Claymore and Dagger Pt.2

Fiona kept Sam’s intense gaze as her father walked her down the aisle to the sounds of drum and fife. He was always so intense but she had to grin as she saw his small smile. He was enjoying the moment, surprisingly calm as she stepped up next to him and he hugged her father before he went to take his seat.

“You look handsome.” Fiona said, earning a chuckle from both Taqu’un and Rho who were close enough to hear her.

Will was too busy looking serious as he held Sam’s wedding band in his pocket for Fiona. Taking the moment before Taqu’un started speaking, Fiona glanced around at those gathered, soaking in the scene. She was happy to see them all gathered, her family and his own. Ashien and Kayla had both been able to make it in spite of the vicious war. Dylandra held her husband’s hand tightly as if he might disappear any moment and Kayla looked exhausted from the long trip, but happy to watch her nephew finally get his chance at happiness.

A small rumble made her look to the side, grinning as she saw their drakes sitting off to the side, Kennah soothing Elin as Roman watched everything serenely with Kesh at his other side. It seemed that everyone that they needed was there.

Sam's gaze followed Fiona's, looking over the kin who'd gathered just for them. Even Suara and Vincenzo had made the trek with the help of drakes and helpful family members. Suara had, however, left the officiating to Taqu'un. Though Sam and Fiona were a part of her tribe, the Lunars had just as big a part to play in Inverness' future and they had all agreed all three settlements should be well-represented.

Taqu'un began speaking, merging ancient tribal tradition with modern wedding vows. He leaned toward the Erygonian side, the lesser known traditions. But even Fiona would recognize the common Lunar and Erygonian act of binding the wrists with colored ribbons, each representing a promise between herself and her husband-to-be. As Taqu'un spoke, all else was silent, and Sam gave Fiona's hand a gentle squeeze even as he held Taqu'un's gaze.

Fiona listened intently to Taqu’un when the ceremony began. She had been working hard to learn the languages of the tribes but she still needed Sam to translate quite often for her. As Taqu’un door, switching between both English, Lunar, and Erygonian, she understood large potions of what he was saying. She squeezed Sam’s hand in return, letting him know that she was thinking about him just as much as he was about her.

Soon the rings were brought out, but would not be placed on their hands til the ribbons were cut. As Taqu'un opened up a decorated box, he produced from it a silver dagger and placed Sam and Fiona's hands around it. "Now... If you do vow to uphold these vows of loyalty, care, protection, partnership, and trust, if you do vow to support one another in weakness, illness, times of strife, and even when wealth and title fail, you may sever these physical bonds, for your partnership is one which far transcends this mortal coil, and you, Your Majesty," Taqu'un smiled to Fiona, "may kiss your husband."

At that, Sam's eyes turned to Fiona, taking hold of the ribbons to help her pull them taut, but he awaited her lead in severing them.

Fiona glanced towards Sam with a smile as Taqu'un pronounced that she could kiss her husband once the bonds were severed. With his help, she pulled the sharp ceremonial dagger through the different colored laces. She couldn't help it as she reached up with her now freed hand and touched his cheek, bringing him down for a lovely kiss as the family around them applauded and cheered.

When the kiss ended, she took the ring from Will and placed it on Sam's finger, the dulled metal still shining in the light. She had it specially made, just like the one she had given him before their tribal ceremony, hammered and decorated with Erygonian language which professed her undying love and support for him.

Rho tucked Fiona's ring into Sam's hand without interrupting the moment, and Sam slipped it onto Fiona's finger as their lips parted. Hers matched his own in style, but he'd engraved four Erygonian vows: trust, love, patience, and understanding. Those had been the three greatest hurdles Sam had faced in accepting a partner into his life, and while he would never consider himself perfect, he had come a long way in affording those not just to Fiona, but to all the people he cared for. It was a promise not to run from his problems, to confide in her, to always listen even in disagreements, and to be supportive even in difficult times when he might not be able to understand her experiences or feelings. In short, it was a promise to continually improve, even if that progress was slow.

As Sam gazed down at her when their lips parted, it was as if he'd forgotten the rest of the world for a few seconds. He smiled, a joyful grin that Fiona had rarely seen, and he wrapped her up in his arms for another, much longer kiss that brought about joyous laughter and cheers from their family.

There would be time to study her new wedding ring later and reflect on the trust and love that her put in her, but for the moment, Fiona was more struck by the look on Sam's face. She had never seen him more open and honest, the wide grin on his lips making him look so incredibly handsome and free. She would never know it as he wrapped her in his arms and brought her in for another longer kiss, but the moment had actually brought Julia to tears.

Julia wrapped her arm about Brogan's, pressing her cheek against her husband as she watched the child that she most worry about grin like a love struck fool and celebrate with the woman that he adored. The tears came freely for her as the rest of the family cheered Sam on, each having their own reaction to the moment.

"Thank God." Julia whispered to Brogan, glancing up at him with a smile on her lips that told him of her immense relief.

As Julia looked up, she would see a single tear escape and streak down Brogan's cheek. The son he'd perhaps worked hardest on, the one he'd had to drag to duels to wear down and break just to get a moment of true emotion and explanation, the one who had Inverness in his hands now, was finally set on a good path for sure.

"Thank ya, Ma," Brogan whispered, remembering that it had been Kitty all along who saw this potential in Sam, even when his own parents feared he might be emotionless at best for the rest of his life. "Still a long way t'go... But our lad's turned away from all tha' misery fer good," he murmured.

When their kiss broke, Fiona was left staring up at her husband with a love struck smile. She absolutely adored Sam, even when he was being infuriatingly stubborn. Her arms were looped around his neck as she nuzzled against him for a moment.

"Do you promise to kiss me like that more often?" She whispered against his ear to draw out another one of those rare grins.

"Only on special occasions," he teased softly, stealing another kiss before turning with her to face the crowd and the Riders that lined either side of the aisle. They had their spears and shields at attention, saluting for the couple to make their way down the center.

Fiona was touched at the display that their fellow riders were giving them. They were all fiercely independent, but it seemed that they were going to do their level best to welcome to newest members of their group in as well as they could. Squeezing Sam's hand as they walked through the center of the riders, she grinned at each one that they passed.

She couldn't help but glance back up at Sam, taking in the moment for everything that it was worth. He was truly happy. This is what she had wanted for so long. She wanted him to smile and mean it. While his face was still as serious as could be, he was relaxed and that small smile wasn't going anywhere that day.

The lines of Riders saluted smartly as Sam and Fiona passed by. The dragons gathered alongside drake-drawn carts while the crowd of family members applauded and cheered. But then, Making and a number of others his age in the family began scampering through with crates full of tankards and goblets, followed by others with bottles of wine, champagne, and cordial for the young.

"Before we go!" Brogan bellowed above the noise, smiling brightly despite tears in his eyes. Sam paused and turned, confused at what his father had planned. Decorated silver chalices were placed in Sam and Fiona's hands and filled with champagne from the Ghis vineyard in Normandy, brought up by Seamus with his family seeking safety from the war.

"Samuel Durban Ghis, Fiona Margaret Blackstone," Brogan's voice quieted the crowd as everyone looked on happily. Brogan came down the aisle with Julia's arm in his own and each with a goblet. "Osra'am and Ionnin... King and Queen of Inverness Clan an' Inverlochly. With your blessin', I'd like t'make three toasts." His smile softened at Sam's own and a nod. Brogan turned to raise his chalice toward the ancient tree that stood over them all, bare but beautiful in the cold with it's ribbons and little bells beginning to tinkle in the breeze. "To Aodh and Dianh, founder o' Clan Inverness an' Clan Ghis. The only ones left who still live to remember them as people are this beautiful ol' tree, an' our very own Lady Invah Kyre. But their legend lives on as long as Inverness stands. And so may yours, our beloved moon an' our new little kit. To you, Sam an' Fiona, for bein' our new star o' hope in a dark time. For growin' into powerful, loving, compassionate rulers when years ago, some may never 'ave thought you'd be anywhere close t' what you are now. An' last but certainly no' least... To Katherine Lucina Ghis, the Lady McTavish of Skye made Queen of Inverness an' matriarch to this family over fifty years... She may be long gone now... But this," Brogan looked over his clan, tears brimming again, "this is what she wanted. Not jus' for our Samuel, but everyone here an' every Ghis after us. Every love story, every wedding, every birth of a little lad 'r lass t' loving parents in this family... That's all thanks to her and the storm she guided us through, an' all she ever wanted for anyone she loved. The Ghis line nearly ended with Tamblin Courser Ghis the Second. But thanks to her love, her children live, her husband knew redemption in th'end, and today, even war can't stop the Ghis Clan from celebrating th'most beautiful things in life. So to her, to Dianh and Aodh, and to Sam and Fiona!"

A deafening cheer arose from the clan as glasses were raised, praise was shouted, and drinks were shared. Sam held his father's gaze for a long moment, and though it was too loud to hear him speak, Sam's lips could be read to say, "To Gran," before he drank, his arm wrapping around Fiona's waist after.

Fiona was surprised when activity suddenly started to happen around them, a chalice pressed into her hands full of champagne before the child moved on to the next person. She glanced up at Sam in confusion as Brogan's voice boomed over the crowd and he bade them all to join him in a toast. She listened with a small smile on her face as he included those that had long been gone in his toast and then one for her and Sam. When he spoke of Kitty, Fiona felt Sam tense the slightest bit beside her and she glanced up at her husband. She knew he missed his Gran terribly, and if there were someone that he would have wanted there above all others, it would have been her.

As the crowd cheered at the end of the speech, Fiona felt herself drawn against Sam's side as he wrapped his arm around her waist, softly murmuring an agreement to his grandmother as they both drank. She thought about her own grandfather, Ephriam, the one man that she would have wanted there as well. He had always believed that she would rise above her station and become whatever she wanted to be. He would have been so proud to see his little kit now.

"We'll do something for her later. Just the two of us." Fiona said softly, looking up at Sam with that little promise.

"We can't let our Da have all of the glory today!" Kate called out over the clamor of the crowd, the smallest Ghis stepping forward with a slumbering Prince on one shoulder and her glass of wine in the other.

The queen of Scotland was dressed in her royal colors, her tiara left far behind in exchange for the much lighter circlet which she wore on most occasions. In spite of her small stature, she still commanded a crowd with the best of them, a skill learned from her father.

"Samuel Durban Ghis, your siblings would like you to know that we are beyond happy that you finally found someone to tame your stubborn nature and make you see that life doesn't need to be all rules, regulations, and serious contemplation. When you were young, you were one of the biggest hell raisers that Inverness had seen outside of Uncle Boar, but all of that changed in an instant. We lost that Sam forever, but the one that we were given was just as good if a bit more tragic. Today, however, like Rho told me earlier this morning, our Sam is back. So, our toast is to Fiona, for making you a love sick fool." Kate said, raising her own glass as the rest of the clan joined in on the joke and toasted Fiona as well.

Sam chuckled softly at Kate as she spoke, and he stepped forward to wrap an arm around her and kiss her forehead while the clan laughed and cheered. Sam himself finally spoke as he stepped back to Fiona's side. "To all o' you, then. For seein' us this far, an' so much more than that. And..." he looked to Fiona, and then to her family. "To the Blackstones and the Voya, our newest kin. And Ephriam, who deserves th'same kind o' credit as my Gran. They're why Fiona and I even had a chance t'be here, together."

Fiona grinned as he toasted her family and her grandfather, including them in the moment just as his family had his gran. It meant the world to her that he was thinking of them in that moment.

“Can we please head back to the keep before we all freeze to death?” Kate asked at the end of the toasting, giving her brother a grin. “You’ll make Chessie cross by keeping her from serving lunch.”

"I figure another hour's in order," Sam teased his sister with a smile. "But if you want t'spoil the fun as usual..."

Slowly the crowd began to disperse, some taking their own mounts back toward the keep and some climbing into wagons. Children climbed onto huge sleds pulled by the dragons, and a couple got the chance to sit up with the Riders themselves. Gaiann joined that group while Invah came to carry Sam and Fiona, leading the parade of Ghis and Voya down around the cliff while musicians in the wagons kept playing and wine and cordial were passed around. The common folk waiting below cheered and applauded as the strange parade passed them by. None had ever even imagined the sight of lines of dragons ferrying children along amid horses and drakes and royalty.

Fiona waved to everyone that gathered to watch, grinning like a fool at those that were wishing the king and queen of Inverness the best for their happy marriage.

“I can hardly believe that you’re my husband now.” She said as she looked at Sam for their first private moment since that morning. “It’s like a dream.”

"Believe it. We did it, in spite of everythin'." Sam smiled down at her as she rode side-saddle in front of him. He removed a glove before lifting his hand to her cheek. "You're so.beautiful, Fiona... You look more powerful than any queen."

Leaning her cheek against his warm palm, Fiona looked deeply into her husband's dark green eyes. She could see a wealth of emotion there and she smiled broadly as he confessed that she looked beautiful. She pulled him down for a slow burning kiss, their lips touching and sparks shooting down her spine to the tips of her toes.

"And you look like a dark and handsome knight out of an old fairy tale." She said with a smile as the kiss broke and they were left looking at one another again. "I think Justin did all of this on purpose. He just wanted to create gossip."

"He wanted t'make us look powerful, rather'n the posh style 'e used fer the coronation. Little did 'e know I love seein' you look like th'woman in control." He smirked at that, drawing her closer into his arms.

Upon arriving at the keep, the Clan and kin unloaded and happily brought Sam and Fiona inside to find Chessie had laid out everything and the food had just been put out on trays among bottles of ale, wine, and anything they could all want.

Entering the keep, Fiona was taken back by everything that she saw. The keep had been transformed in the time that she had left that morning. The same motif of nature was reflected in hanging branches wrapped in soft white cloth and bells. It was like Chessie had brought the outdoors inside.

The tiniest members were stationed on a warm blanket in front of the fire, Dana and Brogan squirming to look at Voluun’s youngest cub. Bridget played next to them with a pile of wooden horses that David had given her for her last birthday. The other members of the family all moved to take their seats for the feast.

“Before we go, let’s give out the medals.” Fiona said, pulling Sam towards the alcove where their little gift was hidden.

To honor the guards of the wedding, the riders, Sam’s uncle’s, and Will, they had commissioned a special medal to mark the occasion. The were filled metal, made by a village blacksmith and contained a Ghis bear paw wrapped in a tangle of tree branches.

Sam picked up both of the boxes of medals for her, walking out to the head table and nodding to her to call the people up. He wanted to make a show of it, believing they deserved the attention.

Fiona stood in front of the head table with Sam beside her, holding up her hands to address the crowd. “If I might have your attention.” She called out as the crowd quieted down.

“Sam and I wanted to say thank you for everything that each of you has done to get us to this wonderful moment. I don’t think we could be more pleased with the results.” Fiona started, looking over at Sam with a smile. “However, there ar a few that we wish to acknowledge with a special token of our appreciation.”

Calling those forward that would receive the medals, she saw a lot of looks of trepidation. Many didn’t want to be given something in return for their service, but the royal couple wouldn’t hear of it.

Sam set down the boxes on the table and opened them up, helping Fiona meet the group as they approached. The Riders, Rho, Durban, and Boar were awarded first for being the guardians to the family and the couple, and then Sam called Will up. The boy stood and quickly straightened his uniform as he saw Ciaran watching among many others. He stepped forward, looking professional as he had that entire day. His long hair was trimmed and neatly tied back, his face cleanly shaved as he'd begun to grow a bit of dark facial hair. He looked like a proper soldier in dress uniform, rather than the scruffy youth he really was.

He approached Sam and Fiona, standing at attention before them as he'd seen the Riders and others do, taking his greatest cue from Durban who was the most experienced soldier of them all.

Fiona gave Will a smile as he stopped before herself and Sam, standing tall and trying his hardest to look so much older than his years. She couldn’t help but remember that the stumbling little boy that he’d been when she first found him in the woods over ten years before.

“Your medal comes with something else.” Fiona said as she stepped forward to pin it to his jacket, looking at him with a grin. “A promotion.”