To Capture a Captain's Heart (closed)

[KieranSoares]

The rest of the day was absorbed in setting things all smoothly back in motion and seeing to some issues that had arisen in their time away. Petitions to look over, a few new officials to manage. Probably the most harrowing was the news that a Jarl was stepping down and his inexperienced son was going to take his place. But he'd be along in a few weeks to give his oath to his queen and learn about the council which would meet to welcome him. Skoll was beside Kayla every moment, learning who she trusted and getting used to the workings of Trondheim palace without complaint.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla was busy at work on her papers and correspondences, reaching down to pet Skoll from time to time as he sat at her feet. It made her smile to have a companion around, even if Ballas did check on her from time to time. She would scratch the big cat's ears, letting him press his nose against her cheek until he finally settled down next to Skoll.

"You are the biggest softy that I've ever met." She teased the big cat, giving him a grin.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yes he is," came Ashien's voice as he stepped in to pat his great tiger's broad neck. He laid an opened letter in front of Kayla, from Dylandra to himself. But he wanted her to see that Dylandra had written that she was pregnant. She was a little bit frightened on her own without even Ballas around, but happy as could be. "I'm sending my squire home ahead of me with Ballas tomorrow. Then I'll be on my way a bit after."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla looked down at the letter and felt a warmth spread over her as she learned that Ash was going to be a father. She looked up at her brother with a smile as he declared that his squire would be going home soon and Ballas would be going with him. Soon, that meant that Ash would be going as well.

"You will be the best father." Kayla said as she stood and hugged him tightly. "I'm so happy for you, Ash. You deserve all of the happiness in the world."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Promise you'll come to Inverness when we take the baby to Ma?" He asked softly. Their mother would want the whole family together to meet her new grandchild. It would be the same whenever Kayla and Christopher had their own.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You just want me there to protect you from Ma." Kayla said with a smile as she saw the slight apprehension in his eyes mixed with the complete and total delight at having a child with the love of his life. "And of course I'll be there. I want to hug the little lovely already."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You'll have all the time in the world to do that once the baby's old enough to make the voyage over here. I intend to come visit and bring my little household with me." He kissed her cheek before he noticed Skoll. "And it looks like you've added to yours. Who's this?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Skoll." Kayla said with a smile, so incredibly happy for her brother as he took a notice of her dog. "Christopher got us each a dog. He wanted to surprise me with them today. It's nice having a pet around again.."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He's handsome as can be. Ballas, I might have to leave you here and take him," he chuckled, petting the hound and looking to the tiger who lazily swished his tail back and forth.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You know Ballas would find his own way back to London." Kayla teased as the tiger twitched the tip of his tail lazily. "Now, you need to get yourself back to your rooms and write a letter to your wife. She needs to know just how you feel about her exciting news."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't think I have words to describe it but I'll give it a try." He kissed her cheek once more before turning and patting his hip, at which Ballas rose and padded along after him. Skoll woofed softly after Ballas, at which the tiger glanced back, purring but continuing on his way.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla soon finished her business, moving into her rooms to get things ready for Christopher. She had the kitchens put together a romantic dinner. She then pulled on her newest gown, one in blue and that fit her perfectly. She left her dark hair straight and down her back, shining in the candle light. She was excited for that evening and even more excited to tell him about Ashien's news.

 

[KieranSoares]

Christopher came to their room before too long, Hrolf still loyally at his side. The hounds would have their own room across the hall, and Christopher sent them both into that room before coming to face Kayla with a smile. He'd made sure to straighten up his uniform for their dinner, and he still cut quite the dashing figure in it.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You look very handsome tonight, Captain." Kayla said with a smile on her lips as she came to greet her husband, kissing him gently as her fingers curled in the fabric of his uniform. "Very, very handsome. I think I'll have to commission more uniforms for you to wear."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I hardly need any more," he chuckled, wrapping his arms about her waist. "But whatever my lady commands, of course..." He'd never stopped calling her 'Lady Kayla' at least every so often. It was a habit, but one that was more playful now than when he'd called her that in deference to her title in Inverness.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I ordered us dinner. But first, there is something I have to tell you. Ash got a letter from Dylandra today and he's going to be a father." Kayla said, her eyes shining with that news as if she were the one telling Christopher that he were going to be a father. "I'm so happy for the both of them."

 

[KieranSoares]

Christopher laughed brightly at the news, hugging her close. It was an interesting feeling, knowing he was going to be an uncle. He was already an uncle to Kayla's own nieces and nephews, but being around for the birth of a niece or nephew was special to him. "That sounds fantastic. And maybe before long we'll get to meet Dylandra." She'd been around during the last war in Inverness and been among Julia's soldiers, but they'd never gotten a real meeting with her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He wants me to come to Inverness when he takes the baby to see Ma. I promised that I would be there, so perhaps we'll get to meet her then." Kayla said with a smile as she hugged her husband a little bit tighter. "He'll be a great father. He was already so excited."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Let's hope nothing interrupts our vacation plans then, hm?" He asked with a chuckle, having left their last interruption to the realm of bad memories and nothing more for the moment. He sat down with her at the little table that had been set up after kissing her cheek. "So how do you like Skoll so far? Hrolf's been a big help, fetching things I accidentally leave behind before I even notice they're gone."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He's been keeping me company. Mostly laying at my feet while I did paperwork. It's nice having him around." She said with a smile as they sat down for their meal. "I'm glad I talked you into getting us a pair of hounds."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It didn't take much to make me agree, love. I had dogs while I was growing up and they were the only things I loved more than my horses. Of course, those were collies. These two are made for trekking mountains and especially snow. They're one of the breeds used to find people lost in blizzards or avalanches. Though I don't expect we'll be encountering any avalanches here... it's still nice to know a big bear of a hound like Skoll will be around for you."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You just want to protect me when you can't be around." Kayla said with a soft smile. "And I think that's very sweet, Chris. Skoll will be an excellent guard for me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"That's exactly what I want. But at least you can pet and baby this guard," he chuckled as he reached out to touch her hand. "But besides that, I know we could both use another companion when we can't be together."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Do you really miss me that much when you're gone?" Kayla asked, a little surprised that he would confess that to her. "Because I miss having you around as well. It makes me feel like I'm missing a large part of myself."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't need to be with you every second to feel whole... But there are some days I feel like we only see each other when we wake up and when we go to bed. Sometimes not even that much. But some days it's necessary because of our work, so I wanted a companion for each of us. A small constant in the middle of all the changes all the time."