The North (Closed)

[heartofcourage]

“Dola was cooking something when we got back to camp. She said to make sure you ate. Sent enough for all of us.” Riley said as she motioned towards the packet under her arm. “Markos included…if he wished.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Jani turned and gave Markos a look, making the man chuckle somewhat nervously. "I don't know if it would be more polite to decline and leave you be, or to partake since your dear wife went through the trouble."

"Dola doesn't let people go hungry, no matter how much the rest of us want to wring their necks," Jani grumbled. "You can stay."

Markos nodded, setting aside his work. "That's very kind, thank you."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Just...word of warning...stay away from Rikke for the time being. My husband still isn't accommodating." Riley offered as she handed the packet to Jani and let her dish out the food.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Duly noted," Markos confirmed with a nod. As Jani unwrapped everything, he thanked her quietly and sat back in his spot quite happily, seemingly quite pleased with the primarily Greek meal Dola had made. "It's been a long time since I've had anything from back home," he commented, looking to Jani. "I knew Major Zaufberg grew up in Greece, but I didn't know his mother had any love for the culture."

"First of all, our son's name is Andre," Jani corrected him with a frown. "Major Zaufberg was his asshole father that got eaten for trying to kill Fiona." It was clearly a threat, hardly veiled at all. "Secondly, they don't have any love for Greece. It's just the food. Dola's Tibetan."

Markos nodded, not as afraid or intimidated as Jani probably wanted. Instead, he leaned forward curiously. "And you? You're Scandinavian?"

"Icelandic," Jani huffed. "No offense to the Triad, but Icelanders are a hell of a lot harder."

"I can tell," Markos offered as something of a compliment. "My questions aren't meant to offend. I have no idea what I don't know."

"Yeah, well... Normally I don't mind curiosity. But I don't know you, and I don't know where your loyalty lies now. And as a woman whose loyalty has been with this clan for twenty years, I don't trust you."

"Rightfully so." Markos looked down at his plate. "I'm not sure where it lies either now."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Jani might punch you out for that comment." Riley grinned to herself as Jani took offence to being called a Scandinavian. "The only thing she will allow herself to be confused as is Scottish."

Riley took her portion of the food and smirked at how annoyed Jani seemed with this newcomer. She knew that there was anger there because of what had happened to her mother and what had happened to Gia, but she needed to find some humor in the situation before she lost her mind.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Absolutely not," Jani scolded Riley, but couldn't help a little grin. "Scots are a different kind of fool."

Markos chuckled at that quietly. "I like the Northern Scots. You're very family-oriented," he commented to Riley. "It's lovely."

"It's your turn to answer some questions," Jani insisted, looking back to the strange man. "Where exactly are you from in Greece?"

"Sparta originally," Markos replied with a smile. "My family can trace our bloodline back to warriors at the Battle of Thermopylae against the Persian Empire. I'm not a proper Spartan like that, but I'm proud of it."

Riley could see Jani suddenly intrigued. As a lifelong glory-seeker and warrior of Viking descent, she was no stranger to other famous warrior cultures like the Spartans. But Jani didn't let on her interest right away. "So you're a traditional Greek, then?"

"Very much so," Markos seemed to light up at her question. "Hephaestus has been my family's patron for generations. We've all been artisans and craftsmen for... Well, forever."

"Hm." Jani sat back and glanced at Riley. "Unfortunately, I think Dola's going to like him..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Seems like you're starting to like him too." Riley said as she settled next to Rikke and let the two talk it out a short distance away.

When Fiona returned from her flight with Schaller, she made her way to Riley and Andre's camp. She greeted Dola as the woman cleaned up from her meal before she entered the ger.

"Andre?" Fiona called, looking around the dark interior for her son-in-law.

 

[KieranSoares]

Fiona would find Andre sitting on his pallet with his back against his and Riley's trunk that they kept most of their belongings in. He had his shield that he'd made with Jani and Sam's help leaning beside him, the boss removed and sitting on a sheet of paper where Andre had traced it out and written some measurements. Gia's scale was close beside, the surface marked lightly with matching measurements. Fiona had seen many Scandinavian Riders turn a scale from their fallen partners into sword hilts and shield bosses. It seemed Jani had offered the suggestion to Andre and he had started work immediately to give himself something useful to do.

As Fiona called in, Andre looked up and immediately stood. "Hey. Everything okay?" He asked. Despite how exhausted and forlorn he looked, his thoughts were immediately for her well-being.

 

[heartofcourage]

"There's nothing wrong, love." Fiona said softly as she took in his exhaustion. "I just came to see you. I know choosing a new partner had to be...difficult."

She moved towards him and took a seat in one of Riley's Mongolian style camp chairs, looking over at the project that he was working on. "That's a lovely memorial piece for Gia that you're working on. I think she'd be honored."

 

[KieranSoares]

Andre settled back into his seat with a deep sigh. "She and I talked about the other's wishes if one of us fell in this fight," he murmured. "All she asked was that I keep her with me. She said she never felt like any place was home... We were home for each other after we were paired up in Austria. So... she'll be my shield again. And I'll keep the scale scraps and scatter them wherever Riley and I make our home."

He looked up at Fiona, his cub-blue eyes full of pain but finally clearer than they'd been since Gia's fall. "She really loved all of you. She wasn't good at showing it, and I know she was jealous of Riley for a long time, but she was grateful for everything the clan did in taking us in."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's hard for some dragons to trust completely. All Gia knew was you and the happiness that you brought to her." Fiona said as she saw the pain still in Andre's gaze. "Andre, I won't ever be able to repay you for something to Edinburgh when you did. I certainly won't be able to repay you for the loss of Gia. Sam and I want to make sure that you want for nothing when it comes to partnering with Rikke, though. We will help you pay for your tack and saddles."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Nothing needs to be repaid," Andre assured her softly. "You're family and I love you. Gia respected you above any other leader or Rider."

He came to kneel beside her, carefully taking one of her hands in both his own. "Even if I wasn't married to Riley, even if we hadn't ended up together, I would've come after you. You're part of the reason I have my Ma again, and you helped Jani get up the courage to pursue her." He offered a weak smile then. "I have three mothers now."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona gave him a soft smile, reaching up to gently touch his cheek. "Thank you for loving Riley for who she is." Fiona said softly. "I'm going to address a gathering of dragons this evening after dusk. If you're finished with your task by then, you can join me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll be there. I need to get out there and get back into everything again," Andre sighed deeply. "I know it's hard for Ri to see me moping around for so long... We'll have time for that when we get you all home." He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "I'll take a couple days to get Rikke outfitted and comfortable flying with me. Then I'll be back in the sky and ready when Soma calls the march on Edinburgh. And you can be sure that I'll be beside you when that monster gets here from Greece too."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona left Andre soon after their conversation, going to rest in her tent. As dusk approached, she relied on Sam to ready herself. As she often did when there were major events that involved the dragons, she called a meeting with them. Dressed in her best armor with her crown pinned her to hair, she looked every inch the Rider Queen. Perhaps even more so than she had in a long time.

Walking with Sam, she smiled to herself to see Andre, Riley, and Soma waiting for them, each of them dressed in a similar fashion. Riley wore the same yellow shirt she had worn at her wedding with her silver cloak pin Dola had given her from Tibet. They were a little royal family, outside of the bonds of Inverness.

 

[KieranSoares]

While many Riders were in attendance to support their Queen and their partners, Fiona had rarely seen nearly all of their dragons in one place at the same time, save the launch of the invasion at Calais. They tended to spread out to avoid overtaxing regional resources or overhunting, but now they were all there save a handful with tasks elsewhere.

Schaller sat with his head held high, any exhaustion or weakness carefully hidden as he watched over his own partner and her family. Marth, quiet and reclusive as he'd been since Gia's fall, had emerged to be beside Riley. And for the first time. Rikke had joined and stood proudly alongside Marth, Riley, and Andre.

Fiona's inner circle of officers were front and center in their own armor, medals from battles past on display to further prove their rightful place in such esteemed positions. And Sam stood beside his wife in full uniform and flight gear, showing his support not just as Commander, but a fellow Rider. Fiona was the highest titled person there having never lost the legitimacy of her station. It wasn't bound to land, but instead to the loyalty of the people before her. And many who'd not seen her in weeks were now proudly standing before her, relieved that she was on her feet after such an ordeal.

"Everyone," Ezra bellowed across the gathering. "May I have your attention, please." The noise fell and everyone settled to listen as Ezra turned to Fiona and gave her a slight, formal bow. "Your Majesty. You have the floor."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona stood by as Ezra gathered everyone's attention, moving to step up on Schaller's crest to be lifted so that everyone might see her. There were many dragons that she had met and some that she hadn't. She would make it her mission to personally greet everyone that was there. It was her duty, a small price to pay for their loyalty over time.

"I thank you all for coming this evening." Fiona said to the gathering. "I know there have been many questions about my health since my imprisonment in Edinburgh. I wanted to show that I am alive, hale, and healthy."

She looked around, her resolve faulting for the briefest of moments before she forced herself to continue. "We are facing a threat that we have never known before. I cannot say that all of us will come out whole on the other side, but I promise to each of you that I am committed to keeping dragons of all kinds safe. Please know that if...a slaying has to happen; it happens for a reason. The Blackstones are not the arbiters that some would wish you to think we are."

"I can never thank you enough for staying with me all of these years. What you saw in a young woman with nearly no experience with dragons, I will never know." Fiona said with a slight smile on her lips. "Tonight, I wish to remember those that we have lost. Without them, we would not be there. We should also honor those that have recently joined us, both young and old."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Your Majesty, if I may," one of the younger fully-fledged Riders spoke up, having trained in peacetime and come into a minor officer title in the fight against the Empire. "I think I speak for most of us here when I ask... what about the Greek Caller and the giant elder dragon?"

Everyone knew Markos had been on Royer's side and had a hand in Fiona's torture, though few knew the full details. Sam stepped forward, still on the ground. "We will have a full report for everyone tomorrow. Rest assured we're bringin' in all our resources an' Soma's on top of it. For tonight, relax. You have all been the deciding factor in the battles we've fought, big an' small. Without you, we never would've held Denmark or protected Norway, much less had a chance to change the tide and make an ally of the Empire. Please, leave the war aside for tonight. My family owes you all much more than a night off an' a feast, but let us start with this." He looked up to Fiona and gave her a nod, stepping back.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I promise that we will not hide anything from you." Fiona said, echoing her husband's words. "But tonight, is for feasting and reconnection. Tomorrow, we will focus on the battle that is at hand."

Fiona paused for a moment, thinking about her next words carefully. "As far as the Greek Caller, I have asked that he be allowed to roam freely through the camps without fear of harm. Some might think I'm out of my mind for this order, especially as he is one of the men that tortured me, but I have my reasons. I will remain understanding and compassionate where I can. My order stands until otherwise announced."

 

[KieranSoares]

As Fiona gave her verdict on Markos, a small commotion began on the edge of the crowd as a number of footsoldiers began to arrive carrying food that had been made for the feast. Sam had ordered in extra supplies so everyone could have a good meal, and asked for volunteers to help cook and serve. As for the dragons, he'd purchased pigs and cows from surrounding towns to boost the local economies. Even though it'd been incredibly expensive, it was worth it to honor the Riders and dragons and to help the people start to get back on their feet. It was Sam and the Ghis Clan's way of proving that, now that they'd taken back these towns, they were going to look after them.

As food and drink was brought around, Schaller lowered Fiona to the ground. Her officers joined the servers, making sure those under their command were fed first. The dragons carefully waded out to where their own meal was being prepared over huge pits of coals and a handful of smaller dragons who'd also volunteered. All at once, it felt like the entire Rider battalion had come alive, the seriousness left aside for a moment as many from the isles dreamed of rebuilding their lost homes and others talked of what they'd do when the war was over.

Fiona wasn't made to lift a finger, welcomed to a table with her officers where they made sure she had everything she needed and then some. Large portions of meat and spring vegetables and wild mushrooms abounded, along with the last of the preserved winter supplies. Now that spring was in full swing and things were growing well, it seemed Scotland would have a good growing year if the summer wasn't too hot.

In the midst of it all, Sam brought a few bottles of wine for Fiona and her inner circle. Despite his also being a Rider, he'd insisted this was all their feast and he'd see the ground forces given a good meal as well. But he didn't leave without bringing Fiona and her officers- all of them close as kin- a treat. Fiona would recognize the bottles immediately as being from Seamus Ghis's Vineyard. While the man himself was long gone, his family had gotten the vineyard back after the Empire surrendered. It had been in operation under another owner the entire time, so they'd paid him fairly for the land and taken over again, as well as recovering a hidden stash they'd left behind. These bottles were from that stash, some of the last bottles made before Normandy had been taken and Scotland fell.

Sam offered Fiona a little smile as he set the bottles down. "A little gift from Uncle Seamus. Enjoy, love. If you need me, I'll be with Soma an' Da."

 

[heartofcourage]

"The Invernessian King is spoiling us this evening." Fiona teased, giving Sam a wide grin as he shared with them the bottle from the family vineyard as her officers immediately broke open the bottles and served amongst them. "Please don't spoil the dragons too much. They'll not want to fly."

 

[KieranSoares]

"That's up to them. I got more than enough," Sam chuckled with a loving smile to his wife. Despite all the stressors around him, it seemed he had made the effort to put it all aside for a moment for the sake of those loyal to her. "But I promise we won' let them into the ale. We all know how that ends." Jani nearly snorted, snickering at memories of Avfairn's run-ins with alcohol.

Sam leaned down to kiss Fiona before stepping away from her side. "Have fun, love."

As Riley and Andre joined the table, Ezra also joined, bringing Blair along beside him. "One more Blackstone. As if we didn't already have enough," Ezra announced, sitting Blair down between Jani and Danica.

"You don't have to include me just because I'm a Rider," Blair murmured shyly, looking at all of the battle-hardened veterans around her.

"Owen insisted," Ezra assured her. "He's a bit too fragile to join in right now, so Dani put together a little dinner for him and your mother. If you're going to be fighting with us, you feast and drink with us too." He glanced at Fiona and then back to Blair with a kind smile. "But no matter what's happened... you're family. Reckless and foolish, but family nonetheless."

"Congratulations," Jani teased the younger woman. "You've thrown your lot in with the biggest group of reckless fools this side of Europe. You'll fit right in."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I daresay she's more reckless than you, Jani Halfborn." Fiona murmured, giving Jani a look. "You never went back for a newly minted Princess at the sake of your family's life."

"Speaking of which, where is Jane?" She asked, turning her gaze back towards Blair as wine was placed in front of each of them. "Surely you didn't leave her on her own."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Of course not," Blair responded quickly, a little too ready to defend in a new environment and plenty of new people.

Danica placed a hand on Blair's shoulder, understanding the young woman was out of her element. "Kell wanted to have a conversation with Jane. Kate as well, considering their positions conflict right now. All friendly, just sharing information."

"Sorry, I'm not..." Blair paused, taking a deep breath. "I'm not really used to working with other people... or anyone being really decent. Sure, Royer made sure we had everything we needed and wanted in exchange for my service, but the other Riders and soldiers were never very fond of me. Some just because of who my mother is, and some because they thought I was just some upstart sucking up to Royer for position."

"I get it," Jani assured her. "I bet you were pretty stubborn. Temper too, huh?"

"Yeah..." Blair admitted sheepishly.

"Then you have a lot in common with some of us. Riley and me especially," Jani chuckled with a glance to the young Fox she regularly teased and adored like her own. "Fiona less so these days. But when Sam gets hotheaded, she can go toe-to-toe with him. And I don't have to tell you the Ghis temper is pretty famous."

Blair cracked a small smile at that, looking at Fiona for a moment. She almost acted like she wasn't sure if she had permission to be part of Fiona's battalion of Riders even for a meal. But it was clear that she was looking for somewhere to fit in, and worried about disappointing or angering her half-sister again.

 

[heartofcourage]

"The only one I have to fight with these days is Samuel." Fiona said with wry smile, looking over at Blair. "Whatever has happened between us is in the past now. There are many that fear me for my position, but it's nothing more than a title. I keep these people near me because I have earned their loyalty. If you would give me the chance, I can work on earning yours."