Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"You should be focusing more on Fiona. What she did for Kjersten is nothing short of heroic." Kayla said softly as she glanced over at Sam's lover who was eating by herself, the strain of the day showing on her features. "I'm an old woman, love. An old woman who has lead a good life, had two beautiful children, and accomplished more than I ever thought that I would. If I'm next, then so be it."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You're barely forty, and Norway wouldn't recover fer years if they lost the best leader they've 'ad in decades." He glanced to Fiona and Kayla saw him soften slightly, though any stranger wouldn't notice it. "She's stubborn... I've told 'er several times already t'go rest. But she insists on doin' her job." He watched as Kjersten went to sit with Fiona to avoid the guests. Despite all the well-wishers and condolences, she was exhausted and sick of people herself and found some feeling of solace beside Fiona.

 

[heartofcourage]

"She's giving you all the worry that your Ma and Da had for you growing up. It's good for you, Sam." Kayla said softly as she watched him soften when he glanced towards his lover. "Are you seriously considering taking the throne of Inverness? Honestly, you are the best candidate that I think your Da could find. I'll even send one of Gran's tiara's to you to give to Fiona."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She's expressed some hesitation fer bein' a queen. But I know I'll be king regardless... I'm the last one left, an' I know what t'do... Fer the most part. I'm a soldier, though. I'll need my family to help deal with the social side."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She'll be a lovely queen, Sam. She is kind and gracious and she understands what it means to be hungry and down on her luck. That will go far in helping those that cannot help themselves." Kayla said softly, taking her nephew's hand tightly in her own. "It makes me happy to see how much she makes you happy."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam glanced down at her hand before giving it a gentle squeeze. "I test her to no end... I break her heart an' make her lose sleep... But she keeps comin' back tryin' t'help me... She doesn' want t'fix me t'her standards, she wants me t'heal... An' she never gives up."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'd say that's the very definition of love." Kayla said with a smile as Sam admitted that he had done everything to push Fiona away and she had come back time and again. "To love someone through their flaws and to help them to grow is a beautiful testament."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She's insane," he stated bluntly. "Insane verging on downright ridiculous when I'm at my worst. And I couldn't love her more." He leaned down to kiss her cheek before stepping away toward Fiona. A royal guard took his place and he sat at Fiona's side, quietly taking her hand as she finished her meal.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona glanced at Sam as he sat and took her hand, a small smile coming to her lips as she went back to her conversation with Kjersten.

"I sent off the letter to Dmitri and Xenia. They should respond soon to the offer or know someone whom they trust to protect your daughter." Fiona said softly as she felt Sam squeeze her fingers and she glanced towards him again with a questioning gaze.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kjersten nodded, glancing to Sam and smiling softly to herself. "I appreciate that. More than I can say. But I think your brute wants your attention." She rose and patted Sam's cheek before retreating to her father. The moment Fiona looked back to Sam again, he leaned in to kiss her briefly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I like this side of you, Sam." Fiona murmured softly as his lips separated from her own. "It's like you're trying to lay claim to me...like a wild beast. My fox is most definitely in love."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, my clan crest is a bear," he murmured, the slightest hint of humor in his voice despite the dour occasion. "I was talking to Kayla... And she always manages to remind me how much certain people mean to me."

 

[heartofcourage]

"And am I that certain person?" Fiona asked softly leaning her head over on Sam's shoulder as she let herself finally relax.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Today you definitely are." Sam wrapped his arm around her. "We'll get home soon... Once everything is in place."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You know I don't care about that, Sam. We have things to work towards and to solve before we can go home." She said softly as he held her against his side. "And then we can plan our wedding because I've realized that no matter what happens with the both of us, I want to be your wife."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Gladly," he agreed simply. After the wake, though it was early afternoon, Sam insisted on himself and Fiona turning in early due to her healing. He took the time to change her bandages and help her get comfortable, going as far as to massage her back to relax her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Do you think they're going to be alright?" Fiona asked softly a Sam massaged her back to lull her into sleep. "They all see so broken."

 

[KieranSoares]

"They'll recover with time... A lot o' time. Long as they're still alive, they'll make it."

 

[heartofcourage]

"That sounds callus." Fiona said softly as Sam gave his opinion on the matter that was happening. "But I suppose all of this is pretty cruel. None of them deserved this to happen."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Truth is callous," Sam muttered. "Truth doesn' care about bein' fair 'r respectful t'merit or position. An' the truth here is tha' we win by surviving an' making our way on no matter what we've lost... And we live t'end what took the things an' people we love, so we can restore a little fairness t'the world fer a while. Tha's all we can really do." It was a cynical outlook, but cynicism had kept Sam from being swayed by pretty words and groundless promises all his life, making him a man of action that trusted the strength of merit over a silver tongue.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona gingerly rolled over in her side to look at Sam, listening to him explainnwhat he believed. She gently touched his bearded face and wished she could take away that deep seated pain in his heart.

"There is good out there in the world, Sam. Good people and goodness. I risked my life to defend a good person and I would do it time and again if I had to." She said softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know there's good. But there's evil too, an' tha's what most concerns me." He leaned down to kiss her and settled beside her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"There always will be but if you focus on that, it will be a pretty pathetic life." Fiona said softly as he settled next to her.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam shrugged slightly. "No' pathetic so much as realistic, as I see it." He looked over to her once more. "But then I remember yer still around despite my best efforts t'drive you off." He smiled slightly at that.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You'll never get rid of me at this point." Fiona said as she returned his smile. "And I will work every single day on cheering you up, Sam. Even if you want me to or not."