Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"I don't know what I should do. I don't mind traveling into battle. However, my dragon doesn't seem to want to allow me to do what I've trained to do." Fiona said softly, thinking about all of her different options.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's for all the same reasons I wouldn' want you to either... We love you. But yer a warrior now. If you want t'fight, Invah can either be with you, or you'll go with another partner, dragon 'r drake."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona was quiet for a long moment holding Sam tightly as she thought about what he was saying. "Do you think we should marry before the battle? I mean...just in case something happens?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"If tha's somethin' you want," Sam nodded. "We can always do a proper wedding later." He then offered a slightly amused little smile. "Apparently tha's a tradition in my family."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't know what I want, Sam. I want you in a good place and happy before we do anything but im afraid that this war will prevent all of that. If you fall in battle, all of those hopes and dreams and wants will be for nothing." Fiona said softly, a long sigh coming from her lips. "And I do love you. Even if you're bullheaded and stubborn most of the time, you're my stubborn man."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It'll never be fer nothin'. Even if one of us falls... Well, a' least in my case I'd hope I left ya with somethin' worthwhile in yer memory. I know you would with me."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I want a good life and a good family." Fiona said softly, looking up at him as she said that. "I want a happy mate. I've spent too many years in uncertainty and sadness to not have those things."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm tryin', love," he muttered, resting his forehead against her own and closing his eyes. "An' hopefully we'll be able t'keep workin' on it as we go an' after this bloody war ends..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know you're trying." Fiona said softly as he pressed his forehead against her own. "I just hope that all of this can be solved soon."

 

[KieranSoares]

Their night out in the highlands lasted until the blush of dawn on the horizon and several tremors stirred them. Their worries having kept them up all night, they had just begun to doze off beside the fire when the telltale feeling of dragons landing nearby reverberated through the ground. In the distance atop a tall hill were the silhouettes of five lithe dragons against the pink horizon, and the shape of one more, much larger beast landing behind them.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona was curled against Sam's chest, wrapped in his cloak to keep warm. She had only just fallen to sleep when the tremors shook them slightly and she lifted her head, glancing towards the dragons that had landed a short distance away with a frown.

"What are they doing here?" Fiona asked softly, rubbing at her tired eyes with her fist.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Maybe lookin' fer refuge...? Doesn' look like they 'ave riders..." Sam rose, righting his clothing with an exhausted yawn. "Probably didn' want t'land too close t'town."

With a sharp whistle, Sam looked around for Kennah until she came climbing up the cliff to face him.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Perhaps you should stay here. I'll go talk to them and see what they want." Fiona said as Kennah came over the face of the cliff at Sam's call. "It shouldn't take long and I'll direct them to the north where Rory is with the other dragons looking for refuge."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don' know... I 'aven't seen any dragons yet without a' least one Rider guidin' 'em. I'll hang back, I suppose," Sam nodded. "Take Kennah."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Come on, love." Fiona said as she climbed onto Kennah's back, buckling herself into the harness and adjusting it as she directed Kennah back over the cliff face and towards the dragons.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kennah easily slid back down the cliff and took off at a full sprint eastward to where the dragons had landed. At their approach, the five smaller dragons all stepped back while the largest stopped Kennah and Fiona before they could get too close.

"No closer, human!" The great dragon growled calmly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I mean you no harm. I am Fiona Blackstone. I've come to see if you need any help." Fiona called back to the head dragon as he growled out his warning. "We have a place for dragons to go to if you need somewhere to hide."

 

[KieranSoares]

The five smaller dragons all looked at each other as the leading dragon stood firm. As the sun rose over the horizon, Fiona would be able to see they were all varying shades of green, from the seafoam color of the smallest to the stark dark forest green of the largest. They were clearly related by their similar horn shapes, whereas the small five had probably gotten their lithe shapes from their mother.

The leader fixed Fiona with a distrustful glare. "We will not be fooled again. Twice we have been given similar greetings on our journey and twice we barely escaped with all our lives."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I promise that I only mean well. I'm a dragon caller and a rider from here in Inverness." Fiona said, slightly surprised that he was being so hostile towards her. "You and your family are safe. You have my word or you may have my life."

When the dragon continued to watch her with suspicion, Fiona let out a small sigh. "Sir, you woke me up while I was enjoying a morning with my fiancee. I'm riding his borrowed drake. I'm terribly hungry and I promise you that I am not armed. I'm also a fledgling myself, adopted by Invah Kyre. I don't want to do any of you harm."

 

[KieranSoares]

The large dragon seemed surprised by her blunt response, quiet until one of his fledglings came up to nudge him. She spoke in Latin to him, but it was clear she'd understood Fiona. The elder dragon's sharp and harsh amber eyes softened as he was slowly convinced, and somewhere, Invah's name came up in the young dragoness' speech.

"... Then we will not bother you," the elder dragon murmured. "If you'll just point us to Lady Kyre..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I will bring her to you, if you like." Fiona said as she glanced over her shoulder at Sam and then down at Kennah. "I will send him to fetch her. It should only take a few moments."

She dismounted and sent Kennah back to Sam, a short note tucked into Kennah's saddle for him to go and get Invah and Gaiann.

 

[KieranSoares]

The elder dragon watched Kennah go, but he seemed reluctant to speak to Fiona any further. So the darkest of his fledglings, the one who'd spoken up, stepped forward, leaning down to murmur, "Don't mind him. He... He hasn't had the best experience with humans." She watched as her family huddled close together and awaited Invah. "None of us really have. But I can see you have the eyes of a Were, so I think I'll take the risk."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm a full fox, even if I don't look like it." Fiona said with a small smile towards the darker dragon as she made the decision that they would be safe. "My name is Fiona. What is yours?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Oriana, after my father Orion," she murmured, glancing back to the elder dragon. "I'm the youngest of my siblings. We come from Crete."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Scotland is a long way to fly to get to safety." Fiona said as Oriana introduced herself properly. "I promise that you are completely safe here. If you decide that you don't wish to stay in Inverness, I will help you get north to a friend who is caring for dragons who are elderly, ill, or new mothers and fledglings."