A Place Of Ones Own (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"That's not funny, David." She murmured, turning to look at Ferrous. "Stay still. I'm going to send for help."

She reached up and grabbed the horses's lead, spinning him in the direction of the keep. Removing her short sword, she swatted his flank with the flat of her sword, sending him racing to help.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ferrous did not argue now, he hurried for all he was worth, forgetting about the battle entirely. Ciaran came running outside, seeing Annie galloping toward the keep. "What's wrong? Where's David?" Upon her explanation, he gathered two other men to help him, but just as they brought out the wagon to go pick David up for a less jarring and safer ride, David came riding in on his horse at a walk, hunched over and cradling his ribs and lower chest and trying to keep himself from jarring too much. He gave them all a smile, clearly in massive amounts of pain, and he slid down from his saddle. He didn't get anywhere near landing on his feet and fell on his side instead. Thankfully it was his unhurt side.

 

[heartofcourage]

"David!" Annie called out as he fell from the saddle once more. "I told you to stay put! Why d&d t you listen?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"With the exception of this... I could make it back just fine on my own," he struggled to speak, and it was clear that he was unable to breathe properly. The two men picked him up between them and carried him inside. Ferrous gently nudged Annie's hand, his ears laid back and his head low, seeking forgiveness.

 

[heartofcourage]

Annie watched as the men took her stubborn husband into the keep, her attention taken by the great black warhorse that nudged her. She turned to look at the beast and let out a sigh as she rested her hand on his forehead.

"I simply ask that you listen to me. I don't ask for much." Annie murmured.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ferrous tucked his head under her arm, and it seemed that finally, the horse's training was complete. He loved Annie and David, and having hurt David broke his heart. He didn't dare disobey for fear of hurting them again.

 

[heartofcourage]

Annie knew that the horse was hers when he flattened his ears and tucked his great head under her arm. She let out a sigh and stroked his mane as she felt someone come up behind her. Looking over her shoulder, she smiled to see her Da.

"How is Ma?" She asked him softly, taking Ferrous by the lead and pulling him closer.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Exhausted an' not too happy with you kids... but she's alright," Brogan nodded to her, patting Ferrous' neck before wrapping an arm around her and kissing her cheek. "So aside from David bein' reckless... how about you?" He already knew what had happened.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll be alright." Annie said softly, leaning her head on her father's broad shoulder. "I just wish this fight were done. It makes no sense to me to stop in the middle of the battle and come back another day."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know it doesn' seem t'make sense... yer mother an' grandparents raised ya Christian, I remember. Y'never took part in any o' the Lunasian celebrations. Not really." Brogan kissed her cheek and made his way inside as well.

 

[heartofcourage]

Annie watched her father go back inside, thinking about what he had said. Even her wedding to David hadn't had anything other than a Christian service. Perhaps she would never understand what was going on between the two different tribes. With a sigh, she pulled Ferrous towards home and the stables. Once they were there, she pulled off his saddle and set about brushing down his dark hair.

 

[KieranSoares]

David had to remain in the keep for the night, but the next morning after sunrise, the town was suddenly lit up with joy and energy brought by the Lunars. The Lunasian humans always celebrated the Lunar Spring Festival, but the Lunar people brought something special with their deep understanding of the old ways and their natural way of living. They brought out drums and flutes and made do with what they had for food and decoration. It was especially good for the children of Inverness who'd been living in fear of the unknown, some having been left sad and lonely if their fathers had been wounded or killed. It was almost magical, how these natural people brought such primal joy. It even reached the non-Lunasians, who were welcomed to join in just for the fun and to celebrate the coming of spring.

When Annie was tending the horses that morning, a small werecat boy with black fur came to the barn door and called in softly, "Excuse me, Mrs. Shenandoah." He spoke fine English for a Lunar boy. "Captain Oless wanted to welcome the Ghis family to the celebration, so he sent me to tell you." In his hands, the boy had a basket with a loaf of what the Lunars called 'agolim' or sweet bread made with apples and raisins and cinnamon. He held up the basket for her. It'd come as a gift from Lir's family.

 

[heartofcourage]

Annie hummed softly to herself as she fed the horses in her stable, setting Ferrous out to roam in the paddock to work out his energy. She was just giving the last bucket of oats to her pregnant mare when she heard someone call her name. She turned and looked at the black werecat.

"Thank you." She said softly as she took the basket from him with a smile. "I will be there as soon as my chores are done."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll let them know," he nodded and hurried along back to his own horse outside. But it wasn't long before Ciaran came along, and without a word, he joined her in her work. Her relationship with her brother had always been a quiet one. They'd always simply understood each other and could often communicate without speaking or even making eye contact, not much unlike Rho and Sam, but their bond was special. Even though Annie was almost eight years older, Ciaran had gotten her through the harder times in her life simply by being there. He had made the bond between Julia and Annie the bond of mother and daughter rather than stepmother and stepdaughter. He had accompanied her on a journey to Ireland when she was sixteen to finally ask her grandparents about her mother after she'd gotten up the courage and had few memories.

 

[heartofcourage]

Working with Ciaran, she got her chores done quickly. All of the horses were fed, grazing on grass or resting in the paddock. She sat down on a bench outside the stables to catch her breath. It was getting warm and she wiped her brown with the back of her hand as Ciaran sat down beside her.

"You know, I'm a little angry at you." Annie said softly, looking at her brother with a smile upon her lips. "Why didn't you tell me about Lir? Me, of all people, Ciaran."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I didn't tell anyone," Ciaran shrugged with a sigh. "Kate only knew because she caught me."

Leaning back against the barn wall behind the bench, he lifted his eyes to the sky. "I was afraid to let anyone know... but now... not anymore. I know that, if anyone does have a problem with it, I'm more than willing to defend us, and I know our family will too. I just wish I hadn't doubted my own mother and siblings. I knew Kate would be okay with it, and you would, but I was still scared."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You know Ma would move the moon and stars for you, Ciaran. And Da will protect you until his dying breath." Annie said softly, taking her brother's hand in hers.

She remember when he was born and how tiny he was. It was such a far cry from the giant man that he was today. She had changed his diapers, helped to feed him when her Ma was busy with running the kingdom. She had cared for him nearly every day of his life.

"I insist that you bring Lir for dinner soon. David and I would like to get to know him." She said softly, leaning over to kiss her brother's cheek.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll do that on one condition... you have to come see something with me. Lir's mother Danu raises horses too, and you've got to see them. I think you'll be amazed." He kissed her cheek in return and rose. "She should be working with them right now if you want to stop by before she heads to the Spring Festival in town."

 

[heartofcourage]

Annie chuckled as Ciaran wanted to take her to see horses. He had always been so eager to show her things, especially when it came to horses.

"Alright. Take me to her." Annie said, taking her brother's hand to let him lead the way.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ciaran took her to the west end of the town near the wall, where the Lunars had set up their encampment with hide tents and temporary buildings. On one end they kept their horses, but beyond that was where they found Lir and Danu. Danu was a beauty, though very small, with shimmering mahogany fur like Lir's. When they found the two, Danu had her hands on Lir's cheeks, drawing him down to speak to him in Lunar with a smile before she kissed his forehead. And when she saw Ciaran, she did the same to him. "Ciaran," she spoke his name like she was speaking to her own child. "Ha'am te hume?"

Ciaran kissed her cheek in return, and even though he didn't know much Lunar, he understood her. "Am geru dau." He then motioned to Annie, "Ein es Annie, ahume dela."

"Annie," she repeated softly, looking up at Annie with beautiful and soft dark honey-colored eyes. She kissed Annie's cheeks in greeting and hugged her close, already treating her like family.

"Annie, this is my mother Danu Evelia," Lir smiled as he came to wrap his arm around Ciaran's waist. "She's been wanting to meet you since I told her about you."

 

[heartofcourage]

Annie smiled as she greeted Lir's mother with a kiss on the woman's cheek. "It is a great pleasure to meet you, Danu. My brother was just telling me how wonderful you were."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Sweet boy. Always charmer," Danu chuckled softly. She had broken English, but she understood well enough, much like about half the Lunars. "Come, meet Bulo." She took Annie's hand and led her into a ring. It was not fenced in, but rather simply surrounded by branches that were easy to step over. Within the ring stood a massive old Clydesdale who had to be more than twenty years old. He faced them calmly, his tail swishing back and forth.

"Bulo, eldere," Danu let go of Annie's hand and came to the huge stallion to kiss his nose, and he pressed his forehead to hers. She stepped backward and he followed, their heads never parting. Reaching back, Danu found Annie's hand and brought it up to Bulo's cheek. The old horse looked to her as Danu parted from him, and for a moment, it felt as if he was searching her soul through her eyes to see what sort of person she was. He stepped forward, and like he hand with Danu, pressed his forehead to Annie's, letting her know he trusted her after only a moment, because he could sense what sort of a person she was.

 

[heartofcourage]

Annie laughed softly as the gentle giant pressed his forehead against hers. She patted his cheek, looking over towards Danu with a grin.

"He's a handsome boy." She said softly, looking back at Bulo with a fond glance. "He would make fine foals too. Perhaps if you stay a while, I can breed him with a filly of mine."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I was going to ask same," Danu nodded. "Bulo's colts and foals are best in Mav Ro tribe. You have Phearson's granddaughter, yes?" She knew about the famed old charger and his champion brood that had been bred and raised to be Inverness' finest warhorses. Phearson's best granddaughter Orla was raised by Brogan for three years and given to Annie as her first prized mare only a year ago. It was just about the perfect time to get her into breeding after Annie and David had been waiting to find the right sire.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Yes, I have Orla. She is ready for a sire too. My husband and I have been looking for just the right stallion." Annie said with a smile to Danu. "I have another filly named River that is also ready. Perhaps we can breed both. Whatever foal results from Orla, I would promise to you."