The North (Closed)

[heartofcourage]

"We know enough about our own limitations and illnesses to get each other on our feet when needed." Selena added as Brogan inspected Fiona's battered hands. "We can do the same for you."

When Brogan patted her hand gently, teasing her about Roman with an equally gentle smile, Fiona glanced between the three brothers and then to Selena. "I'll never understand what you all saw in me to trust me with all of this. I still think you're all bleeding crazy sometimes."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We saw someone who knew the people better than us," Brogan told her with a smile. "We might've worked alongside our people, gone through some hard times... But we're still nobles. We needed someone with a broader perspective. And then... You turned out to be what my boy needed too, an' took care of an' protected members of this family when you certainly didn't have to. That's what we saw in you: a proper leader."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Our father was a tyrant and abusive, but we didn't know suffering." Selena murmured. "We simply held dear what our mother and Vincenzo taught us. We wanted to make Inverness better than Da left it. Now...we don't know what we're going to face when we do finally make it back."

"I've made my vow that I will do my hardest to make sure that it's worth returning to for everyone involved." Fiona swore, looking among them all again. "If you...fall...I'll make sure you return home to rest as well."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's a miracle tha' Ashien was the only one to fall," Brogan murmured. "And none of our spouses are thrilled we're here. Kreston's probably th'only one who's kept quiet about it since he's still technically a warrior himself. But I know fer each of us, we're ready t'go home 'r die trying. Long as my blade reaches the keep where it's supposed to be, an' Julia's taken care of, that's all I need."

"We've talked at length with our partners an' kids about it," Boar added. "Emma'd find a way t'being me back t'kill me herself, but we've got things in place fer whatever happens, thankfully."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona looked at each of them, knowing that there was the real possibility that one or more might not make it. The only guarantee was that Kayla was safe in Trondheim, the sweetest Ghis sibling protected from the brutality of it all. Fiona lowered her head and gave them all a nod, knowing that as warriors, they were ready for their great beyond.

"So, training begins tomorrow? You can all line up to take shots at the Rider Queen." She said with a small smile as she lifted her head, leaning in first to kiss Brogan's cheek and then Boar and Durban's. "I look forward to whatever we might do, even with the additional healing I have to do."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We'll start ya off with the softest one," Durban said with a nod to Brogan. "We'll take our turns beatin' you up later. Then when we're done, we'll have you try t'keep up with some of th'young ones. I'll bet Andre an' Riley'd be happy t'give you a hard time."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Don't stay out too late." Fiona said to all of them, bidding goodnight as she went to turn in for the night herself.

Coming upon her tent, she paused when she saw Sam waiting up for her, a small smile on her lips as she moved to take a seat next to him by the campfire. Leaning into his side, she let out a content sigh and start to relax. She watched as he fiddled with a piece of wood, always working with some form of something, whether it be leather or wood or iron.

"Thank you for tonight, love." She said softly, not wanting to distract him from his task. "It was something that everyone needed after everything that's happened."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam was idly whittling a small piece of pine with a small pocket knife, slicing away tiny curls of wood and creating a curve. Markings in the wood showed he was working on some kind of animal figure, perhaps a toy for one of the younger members of their family.

As Fiona joined him, he smiled and pressed a kiss to her temple without stopping his project. "You take good care of your people, love. I'm jus' helpin'."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Your Da came up with some ideas to help with my hands. Your uncles want me to start training tomorrow." She said as she watched him work, trying to place just what he was working on. "It's not a bear. It's not a fox. It's not a wolf. Just what are you making?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"You'll just have t'be patient an' see," Sam told her with a little smirk before setting aside his project. Wrapping an arm around her, he pressed a slow, warm kiss to her lips and let it linger a moment before pulling back. "I think Da's a good choice... I know I'm too gentle with you right now."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona nuzzled against Sam as their kiss broke, knowing that he was gentle with her for a reason. "You don't want me to be emotionally scarred. I can't say that I'm truly over everything, love, but I can't sit around and watch everyone ready themselves without doing something for myself."

She went quiet for a moment and let out a sigh. "I've...blocked out most of it, to be honest. The worst parts of it. It's there, but buried deeply."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I understand a little. I did the same in my own way when Rho lost his arm. I didn't start t'process it til years later. Even then, I don't think I was really done processing til we were settled a while in Norway." Sam drew her into his lap, wanting her closer. "It's okay if you need t'leave it for later when things are safe."

Running his fingers through her hair, he kissed her again. "I will say, it's nice t'see you getting your energy back."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's nice to feel more like myself, but I wouldn't say that I have more energy. In fact, I feel just as exhausted as ever." She murmured as Sam held her tightly in his lap, her eyes closing as she relaxed into the safety that he always provided. "Let's go to bed, love. I want to be well rested when I face your Da in the morning."

As the camps began to turn in for the evenings, Jane was still up and waiting for Blair to return. She was looking over letters that she had received from her own family and one from the Royers, both contradicting what the other said. When the flap of the tent opened, she glanced up and gave Blair a small smile.

"Guess who has been disowned from Orkney?" Jane murmured. "I guess father is too smart to believe that I was simply kidnapped. What's confusing is that Brennan Royer and Ramsey Royer both still desperately want me back. I guess my father wasn't as good of a friend to the prince and king as he always believed."

 

[KieranSoares]

As Blair entered and set aside the few pieces of armor she'd worn that day just in case, she paused in unbuckling her chest plate to frown at the mention of the men. "Want me to go steal your Ma too?" She offered. "All these possessive, greedy bastards who treat us like tools and toys..."

Blair walked over to wrap her arms around Jane's shoulders. "I'm sorry I got you mixed up in this mess," she apologized for what felt like the hundredth time. It wasn't necessarily an apology for taking her from Ramsey, but rather for complicating things from early on even just as a friend. Being around Blair even as children had drawn ire from many people who believed Jane a were-lover and Blair an abomination.

Kneeling beside Jane, Blair crossed her arms in Jane's lap and rested her head there. Grumbling more to herself than her love, she muttered, "Bloody men anyways..." It was clear she was a touch tipsy, just enough to remove a few inhibitions and filters.

 

[heartofcourage]

"My mother knows what my father is." Jane said as Blair hugged her tightly and then settled when her head in her lap. "A forced marriage didn't work for her, but she does have some power in Orkney. She always has. It's my father who will be the downfall of the Royers, especially if they insist on listening to his council. My brother would have made the better Laird and everyone knows it...which is why Father had him sent away to be a knight."

"Did you make up with your sister?" Jane asked, putting the letters aside and stroking her fingers through Blair's blonde hair. "I know you had intended to."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She kinda did it for me," Blair muttered. "Said she wanted to earn my loyalty. And her Riders were all welcoming. It's... Weird. People being so kind."

Neither of them were used to being surrounded by people accepting of werefolk, a relationship like theirs, or even dragons being completely free. Blair was naturally defensive and suspicious, so she was anxiously awaiting something to prove this was all too good to be true.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You knew the stories that were told about her weren't true. Why would any of this be a surprise?" Jane asked, glancing down at Blair as she explained that she had simply been accepted without question. "Sure, she has a temper, but so do you. It's a new world, Blair."

Jane paused her fingers and moved until she tilted Blair's face so that she was looking up at her. "A new world for the both of us. We should never turn our backs on a chance when it presents itself."

She leaned down and kissed Blair gently, her fingers soft against her cheek.

 

[KieranSoares]

Blair's thoughts came to a halt when Jane kissed her, a silly little smile coming to her face when their lips parted. "Has anyone ever told you how lovely you are?" She asked dreamily. After not being able to express how much she adored Jane their entire lives up til recently, Blair rarely missed a chance to tell her since they'd found freedom with the North.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You do quite often." Jane said with a smile as Blair waxed poetic about her beauty. "Though I do have to say that I'm a bit angry with you."

 

[KieranSoares]

Blair's smile faded a bit at that, suddenly looking a little confused and worried. "What'd I do now?" She asked quietly. "Did I forget something? Or did I do something stupid... Again?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"You've left me impossibly frustrated at every possible turn." Jane whispered as Blair looked confused. "I've never met a person more out of tune with the signs that their partner is giving them."

Jane leaned in and kissed Blair again, wiping away the confusion with a slightly more passionate kiss. She sighed as her fingers moved to tangle in Blair's silky hair, hoping that Blair took the hint this time.

"I know you've never been with another." Jane whispered as the kiss broke, nuzzling against Blair. "But I would be honored to be your first."

 

[KieranSoares]

Jane could see the moment Blair finally understood, her cheeks flushing bright red. "Oh," she said breathlessly, leaning into Jane's embrace naturally. "I... Okay." Completely lost for words and suddenly nervous, Blair felt entirely out of her element. To her credit, she wasn't one to shy away from the unknown. And despite nerves, she was secretly thrilled that Jane wanted her.

"I, um... I'm free for the rest of the night, so..." Blair offered with a little smile, a hand resting on Jane's thigh.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You are hopeless." Jane said with a laugh as she pressed one last kiss to Blair's lips and stood, taking Blair by the hand and leading her towards her cot. "You've never been one to flatter with pretty words, I suppose."

Jane turned and looked at Blair for a long moment, knowing that once they took this step there wasn't any going back. "I had no choice with Ramsey, but I do now. I have always thought that you were one of the most beautiful creatures I have ever seen."

 

[KieranSoares]

Blair stood before Jane looking utterly out of her element. As an elite Rider, she was confident in death-defying maneuvers, at home with an arsenal of weapons, and fearless in the face of battle. But when faced with her love welcoming her to bed, she was as terrified as she was excited. She'd never been interested in anyone else, not even when they were first becoming young women whose charms caught the eyes of others around them.

Being called beautiful made Blair blush even darker and hide her face against Jane's shoulder. "You've always been the one who had a way with words," she murmured, pressing against Jane's side and letting her arms settle low around the taller woman's waist. "I have no idea what I'm doing, but if you're willing to figure this out as we go... I'm all yours." Tilting her head up to meet Jane's eyes once more, Blair leaned in for one more kiss and let this one last, testing the unknown waters and trying to summon up her courage.

 

[heartofcourage]

Jane gave her a welcoming smile as she wrapped her arms around Blair and brought her in for another kiss, sighing as Blair admitted that she had no idea what she was doing, but she was willing to explore. That was what she needed to hear. Jane just wanted to be with the person that completed her soul among everything else.

However, before it could go much further, she caught movement out of the corner of her eye and let out a small scream of surprise at the other human who was in the tent with them. She pulled away from Blair, realizing that it was Markos. Her heart was hammering in her chest at the realization that the odd Rider had snuck up on them in such a way.