The North (Closed)

[heartofcourage]

"We've both been working to beg their mercy." Delphine said softly, taking Ramsey's good hand and squeezing it gently. "It's not been easy, but they are at least receptive to some ideas."

Delphine glanced up as there was a slight commotion at the entrance of the tent and Jane soon stepped through. She felt like a deer trapped in a hunter's sights as she quickly dropped Ramsey's hand and stood from her spot beside him.

"My lady." She said softly, glancing down at the brothers. "Forgive me. I should leave."

"No. Stay. I need to speak to you all." Jane said as she looked over Ramsey and Finn.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ramsey sat up a bit, but still naturally leaned to one side to keep pressure off the other. Jane hadn't seen him since their wedding night and while he wasn't a black and blue mess anymore from Sam's rage, he still looked scruffy and pitiful. He hadn't been eating well- not for lack of food but lack of appetite- and he was a little gaunt with a thin beard coming in.

Finn rose to meet Jane with a concerned frown. "What's wrong?" He asked quietly. Even if the last thing he wanted was more bad news, at least Jane was in reach and he might be able to help her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I've petitioned the church for a proper separation, but...there's been a complication." Jane announced, looking from Finnegan to Ramsey and then at Delphine. "I'm with child. The church will not allow me to separate from my husband without his express consent in the matter."

Delphine felt as if she had been punched squarely in the chest at the announcement that Ramsey had managed to sire a child with Jane. She knew that it was his duty and that he had truly done nothing wrong, but the hurt was still sudden and deep.

 

[KieranSoares]

Finn was dead silent. It was a second major piece of news that complicated everything, all in the same day. He slowly turned his head toward Ramsey, only to find his brother had slumped forward. To Ramsey, it was like his shoulders weighed a thousand pounds.

"... Well, Ramsey?" Finn asked quietly. "You've been abandoned by our Da and she's been disowned. And if you are allowed to be my ward, I would never keep you in this marriage. Will you let her go?"

"Of course I will," Ramsey murmured, unable to look at any of them. "I never wanted this... God knows I never wanted any of this disaster of a country or anything to do with it..."

"As for a child..." Finn turned back to Jane. "Ramsey will likely not have the means to provide support anytime soon. As his brother, I will take responsibility for that," he promised, knowing it was a difficult thing to think about for all of them, especially Jane and Delphine. "If I may ask... does Blair know?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Of course she knows." Jane said curtly. "She is very aware of what is happening."

"What...will you do?" Delphine asked softly, her arms crossing tightly across her chest.

"I honestly don't know. I don't think that any of us are in the position to care for a child. Things have changed greatly since our wedding." Jane murmured, glancing at Delphine and then back at Ramsey and Finn.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Whatever you decide, you have my support regardless," Finn assured her kindly. She had only met him on a few short occasions despite their former clans being friendly neighbors. Rumors about Finn called him a deeply devout Christian despite often opposing the Church. And there was some talk that it had actually been his idea to save Markos years back, not Brennan's. But Brennan had seen an opportunity and took it, securing a Caller for his growing clan.

Ramsey didn't make comment on Jane's situation, either because he couldn't muster the energy, didn't care, or didn't feel like he was welcome to offer an opinion.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Whatever my decision shall be, I will let you know." Jane said with a nod. "And I will have the paperwork drawn up to dissolve this union. I have no want to make this painful for any of us."

She stared at Ramsey for a moment and then gave Finn one last glance before she took her leave from the tent. Delphine felt incredibly awkward as she stood there, quite literally the other woman in the situation.

 

[KieranSoares]

"We're very lucky she's a gentle sort," Finn muttered softly. He looked down at his brother for a long moment. "I only hope you recognize how lucky you are that we've been dealing with merciful people. Don't waste the chance they're giving you, little brother."

Glancing to Delphine, Finn sighed. "I'm going to go for a walk. I need time to think about this entire mess... And I pray to God Ma doesn't end up in pieces for Da's nonsense."

Finn turned and left the tent, leaving his brother in dark, depressed silence.

 

[heartofcourage]

Delphine stood in silence as Finn left, letting out a small sigh as she considered the entire situation. "I knew...the situation. None of us had a choice. It still...hurts. It hurts deeply and I would be lying if I said that it didn't."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You should just ask Finn to set you up someplace far from here," Ramsey murmured in her native tongue as he often did when it was just them. "Someplace where there's no Royers, Orkneys, Ghis, Aleisters, none of us. Start fresh where no one knows you." He still hadn't moved from his slumped position, as if he had no strength to do anything but speak. "Maybe down in Normandy where you're still in safe territory but you won't stand out much. Or maybe in the Rus in one of those eastern provinces too far away for anyone to care about the isles or France."

Ramsey slowly tilted his head up but he still couldn't make eye contact with her. "Just because my father pressured me, that's no excuse for the times I went off on you. You should be with someone who can keep their temper in check."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Do you love me, Ramsey? Or was it all a lie?" Delphine wanted to hear the words from him so badly she could have cried. "Forget everything that happened. Forget the misguided responsibility. Forget my mother. Forget your father. Forget it all and just think about us. Do you, Ramsey Royer, love me?"

 

[KieranSoares]

Ramsey's eyes finally found hers and his brows stitched in exhausted concern. "I've loved you forever," he whispered. In his beaten, vulnerable state, any hope to be stoic was dashed when his eyes brimmed with tears as he realized he hadn't said it to her in a long, long time. In fact, he couldn't remember the last time he had said anything sweet or gentle outside a passionate moment. Since the day Brennan Royer had killed the last rebel king Mateo Emile, Ramsey had been more tense and distant, but still fairly carefree until Finn defected. That day, he'd had the weight of a kingdom laid on his shoulders and his zest for life had been crushed under constant scruntiny. At some point, even being with Delphine away from Edinburgh Castle stopped bringing light back to his eyes.

The pathetic, still-broken prince slumped forward again, his head bowed before Delphine as he tried to control himself and keep the sharp gasps and sobs from bursting forth from behind a long-standing dam. "You're the best thing... that ever happened to me," he choked out, his good hand clutching at his shirt as if trying to pull himself back to anchor.

 

[heartofcourage]

Delphine didn't hesitate as she rushed forward and gathered Ramsey up in her arms. She hugged him tightly as he crumbled, letting him sob as he needed to have done so many years ago. It was just what he had done for her when her mother had been executed and she had sworn to return the favor for both of the Royer brothers if they ever needed it.

"Épouse-moi, Ramsey." Delphine whispered. "Marry me. There is nothing stopping us."

 

[KieranSoares]

"They still might have me executed," Ramsey whispered. "And even if they don't, you'll be stuck with someone the entire North hates... I'll never have real money or influence again. You deserve better." Even as he spoke, he clung to her like she was his last lifeline. "You deserve so much better."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I've lived a life without money and influence. I don't need any of it, Ramsey." She murmured as he insisted that she deserved much more than he. "I have no family. All I have ever had was you and Finn. You are what I want. You are what I deserve."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ramsey buried his face against her shoulder and let himself fall apart for the first time since childhood. The fear of being separated from Delphine, the fear of retribution and death from the North or Hesperus, and the utter shame he felt all came to a head.

"I didn't want to hurt her," Ramsey finally choked out. "I didn't want to hurt anyone. I was so scared of Da after they took Jane, and I was so angry at the world... I'm so sorry..." It wasn't clear whether he was talking to Delphine or perhaps confessing to God. He hadn't prayed or set foot in a church since Delphine's mother had been killed. He'd hated the Church for supporting the burning of an innocent woman as a witch. Finn had had his faith tested too, but instead committed to bettering the Church rather than abandoning it.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Je t'aime." Delphine said softly, rocking Ramsey back and forth as she held him tightly. "Je t'aime."

"You have nothing to apologize for. In time they will see what kind of man you truly are." Delphine murmured. "They will see how kind and loving you can be."

 

[KieranSoares]

As Ramsey dissolved into grief and eventually into sleep, the rest of the camp was still preparing. The only people who would be there for the fight were those actually fighting, a team of medics to care for those who survived, and a sizable backup force with orders to contain Hesperus as long as possible if the fighters fell.

But on the midst of it all, a feast was being arranged per Soma's orders. He needed to pull his family together for their own sake, and give them all a chance for closure, unity, and a moment of peace before Hell let loose. It was practically a family tradition to feast before a battle, and many couples and branches of the family had their own traditions around such moments as well.

After doing what he could to help his parents, young Brogan retreated from the rest of the tense camp to his ger with Shani. If she was going to be sent off into Hesperus's reach, he wanted some time with her first. They'd already heard of the plan and it wasn't certain yet if Shani would be sent. Kell had left the choice to her as he couldn't bring himself to make such an order. And Qira hadn't made comment. Rissa had been informed as well, but they all knew neither of Shani's parents were keen on the idea after London.

Brogan sat beside Shani at their little campfire beside the ger. It was getting too warm to have a fire inside it anymore except on windy days. He quietly tended the fire, a bit listless but simply enjoying her presence.

"So I was thinking," he murmured. "When we get home, obviously there'll be a lot of work to do. But maybe when the war is over and we can focus solely on Scotland's recovery... It'd be good if you and I took care of some of the diplomatic stuff. Traveling to the different counties and surveying everything so we can help the people out and see what they need. Ma and Rissa will be so busy with the court, and Da and Qira will be reestablishing their network and training people. We can be out representing the court and helping people, and still get to travel like we always wanted to."

His green-flecked eyes turned to Shani to gauge her reaction. "Then eventually we'll get to travel across the world representing Scotland." He offered a small smile at that. "Funny how wishes come true in ways you'd never expect."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm going to Edinburgh." Shani said softly, shifting her gaze from the blade that she had been sharpening to Brogan. "No one else wants to even talk about the subject, but if there's a chance that I can save a life, I need to take it."

"And then we can start focusing on the life that we will have together. On the places that we will go and the sights that we'll see together." She gave him a smile. "Then sooner or later, you'll take the throne and become a stuffy and humorless king. It's your destiny."

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan's pointed ears drooped slightly when she gave him her decision, but he didn't protest. Shani had always been decisive and she'd always been concerned for the greater good even if some in the North didn't think Royer's queen was worthy of their mercy. Brogan knew the woman had been dealt a difficult hand, and she didn't have to die just for being married to the wrong man. But still, knowing Shani would be out there risking her life against a monster... It didn't sit well.

Brogan forced a smile when she mentioned his future as king. "We'll just have to find ways to stay wild, won't we? Wouldn't do for two of Arslan Khan's wildest kids to be stuck in a boring grey castle every day. Maybe I'll buy a herd of steppe horses and let them loose in the streets sometime. That'll keep things lively."

He shifted over to lean into her side, laying his head atop hers. "You have to come back," he whispered. "I want to marry you someday, and exasperate you for the rest of our lives."

 

[heartofcourage]

"As young as I am, I'm still a seasoned assassin. A seasoned warrior. I'll come back." Shani murmured, turning her head to look up into Brogan's unique eyes. "Your Da doesn't want to give the order because he sees it as pointless. My Da doesn't want me to go because he thinks that Hesperus is mindless and dangerous beyond comprehension. I think Fiona is right. He can be taken down if we think logically about him. It's just like any other job that we do."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Everyone knows you're capable. That was never in question," Brogan assured her quietly. "We're just... scared. But if you think you can do this, I won't question you. You've survived some pretty intense situations. This will just be another crazy story someday."

Since London, Bo had worked hard to help Shani regain her strength. He'd pushed her like Qira would, challenged her like Kell, and supported her when she occasionally fell short. But in that process, he'd earned a whole new confidence in their partnership and in her. He was certain that she would soon outdo Qira. If anyone could get close to Hesperus and get away, Brogan believed it was her.

 

[heartofcourage]

Back with the dragons, Fiona was sitting quietly with Schaller, just wanting to spend time with her partner without anyone interfering. Everyone was giving them a wide berth, leaving her alone as she got her head together.

"I got you something." She said softly, looking up at the great elder dragon, pulling close a fine cotton sack that seemed to have some weight to it. "I know you'll grumble and say that it's just a silly piece of wasted fluff and money, but I wanted to do something for you."

She pulled out a great metal ring, one that was perfectly formed to fit on Schaller's clawed hand. It was stamped with both the Ghis sigil and the Blackstone sigil, but it contained the beautiful white scales of both Rikke and Dzana. Sam and Riley had worked on it when she had asked and she had kept it secret until now.

"Dzana loves you more than you know. Rikke loves you as much as you'd expect a teen dragon could." Fiona murmured with a slight smile. "They wanted to donate to this cause."

 

[KieranSoares]

Schaller tilted his head slightly as Fiona opened up the cotton sack, and he reached out to touch the ring gingerly with a single claw. The layered white and purple scales and engraving were all polished to perfection, and as the ring slipped into place perfectly on Schaller's finger, he had to smile. "A ring representing the entire family... To think, there was a time I refused to let anyone love me." He lowered his head and laid it beside Fiona, nuzzling against her. "I'm glad you changed my mind, my darling."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, you'll hate me for asking that you not think about all of that the next few days. I'm afraid loving all of us will get in the way." Fiona murmured as he nuzzled against her with his great maw and admired the ring that he had placed on finger. "You were the dragon that I face so long ago. Now...I have another to face."

She let out a long sigh and shook her head, looking up into Schaller's softened gaze. "I don't want to slay a dragon, Schaller."