Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"I didn't know that I could do this." Fiona said as Invah guided her to sit in the grass next to her and Roman. "My Da always told me that we had a history of drakes and dragons in our family. I didn't know that he meant we could talk to them."

"I was born here in Inverness. My grandfather settled here as a young fox, mated to a werefox named Drea, and had one cub. My Da's name was Owen. He wasn't a nice man, but he always told me that he traveled the world, doing things for a price." Fiona murmured, never knowing exactly what her father did for a living. "After my grandmother died, my grandfather became a poet and settled here until his death."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Anyone can talk to anything, my dear Fiona, but only certain people can actually wake my kind from hibernation." Invah smiled down at her affectionately, already quite taken with the girl. She looked down to the black egg again, reaching out gingerly with a claw tip to turn it and examine it. "Oh, a kipper egg," she said with a pleased smile. "Don't tell me someone told you you needed one to get me to come out. That's just an old myth. It's very lovely, though."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Everyone believes that you need one." Fiona said softly, a bit of embarrassment heating her cheeks as Invah took the egg and looked at it. "It's not mine. I'm just borrowing it for the evening."

She was quiet for a long moment, looking at Invah in the moonlight. She was a beautiful dragon, one that people would be very interested in meeting.

"Will you stay awake long enough for people to see you?" Fiona asked softly. "There are people that have waited their entire lives to meet you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've been asleep for a century aside from one brief waking. I won't need to sleep like that again for a long time. Nightly will do me just fine from here, though I may still sleep in the loch to keep any curious children from poking around." Invah smiled down at her once more. "You sound like you have someone in mind."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Two people, actually. The one who gave me this egg and the other is allowing me to keep Roman at her stables." Fiona said with a smile. "It does me a world of good to know that my father wasn't lying about the dragons. It means that I really am a Blackstone."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I imagine it is hard to believe in my kind when most of us have hidden away and all that's left are our cousins the weredragons. My own dear friends and family must be scattered across the world now. Perhaps one day I will go visit them when I get back to the sea. And you, you must bring me these friends of yours. I'm looking forward to meeting the descendants of those I protected, but I think it would do me some good to see a couple of long-time believers finally see their dreams come to life."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll bring them tomorrow evening. You have no idea how much this will mean to them." Fiona promised, looking at Invah as she sat comfortably in the moonlight. "And then I'll bring the Ghis. They would want to meet you as well. The were in the villages would come. Everyone would want to see you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I would be glad to meet all of these people, little one, but you must be very careful. There are those who will not be so welcoming, those that fear my kind and you," Invah warned her. "Not everyone was raised on stories of wise and kind dragons. Some believe we are all like the monsters of old, the ones who couldn't speak and would only destroy, like the wyverns and the dire dragons."

 

[heartofcourage]

"No one should fear any of us. I'm not dangerous and neither are you." Fiona said with a stubborn tone. "I won't bring anyone that would want to do you harm. I promise you that. I want to keep you safe."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm more worried about you," she murmured. "I can stand up to arrows and swords with these scales, but you're a much softer sort. Promise me that if anyone tries to hurt you, you'll come to me. I have a place you can hide."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona was slightly worried that Invah would take such an interest in her safety. She had never thought that she would be in any danger. She had run with a rough crowd in her younger days, but she tried hard to not associate with them now.

"I promise." Fiona murmured softly, giving Invah a bright smile. "No one's going to hurt me. If they wanted to, they would have done it by now."

 

[KieranSoares]

"They wouldn't have known what you could do before," Invah warned. "They will find out you can wake my kind, and they will take a great interest in exactly what happens to you." She finally rose. "I'd best go back in before anyone sees me. I don't want people to be afraid, so I'd rather come out when you're here and during the day."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll bring some visitors tomorrow." Fiona murmured, taking Invah's warning to heart. "And I'll be careful. No one's going to do anything to me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I hope not," Invah gave her one last, warm smile. "Be safe, little one." She turned toward the water, gliding across the surface until she dove down past the deep drop-off and disappeared for the rest of the night. Roman stood up too, coming to Fiona's side and staring at where Invah had disappeared.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona leaned against Roman's side as he stood and came to her. They both watched as the water slowly rippled and then returned calm. She would have never thought that she had the power to call a sleeping dragon. It made so much sense now. Her father must have had the same ability which is why he was gone so much when he wasn't slowly killing himself with drinking.

"Let's go home." Fiona murmured to Roman. "We have a long day tomorrow."

 

[KieranSoares]

Roman just grumbled away as usual, and once she was in the saddle, he took off at a fair trot. The next morning was clear and warm unlike the usual Scottish grey, telling of spring's true arrival.

Sam was up that morning at the usual time, but he wasn't going to work. His family wanted a day together, just them and no outside distractions. Justin would arrive before long as per Julia's invitation, and Rho was bringing along his own sweetheart.

 

[heartofcourage]

When Julia put together a family outing, she expected everyone to be there. Now that Kate was back for a while, they had reason to celebrate. The afternoon would be for the immediate family and that evening they would host a large dinner for everyone. All the branches coming together for a dinner as they use to. Julia made sure that the kitchen had made a hearty meal, enough to feed her strapping husband and sons.

"There's no one you would like to bring, Sam?" Julia asked as he helped her to pack away the food in wicker baskets. "Everyone has someone, save the twins."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ma, we've already been through this. I don' have anyone, nor do I want anyone," Sam sighed as he closed up one basket. "It's a distraction I don' need."

"What about the Blackstone girl? You seemed to enjoy talking to her," Kell teased as he came in with some bread from the kitchens. Sam gave him a dark glare but Kell only smiled at him. "I'm just teasing you, Sam. Don't take it so personally."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's alright, Mama. Sam can play with me." Heather promised as she glanced towards the sounds of the conversation that were going on next to her. "Papa promised to take Ashelin for a swim."

Heather had a fear of the water. It was something unknown and without her eyesight, she never truly enjoyed swimming or boat rides.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam leaned over to kiss Heather's cheek in thanks for her sticking up for him, murmuring, "Thank ya, love."

Brogan soon entered too, his wounds from the month before now long healed and leaving him in good health. "Almos' ready?" he asked, Ashelin by his side. "Justin's here an' Vincenzo's ready to go."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I believe we are." Julia said with a happy smile as she gave each of the men a basket to carry.

Kate soon joined Kell's side and Annie and David met them on the steps of the keep with Danny and Silas excited and ready to go. Bridget was bright eyed that day, squirming and moving at the excitement of a family meal.

"I think she's the most excited out of all of us." Annie commented with a laugh as Bridget cooed at the sight of her beloved grandfather.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Hiya, darlin," Brogan spoke softly to Bridget and kissed her forehead before they set off. The loch was gorgeous, glimmering in the sunlight as they settled on its shore. Brogan took Bridget so Annie could get her food first, and Sam was content to sit with Heather and offer her what help she needed to find things. Justin, the handsome chocolate-colored wolf they'd all come to adore, was enjoy simply teasing Ciaran. They had long since lost any fear of loving one another, especially in front of their families. But in public, they tended to play it off as friendship to avoid any trouble with those who weren't so keen on the idea.

 

[heartofcourage]

Annie got her food and smiled at her father as he held Bridget. It was obvious that Brogan Ghis adored his granddaughter and Annie thanked her lucky stars that her daughter would have a loving grandfather. It was the kind of relationship that she had enjoyed with Vincenzo, who was currently entertaining Silas and Danny.

As she sat down, she kept looking towards the wooded path as if waiting for someone. Soon enough, the familiar form of Fiona Blackstone, dressed in her best outfit, came out of the woods. She paused for a moment at the sight of the entire family gathered, but soon pushed forward.

"I invited Fiona." Annie said softly, looking at her family and finally at Sam with a slight grin on her lips. "She's been a great help at the stables. It only seemed right."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam stared at Annie for a long moment, not sure if he should be absolutely livid or just not talk to her for the rest of the day. He settled on just rolling his eyes and trying to distract himself with Heather.

Brogan rose to greet Fiona, letting Julia take Bridget for the moment. "Welcome, m'dear," he said kindly to her, shaking her hand as they met for the first time. "'Ave a seat 'ere by me an' David."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Thank you." Fiona murmured as Brogan stood and shook her hand, welcoming her to take a seat next to himself and David.

Her eyes traveled briefly towards Samuel, noticing the way he seemed to be avoiding her entirely. He was focused on his sister, tending to her as the ate her lunch.

"Annie said a small family gathering. I didn't expect all of this." She murmured as she took a seat next to David, looking around at all of the food that had been provided.