Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Julia watched as Brogan turned and disappeared into the woods. She was stunned that he walked away, but she knew that he needed time to process what had just happened. She turned her attentions to her son who was sobbing against her shoulder. She guided him to a seat by the fire, one hand curled tightly against his head to cradle him against her body and the other hand rubbed his back, comforting him like she had when he'd had a bad dream.

"It's alright, Ciaran. Things will work out." She murmured softly to him, letting him know that she was still there. "I know things seem dark now, but you'll be alright. It'll all be alright."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He'll hate me..." Ciaran whispered, "As soon as he can wrap his mind around it all, he'll hate me... He'll kill me or send me away... I'll never be able to come home or see Lir again..." Lir. So that was his love's name. And as if on cue, a new figure appeared from the darkness. He was taller than Ciaran, broader, but similarly lean and lithe and dressed in hides and deerskin. But most of all, he was a beautiful dark mahogany werewolf.

"Ciaran?" The werewolf asked gently, and Ciaran lifted his head.

"Lir? What're you doing here? It's not safe!" Ciaran wiped his tears away and rose to face the werewolf.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He'll do nothing of the sort, my love." Julia murmured,, her heart aching for her son. "Your Da will never send you away."

She glanced up as a strong looking were came into the clearing, calling Ciaran's name and her son's reaction was swift. She shook her head as she looked towards Lir, her grip on her son lessening to allow him to get up.

"Shame on you, Ciaran Julius. That you would think that we would harm a were on our lands hurts me deeply." Julia said, a bit shocked at his out burst.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's not Inverness I'm worried about, Ma," Ciaran told her. "There are hunters everywhere trying to claim bounties. They don't care if Inverness is supposed to be a safe haven."

Lir offered a calming smile, "It's okay. I can take care of myself." He then turned his smile to Julia, bowing his head respectfully. "Your Highness, it's an honor. My name is Lir Evelia, of the Mav Ro tribe of the highlands."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It is an honor to meet you as well, Lir." Julia said softly, warm and welcoming as she glanced back towards the woods where her husband had walked into the darkness. "If you both will excuse me, I think I'll go find your Da."

She kissed her son's cheek tenderly and gave him one last hug before she went off in search of her husband.

 

[KieranSoares]

Julia would find Brogan at the Loch, standing at the shore with his hands clasped behind his back. His eyes searched over the nearly-full moon in the sky, looking for answers from his Goddess or anyone who'd tell him what he should do. He felt a deep disappointment, and guilt as he feared it was something he'd done to make his son this way. There was fear for Ciaran, and anger and pain, but he wasn't sure what exactly he was angry at.

He simply looked lost when Julia found him.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Love?" Julia called softly as she came to his side, wrapping an arm about his waist. "Brogan? Are you alright?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"I... don' think so..." Brogan muttered, his gaze pained as his brows stitched in what seemed to be pain and concern. "What did I do wrong...?"

His eyes finally turned to her. "Why is 'e like this...? I tried, every day o' his life, t'raise 'im t'be... well... not this..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Love, you did nothing wrong." She said softly as he looked towards her and she could see the pain and concern in his dark gaze. "No one can help who they fall in love with."

Julia pressed her forehead against Brogan's, looking into his dark gaze with a long sigh. "He's a good boy, Brogan. He doesn't cause trouble. He cares for his brothers and sisters. He loves everyone with abundance."

"You once told me that you would always take care of my heart. He is my heart, love. He might not be the man that can lead Inverness in the future, but he is our heart. I think we owe it to him to love him no matter what."

 

[KieranSoares]

"'Course I love 'im..." Brogan muttered. "I just... I don' know what t'do or what t'say to 'im. He thought I was goin' t'kill him, Julia. Is 'e really tha' scared of me...? I never gave him a reason t'be afraid."

Brogan lifted a hand to the bridge of his nose. A migraine was coming on from all the emotional stress. "I don' know why I feel so angry... I don' want t'be mad at him fer fallin' in love... maybe it's because 'e doesn' trust me..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"When was the last time that the two of you talked? I mean, talked like you talk with Kate. He's tried so hard to be the man that you expected him to be, but he's afraid that you'll hate the man that he is. Maybe instead of going hunting with Katherine tomorrow you should go and spend some time with Ciaran. He's a bright boy but he knows that he's not cut out for ruling Inverness. He doesn't want to disappoint you though."

Julia knew that this situation would just take time. "He's a lot like Durban. He likes to work with his hands and make an honest living. He doesn't see himself as the man that can do what's right for Inverness. And you told me when Kate was born that you won't just give your children position because of who they are. They have to earn it."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ciaran has earned it... in a differen' way than I expected, but... if 'e doesn' want it, I won' force it. Sam an' Rho have a lot o' promise... Kate especially." That was something no one ever expected to hear from a king: that he would willingly make his daughter his heir to the throne.

Brogan nodded to himself. "I'll go spend some time with 'im t'morrow. Maybe sort some o' my confusion out."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia smiled softly as her husband's thoughts turned towards meeting with his son. She knew that he loved the boy and that a long talk would do them good. She leaned forward and kissed Brogan, her arms wrapping around his neck in the way that she loved.

"I'll make it worth your while." Julia murmured against his ear, nuzzling against his throat as she tried to lessen the sting that he must have felt. "Any way you like, you can have me, love."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's plenty worth my while anyway, but since ya offered..." Brogan chuckled and laid a gentle kiss at her throat. "I can' believe y'still want me after eighteen years o' my grumpin' about." With as much ease as the day he'd lifted her into his saddle when he took her from Chester, Brogan swept his wife up off her feet and kissed her with a sinful heat.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia gasped as he swept her up into his arms, strong as the day she had first met him. She gave him a smile, knowing that he was hurting but wanting to please her. She returned his kiss before she rested her head against his shoulder.

"I've choose you again every time, my love." She murmured softly, feeling safe in his embrace. "And I would bear you four more children if I had the opportunity."

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan chuckled at that, "Y'could try, but y'might lose yer mind b'fore yer fourty. I already lost mine, I'd know." He carried her away to the Keep and to their room, where he set her down on the edge of the bed and knelt before her. "Julia.. y'remember how we planned t'have another wedding? But we got so busy with th'kids tha' it ne'er happened."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia nodded, remembering that conversation from so long ago. Kate's health had been in the forefront of her mind and then the twins came along and everything that she had planned just floated out the window. She did remember his promise, however.

"Brogan, do you really think that we need another wedding? It's an expense that can be spent on other things." She said softly, knowing that when her husband got a plan in his mind, he saw it through until it was finished.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don' want anythin' fancy, love. I jus' want t' give you tha' special day... an' a wedding fer love an' nothin' else. We were married twice fer th'sake of a treaty before we e'en knew each other. An' now, we know each other through an' through. An' this time, fer you, I want t'have it in a proper church with a priest."

He'd never suggested anything of that sort to her. Though he'd not interfered with her beliefs at all in their marriage, he'd never catered to them much either.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Really?" Julia asked softly, a smile growing on her lips. "Are you asking me to marry you, Brogan Ghis?"

She loved to tease her husband to no end, but now in the face of such a momentous event, she couldn't help poking at him. He was a dear man, one that was quiet most of the time, but loved her fiercely and showed her daily just how far that emotion went.

 

[KieranSoares]

"That I am," Brogan's lips turned in a smile, and he reached to his belt to draw up a lovely small box. He opened it before her, and within was the most beautiful silver ring set with emeralds and a single, larger diamond. "So... Julia Ghis, will ya marry me? Fer love?" He met her eyes with a clear hope for their future. With the children growing up, they'd have time to themselves more often.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Of course I will, love." Julia said, breathless at the sight of the precious bauble he'd had made to replace the simple ring that was already upon her hand. "I'd choose you every time."

She cupped his cheeks, her fingers slipping through the coarse hair of his beard as she drew him up for a kiss. She let out a whimper as their lips met, all of the thoughts and memories of a long marriage coming to her mind as the kiss ended and she pressed her forehead against his own.

"You make me happy, Brogan. You fill my heart and soul with so much love that sometimes I cannot bear it." She murmured softly, her green eyes showing him just how she felt.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan's dark eyes searched her own, always entranced by her gaze. "If anyone would 'ave told me nineteen years ago tha' I'd be married t' a Goddess an' happier than I've e'er been... I ne'er would 'ave believed 'em, darlin'." He let his eyes close, enjoying how her hands touched his face. He slid the ring on to her finger before he lowered his head to her lap as he had during one of their first truly tender moments. But this time, he wasn't afraid to appear soft, and he knew the pull in his heart was love.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia held her husband tightly, sharing the tender moment with him as they both thought about what the future would hold. She knew he would have difficult talks with his children tomorrow, but she was relieved that they knew what had been haunting Ciaran all that time. That night as she lay snuggled in bed next to her husband, she prayed that he and Ciaran would bridge the divide between them and that everyone would be happy once again.

 

[KieranSoares]

That next morning, Brogan rose with the sun as he always did, but he dressed for the day slowly. He altogether paused after he'd pulled his trousers and boots on, and his shirt hung open. He was crouched before the fire, lost in thought as he hadn't been in quite a long time. His eyes were frozen on the flames as he was lost in his mind. What would he say, after walking away like that?

 

[heartofcourage]

"Start with an apology, love." Julia murmured from the bed, knowing where her husband's thoughts would be that morning. "And talk to him like a man."

She rolled to her side, glancing towards him and she let out a long tired sigh. She'd felt off for about a week, her head and belly aching. She blamed the stress of the situation.