Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"This is small for th'Ghis," Brogan assured her. "Jus' our children, grandchildren, an' o' course Vincenzo. Tonight we'll 'ave everyone else in th'keep."

"Poor Chessie can hardly keep up anymore," Vincenzo chuckled softly.

Sam tried not to get involved in the conversation. It wasn't that he didn't want to talk to Fiona or that he didn't like her, it was that he didn't want his family to have any more reason to tease him, or for them to think he enjoyed her company. He could be himself with them, but he still had a reputation.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You should talk to her." Heather whispered to her brother softly, feeling his tension as he sat beside her. "She sounds nice."

Heather was much like Sam, having had to be a grown up far sooner than their twin had to be. She wasn't nearly as serious, but she understood her older brother more than anyone.

"Maybe in private?" Heather suggested.

 

[KieranSoares]

"She is nice," Sam muttered. "But I still 'ave a job t' do when this is over with. I'd rather no' make friends with people I'm goin' t'arrest." Heather could usually reason with him, but Sam was so set in his ways on this that it'd take a lot more convincing.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona was quiet as she sat with the family, eating her fill. They were loud, happy, and so unlike the family that she had once come from. They genuinely seemed to enjoy each other. Even Sam smiled from time to time. It made her mourn for her own family and envy what the Ghis had with one another.

Soon, the younger members of the family were swimming in the loch with Vincenzo. He had ever coaxed Heather into the shallows, her hand tightly hanging onto his own as if he were her only life line. Julia smiled at seeing her daughter so brave. She was talking with Justin as Ciaran swam with his nephews and sister and Rho and his love were exploring the banks, laughing between themselves at something that no one else was privy to. Bridget was slumbering in her grandfather's lap, warm and content in the sun while David and Annie watched their boys in the water.

"I didn't know everyone would be here." Fiona murmured softly to Samuel as they had a moment alone. "I wouldn't have come if I had known."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Don' worry about it," Sam murmured. "I just don' want them t'get the wrong idea, else they'll keep pesterin' me." He sighed, shaking his head. "Kell an' Kate're set on teasin' me, sayin' I haven't caught you yet because I like chasin' you around like some little boy with a crush."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona glanced at Sam as he mentioned the way that Kell and Kate had been teasing him. She blushed at that thought, clearing her throat as she looked out towards the water. She wondered if Invah was awake and if the Ghis family would be interested in meeting her that day.

"Well...are you a man with a crush?" She asked him offhandedly, glancing at Sam with a question in her eyes.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam's face turned ever so slightly red at that, even if his expression didn't change. "Fer my sake as much as yours... I'm no' gonna answer tha'." He couldn't even look at her now.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I see." Fiona said softly as she watched Sam turn red at her question. "It's alright if you are. I know that we can't pursue anything...because of the situation..."

She went quiet for a long moment after that, a little embarrassed that Samuel Ghis might have a slight crush on her. She had never had someone interested in her before and she was unsure of how she should react. Should she be flattered? Horrified? She had no idea.

"I met the Inverness kipper last night." She said softly, looking at Sam as she changed the subject. "I can call her out right now if you think everyone would like to meet her. She was very interested in meeting your family."

 

[KieranSoares]

"What?" Sam looked at her, his embarrassment forgotten. "I'm no' tha' gullible." He had a slight, entertained smile. "Y'can' honestly believe tha'."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You want me to prove it, Ghis?" Fiona asked, that stubborn tilt of her chin back as he looked at her as if she had made up the story.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Go for it," Sam challenged with a smirk. "But I migh' be forced t'lock you up fer bein' crazy."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona looked at him as he smirked and challenged her. She gave him a soft smile before she stood up from her spot and walked to the water's edge. Again, she closed her eyes and focused on calling to Invah.

"The Ghis are here to meet you, Invah. Please come out." Fiona whispered softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ann," David whispered to his wife when he heard Fiona speak. The entire family was soon looking at Fiona until just as the night before, the water rose and the great head of the teal dragon broke the surface. Instead of reacting with fear, most of them were awe struck. Brogan slowly approached the water, staring up at the dragon as she stepped into the shallows and Ciaran drew the children back toward shore.

"Good day, little one," Invah said kindly to Fiona. Sam, sitting on his own, couldn't even move for shock.

 

[heartofcourage]

Annie was quick to her feet as the great dragon appeared, looking up at her with the awe of a little girl who still believed in fairy tales. She was quick to the water along with her Da, looking up at her great form with wide, dark eyes. Heather was frightened of the sudden noises, scooped up into her grandfather's protective embrace as he quietly whispered to her what was happening. The other children were just as in awe as Ciaran held them back against the shore.

"Good day." Fiona said with a triumphant smile as she turned to look at Sam. "I told you that I could do it, Ghis."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam didn't even have the clarity of mind to be embarrassed or have his pride hurt. He stood as Invah looked down at him and gave him a smile too. "I assure you I'm quite real, young man."

"Invah," Brogan said softly, and she lowered her head to his level.

"You must be Brogan. As your ancestors' guardian, I am at your service, my lord."

Brogan let out a shaky laugh at that. "No, no, y'don't serve us. Yer more like... An old family friend. I always believed ye'd been real, but... I didn't think y'were still alive."

"I'm still a young lass, my friend. Only about nine-hundred years old."

"Annie," Brogan said as he turned. "Annie's been lookin' fer you her whole life."

"Come here, darling," Invah said kindly to the eldest Ghis child.

 

[heartofcourage]

Annie stepped forward in awe of the great dragon. Alex would be insanely jealous that she had gotten to meet Inverness kipper first. Julia soon came to her husband's side with Bridget in her arms, quiet as the dragon met Annie for the first time.

"My Ma told me stories of you." Annie said softly. "And I tell my boys the stories too. Daniel and Silas."

Glancing towards the two boys as peeked around their uncle's legs. "And Bridget Invah."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Oh, what an honor," Invah chuckled softly, looking down at the tiny girl. "She's beautiful, dear. You must be very proud." She extended a great hand to Annie, the smooth scales of her fingers brushing Annie's arm affectionately. A human could fit quite comfortably in her palm. "You must tell me these stories sometime soon. I'd love to hear what time has changed. And I'd be glad to tell you a few of my own. Of course this Alex person must come soon too. I understand he's been very excited to find me as well."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't think excited will accurately describe what he will feel." Annie said with a smile as the dragon touched her arm and declared that Bridget was a beauty. "When I had her, I knew that she had to be named after the dragon that has always been with me."

Annie was in awe of this moment, humbled to the very core. Julia stepped from Brogan's side, still cradling Bridget.

"Invah, this family has waited so long to finally meet you." She said softly as she motioned for the family to come closer, introducing her to the children and their mates.

 

[KieranSoares]

Invah greeted each of them, but she seemed particularly interested in Julia. "You are the Queen of Inverness, then. I have something for you from one of your predecessors. I think I'll bring it to the keep when I visit there in the future."

 

[heartofcourage]

"For me?" Julia asked, glancing towards Brogan. "I got my kipper eggs many, many years ago."

She laughed softly as she thought about to her wedding day in Inverness. "In fact, all of the girls have gotten kipper eggs on the days of their wedding. Annie has the nicest one I think I've ever seen."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Oh, it's not quite a kipper egg, dear. It's very real, but I'm afraid it never hatched. It belongs to the line of Invernessian queens." So it was the last egg, the one she'd given to the first Queen of Inverness before she disappeared into the loch, the egg that started the tradition.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia paused as Invah told her about the egg, the one that all Invernessian queens had the right to own. She gave the dragon a smile and cradled Bridget a little bit closer to her chest.

"I would be honored." Julia said as the children made their way closer to the dragon.

"Did you really pull my legs?" Silas asked as he looked up at the giant dragon. "And Danny's legs too?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"I didn't mean to, dear," Invah told him, leaning down close to him. "During the day when I'm out of my cave fishing, swimmers' feet sometimes catch my scales. It happened just yesterday to Fiona's drake."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I tolded you, DAnny!" Silas announced as he looked back at his older brother.

Heather was still huddled against her grandfather's chest, frightened by what she couldn't see. "Can we go home, Papa?" She asked him in a soft whisper.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's alright, cara mia," Vincenzo assured her softly. "Invah is nothing but a friend to our family."

"Have I frightened her?" Invah asked, her voice quieting further.

"This is Heather. I'm afraid she can't see you, so she's a bit scared," Vincenzo answered.

"There's nothing to be afraid of, little one," Invah assured her. Vincenzo took Heather's hand having her reach out so she could feel Invah's scales. They were hard as steel, but smooth with curves and small patterns that would seem unimportant on such a massive creature.