Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"I'm no' gonna die, love. I need t'stay in Inverness a while t'organize things, an' there'll only be skirmishes of scouts gettin' near us. I'm... I'm more concerned about you comin' across an Imperial ship, honestly."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, if I do, I know of one strong and dashing prince that will come and save me." Kate said with a slight shrug of her shoulders, giving him a smile as she tried to get him to loosen up a little bit more. "Besides, he asked me to marry him last night, so that's got to account for something."

 

[KieranSoares]

"A Prince in the back of a dragon. Sounds like a fairytale," Sam murmured with a small smile. He drew her close for a kiss, but they soon caught the call of the sailors warning that the ship would be casting off in five minutes. Sam sighed, letting his forehead rest against Fiona's for a long moment. "I love you... An' I'll see you in Inverness, a' the docks when you get off if I can."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll take care of the drakes." Fiona said softly as Sam rested his forehead against her own, the sounds of the ship readying to cast off surrounding them. "I don't guarantee that I'll sleep without you here, though. I might be cranky when I get to Inverness. Are you prepared for that?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"I migh' need th'wrath of an exhausted woman t'whip some lazy men in shape, especially th'new drake riders," Sam chuckled softly, stealing one more slow kiss before he walked up to the main deck with her. He was the last to cross the gangplank before it was lifted and stowed away, and he stood on the docks watching as the ship was carefully guided out into open water. He remained until the sails unfurled and the ship was taken away on the wind, and Fiona could no longer see him.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona stood at the railing of the ship as they took to the open water, staring after Sam until he was only a distant memory. When she could no longer see him, she felt a deep sadness that she hadn't expected. She loved him deeply and being apart from him had turned into torture. The fact that she would not see him for days didn't help the situation in the least. However, she knew that she would have to get used to it. He was a busy man, a military leader, and they would probably spend many long spans apart during their lifetime.

 

[KieranSoares]

To the drakes' credit, they kept Fiona fairly busy most of the time. And the rest of the time, some passengers aboard had become quite interested in her when she was addressed as nobility by the captain. But for the most part, they were courteous and gave her space.

Kennah sailed well while Roman was fairly unsteady but not seasick. Little Elin was extremely clumsy whenever the ship rocked, but she too didn't seem to suffer seasickness. It took plenty of adjusting until, by the end of the first day, Elin was toddling around with a stumble here and there. Kennah would follow and keep her away from food supplies or the railings, and the drakes were incredibly mindful of the close quarters with people, doing their best not to get in the way or cause too much disruption. Roman in particular enjoyed the attention the other passengers gave him when he proved how friendly he could be, as long as strangers didn't get too close to Elin without Kennah's permission. Kennah quietly purred when pet or spoken to, but she remained reserved. Elin was still learning her social skills, but she was smart enough not to nibble fingers. She preferred Sam's glove. He'd left her one just for the security and she carried it everywhere.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona spent more time with the drakes than she did in her own cabin. It was lonely without Sam there and the drakes knew that. On the evening of the second day, she was napping in the soft hay with Roman when she felt someone nuzzling up against her side. She opened her eyes and spied Elin there, cuddling up against her with Sam's glove in her maw.

"You miss him too, little one?" Fiona asked, petting the little drake until Elin settled. "I hope it won't be long."

 

[KieranSoares]

Kennah was soon beside them as well, nudging hay around Elin and Fiona to make a sort of nest before settling beside them and tucking her hands under her chest like a cat. She nuzzled against Fiona's side and against Elin, and watched as Elin wrapped her little arms around the leather glove before settling.

When her fledgling was settled, Kennah looked to Fiona. Her expression was utter serenity. Even if she missed Sam too, she was intelligent enough to understand they were following him and she knew there was something important happening.

 

[heartofcourage]

"We're going to war." Fiona said softly to Kennah as she felt Roman lift his head and rest it against her stomach, a soft rumble telling them both to go to sleep. "And I don't know what any of this will mean for us, but I promise the both of you that Sam and I will protect your family as well."

 

[KieranSoares]

Kennah's dark, wise gaze was centered on Fiona as she spoke, and she blinked slowly as if to give her basic understanding. She had seen the changes in Sam's demeanor, in the seriousness of conversations around her. If she didn't understand there was a fight on their hands yet, she soon would and she would take it in stride as she took most things.

Kennah nuzzled gently against Roman's maw before laying her head down beside Elin, watching the little fledgling until she was fast asleep.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona wrapped her arm around Elin as the little drake let out a sigh, curling her tail around herself as she slumbered. The drakes made her feel calm and less alone. They understood that Sam had gone and probably wouldn't be back for a while. She was a poor substitute, she knew, but it gave her peace to be around their dear animals.

Her eyes were drifting close when she felt Roman's maw nudge against her arm, a sharp nip at her skin making her look towards him. She chuckled and patted him gently.

"I love you too, beastie." She said softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

The third afternoon, the ship finally spotted land and within a couple hours, the galleon was sailing into the huge bay toward Invernessian docks. Roman barely managed to contain himself, excited to be home, but he kept himself busy with Elin. Kennah watched calmly over both. When the mooring lines were secured and the gangplank set out, Roman picked Elin up in his huge jaws and trotted off the ship, not wanting her to fall off the docks or stumble when she readjusted to solid ground. Kennah stayed beside Fiona, carrying most of her things in a neat, large pack on her back. Roman was already on shore, helping his daughter find her feet again. Even he was a bit wobbly from the short journey on the waves.

Sailors and dockworkers alike began unloading the ship and passengers headed off or met those coming to pick them up. A giant shadow passing over made everyone look up and startled a few, and Invah landed nearby, walking closer to the docks but keeping out of the way.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona glanced towards the shadow that flew over head, grinning when she was Invah land a short distance away. She left the drakes to get their land legs as she went to greet the dragon. The moment that Invah lifted her off her feet into her arms, she was hugging her tightly.

"Sam said he would be here to meet me." Fiona said softly as she looked up at Invah. "I suppose he's busy with other things."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He's coming, my love. Your ship made good time so he wasn't expecting you til later tonight," Invah assured her, setting her down carefully. "He and Gaiann have been working constantly whenever Sam isn't planning and organizing. I think it's safe to say young Samuel has figured out how to manage his phobia of flying."

Another shadow passed over and Invah looked up. "Well, speak of the devil."

It was not Gaiann who landed nearby, but a burly, medium red dragon with dark brown fur along his spine and a short beard and a foreign saddle. Danica slipped off his back and close behind her was Sam, who had to take a deep breath to steady himself while the red dragon chuckled at him. Any residual nervousness was lost when Sam saw Fiona, and he quickly made his way to her.

"Sorry I'm late, love," he murmured just as he took her into his arms and greeted her with a proper kiss.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona actually smiled properly when she saw Sam and when she was in his arms, she finally relaxed. She was home and with the person that she loved more than anything else in the world. A threat of battle didn't diminished those feelings.

"I'm disappointed that you weren't here helping the ship to dock." Fiona teased, giving Sam a small smile.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well if you hadn't been here so damn early, I might've," Sam murmured with a little smile of his own. He turned as Danica approached after giving them a moment. "Danica's been teaching me what she can. And hopefully Shana'll come soon. We still don' know if Danica's mate will bring 'is dragon."

 

[heartofcourage]

"No one will be made to fight if they do not wish to fight." Fiona said, looking over towards Danica. "That is and always will be my promise to any dragon rider. This war is our business and you are doing us a great service by lending your help."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ireland is my home, lass. I'm here because I know if England an' Scotland fall, Ireland's next. So I'll be preemptive as I can an' stop 'em at Normandy if I can," Danica stated boldly. But then her expression softened. "Besides tha'... Th'Empire's done so much damage to territories it's taken. No one deserves tha'."

"Danica's going to be our correspondent t'Ireland an' Sarah," Sam murmured, looking to the woman. "An' when Shana gets 'ere, she'll be our connection t'England. Fiona," he looked to her. "You've got Scotland. An' if we get any more riders, I'll be assignin' them t'Scandinavia an' beyond. Fer now, we're gathering our forces t'head Barbarossa off at Normandy an' keep 'im out o' the isles."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Have you heard anything from Rory or my father?" Fiona asked, looking at Sam as he declared that she was the lead in Scotland. "They were going to try and get the dragons safe just in case."

 

[KieranSoares]

Nothin' from Owen, but a young dragoness did pass through, sent by Rory. Was 'eaded up t'the islands north o' Wick fer safety with an egg."

"Svariati," Invah nodded. "Her mate will be following her soon."

"She said Rory was tryin' t'sneak dragons out o' the Empire an' 'e's doin' pretty well, but a couple 'ave already been killed," Sam murmured. "His own dragon an' th'fledgling should arrive any day if they made it out safely."

 

[heartofcourage]

"At least some will be safe then." Fiona said as she glanced over to see Kennah coming to greet Sam, Elin wobbling after her with his glove still in her maw. "This little one missed you fiercely."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam greeted Kennah with a kiss to her forehead before scooping Elin up, chuckling as she dropped the glove in his hand when he scratched her chin. "Kept it safe fer me, aye, love?" He asked softly, smiling as she squirmed to get closer and whined at him happily. "Good lass." Sam smiled to Fiona then. "Everyone's waitin' for ya, love. My Ma... May 'ave pried it out o' me tha' we're engaged. She kept it t'herself an' Da, though."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Do I need to prepare myself for an interrogation?" Fiona asked Roman came to her side and soon she was pulling herself into his saddle. "Because you might have to repay me for that."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I can' promise ya anythin', love. But I think I'm th'one my family'll be after about you instead o' the other way around." Sam let her take Elin. "Take th'drakes back an' I'll meet you there, love. Danica an' I need some things off th'ship. An' Will's at th'keep waitin' for ya."