Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"He got promised one dance tonight and he's already chosen his opportunity." Fiona explained as Sam came to sniff around them both.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think a handsome man like that could make me promise just one more dance. Maybe at the end of the night, when there aren't so many people." At that, Sam smiled.

"Sounds like an idea. But Fiona's pretty stubborn."

"You're a Ghis, Master Samuel. 'Stubborn' is your family's stock and trade."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I dare say that the Blackstones are more stubborn." Fiona said as she leaned back to look up at Sam. "But I guess he can always make it up to me later. He's pretty good about winning me back with small little gifts."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You wish," Sam chuckled deeply, making Shana shake her head with a smile before she rose.

"I'll leave you two lovers to quarrel." She patted Fiona's hand before going to find Tuvan who'd quickly captured the attention and admiration of a group of ladies by the table of refreshments.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona watched as Shana left the both of them alone before she turned her attentions towards Sam. "How about I just kiss you until you forget about dancing?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Could work. But I 'ave a better idea." Sam offered her his hand. "Let's go get some fresh air, love. It's gettin' a bit stuffy."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona chuckled as she took Sam's hand and let him lead her out of the ballroom. Sam was as shy around crowds as she was, it seemed. It made for the perfect opportunity to lean against his side and simply enjoy a simple moment with him.

"I love you." She whispered against his ear as they walked through the royal gardens together. "Even though you infuriate me sometimes."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Tha's half th'fun o' bein' with someone. An' I love you no matter how stubborn y'are." Sam stole a kiss then, bringing them to a stop before a huge, ancient tree in the center of the garden whose branches created a canopy over a wide variety of evergreen hedges and newly-planted flowers. Sam gazed up at it for a long moment before he looked back to Fiona. "Y'know... Before I'd known war 'ad broken out... I was thinking a lot about what th'future'd be fer us... If Rho really steps down... A lot's gonna change fer us an' my family. An' I'm honestly surprised y'still want t'stick around an' face that with me..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I've thought a lot about it too." Fiona said softly as Sam mentioned his brother stepping aside for him. "I don't know what kind of Queen I would be but I would try my hardest to support you and the causes that are near and dear to my heart."

"And even if you are never King, I would love you just the same. You mean the world to me, Sam." She was opening herself to him in a way that she never had before, letting him see the strengths and weaknesses in her heart.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam turned to look at her for a long moment, his expression pensive. He murmured, "Ye'd make fer a good Queen, love. Ye'd understand th'people better'n most nobles ever could." He seemed to make up his mind about something just then. He had a hand in one pocket, secretly holding the ring her grandmother had given him. And finally, he stepped forward to kiss her, withdrawing the ring and taking her hands. "King 'r no... Y'make th'best partner I ever could've 'oped for... An' when things settle down... I'd be honored if ye'd marry me, Fiona..."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona had a strange look on her face as he turned back and proposed. She recognized the ring as her grandmother's and knew that Sam must have been thinking a long time about this moment. It still caught her off guard and she felt tears welling up in her eyes.

"I thought you wanted to wait." She murmured, nearly unable to get the words out. "You said it was too soon."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We're mates. We're already together, love. An' I realized... The reason I hesitated was because outside my family, marriage always seemed t'be about power and politics. But it doesn't have t'be about that. People can say 'r believe what they like, but... If I marry you, it's because I love you. Nothin' else." Sam had a hard time explaining such things as he'd always been a man of action over words. But he hoped Fiona understood that he not only wanted her, but he wanted both of them to prove that marriage could be and should be about partnership.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona felt her tears begin to fall at that, her head nodding in response to his proposal. He would be the family that she had grown up wishing she always had. He would never abandon her if he could help it and he loved her more than anything else in the world. She would have been a fool to say no.

"I promise that I'll never break your heart again, Sam." She murmured in a pitiful voice, still so wounded by what she had done to him all those months ago. "I promise I'll make you proud."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yer already doin' pretty well," Sam assured her with a smile, slipping the ring onto her finger. He welcomed her into his arms with a kiss, his hands resting lightly on her lower back.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona hugged him tightly, her face buried against his strong neck as she wept in both happiness and uncertainty. It wasn't the reaction that she had been expecting when Sam proposed but it was honest and raw. He did that to her often.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam had never been the sort to cry or show how deeply things effected him. But he felt a tightness in his chest that was joy, excitement, and plenty of fear for their future. Fiona would hear him take a deep breath, trying to soothe that anxiety, but otherwise he was steady as ever. He wanted to be her rock most of all.

 

[heartofcourage]

"No one has to know yet but the two of us." Fiona murmured as she finally calmed and she felt Sam take a deep breath to steady himself. "Until the danger has passed and we are ready, it will be our secret."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It might take a long time fer this war t'end, love... If anythin', I want t'marry you when it's calmed fer a bit, maybe in winter when th'Imperials're slow. It'll be somethin' good in th'middle of all th'bad."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I want my family to be there. Uka and mormor deserve something happy to look forward to." Fiona said, knowing that they would marry in Inverness. "I'll work extra hard to help pay for it."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam could only chuckle and kiss her, knowing she wouldn't listen when he told her she didn't have to worry about the cost. "They'll be there. And th' others if I have my way."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona kissed Sam again then, her hands moving to cup his cheeks to pull him just a little bit closer. When the kiss broke, she was left staring into his warm green gaze and she gave him a little smile.

"You make me happy, Sam." She said softly, leaning in to nuzzle against his nose.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I certainly try," he murmured in return, closing his eyes as she nuzzled against him. He enjoyed her fox-like tendencies more than he'd admit.

 

[heartofcourage]

"How long ago did mormor give you this ring?" Fiona asked as she continued to nuzzle against him, her fox so joyful that he allowed her that small little part of herself.

 

[KieranSoares]

"On th'Solstice... Passed down from 'er own grandmother. She asked me if I could see myself with you fer th'rest of our lives. An' I told 'er I could, if ye'd have me." Sam kissed her lips once more. "No matter what 'appens when we get 'ome... Yer my lass. My mate. An' we'll make it an' pull Inverness an' Scotland through too."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Is this what your aunt and the others were talking about with you when you were dancing? I saw you got pulled away for a rather serious conversation." Fiona said softly as Sam kissed her one more time.