Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"The latter shouldn't happen when Qira or I are in reach, hopefully. Your job is to lead a country, ours is to take the knives." Kell returned her kiss and pressed his forehead to her own. "Just try not to get stabbed your first day, hm?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"I MAke no promises." Kate said softly, giving him a grin.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell sighed and rolled his eyes, nuzzling against her cheek. "You're awful," he chuckled before rising to look through the other letters he'd received. "Seems we'll also be expecting Monomakh of Kiev. The Rus is in talks with the Triad to make a proper alliance to expand on their peace pact. I imagine he'll bring his family."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Kell, you know that I never give much thought to a person's rank. I don't care that he's the leader of the Rus. All I care about is that he is a good, honest, hardworking man." Kate said with a glance towards her husband.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Not that your outlook is wrong, love... But it does matter who he is politically. Much as we all wish the world would run on merit, it doesn't. His position brings us a lot of opportunities and support." Kell set the letter aside.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, they can prove themselves to me before I make up my mind about anything." Kate said with a shrug of her shoulders, looking over at her husband. "And I leave it up to you to appease them until that moment happens."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You're just as difficult as they are," Kell chuckled, turning to walk to his desk. "Quite the spot I've gotten myself into."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You should have run while you had the chance. Now you're stuck." Kate said with a grin.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's worth it." Kell smiled to himself, straightening up all his letters and papers and filing them away. "You might be a handful to say the least, but you're an adventure."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You say that now until you have to navigate a war that I've caused." Kate said as Kell packed up a few letters and she leaned back in her chair with a sigh. "Let's go take the girls on an adventure and get out of the keep. I don't want to think about the coronation."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We've been out 'adventuring' all day," Kell said with a little smirk. "You insisted."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate gave him a look as he brought up what they had been doing all day. It had gotten them out of the keep and had kept her mind occupied. She hadn't wanted to think about the coronation or even leaving Inverness, so keeping herself focused on something else had helped.

"So? What if I want to treat my little sisters to another adventure." Kate said, challenging her husband head on.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell turned, bowing low before her. "Yes, milady. As you wish." With an easy stride, he headed for the door

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate rolled her eyes at him and grabbed her short cloak, following after him to find her little sisters.

 

[KieranSoares]

As they appeared, Chessie was laying out settings for dinner and stopped them. "Where do you think you're going?" She asked with a smirk. "You leave before breakfast, miss lunch, and now you're going to skip dinner?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm lucky that Kell can hunt and cook." Kate said with a grin. "We're going to take the girls on an adventure. I want to get out and about without a worry while I still can."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I suppose I can't blame you too much for that. Well, at least take something with you, there's always too much." Chessie kissed her cheek before continuing about her work.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate nodded and moved towards the kitchens as Kell gathered the twins. By the time she had packed them all dinner, Ashelin and Heather were waiting with Kell at the entrance to the keep. Kate grinned when she saw them, knowing that she would miss all of her siblings when she left for Edinburgh.

"Ready to go?" Kate asked with a smile towards Kell.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Looks like," Kell nodded, glancing to Ashelin at his side and then to Heather held in his left arm. "These two certainly are."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Kate!" Ashelin called, practically dancing in her excitement as she held Kell's hand.

"Ash!" Kate answered back with a grin, scooping up her youngest sister and kissing her cheek. "Ready for an adventure?"

The little girl's dark curls bounced as he nodded, holding on to Kate as Kell led the way with a very quiet and docile Heather.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell cradled Heather close, quite content with the docile little girl as they headed out and down the cobbled path from the keep. "So what does this adventure entail, love?" Kell asked with a glance to Kate.

 

[heartofcourage]

"ITs still warm. Let's take them to the stream in the woods." Kate said with a smile as she gave Ashelin's hand a squeeze. "Then we'll eat some dinner and see where the evening takes us."

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell got out their horses to speed the journey so they wouldn't be getting back when it was too dark, and soon they were trotting out to the woods where a little Brook lay.

 

[heartofcourage]

Once they were in the clear brook that ran through the woods, Kate helped get her sisters undressed, letting them splash in the water. Heather had such a joyful look on her face as she and Ashelin explored together, picking up rocks and flowers along the banks before splashing again in the water. Kate patiently walked with them, grinning at the girls as they seemed to have the time of their lives.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell trailed along behind the three, watching over the little girls and stepping in whenever Kate needed a hand or Heather needed some extra guidance. Like most of the time Kate had known him, he was the silent protector, keeping at the back and generally quiet until he was needed.