The North (Closed)

[heartofcourage]

Fiona watched as Sam withdrew the rusted pieces of dragon scale weaponry. She was back to her same, stoic self as he removed the important weapons and then turned to offer her something else. Fiona took it with a slight frown, turning it over in her hands as he pondered on which child it had served. She could see a long-faded carving on the inside, a Norse symbol of protection that Skolgier had placed in silent hope for his wife and unborn child.

"I know you don't understand the supernatural and the superstitions." Fiona said softly as she looked up at Sam. "But the children that they lost were sent to the beyond, waiting for another chance. Ulf is more recent, but this one...this one could be Riley."

She offered the plate back to Sam and took a step up next to him to watch it get replaced. "Leave her shield. A shieldmaiden needs her shield. We can build a better one with Jani's help."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam put the piece back, making sure everything was nearly replaced before he walked around to the other side to push the lid shut again. When it was back in place and the edges flush, Sam returned to her side and took the rusted blades, looking them over one more time before wrapping and tucking them away. "We need to get back as soon as possible," he muttered. "The dragons're probably worried sick, an' we need t'get back to camp where I can get materials an' start on these right away. I've got a lot of trial an' error t'do to figure out how to fix these an' make more o' this steel."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona nodded, knowing that they had little time to waste. She placed her hands on the surface of the tomb and bowed her head, giving silent thanks to Margaret for her help. When they had Inverness back, she would give her a proper offering.

"Let's go." Fiona said as she pulled the key from her pocket and went to lead Sam out of the vault and into the tunnels again.

 

[KieranSoares]

Once into the tunnels, Sam walked alongside Fiona with his lantern dimmed, the distant worry of the light being seen by someone else from the cellar making him cautious. They reached the entrance quickly and Sam climbed up on some crates left by the princes before helping Fiona up and letting her step into his hands to reach the top. Once she was safely out, Sam tossed out his satchel and managed to jump up and catch the edge. While it took a lot of effort, he managed to haul himself up with a muted grunt, and soon they were back off into the woods. Sam felt far less trepidation now, knowing they hadn't gotten anywhere near town or where people might see them, thanks to the princes' secret entrance.

When they finally broke through the underbrush back to camp, Schaller was up immediately to meet them. "We were about to start planning our own parley with Inverness," he complained as he nuzzled Fiona. "We thought you were captured, you were gone so long."

"The time was necessary," Sam assured him quietly, in turn letting Fiona know that he didn't blame her at all for how long it'd taken. "But we need to get going. You two have been out here too long an' I don't trust tha' someone won't spot you soon." He looked to Fiona then. "Unless you need more time, love... We can move camp an' spend the night if you need rest."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona immediately leaned into Schaller's great maw as he nuzzled against her. She was exhausted, but she kept herself together as she pressed her cheek against his warm scales and hugged him with her arms as much as she could. Her eyes closed as she centered herself, listening as Sam explained quietly what had happened to them, only opening them again as he asked if she needed more time to recover.

"Schaller can take care of me." She said. "And I can rest when we make it back to the others. It's safer there anyway."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I suppose th'sooner I can start on these weapons, the better." Sam looked up to Schaller. "Keep a close eye on her, friend. Then I'll need you t'help me when we get back."

Schaller nodded, turning to fetch his bundled-up saddle and getting it on so all Fiona had to do was fasten the belts. Sam saddled Dzana as well, climbing up on her back once he was sure Fiona was set. "Lead the way, Schaller," Sam called, both dragons preparing for a standing takeoff without room to run. Soon they were airborne and headed southwest to the main camp hidden in the Scottish forests and Highlands.

Back in camp, Andre had just returned from England along with a number of scouts. Word quickly spread that Andre had the Empress with him, and that Hesperus was still outside Chester, seemingly raiding the countryside for game and livestock to fill his belly, and forcing the local farmers to bring him all they had. He hadn't eaten in centuries, and was preparing for the coming battle. It seemed he was also purposely giving Fiona time to prepare as well, hoping for a legendary battle.

As Andre stepped off his saddle and several Riders and medics came to meet him, he picked Riley out of the crowd first. "Ri," he called, bringing her to help him as he trusted her most. Rikke, looking serious but deeply worried, opened up her hands to reveal that she was carrying Tanya Ashcroft. She was wrapped up in blankets in a nest of clean bedding, and Andre came to scoop her up. "Ri, help me get her to Alex," he muttered. "It's bad."

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley came as soon as she heard Andre's voice, helping to secure Tanya. "Where's Joachim?" She asked as she worked with Andre to get the blankets and bedding strapped around Tanya so that the transportation to Alex was as smooth and gentle as possible.

Once Tanya was secure, they lifted her out of Rikke's claws as gently as possible, the woman not even stirring. Riley knew that the situation was dire as she took one side and Andre the other and together, they carried her towards Alex's end of the camp.

 

[KieranSoares]

"The best I could gather was that Joachim disappeared when Hesperus left," Andre murmured. "I don't know what's worse... The idea Hesperus might've killed him, or that Hesperus might still have him." Andre was trying to stay stoic and take care of Tanya, but his tone alone told Riley that he was scared both for his old friends and for what was coming.

As they reached the medical tents, Alex came out to direct them. "Bring her next to my personal tent. I'll need to keep a close eye on her," he instructed. Once she was settled on a cot inside the infirmary tent and Alex had drawn a partition to give a bit of privacy, he had Andre and Riley help him carefully unwrap Tanya from the layers of sheets and blankets that had kept her warm and protected in flight.

"It's pretty bad," Andre warned them quietly. "The doctors back in London almost didn't let me take her, til I told them she was coming to you, Alex."

Taking away a final layer, Alex paused to take in the immense number of bandages all over Tanya, some hidden under loose clothing. "Jesus," Alex murmured. "He tried to hack her apart..." His eyes fell to the empty space where Tanya's lower left leg should've been, amputated below the knee. Her left arm was completely immobilized in a cast and her face was badly bruised on one side. Alex looked to Andre, his expression grave. "Did they tell you what exactly happened in this fight?"

"Joachim had been sick for a while, but still acting like his normal self, and Tanya was keeping a close eye for Fiona, as I understand it. They were spending a day with their son with only a few guardians around, and Joachim just suddenly froze in the middle of a walk. They said when Tanya came up to him, he drew his sword and tried to lunge at Arnulf. She was able to get herself in the way of the blade just in time and threw Joachim to the ground before handing off the prince to a guardian to flee."

Andre knelt by Tanya's side, his brows furrowed in deep concern. "They said she kept trying to fend him off and keep him from following Arnulf, trying to wake him up. He did... A lot of damage... She refused to hurt him at first, and he managed to get hold of her own weapon. She uses a pretty broad blade, so when he got an opening, he nearly took her leg off entirely. She had a shield, but he shattered it and broke her arm. She finally hit back with a dagger and tore open his arm before she collapsed. Apparently that jarred him awake for a second, but then he fled. Hesperus was spotted over London minutes later, and he stopped on the edge of the city before continuing northward. The local doctors couldn't save Tanya's leg... From what they told me, I don't think anyone could've."

Alex nodded slowly, taking a deep breath before beginning his preliminary checks to make sure Tanya was still stable. "They did good work stabilizing her at least... She's still steady. I'm just worried that when she wakes and sees the damage, the stress might be damaging."

"Fucking monster," Andre muttered to himself, thinking of how Hesperus's interference had not only taken Joachim away, but caused him to harm the person he loved most and nearly kill his own son. "If we ever get Joachim back... He'll never forgive himself, especially if this breaks Tanya's spirit."

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley looked over the injured Empress, a curse issuing from her lips as Andre mentioned that they couldn't find Joachim. She knew that it was probably tearing her husband apart, both of these people meaning something to him, but it wasn't time to dwell on that. They didn't have time for heartache and sorrow. Riley simply placed her hand on Andre's shoulder as they watched Alex work. The moment was broken as she heard an alert sound, calls going through camp that someone was approaching on horseback flying the colors of the house of Royer.

"Fuck." Riley growled, looking at Andre. "Stay here with them. Guard her."

Riley kissed her husband before she exited the tent, calling for someone to bring her helmet to her. If she needed to fight, she was going to give them a hell of a fight. She had taken on Sam's role in the camps without realizing it, slipping into the role easily and doling out orders to those that might have once seen her as a wayward kit. There was a new maturity about her that had come from wanting to protect her brother in his role and to support her parents in their role. With both Sam and Fiona still gone, she had to take on the responsibility.

"Ezra, keep Soma in his tents for now. I'm taking on this one myself." Riley called to her mother's second in command, noting that a few others were falling in line behind her, namely leaders of other riding groups and her Uncle Durban.

When the riders crested the great hill beyond the woods, Riley stood proud and ready, her sword resting point down in the dirt as she casually leaned against the hilt. A squire had brought her helmet and Marth had joined at her side. It wasn't a battalion that they were facing, but she wasn't going to take a chance.

 

[KieranSoares]

The lone horseman came trotting up the highlands flying both a banner of House Royer and a streaming white flag of peace, both he and his horse clad in light armor. He began to slow as the Northerners appeared at the top of the hill, and began a cautious approach once they halted.

Once the horseman was before them all, he kept his horse back enough to keep it from getting too skittish about the dragons. Unfolding a piece of parchment, he read from it: "I bring a proclamation from His Majesty King Brennan of Scotland and Clan Royer," he announced formally. "The great dragon Hesperus will be arriving soon. King Royer has declared a temporary ceasefire and offers this ultimatum: the North shall have two weeks to decide whether they wish to strike a treaty and leave Scotland, or fight on and incur the wrath of Hesperus not just here, but upon all Northern Allied nations including but not limited to the Triad, England, Wales, France and Normandy, the entirety of the Holy Roman Empire, Syria, the Rus, and so on. If the North chooses to continue this fight, all of these countries will be burned from end to end until a peace deal is made."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Send a message back, word for word." Riley called back to the horseman. "We have our own line of communication with Hesperus and have no need to listen to the empty threats of a usurper. If any Royer wishes to survive this battle, they will vacate Edinburgh while they still can. The North will not leave. Until Ramsey Royer is crucified on the walls of Edinburgh Castle we will not leave. Sign that from Lady Riley Ghis."

 

[KieranSoares]

The messenger hesitated as Riley delivered her answer, until several of the Riders leveled crossbows at him and Dani spoke up as well, "Was any of that unclear, or should we send our answer back in a coffin?"

The messenger reined his horse in and set off once more at a gallop toward Edinburgh. Jumping into their saddles, a few Riders flew off to track him, making sure there was no one else skulking around close by. They wouldn't go as far as Edinburgh, but they'd scout to be sure of the area's security. Rangers were dispatched to do the same on the ground.

Durban stepped up beside Riley, clapping a heavy hand on her shoulder. "An' that's how a bloody Ghis answers a threat," he encouraged her with a proud smirk.

Before he could say more, raised voices pulled his attention northward where a white and a purple dragon were sighted coming in. "Speaking of... looks like they're back. I've got the camp defenses handled, love. Get Andre an' see if your parents need help when they land, an' let Kell set a guard for Tanya. Hopefully we can hide her somewhere soon til this is all over."

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley glanced up at Durban as he clapped her on the shoulder. “I’d follow and do the job myself, but I’m needed here.” She murmured as she glanced towards the direction of the commotion and saw her mother and father’s dragons in the distance.

“Have Ezra inform Soma of what happened. I’ll speak with him later.” Riley said, sheathing her sword and hurrying off to meet her parents.

When the dragons landed, she and Andre were there to meet them. It was clear that something had happened. Fiona was out cold in the saddle as Schaller gently lowered himself to the ground.

“Da?” Riley called as she started to climb in order to unbuckle her mother.

 

[KieranSoares]

"She's been through a lot," Sam told Riley calmly as he climbed up with her and had her help lower Fiona into his arms. His own anxiety was still visible, but tamed. "Her part's done for now. Schaller, go find me some granite. I need a rounded piece and a flat piece."

"I know what you're looking for," Schaller assured him, setting off immediately once Fiona was safe and secured. Sam turned toward Dzana then and had Riley grab his saddlebags.

"Watch his back, love. I'll send a greenhorn to get the rest of my materials."

Dzana nodded and set off after Schaller while Sam walked alongside Riley to his tent. "Love, I'm gonna need your help. It'll be dangerous an' exhausting, an' we're gonna have to work fast."

Once Fiona was settled into bed with her armor laid aside, Sam sat Riley down to show her what they were working with. Pulling the ruined blades from his saddlebags, Sam offered her the broken sword. Part of the blade was now rust-free, scraped clean and shining during the flight. The metal was steely grey, but with a slight purple hue, and it was a fair bit lighter than common steel.

"This is scale steel," Sam told Riley quietly. "Some would call it dragonsteel. It's made of elder dragon scales and the strongest steel they could make in Margaret Blackstone's time. I think if we remake it today with modern alloying, it'll be even tougher and more flexible. We're gonna use Schaller's scales, Dzana too if needed. But we can't work in a normal forge; it's not hot enough. We need to work with dragon fire an' a stone anvil. A normal anvil will melt with this kinda heat."

He met Riley's gaze. "Are you okay helpin' with this?"

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley helped get her mother settled, wanting to question just what happened, but it seemed that her father wasn't worried in the least. After Fiona was taken care of, she moved with him to look over the weapons that he had brought with him. She had never seen steel like this before and as he explained that it was made from dragon scales, she gave him a nod of understanding.

"You taught me everything that I know about smithing. I suppose if you think I'm up to it, I'm up to it." Riley said as she gave him a small smile. "I can help collect the scales. Rikke might be able to spare a few as well."

She looked over the blades again and turned it over in her hands, mentally measuring it all out. "This is for a person far taller than Ma. You'll have to scale it down to fit."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know. Trust me, I've been doin' calculations an' planning from the moment we took off," Sam muttered. "Margaret Blackstone was damn near as tall as me... An' while I don't doubt yer Ma's conviction or ability at all, I worry she won't be strong enough t'hurt Hesperus, small as she is." He met Riley's gaze then. "I won't try to do this for her or count 'er out... but I'm scared for her. An' I'm worried tha' if she does need help, things'll be movin' too fast and be too dangerous fer someone else t'get to her side. I know Jani an' I will be close at hand, but..." Sighing heavily, Sam shook his head. "We'll worry about tha' later. Fer now... we focus on gettin' her ready. I'm gonna replace some plates in her armor an' make some reinforced gloves. I need your help most, but havin' Andre's help would speed things up. He knows how to assist. An' then we need t'get Jani workin' on a shield. It needs to be light as possible, but it also needs t'be big enough t'cover your Ma completely an' support a plate across the front. If she's gonna get close to Hesperus, she's gonna be burned an' this steel should stop it."

Sam rose to fetch Fiona's armor, carefully unfastening some rivets and links to take out a few strategic pieces that covered the most area. "I don't have the designs here with me. Start measurin' an' make me some blueprints for these. I'll get started on the gloves while we're waitin' for Schaller."

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley took the pieces of armor that were passed to her as her Da slowly dismantled her Ma's entire set. She pondered his words and who might be able to help them.

"Andre is helping to move Tanya at the moment and get her secured. What about Uncle Boar? Or Uncle Durban? They can swing a hammer at the very least." Riley murmured. "Listen, Da, we might not need full armor, but what about making extra blades for Soma, Andre, and I? That way we can be at hand if she needs us."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam paused at her questions. "... Get your grandpa," he instructed. "He's got the most experience out o' his siblings. An' I agree with more swords, but I still want t' replace a couple plates in this armor. Not the whole thing, just some pieces."

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley nodded, placing the armor down to run and gather up her grandfather and Boar. By the time she came back, she returned with the two Ghis brothers and Rikke following behind. Riley set Rikke to gathering loose scales from her own hide and grinding them down as finely as she could manage before she got to pattern making with her grandfather and Boar.

Fiona woke once shortly after they landed and noticed that she wasn't on Schaller any longer. She could hear commotion on the other side of the tent barrier, but she was too exhausted to rise and see what was happening. "Sam?" She called out softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam instantly dropped his leatherworking tools at Fiona's call, rising to step around the barrier to her bedside. "Yeah, love?" He asked softly, kneeling beside her. He was no longer in armor, instead in a grey tunic with his leather apron and a pair of glasses he used when doing fine detail work. Taking off the glasses, he tucked them into his apron pocket. "Andre set aside somethin' for you if you're hungry," he murmured.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona reached up and gently touched his cheek, just wanting to know that he was there. She wanted to say no and go back to sleep, but it had been days since she had last eaten anything meaningful. She gave him a small nod and sat up, pulling off her traveling gloves and having a healthy drink of water before he returned with a bowl of food that Andre had prepared for everyone that was there working.

"It took more out of me than I realized." She said softly. "I just wanted to see you. To make sure that you were alright."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm okay for now. Getting things ready for the forge," he murmured, taking a seat beside her. "Got practically the whole immediate family involved somehow. An' Ciaran found a little creek nearby, Dzana's out clearin' away brush an' trees an' makin' me a safe spot by the water t'work. Schaller found the granite pieces I needed... Now I just need t'cast myself a new hammer an' make some blanks before I can start the real work. You're gonna focus on gettin' ready. Plenty of rest, keep strengthening your grip, train with your officers, an' eat well. I need you strong enough t'pierce elder dragon hide."

It was perhaps the first time in a while that Sam wasn't being overly precious with her since she was tortured. He knew she had to be the one to face Hesperus. Even if others were willing, it'd take a Blackstone to finish the job.

"I should also tell you..." Sam murmured, knowing she probably wouldn't like it. "I'm makin' blades for Soma, Riley, and myself. We're gonna do as much damage as we can to give you an opening."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Did you doubt that they would rally?" Fiona asked as he mentioned that nearly the entire family was out helping with the task of making her armor. "You'll spoil me with rest and relaxation. The most spoiled soldier in the forces."

She was quiet as he mentioned that the entire family would soon have weapons. It was something that neither of them wanted to think about, but she gave him a little nod. "Margaret wished she hadn't done it alone. I never want any of you to be in danger, but to bring him down, we need all of the help we can get."

 

[KieranSoares]

"An' there's no one I trust more t'support their mother than our kids," Sam assured her softly. "Soma'll get one look at Hesperus an' have a plan, an' Riley will harass tha' monster til he gets sloppy. I'll get you in close. Hell, I'll open his bloody chest up for you if I have to. He won't be leavin' t'hide this time."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I like your sudden optimism." Fiona said with a tired smile as she passed him her bowl and got herself situated back into bed. "I'll check in when I wake again. I'm sorry for frightening you, love. I wish I could control everything better."