Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"I used t'be, when I was a li'l lad. So was Boar an' Kay an' Ash," Brogan commented before taking his son's tiny hands in just his fingers. "He's goin' t'be a fine Lord someday, e'en a King if I think 'e's fit for it. I know one thing, tha' everything my children get in th' way o' titles an' privileges will be from merit, no' birthright. They'll already 'ave titles fer bein' our children, but they'll earn th' rest like I did, like all my siblings did. Title ain' worth a thing unless yer cut out and proven for it. But I don' doubt Ciaran'll be up t'the task."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He'll learn from the best, love." Julia said with a fondness in her voice as she leaned in and kissed Brogan's cheek before she kissed Ciaran's cheek.

The baby boy cooed again, gripping Brogan's fingers tightly in his tiny hands. It was a few short moments later when Annie returned with the fruit cookies that the cook had given her clenched tightly in her hands. Her eyes were bright, her smile infectious and soon she was kneeling beside her father, kissing her brother's forehead.

"I got you a cookie too, Da! And one for Mummy too." She announced, flashing her pretty little smile at both of her parents. "And Cook says that she's making stew tonight for dinner. And some milk bread for Ciaran."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Thank ya, lass," Brogan smiled as he sat up and pulled his daughter onto his lap. The family remained together for the rest of the day and they slept all in the large bed together that night. Brogan woke before the sun to finish preparing, and their covered cart and horses were ready when he returned. They needed only to dress, eat breakfast, and load up their bags. He'd brought two horses to pull the cart for Julia and the children to ride in, and Phearson for him to ride and to teach Annie as they went as well as get Ciaran familiar with a horse.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia had dressed the children warmly for their travel despite the warm temperatures they had enjoyed so far that spring. She was overly cautious as she allowed Brogan to lift her up into the cart and she let out a tired sigh as she settled into the nest of blankets and cushions that Kitty had organized for her. The stress of the situation was wearing her out and she was glad that Val and Theo were going with them. At least they could watch the children while she dozed.

Julia gave Brogan a smile as he came to her side, her head lifting from the cushions to kiss him gently. "Wake me when it's time for lunch. And make sure that Ciaran doesn't get too cold, alright?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Don' you worry," Brogan assured his wife. "I've got everythin' handled." He returned her kiss and brushed a strand of hair back from her cheek. "You jus' rest." He rose to help Val and Theo into the cart with Ciaran, and the two sat up front while Theo drove, and Annie opted to begin the journey riding with Brogan.

They were off in a matter of an hour of waking, and the journey was smooth aside from a short rainfall on the third day.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia was very well rested as they made it to the outskirts of Edinburgh a few days later. She had woken that morning and dressed in her very best outfit, one that was dark blue and paid homage to both the Ghis and the kingdom of Scotland. It was a court dress that she had worked hard on, one that showed her pregnancy while still protecting her modesty. She also made sure that Annie and Ciaran looked their best. Annie was in a pretty green dress, one that she forbade the little girl from getting dirty. That would be easier said than done. Ciaran was dressed in the Ghis colors, every bit the spitting image of his father with his mother's burning green eyes.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan sent Theo ahead to announce them on Phearson, and he drove the cart into Edinburgh and the castle courtyard. King Brian awaited them with his triplet sons, all fifteen, all strapping lads. All four men were tall with dark brown hair and brown eyes, but the three sons were set apart by décor on their clothes of their ranks and positions and each wore their hair differently.

Brogan stepped down from the cart with a smile to his old friend, but before he could help Julia or Val down from the cart, the three boys were there first. One, named Prince Remus, aided Valentina with Ciaran and then Annie. The two others, Princes Fergus and Gale, helped Julia. Brogan smiled to the boys and took Julia's hands. "Thank ya, lads."

"Well, well!" Brian's voice boomed. He was a sizable man in height and had a bit of a belly that gave him a jolly look. "If it ain' my ol' General o' th' Axemen. How ya doin' lad?" He laughed brightly and clapped Brogan on the shoulder. "An' 'is beautiful wife, Julia, gem o' England an' now o' Scotland." He kissed her hand like a true gentleman. "Come in, come in. Oh, an' Lady Julia, these're my boys Gale, Fergus, and Remus. My two girls and their mother 're inside puttin' 'emselves in a fit makin' things perfect for ye."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Oh, there's no reason to go through too much trouble for us, my lord." Julia said, dipping into a curtsy in front of her king. "We are perfectly fine fending for ourselves."

"I'm sure that you might remember Brogan's daughter, Annie." Julia said, placing her hand on the little girl's dark hair as she shyly curtsied as well. "But I don't believe you've met our dear son, Ciaran."

The little dark haired boy had his face pressed firmly against Val's shoulder, shy and a little nervous at seeing so many people around him in an unfamiliar place. "He'll warm up to you in no time, I'm sure."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Fine little lad," Brian nodded with a great smile, then he looked to Annie. "Aw, now c'mon darlin'. Don' tell me yer shy o' yer old Uncle Brian, 'ey? Las' time I saw ya, y'wouldn' let go o' me an' Marianne fer th'world!" He stepped forward and laid his hand gently on her shoulder. "She'll be so excited t'see ya. She didn' know y'were comin'."

"Boys," he looked to his sons. "Get their bags, will ya? Take 'em t'the guest rooms yer mother set up, an' come meet us in th' private dining room."

"Yessir," they all nodded and dutifully went about his orders. Brian led the family up to their rooms and allowed them to unwind a bit and get situated before a serving maid escorted them to the private dining room on the second floor. Marianne and her two daughters aged six and eight were there waiting, and Marianne broke into a glad smile at the sight of Annie. After all, she was Annie's namesake. Annie was only a nickname, her full name being Marianne Cassandra Ghis.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Marianne!" Annie exclaimed at the sight of the queen, running to greet the woman that she still remembered with a tight hug.

Julia smiled as she took Brogan's hand and squeezed it, watching the scene in front of them. Annie did remember them and reveled in the fact that she was welcome at the royal court like a member of the family.

 

[KieranSoares]

Marianne picked Annie up high, peppering her cheeks with kisses like an adoring aunt, before she set her down and said, "Do you remember Amelia and Karen?" She pointed the little girl to her own daughters. Last time Annie had seen them two years ago in Ireland, they'd been fast friends. The girls remembered Annie for sure, and ran to greet her.

Brogan chuckled softly, "Alright, Annie, y'can go on with th'girls. We'll be here." He'd hardly finished his sentence when the girls raced away to play in Karen's room.

Brian smiled brightly, "Couldn' ask fer better daughters, either of us."

"Nope, can only ask fer more daughters like 'em," Brogan nodded as he settled down at the table with Julia. Brian and Marianne saw across from them, and the three boys awaited their father's word to join them or to be released to do as they wished.

"B'fore you lads go 'bout yer own business, could ya have th'cellar master send up a few bottles, aye?"

The boys nodded and went on their way. Soon a maid returned with wine and cordial. The cellar master knew Julia was with child and sent up the cordial for her rather than alcohol.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia settled at the table with a sigh, smiling up at her husband as he pulled out her seat for her like a true gentleman. She thanked him softly and turned towards Val as she offered her the still shy Ciaran. Taking her son, she rested his head against her shoulder, patting his back as the drinks were served and Val and Theo took their own leave.

"We wanted to thank you for inviting us to Edinburgh. It's a lovely time of year to travel." Julia said with a smile, glancing down at Ciaran as the little boy sucked on his thumb and slyly looked about the room and the people that were still there.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, after all tha's 'appened, Marianne's wanted a chance t'get to know you, I wanted t'meet you, and we both wanted t'see my ol' brother in arms. Not t'mention Annie an' that 'andsome lad y'got there."

"We wanted to thank you, too," Marianne added. "If you and your nephews hadn't come across the Norwegians when you did, they may well have caught Scotland off-guard and we would've gone through much worse. Hopefully we can talk to Kayla soon, though. Many Norwegian soldiers and lords have come to Edinburgh asking where their Queen is, and I won't be surprised if that starts happening in Inverness too. They mean well, but they're scared without a proper ruler."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Kayla is in Ireland. She needs time away from Inverness to heal." Julia answered simply, patting Ciaran on the back until the little boy lifted his head off her shoulder and held out his hands to his father. "We can send a letter to her, but I'm not sure that she'll be all to happy about talking to the Norwegians."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I supposed as much," Marianne nodded. "We won't bother her. I'm sure Stephen has already seen to some manner of arrangement for Norway if he didn't go there himself. The Emerald Isle and the Highlands have been waiting for the day that Norway might become our brother. But I don't think they'll ever stop hating England after King William."

Brogan reached over to take Ciaran, cradling him in one arm. "We'll see. If Kayla isn't th' one t' make that 'appen, then Stephen prob'ly will be."

"And you, Brogan... how are you?" Marianne asked softly. "We heard the whole story of what happened..."

"I was in a pretty dark place," he admitted, not lowering his gaze as he might've not so long ago. "But I'm alrigh' now, Julia didn' give up on me. Never 'as."

"... An' Sarah?" Brian dared to ask. He knew she'd disappeared from Inverness.

"Exiled." At Brian's silence, Brogan continued, "I know most o' th' Isles want 'er dead, but I'm done with killin' fer a long war tha' was started o'er a land squabble b'tween Ol' Wick and my father an' grandfather."

"So y'gave Sarah a second chance?"

"No. I gave 'er an escape from a life o' pain... most o' which I caused..." Brogan sighed. "Last I saw 'er, she disappeared int' the Highlands with a man I sent with 'er. They could go anywhere, jus' not in Scotland."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia reached over and gripped Brogan's hand, providing him the support that he needed while he told the other couple about what had happened with Sarah. She knew it was hard for him, but they had gotten through this moment before and they would survive again. The moment was tense, broken only when Ciaran let out a happy little shriek, his tiny fingers stretching out for the shiny metal of one of Brian's medals.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brian gave Brogan a smile, and he chuckled when Ciaran reached out. "Y'old soft thing. I always did say y'were kinder'n y'gave yerself credit for."

Brogan couldn't help smiling back. "So yer no' too mad, ey?"

"I'm still gonna bust yer 'ead for it, but no, I'm not."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I've already busted his head enough for one life time." Julia said as Ciaran easily went into the arms of the king, his dark green eyes locking on the medal that he now held in his tiny fingers. "Our hope is that we have peace in this country. I don't think that any of us can take much more of the fighting."

"Da!" Ciaran called out, looking from the medal on Brian's chest back to his father, a happy little toothless grin on his face.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, peace is closer now," Brian nodded, "But Scotland's got a long list o' enemies in Europe, th'next one bein' England. Th'King migh' be our friend, but about 'alf 'is people hate Scots an' call 'em wolves. There's been a rift in England since th'King aided ya. Mostly Northern England 'ates us. Southerners don' care much, but the Midlanders're our allies. An' Wales."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I might not be an issue that we solve in our lifetimes." Julia suggested, giving a fond smile to Ciaran. "Our children have a lot to learn and live up to."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We will try," Marianne nodded.

"An' we'll raise th'wee lads an' lasses t'take all comers if need be. They'll face new things in their own time. Brian passed Ciaran to Marianne. "My lad Gale... I 'aven't told 'im yet, but 'is brothers know an' most everyone can see it... 'E's the heir t'my throne, and Fergus after 'im. I won' last forever... Tha's why I really called you two 'ere."

Marianne's expression darkened and she seemed to shut out all but Ciaran as Brian continued. "M'doctors 'ave found some sort o' sickness in my blood, somethin' they jus' don't 'ave th' knowledge t'cure, only treat. They gave me a year 'r so... maybe less. Brogan, Julia... when I'm gone, Marianne's steppin' down. She refused t'run th'country without me. Gale will be takin' my place before 'is twenty-first birthday if I reckon right."

"Brian..." Brogan spoke softly, but Brian lifted a hand to stop him.

"So I want you two t'look after m'boy. Teach 'im from afar. I've always told my lads, 'Watch the Ghis, they know what they're doin'. Even if Hell came t'take Inverness, they'd get it back'."

"We'll always look after 'im Brian... but y'can't give yerself permission t'die because of it..."

"I ain'. If I 'ave my way, I'll die an ol' man in fourty years, laughin' at m' great-great grandchildren playin' about on wooden 'orses and on m'throne. But If I do fall, fer whatever reason, Gale'll be King o' Scotland, an' brother o' th'Clan Kings like you, Brogan."

 

[heartofcourage]

Ciaran's tiny fingers played with Marianne's pearl necklace, grinning at her despite the pained look on her face from the announcement that her husband was making right at that moment. The tiny little boy let out a squeal and wrapped his little arms around Marianne's neck, giving her a sloppy kiss as he snuggled against the queen of Scotland.

"I'm very sorry to hear that." Julia said with true regret in her voice as she gave her husband's hand a squeeze. "We will do whatever we can during this time to make it easier on everyone."

"Perhaps we can send Vincenzo here to look you over...for a second opinion." She suggested, wanting to give them all hope.

 

[KieranSoares]

Marianne nodded immediately and Brian chuckled softly, "Thank ya, Julia."

The Ghis family spent a full week with the Scottish royals before returning home. Vincenzo was soon on his way when they returned, after checking Julia over again of course. All fell quiet for some time, even after Brian returned. That was until they heard of the trouble in Norway and learned that Kayla and Christopher were going to deal with it personally.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't like the idea of her going to Norway, Brogan." Julia said from their bed, resting for what seemed like the hundredth time that day.

Her belly had swollen large, her legs and ankles swollen as well. It was getting hard to get comfortable as she waited for the arrival of their new child. The other children had long been placed in bed and it was during those times of night that Brogan and Julia could discuss things happening in Inverness and the kingdom itself.

"I'd feel better if you were there with her."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know..." he sighed. "But I can' just leave... 'specially with you no' so far from deliverin'." Brogan came to her side and sat down at the edge of the bed. "An' m'brothers're just as busy with their own families... An' I need Val an' Theo here." He rubbed the bridge of his broad nose. "Guess I don' 'ave much choice but t'go."