Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"I'd really like a good knife. One made by the Erygonians." Will had always loved whittling and carving, and he was actually quite good at it for never having been properly taught.

 

[heartofcourage]

"A good knife it is. One of the best that the village has to offer." Fiona said with a smile. "Now go on to bed. You have a long day tomorrow and Ciaran won't go easy on you because you stayed up too late."

 

[KieranSoares]

Will let out a dramatic sigh. "Fiiine." He came to hug her before he went on his way to his room.

Sam was just arriving back at the keep, hoping no one noticed he'd disappeared and not come home with everyone else.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate was working as normal in the great hall when Sam tried to sneak in. She glanced up from her paperwork, a smile on her face as he looked at her like a child caught stealing a cookie.

"Late letters from Edinburgh." She said softly as he drew near and she kissed his cheek. "What has you out so late tonight? Even Ciaran and Justin left hours ago."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam tried to put on a natural tone and expression as he sat down across from his sister. "I jus' thought it was only polite t'walk Fiona home." His family had never heard him call her by her first name, always trying to distance himself from any familiarity with her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Tell me you at least kissed her." Kate said with a grin. "Because that's the only way that a man like you smiles like that."

 

[KieranSoares]

"That, dear sister, is none o' your business," Sam said without his expression giving anything away. "An' what d'you mean, 'a man like me?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"A serious man, Sam. Someone who has passions that even he isn't sure of. Men like you need someone to balance them out. A quiet girl would bore you. Fiona actually might be perfect for you, little brother."

 

[KieranSoares]

"How d' you always know?" Sam sighed, giving in as he realized he couldn't hide anything from his older sister. She had always been able to get secrets out of him because of her fantastic intuition, ever since he could walk and talk enough to get in trouble.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Because you're calm. I can see it in your eyes. You are happy for the first time in years, Sam." Kate said softly as she reached across the table and took his hand. "I won't tell anyone. This is your secret, but I don't want you to be afraid of giving someone a chance at holding your heart. It's a wonderful ride."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You would know, ol' married couple you an' Kell are," Sam teased, his tone gentler than she'd heard him use with anyone other than Heather in a long time. He glanced down at her hand, so small in his own, yet just as experienced and calloused. She wasn't the kind of queen to never get her hands dirty. She rode horses, hunted, trained, and sparred just like Kell and any other soldier, just like Sam himself. They had always had an understanding since his soul had grown so much older than the rest of him.

"It was pretty sudden," he murmured. "I wasn' sure what it was til she finally told me t'kiss 'er or we'd both regret missin' th'moment."

 

[heartofcourage]

"And...do you have regrets?" Kate asked, listening to her younger brother tell her about the woman that seemed to have found a place in his heart.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's funny y'ask tha'... tha's th' first thing she said after. No regrets, no worries... I know she doesn' blame me fer doin' my job, but I can' help but feel bad. An' I still 'ave t'bring 'er in. Tha's my only regret, even if I know I'm gonna fight like mad t'make sure she doesn' go t'jail." As a potential murderer, even if Sam knew the real story from Fiona herself, she couldn't just be let go. She had to go through the proper trial.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I would suggest having a plan with Rho before she does come in. That way, everything goes smoothly and you don't break your own heart." Kate advised, squeezing her brother's hand tightly. "Go slow, Sam. Protect your heart, but be willing to share it with her."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I can' lobby fer my own brother's cooperation, Kate. Tha'd be abusing my position an' his. I don' even know if 'e can even judge 'er because she's becomin' a friend t'the family. 'E'd be biased, an' it's against everythin' a fair trial's about if she 'as friends judgin' 'er."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Then where would you take her? Wick? Glasgow? It would be hard to give her a fair trial anywhere that is sympathetic to us, Sam." Kate said softly, knowing that if Fiona were put to death, many people in Inverness and the villages would be devastated.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think I'll take her to Taqu'un," Sam said after a moment. "He knows of her an' he knows what people think of her, but 'e doesn' 'ave an emotional connection to 'er himself. He's always been a good judge o' character. An' he'll know it was self-defense. He's judged a lot o' people in her position an' always picks out th'good ones."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Since she is a were fox, that might be for the best. She hasn't been around many of the tribal members, except those that went to Hara's place. Taqu'un would give her the fairest trial that you could expect. Then, you can woo her until she makes you deliriously happy." Kate said with a slight smile on her face.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm no' gonna turn into you an' melt every time she's around like you do with Kell," Sam teased with a hint of a smirk. He'd never let her live it down since her wedding with Kell when she'd gone weak at the knees at their uniting kiss and he'd swept her up to carry her back to the keep from the little place they'd had the ceremony.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I was nervous, Sam." Kate said with a little hint of blush on her cheeks. "And that kiss told me that everything would be alright. Kell is also a really, really good kisser."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll take yer word for it," Sam chuckled. The two sat up for quite some time talking about this and that as they usually did whenever she came home and they were both up late, usually working. But eventually Sam made Kate go to bed and he went to his own room.

 

[heartofcourage]

Heather was snuggled in Sam's bed, waiting for him to return. She often slipped into his bed when she had bad dreams. It had been Vincenzo before he needed his sleep more and more and Ciaran before he moved to the forest with Justin. Now Sam was her comfort in a dark world. She had brought her blanket and her stuffed cat, her head lifting off the pillow as she heard the door open.

"Sam?" She asked softly. "I had a bad dream."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam stepped in, laying aside his cloak as Heather spoke up. He was always so gentle and understanding with her. Now was no different as he scooped her up and let her settle against him as he sat back against his headboard. "What was th' dream about?" He asked softly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Wolves. I got lost in the forest and I couldn't find my way no matter how hard I tried. Then I heard wolves growling as they chased me." Heather said as she leaned her head against his chest. "They were big and black. I could barely see them as I ran."

Heather often had dreams where she still had her sight. She remembered certain things from when she was younger but her imagination would fill in the rest, leaving her anxious and scared.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Y'know yer big brother'll always swoop in an' save ya from things li' that, love," Sam assured her softly. "Tha's one thing I won' make ya figure out on yer own. Promise."