Claymore and Dagger Pt.2

[heartofcourage]

“Time And heartache will do that for you.” She said softly as they watched Khelt walk towards Kate and little Brogan, the tiny wolf snuggled against his mother’s shoulder as she serenely watched him. It seemed that Kate had made her peace with her demons and had come chosen to focus her attentions on her son for the time being.

She glanced up with a small smile towards Khelt as he approached. “I didn’t see you slip in.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've been here the whole time," Khelt murmured, leaning down to kiss Kate's cheek. "While Qira looks after you, I look after both you and my mistress." Looking down at the cub wriggling to get more comfortable, the calm Wolf's expression softened to a slight smile. "You both seem to be looking better."

 

[heartofcourage]

“He’s got a stubborn streak that will serve him well.” Kate said with a smile as Khelt’s expression softened, the little cub squirming in her arms. “He’s developing a personality even if he still suffers from pain from time to time.”

She offered Khelt the chance to hold the infant, knowing that family was incredibly important to the old wolf. The little cub was the realization of so many hopes and dreams for them all.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Becoming just like his mother, then," Khelt murmured as he sat beside Kate to hold the cub. Little Brogan wasn't too fussed about being moved. He'd shown a favoritism for fellow werefolk except for Mariko whom Brogan probably considered a mortal enemy for making him take medicines. After they'd gotten over the initial hurdle of Brogan's constant pain and sickness, the little cub had chosen specific favorite types of people: his mother and specific family, and fellow were and their mates. When Selena and Kreston had come to see Kate, the little cub hadn't minded them much, but he'd quite clearly disagreed with being given over to Annie or David when he wasn't in the mood for it.

Khelt watched as the cub squirmed and tried to see what was going on around them, his little ears perked forward and alert. The noise didn't seem to bother him, but it seemed to be his mission to investigate. "Already so curious... You'd best keep a close eye on him when he starts to walk, my dear," Khelt warned. "He'll be gone if you so much as blink."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Luckily I have Qira as an extra set of eyes. He is his personal guard.” Kate said as little Brogan squirmed in his great grandfather’s arms to see more of what was going on around them. “He would lay down his life for this little one.”

“We know Barbarossa sees this cub as the key to capturing Scotland. Kell is doing his absolute best but it’s exhausting. I think we would rather fight him squarely on the field of battle and not innsecretnas we’ve had to.” Kate said softly. “I never imagined having a cub that was weak when he was born, but I never also imagined raising a cub like this.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Khelt nodded slowly as she spoke, his eyes remaining on the cub. "Barbarossa and his strategists are not interested in a fair fight. Every time the Empire has expanded, it has been through subterfuge, murder, and blackmail rather than honorable combat and diplomacy. It's only a matter of time before Imperial troops land on England and Ireland's shores. Barbarossa knows the vanguard will buckle if the supports crumble, so he will aim for Scandinavia and Scotland above all."

Meeting Kate with a solemn gaze, Khelt added, "He has numbers and fine tacticians and resources from across Europe. But he lacks the loyalty of his subjects and half his lords for what he did to Lothair. Many refuse to call him Emperor for it, and it makes him endlessly angry. He has glaring faults and weaknesses that his strength and numbers have been hiding. This war may last a long time... But we have a chance."

 

[heartofcourage]

“I believe that Sam and Fiona will be the ones to end it all.” Kate said softly, offering Brogan his pacifier as the little cub suddenly looked in the direction of the band that had assembled for the festivities. “They have strength and fire with their dragons, but is it fair of me to ask them to put their lives on hold for this battle?”

Little Brogan lowered himself down so that he was barely peeking over Khelt’s shoulder, spying upon his cousin Dana who was being entertained by Ciaran.

 

[KieranSoares]

"No one's life can truly wait for war. But no one asked you and Kell to face the possibility of assassins killing your newborn cub either. We all have to live differently while this is going on. And Samuel in particular is prepared."

 

[heartofcourage]

“We never considered having a cub in the middle of war either. I’m happy that we did but I wish he could have had a more certain start.” Kate said as Brogan growled softly about something, sucking on his pacifier as he explored his little world. “He’s making up for lost time now. And he adores his Da. If you think he adores me, wait until you see him light up when he sees Kell.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I hope you know that this little cub is going to make your life a blissful hell," Khelt chuckled lightly. "It'll be incredibly difficult, but you'll love every second with him."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate smiled as Khelt doted on Brogan. The moment that Kell came back into view, carrying a waterskin filled with broth for the baby, the little cub stretched out his arms and bounced in joy. His greenish blue eyes lit up as soon as he saw his father.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell smiled and greeted his son quietly in Erygonian, and Khelt let him take the boy. Soon little Brogan was happily drinking from the waterskin in Kell's arms. Kell took a seat at Kate's opposite side.

"I think you two will be alright," Khelt spoke as he stood.

"Where are you off to?" Kell asked with a smile though he knew the answer.

"Our line of work doesn't wait for celebrations and happy times, cub. You know that as well as I do." Khelt kissed Kate's cheek and embraced his grandson before disappearing into the milling crowd of family and guests.

 

[heartofcourage]

“He’ll be back soon enough.” Kate said softly as they watched Khelt disappear into the crowd, seamlessly melting away as if he were never there in the first place.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell leaned over to kiss Kate. "How do you feel, love? Today's a big day to say the least." He had been looking after her as carefully as Rissa and Qira as they'd prepared for Sam's coronation. Kell had been concerned that Kate would get more stressed.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Old before my time. My little brother is a king. My other little brother is about to be a father. I’m a mother. It’s a lot to think about.” Kate said as she turned to look at Kell. “And you’ve got grey in your fur. When did that happen?”

She gave him a small smile and kissed his cheek, her hand coming to rest on little Brogan’s head as he ate heartily. “I still adore you more.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"In the past year," Kell answered with a smile, watching their son as he nuzzled into Kate's hand, forgetting his meal for a moment. "I don't mind being second to this one."

 

[heartofcourage]

“It’s a hard choice.” Kate said with a small chuckle as Brogan growled playfully and then attacked his bottle again with gusto. “Both of you are handsome wolves. One is more calm than the other but the other is as headstrong as I am.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I knew you were narcissistic," he smirked, laying his head against her own. "... I was talking to Rissa in the hall. When Brogan gets a little more stable, she'd like to take us to Inverlochly to relax."

 

[heartofcourage]

“It would be nice to get away.” Kate said softly. “You probably have needs of your own. I wouldn’t mind if you and Rissa...well, took time to yourself.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I appreciate that, love. But I don't think we're quite at the point to go off without you yet. After everything going on since we knew this one was coming along," he murmured, looking to their son. "We've had to put our time with her on hold a bit... And with Qira in the mix, I've tried not to take up any of their time together. Then again, sometimes they insist." Kell smiled to himself at that. While Qira was new to their little circle, she'd experienced similar moments where Qira and Rissa would take her away from her work to pamper her. Qira hadn't gotten into anything much deeper with Kate and Kell yet, but he'd shown his interest. They had learned, oddly enough, that the hulking Panther was rather shy.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Would you be upset to know that being intimate is the last thing on my mind? It might be that way for a long time. Papa says it’s normal for a woman to feel that way after a traumatic birth. I’ll get there, but it will take some time.” Kate confessed softly to her husband.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've never been upset over anything like that before, have I?" Kell nuzzled against her cheek. "If I'm really ever that desperate, then Rissa will look after me. She has a knack for knowing when we're stressed, after all." Rissa had taken care of both of them over Kate's pregnancy, but never one without the other, not quite yet. There were still some boundaries to overcome.

 

[heartofcourage]

“I’ve decided I want to be your only mate. I love our little family but you’re the only man for me.” Kate said softly. “I had a lot of time to think about it while I was ill.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"She doesn't have to be our mate," Kell nodded. "I think Qira is her only anyway. But the four of us fit well together and I think we'll stay as we are."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate gave Kell a small smile, kissing him gently before she scooped up the tiny cub in her own arms as he finished his bottle. “Come on, my little love. I want my first dance today to be with you.”

She nuzzled against her cub as he coped happily, hugging his Ma as she stood when the band struck up their first song of the event.