Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Kate greeted her mother just the same, hugging her tightly. "Everyone decided to come for your ball, kitten." Julia said as she let Kate look around the room. "And I dare say we have everything done in time. Chessie is working hard to get everything cooked by tomorrow evening."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She's doin' a damned fine job of it too," Brogan added with a smile. "She hasn' turned out this much this fast since... I don' even know when." Chessie knew the next couple months of Kate's life were going to be incredibly pivotal, and she wanted to make sure one of her last big feasts at home was truly memorable.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You all have done too much." Kate said as she hugged her father again. "I know I'll never repay you."

"Kitten, you don't need to repay us. We would do this for any of you. In fact, we will as your brothers and sisters come of age as well." Julia commented.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's as much fer our sake as yours, Kitten," Brogan murmured, holding her tightly. "We're tryin' t'make the time last." He then looked up to find Kell, only to see the Wolf had quietly gone to his grandfather's side and the two were conversing. "Did you a' least enjoy explorin' Edinburgh with yer Wolf?" Brogan asked, smiling down at his daughter.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I did. I brought home presents for everyone." Kate said with a grin as she thought about the wagon that she and Kell had brought back that was laden with things.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Sweet lass," Brogan kissed her temple. "We'll tend t'that later, though. Ye've got a few guests tha' came a long way t'see you."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate nodded as she started the long task of greeting her guests. She smiled to see Abel and Cahal, hugging both of her uncles tightly. It did her some good to see that they were both well and thriving after she had left Wick in such uncertain terms.

"I'm happy to see the both of you." Kate said in a sincere voice, looking them both over and seeing that they looked well.

 

[KieranSoares]

Cahal had healed completely with no enduring issues from the night he was nearly assassinated when Kate was last in Wick, and Abel looked healthier than he'd previously been, though still thin. Cahal was the first to hug Kate tightly. "We had a good excuse to come visit."

When Abel hugged Kate, he was, as per usual, much more gentle and slow. "It's good to see you again, dear. Your father's been telling us just how much you've been coming into your own."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, I don't know about that." Kate said with a smile towards her uncle. "But I can certainly fake it until I've convinced everyone that I know what I'm doing."

 

[KieranSoares]

"That sounds about right. Doesn't it, brother?" Abel said with a grin to his younger brother who rolled his eyes at the teasing.

"I do know what I'm doing."

"Not alone you don't."

"Does anyone?" Cahal hugged Kate close once more. "Don't worry. You'll figure it out."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I sincerely hope that I do. I have a lot of people depending on me." Kate commented as her uncle held her close. "Much more than I think I truly realize."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Your parents have prepared you well, Kate," Abel promised her. "Both became leaders without being prepared, and they've taught you how to face the unexpected with power and grace. You'll do just fine."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I simply hope that my mind stays sharp." Kate said, alluding to her real father who had fallen into madness before his death.

 

[KieranSoares]

Abel knew what she meant and he nodded. "Don't worry, dear. Your man loves you for you, not your power. He won't let anyone sway you except for your own sake, not even himself."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know he does." Kate said softly, glancing over towards Kell as he spoke to his grandfather. "I know I have nothing to worry about but I still worry."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think the only crazy you'll be going is with annoyance, Kate," Cahal chuckled. "Your lords are a handful to say the least."

 

[heartofcourage]

"The very least." Kate said dryly as she moved on to her other guests before settling in to her father's private office to talk with him about everything that had happened in Edinburgh.

"They think I'm just a silly girl." She said softly, her frustration showing through in her tone. "I fought them at every turn. I hope that I'm perhaps earning respect."

 

[KieranSoares]

"They'll always either think yer a silly child 'r a threat. Y'might no' even be able to differentiate between th'two," Brogan nodded as he sat back in his chair. "But y'will win some over with sheer perseverance. Give it time. There are still good lords in Scotland tha' respect merit over background. Ye'll probably have th'hardest time with them, then one day they'll suddenly see who you can be an' they'll become undyingly loyal. I dealt with similar issues all th'time on a smaller scale between th'small barons tha' govern sections o' my outlying lands."

Brogan glanced over to his bookshelf where he kept records, references, and binders of letters. He pulled out one leather bound time that turned out to be a hand-bound collection of yellowed documents from before Kate was born. "I remember when I first started out as king," he murmured, looking through the pages. "I got a letter from one Baron Mulgrand who'd been loyal t'my father even after 'e went mad. Mulgrand told me 'e'd done 'is best t'stay loyal t'the man he'd known, but protect 'is people from th'man Da became. He told me in no uncertain terms tha' he expected a lot from me and until he was sure o' me, his county wouldn' be payin' taxes t'the keep. It was his way o' keepin' a buffer of money t'raise soldiers if I turned mad too. I sent back tha' I understood, told 'im t'put the money toward th'good of the people. One year later, after hearin' nothin' but occasional updates, he sent me an' Cassie an Anniversary gift an' an updated version o' his oath t'the Invernessian throne."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Da, I don't even know if I can really do everything that needs to be done." She said softly. "How do I do what is best for everyone?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'd love t'say 'do as I do,' lass, but your situation isn't like mine. I took over Inverness in a time when money 'Ad stopped mattering because there wasn' enough food even for those who could afford it. I had a wounded clan t'tend to, and two generations o' ignoring an' abusing t'nurse. You're taking over a country tha's doing fairly well fer itself righ' now, but you're facin' something more like what yer Aunt Kayla did. You 'ave a country where th'rich are only gettin' richer, an' the poor only 'ave scraps left at th'most. The key to a healthy economy is a healthy working class, an' Scotland 'as been neglecting them between losing two kings an' all Marianne can do is try t'keep up. It's not her fault it's this way- Brian was the one runnin' the economy, she was in social policies. Then Gale took over th'economy. She doesn' have all the experience. In fact, yer probably more experienced in th' way o' tax an' trade than she is. Look t'that first. Take care o' the little people, ignore th'rich unless they intend t'help their common people too. Th'rich will always manage t'make more money without yer help. An' those worth yer loyalty and time will understand when y'put th'many ahead o' the rich few. Bein' a good ruler is about carin' fer the common good."

 

[heartofcourage]

"The common good at the expense of those in higher power?" Kate asked, not really understanding her father. "They will revolt against me if I do all the things I need to do to help those in need. They have had too much power for too long."

 

[KieranSoares]

"There's a delicate balance t'be found, tha's certain. An' ye'll never please everybody. But y'need t'remind get lords tha' they can help themselves while you help those who can't. I wish I could tell ya the secret, Kitten, but there isn' one. It all depends on who her dealin' with. But even lords 'ave to remember it's th'common folk that farm an' hunt th'food on their decorated tables. Ye'd do well t'remind them of tha', an' maybe they won't be so quick t'raise taxes fer a useless addition t'their castles."

Brogan sat forward, reaching out to take Kate's hand. "Ye'll be alright love. Just always remember a queen can't stand without her people. Lords are governors, extensions of your arm. Use them as best y'can t'make things better fer everyone. When the common folk thrive, the lords will too an' then they'll thank you."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Da, what if I lose my mind?" Kate asked, squeezing his hand tightly in her own. "It's on my mind a lot lately. I've seen what can happen in a smaller sense, but what happens if I'm like my real father more than we ever thought? Would you take me off the throne? Would Kell?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Kate... I've never worried fer your mind. Yer sound as can be. I'd only be worried if somethin' truly traumatic happened. If it did... I can tell ya without a doubt I'd never let th'people suffer for it. If you lost yerself, I'd get you help an' have a proper regent work in her stead til we found a permanent solution. Kell... I trust Kell t'do the same. He might even take over for you t'make sure everyhin' was done right."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Edinburgh certainly isn't Inverness. I know you'll come for the coronation but what happens after? I know I'm going to get homesick. What if I decide that I can't do this and want to come home?" She asked softly, expressing her fears to the only person who might understand her fears.