Claymore and Dagger Pt.2

[KieranSoares]

"You're a lot more'n tha', Fiona... We've been a lot fer each other, seen each other through hard times... but never think you're less without me. Love isn' love til you can love yourself. A' least fer myself... I've learned t'be okay with myself. An' that's why I know I can be your husband."

 

[heartofcourage]

"When did Samuel Ghis get replaced by a poet?" Fiona asked as she teased him softly, a small smile crossing her lips as she made him consider just what she was saying.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don' know about a poet, but there's a tradition of art an' war in my family. Maybe I take part in both." Sam didn't seem terribly bothered by the whole idea, allowing himself just to be lazy for a while.

 

[heartofcourage]

“You most definitely have a silver tongue.” Fiona said as she pulled away from Sam and turned in the tub, straddling his hips and facing him. “It’s one of your many strengths.”

She reached between their bodies and gently started to stroke her mate, leaning in to kiss him as the moment lingered. As he grew hard against her palm and she slowly sank over his lengt with a long sigh, she reached up and took his cheeks in her hands.

“I promise you, Samuel Durban Ghis, that I will love you forever. That I will support you however I can. That I will always remind you of the wonderful man that you have always been, even when you wish to argue that fact with me.” Fiona murmured softly, gently strokes of her hips keeping them both engaged as she recited a simple set of honest vows to him. “I promise we will never go more than a week without making love. I promise to let you chase me through the woods on every full moon. I promise that our children, all 13 of them if you wish, will be given their own choice in life and the finest education we can afford.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam found himself suddenly lost in the moment as Fiona spoke to him, riding him slowly as she promised things he'd once considered far out of reach. He felt almost overwhelmed by how willing she was to give him everything, and he didn't know how he could match her in return. He slowly lifted a hand to her own cheek, kissing her before pressing his forehead to hers. It took a long moment, but he finally murmured, "I'm yours, love... but I promise you tha' no matter what, ye'll always be free." Having been the man to take her freedom from her when he was the law incarnate, and the man to have threatened her freedom for months afterward as he chased her with a vengeance, and now that so many responsibilities lay upon them both, Sam felt it was the most fitting thing. She would be free. Free to be her own person, free to travel and explore, free to throw off responsibility and fly away for a while if she wished.

 

[heartofcourage]

“I still am free, Sam.” Fiona whispered softly, knowing that he still worried about shackling her with responsibility beyond what she wanted. “You have given me everything that I could have ever dreamed I wanted. Marrying you today will simply be another step, not a shackle.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam could only kiss her again, drawing her deeper as they spent a lazy evening making love, bathing, and eventually wandering to bed. It was late morning by the time they were woken by a knock at the door, Ciaran's voice calling to them that Justin had things ready for them and Chessie had breakfast for them as well.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona woke to Sam's arm curling around her, both of them waking as Ciaran called through the door that Justin was ready for them and Chessie had breakfast. "We can cancel the wedding and sleep all day." Fiona murmured, pressing a kiss to Sam's cheek before she begrudgingly pulled herself out of bed.

She dressed in a simply shift and a robe, knowing that whatever Justin had in store for her, she wasn't going to be in that for very long. "Have you seen anything that he's made for the wedding?" Fiona asked as she went to open the door to let the serving staff bring in their breakfast.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Considerin' I saw th'things Ma was showin' 'im fer ideas, I've got a good idea myself. But no, he's kept it pretty secret other'n my own outfit." Sam dressed in a simple tunic and trousers, following Fiona's lead knowing they'd be changing soon.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, at least you've had a peek." Fiona said with a smile as she sat down to breakfast, eating until Justin appeared with a grin on his face towards the couple. "Well, my love, it seems as if my time is up. I'll see you up at our tree."

Fiona leaned across the table and kissed Sam, giving him a small smile before she gathered her things and went to follow Justin to Julia's rooms where all of the wedding items were lain out.

Julia, Heather, and Ashelin were already there, dressed in their custom gowns. It would be cold, a chance of snow, so they had been made warm. Each woman was dressed in the Ghis dark blue with touches of tribal silver, custom made cloaks with the Ghis crest stitched along the hems and hood. It would be unlike any wedding their family had seen thus far.

"You all look lovely." Fiona said as she took a seat at Julia's vanity, allowing them to start to work on her pile of blonde hair.

"Invah and Gaiann were going to clear the cliff of snow before they started taking guests." Heather said, standing to the side if she could be of any service to her mother.

Fiona glanced in the vanity mirror as Justin carefully laid out the stark white gown and cloak. She could see glimpses as he made last minute alterations, silken threads shining in the light. She could see both dragon scales and tribal designs on the soft silk. The cloak looked like it was heavy wool lined in fur, a high collar giving her an almost military appearance when she had it on.

“Justin, I think you’ve outdone yourself.” Fiona murmured.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ma and I wanted to make something worthy of a queen, a warrior, and a Lady Rider, something that'll make you look powerful and graceful, and a stark contrast against Sam who we've got in all black." He then produced a silken sash with the Invernessian deep shade of blue. "But you both have these. Together you'll have the clan colors."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We also got you a gift!" Ashelin said as she turned and hurried to the small box where Julia had placed the specially commissioned pair of earrings. "They match your ring."

Fiona opened it to find that Julia and Brogan had created a pair of earrings that held two beautiful moonstones, the little gems shining in the light. Fiona had a small little smile on her face as she looked at them and then back up at the family that was gathered around her.

"I'll never be able to repay you, even if you would accept payment from me." She said, knowing that they would do this for her simply for loving their son and brother.

"You owe us nothing, love." Julia said as she finished braiding Fiona's hair and pinned her crown into place. "Just love Sam. That's all that we ask."

Fiona nodded, placing the earrings in place before she stood to allow Justin to get her ready for the ceremony.

 

[KieranSoares]

By the time Justin was finished, Fiona looked unlike any previous bride on the Ghis family. While her outfit was elegant, the fur and high collar and straight lines gave her a look of authority and severity suiting the widely known reputation of her husband-to-be and that of the serious Dragon Riders. The fabric flowed gracefully, but was as much form as function to keep her warm, guard against snow and wind, and make her look as though she drifted over the snow rather than walking.

Justin took a step back with a proud sigh of a job well done, and turned Fiona to face the full-length mirror. She still looked like herself, but seemingly more mature, more sure of herself and more in-control. She looked like a queen in her own right, but a good partner to a too-serious king.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona stared at herself in the mirror for a long moment, taking in every single detail that the gown and cape had to offer. She looked like she was the queen of ice and snow, a true ruler of Inverness. However, she still felt like the scared little kit that she had always really been.

She had to grin as she heard Julia softly explaining to Heather in detail what everyone else was seeing. Turning to look back at the little girl as Justin pinned an elegant veil to her hair, she reached out and took Heather's shoulder.

"Go ahead and feel." Fiona said softly, waiting patiently as Heather carefully felt the fabric of the gown and cape before she stepped back with a satisfied smile on her face. "Well, shall we see if a dragon can take us to get married?"

Fiona grinned as the rest of the family nodded and left to find Gaiann and Invah, Fiona pausing as she felt when Owen appeared and quietly closed the door behind him. She stared at her father for the longest moment before she moved to hug him tightly.

"You look handsome today." She said softly, noticing the smart suit that he was wearing with pride.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Give Justin the credit. Somehow between all his other work, he managed this." Owen smiled down at her proudly. His own outfit was lordly in style but not overly boisterous, sporting dark blues and blacks to help him match with Fiona as he walked with her. He took a moment to embrace her tightly, just quiet as he held her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm going to take care of you from this moment on, Da." Fiona whispered against his ear as he held her so tightly. "It's my duty. I won't have you arguing either."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You've been taking care of me this entire time, little kit. I'm okay now," he murmured. The proof of his recovery was between his beautiful fur and his new social life in the village. He looked far happier, and possibly more handsome than in his youth.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll never stop." Fiona said as she pulled away from his embrace and gave him a smile. "We owe it to Ma. I think she'd be so happy with Sam and the fact that Uka is here to watch this wedding. She waited a long time for this moment."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You don't owe her anything to do with me, love. But I do appreciate it." Owen walked with her to the great hall, mostly empty as most of the guests had already headed out for the cliffside. Fiona would be revealed as a surprise to most in her outfit, especially Sam, and him to her. Invah was waiting outside, ready to carry her Rider to her wedding.

 

[heartofcourage]

As they stepped outside the keep, Fiona was pleased to see a blue sky above them. Snow would return, but for their wedding, it would be a beautiful afternoon. She paused as she saw Invah, smiling as she saw the dragon wrapped in her ceremonial scarf.

“How much did you have to bribe Gaiann to wear scarf again?” Fiona asked as she greeted her dragon with a tight hug.

 

[KieranSoares]

"The same things you have to bribe Samuel with to smile," Invah whispered with a chuckle before laying low in the snow for the few people left to climb on. With the cold and danger of new flyers, Invah wouldn't fly to the cliff. She and Gaiann along with some drakes and carts had been carrying people to the cliffside on foot. It didn't take long before they were on their way.

 

[heartofcourage]

Once Fiona was settled in place next to her Da, she took a moment to truly look around. Most of Inverness was empty that day, many of the citizens having already followed to the base of the cliff where they could watch a small piece of Inverness history happen from afar. Sam had already paid for feasts to be set up all around Inverness and the surrounding villages, so everyone could join in their celebration.

Fiona smiled and waved to those left behind, true happiness showing on her face. Along the way that Knvah took, she saw colorful banners hung from trees and sign posts, a gift frommthe tribes for the new Queen of Inverness that shared their blood and traditions. Getting near to the cliff, she could see riders on dragons, all dressed in their best suits and armor, providing Invah a guarded path.

 

[KieranSoares]

The Riders were all completely decked out in armor with decorative cloaks showing their individual origins, be it a tapestry-like series of stories or a simple regional crest. As Invah climbed the hill, each Rider atop their dragon saluted with spears, shields at their sides. And atop the cliff, swept smooth of snow with only a light covering left thanks to the dragons' tails, there awaited the Ghis Clan. As this would serve as Fiona's true rise to her crown, there was all the finery of a coronation as well, but the wedding would take center stage.

Most of the family stood save those who needed to sit, gathered in front on benches brought out by the dragons, and before them all stood Brogan, still the patriarch even though Sam was king. Sam would always defer to his father in leading the family, knowing Brogan was best at it and Sam still had a lot to learn. Fiona arrived just as Brogan finished speaking to the family of herself and Sam and the great willpower and joy of Inverness to still give such a strong showing of love even amid war. He marked the occasion as one of the truest shows of what Inverness was about- kinship, hospitality, and perseverance.

Invah came to a halt to let everyone down, and Owen took Fiona's hand to help her, just as she caught sight of Sam at Brogan's side. In a stark black suit alongside his handsome decorative plate armor pieces, he cut a dashing, powerful, and dark figure. To match Fiona, his cloak was made of bear fur dyed deep black, the collar high and made in the same style as her own, and he carried his Claymore on his back to match with the officer's sword Justin had added to Fiona's attire, sheathed in white leather. Together, they would look like a true united, powerful front that their enemies would hesitate to face.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona caught sight of Sam standing so proud and handsome under their tree. She paused for the longest moment as her father adjusted her veil and pressed a small bouquet of flowers from her mother and grandparents plot into her hands. She was still staring at Sam as Brogan took a seat and Rho moved to Sam’s side and Will moved to the empty spot that Fiona would soon be standing in. Taqu’un was standing there calm and proud in his new ceremonial robe.

Fiona noticed as the band struck up a lovely little tune that someone had tied hundreds of pieces of white and silver cloth to the old tree, the branches fluttering lovely in the breeze. It was all so much more than she could have ever expected, even as the queen of Inverness.

Fiona finally glanced at her father after a long moment, taking his arm and giving him a smile. “Ready?” She asked him, knowing it was an emotional moment to him as well.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ready as an old Fox can be," Owen smiled in return and stepped forward with her. Soon the families quieted, all turning to look to Fiona. As she stood at the end of the aisle marked by braided, colorful rope on either side, Sam's dark green gaze settled on her, intense and almost expectant, but his stoic expression was quickly broken by a gentle smile as he clasped his hands before him.

Owen stepped slowly down the aisle with Fiona, proudly holding his daughter's arm before their combined families. The Riders dismounted and gathered in two lines along the aisle as Fiona reached Sam. Owen took a deep breath as he faced Sam, and the two shared an embrace before Owen let Sam take Fiona's arm, kissed her cheek, and stepped aside.