Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"I'm just glad you're not hurt... but you didn't have to stay, you know..." Kell was too tired to realize it when his head slowly came to rest on her shoulder. "You could've gone to the coronation..." But he took her hand, giving it a light squeeze and letting her know he appreciated her beyond what words could tell her. A simple gesture, but a far cry from the cold and withdrawn man he'd tried to be for the first days of their acquaintance.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm not leaving you, Kell." She said softly as she slowly tipped her head to rest against his own. "I don't want you to be alone in this world."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Being left for an hour wouldn't have hurt me..." he chuckled quietly. No one had made him laugh as much as Kate for so long. "We'll be at the next. Then, if your father will have me, I'll escort you back to Inverness when Hiram is dealt with."

A few minutes later, as he'd done each morning Kate was at Kelly's side, Brogan entered with a maid beside him, carrying food for himself, Kate, and Kell. He'd brought extra for Kell each morning in hopes that he'd be awake. This morning as ever, he entered quietly, but Kell looked up to him and spoke, "Good morning, King Brogan."

"Mornin' lad," Brogan smiled, coming to settle on the floor with them. The maid left them once they were all settled. "Y'gave my lass some bloody scare. I don' expect ya t'do it again, y'understand?" Despite his serious tone, he had a smile on his face that told Kell he was actually quite thankful for the wolf's efforts to keep Kate safe.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate smiled at her father's attempt to be serious about the situation. She knew that when her father smiled, he had decided that this wolf was worthy of his trust. That meant the world to her and she hoped that the rest of her family would understand as well. Annie might have the hardest time, but she knew her sister had a level head.

"Da, has there been any news about Kell's sister?" Kate asked as she served both men, getting her father a plate as well as Kell before she started on her own. "It's really important to him that we find her."

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan and Kell both paused as she asked. Kell tried not to get his hopes up, but his wolf ears were perked forward to listen. Brogan sighed and stroked his beard. "I don' want t'say anythin' an' get hopes up."

"Just tell me," Kell insisted quietly.

"Ledger said that he gave li'l Mary over to a were-hunter, said th' hunter intended t'use her to track an' lure in other werecreatures. But 'e also said tha' she was sick an' the hunter had no intention o' payin' fer a doctor."

Kell nodded slowly and abandoned his food. "Did he say the hunter's name?"

"Colton. Drake Colton, Englishman I believe."

"I know him..." Kell rose, only unsteady for a moment. Brogan could hear his steps and rose to stop him.

"Y'aren't fit t'be goin' out and findin' 'im."

"He's a self-absorbed, careless idiot, and I should've killed him a year ago..."

"How d'you know 'im?"

"He was the one who Hiram gave my daughters and their mother to... A week later, he sold their skins..." Kell muttered, and Brogan paled at the idea. He couldn't even imagine it.

"Gods..." Brogan whispered, but Kate saw her father's blind eyes narrow. "Kate... go with 'im." Never had he entrusted such a thing to her, but he knew, as a father brother, and a man who still had the love of his life, that Kell needed to do this.

 

[heartofcourage]

"What?" Kate asked, looking at her father in complete surprise. "You want me to go with Kell? Just the other day you were ready to tan my hide because you were so angry I went with him."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know I was, lass, but I can change my mind about 'im. 'E's gonna need someone t'keep 'im from gettin' 'imself killed."

"I'll be fine..." Kell murmured.

"Y'sure as hell won't. Listen t'me lad, y'might be feelin' better than before, but yer nowhere near one-'undred percent. I've seen you two work well t'gether. An' God 'elp me if ya sneak out alone."

Kell lifted his head to fix Brogan with a strange expression. "Why do you suddenly care so much what happens to me?"

"Because Kate cares about ya, an' ye've proven yerself t'be a good man at th'very least."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Da..." Kate said in a harsh voice, her cheeks coloring red as he spoke about trusting him because she cared. "Kell is more than capable of taking care of himself. If he would like me to go, then I will, but the decision is his alone."

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan said nothing more, knowing he'd made his point. Kell examined the Scottish King's expression, stoic and calm as it was, and he sighed, picking up his tattered cloak from where it lay beside his bed. "... Come on, Kate... Whether I want to admit it or not, I need your help... he's right. I can't wait any longer... if Mary is still alive..."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate nodded, standing from her spot, only to pause and turn back to her father. She leaned down and kissed his cheek gently, wrapping her arms around his broad chest.

"I'll come back. I promise, Da." She whispered against his ear. "I love you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I love you too, sweet lass," Brogan smiled, kissing her cheek in return and hugging her tightly. When he let her go, he gave her a tiny nudge. "Go on, don't let your wolf there get too far ahead of you. He's likely to disappear." He had no idea how right he was. Even when Kell wasn't trying to sneak away, he had a habit of disappearing.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate smiled as she turned and followed after Kell. He was hard to follow, but once she got him in her sights, she grabbed his hand and held it tightly.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell hadn't realized he'd nearly left her behind, and he slowed his step. Giving her hand a gentle squeeze, he looked down at her. "... Thank you for coming with me, Kate... Truth be told, I'm afraid to go on my own." He didn't know why he was so comfortable opening up to her, but he was glad for it.

He led her through Wick to the edge of the slums, and many of the more shady characters there fled at the sight of Kell. But he paid them no mind, making his way to a run-down and abandoned old shop with a door that was oddly bright red and, as Kell cringed to see it, a werewolf's pelt pinned to it. Kell snarled deeply, but forced himself to remain calm as he reached out and carefully unpinned the hide, tucking it carefully into the satchel he'd brought with him. He'd give its former owner a proper burial later. He faced the red door, and found himself hesitating. If his sister was there still, would she be dead? Or deathly ill? Would she even be there at all?

 

[heartofcourage]

"That's what friends do, Kell." She said softly as he thanked her for coming with him. "Everyone needs some help sometimes, even if we're too stubborn to admit it."

She kept his hand tightly in her own as he led her though the streets of Wick. When they got to the shop, Kate was startled to see a wolf's pelt pinned to the door. She shrank back as Kell snatched it off the door and tucked it into a satchel.

"Kell?" She asked softly, wondering if he were still there with her.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm okay..." he murmured, and with a deep breath, he opened the door. Being that the building had formerly been a shop, it had a large front room with a few old chairs and a counter, but there wasn't much else there. The hunter's own quarters would be further back. Kell paused again and looked to Kate. "... I can smell the blood and rot already... Kate, if you don't want to come in, you don't have to." He knew that beyond, he'd find the butchered bodies of werewolves, wild wolves, and all manner of other creatures. For wild game, it was not so horrifying, but to see a person- half wolf or no- strung up like a trophy... Kell knew it wasn't something anyone wanted to see but the sick ones who bought and sold the skins.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate paused as the smell hit her squarely in the face. She looked at Kell as he told her that she didn't have to come with him. Her heart was racing as she thought about the consequences of not going with him.

"I...I don't think I can." She said softly, shame crossing her features as she looked at Kell.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's okay," Kell kissed her hand. "Just wait outside. I won't be long if I can help it." He walked with her back out to the street. "I didn't expect you to even come this far... but I'm used to places like this. I'll be right back." All his time spent slinking around sewers and dungeons to avoid being seen on missions had left him numb to most such smells and sights. As he let go her hand, he drew his curved dagger, knowing he'd need it. With one last glance at her, he disappeared into the dark old shop. It was nearly ten minutes before Kate heard a sudden racket inside, then Kell and another voice, definitely the hunter by how he shadows and roared at the more calm-sounding Kell. Another scuffle followed, until Kate heard the weak cry of a little girl.

"Brother!" Then there was a horrible thud and a moment of silence until Kate heard the most painful, heart-wrenching roar she'd even known. She heard an awful crack and a dull sound of a body dropping to the floor and all went silent. It was another several minutes before Kell emerged, clutching a tiny body wrapped in his cloak to his chest. He came to a halt just beyond the door, and all Kate could see in his golden eyes was that he was lost, but unable to register what he should be feeling.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate was terrified by the noises that she heard, but when Kell emerged from the store with a bundle held against his chest, she knew that he had found what he was looking for. She was quiet as he stood there, trying to get his mind wrapped around what he had just done.

"Kell?" Kate ventured softly, not wanting to startle him any more then he already was.

 

[KieranSoares]

"She was alive..." He whispered, hugging the tiny form of his young sister closer. "He struck her... she was so weak that he didn't have to do anything more." He finally met Kate's eyes, and for the first time, she caught a glimpse into the mysterious golden orbs and the true depth of his pain. "But... she smiled when she saw me... she knew I came back for her. That's all that matters."

 

[heartofcourage]

"No." Kate said softly. "We aren't giving up this easily."

Kate refused to accept that the person that Kell loved above all others was dead just like that. She took Kell's free hand and pulled him behind her. She ran as fast as she could back to the keep, Kell in tow behind her. When they entered the keep, she called for their healer, knowing that she needed to give his sister the best chance possible.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Kate... she's gone, it's too late..." Kell told her quietly as she called the healer. The little girl was taken from him and soon several healers were at work trying to revive her. Kell simply stood by in silence. He knew he couldn't fight what he considered inevitable, but he remained close by all the same. If little Mary did waken, he'd be there, but he knew deep down that she wouldn't survive.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Kell, no. You can't think like that." Kate insisted, tears of frustration and sadness showing in her emerald gaze.

There had been too much in her life that reminded her of this moment. She'd been born because of a horrible event. Her Da had gone blind saving her from a wolf attack. She had said truly horrible things to her mother in the heat of her anger. She felt responsible for what had happened to little Mary, especially since she had pulled Kell from the path he had taken to get her back.

 

[KieranSoares]

Despite emotions running high, Kell calmly and quietly stepped forward, wrapping Kate in his sure and strong embrace, as broken as he felt inside. "Thank you... I wouldn't have gotten a chance to see her at all if not for you... I would never have known where she was if you hadn't called your father here and he hadn't gone out of his way to find out with Cahal and Abel... and thank you for coming with me... if there hadn't been someone waiting for me I might not have even come outside after I found her."

 

[heartofcourage]

"That's what a friend is, Kell." Kate said softly as he wrapped her up in a strong embrace. She pressed her cheek against his chest, letting out a sigh as his embrace reminded her so much of her father. "Someone that will be there for you, no matter what."

 

[KieranSoares]

Before Kell could say anything else, one of the healers came to them quietly. "Pardon... Mr. Aleister?"

"Yes...?" Kell met the man's eyes, not willing to get his hopes up.

"Your sister has been successfully revived, and she's sleeping now. There's not much we can really do, I'm afraid... it seems that she's been paralyzed below the waist for some time-"

"She has been, for two years."

"Well... she's also suffered broken ribs that never set correctly and she's having difficulty breathing. There may be many more problems we can't diagnose..."

"I understand," Kell nodded slowly and reached out to shake the man's hand. "Thank you..." When the man left them, Kell looked at Kate before slowly approaching Mary's side. Cleaned up and in the light, the little human girl was quite pretty, the bruise on her cheek not detracting from what would've been, one day, likely great beauty. Kell knelt beside her, taking her tiny hand between his own.