Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[KieranSoares]

When turned on her back, Elin happily went limp, curling her little feet against her belly. Kennah rose to step behind Fiona, laying her head over the young woman's shoulder fondly and watching her entertain Elin. Roman was very vocal, but it was rare that Fiona got to hear Kennah purr like a giant cat. She was far more reserved much like her rider.

 

[heartofcourage]

"She'll be a beauty when she's grown." Fiona commented, grinning as Kennah purred against her ear and watched her little fledgling happily go limp in her arms. "And I'm sure she will be as much of a handful as her father is."

 

[KieranSoares]

Kennah nuzzled gently against Fiona's cheek as she spoke, lifting her head away when the barn doors opened behind them. Tavir stepped in, about to lay out more straw for the drakes. He paused seeing Fiona. "Ah, Fiona. Come to help these two wrangle that little trouble-maker?" He took a pitchfork off some pegs on the wall and headed toward the ladder up to the hay loft.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Come to find Sam, but got distracted. They make it easy to hide." Fiona answered as Tavir found her in the barn with the drakes. "I'm sure he came here last night."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He did, but he didn't stay. He just stopped in to see the drakes and get a meal to go." Tavir pulled apart a straw bale and knocked it down to the lower floor off to the side. "Didn't say much to me, but he headed west toward the mountains. I'd assumed he was going back to you."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He what?" Fiona asked in a panicked voice suddenly. "Roman!"

She turned to look at her drake, ready to saddle him in order to reach same before he went straight to Dmitri.

 

[KieranSoares]

Tavir nearly jumped at Fiona's sudden panic, watching as Roman leapt to his feet and over Kennah and Elin, straight toward the sawhorse where Fiona's saddle was waiting. "Fiona? What's wrong? What is he up to?" Tavir asked, coming down from the loft.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He's gone to talk to the dragon riders without me." Fiona growled, both angry and terrified as she struggled to get Roman saddled in her panic. "I'll skin him myself when I find him."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He went toward the dragons, not the riders," Tavir assured her. "And none of them have been out flying. He's probably up in the caves."

 

[heartofcourage]

"That's just as bad. They all agree that allowing him to ride is a good idea." She said, cinching the saddle in before she harnessed herself into the saddle and turning Roman towards the mountains.

 

[KieranSoares]

Tavir stepped outside to watch worriedly as she went and Roman picked up speed until he was sprinting toward the mountains. He made short work of the distance, and clawed his way up the mountain slope toward Invah's cavern. In a manner of just twenty minutes, he pulled himself panting onto the mountain ledge before the cavern mouth. Fiona could see the pool inside reflecting light from the hole in the ceiling, and the shapes of Gaiann and his daughter sleeping peacefully.

Roman got Fiona's attention, looking off northward where on the next, much shorter mountain, he could see Invah laying quite calmly, likely having been there to watch the sun rise. She spotted them too, and sat up, confused at why they'd come racing all the way up there.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Where's Sam?" Fiona called to Invah, a worried expression on her features as she didn't see him. "Tavir said he came this way."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Asleep," Invah called back, spreading her wings to come glide to the other mountain. She easily landed over Fiona and Roman, ushering them in quietly. Once they came around to Gaiann's side, Fiona found Sam fast asleep against the male dragon's shoulder, his cloak wrapped around him and his vest acting as a thin pillow against the dragon's scales.

"They were up late, talking," Invah whispered. "Sam wanted every story Gaiann had, good and bad, of our past riders. He wanted to hear the dangers and the joys. I told a few of my own, but I believe Samuel is testing his ability to get along with Gaiann. One moment it seems he's trying to find every reason not to be a Rider, and the other he seems to be enthralled at the prospect. I think it's safe to say your Samuel is confused and indecisive at best."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I told him to leave last night and find another place to sleep. I know he's stubborn enough to do this and I don't want him to." Fiona said, the choking panic still rising in her throat as she looked over at Invah.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't know that it's stubbornness so much as a wish to work with you. And I think there's some curiosity beyond just you as well." Invah sat down at the edge of the pool. "Every child dreams of flying with dragons at some point. Perhaps with his sister Annie around, Sam never forgot that."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He can't. I saw him die." Fiona said, tears instantly coming to her eyes as she remembered the horrible nightmares she'd been having. "He died with one of the dragons. I'm not going to let that happen before we've had s chance to live our lives. I want to be his. I...want to have a family with him."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Oh, little one..." Invah sighed, scooping Fiona up against her chest. "They're only nightmares, my love... They're fears. But that doesn't mean they'll come true."

 

[heartofcourage]

"They keep happening." Fiona said as Invah held her close. "And they frighten me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Have you consulted an elder who might be able to advise you?" Invah asked softly. "Oleg my be a spiritual Elder, but there will be another who specializes in dreams and omens."

 

[heartofcourage]

"No." Fiona said, wiping her cheeks as the tears continued. "I haven't had a chance. Sam has been supporting me through it but I know it upsets him too."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Then you'll make time for it, if only for your own sake," Invah murmured as she watched her fledgling struggle with her dark thoughts. "Such things should not wait."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I suppose I have to." Fiona said as she leaned her head against Invah's warm scales.

 

[KieranSoares]

Invah held Fiona as long as she liked, turning her head as she heard Gaiann yawn. He lifted his head, not disturbing Sam, and looked over with a slight tilt of his head to Invah. She shared a glance with him and he remained silent, laying his head back down.

Sam finally woke a short while later, sitting up with a quiet sigh and glancing around. Seeing Fiona, he too remained silent and simply put on his vest and cloak.

 

[heartofcourage]

When Fiona had finally gathered herself and Invah had put her down, she found herself unable to look Sam in the eye. She had been wrong to send him away the night before and she was ashamed that she had had such a terrible reaction to knowing that he had come to see the dragons on his own. Instead, she sat down at the edge of the cave and waited for Sam to approach. She knew that they had to talk, but she wanted to hide away from her problems.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam considered his options, looking from Fiona to the dragons, and to the cave entrance. Finally he approached Fiona and settled beside her, his gaze looking out of the cavern over the green foothills. Finally he spoke after several minutes. "Dmitri was lookin' for me last night. Managed t'avoid 'im."