Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"For Kell or Mary?" He asked calmly, pulling her onto his lap and into his arms. He kissed her forehead and laid his head against her own, letting her know he was listening.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Both." Kate said with a long sigh as she pressed her forehead against her father's. "Well, mostly about Kell. Da, I've never felt this way about anyone before. I feel a little sick when he's gone and when he looks at me, I feel short of breath."

 

[KieranSoares]

At that, Brogan couldn't help a soft chuckle, hugging her a little tighter, but he also felt a sharp small pain his his heart, realizing his daughter had grown up and someone had caught her eye. Of course she'd never noticed anyone before Kell is such a way, so he wasn't surprised to hear that she didn't understand what she was feeling. "Sounds like somethin' you should ask yer Ma about that when we get back. But I understand what y'mean... I've felt that with a couple people."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate was quiet for a moment, thinking about what he meant. She was too young to think about love. It had never been anything that she was interested in, but when she thought about Kell...she most definitely was interested.

"How did you know that you loved Ma?" She asked him softly, knowing that he hated talking about his daughters moving into serious relationships. He had fought tooth and nail against Annie courting David, but the two were an absolute perfect match.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well... it took a while. She didn' deserve how I treated 'er." He sighed, and decided it was finally time to tell at least one of his children about the beginnings of his relationship with Julia, as he'd never told any of them. He didn't like to remember how much a fool he'd been to push Julia away when all she ever offered was all her love and support even when she thought he didn't love her back.

"I married 'er before I ever really knew 'er. Th'Lord o' Chester at th'time was the biggest thorn in my side other'n Wick, but 'e was gettin' on my nerves more'n anything fer how he treated his people an' his land... left th'lives and nature t'ruin, an' you know how I can' stand that... So, I declared war, knowin' I could wipe 'is miserable hide off th'face o' the planet- o' course, back then I was still a stone-hearted beast from losin' Cassie... But 'e sent terms of a peace treaty, an' 'e offered me 'is daughter's hand in marriage in return for it. I couldn't even begin t'tell you how mad tha' made me, especially when 'e said 'e 'ad no other use for 'er, that she was just a waste o' space. No person deserves that, so... I gave it some thought, went t'meet 'er... I liked 'er, she was gentle an' beautiful and kinder t'me than any Englishman or woman had ever been... So more for her sake, I married her an' took 'er home. We 'ad two weddings, one Christian an' one Lunasian, but they 'ardly meant a thing when y'considered how I treated 'er... I lost my temper at 'er the very first night, just because she told me she cared about what 'appened t'me. Wasn't much later that she found out about Cassie an' Annie. She 'ad every right t'be hurt an' angry that I wouldn't tell 'er about them an' she heard of them from m'best man back then, Ciaran, th'man your brother's named after... I learned t'have a lighter hand, but... it took too long for me t'even hug 'er fer the first time... An' the first time I told 'er I loved 'er was jus' before I ran off t'fight Wick an' got myself 'urt. I'll never forget th'look on her face when she saw me. She cared so much, an' I'd hardly given her anything..."

Brogan sighed, running his hand back through his hair. "She nearly died, those first few months... Savin' a young lad when 'e fell into th'loch. She fell in 'erself an' caught th'worst case o' pneumonia I've ever seen..." He didn't want to think about what'd happened just after she'd recovered. "Even while she an' I were still grievin' over Ciaran's death not long later, she still took care o' me like 'er life depended on it, even after a Wick assassin tried t'kill 'er in our room, she took care of me when I'd gotten 'urt... An' when I was poisoned, she rode halfway to Inverlochly t'find Durban because 'e knew what herbs Valentina needed for me..."

He lifted his head and reached out to take Kate's hand. "But t'really answer your question, love... I knew I loved yer Ma when I realized that she was th' part of myself I'd been missin'... She even filled in some things that Cassie never did, and she made it possible fer me t'be the man I wanted t'be... I never wanted t'be a stone-cold warrior who gets into every war 'e can... but that was what happened after I lost Cassie an' sent Annie away... Julia made me want t'make peace so I could enjoy 'er company an' work on our family. It wasn't til you were born before I made tha' happen an' it lasted... well, until th'Erygonians showed up." He went quiet for a moment, then murmured, "Y'know... I always told 'er I wanted a little girl. She knew early on tha' she was 'avin' a girl, an' I cried a few times, I was so happy."

He pulled her in close. "We almost lost you, y'know... y'weren't breathin'. Vincenzo and Val took you, an' yer Ma couldn't get up, so she told me t'go be with you so, if you made it or you didn't, you wouldn't be alone... You finally started breathin' when I held you for th'first time."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate held her father tightly as he told her the story. She was stunned as he told her that she had almost died when she was born. Her mother's words made her feel even more ashamed about the things about that she had said to her before she left for Wick.

"Maybe this baby will be the little girl you always wanted." Kate said softly. "I mean...your little girl."

She knew that Brogan was her father no matter what anyone else said. Still, she wanted him to have all the wants and wishes that he had always wanted.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I already have her," he whispered before kissing her cheek. "Kate, you've been my little girl, even more so than yer Ma's, since th'moment we knew we were having you. Even when she told me she was afraid y'were Arland's, I told 'er every time: I love any child she gives me. An' even when we saw y'had red hair, I told 'er the same. She was always so afraid for you, especially when y'were so small, but I've told 'er time an' time again tha' yer my daughter, an' no one could change that. It's not who y'came from, it's who you are. An' Kate, you're a Ghis through an' through, an' shapin' up t'be a fine Dunland too like yer uncles. Y'couldn't make me prouder, love."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know I'm too young...I know your rules about courting...but would you be upset if I wanted to see Kell?" She asked in a whispered voice, still so much a girl while trying so hard to be a woman.

Her father's opinion meant a lot to her and Kate wanted to know that he would be alright with anything that came along in her life.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yer no' too young..." Brogan sighed, having known the question was coming. "An' no... I wouldn' be upset..." The second was a downright lie, but he knew Kate could decide such things for herself. He'd learned that the hard way about his girls with Annie when she made up her own mind about marrying David and told Brogan that he was being irrational about it all. "Jus'... don' let yerself fall too 'ard, Kate. Y'don't know 'im well yet, an' it may be some time before 'e's up for anythin' like courting what with little Mary there. But... if you want t'see 'im an' he feels th'same... hell, I couldn't stop Annie, an' you're ten times worse than she is."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate smiled as she hugged her father tightly and kissed his cheek. "I love you, Da. I want you to remember that always."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's nice t'be reminded every so often, though," he told her softly as his embrace enveloped her once more, just as he had every time he hugged her in all her life. "Now... I want you t'get a little more rest, aye? I know things're tense 'round 'ere, but at least one o'you two needs t'be awake an' not tired half t'death fer Mary. I'll tell Kell th'same after you've gotten a bit o' rest. Y'ain't 'ardly slept much, and not very well when y'do."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Alright, Da." She said softly as he hugged her tightly once more. "Promise to wake me if something happens?" She asked as he nodded and she kissed his cheek before she pulled herself from his arms to go and get some rest.

 

[KieranSoares]

By the time Kate returned to Kell's side the next morning, she found that he and Mary were both asleep together, and the little girl was wrapped securely in her brother's arms. Her coughing had subsided to just labored breathing and awful shivering, and that was a bad sign if she had pneumonia and her lungs were being blocked up. It seemed she'd lost all her strength.

Kell woke at the sound of Kate's footsteps, lifting his head to look over at her. His gaze was calm but sad, and he simply just laid his head back down.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate stood and surveyed the scene, knowing that Mary needed help if she was going to survive. She moved to Kell's side and gently touched his shoulder.

"Get her ready for a bath, Kell. I'm going to make it as hot as I can. Sometimes that can help draw a sickness out of a person." She said softly before she turned to get the tub and the water boiling.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell sat up slowly, watching Kate go. He wondered quietly to himself why she cared so deeply, but he decided not to question it. "Come on, love," he said softly to his tiny sister, and she whimpered slightly at being moved. By the time Kate had the tub ready, Kell carried little Mary in to the side washroom and once she told him she could stand the temperature, he helped her undress and he lowered her carefully into the water. It seemed he'd done this many times, his small sister being frail and sickly her whole life. He abandoned his shirt to keep it from getting wet and knelt at the side of the tub. She clung weakly to his arm, and he kept her sitting up, knowing she would drift in and out of unconsciousness.

He lifted his head to look to Kate who was now off to his side. Abandoning his shirt and vest gave her a view of all the scars in his fur as well as his real tattoos which were certainly Erygonian. Of all the scars, there were many that were just visible even under his thick fur, so his coat must've hid many many more. He was probably on a par with Durban and Brogan and Boar for scars it seemed. "Kate? Open up the cupboard there," he nodded toward a large wooden cabinet in the corner. "There are salts in there. They might help too." He knew the restorative properties of natural salts well, even if his tribal and nature-tuned heritage wasn't capitalized on as he'd grown up.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate's eyes were glued to Kell when his voice interrupted the moment. She shook her head slightly to clear away her fog as she moved to the side cupboard and pulled out the jar of aromatic salts. She handed them to Kell, helping him to pour them into the steaming water. She did everything in her power to make sure that Mary had a fighting chance. She knew how much it meant to Kell and it meant a lot to her as well.

 

[KieranSoares]

Little Mary laid her head on her older brother's broad arm, closing her eyes once more, and though she seemed to have a bit more ease with breathing, only time would tell if the bath really helped. In the crushing silence, Kell laid his head against Mary's, and Kate soon heard him softly singing a child's lullaby she recognized, but he was singing in Erygonian. As harsh and dark as that language had sounded when shouted and snarled in the heat of battle and over Inverness' palisade walls, it sounded as lovely as Lunar when spoken so softly.

Kell let Mary remain until the water was lukewarm, then he lifted her up and wrapped her in a soft towel. She tried in vain to gather the strength to dry and dress herself, but for her comfort, Kell brought her a simple nightgown. Pressing a kiss to her forehead as he carried her back to her bed, she looked up at him. "Brother...?"

"Aan, elu'uly?" He answered in Erygonian.

"Can we go outside?"

Kell's brow furrowed in consideration. It wouldn't hurt her, it was a warm morning, and he didn't intend to let her try to run around. So, he nodded, "Aan. Bil anu he cerawn."

Looking to Kate to see if she would follow, Kell made his way out to the garden, keeping Mary in his arms and wrapped in his cloak. He wouldn't deny a sick little girl such a thing as simply feeling the warm breeze and the sun on her pale skin. She seemed to relax more easily when she was in the sun with him. He'd left his shirt behind, and found it felt nice to have the sun on his fur again after so long slinking in the shadows of night.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate followed behind the brother and sister dutifully, but she felt as if she were intruding on their tome together. Kate, the girl who had neve been insecure about anything, suddenly felt so unsure of her place. She wanted to help her friend and she wanted to be useful, but with her new found feelings, she wasn't sure where she fit in exactly.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell lifted his head to the blue sky before looking back to Kate. His complex gaze showed her his gratitude for her simple presence. He made his way to the center of the garden where a fair-sized pool lay, fed by a tiny runoff from the nearby river. He stood at its edge for some time, and a strange feeling settled over the garden. After a long period of not moving at all, Kell glanced down at his tiny sister, and Kate, from behind, saw his stance change slowly, relaxing, almost drooping. The little girl's ragged breathing had slowed to a stop. Kell knew that this time, it was time to let her go, and he found solace in the fact that she passed on in his arms in a beautiful, safe place where she was loved.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate watched the scene unfold before her and felt tears running down her cheeks. She wanted to run and call a healer but she stood rooted to her spot.

"Kell?" She murmured softly, her voice shaking. "It's not too late to take her to a healer."

 

[KieranSoares]

"No," Kell said softly. "It's time to let her go. She's had a long fight... She deserves to rest." He kissed his sister's forehead before turning to Kate, his eyes sad but not miserable like he'd been when Mary was suffering. "Thank you... really. I'm just glad she's here, and she was comfortable. We've done all we can, and trying to draw it out will only be more painful in the end... It's okay, though. She's going to a place where no one can hurt her anymore, and where she'll be back with the people she loves."

He made his way toward the door to go inside, but not without kissing Kate's cheek on his way, whispering one last 'thank you'.

 

[heartofcourage]

Watching him go inside with his sister was one of the hardest things that she ever had to do. It went against everything that Kate believed, but she let him do what he thought was best. Kate moved to take a seat on a stone bench, looking into the same stream where Mary had taken her last breath, crying out the sorrow that haunted her heart.

 

[KieranSoares]

It was a long while before Abel stepped out into the garden, having seen her crying. He'd heard already that little Mary was gone. Quietly, he came to sit down beside Kate and drew her gently into his arms and offering his silent support. But after a long silence, he murmured, "You were an angel for that little girl and for Kell, I hope you know that, Kate."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We could have helped her though." Kate said softly, swiping at her eyes as she struggled to stop her tears. "And without her, he has no reason to stay here."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She wouldn't have made it in the end, dear... Kell knew that. I think, deep down... most of us knew that. And Kell had no reason to stay here before all this trouble either. He could've easily taken Mary anywhere and vanished. He's here now because you are, and I imagine until you dismiss him, he'll remain wherever you are."