To Capture a Captain's Heart (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Kayla knew not to take the bait as her brother swung a few practice swings towards her. It would tire her out before she got into the heat of battle. She would bide her time against him, watching him closely. He was much like Christopher in form and power, even stronger and taller than her husband, however. She could learn a lot from that.

 

[KieranSoares]

When Durban finally set in properly, he adjusted his style to Kayla's own in order to beat her at her own game. Slowly but surely, he went from the typical style of the Ghis claymore-wielders to the light-footed stance of a fencer, wielding with one hand to leave the other free for balance or catching Kayla if she got too close.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're more fleet footed than I would have thought, old man." Kayla teased as they sparred, laughing softly as they each changed their style to suit the other.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ol' man? 'Ave you been takin' lessons from Marri?" Durban chuckled before leaping forward in a beautiful lunge.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla blocked his lunge and moved backwards, grinning at him as he teased her. "Nah. I've always thought that you were an old man. I didn't need anyone to tell me that."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Keep talkin', li'l lass," Durban smirked and finally landed a good hit on her arm. "Tha's one limb fer me. What've ya got t'show for it, kid?"

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla rubbed at the sore spot on her arm, watching her brother grin and tease her. She shrugged slightly and then lunged herself, striking him against the side, forcing him backwards slightly.

 

[KieranSoares]

Durban grunted quietly in answer, but now the game became a little more serious and they were soon practically dancing, trading blows and parries like a deadly waltz to music no one else could hear. It was almost cooperative, until one or the other took a hit and remembered this was a fight. A play-fight, but a fight no less.

 

[heartofcourage]

As the time wore on and Kayla grew tired, she took a step away from her brother and panted heavily. "Truce?" She asked him, leaning on her wooden sword as she looked at him from across the sparing ground.

 

[KieranSoares]

Durban finally lowered his own blade, just as winded as their siblings looked on in astonishment that it had ended in a draw. "Yeah, love. Think I'd rather use an axe next time, though."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Unfair. I don't know the finer points of wielding an ax." Kayla said with a grin towards her eldest brother. "My husband barely lets me train with a blade."

"Burke. Show your Uncle Durban what your Da has been teaching you." Dylandra encouraged her shy son to open up a little bit and show off the skills that he had slowly been learning as a squire in training.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Nah, you can still use th'sword. I jus' want an axe fer fightin' you," he chuckled. Kayla was the kind of opponent he'd want to get rid of quickly in battle or she'd wear him down til someone picked him off.

When Burke nervously stepped up, Durban gave him a smile. "C'mon, lad. Bet you can outdo yer aunt an' beat me."

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan smiled at Ashien as he stepped beside her to watch their son show his uncle his skills. She could feel Ashien puffing up in pride at the sight of the little boy that he adored and shared so much with showing him the different positions shyly, but with confidence.

"Look at him, love." Dylan murmured softly as she cuddled Ashleigh against her chest, the little girl slumbering since they left the market. "A little boy that should make you very proud."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Much more and I'll be too proud for my own good," Ashien murmured, laughing as Durban had Burke take a swing and Durban overacted the hit and fell over quite on purpose. Before he could get up, he was swarmed by the other children.

 

[heartofcourage]

"All those late night's together while I was in bed, eating bread and olives and talking about strategy have done him well." Dylan teased, kissing Ashien's cheek as Burke landed the hit and the other children swarmed on their brawny uncle. "I told your Ma about your new muscles. How you indulged a little too much."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I didn't indulge too much, I just didn't work it off properly," he insisted, still fairly embarrassed of the short period he'd been a touch unfit. It had never been anything terribly noticeable, but it was enough for the soldier to feel a little guilty.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Every new father goes through the same." Dylan said with a smile. "You are no different, Ashien Vincent."

Kayla watched her brother and his lovely wife from a distance, the children making all sorts of noise as they played with Durban while their parents all watched. It warmed her heart, but also made her slightly sad at the same time. When she felt an arm snake around her waist, she looked up at Christopher and knew that she didn't have to hide her thoughts from him.

"Maybe tonight we can try again." She said softly, knowing that every chance that they had needed to count.

 

[KieranSoares]

Christopher kissed her cheek, drawing her in a little closer with a smile. "I'll take it as an excuse to romance you." He gave her a proper kiss and decided to have a little fun with it to cheer her up, whispering against her ear, "I'll romance you until you can't see straight, love..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Chris." Kayla murmured, blushing red as he whispered against her ear and kissed her soundly. "You don't have to romance me."

Of course, she didn't mind when he turned on the charm either. She adored her husband and it was absolutely no secret that she would move the earth for him.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Of course I do," he insisted, "or else it's not making love. It's just a chore." He sneaked a kiss to her neck then, knowing that teasing her in broad daylight was a fantastic opportunity.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Heaven forbid that making love becomes a chore." Kayla said softly as her husband pressed a kiss against her sensitive throat. "We will try our best to make sure that doesn't happen."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Tonight then, love," Christopher murmured before one last kiss. Once Marri and Julia managed to rescue Durban, they all headed inside to wash up. Ulfric had arranged for musicians to play over dinner, and they were just arriving and getting set up as they entered.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla was impressed with the dinner that Ulfric had put together for her family. She smiled as she came up to his side before the dinner started and pressed a kiss against his cheek.

"Thank you for this, Ulfric." Kayla murmured against her adviser's cheek. "After all of this, I'm going to insist that you take some time off and go exploring with Kjotva."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I spend plenty of time doing that already, dear," Ulfric assured her, kissing her cheek in return. "Go on and enjoy yourself. I have everything handled for now."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I want the morning dispatches on my desk. I'll look them over tomorrow." Kayla insisted, giving him a smile to tell him that she wouldn't be resting even if her family was there in Norway. "There is still much to be done, especially where the Rus are concerned. I want to make sure that everything is going smoothly."