Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

The next day didn't truly start til late in the morning, and Julia ended up being woken by the feeling of Brogan shifting beside her, sitting up at the edge of the bed with a grunt from hurt and sore muscles. With a sigh, he ran his hands back through his thick dark hair and picked himself up, limping to his small clothing chest to find fresh clothes for the day. He didn't seem ready to rest beyond a night's sleep.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia frowned as she felt Brogan moving from the bed. She let out a sigh and rubbed her eyes, turning them towards her husband as he moved about the room to ready himself for the day. She pouted as she turned into the warm spot that he just vacated, feeling as if she could sleep for another thirty days before she ever felt rested.

“Come back to bed, Brogan. It’s still early.” She murmured, her cheek turning on his pillow as she made herself comfortable.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Gotta go help clean up an' get things ready fer Boar..." Brogan muttered, limping to the door. He looked back to her, "Y'can stay if ya like..." He opened up the door and headed out, his heavy boots echoing unevenly with his limping. Eventually, Valentina came to get Julia.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia sighed softly as she heard Brogan limping away from their room. She couldn’t sleep and she was soon out of bed, dressing for the day in a warm gown of deep green. By the time Valentina came to get her, Julia had already styled her hair and her circlet was back in place, signifying her position among Brogan’s people.

She entered the hall for breakfast and was met with a place full of frantic energy. They were still cleaning the keep from the battle the evening before, but there was a certain cheer at the thought of Brogan’s brother visiting. She grabbed a hard roll to eat as she pitched in to help with the final preparations.

 

[KieranSoares]

Cole was luckily still holding on, and it was beginning to look like he'd pull through. By noon, all was cleared away and just in time for the arrival of a group of four horsemen and a tiny carriage. In that carriage was Boar's wife, and on the leading horse was Boar himself. Boar was a massive man, but he wasn't quite Brogan's size. "'Ey, ol' man!" Boar called with a huge grin as Brogan stepped out to greet him. The younger brother stepped down from his horse and hugged Brogan. "Damn, Brogan, y'look like ya got in a scrap with a bloody bear an' lost."

"Nah, fought with Wick yes'erday," Brogan chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder. "It's good t'see ya, li'l brother."

"You too, ol' man. Now, where's this new lass o' yers? English, ain' she?"

"She is. Lovely gal, though. Julia!" Brogan called, turning to the keep's door.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Boar!” Came the haughty call from inside the carriage. “Don’t you dare start inside without me.”

A slender, pale hand emerged from the inside of the carriage, waiting for Boar to offer his help. Once his large hand encircled hers, the woman finally made her way out. She was tall and slender with jet black hair that hung loose down her back. Her clear blue eyes gazed about as if she were the queen of all she saw. Those clear eyes turned towards Brogan and her full, red lips curled into a smile.

“It is good to finally meet my husband’s family. He has told me much about you.” Came a voice that was husky and seductive, a woman that clearly knew how to use her wiles to get her way. “My name is Emma. Emma Campbell.”

It became very apparent as she moved that her bearing was extremely regal. She had grown up expecting great things in life and her pedigree was second to none. It was also very apparent how she had managed to marry a man like Boar Ghis so quickly…her swelling belly was testament to the success she’d had with seduction.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Welcome t'Inverness, Emma," Brogan offered. He wasn't much for regal ways, but he figured to each his or her own. "C'mon inside, a storm's brewin' t'the south." Leading them in, Brogan called again for Julia, looking about for her. "Not sure where she's off to..." He pulled out a chair for Emma. "Can I get ya anythin', lass? You, Boar?"

"Good ol' Inverness Ale'd be jus' abou' right."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Wine. Thank you.” She said with a grin as a chair was pulled out just for her. “And there’s no rush.” She called after her brother-in-law, watching him move to gather their drinks before she turned towards her husband.

“I thought you told me his wife was dead, Boar.” Emma hissed in a low voice, her blue eyes narrowing as she looked towards her warrior husband.

Julia had been drawn into changing Cole’s bandages and as soon as the job was finished, the cleaned her hands and hurried to find Brogan. “Let me help you.” She said in a breathless tone, knowing that his shoulders would still be sore from the battle.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Emma," Boar growled in warning for her to watch what she said in front of his brother. "'E remarried jus' a couple days ago."

Brogan smiled slightly as Julia finally entered, "I'm alright, darlin'." He took her hand once the drinks were set down. "Julia, this is m'brother Boar an' 'is lovely wife Emma."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Why did you not tell me that he’d remarried?” Emma said, a pout on her pretty lips. “You told me when we married that you were the heir to this land. What do you think is going to happen now that he has a wife??”

Julia returned Brogan’s smile and helped him to serve the drinks, her eyes glancing from the beautifully striking woman to the man that looked just like Brogan. She smiled towards him as Brogan took her hand and introduced her to them both.

“It’s such a joy to have you both here. Had we known that you were coming sooner we would have had a feast organized.” She said softly, her eyes turning towards Brogan to ensure that she was saying the right things.

 

[KieranSoares]

Boar simply ignored his wife for the moment, and looked to Julia, taking her hand and kissing it, "Glad t'meet ya, love. Nice t'know Brogan's got 'imself a lass other'n Ma t'set 'im straight. Y'ain' bein' too mean, are ya, Brogan?"

"Tryin' not t'be, honestly," Brogan nodded slightly.

"Ah, 'e'll simmer down, jus' kick 'is arse when 'e gets outta hand, a good slap'll shut 'im up." At that, Brogan laughed heartily, sitting down with Julia and his brother and Emma.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia smiled and laughed alongside Brogan at his brother’s wise words and assessment. She squeezed Brogan’s hand in silent support, letting her strapping husband know that she was thinking about him as they conversed with his younger brother.

“I suppose congratulations are in order for you both as well. How exciting, Emma, to be a new bride and a soon to be mother as well.” She said in a sincere voice. “It is a very strange thing to fine yourself not only a wife, but also a queen, and a Scot all in the span of a week.”

She laughed softly at her own joke and grinned at her handsome brother-in-law. Emma watched the scene very carefully, gauging her words before she spoke. “It is a very strange thing, especially considering the problems that we have had with the English in the past.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ah, ferget th' English. Julia ain' like a single one of 'em." Brogan stated boldly.

"So, brother, tell me what 'appened here yes'erday."

"Jus' th' same ol' idiots from Wick, thinkin' I'll jus' roll over an' surrender."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia nearly jolted when Brogan declared boldly that she wasn’t like a single person he’d ever met from England. It seemed that his new sister-in-law was making a terrible first impression. She squeezed his hand tightly as he mentioned Wick and the battle yesterday.

“Come now, you two. We shouldn’t talk of battles today. It’s a joyous occasion to have you here and we won’t let that little bit of darkness cloud our day.” Julia said diplomatically.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Y'sound like Ma," Boar laughed, leaning back comfortably. "Where is th' ol' gal anyhow?" And with that, a ball of yarn bounced off his head and into his lap as Kitty emerged with Valentina at her side.

"Old, hm? I can still slap ya silly, boyo," Kitty warned, but couldn't help a smile.

"Hiya, Ma," Boar rose and hugged his mother carefully, knowing how fragile she was. "Yer lookin' jus' as lovely as ever."

"Big softie," Kitty kissed his cheek. "Now, this must be Emma." She turned to smile gently to the woman.

"Yeah. Emma, this 'ere's my lovely mother, Katherine, but everyone calls 'er Kitty."

 

[heartofcourage]

Emma rose as Boar introduced her to his mother for the first time. She held out her slender hand to the woman, smiling as the woman acknowledged her. With that nod from the former queen, Emma felt as if she finally had the legitimacy in her marriage that she’d craved since she first caught Boar’s eye.

“Katherine, it’s so good to finally meet you. Your letters don’t do a lovely lady like you justice.” She was laying on the flattery nice and thick, knowing that when Brogan tired of his little English wife, all of the power would fall to her.

Julia watched the three of them get acquainted and she turned to look at Brogan with a soft smile. Leaning close to his side, she pressed her lips against his ear to whisper. “Perhaps we could call some of the musicians from the keep? It seems a shame that we cannot great your brother properly. A dance would certainly brighten everyone’s mood.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Not a bad idea, love," Brogan smiled back to her and kissed her cheek before rising to catch a passing man, muttering something to him. He hurried away and Brogan settled back down after making sure his mother had a seat too. Soon, several musicians arrived, and the kitchen made an impromptu luncheon. Boar seemed a bit surprised at how quickly it was all managed. But then again, it was Inverness.

As a lively stepdance began, Brogan looked to Boar, "Let's get th' lads, eh?"

"Call 'em, brother!" Boar laughed and rose to approach the cleared dancefloor. Brogan called out to the people who'd gathered for the celebration, and seven men emerged from the growing group. The now nine-strong group gathered in a line and Brogan began. This was entirely new to Julia, how graceful Brogan could be. His steps were perfectly in time and expertly executed, and soon, the other men were in perfect unison with him. A line of nine women joined, mirroring them, and the watchers all clapped in time, hollering and cheering joyfully.

Impromptu joy, that's all it was, yet it was powerful. Brogan abandoned the line briefly to come to Julia, and Boar came to Emma. "Care t'learn, ladies?" Boar grinned. He'd keep it simple and easy for Emma's sake.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia was laughing as she watched Brogan move, her eyes on only her husband. She knew Ciaran was there somewhere, but she couldn’t bring herself to try and find him. This was about Brogan and his family today, not about her needs and her secret lover.

“I would love to learn.” Julia said softly as she took Brogan’s hand and allowed him to pull her back into the mass of dancing people.

Emma let out a sigh, looking at her husband as he grinned down at her. How she detested dancing with a crowd. Still, she couldn’t stand to let her husband down. She took his hand and gasped as she was jerked from her seat with a single tug.

“Boar…” She said in her pouting voice. “Not so rough…”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Sorry, love," Boar offered sweetly, kissing her cheek, leading her into the crowd.

Brogan had Julia's hands in his own, showing her the steps bit by bit. Soon, he had her stepping in perfect time in a basic style to start with, and as the song ended, he laughed brightly and kissed her. "Well done, lovely,"

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia laughed with perfect abandon, her eyes sparkling as Brogan showed her each step until she could dance with the best of them. When the song ended, she was laughing along with her husband, her body pressed against his. When he kissed her, she felt a strange warmth trickle down her belly. Maybe Ciaran was wrong about Brogan after all…

“Well, with a teach like you, it’s no wonder I did so well.” She said with a cheerful smile upon her face. Gently she reached up and touched his cheek with her finger tips. “Brogan…about last night…I’ve been meaning to say that I lo…”

Her words were cut off as Emma suddenly stumbled into her sister-in-law, her timing way off as Boar struggled to teach her the same steps that had enchanted Julia. The raven haired beauty was furious, her eyes glinting in the light as she narrowed them at her husband and then turned towards her new in laws.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Whoa, now," Brogan caught Emma and Julia both. He chuckled good-heartedly, "Are ya alright, Emma? Boar ain' th' best teacher."

"I'm tryin'," Boar sighed. "C'mon, love. Ye'd best sit down."

"No worries," Brogan nodded.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia watched as Boar escorted a fuming Emma back towards their seats before she turned back towards Brogan with a shy little smile on her lips. She pulled her strong husband down towards her to whisper against his ear once more.

“I think I love you, Brogan Ghis.” She said softly, pulling back with a blush staining her cheeks as she made her confession.

 

[KieranSoares]

At her words, Brogan was struck speechless. She returned the feeling? Brogan felt his heart swell with happiness he'd not known in years. He swept Julia off her feet and kissed her with a loving passion she'd not ever known before, and he didn't care who saw it.

But in the back, Ciaran saw it, and his heart felt like it was cracking apart.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia shrieked in surprise as Brogan swept her off her feet, the sound silenced as he kissed her with an incredible, loving passion. She moaned softly, her fingers finding their way into his thick locks as he showed her just how he felt. When the kiss broke and she was sat back upon her feet, Julia glanced around the room and noticed the downtrodden look upon Ciaran’s face. It truly broke her heart…

“I’m going to get something more to drink from the kitchens.” She said softly, kissing Brogan one last time before she moved from his arms, glancing at Ciaran as she passed and silently motioned for him to follow.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ciaran did follow out of loyalty. As they went into the cellar where it was quiet and no one else was around, he smiled bitterly, "I guess things're workin' out now... I'm glad." It was a complete lie, though.