Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Fiona nodded and with a last kiss, she let Roman lead the way. Elin sat still in the saddle as they made their way from the docks to the keep. The other drakes called to Roman and Kennah as they caught sight of them, running along the fence line to get their attention. It seemed as if the humans weren't the only ones excited to see their friends.

When they entered the gate, Fiona slipped off the saddle and put Elin on her feet, glancing up as someone was hurrying towards her. She grinned as she caught sight of Will, her arms wrapping around him tightly as soon as he was in range.

"I think you grew a foot since I last saw you." Fiona murmured as she hugged him tightly and then took a step back to look into his face.

 

[KieranSoares]

Will was now Fiona's height, speaking of a proper growth spurt over the winter, and when he spoke, his voice had grown deeper. "It's about time you got back. You left without a word," he hugged her once more, laying his head against her shoulder. "Don't ever do that again..."

 

[heartofcourage]

'I promise that I'm here to stay." Fiona said softly as Will laid his head against her shoulder, hugging her as if he were a frightened child, speaking to the growing that he still had to do as a young man. "Sam asked me to marry him."

She whispered that to Will as if it were some great secret between the two of them. "And I said yes."

 

[KieranSoares]

Will looked up once more with a smile at that news, which quickly grew into a smirk. "Does that make you a Princess? I can't wait to start calling you Mrs. Ghis."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Lady Blackstone is good enough." Fiona said with a smile as she ruffled his shaggy hair with her fingers. "I'm not a Princess unless they give me the title, Will. I'll be no different than the woman that you knew before I left."

 

[KieranSoares]

"No different? You're a dragon-rider and that basically makes you nobility now. Lady Blackstone is right, people don't call you just Fiona anymore," Will chuckled to himself. "We've come a long way, huh?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're still an annoying pain." Fiona said as she hugged him tightly again. "How much do I owe Aleister for keeping you housed and fed? And how much do I owe Leon for keeping Lucy away from you while I was away?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll have you know I paid for myself just fine," Will declared, crossing his arms. "And Lucy and I talk, that's it. Dazu's kept Leon from getting too overprotective. She's just my friend."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're sweet on her. Admit it." Fiona said with a smirk as Will grew defensive over Lucy Ghis. "It's alright to have a crush on someone, Will. As long as you remain respectful of her wishes and those of her fathers."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She's a nice girl and a good friend," Will muttered, unwilling to admit any more. "You all seem so convinced that I'm gonna steal her away and never come back or something like that."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know you'll stick around. Inverness is your home." Fiona said, touching his cheek gently as she gave him a proud smile. "Although my grandfather has offered to help connect you with your family if you so wish. He knows many people around Sweden and can put the word out that you would like to know them."

 

[KieranSoares]

Will was quiet at that offer for a long moment. "... Maybe... Some other time. We've got a war to deal with first."

 

[heartofcourage]

"The offer is there, Will. No one will pressure you." She said softly, taking his arm and leading him inside the keep.

 

[KieranSoares]

Fiona was immediately greeted by the king of Inverness, Brogan wrapping his arms around her and hugging her close. "Welcome home, love," he murmured, smiling down at her warmly. He looked well despite the recent stresses, and Julia was close behind him.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I promised I would take care of Sam, didn't I?" Fiona asked with a grin as Brogan hugged her so tightly, welcoming her back to Inverness.

 

[KieranSoares]

"You did. An' I'll admit I was worried fer you two, but..." He took her hand, seeing her grandmother's ring. "Welcome t'the family, darlin'." He kissed her cheek before stepping back so Julia could greet her as well. Brogan smiled to Will, welcoming the boy in to join them as dinner would be served soon.

 

[heartofcourage]

"So, you've managed to break through my Samuel's shell?" Julia asked, kissing Fiona's cheek as well as Brogan finally stepped aside so she could greet the girl back. "I'm honestly surprised it took him this long to work up the courage to ask you. I've never seen him act the way he does around you before."

"He chose a beautiful moment." Fiona said as she looked towards Brogan once more. "And how is Kate? He's been worried for her as well."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Should only be a month 'r so before Scotland 'as a new Prince 'r Princess. She's doin' well, even if she's annoyed a' Kell fer takin' all 'er work away. We've been keepin' 'er occupied an' involved, though. An' since Alex let us know 'e's safe, everyone's relaxed a bit an' been able t'focus."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Good. He's been thinking about all of you since he's been gone." Fiona said with a smile as Julia and Brogan welcomed her and Will into the keep to have a seat at the long tables.

"Have you thought any about your wedding?" Julia asked, excited to help plan a ceremony for one of her sons.

"Not really. Sam wants to wait for a calm time later this winter." She said softly, knowing that there might never be a calm time in the midst of a war.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Winter? That's a long time to wait. Spring's only just started. But I suppose tha' makes sense. Imperials aren' gonna be ready fer northern winters." Brogan settled beside Julia. "Th' Rus will be untouchable around winter, so we can probably count on their help."

 

[heartofcourage]

"And I would like my family to be here. My grandfather wants to come and see the place where my mother is buried, so it would serve a few purposes to get them all here to Inverness." Fiona said as she glanced towards Brogan. "I have to ask, and I understand if you say no, but could you look into my father's past crimes and perhaps forgive him of anything that is still outstanding? He wants to come back here and he certainly has changed since I knew him as a child."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Owen Blackstone never did anythin' worth arrestin' for," Brogan assured her. "I did a little lookin' into his history. Other than gettin' in some fights an' bein' a bit unfair t'humans when 'e dealt with 'em, he's an innocent man in Inverness."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He wants a good life and a good job and I know that he couldn't do that if he belonged in jail." Fiona said, feeling a little bit better about her father's past and his future in Inverness.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Sounds like y'made up with 'im. I'd be glad t'welcome 'im home, long as 'e tries t'be better than 'e was before. But if 'e's accepted you an' 'e likes Sam... Maybe Owen worked out a little bit o' that hatred fer humans."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He is a changed man." Fiona said as Brogan mentioned that he would welcome Owen to Inverness if he had truly changed. "He wants a quiet and honest life near his daughter."