Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"No." Fiona said softly as he asked if she loved Dorn. "I told you that you're the only person I've ever loved and I meant it."

"I was going to end that part of my life. I didn't want to be a thief that would be goaded into doing favors for people as payment for things in the past." She said in a soft voice. "You were never meant to know. I didn't want to hurt you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"So tha' Lion... Rilor. He was out t'make you work for 'im." Sam sighed and lowered his head. "I stopped t'talk to Dorn while I was waitin' fer th'ship t'be ready. He told me y'let 'im know Rilor was stealin' from 'im, tha' you felt like y'had t'repay 'im fer bein' good t'you in the past."

When he looked at her again, she finally saw his emotionless mask break into what seemed to be a mix of heartbreak and sympathy. "... Why didn' you let me help? I could've caught Rilor, taken 'im off the streets, an' none o' that would've ever 'appened. I guess... I guess I can understand, a' least logically, about Dorn... but tha' doesn' mean I didn' feel like death fer days after tha'. I still do, if I'm honest..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know I ruined what we had." Fiona said as she looked away from Sam. "I ruined it and we can't go back. I so badly wanted to believe that thing could actually work out in the end for us. Not because I want to be a princess. Things like that don't interest me. But because I might actually have a family that loves me."

She blew out a long, heaving sigh as her shoulders sagged. "He might have hurt you or Will or even your family like Kerrigan did. I didn't want that to happen. So, I did what I knew how to do. He wouldn't hurt me if he needed me. He wouldn't hurt any of you if i cooperated."

 

[KieranSoares]

As Fiona spoke, Sam felt his shoulders seemingly grow heavier and heavier. At first he'd wanted to be angry, and believe that Fiona was unfaithful. Then his rational mind had caught up on the voyage over the North Sea, and he knew there had to be a reason. Now that he knew the reason, he was still heartbroken, but even worse, he felt guilty for thinking Fiona slept with someone else for no reason, and he of all people understood what others were willing to do to protect their families. How many times had he dealt with ransoms where the family would give or pay anything to get their loved one back? How many times had he seen people do horrible things to protect their families?

Sam didn't realize what he was doing until Fiona was in his arms and he was hugging her tightly to his chest. And when his mind did catch up, he didn't want to let her go.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona broke the moment Sam drew her into his arms. She sobbed against his shoulder as he simply held her. She was that scared little kit, mourning a mother she barely knew and a father who she needed but was never there. Sam gave her strength and she would never make up to him for this heinous deed.

"I'm so sorry." She sobbed, her arms daring to wrap around his broad chest. "I'm so sorry, Sam. I didn't want this to happen."

 

[KieranSoares]

With a kiss pressed to the top of her head, Sam held her a little tighter. His pride normally got in the way of forgiving most people, but he finally murmured, "We'll make it work, Fiona... Somehow."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona cried harder at that, sobbing until there was nothing left but hiccups. She was freezing, shaking in his arms as a hollow sense of peace came over her. He wanted to make things work. She would give anything to prove to him that he wasn't making a bad decision.

"I should get home." She murmured softly, finally pulling back from his chest. "My grandfather worries and I don't want him to tonight. Not after saying goodbye to my Ma."

"If you'd like to come, you can. They're good people. They loved my Ma and they love me." Looking at him with red eyes, she slowly blew out a breath.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think I'll do tha'." Sam helped her stand and before he followed, he freed Kennah from her saddle and bridle and let her go with Roman.

 

[heartofcourage]

Roman was off to explore with Kennah at his side, the drakes scurrying off to do their own bidding. Fiona watched the go for a moment before she bent down to pick up her tack and warm cloak, leading Sam into town. She could hear laughter as she approached her grandfather's home, the Windows bright and warm as Juno's voice filled the air the moment she opened the door.

"Juno, you tell that story at every gathering." Hanni chuckled at her mate.

"It's his favorite one about Tatianna." Anya responded as she noticed Fiona had returned. "Rhett insisted we wait for you to start eating, dear."

"You didn't have to wait." Fiona said as she placed Roman's tack aside and placed her cloak on a peg.

 

[KieranSoares]

As Sam laid Kennah's tack aside, Oleg smiled to him. "Welcome, Samuel."

"I 'ope I'm no' intruding," Sam muttered.

"If you're Fiona's guest, you're welcome."

 

[heartofcourage]

"This is Samuel Ghis." Fiona said to her family who was gathered, each of them looking on in curiosity. "He brought my drake from Scotland."

"That's a long way to bring a drake." Anya said with a smile towards Sam. "Welcome to our home. These are three of my sons. Yul, Juno, and Rhett. Voluun is off collecting the children with his mate, Ericka. They should be back soon. Juno belongs to Hanni over there."

As Anya was introducing Sam to the rest of the family, Fiona came to her grandfather's side and kissed his cheek. "Feeling better, Uka?" She asked softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"A bit. But a parent's heart never really heals after losing a child." Oleg smiled weakly and hugged Fiona to his side.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I think she would have been happy." Fiona said softly as Oleg held her tightly against his side, giving her a weak smile. "I'll take the ashes home to Scotland and spread them on her grave. That way they can be with her there and they can be with you here."

She kissed his cheek as the front door opened yet again and the sounds of excited voices soon filled her grandparent's living room. Red was the first one in the door, launching himself into his father's arms. The red fox was stunning with black hands and feet and a black muzzle. Tom and Talia soon entered behind their brother, both excited about their camping trip and eager to share the news with everyone.

"Mormor, we managed to find a blackberry bush and I brought you some." Talia announced, the orange fox showing her grandmother the bag that she had picked while in the wilderness. "We can make some jam together."

Tom quietly moved to his mother's side, hugging her tightly and burying his black furred head against her neck. Per entered a moment later with his parents following behind. Per was full grown according to the tribe, but he still enjoyed spending time with his younger cousins and was excited to be a brother come the spring.

 

[KieranSoares]

Juno was ready the moment he heard the door open, catching his son and messing up his fur with a laugh. The two were incredibly alike, very energetic and excited about everything. Talia was a little more like Hanni, whereas Tom was a bit of an odd one in the family being so quiet and reserved. He often found solace and security with his mother or his uncle Voluun and cousin Per.

Per was Voluun's pride and joy, a well-rounded young man, responsible and polite and a skilled hunter, fletcher, and bowyer. He got on so well with Tom because Per had endless patience in teaching and listening. It also made him Red and Talia's beloved cousin because he could and happily would keep up with them.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I missed you, mayvo." Hanni murmured against Tom's ear as the boy rewarded her with a smile.

"We can make some jam together tomorrow." Anya told Talia with a grin, kissing her granddaughter's cheek as she hugged her against her side. "Maybe Rhett will tell us some of his secrets to make it extra special."

"Uka? Who is this?" Red asked his grandfather, glancing towards Fiona with curiosity as the woman hugged their grandfather tightly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"This is your cousin Fiona, from Scotland," Oleg told Red with a smile. "She just got here yesterday." He hugged Fiona a little tighter and kissed her forehead.

 

[heartofcourage]

The children had all been told about Fiona, but they had no idea when she was coming. It seemed that none of them were phased by the idea that she was there or a part of their family. They were just as much their cousin as any of them were.

"I'm pleased to meet you all." Fiona said as Oleg held her a little tighter. "It's been a long time in coming."

She glanced over towards Sam as he stood to the side, watching the entire scene. She wondered just what he thought about the family that she had discovered, but she was incredibly happy with everyone. It would make it very hard to go back to Scotland.

Soon enough, they were all called to get their food, a feast spread out in the kitchen thanks to Rhett's work.

 

[KieranSoares]

Rhett served the children first as they all knew he usually did, then he made sure Ericka and his parents were served before the rest dug in. He also welcomed Sam before Rhett himself made up a plate. Sam took a seat near Fiona with Rhett at his opposite side, and he silently listened to the talk around him. He was never the shy sort, but he felt somewhat out of place even though he could keep track of all the languages around him and no one thought anything of him beyond his being Fiona's guest.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona was quiet as the ate, glancing at Sam from time to time as her family chattered and shared stories of their camping trip and the day that they had. It was so innocent and loving, something that Fiona had never had before.

"How long will you stay?" Fiona asked Sam softly, still not daring to hope that things were going to be alright between them.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don' know. I left Inverness without much warnin', but I appointed people in my stead." Sam met her eyes. "We'll see."

 

[heartofcourage]

"There's a lot to see around here. Things I'm sure you can learn from their warriors and the town guard." Fiona suggested as Sam looked her in the eye. "It wouldn't be a completely wasted trip if you did that."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It wasn' wasted anyway," Sam assured her. "If only fer Roman's sake. But if I'm honest, halfway here I realized I needed t'come hear your side."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Sam, after what happened you don't owe me anything." Fiona said quickly. "You didn't have to hear me out at all."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It doesn' have anythin' t'do with owin' anyone anythin'," Sam shook his head. "I wanted t'understand what happened. I thought I did somethin' t'make you go find someone else, 'r you realized y'didn't love me... I jus' wanted t'come hear what I wouldn' listen to before."

 

[heartofcourage]

She went very quiet as he said that, glancing at her family to see that they weren't listening. Everyone seemed occupied by something that Juno was explaining and Fiona turned her head to look at Sam again.

"Do you think there's hope for us?" She asked him in an achingly frightened voice.