To Capture a Captain's Heart (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Kayla was stunned as he mentioned healers to help her with a child. She had no idea how they had known that she had lost her first baby. There were spies within the palace walls, it seemed. She struggled to keep the pain from her features as Christopher aggressively attacked, punching the man hard before he told them the conditions of the treaty.

She was sick to her stomach as the room cleared out, leaving her alone with Ulfric and Christopher. "I want to speak to the Prince directly. Not with his second in command."

It was all that she could say before she turned to leave the room, all thoughts of a meal or a happy evening gone from her mind.

 

[KieranSoares]

Christopher was about to follow, but Ulfric held him back. Christopher needed to calm down, and Kayla would need at least a moment alone to process both grief and worry. Until he joined her side, Christopher made plans, strengthened defenses, and tried to calm the fury building in his chest. One of his first orders was to have everyone in the castle background-checked by Ulfric's spies to weed out foreign spies

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla sat on her balcony when Christopher finally found her, the hounds asleep at her feet as she stared off into the darkness of Trondheim with a devastated look on her features. The loss of that child had been so recent she could still feel the hurt in her chest. She would have never thought that another ruler would use it against her to get what they wanted.

"I won't take his offer." Kayla murmured softly as Christopher sat down beside her. "I can't take his offer."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I didn't think you would," Christopher told her softly. Hrolf woke just long enough to move out of the way and Christopher came to stand beside Kayla. "We'll have our family one day, Kay. But not by the fake grace of some warmongering Prince."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't understand how someone could be so cruel, Chris." She murmured, finally looking up at him with grief on her features. "I...we did nothing wrong. It simply happened."

 

[KieranSoares]

Christopher wrapped her up in his arms, wishing silently he could chase away all these griefs and fears. "We didn't do anything wrong," he agreed. "But now... Someone who disagrees with us is trying to scare us into submission... I think... I think we should take Monomakh's side. He's our friend, Kay, and I think he'll fight to defend us if we return the favor. His people want him, not Makarikov. We'd do the Rus a favor by defending her chosen Grand Prince."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't want a fight." Kayla said miserably as her husband held her tightly against his chest. "I'm not strong enough for another fight. Chris, I feel like I'm losing myself. What happened to that carefree girl from Scotland?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"The world happened," Christopher muttered. "I know I can't make it better, love. I can't offer any real help. But I need you to hold on. It's so selfish, but I need you. Neither of us can do this alone."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I want to go home. I want to see my brothers and sisters. I want to feel my Ma's arms around me." Kayla murmured, letting him feel the weakness and hurt that she tried to hide so hard. "I want to sit and talk to Papa about all of this."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We're going to see them soon, Kay... I promise." Christopher could only hug her a little tighter, hoping against hope that things could work out.

That next morning, letters were went without Kayla's knowledge. Only one was sent that she knew of, to Makarikov's men demanding a meeting with the Prince. Their answer came quickly, that they would consult the Prince and send his reply as to whether he'd meet them. But before that reply could come, a ship arrived in Trondheim harbor and the city was set abuzz as to the people aboard.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla felt listless as she went about her duties. The sparkle that had made her so cheerful was long gone. Instead, she went about her business and refused to think about her own troubles. When news reached her about a ship in the harbor, she was curious about who had come to Trondheim. She wasn't expecting any dignitaries.

 

[KieranSoares]

Christopher came to Kayla with a bright smile on his face. "Love, I have a surprise for you." He brought her to the main hall, having her stand before the closed doors. "Wait here," he told her, kissing her cheek before he slipped outside without letting her see who awaited her. Moments later, he opened up the doors and Kayla was greeted by the sight of her whole family. All her siblings, Ashien included, her mother, Vincenzo, and her siblings' families. Ashien had even brought Dylandra and their baby as well as a boy Kayla didn't know, but seemed attached to Dylandra.

"Cara mia," Vincenzo spoke up, and he and Kitty were given the chance to greet Kayla first, wrapping her up in their arms between them.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla was taken back as Christopher opened the doors to show her entire family waiting for her. She wouldn't have thought that he would arrange to simply have them all come to Norway. Tears gathered in her eyes as her Ma and Papa wrapped her up in a tight hug. She clung to her mother like a little girl who was suffering from a bad dream.

"I'm so happy you're here." Kayla murmured softly to the both of them. "I needed you badly."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We know, sweet Kay," Kitty told her. "Your Captain told us." She kissed Kayla's cheek and held her just a little tighter. It'd been a long time since Kitty had had the strength to leave Inverness.

 

[heartofcourage]

"No sad thoughts right now." Kayla said, finally gathering herself. "I have some nieces and nephews to hold while the rest of you get settled."

Immediately, she turned towards Ashien, a smile on her lips as she looked at the tiny little girl that was bundled in her mother's arms.

"She's beautiful, Ash." Kayla said softly as Eli and Leon pulled at her skirts for her attention. "And the two of you are so big!"

She leaned down and scooped them up to kiss their cheeks until they melted in laughter.

 

[KieranSoares]

Gabriel was next along with Ruben, and lastly Ashien managed to get the little boy by his side to come forward. "It looks like someone decided to send us two children instead of just our little girl," Ashien chuckled. "This is Burke. Dylandra found him wandering the grounds while I was last here. We took him in. He's a little serious and a little shy, but he's a good lad."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla kissed both Gabriel and Ruben before sending them on with Leon and Eli to explore and play. Left alone with her twin, she smiled as he ushered a shy little boy forward. She crouched down in front of him, extending her hand to shake his own.

"Burke. I am very pleased to meet you. I'm your Aunt Kayla." She said softly as she shook his hand quickly before he pressed his face back against Ashien's leg to hide himself.

"I'll let him be shy." Kayla said as she stood to take the little girl from Dylan's arms, looking down in her fair face. "A blonde? That's a first in this family."

"I told Ashien that she would make him pray for all his sins when she got older." Dylan said, a peaceful smile on her lips as she looked down at her daughter. "We named her Ashleigh. Ashleigh Kayla Carmena. Ashien could make up his mind what name he liked more."

Kayla glanced up as she hears that another of her brothers had named a daughter after her. She wanted to melt into tears, but she held herself together, nuzzling against Ashleigh's sweet little face.

"She's absolutely beautiful." She murmured softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"She's an angel too. Hardly cries at all. But Dylandra insists she's going to be trouble. If she's my girl... I don't doubt it. I'm always running off and getting in trouble." He pressed a kiss to his wife's cheek.

The family all settled in before the next meal, and it was suddenly like being home again in Inverness. All Kayla's siblings and their children came together to eat, loud and happy as usual. The only difference now was that Kayla presided over it all instead of Brogan, and Brogan was quite impressed by the air of calm and control Kayla kept in her home while still remaining free and open. Her staff were happy to see the Ghis and brought out their best meal in weeks.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla felt more cheerful than she had in ages with her family around. The children were running around and playing. Her brothers and sisters were chatting animatedly as the staff served them a fabulous Norwegian meal. She was happy and it was all thanks to the man that was sitting beside her. Reaching over, she took Christopher's hand and gave it a squeeze, smiling at him in silent thanks for everything that he had done.

 

[KieranSoares]

Christopher gave her a smile in return and asked softly, "Better, love?" He knew the hardest part of being a queen was for Kayla to be so far from the family she loved so dearly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Much better." She said with a smile as she pulled her husband down for a gentle kiss. "Thank you for all of this, Chris. I wish your family could be around for moments like this as well."

 

[KieranSoares]

"This is my family," he told her. "Maybe one day I'll get Stephen and Jessie here too, but I'm happy with this." It was about then that Kjotva and Ulfric came to see what all the commotion was and to join in the meal. Both were shocked to see the whole Ghis clan there, especially Ulfric who was never out of the loop. Kjotva's first reaction was to hurry to see Durban and Marri.

 

[heartofcourage]

Marri proudly showed off her little family to Kjotva. Gabriel loved his little sister dearly and Seamus was a force to be reckoned with, in spite of his youth. Seamus was content to sit in the queen's lap, devouring everything that came his way just as his brother had long ago.

"Durban did his nursery in Mongolian things. Seamus can probably speak the language better than his Da." Marri said with a grin towards her youngest.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's still hard to believe you managed to make him settle down. He was still in the prime of his wandering when we first met," Kjotva chuckled, fondly stroking back Seamus' hair. Of course Marri had long since hear of Sigmund and Kollr's deaths, but it was becoming apparent that Kjotva was expecting, even though it was odd for a woman to still be having children past forty.

 

[heartofcourage]

"i always told him that one day he would decide that setting down roots was important. He decided after Seamus that he was ready. He and Gabriel still travel every so often so it's not exactly gone away." Marri said as she glanced towards Durban doting on Elise.