Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"We'll see if I have time." Fiona said with a yawn, her head resting against his shoulder, arm holding him tightly. "Dragons demand much more of my time then I though."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Once th'main training's over..." Sam murmured before he drifted off.

Come morning, Sam was up at his usual time of dawn, and he went out to check on the drakes before starting his day properly. When he returned, little Elin was nipping at his heels almost literally, Kennah following at a lazy pace but watching closely over her hatchling.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona was still sound asleep when Sam returned followed by the little drake and her mother. Elin adored Sam and she desperately wanted to play. Every so often, Kennah would pick up her baby, keeping her out of trouble as much as possible.

By the time Sam returned to Oleg's house, Xenia was waiting outside, looking at him with a smile as Elin tumbled at his heels. "Good morning. I was coming to fetch Fiona, but her grandmother tells me she is still asleep. Perhaps Dmitri has been working her too hard."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, I don' know who's more at fault, Fiona fer workin' so hard, 'r Dmitri fer demanding so much time an' effort," Sam said with a smile to Xenia as he scooped up the little drake and she tried to chew on his fingers.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll tell Dmitri that this is a day for her to rest. He would work her straight through if he had the choice." Xenia said as she watched Sam handle the little drake. "You are a natural with the animals. Perhaps you have missed your calling as a breeder."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I didn' necessarily miss it," Sam murmured as he turned Elin on her back, something he'd learned from Kennah that caused the little drake to calm down when she got a little too rambunctious. "I jus' never 'ad the opportunity til recently. My Da's been makin' a proper trainin' an' breeding operation back 'ome, so I'll probably be joinin' in."

 

[heartofcourage]

Elin immediately went limp in his arms, purring as her tiny hands gripped his fingers to chew on. The little drake was perfectly content to be in Sam's arms, just as she was to be with her mother and father and Kesh. They all doted on her in their own way.

"In time we will spread the word that you can get good drakes in Inverness." Xenia said as she moved closer to get a good look at Elin. "She's a lovely color. It will probably darken slightly as she gets older and her scales start to harden."

 

[KieranSoares]

When Xenia drew closer, a low rumble came from Kennah's chest and she took a step toward Sam and Elin. Sam turned and lifted a hand to Kennah's neck. "Hey, now, nothin's wrong. Settle down." When Kennah sat back on her haunches, Sam returned his attention to Elin and Xenia. "Well, I suppose it's good tha' Roman isn' 'ere. He probably wouldn' even let me near this little lass." As he looked down at Elin, he couldn't help a little smile. "I'm hopin' t'train her myself, get a feel fer raisin' drakes early. Horses're still plenty useful fer other sorts o' work an' o' course drakes are a lot more expensive t'care for, but I can see most o' the Inverness cavalry an' guard patrols an' rangers ridin' drakes before long."

 

[heartofcourage]

"There used to be hundreds of drakes in service to soldiers. I wasn't alive to see it, but the elders talk about lines of men heading to battle on the backs of drakes." Xenia commented as Kennah seemed uneasy with her so close to her child. "It's alright, little mother. I won't hurt your baby."

She held out her hand towards Kennah, letting her get her scent to become more comfortable. "It was a different world back then. Rory and Fiona wouldn't have been the last of their kind and dragons were more common. There are those out there that wish to eliminate them all."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Hopefully most o' the drakes back 'ome don' have to face too much in th'way of war," Sam murmured. "An' I'd like t'see dragons free t'roam again. So many people don' know they exist an' so many are afraid of 'em. I think th'world could do with a little more understanding o' non-human people."

 

[heartofcourage]

"My own mother was skinned when I was a small kit." Xenia said as she dared to reach out and pet little Elin, Kennah shifting nervously but not moving any further. "Simply because she rejected another man's advances. He was jealous of what she and my father had and he turned her over to a group of hunters. No human would ever have to worry about that. My father still tells me that he prayed to any God that would listen that I might have been born human so I wouldn't know any pain."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam's gaze softened slightly as he listened to Xenia. "The Rus 'as never been terribly safe... I know it doesn' 'elp any, but I am sorry your family 'ad t'go through tha'. Nearly lost a cousin myself t'the slave trade a long time ago... didn' know if she was even still alive while my family tracked 'er down t'Rhodes."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I had a brother much the same. He came back to us but his mind was never the same. He took a vow of silence and works as a priest in the tundra. I haven't seen him in a while but he feels safer hidden away from the world." Xenia commented as Elin took her fingers in her hand and looked at the woman with her bright eyes. "You're a lovely little drake."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam made no more comment on Xenia's family, knowing the subject was probably painful. Elin eventually began to settle in Sam's arms, her bright eyes closing and her tiny hands curling against her chest. That was when Kennah finally came close and took her to carry her away to some warm spot for a nap. Sam smiled after them before looking to Xenia once more. "Thank you, fer givin' Fiona a day off. I'll let 'er sleep in, probably go an' see if I can't make myself useful somewhere this morning."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Just cherish her, Samuel. The life that she is choosing is hard and there are those that wish to do her harm simply because of what she is training to do." Xenia said simply. "She needs your support more than ever now."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Fiona's one o' the most important people in my life," Sam told Xenia, his tone serious but gentle. "An' though sometimes I wonder if it wouldn' be better t'dissuade 'er from bein' a Rider... I know she wants t' follow 'er family's footsteps and make a difference. I'll be righ' behind 'er."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She'll do just fine." Xenia said with a grin, bidding him to have a good day as she left.

Fiona was still sound asleep when she felt someone kiss her cheek. Let out a sigh, she rubbed her eyes and opened them to see Sam leaning over her.

"When's breakfast?" She asked, still exhausted beyond belief.

 

[KieranSoares]

"You already missed it," Sam chuckled softly, kneeling beside her and laying a hand on her arm. "I just wanted t'let you know I'll probably be helpin' 'round the village today. Xenia an' Dmitri are giving you th'day off."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't need the day off." Fiona protested even as she pulled her blanket a little tighter under her chin. "Just a long nap. Then I'll go train."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Nope. Give Xenia an' Dmitri a day to themselves, if nothin' else," Sam told her with a smile and an adoring kiss pressed to her forehead. "See you later, love."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona was already back to sleep when Sam kissed her forehead, but she smiled just the same. When he exited the room, Anya was there with a sack that contained his lunch. Just as she had done with all of her kits going off to work, she had made sure that he was well taken care of.

"I'll spoil her when she wakes up. There's enough in there for you to last until evening." She insisted, handing him the sack and kissing his cheek.

 

[KieranSoares]

"You already spoil me," Sam chuckled, kissing Anya's cheek in return. There had been many moment when she had reminded him of his late grandmother, and he had told her that before when they'd had a moment alone. "I appreciate it, love. I should be back before dark." He couldn't fathom how a family could so easily accept him as their long lost kit's mate, especially having grown up in a family that was so protective of all its members and those they loved.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't spoil you nearly as much as I would like." Anya said with a grin as Sam kissed her cheek. "You're a good man, Samuel. Just love my little kit and you'll have repaid me ten fold."

She cared for Sam just as she did for her other children's mates. She loved them all equally and spent as much time as she could spoiling them.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Tha's about the easiest thing y'could ask of me," Sam gave her a gentle hug before heading out to the village center.

 

[heartofcourage]

Stacia was outside the tavern, tending to the front walk that was covered in muck and leaves as the snows had started to melt away. She glanced up to see Sam walking towards her, a smile on her face.

"Long time, no see." She said, leaning on her broom. "I'm beginning to think you might not need the room in the tavern anymore."