Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"I wouldn't want t'take them there," Sam agreed. "We'll be gone for at least a week there. That way they can have some extra time with anyone they want to visit." When she mentioned Brogan asking her to find more dragons, Sam sighed. "I'd hate t'get any involved at all... Jus' remember Da's makin' a request. It's not an order. You an' any dragons can say no."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Sam." Fiona said as she made him look at her. "If I am being called to defend Inverness, I will defend it the only way that I know how. It's my home. It's where I hope to raise a family some day. You know that the dragons will agree to fight for it as well."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You're no' a soldier, Fiona," Sam reminded her, meeting her gaze. "If y'were, it'd be a different story. But you're not fighting. We 'ave men an' women that 'ave trained fer years t'go to battle. Rider or not, you're not experienced enough fer me t' consider putting near the front lines. An' I'm not throwing any dragons out t'the front either if I can 'elp it. Not even old warriors like Invah."

 

[heartofcourage]

"What have I been doing these past weeks then, Sam? All of the time I've spent away. I've been training for battle. You can't stop me if Invah wishes to go to battle with me." She said as she turned to look at Sam.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Weeks, Fiona. Just weeks. I train men fer three months at a minimum before I even consider lettin' them enter th' field of battle. It makes sure less o' them die from sheer inexperience." Sam lifted a hand to her cheek then. "An' even if you were experienced... A dragon is a target, Fiona. You'd be the first thing they try t'kill."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Then I better make it extra hard for them to kill me." Fiona said as Sam cupped her cheek gently. "You have a tool At your disposal that can end this. I would rather go through one moment of danger for my home than sacrifice everyone."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam sighed, shaking his head. "Alright, Fiona... But on one condition. You let me take over your training once we leave Sweden. I'm not about to let someone fight under my command with a dragon unless I know what they can do."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You would need to talk to Dmitri about that. He might not want you training me after he's spent so much time making sure that I can do what I need to do in the sky." Fiona murmured as Sam agreed that she could fight if it came to that.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Dmitri doesn' get a choice once we leave. But I'll let 'im know... Odds are he'll bring up training me too." Sam shook his head. "If it can help me train you, I migh' have t'take a crash course."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona was quiet for a long moment as he said that and she finally let out a long sigh. "You can't fly in battle. I won't let you do that for my own sanity."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm not goin' to fight with you about this, Fiona. I'll do what's necessary, if Gaiann agrees t'work with me. But I'd rather keep dragons out of the fight altogether as much as possible."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We'll fight when the time comes." Fiona said simply as Sam looked at her with a warning in his eyes. "Until then, I won't say a word."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam could only sigh. He just didn't have the heart to argue after the previous night. All he could do was step closer and hug her tightly, hoping they could come to some compromise eventually.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona hugged Sam tightly, her nose pressing against his neck as she took in the safe, warm scent of her lover. It soothed her greatly, probably more than he would ever know. He would be a great king one day. She was certain that Sam would be fair and just, even if he didn't like dealing with the public in an open and warm manner.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Jus' promise me you won' get yourself killed," Sam murmured. "If not fer my sake, then fer Will an' Invah."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I promise." Fiona said softly, knowing that she couldn't really promise him that but do so anyway to make him feel better. "I love you, Sam. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon."

 

[KieranSoares]

With a kiss, Sam pulled back. "I'd better get writing, love... Lot o' people need t'know what's goin' on."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll go let Uka know what our plans are. Then I suppose I need to go and speak to Dmitri about it as well." Fiona said softly, kissing Sam one last time before she allowed him to go back to his duties.

 

[KieranSoares]

Fiona would find Dmitri in the usual place at his camp, but it seemed he was alone that day. Xenia was still off attending to her own business, and Rory was missing now too. He quietly tended the fire. A messenger was just leaving the camp as Fiona approached, and Dmitri was reading over a letter when she came into the camp.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Sam and I have to leave, Dmitri." Fiona said as she found him alone. "He has news from home and we have to go back sooner than we anticipated."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Hm," was Dmitri's only answer, and he tossed the letter into the fire after he finished reading it. He rose, walking toward Rory's tent which was half taken-down. "Rory had to leave too," Dmitri muttered finally, kneeling to pull out a huge wrapped-up pack from the tent. "He took what he could carry and left last night. I sent him off with a meal and enough supplies to make it to Malmo."

Dmitri unwrapped the pack and revealed a full new set of Rider armor along with a glaive, a sword and round shield, leatherworking tools, and the pieces of a new dragon saddle yet to be assembled. "Xenia sent this back, but I'm going to follow her rather than her coming back. So it looks like we're all leaving." He picked up the chest piece and rose. "Come here. I need to make sure these all fit properly before I leave. And I need to fit the saddle for Invah as well."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Why did Rory leave?" Fiona asked, confused that everything seemed to be happening so quickly. "And why is Xenia not coming back?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Rory has been called away to fight for Emperor Frederick the First. His dragon Aldegar was forced to take his young fledgling and leave their home to avoid advancing armies. Rory is going to help them flee the Empire's path, and he will return here to hide so that Aldegar and the other dragons do not end up on opposite battle lines. If he does fight, it will be on the side of the North with the Isles and the Triad."

Dmitri brought the chestpiece to Fiona, showing her how this new set buckled. "Xenia is arranging for a safe place for Aldegar's fledgling here in Sweden, meeting with Queen Kjersten. You may well see us at this ball that your Samuel is attending, making friends among the Triad for Aldegar's sake."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You might just see me fighting for Inverness as well." Fiona commented as Dmitri showed her the new armor and the special buckles. "I won't let my home fall and I know Invah would not want that to happen either."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I suppose all this means your training has to be over," Dmitri nodded. "I feel we can trust you to make sure your Samuel is trained as well if he does choose to ride. We have to attend to other things in the course of this war, and we know you and he are trustworthy. And I will leave an extra saddle for Gaiann and the diagrams for an armorer to make proper gear, for Samuel and for you should you wear out any pieces."

Dmitri sighed as he brought Fiona the helmet. "But before I go, I have one last task for you."