To Capture a Captain's Heart (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"You have advisors and officers for this sort of thing. We can take care of things while you enjoy yourself," Ulfric reminded her, but he knew he'd never win, he could only try to lighten her load as much as possible even with Novgorod on their minds.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know that, but a good ruler knows what is going on within their kingdom, no matter what is going on." Kayla countered, giving him a grin. "You'll never tell me otherwise either. You will have to be the one to slow down first. Kjotva and that little one on the way deserve all of your attentions for a while."

 

[KieranSoares]

"And they'll have all my attention when the time comes. No sooner," Ulfric insisted. Kjotva wouldn't let him baby her anyway. She'd beat him up if he tried. She was still very much a Queen in her own right, but above all, she was a self-sufficient woman born of two self-sufficient cultures and she had no time to be treated like a fragile little lady.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You know that she secretly enjoys what you do for her." Kayla insisted, laughing at the look on Ulfric's face. "We saw you kissing in the garden. She certainly didn't look like a strong, independent woman in that moment."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Just because she can't resist my charms doesn't mean she's not independent. And don't tell her I said that." Ulfric smiled to himself and went on his way.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla laughed softly as she walked around the great hall and checked that every detail was perfect. When it came to her family she wanted them to be happy and have a memorable time. That was very important to her. When she finished looking at the table settings, she paused to see Christopher enter the hall.

"Care for a dance, Captain?" She asked with a smile towards her husband.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It would be a pleasure, milady," he offered his hand with a handsome grin, escorting her out to the open floor. Christopher was proud of his dance form, and could soundly trounce Kayla's brothers when he wanted to.

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's been a while since we danced." Kayla said with a sigh as she took her husband's hand and let him pull her onto the floor.

The musicians struck a tune that allowed the two of them to dance without a care. Kayla was beaming as she looked into Christopher's eyes, her heart and soul in his hands.

 

[KieranSoares]

"You know I love to dance with you, and I'll gladly waltz you around the entire castle if you like," Christopher reminded her with a grin. Their dance form together was perhaps the most beautiful proof of their flawless teamwork, and it was because both knew when to let the other lead.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You've been slacking in your duties, Captain." Kayla said with a laugh as they danced flawlessly. "I demand more moments like this in our lives."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Only because I'm busy attending to all my other duties, my Queen," he assured her, spinning her gracefully with a single, confident hand.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla smiled and laughed as her husband twirled her across the floor, spinning her with one hand as their gentle teasing continued. "Well, maybe I could be convinced to let it slide this once. I know how terribly busy your queen keeps you."

 

[KieranSoares]

As the tune came to an end, Christopher drew Kayla in close, sneaking a kiss before the last note faded. It wasn't often that they showed their love in the open, but with only family and friends around, there was no worry of that love being considered weakness or being used against them.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla hugged her husband tightly as he stole that kiss, letting her know that she was on his mind. She smiled as she rested her head against his chest, the sounds in the hall becoming louder as her family joined them for dinner. She didn't let Christopher go any time soon, though. She simply hugged him until she had gotten her fill and then let him lead her to her seat.

 

[KieranSoares]

As Kayla took her usual place at the center of the large table overlooking the rest of the hall, Christopher made sure Kitty had a seat beside her not unlike Kitty did in Inverness beside Brogan. It was just the way of the Ghis to seat their matriarch beside whichever child was hosting them all. Instead of having the big table for just Kayla and those closest, the serving staff had moved the table down the small steps to the main floor and added two more tables so the family could all be together, and there was an open space in the middle of the horseshoe where they could dance when they felt like it.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla had a silly smile on her face as her Ma leaned in and kissed her cheek with a fondness that made her heart clench. She had missed her mother greatly and having her there at that moment made everything seem alright in the world.

"I'm glad you came." Kayla said, knowing just how much it took to get her mother healthy enough for the long trip to Norway. "You and Papa both."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We couldn't very well say no to your Captain's request," Kitty insisted. "Then we brought the whole lot. And I knew you had to see Ash's little girl before she got too big, Burke too, and you had to meet Alex."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Ashleigh is as sweet as they come...if we can get Ash to stop worrying over her. He'll drive Dylan crazy by the time she's a year old at this rate." Kayla murmured, glancing towards her brother with a smile. "He's waited for a long time for a family of his own."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She's definitely what he needed," Kitty said with a nod. "You know he hasn't needed those herbs to sleep even once ever since Dylandra told him she was pregnant?" Ashien had used the herbs on and off when things got tough and insomnia or memories caught up to him, but Ashleigh had made him far more concerned with being healthy so he could tend to her and her mother.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He just needed someone to worry about. Everyone needs someone to keep them honest. Christopher makes sure that I'm well cared for and I do the same for him. One day, we'll both have a little one to focus on." Kayla said as she glanced towards her Ma. "I have to believe that one day we'll have that baby. If not, I think I would fade away."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You will, love. I know it," Kitty assured her. "And you know your Ma is never wrong."

The next day, things got a little more serious as Kayla and her two eldest brothers and her twin sat to discuss what was going on between the Triad and the Rus. They awaited Kayla to speak first about what had happened.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Someone in my inner circle is giving away my secrets." Kayla admitted softly. "Spies in the castle are telling other kings about what has happened and they are using that knowledge against me. We had an understanding with the Rus and I have no want to go to war again."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, from what I understan', th' Rus supports you," Durban murmured. "Monomakh's at peace with th'Triad. It's Novgorod an' its supporters tha' want t'fight. Th'reason they want th'Triad is because you could swing th'fight in their favor. They're probably tryin' t'get other surroundin' countries t'join them as we speak."

"Monomakh's the one tha' has the majority vote an' the love of 'is people. Regardless o' tradition, tha's a leader. This other prince... 'e 'as no claim, an' no' a lot o' love outside Novgorod. The Rus needs someone the common people want. If there's a choice t'swing the fight in someone's favor, Kay, I'd say do what's best fer th'people, no' the leaders, treaties an' agreements aside," Brogan advised.

"And Novogorod's already placed spies and threats on you," Ashien added. "That's no ally, love."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We've been through too much." Kayla said softly, looking at her brothers and her husband. "How can I ask them to pick up arms again? It would make me no better than Olaf."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You've always been better than tha' bastard, Kay. He fought fer th'sake of it an' let 'is people starve. Ye've been buildin' this country from the bottom up an' war 'asn't touched its shores even though y'had t'fight t'get Kjotva back," Brogan reasoned.

"We're trying to secure our borders and our allies' borders, love. And if we have help from the rest of the Rus and the Triad, it won't take much," Christopher offered, trying to meet a middle ground between all-out war and peace.