Claymore and Dagger Pt.2

[KieranSoares]

"I'd let you, but I'd be going too," Sam answered calmly as he flipped through a few pages. "No doubt some of the others would too."

 

[heartofcourage]

“You’d make me terribly upset if you followed on Gaiann.” Fiona said as Sam passively flicked through his papers.

His riding was something they often fought about. Sometimes it would be vicious as a summer storm and others a quiet battle of wits. She’s was never really sure that either of them ever won anything, but it was still a sore spot in their relationship.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll just have to deal with that, then. Because you're not going without me and if Invah goes, Gaiann goes. They've been apart too long and they work too well together to be separated." Sam knew it was a touchy subject, but he had never backed down. His approach had always been to hold a firm line and try not to get too angry as he knew it scared Fiona to death, but he felt she vastly underestimated his capabilities and his determination versus fear.

 

[heartofcourage]

“When was the last time you trained, Sam? And when will be the next?” Fiona asked him, sitting up on one elbow to look at him. “You’re busy running a kingdom, which I admire, but only active training will serve you well in battle.”

They had argued about every side of the issue but had yet to find some common ground. It simply felt like she was arguing for the sake of arguing sometimes.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll admit it's been a few days, tha's true. But you know I normally make it out every other day. An' I've 'ad enough training with Dana tha' some things are automatic now. You don' need to lecture me about consistent training, love. I've been a soldier since I was fifteen, an' started training long before."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Samuel." Fiona murmured in that low tone that told him she was getting upset. "You can be the most infuriating person on the face of this earth sometimes."

She then turned her back to him, sulking on her side of the bed as he simply continued to work without a care. She wanted to throttle him sometimes, but only once had she threatened to break their engagement in the middle of a fight. He usually made up for it in the end, but she had done everything in her power to make him see that the king of Inverness riding a dragon into battle wasn't in his best interest.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know," he murmured after a moment, in a much more somber tone. He did deeply regret upsetting and scaring her, but he had to weigh her fears against the potential gains, and he hadn't seen enough logical and tactical reason yet to bow to the former. He didn't think her fears were unfounded, but he also knew it was a risk he felt he needed to take. Every little resource was needed against an invading empire.

"I love you," Sam added after a long silence, not expecting an answer.

 

[heartofcourage]

“I have no doubt of that.” Fiona said softly. “But duty will override everything else. That’s a bitter pill to swallow.” Fiona said softly, knowing that he would ride and there’s was nothing she could do about it.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's all I know, love. An' with an empire at our doorstep..." Sam sighed, stopping there. He had explained his motivations many times, but he knew nothing would soothe her fears. Sometimes he felt like she was trying to leave him out, but he knew that wasn't true. He only wished she would understand that his fear of heights was a limitation he could train himself out of.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona was quiet for a long moment before she turned with a long sigh and sat up, throwing her legs over the edge of the bed to stare at him straight on. "How do we compromise? How do we make sure that this issue isn't going to tear apart our marriage before it's even really begun? I know you're stubborn and I'm just as stubborn as well."

 

[KieranSoares]

"If I knew how t'compromise on this, love, I'd 'ave done it when we were still in Sweden." Sam put down his papers and quill to give her his full attention. "I don' know what I can do t'make you feel better about me ridin' with Gaiann."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're never going to make me "Feel" better about this, Sam. You are far too important to far too many people." Fiona insisted again, knowing that he never saw himself as such. "I know I have every reason to trust you, but knowing that you have a fear actually terrifies me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"If I stayed away from everythin' I was scared of, no one'd ever see me again. Heights are by far one o' my lesser fears," Sam insisted, and sighed quietly. "... I don' want you to be a Rider either. You're a target, an if Invah falls out o' the sky, you're done for. I think it's a ridiculous risk, honestly. But I don' say anythin' because I know th'gains for the common good far outweigh the risks, an' you feel like you belong in th'saddle. An' the reason I ask you t'let me do the same, is because I feel at home too. Even if I'm edgy about being up so high, everything else about it is... amazing. An' I've always ridden horses, then drakes. A dragon outdoes any steed anyone here 'as ever had. Gaiann's powerful, he's smart, an' he's loyal to you an' Invah. He's a good partner. I think we could do a lot o' good things together, the same way you an' Invah can. Yeah I get nervous... but I never freeze, an' Dana wouldn' be workin' with me if she thought I was gonna die th'moment I flew into battle. I guess the point I'm making... is just give me a chance, here. I know you're worried, so am I. But give me th'benefit of th'doubt tha' I've given you."

Sam rarely elaborated or tried to put so many feelings into words, doing so made him feel too vulnerable. But he sounded almost like the young boy he'd once been before he'd turned so serious, eager to prove himself and help the people he loved. Once he finished speaking, he sat back a bit, squaring his shoulders and quickly resuming his serious focus. Even around those he loved and trusted most, that openness didn't last long when it came out.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Don’t hide from me, Sam. Please.” Fiona said softly as he opened himself up so fully and then closed himself back off. “Of all people, I ask that you don’t hide from me. You know I would never do anything to hurt you for sharing that side of yourself.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's no' tha' I want to. Just... Hard to stay open." Sam sighed, raking his fingers back through his hair. "Sorry..."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona let out a sigh as she stood and wrapped Sam in a tight hug, pulling herself into his lap. “I suppose we’ll just have to continue to agree to disagree on the subject.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Looks like..." Sam sat back to let Fiona lean against him, his arms draping around her middle. "You've got th'same fears for me tha' your Da has for you." He offered a light smile at that. "He's talked to me a few times about it, how worried 'e is tha' even a dragon won't be able t'protect you."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Calling and riding is in my blood. I don’t think there’s anything he can do to stop me from it.” She said with a long sigh. “You’ve already given me the top of the line when it comes to armor and weaponry. The rest is up to my dragon and I.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Your father doesn't want me riding either, but 'e relented on th'condition I watch your back. So for his sake an' mine, I'll be doin' jus' that."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Since when have you been good friends with my father?” Fiona asked, leveling her mate with a look.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Didn' say we were good friends. But we're on friendly terms, an' he cares at least fer your sake. He made it pretty clear tha' he'd murder me, even if 'e had t'bring me back from th'dead, if I failed you."

 

[heartofcourage]

“I doubt he’s serious about that. Seeing how he mourned my Ma, I don’t think he’d be strong enough to do that.” Fiona admitted softly, leaning her head against Sam’s shoulder. “But I know you won’t fail me. As long as you can help it.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"As long as I can help it," Sam repeated quietly, letting his head rest against her own and closing his eyes.

 

[heartofcourage]

Over the next few days, Sam and Fiona struck a sort of peace with one another. They trained together on drakes and dragons, prepared for their wedding, and spent time with Fiona’s family. Fiona would catch glimpses of her father and Sam in deep conversation, discussing things she didn’t know. She could only wonder what he had to tell Sam that was so important in such a short amount of time.

The evening before their wedding, a feast was being held in their honor put on by Brogan and Julia. It was a fancy event, every member of his extended family and hers invited in their best dress. Fiona was just pinning her crown to her brow when he entered in his best uniform and she had to smile.

“You’re still the most handsome man I think I’ve ever seen.” Fiona said softly, slipping another pin into her tightly braided hair.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam paused as she spoke, a warm smile coming to his face as he met her eyes. "Well, I'd hope y'think I'm no' bad t'look at. You're about t'be stuck with me for a long while." He stepped over to steal a kiss before helping her with the crown. "Chessie's put together quite the feast. She said Gran would never forgive her if she didn' make a big deal out o' their Sam finally givin' in to love."