To Capture a Captain's Heart (closed)

[KieranSoares]

When the children all returned with little pouches of sweets, guided by their older siblings and cousins, Marri as the oldest of the mothers took charge reminding them not to eat too much at the risk of getting sick, and got them each a small mug of cider too.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla smiled at all of the action that was going on around her. The little ones were loud, chattering to themselves and their mothers. Kayla soon nodded towards the kitchen, signalling that they were ready for their meal. She couldn't wait to show off to everyone what Norway had to offer. She and Christopher had found joy in exploring the Norwegian culture and it made Trondheim feel more like home.

 

[KieranSoares]

Their meal was brought out on trays and served with absolute precision by the women in charge who wanted to impress their Queen and her family. They seemed to be very good with children too, those among them who could speak English answering every child's questions about the food. Ghis children were not picky eaters, so they dove in whole-heartedly.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla thanked the woman in charge in Norwegian, smiling at her as she retreated to leave them in peace. She confidently held Ashleigh in one arm and ate with her free hand, the child slumbering the entire time. Dylan focused her complete attention on Burke, laughing as he tried the different dishes and seemed to make up his mind what his favorites were.

"Ashien always had his own opinions on food. He had his favorites and foods he would never touch again." Kayla said with a laugh as Dylan rolled her eyes.

"He still does. He's given them to Burke too." Dylan murmured. "Thanks to Kitty, I have a nice little list of things that he will actually eat."

 

[KieranSoares]

"And most of it is Italian food, isn't it?" Vincenzo asked with a grin. "I'm afraid that's my fault, dear Dylandra. Ashien grew up absolutely convinced that he loved everything Mediterranean and Scottish and not much else. Those olives, though... He could eat more in a week than Kitty did the entire time she was carrying him and Kayla."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Luckily Van is there to take care of all of his cravings. I swear that he has more of them then I ever did when I was carrying Ashleigh." Dylan said with a laugh. "He was the one who gained the most weight. He insisted that his child wanted pastas and bread and olives like he had."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Is that why he got so much more brawny, to work off all that food?" Kitty asked, making the others laugh. Ashien had always been tall and very lean, his broad shoulders the only part of him that wasn't lithe and lanky. But taking on drakes down in England was what had really demanded more strength.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I would find he and Burke in the kitchen late at night sharing herbed rolls and talking." Dylan admitted, smiling down at Burke as he smiled fondly at the little memory. "He had to get rid of the belly some way and he decided that it was best if he turned it into muscle."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He didn't get that big, Ma," Burke murmured in his father's defense even though he knew it was all a little game to tease Ashien.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He had a soft little tummy like you have." Dylan said as Burke defended his father. "He certainly was t as big as I was when Ashleigh was in my belly."

 

[KieranSoares]

Burke nodded, satisfied with that answer as the other mothers chuckled at him. Burke adored his parents almost to a fault some days, but he was usually taking Dylandra's side so it was a bit of a change for him to stand on Ashman's side

 

[heartofcourage]

"You Da could eat more than any other child I knew." Kayla said with a grin as Ashleigh nuzzled against her neck. "He also had more energy than he knew what to do with. Horses became his great love and he suddenly knew how to channel all of that energy into something productive."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I like the horses too, but Ma thinks the new drakes are better," Burke commented quietly. Ashien had only recently decided to try his hand at the creatures. With the exception of a couple horses with huge personalities, the drakes were much more her speed being more like Ballas in nature.

 

[heartofcourage]

"That I do. Thought he's just now allowing me around then. He was terrified something would happen to Ashleigh if I rode while pregnant with her. The drakes have been nothing but big softies since they were brought to the new stable." Dylan said with a smile as she kissed the top of Burke's head in silent encouragement to keep talking when he felt like it.

 

[KieranSoares]

"We wanted to bring Salish, but he wouldn't have been able to take such a long boat ride," Burke added. Salish was Ashien's prized Mediterranean stud, but he was really Dylandra's drake now.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Ballas barely made it on the boat himself. He was nearly as green as I was the entire voyage." Dylan said as Burke seemed to warm up to his large family.

 

[KieranSoares]

Burke could only chuckle at that, remembering Ballas stumbling around on deck and sleeping constantly like Dylandra. And just as they'd begun to get used to it, they'd arrived in Norway. The journey home would be easier, but only barely.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla smiled towards her nephew, snuggling with Ashleigh as much as she could. She knew her mother and Vincenzo looked at her with concern. She would be alright. Her bruised and aching heart would heal in time and she would have the little family that she so sorely wanted.

 

[KieranSoares]

When they all eventually returned to the castle after spending most of the day out exploring, they found the men enjoying some friendly sparring. Just as they arrived, they found Christopher and Durban facing off and Christopher was defending himself well and holding his own. The only problem was that he couldn't land a single hit on Durban in return.

 

[heartofcourage]

The children seemed to be in awe of watching their father's fighting in friendly ways. Those old enough to understand stood at the fence and watch. Little Burke, training to be his father's squire, scurried off to help him with equipment.

"Come on, Chris. If you can't land a hit, perhaps I should give it a go." Kayla called out with a grin to her husband.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'd like to see you try!" Chris called out just before Durban disarmed him and knocked him flat on his back.

"Care t'give it a try, love?" Durban asked, picking up Christopher's wooden sword.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Absolutely." Kayla said with a grin as she entered the area and took the sword from her brother. "I expect you won't go easy on me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Not after findin' out y'beat a swordsman a decade older'n you," Durban chuckled warmly before taking a couple steps back and getting a little lower. He was a balanced fighter, but brutally strong. He'd once hated even practice fighting because of the bone-breaking training Tamblin had forced on him all his young life. Now, however, it was an enjoyable sport even after all the wars and battles he'd been in, because it was the only kind of play he really knew.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, I did have my husband there to coach me through." Kayla said as she glanced towards Christopher, taking her sword and taking up a defensive position.

She had decided to let her brother strike first, waiting to see what kind of a fighter he truly was.

 

[KieranSoares]

In his many years of learning the art of battle at home and abroad, Durban had long since learned never to underestimate anyone smaller or younger than himself. He'd also learned not to waste all his energy immediately. He circled Kayla slowly, trying a couple test-swings and lunges to see what his sister's form was like because he'd never fought with her before.