The North (Closed)

[heartofcourage]

"It's a burden that I have to carry. They pledged their lives for me and I have to be the one that cares." She said softly as he tried to help her with her grief. "I'll always know their names and their looks. They'll haunt me for the rest of my days."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Good leaders remember the lost. And I know these losses will be raw for a long time. But I worry for you. I fear you'll let yourself be weighed down so heavily that you won't be able to enjoy what you worked so hard for, both for your family and your people." Schaller wasn't the first to express that worry, and he was one of many whose guilt and traumas would affect them long after the war was over. He knew Fiona's grief better than anyone, and it scared him.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Rho said the same. As has Sam. As has Brogan..." Fiona murmured softly as she climbed down from his crest to be scooped up in his great claws. "You can fret over me if you like, my love. I won't stop you. It just won't make things better."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We only hope you'll accept help before it gets to be too much," Schaller murmured, cradling her in one hand as the last of those gathered dispersed and the ashes were buried and mixed into the soil. Nature would retake the scorched earth in time. Schaller paused a moment to look to the smoldering embers where Hesperus had once been. He wasn't as angry as he wanted to be, knowing the ancient elder had been sick a long time. He hated the situation more than the dragon himself.

Everyone headed off to rest, few having much appetite to eat. Schaller slowly walked toward camp, but didn't commit to a particular destination just yet. "What do you need right now, my love?" He asked softly. "You haven't eaten much today. But I understand if you want to sleep or get away from camp."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I would love to see what a dragon of your size can make for me to eat." Fiona murmured, a bit of humor in her voice as he offered her food or rest.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm much more dextrous than most think. Or do you not remember how I used to bring you cuts of venison after hunting for myself?" He asked with a hint of a smile. "Anything fancier than that is a bit beyond me." Schaller adjusted course, lumbering toward Riley and Andre's camp where Andre was tending a large pot and had a stack of flatbread by the fire. He'd made much more than he or Riley needed, having promised meals to a few wounded and welcomed others to stop by as well if they liked.

Andre looked up as Schaller approached. Noticing him carrying Fiona close to his chest, Andre automatically picked up a bowl and ladled out a portion of the mild chicken and vegetable curry. "Evening, Schaller," he greeted, and as Schaller set Fiona on her feet, Andre smiled softly. "Hey, Mama Bear. I hoped you'd stop by for something to eat. Loren's coming by soon to get some for folks in Alex's care."

 

[heartofcourage]

"All of the men in this family seem to think that I'll be crumbling any moment now." Fiona said as she took a seat at Andre's campfire, taking the bowl from him as he approached.

Riley walked into their camp and paused when she saw her Ma sitting there with Andre. "And now here is my daughter to tell me that she's taking on the command tomorrow. She's told everyone but me."

"I would have in time. You need to be with Da tomorrow anyway. The commanders agree with me." Riley answered back, not feeling guilty in the least about taking over her mother's command. "Alex agrees with me as do Grandpa and Uncles Boar and Durban. Without Ezra and Jani, I'm flying at the head of the command."

Fiona glanced up at her daughter with icy blue eyes. "So, you've started a coup."

"No. Not at all. Aunt Kate needs dragons at her back even if she thinks this will be easy. I'm simply stepping into the role temporarily."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I didn't say a thing," Andre muttered with a smile as Fiona chastised him. When Riley arrived, Andre gave her a bowl as well. He listened to the two speak a moment. He knew Fiona never liked being grounded or held back even when she was wounded.

"You know that even in normal circumstances, we'd want you to take time out to heal. Ri's got the experience with anti-dragon weapons to keep the Riders as safe as possible, and she's going to have plenty of veterans advising her, including your Lieutenants' best right-hand people. Kate will take Sam's normal role, and the Triad navies have Edinburgh blockaded now. It'll be a dangerous takeover still, but fast. And with Kell ready to sweep the city and castle the second we have them in hand, we'll have a new, safer base of operations to finish this war from. Not to mention, our wounded will have a safe place to recover."

 

[heartofcourage]

"The two of you won't fight in Edinburgh. You can be angry with me if you like, Ma, but I'm doing this for your own good." Riley said softly as she watched her mother lower her gaze to the ground. "You will have command back as soon as I'm done."

"You're young." Fiona said softly.

"No younger than you were. I'm capable of this, Ma." Riley said, taking a serving from Andre but not moving to sit just yet.

"I know you're capable of anything, but you're my daughter and I'll always worry." Fiona answered, glancing up at the two of them. "I can't send Schaller with you. I just have to trust that you and Marth are truly ready for this."

 

[KieranSoares]

Andre's gaze softened seeing Fiona give ground to her daughter. He looked up to Riley, letting her see a bit of pride in his gaze. He couldn't help but be proud. She was still the headstrong, brash Fox everyone knew, but she'd come a long way in understanding and respecting the heavy mantle her mother wore. For Riley to take it on even temporarily was something no one had expected a year ago.

"Rikke and I will be right behind her," Andre promised Fiona. "We'll have the castle in Kate's hands in two days, if Soma's strategy goes to plan."

 

[heartofcourage]

"His plans always go the way they're supposed to." Riley said, fully confident in her brother's ability.

Fiona glanced between the both of her children, first Riley and then Andre. She let out a sigh and shrugged her shoulders as much as her battered ribs would allow. "I won't say anything more then."

Riley gave a small smile as she sat down with her bowl of food, pausing only when she saw Loren approaching.

 

[KieranSoares]

When Loren drew near carrying a tray, Andre was already filling bowls. The young doctor smiled to his cousin and aunt and placed the tray down. "Good to see Andre's keeping everyone fed," he said in his usual gentle tone. He turned to Fiona, but held his tongue about asking how she was, just as Sam had said to him.

"I wanted to mention," Loren offered quietly, "I'll be assisting in Uncle Sam's knee surgery tomorrow. I'll be helping with the physical therapy too, since it's my specialty." He'd assisted in Fiona's recovery from Normandy as well, so it was clear Sam was in good hands.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Did you speak with your father?" Fiona asked, glancing up at Loren chatted about everything that was happening in the medical tents. "He came in not that long before the ceremony."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I did. He spent about ten minutes fretting over me as usual anytime we've been apart longer than an hour," Loren chuckled. "Uncle Ciaran just got back too, so he, Da, and Aunt Kate all went to talk together with Uncle Sam for a bit, and they got Soma's aides to put out the call for the civilian side of the family to gather in Edinburgh as soon as it's clear. It sounds like Da's going to be assisting the High Throne after this, at least for a few years if not more."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Your Da has a good head on his shoulders. He simply didn't want to be a king." Fiona said softly. "He'll serve Kate well. He had the level head and your Ma was more brash. You are very much your father's son. Perhaps I let him fret over you too much."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't mind," Loren assured her with a kind smile. "He's always been too hard on himself about raising me alone so he tries to make sure he's always there for me no matter what. Even so, it'll be good to see him really dedicated to another cause now. I'm going to be following Alex for a few more years to build experience so Da and I will be apart for the first time. I'm also secretly hoping that with him no longer focused on me, he might get out there and make some new friends or even find someone special again."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Love, he adored your Ma more than life itself. If it wasn't for you, he would have been in the grave a long time ago. He might never find someone to replace Naiya." Fiona murmured. "Don't be disappointed if it never happens."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I won't be disappointed. And I won't push him. I just want him to live for himself a little more." Loren took the tray Andre had filled with bowls for a number of people in Alex's care. "Almost everyone in this family has a tendency to be selfless to the point of injury. I'd like Da to enjoy life a little at the very least." He leaned down to kiss Fiona's cheek, thanked Andre, and nodded to Riley before heading off.

"Good to know not everyone in this clan is a stubborn hothead," Andre commented with a little grin. "Seems there's the graceful, quiet ones too."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I hope your future kits give you hell, Andre." Fiona murmured back, eating her fill of his delicious meal. "I hope they are the most stubborn, frustrating, headstrong kits that have ever been born."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Is that really who you want to babysit?" Andre teased back with his usual easygoing smile as though he was dealing with Riley's usual contradictory nature. "I see the pattern in the Ghis family. There's always one wild kid, but there's usually a calm one to go along with them. For every Kate and Riley, there's a Ciaran or Soma. But those calm ones get into their own trouble."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Try raising a wild one." Fiona murmured as she glanced at Riley. "You'll never see kits the same again."

"I wasn't that bad, Ma." Riley muttered, glancing up at her mother as Fiona lamented about wild kits.

"I beg that you think back on all of your wayward acts." Fiona said as she finished up her meal and stood. "You be careful, little kit. Come back to me in one piece tomorrow."

 

[KieranSoares]

As Fiona left them with Schaller at her side, Andre looked to Riley and leaned over to kiss her cheek. "Now both our mothers are talking about kids. Let's hope that if they do decide to have their own again in Inverness, they'll let us be for a while."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We won't bow to the pressure. Neither of us are ready just yet." Riley said as she stole a kiss from her husband and nuzzled against his cheek. "We still have a long time ahead of us to be young and reckless."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think a good long rest in Inverness, some time at home in Norway, and a few adventures ought to come first, definitely. And if Ma's going to adopt, I'd rather my sibling was at least a few years older than my own kid." Andre chuckled to himself and nuzzled against Riley.

A few more people stopped by for food and once the camp grew quiet, Andre gave the last of the curry to Rikke and Marth, and scrubbed out the cauldron. As it grew dark, Andre returned and packed things up. Their basic kit would come with them, but the ger and camp materials would be packed in the morning and moved for them once Edinburgh was secure. Andre made sure everything was in good order and their early morning rise would be smooth. Most of all, he was making sure Riley had nothing to worry about except the Riders.

"Any requests for breakfast?" Andre asked as he put their cooking equipment away and left out the cauldron for the camp cooks who'd lent it to him.

 

[heartofcourage]

"No. I probably won't feel like eating." Riley said as she relaxed in front of their fire. "She has confidence in me and that's good to know, but I'm not sure that I have as much confidence in myself. And Da will be in surgery while we are in Edinburgh. It's a lot weighing on me."