Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Kate knew where the man was heading. She was off as soon as he moved, racing through the halls towards her brother's room. She could hear the sounds of a struggle and she just hoped she wasn't too late as she drew her dagger and flung open the door. She didn't even think about it as she lunged at the wolf, her dagger sinking into his back. She was slight, but her weight worked to rip him from atop her father.

 

[KieranSoares]

The wolf snarled as he was thrown aside, but he didn't attempt to flee. He knew he was done for. Brogan rose and grabbed the wolf by his collar, slamming him back against the wall. Kell winced terribly, but didn't try to fight.

"You... I remember yer father... you might as well be 'im with what you stand for..." Brogan snarled dangerously. "Why are you here, dog?"

"Arland Wick's old followers... and those still loyal to the old ruling family of Norway... They sent me to take Wick's daughter, and kill you and the Queen..."

Brogan was rendered silent by the mention of Kate. Cole and Theo had arrived and dragged the wolf away to the prison. Brogan turned to face Kate. "Kay... We need t'talk."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia had leapt from her spot, gathering Rho to protect him and Sam from any attack that would be coming their way. The mention of Arland Wick had her looking towards Kate as she stood there with her bloody dagger. Kate looked a little shocked, her red hair wild about her as Brogan turned to face her.

"There's nothing to talk about." Kate said softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think there is." Brogan made his way over to Sam and Rho and Julia. Sam was terrified, while Rho really wasn't sure what was happening between pain, herbs, and exhaustion. "Julia... come on, love. Lir an' Ciaran'll look after 'em."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia let out a long sigh, looking down at the twins. She pressed a kiss to Sam's forehead and then did the same for Rho before she tucked them back in and took Brogan's arm to guide him to a more private place to talk. Kate was quiet, tense as they stepped into another room and the door gently closed behind them.

"Kitten..." Julia said softly.

"No." Kate said, her voice almost a growl. "I don't want to hear it."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You need to understand, Kate," Brogan spoke as he reached out to touch her cheek. "We'd hoped it'd ne'er come up... tha' you'd never 'ave t'know... but now y'do, so let us explain at least."

 

[heartofcourage]

The fact that her father was confirming what the wolf had said broke Kate's heart in two. At least he wouldn't have to see the distraught look in her eyes.

"No." Kate insisted, jerking away from her father. "I don't want to hear what my whore of a mother did!"

Julia was stunned, jerking back visibly. "Katherine!"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Katherine Ghis!" Brogan took firm hold of his daughter's arms and forced her to face him. Even if he couldn't see, it looked as if he were staring her straight in the eye. "You will never talk about yer Ma that way again, y'hear me? You don' even understand what 'appened. It wasn't 'er choice... why d'you think Arland Wick is dead, lass? I killed 'im fer what he did t'her. When we realized yer Ma was havin' you, we didn' think any differently than when we 'ad Ciaran but we were always worried you'd be hurt fer bein' his daughter... but yer not his daughter, you're mine."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You should have been the one to tell me! Both of you." Kate exclaimed, looking towards her mother with a wounded look. "Not some wolf in the garden after 16 years. You're no better than him."

She pulled herself from his grasp and stormed out of the room, letting the door slam behind her. Julia let out a long breath, shaking her head. She knew her daughter was wounded and it would take time to get her trust back again.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Kate!" Brogan growled after her, but he didn't pursue her. He lifted his hand to the bridge of his nose and sat down, feeling suddenly exhausted and weak. "Gods..." he whispered. He didn't feel well, and he hoped it wasn't anything worse than stress. "I'm sorry, love..." his voice remained a whisper. "I'm so sorry... fer Arland, fer everything..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"There's nothing to be sorry over, Brogan." Julia said softly, watching as her daughter stormed away and her husband deflated. "Nothing at all."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I have everything t'be sorry over. Kate'd be my daughter by blood if I'd kept a better lookout... if I'd put up more defenders... and if I 'adn't been so goddamned stupid and weak... If there are people aroun' that're gonna use 'er bloodline t'their advantage, word is gonna get out tha' she's Arland's daughter, an' it'll follow 'er all her life an' be a misery..."

He shook his head, "I can't take it, love..."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia watched her husband and knew what she had to do. She went to his side and gently placed her hand against his shoulder, squeezing it tightly.

"I would like you to go back to Rho and Sam, love. I'll talk to Kate." She said softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"But love..." He looked up at her. "I don' know if tha's such a good idea..." He rose and took her hands, but he knew that she knew better in this case. "... Y'sure...? Maybe she needs to cool down..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Brogan, you know that I've always been quiet when it came to raising Kate. She's the apple of your eye, but this time...well, I can't be silent." She murmured softly, hoping that it didn't upset her husband too greatly.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan nodded slowly and left her with a kiss and a soft warning, "Jus' don't stress yerself out too much, darlin'." He left her side and found his way back to the boys, having learned his way around without sight rather quickly.

He returned to Sam and Rho and settled with them in their bed, and the boys managed to finally get some rest with him.e

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia found Kate quickly, tracking her daughter down into her bedroom. Her little redheaded beauty looked so lost as she sat on her bed, struggling to come to terms with what was going on around her.

"We're going to talk about this, Katherine." Julia said simply, standing in front of her daughter with her arms crossed. "Whether you want to or not, we're going to talk."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't want to talk to you," Kate growled, turning away from her mother. "I don't ever want to talk to you or your husband again..." Pain bloomed in her heart saying that about the man she'd thought was her father, but she was so hurt from being left in the dark for so long that she wanted them to know her pain.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Katherine Valencia Ghis." Julia said in that tone that the children had only heard a few times before in their lives. "If you feel so strongly about it, then you can pack your belongings and leave Inverness. I won't force you to stay in a place where you're so unhappy, but before you go let me tell you this."

"Arland Wick kidnapped and raped me. He planned to starve your brother and sister to death and he nearly killed your father. Your father and I made a promise that no matter what we were going to love you and we would never treat you differently than your siblings. We didn't want that black cloud hanging over you your entire life. We have given you everything that you could have ever asked for. Besides the possessions, we've given you love, food, shelter, a family. We knew that sooner or later you might ask who your father was, but I thought that you might be mature enough to accept the answer without flying off the handle."

"Your father loves you. Too much sometimes to your detriment. I love you. You'll always be my little kitten. But know this...I will not tolerate disrespect of any kind in this household. You have tonight to think about what you want. By the morning, if you have decided that you can act mature and civilized about this, I expect you to apologize to your father."

 

[KieranSoares]

Kate stared at the floor as she spoke, and felt another lancing pain in her heart when Julia suggested she leave. In such a state, Kate's mind came to the conclusion that her parents would want her to leave now that the secret was out. People would ridicule her and her parents now, and even if she had aimed to be heir to the throne, she was certain she never could be now, not with all the doubt and the people talking behind her back...

"Why didn't you ever tell me before...?" Kate finally asked almost in a whisper. "Why did you keep it a secret...? Why did I have to find out from some wolf sent to kidnap me...?"

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia let out a little sigh as her daughter's questions suddenly tumbled free. She made her way to sit on the edge of the bed, wrapping her arm around Kate's shoulders and drawing her into a tight embrace. She pressed her cheek against her daughter's red hair, rocking her slightly to comfort her.

"Kitten, knowing who your real father was wouldn't have changed anything." Julia said softly. "Your Da is still your Da and I'm still your Ma."

She pressed a kiss to her daughter's forehead as she struggled to find the words that would sooth her daughter's aching heart. "No one else knows, Kate. We told no one. That the assassin knew...well, that was unexpected and something that I wish I could take away from you, but I can't."

She pulled back and looked down into her daughter's green eyes, stroking her cheek gently. "Your father and I wanted another baby so badly after Ciaran. When I found out I was having you, it was a blessing, no matter how you came to be. Your Da isn't a bad man. And I'm not a whore. It was a terrible situation that resulted in something wonderful."

 

[KieranSoares]

Kate raised her eyes to her mother's, the emerald reflecting back. After a long silence, Kate looked down again. "I think I'm just gonna go to bed, Ma... I'll talk to Da tomorrow, I just don't want to think anymore tonight." Almost timidly, Kate kissed her mother's cheek. It would probably be the last time for a long time.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Katherine, look at me." Julia said softly as her daughter suddenly turned timid. "Don't do anything without talking to your Da and I. We want you here in Inverness. We've always wanted you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I won't," Kate answered, holding her mother's gaze without flinching away. She rose to go to her wardrobe and pulled out her nightclothes after setting aside the belt that held her blade. But on the inside, she was planning. If the wolf had come for her, more would come. If she got him out and went with him, she could spare her family and find out what the Loyalists were doing. Then she could return and her family and country would be ready.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia knew her daughter and what was hiding behind that sweet innocent face. She left her daughter in peace, but went to find Gabriel. Her nephew was still helping with those that had surrendered. He looked tired, but he was still working as hard as he could.

"Gabriel, love. I need to speak with you for a moment." Julia said.