Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Fiona was well rested but physically exhausted. She stumbled into the kitchen, her stomach rumbling as she saw her grandmother and uncle listening to what Orla was saying through the window. She quietly moved to the stove to make her own meal, listening to Orla with one ear.

 

[KieranSoares]

Orla spoke of some warriors having gone to Malmo at the request of Queen Kjersten recently, to help train men in the tribal people's forte of guerrilla fighting, and how it was bringing some more trade and attention from the city to the tribe. Even despite a harsh winter, things were going well on most counts. She also mentioned news of the Triad's rulers getting together in Malmo soon, and when she saw Fiona, she spoke up. "Oh, Fiona. They'll probably invite Sam," she gave Fiona a smile. "You should go with him if they do."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Only if he wants me to go." Fiona said as she glanced towards Orla, turning her bacon as her eggs cooked in the coals. "He tends to travel to official engagements on his own."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, he'll probably need a dance partner for the ball they're going to hold, at the very least. But I'm sure his aunt would want to meet you." Orla chuckled, kissing Rhett's cheek before she headed along her way.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't have nice enough clothing for a ball." Fiona said as Orla kissed Rhett's cheek and went on her way. "I'm with a prince and I could barely clothe myself if I needed to."

She dished up her food and took a seat next to her grandmother. "Maybe I should buy some nice cloth to go with what I got for my birthday."

"I could buy it for you, love". Anya said softly, patting Fiona's arm. "It gives me a chance to spoil my girl."

 

[KieranSoares]

Oleg's voice reached them as he entered, his hands tucked into his sleeves neatly. "I think you of all people know that your prince would buy you the best gowns Europe has to offer if you only hinted you wanted one, little kit." He gave her a smile before taking a seat beside Anya as Rhett went about his usual chores. "Samuel has already proven he's willing to spoil you too."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He already bought all of my tack and armor. I don't think I'll let him buy me something as frivolous as a gown. Besides, I've always wanted to make one but I've never had the chance." Fiona commented as Oleg joined them. "Maybe I could put in an order with one of the merchants going to Malmö. He could find better cloth there for a better price."

 

[KieranSoares]

Oleg simply shrugged, knowing Fiona would do as she saw fit. He glanced to Rhett as the silent fox went back and forth cleaning and getting a few things out for later. "Rhett. Do you ever sit still?"

Fiona had not learned the sign language that Rhett had developed with his family, so when he answered in just a quick flash of a few signs, there was no hint as to what Oleg chuckled at. It was difficult to interpret anyway, and Rhett tended to let others speak for him, especially Orla and Anya.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona watched her uncle communicate and she admired him. Without a voice, he could still be heard. She smiled after him as he told Oleg what he wanted and hen returned to his busy pace.

"Anything I can do, Uncle Rhett?" She asked, finishing up her breakfast.

 

[KieranSoares]

Rhett looked to Fiona and came to kiss her forehead before directing her toward the great stone oven in the corner of the room. He often had her help him bake, and this time he had her begin stoking the fire.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona finished her dishes and got to work on the fire. She had bake with him many times in the past, but it was even more special to have her grandparents there as well. They could talk and enjoy the moment together.

 

[KieranSoares]

"What are your plans for heading back to Scotland thus far?" Oleg finally asked. He didn't want Fiona to leave, but he knew it was fast approaching.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I suppose when Elin is strong enough and my training is at a stopping point." Fiona said as she looked over at her grandfather. "But it won't be forever. I'll be back here as much as I can and I expect all of you to come and see me too."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It shouldn't be terribly hard for you to come back considering you have a dragon to bring you now," Oleg said with a soft smile. "But we'll be sure to make it over at some point. It's always nice to have a change of scenery."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's not forever, Uka. I promise you that." Fiona said as she left her task and came to kiss his cheek. "And I'm only a letter away. If you ever want me back, you just need to send for me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"If you give me that kind of power, I'll be tempted," Oleg told her with a smile. "But I suppose I ought to let you have plenty of time back home with your work and of course with Sam."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You are one of the few people in this world who I would allow to abuse that promise." Fiona said with a fond smile towards her grandfather. "And Sam and I get enough time together as it is. You don't have to worry about the two of us. We've worked things out."

 

[KieranSoares]

"There's no such thing as enough time with the person you love," Oleg corrected her, earning a chuckle from Rhett who gave a glance to Anya. Oleg often said little sidelong compliments like that, never actually directed at Anya, but meant for her anyway.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You'll always be my sweetheart." Anya murmured as she kissed Oleg's cheek. "Even when I'm old and grey."

Fiona smiled at her grandparents as her grandmother nuzzled up against Oleg and she turned back towards the fire, leaving the both of them to their little moment.

 

[KieranSoares]

"We already are grey, darling," Oleg chuckled, nuzzling back against Anya.

By the time Fiona finished with the baking, Rhett shooed her away to go enjoy herself at whatever she chose. Kesh was wandering around the house while Owen was off doing who knew what, and the other drakes were probably either wandering or settled in at the barn by the tavern. Everyone else always had something to do.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona took her new sewing kit and the green silk fabric that Rhett had given her outside into the warm sunlight. She patted Kesh on his scaled neck, placing her things under her arm.

"Where's Da?" Fiona asked as she looked around for Roman or Kennah, but it seemed that the drakes were off doing their own bidding that day. "Let's go to the market and see if we can find something to compliment this fabric. I can't go to Malmö looking like a ruffian."

 

[KieranSoares]

Kesh nuzzled against Fiona's arm when she patted him, and he gladly crouched to let her climb on his back when bidden. Being a fair bit taller than Roman and with no saddle on at the moment, climbing up was a bit too much. He trotted along toward the central market, dodging around people they passed by.

 

[heartofcourage]

In the market, Fiona found a lovely rabbit fur in dark black that would add a dramatic flare. She smiled to herself, thinking that she was one of the most non dramatic people that had ever lived. Maybe it would catch Sam's eye and she could draw another hard fought smile from her serious beau. She also found a beautiful brocade in green that she bought a little bit of, enough to add to the design.

Once she was done, she bought herself a meat pie and a snack for Kesh before she mounted again and let him roam to find a warm, sunny, dry spot to work.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kesh wandered a while until he found a spot near the foothill treeline and let Fiona off. Once she was firmly on the ground, he flopped over and twisted in the grass with a groaning growl, rolling around until he fell still on his side in the sun. Northern drake though he was, he was still a lizard and the long months of little sun had left his body craving the light.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona laughed as Kesh twisted and turned in the grass until he settled in the warm sun. When he was completely settled, she leaned back against his broad back and set to work on her new gown. It took little time to cut the pattern but she spent a large amount of time in the stitching. She wanted it to be absolutely perfect and beautiful, fancy enough to fit into a ball should Sam want to take her to Malmö with him.