To Capture a Captain's Heart (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Kayla greeted the man cordially as he bowed towards her and shook Christopher's hand. It seemed that Christopher knew the man well or had been talking with him for a while. When the dogs poked their heads over the side of the cart, Kayla looked towards her husband for a long moment. She was surprised he remembered the conversation that they had while in the midst of battle.

"Oh, Chris..." She said as she wrapped her arms around his waist, the dogs sniffing around her until the command to sit was given and they obeyed immediately.

 

[KieranSoares]

"One of the Jarls insisted this gentleman was the finest dog breeder in Trondheim, so... I decided to pay him a visit," Christopher told her with a smile, wrapping an arm about her shoulders. "So what do you think? Should we give these two a new home? I spent some time with them earlier and they're sweet as can be."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I can't believe you remembered that conversation with everything going on." Kayla said as she reached down to pet both dogs before she glanced back up at her husband. "Of course they can stay. I would love to have them as part of our family."

 

[KieranSoares]

"They'll take good care of you if you take care of them," the farmer promised her, reaching into his cart for a couple sturdy leather leashes and handing them over to Christopher. He'd already been paid for the dogs so he wished them well and went on his way. The two hounds watched him go, but when Christopher clipped the leashes to their leather collars, they knew he was in charge.

"I don't think they'll need these much, but just in case," Christopher handed her Skoll's leash. "Think you can handle the big fellow?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"I grew up with Ballas." Kayla said as she rolled her eyes at her husband and chuckled softly, taking the leash from him as Skoll glanced towards the woman that now was in control. "This little puppy isn't going to throw me at all."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I just hope you know he actually is still a puppy. These dogs live a long time and some of them get to be Ballas' size. I figured you might like another friend to come topple you over like he did. Skoll's definitely going to be that big."

Skoll gave a soft woof hearing his name again, and a few people stared as they passed, similar to the soldiers that had stared at Kayla when she played with Ballas. The great tiger was still around until Ashien went home.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Wait until Ballas gets a good look at the two of them." Kayla said with a grin as she reached up to pull her husband down for a gentle kiss. "Thank you, love. It means the world to me that you remembered what we talked about."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Of course I remembered. Were you worried I wasn't listening?" He asked with a chuckle before kissing her in return with that ease that had been missing during all their troubles.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I just thought that with everything going on around us that you might not have remembered." Kayla admitted, blushing as he grinned down at her with such a charming smile. "But I love you all the more for never letting me down, love."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I try my best," he nodded, keeping one arm around her as they returned to the palace. Everyone was surprised to see the hounds, but they were greeted with smiles and the hounds fit right in before long. Christopher let them off their leashes once inside, and they began snuffling about but Skoll kept close to Kayla and Hrolf kept near Christopher.

 

[heartofcourage]

As they sat next to the fire in the great hall, Kayla smiled to see Ballas checking out the two dogs that were now so close. He stalked along the exterior of the room, his loud, rumbling purr filling the air.

"Come here, Ballas. Meet these two properly." Kayla said, holding out her hand for the tiger that had meant so much to her.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ballas seemed perfectly fine with the dogs and Hrolf with him, but Skoll seemed a bit wary even as Kayla welcomed Ballas near. Ballas nuzzled up against Kayla's hand and arm with a soft rumble of happiness. He set his paws on the edge of her seat, standing up to nuzzle her neck and face while Skoll and Hrolf watched curiously.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Alright, young man." Kayla said as Ballas rubbed against her face and neck with a happy rumble. "Enough of that. I know you're just marking me as your own."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ballas gave her a little growl in response before sitting at her side to sniff at Skoll, who slowly began to investigate just what this great creature was and Hrolf soon beside him. Ballas didn't mind in the least, fairly used to other animals being wary of him.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla laughed as the dogs got use to Ballas, a smile on her lips as she turned towards Christopher. It felt good to be happy and to laugh with her husband, the threat of war gone for the moment. It was time to relax and to rejoin as a couple without the stress and strain of a kingdom looming over them.

"We should ride to the seashore soon. A nice little get away for everyone would be nice before Ashien leaves back to London."

 

[KieranSoares]

"If you'll arrange it with everyone, I'd be glad to," Christopher nodded, leaning down to stroke Hrolf's broad neck. He still had a lot of work to do himself, getting things back in order after being gone so long.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Are you alright, Chris?" Kayla asked, worried for her husband's health during the battle. "I worry about you and what you went through during the fight."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, I'm still a little on the ill side from being exhausted for so long, but I'm much better than I was. Getting out of all these terrible situations with a good outcome has done wonders. And now I know what I can handle, and what to do differently if I ever face a situation like that again." He pressed a kiss to her lips. "I'm okay now. Everyone's alive and healing. That's what mattered most to me through it all."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're what matters most to me, Chris." She said softly, a hint of color coming to her cheeks as she told him that. "My sweet Captain. I don't know how I would function without you around to keep me up and marching forward."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ulfric would do it then, but not nearly as well," he grinned down at her with that roguish and handsome smile she knew from their earliest days together. It had gone missing during their fight.

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's been a long time since I've seen that smile, Chris." She said with a grin as that roguish smile nearly shown down at her. "I'll always think you are the most handsome man that I've ever met in my life."

 

[KieranSoares]

With a chuckle, he raised an eyebrow. "Trying to butter me up for something, love?" Without waiting for an answer, he drew her in closer to kiss her in that playful, heated way he liked to do just to tease her and lure her in further.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Always." Kayla said with a grin as he drew her in for a heated kiss, her fingers curling into his tunic as they shared a tender moment that had been a distant memory since the beginning of their battles. "I have to get the upper hand on you somehow."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You can have me all to yourself tonight, then," he whispered against her ear. Until then, he had plenty of work to do and eventually had to leave her side. Hrolf followed on his heels, but Skoll remained.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla smiled happily at that thought as Skoll remained behind while Hrolf dutifully followed his new master. It had been a long time since she had been with Christopher intimately. Perhaps far too long for either of their liking, but she was intent on seducing him that evening. She had a dress she would wear. There would be a meal served in their rooms. She had it all planned out in her mind. It was perfect and a little naughty.