To Capture a Captain's Heart (closed)

[KieranSoares]

Christopher watched their two hounds with a smile, especially when Hrolf let his head rest on his bigger brother's back. He then glanced down over the edge of the balcony rail beside his seat and he chuckled softly. "Love... look."

Down below in the garden, Ulfric and Kjotva were sitting close together on a stone bench, sharing a long, warm and passionate kiss, an affection they never shared in front of other people as they were too focused on their jobs and their appearances as people not to be trifled with.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, they can't tease us about being old romantics anymore." Kayla said with a laugh as she watched the two of them rekindling their romance. "I'm happy for the both of them. After so much sadness and tragedy, they have found happiness."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll be sure to tease them about it later," Christopher said with a nod before lounging back in his seat. Hrolf decided Christopher moving around was interesting, and came snuffling around Christopher's hands for an explanation. "What? Didn't I give you enough attention yesterday?" Christopher chuckled as Hrolf let his paws rest in Christopher's lap, tongue lolling out as his ears were scratched. Skoll got jealous and came looking for attention from Kayla.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Skoll, you get to lounge around inside all day. Don't come looking for love from me." Kayla said with a laugh as she scratched her dog's ears and chin until he was practically purring and whining in pleasure. "These two are far worse than children."

 

[KieranSoares]

"But they're pretty handy when it counts," Christopher reminded her. Skoll was the great protector while Hrolf's strength lay in speed. They'd already saved one guard who'd passed out at his post from locking his knees and the man had hit his head hard enough to have a concussion and need immediate help.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I suppose." Kayla said as she scratched under Skoll's chin again, the dog's back leg thumping against the ground in joy. "I want to take all the little ones into Trondheim tomorrow. We can have a picnic and I can buy them little gifts at the market."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll keep the men occupied. I'm sure their mothers'll want t'go with 'em. It'll be a good chance t'talk with yer brothers."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Show them your horses and then take them to the garrison. They would enjoy looking at that." She said with a smile as Christopher seemed to be so comfortable around her family.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll have Ulfric along to talk too," Christopher thought aloud just as Hrolf abandoned him and came to Kayla for attention too, seeing his brother so happy at her side. "Traitor," Christopher chuckled.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You'll find that everyone loves me more." Kayla said with a smile as she gave both dogs the attention that they craved. "But I will always love you the most, Christopher."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I suppose that makes me feel a little better," Christopher muttered with a chuckle as Hrolf got even more jealous and it broke out into a playful tussle between the two dogs at Kayla's feet.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You are the kindest, most understanding man that I have ever had the privilege of knowing." Kayla said softly as she nuzzled against her husband's throat. "I have no doubt that if we lived on your little farm in Ireland and I were nothing but your wife, you would make sure that I had everything that I wanted."

 

[KieranSoares]

Christopher felt a warmth settle over him at hearing his wife's absolute trust and confidence in him. "But now we live in a castle and you do all that for me and so many other people. And you amaze me to no end."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know how much your horses mean to you." Kayla said softly as he mentioned that she had done so much for him. "And I want you to be happy here in Norway."

 

[KieranSoares]

"And I am. Are you?" He asked, having not asked her that question in quite some time. He took her hand in both his own and pressed a kiss to it.

 

[heartofcourage]

"In spite of everything...yes." Kayla said softly as he took her hands in his own and kissed them gently. "When we have that baby, I know I will be even happier."

Never if they had a baby. It was always when. She knew sooner or later she would have a child that they would both be proud of.

 

[KieranSoares]

Christopher could only kiss Kayla in answer, hoping and praying on the inside that his beloved wife could have her wish before too long.

 

[heartofcourage]

The next day Kayla was up bright and early, excited to be taking her nieces and nephews to the town square for good food and trinkets to take home with them of their visit to Norway. Her mother and Vincenzo were along with her as the ushered all of them out of the front gate along with their mothers. She took the opportunity to carry Kate on her hip, pointing out all the sights to them as they walked in a group with a guard towards the market.

"Papa, we have a vendor from Venice that you might know. His name is Enzo." Kayla said as she looked over at her father with a smile. "He sells beautiful silks and velvet."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Enzo Carillio," Vincenzo nodded. "People used to mix us up all the time for our similar names." He smiled at the memories of his younger days in Venice, but he looked forward to possibly seeing his old friend.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Enzo Carillio," Vincenzo nodded. "People used to mix us up all the time for our similar names." He smiled at the memories of his younger days in Venice, but he looked forward to possibly seeing his old friend.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I knew that you would know him." She said with a smile as she steered all of them towards the little restaurant that she had Christopher had come across shortly after their wedding.

The women who owned it welcomed them all warmly and Kayla smiled brightly at the way that her family felt instantly at home. She sat down with everyone and laughed as the children all asked questions about what the food was like.

"It's different than home, but they have some of the best sweets in all of Europe here." Kayla informed them.

 

[KieranSoares]

Once the children old enough to walk had scampered off with a coin each for sweets, guided by the older few, their mothers settled with mugs of fresh and sweet hot cider to watch over them. For all of the mothers, being so far from the familiar was not uncomfortable at all, but young Burke seemed to be the only child feeling out of place. He returned to Dylandra silently, leaning against her side. He was a brave boy for his age, but he still had abandonment issues from a past Dylandra didn't know much about yet, and when he was in an unfamiliar environment, he clung to Dylandra's side far more than Ashien.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylandra never once made her son feel out of place when he was feeling vulnerable. She passed Ashleigh to Kayla and scooped Burke up to snuggled with him. Once he was settled in her lap and she had her arms wrapped around him, she whispered a few things against his ear to gauge what he was feeling. He might have been getting too old for that kind of treatment, but he seemed to flourish when she did.

"Would you like Mama to go with you?" She murmured softly. "Or would you like to save your coin and get something in the market? Your Da especially loves chocolate cake."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll save it," he murmured. "I don't like candy much." He'd never had a sweet tooth, that was for sure. So Ashien had often gotten him other things as treats, like specially smoked meats or spiced drinks and special salty herb bread from London's markets back home.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Alright, love." Dylan said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Aunt Kayla said that there is a vendor in the market from Italy. Maybe he has some olives and bread that you like so much."

Kayla smiled as she watched Dylan's calm manner with Burke, incredibly patient with the child that seemed so haunted and shy. Burke obviously adored his mother, holding her close as if she could disappear at any moment. She was happy to watch Ashleigh in the mean time, giving the little girl all of the love and attention that she possibly could.