Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"You know... Hiram told me the Ghis were fools who would trust and take in anyone who asked... he was right about the latter, but you certainly aren't fools.... but it remains to be seen. Maybe if your parents agree, I will stay when the war is done. Even if they reject me..." he stopped to face her with an honest gaze unbefitting of a spy and killer. "I promise I'll give your defense and safety my all. I swear Inverness will not fall while I still breathe. I may be fighting my brothers... but they are wrong and must be shown that."

He'd never let on that he was Erygonian, though it seemed obvious to look at him.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You have a heart. That's rare for an assassin." Kate said softly, knowing that some men would see it as a weakness. "And I trust you with my life, Kell."

 

[KieranSoares]

"So you're the fool of the family, hm?" He gave her a smile, the first she had ever seen of him. It was warm and kind, teasing gently to get a smile back. "To put your life in the hands of one whose profession is death... curious indeed, Princess."

 

[heartofcourage]

"My Ma says I'm too stubborn for my own good." Kate said with a shrug, a curious blush crossing her cheeks at the warm smile that Kell gave her. "I know that I worry her with my actions. I suppose that all mothers worry about their children though. She still fusses over my sister, Annie, even though Annie has a husband and a house of her own now."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've said it before... but it's in a mother's nature. A father's too, but us men are supposed to be too tough for us to worry about such "trifling" matters," Kell's eyes turned to scan the landscape before them as he nearly chuckled at his own sarcasm. "But from what I understand about you, you're the reason your parents have grey hair, but you're also the one among your siblings with the most promise as a leader and a warrior. So of course they'll worry anyway... oh, and you are too stubborn for your own good. Mother knows best, after all."

 

[heartofcourage]

"My brother Ciaran has never been interested in ruling or warcraft. His soul is too gentle." Kate said as she looked out towards the horizon as well. "My brothers Rho and Sam are too wild. Annie is too interested in her own ventures. I guess it just leaves me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Those little brothers of yours will be fine leaders when they get older," Kell added softly. "They may be wild now, but most boys are. I think perhaps this war will have calmed them down, made them more responsible." He wasn't wrong. The two had calmed quite a bit, Sam especially.

 

[heartofcourage]

"They have a lot of healing to do. One might have lost his arm, but both of them are suffering." Kate said, her mood turning melancholy. "I remember when they were born. Ma had such a terrible time keeping them calm and happy. They never wanted to be parted. They slept in the same bed until they were four."

Kate went quiet then, thinking about the family that she had left behind so suddenly. She missed them terribly and she wished that she could take back the horrible things that she'd said to her father and mother.

"I said some awful things about my mother before I left. I just hope that she forgives me."

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell looked down at her, his expression softening, becoming even empathetic. "... She will." He laid a hand on her shoulder, offering comfort that he hardly knew how to give. "If Lady Julia's half the woman I've heard she is... she certainly will, if you only ask."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate simply nodded at his sympathetic words. She knew that she would have to do a lot to make it up to her mother in the future.

 

[KieranSoares]

As they continued on, it became more and more obvious how alert and aware Kell was. His wolf ears were always straight forward, swiveling occasionally at odd sounds. He listened to the small animals and birds. If they were quiet, it meant bad energy was near to them. But the birds were singing and the occasional pair of squirrels would be fussing and barking at each other. And for the first time, Kate heard Kell chuckle audibly. It was warm and gentle, not much unlike how her father used to chuckle at her antics as a child. Kell watched a pair of birds seemingly bickering over a female in the treetops.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate smiled as she watched Kell enjoy the scenery around them. He had a kind soul, even if he didn't believe that he could ever be redeemed. She reached out and took his hand, holding it as she turned her attentions to the scene that he was watching. Squeezing it gently, she let him know that she was there for him.

 

[KieranSoares]

When she touched him, his wolf ears flicked back briefly, unused to any kind of show of care, and he looked down at her as if waiting for her to pull away. When she didn't, he finally relaxed and his gaze softened. His own fingers closed around hers and he let himself simply enjoy her company without fear of rejection for the first time. He couldn't help one of his rare small smiles and a half-teasing comment, "Foolish little Princess, making friends with a big bad wolf."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Everyone needs a friend." Kate said with a shrug, looking up at Kell with a smile. "Even the big bad wolf. But I really don't think he's so big and bad any more."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Hm... that's certainly interesting..." he muttered more to himself. But just then, he let go Kate's hand and whipped and with his dagger in one hand and a short knife in the other, and about twenty feet behind them, Gabriel froze in his tracks, having just been about to call Kate's name when he was sure it was her.

Kell snarled viciously, "Who are you?!"

"Gabriel Ghis, son of Durban," Gabriel finally answered, his shock fading to anger as he faced the wolf who'd attacked his aunt and uncle and escaped. "Let Kate go, she's coming home!"

"I am not holding her here," Kell answered much more softly before Gabriel could draw his axe
Kell sheathed his blades and stepped back to let Kate speak to her cousin.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate turned to look at Gabriel as Kell whipped around to confront of him. She frowned slightly as her cousin exploded angrily, telling them that Kate was coming home with him. Not yet, she thought to herself as Kell relaxed and she stepped forward, her own eyes blazing at her cousin.

"You didn't need to follow me here, Gabriel. I came of my own free will." She said, letting him know that she wanted to be here. "I sent a letter to Da telling him that. How did you get here so quickly?"

 

[KieranSoares]

Gabriel sighed softly, "Your mother asked me to look after you... she knew you'd do something dangerous, but I didn't think you could be this foolish. You followed an assassin to the home of one of our greatest enemies, Kate! You're lucky you're still alive!"

"No one will harm her under my watch..." Kell muttered.

"You're the one who'd kill her!" Gabriel growled.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Enough!" Kate cried out, looking at her cousin with a surprised and disappointed look on her face. "Just stop, Gabriel."

She was trembling, her green eyes blazing. "Your greatest enemy...the people who you swore that you would fight until your dying breath...they're my family. I'm the daughter of Arland Wick."

 

[KieranSoares]

Gabriel's expression turned to confused and almost hurt, that she'd ally herself with them. "Kate... how can you say that? Arland was the worst of the worst... even more than his father. You're nothing like any of them. You're a Ghis."

"Arland may have not been anything to be proud of... but Lords Abel and Cahal are," Kell told him.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Da raised me, Gabriel, but he's not my father. Arland Wick did something horrible to my Ma and I was the result." Kate insisted, the hurt that was reflected in his eyes slowly filtered into her own. "I'm a Wick. If you think you have to hate me now, then go ahead."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I could never hate you, Kate..." Gabriel came to her and took her hand. "Just... come home. Brogan and Julia will be terrified and worried sick... they'll think the wolf took you or killed you... please."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I can't, Gabriel." Kate said softly, looking down at her hand held so gently in her cousin's grip. "I'm the regent of Wick for another few days. Until Cahal comes of age. I sent Da and Ma a letter to tell them where I am."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Then I'm staying with you," Gabriel decided then. But what he didn't say was that he was especially staying there to protect her from Kell whom he was sure would try to hurt her. Kell knew it, but said nothing.

 

[heartofcourage]

It was like a dark cloud had settled back over Kate as Gabriel took over the role of her protector. She didn't like the way that Kell backed away, seemed to part himself from her. She wanted to know more about him, to enjoy his friendship.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell retreated as Gabriel stepped forward. He soon disappeared from Kate's side, but he remained within earshot. Gabriel watched him go, and looked at Kate, "Why did you free him...? He tried to kill Julia and Brogan. I'm honestly shocked he hasn't killed you yet."