Claymore and Dagger Pt.2

[KieranSoares]

"So ye'd still walk beside me if I lost it all? Even if we were paupers in some London alley tomorrow?" Sam asked rather amusedly, then added, "I'll try no' t'do tha', of course."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I can teach a prince how to be a pauper." Fiona said as Sam asked her in his own little way if she'd stay even if he was poor. "And our little kits would be just as happy as they would have been if we raised them in the keep."

Fiona nuzzled against his cheek to reassure him, sighing as she caught the small way that his lips curled in amusement. "All thirteen of them. I know once we start having kits, you'll never want to stop. You're a big softy when it comes to children."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Hell no," Sam chuckled, picking up a bottle of honey mead Chessie had packed for him. "With th'kind o' trouble you'd get 'em into, any more'n we 'ave hands for is beyond too much," he chuckled. "My parents could barely 'andle Kate with Ciaran bein' well-behaved. Rho and I needed th'attention of our whole family. If it weren't fer Ciaran bein' older an' us havin' plenty o' help, Ashelin an' Heather would've been far too much. Hell, they still are."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You can't honestly tell me that if you had your choice, you wouldn't go and gather up Heather and Ashelin, Brogan, Dana, Danny, Silas, Bridget, and Rho's little one and steal off to have mischief and fun with them all at once." Fiona said, knowing that Sam was a very doting uncle. "I should have known that Samuel Ghis' biggest fear would be his own children."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Followed closely by heights," Sam added, taking a long drink of mead before settling back against the tree. "An' then you," he chuckled.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't scare you." Fiona said as she leaned her head against his shoulder, relaxing with him after such a long day. "I might stop your heart from time to time, but I don't scare you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I figured those were about the same." Sam glanced up at the sky. "... Been meanin' t'ask you, love... What sort o' plans d'you want t'make fer us? Fer our future?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"For our future?" Fiona asked, looking over at Sam as he stared up at the stars. "I figured it would have been planned out since we're now king and queen."

She sighed at that, thinking about what she would have wanted out of a marriage if she weren't royalty now. "I supposed I would want it to continue just as it is now. There will be much more responsibility, but we will make time for one another. In a few years, we'll bring some children into this family. We'll ride dragons, perhaps see more of the world. Protect those that need protecting."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Bein' Clan Royalty is a bit different from others," Sam murmured. "We don' have the kind o' planned day-by-day tha' Kate might. With fewer people an' less land an' only a handful o' counties, we 'ave more freedom. You can be more... spontaneous. Long term plans are always good, but we'll 'ave free time too. A' least, whenever th'war is finished."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I want to make you happy, Sam. Truly happy." Fiona murmured softly, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Happy enough that you'll smile and mean it. That's what I want our future to be."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's not just up to you to make me happy. I need t'figure it out fer myself," Sam muttered. "But... I think I will."

 

[heartofcourage]

"No, but I can play a large part in that happiness. You don't even have to smile for anyone else but me to make me a happy woman." Fiona said, knowing that it was a struggle he would have to deal with for the rest of his life.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam let his eyes close for a long moment, the arm around Fiona hugging her closer to his side. "I love you," he murmured. "I'm lookin' forward t'seein' what kind o' queen you are."

 

[heartofcourage]

“And I’m looking forward to see you be the good king that I know you can be.” Fiona said as he hugged her against his side tightly. “We’re a team, from this point forward. Your troubles are mine and my troubles are yours.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Seems so," was Sam's simple reply. He was content to laze about their little makeshift camp for the rest of the night, never wandering far from Fiona's side.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona simply watched Sam as he worked around their little camp, setting he fire a little higher and draping his cape around her shoulders. He was such a mystery to her, but she could see he moved easier than he had in the past.

“You don’t have to take care of me, Sam. I’m perfectly capable of doing things myself.” She said softly as he paused. “Just come and hold me and relax. We have nothing to do until dawn.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I like takin' care of you," Sam insisted, but he did as she asked and came to join her side once more. With a long, adoring kiss, he laid back on the bedroll he'd laid out and left plenty of room for her beside as he unfolded some blankets.

 

[heartofcourage]

“It’s nice to know someone wants to take care of a wayward kit like me.” Fiona waited until Sam had finished rolling out their bed before she settled at his side, snuggled up against him to keep the chill at bay.

“Thank you for not making a big deal out of our unexpected surprise today. I didn’t want there to be a scene.” Fiona murmured as her blue eyes looked up towards him. “Invah And I will go on patrol tomorrow morning to see if we can find any other stragglers.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yer welcome to it, but I doubt they'd 'ave anyone out in the open. They know we 'ave dragons, and they have their own in the Empire. Odds are, they're aware of keepin' overhead cover. But I think it'd be useful anyway. Give th'people some peace of mind tha' their Queen is a protector, an' make a show of vigilance t'anyone watching."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'd say I deserve new riding gear, but you only just bought me what I have." Fiona said with a smile, yawning as she wrapped her arm around Sam's broad chest, letting her eyes close as she relaxed after such a long day. "And what I have is fit for a queen."

She was soon asleep in his arms, safe as she could be in that moment with Sam watching over her. He had given her so much, probably more than he would ever realize.

 

[KieranSoares]

Come the next morning, Sam let Fiona sleep in a bit as he packed up their things on the drakes and tended the fire just long enough to keep her warm til she woke. When he did wake her, it was with a kiss to her forehead.

"Come on, sleeping beauty," he encouraged softly. "Royalty don' sleep til noon."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona woke with a frown, rubbing at her eyes as he encouraged her to wake up. "You didn't even make breakfast?" She asked, glancing over to where the drakes were waiting patiently.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Nope. Because we're gonna go through the western village on our way an' have some proper Erygonian faire." Sam smiled gently down at her as he crouched by her side. "You know I can barely cook as it is."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I guess I can agree to that." Fiona said, pulling herself out of bed and stretching.

She helped Sam pack away the last of their things before she mounted Roman and let Sam lead the way into the the village. The market was already busy that morning and as soon as they spotted Sam on top of Kennah, it was as if they were welcoming home a long lost hero.

Fiona couldn't help but laugh as were crowded around him, cheering the new king of Inverness. She could see the hint of embarrassment on his face and she gave him a reassuring grin, knowing that Sam deserved every single moment.

 

[KieranSoares]

Whatever embarrassment and shock Sam felt at the first cheers, he quickly regained his composure and posture. Even in simple clothes, Sam made sure to always look fairly professional and serious, and he certainly had no trouble pulling off his current casual riding attire with a stoic and calm expression, giving nods and welcomes to those who approached. While he did want to be approachable, he knew there was a fine line between approachability and welcoming a mob every time he appeared in public.

Fiona got her share of attention as well, being a newer member of the tribe and vouched for personally by Suara and several other beloved members of the community. As a leading Rider, she got a special sort of reverence that Sam had not yet earned, and was addressed in equal measures as Queen and as Lady Rider or Caller.

Sam cleared a path to one of the simple outdoor restaurants and found a place he and Fiona would be left to their own devices. Breakfast was hearty as always in the village, made with hunters, farmers and training warriors in mind.

Near the end of their meal, one person finally came to approach them. "Well, well. To what do I owe the pleasure? It isn't everyday that royalty shows up in my village." There behind them stood Suara in long green robes that nicely complimented the autumn colors around them. She was on her own, meaning Naiya was probably still with Rho and any of her underling elders and apprentices were still at their respective homes.