least she could hope for was the element of surprise like she had shown the warden in the depths of the dungeon.

"He left this morning. I'm not sure where." Fiona murmured, relaying as much information to Andre as she could in case she passed out and didn't wake. "They have little information about the Northern forces."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Markos, right?" He asked quietly as he paused to look around a corner. "I didn't see him before I left. We'll figure it out when we get there."

He bolted across a main street and into another alley. Fiona could feel his entire body tense with adrenaline when someone called after them. Unsure if it was a guard or just a concerned passerby, Andre broke into a sprint to weave through pathways to lose them. By the time they reached the city's edge, he couldn't get enough air and had to set Fiona down once more under the eaves of a barn. They still had to get through quite a bit of farmland to reach the woods. While they were out in the open, Andre could at least use the little stone walls for cover and see anyone coming from a distance. They had a few more close calls with a shepherd out checking on his sheep, and a patrol going along a dirt path between fields.

At one point when Fiona came out of a brief blackout, she found herself wrapped up in a cloak and held close to Andre's chest before a small campfire. There was no sign of Gia and Andre looked worried, but he focused on Fiona first. Feeling her stir, her head against his shoulder, he carefully pulled the cloak up a little more to cover her face from the rain. "Gia must've had to move to avoid getting caught, I think. This is where we agreed to meet if things went wrong."

Fiona's hands had been wrapped up in clean cloth, her broken fingers carefully immobilized by a makeshift split. A slight sting told her that he'd applied one of Alex's salves to her wounds to stave off infection. It helped with the pain too as she warmed up.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona let out a small groan of pain as she shifted her body, everything sore and coming back to life. She glanced down at her hands and then rested her head against Andre for a moment more.

"Go find her. I'll be alright on my own." She murmured. "I promise, Andre. We made it this far, I'll be alright."

She tucked her hands close to her body beneath the cloak and sat upright, biting back the worst of the pain. "If anyone comes, I know the woods well. I can hold my own better here than in the city."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Not a chance," Andre protested, still supporting her with one arm. "She knows where we'll be. If she isn't here by dawn, we head south without her. She knows the plan."

Reaching over to his small pack that he'd hidden there before parting from Gia earlier, he withdrew a canteen and opened it up for Fiona, knowing her hands were likely too weak to manage it. He also pulled out a few bundles of food, picking out some softer things that would be easier on Fiona, like cheese and flatbread that he always carried with him.

"I need you to be selfish right now, Fiona," he encouraged her gently, "The entire North is in an absolute rage and they're gonna be even madder when they see what's happened to you. I need you strong enough to put on a brave face and convince them not to charge into a face full of gunpowder when they get here. I saw the dozens of guns on the wall tops and all the weapons Royer's stored to fight the dragons. It's gonna be one hell of a fight."

He didn't want to ask Fiona to be strong, not after all she'd been through. But he also knew she was always more concerned with her people and she knew the risks of anger and recklessness on such a large scale.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'd do it all again." Fiona said softly as he helped her to take a healthy drink from his canteen, the water soothing her throat after so long without it. "They would have killed my Da with this...merciful treatment."

Fiona took the food that was offered, carefully holding it with her bandaged hands to not be completely useless. "They'll close their ranks as they do and dote on me. I've seen it time and again in this family, Andre. I'll allow myself time to fall apart when it's just Sam and I."

"I promise that I'll walk into the camp on my own accord. They won't know my pain." Fiona said as she looked over at Andre in the darkness, the rain shifting back over to sleet and pelting them once more.

 

[KieranSoares]

Andre winced slightly as the freezing rain stung at his face, taking a spare cloak and throwing it over them and keeping his mother-in-law close. The fire had some cover from trees overhead and Andre's careful placement beside an old ruined cobble. It would be a miserable night, but Andre was determined to pull Fiona through it the way Riley had helped him when she rescued him from Vienna.

When Fiona had eaten and everything was put away save the canteen that Andre left close at hand, he hugged her gently to his chest, letting her head rest in the crook of his neck again. He didn't have to say a word for her to know how relieved he was that he'd gotten her out. It wasn't just for the sake of his mate. Andre loved Fiona dearly, much like he did Jani, and he owed her so much more than just his freedom. "Rest while you can," he murmured softly. "I've got you."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona nodded as he encouraged her to rest, exhaustion sweeping over her as she relaxed for the first time in days. Andre held her close beneath the cloaks, warming her against the sleet and rain that Scotland was known for. If she weren't so weary, she might have wept with the knowledge that she were back in her home country. Instead, she drifted off into oblivion, hoping that Gia wasn't too far away and that Andre was able to find her.

 

[KieranSoares]

Fiona was only stirred awake a bit after dawn, the trees dripping with icy water but the sky starting to clear. Andre had picked her up once more, his bag slung over his back as he began to move southward. He hid his internal panic that his partner hadn't showed up, but he had a mission and he and Gia had agreed that Fiona needed to be saved at all costs.

Eventually they found a path that made the going easier, and Andre carried Fiona on his back when his arms grew tired. After trekking all morning, Andre was exhausted too. They came upon the edge of a hamlet and Andre hid Fiona in a barn before disappearing into the village. It was only an hour before he returned with a rugged draft horse, having bought the beast from a local money with all the money he had at hand and a few fine tools Sam had made.

They rode through the rest of the day, Fiona sitting in front of Andre so he could make sure she didn't fall and she could lean back against him. Andre pushed on into the night, knowing the path the Northerners would take and knowing that he could meet up with them if they left the wall immediately as he expected.

Late that night after pitching camp and letting the army rest while the Riders kept watch, a sudden commotion went up on the north end and the Ghis were called up. Andre led his horse along, allowing Fiona to walk into camp on her own two feet as she'd said. He'd made sure to get her some proper clothes and a cloak in the last village and helped her clean up, but it was still obvious she'd been abused.

Sam came sprinting from his tent, having not bothered with his armor, only wearing a thin shirt, trousers, and hastily-pulled-on boots with an axe belted to his waist. He shoved past everyone else, his green eyes focused on his wife and desperate to reach her. But as he got close, he forced himself to stop. Even seeing the bruises on her face and the wrappings around her hands, he knew he couldn't just throw his arms around her. Instead, Fiona was met with the great, gentle bear she knew best. A warm, broad hand reached out to touch her cheek gingerly as he stepped up. "Hey, love..." He whispered, his other arm carefully looping around her.

 

[heartofcourage]

It was a struggle to walk on her own, but Fiona gathered all of her strength to do just that. The path was muddy from the rains, her boots sinking, but she refused any help from those that came near. Her head was held high, all of those watching her knowing that she hadn't been entirely broken by Royer, or at least not showing them the worst of the treatment she had been given.

The moment that she saw Sam, she paused. He would see just how pale she was, the shadows of bruises on her face and arms. The stark bandages on her hands hid the worst of her wounds from everyone's view. She waited for him to draw close, knowing that she was indeed safe when his warm hand touched her uninjured cheek gently. She sank against his chest as he pulled her close, whispering to her in greeting.

"Gia is missing." She said softly, pulling back to look up at him. "I want her found immediately. Please send out the word."

With that, she collapsed against her husband, her energy well and truly spent.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam immediately scooped Fiona up as the last dregs of her energy were used up. "Sadah!" He called to Ezra's partner. "Get her across camp to Alex. Ezra, we need a search party immediately."

Andre stood by quietly as Sam carried Fiona away, nodding half-heartedly to those who approached and praised him. Anyone could see there was something wrong, but most thought it was worry for his partner after the harrowing escape. Once he was free and everyone believed he wasn't hurt, he went to find Riley. When she caught sight of him, his complexion was pale. He'd hidden it all from Fiona as they came in, not wanting to draw attention to himself.

"Ri?" Andre called softly, standing just inside the entrance of their tent.

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley was up to her feet the moment that she saw Andre, holding him tightly. "I should beat you senseless." She muttered, kissing him deeply before she noticed that something wasn't quite right. "Koah, what's wrong?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Don't worry about me," he murmured. But because of their close bond, Riley could practically feel the anguish radiating off him despite his calm, easygoing exterior. "Your Ma's with Alex. You should probably go see her," he motioned toward the tent opening, trying to deflect her attention from him. "I'm sure Soma's already on his way with Sam."

 

[heartofcourage]

"No, you're my husband. I'm going to care for you first." Riley said softly as he tried to downplay his own hurt. "Tell me what's wrong."

She directed Andre to their bed, helping him to sit. He was filthy from the road, but she was more concerned with his state of mind. Seeing her mother in any kind of dire condition was sure to be hard, but it was slowly dawning on her that she hadn't heard anything about Gia.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Don't let Fiona know yet," Andre told her softly. "She'll blame herself. It's not her fault..." He sat forward, head in his hands as the dam broke and his entire body shuddered with sobs. "Gia's gone..." He choked out. "I tried to reach out to her and I felt her dying. I... I felt her fade away."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Koah..." Riley said softly as Andre confessed to her that Gia had died in Edinburgh. "Eldere..."

She didn't know what else to say as he sobbed over the loss of his beloved dragon, the same dragon that had been her adversary and her protector. She didn't know how Marth would take the news, but she knew that her dragon would be heartbroken.

"I'm so sorry." She said softly, wrapping him in the tightest hug she could give to him. "She loved you deeply."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It feels like my soul is missing," he sobbed into her shoulder, clinging to her desperately like she was his only lifeline left. "What do I do now...?" It was clear he wasn't asking her, but himself or whatever cruel fate had decided to take his partner. She'd seen him through his time in Germany and they'd found freedom together. And even if she'd been cold to Riley at first, she'd been warming up to her recently over their shared love of Andre and Marth. And she had spoken at their wedding, finally accepting Riley aloud and stating that they were family. It wasn't just losing his longtime partner that absolutely destroyed Andre, it was also that he would never get to see what she became as she came out of her shell and fell deeper in love with Marth and a life of freedom after war. She wouldn't be alive to see the future she'd fought so hard for. Instead, she'd sacrificed that chance to make sure the people Andre loved most wouldn't lose someone so central to their cause and their family life.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Shhh..." Riley said softly, coaxing her husband to lie down on the cot and holding him tightly. "It'll be alright. I promise. It doesn't seem like it now, but it'll be alright."

She pressed her forehead against his own, letting him sob out his heartache with the loss of his final connection to Germany. All Riley could do was hold him and let him know that he wasn't alone anymore.

 

[KieranSoares]

When dawn broke over the camp, it came with a new rush of anger. Reports had come in from Windsor that an assassin had been caught trying to get into the castle. Scouts also told of seeing a ruby dragon fly southward across the channel, which they now knew to be Markos's partner. Sam sent Edward back to Windsor with his regiment and more of Kell's agents to lock things down. In the meantime, seeing the extent of his wife's wounds and knowing Royer was aiming to tear the family apart, Sam gave Kell his full permission to play as dirty as he liked. The Lord Protector called in his agents and they were all sent in different directions for different, cruel tasks meant to hit Royer where it hurt most.

As the army prepared to march toward Edinburgh, Sam returned to Fiona's side far from the noise and disruptions. Alex always kept his corner of camp as quiet as possible for his patients, not wanting to stress them further. As Sam returned, having hardly left her side at all since Andre brought her back, he found Soma still there in his place watching over her. Seeing Fiona awake, Sam came to her side and laid a hand on her forearm, not wanting to disturb her hands. Alex had told her they would heal shut properly and thankfully the tendons were still in good condition, but he'd had to do a lot of work to set her broken fingers and hand properly to heal. It'd been a tough and painful night, but now she was heavily medicated, fed, warm, and safe.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona glanced up at her husband as he placed his hand on her arm, joining her side once more. She was hazy due to the herbs that Alex had given her, but it was temporary. The setting of her broken bones had been the largest hurdle that she'd had to endure and now that it was all done, she just had to relax.

"Gia's gone." Fiona murmured softly, knowing that if the dragon hadn't returned by now something terrible must have happened. "Has anyone spoken to Andre?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"I did earlier," Sam murmured softly. "He already knew by the time he brought you in. Didn't have the heart to tell you." Leaning in, Sam pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I sent a messenger ahead to the scouts to see if they can find where she fell."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Tell him I'm sorry." She murmured as Sam kissed her forehead. "That I'll forever be in her debt for what she did. Young Royer is not a man of his word and sees any were as an abomination and any callers as witches. We need to be careful."

She let out a long sigh, looking over at Soma and then at Sam. "My Da wouldn't have survived and I had to do what I had to do. I'm sorry for the pain that it put you both through."