Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

Ciaran watched the smile appear on her face and he couldn't help smiling himself. There was a little bit of residual sadness for losing the man that had done the same thing for Ciaran himself, but he was glad for his little sister, that she got the chance to see that real love was someone who wanted who she already was, not someone who'd want to change her. He hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead, "You hold on tight to him, love. Don't let anyone steer you away. You and he are the only ones who get to decide where this all goes."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't plan on letting him get too far away from me." Kate promised her brother as he hugged her tightly and kissed her brow. "And in time, I'm going to help you find someone that makes you happy too. Lir would have wanted you to be happy."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We'll see about that one, Kay... I'll find him when I'm ready." Ciaran sat back with a sigh and looked up to the night sky. "... I wonder what he'd think of how everything ended... It was almost because of his death that we ended the war once and for all... Well, his death and the few Erygonians." Ciaran shook his head as he remembered that awful moment when they'd come across the Erygonians in the woods and the Shaman's son attacked them all and made it look like Ciaran and Lir's fault.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I think he would be incredibly proud of you, Ciaran." Kate said softly as she took her brother's hand and squeezed it tightly. "Because you handled everything so well. He would have loved Heather and Ashelin. And I know that he still loves you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I can only hope so... but I have to move on eventually. He always told me that if we somehow didn't work out, he wanted me to be happy and find someone new... I don't think he meant for this situation, though." Ciaran sighed softly. "You know... I still feel like sobbing my heart out... but I don't have the strength to even manage that anymore..." He looked over at her and kissed her hand. "Hold on tight to Kell... I want to see what you two make of yourselves and each other. As much as he thinks he's the defender, he needs someone to protect him too."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll protect him as long as he'll let me...and probably even when he says no more." Kate promised her brother, wrapping him in a tight hug as they sat there side by side. "You should go with Uncle Durban when he goes to the highlands to tend his sheep. It would be good to get away from Inverness for a while."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I might... but I'm hoping to return to my camp and be alone for a while now that everything's settled and Da can help Ma with the girls." Ciaran then looked up to the sky. "I miss being out in nature..." He looked down at her and hugged her tighter. "You should come out there with me sometime, like we used to do. Kell's thinking of making his own camp far south from mine, too."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Perhaps I will if there's time. Since Da wants me to take his throne when he's ready, there's a lot to learn." Kate said softly as her brother talked about going back into the woods. "And you know that you'll miss Heather and Ashelin. I suspect that you'll be back every chance you get."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Of course I will. Even if my life takes me away from Inverness, I'll be back to see them and everyone else." He rose from his seat, "But I think it's time for all little sisters to get to bed. And big brothers." He took her hand with a gentle smile. For how little he had in common with Brogan, his personality was just like Brogan's gentler side that he showed with his family.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate took her brother's hand and let him lead her back towards their rooms. Outside of hers, she kissed his cheek and hugged him tightly again. She was glad that he was almost back to himself. She had worried that he might have been gone forever after losing Lir.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ciaran kissed her cheek in return and opened up her door for her. "Goodnight, love." He then turned to go on to his own room. In her chambers, Kate found her little white tiger cub Khan asleep on her bed, but he awoke as she entered. He let out a tired growl that came out more as a squeak.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate stood there for a moment and stared at Khan, a silly smile crossing her lips as she suddenly rushed towards the bed and scooped him up. She held the little tiger close, her nose buried in his white fur as she listened to his purr fill the room.

 

[KieranSoares]

Little Khan squeaked again as she scooped him up, and as she nuzzled against him, he buried his head against her neck and his big paws kneaded at her chest happily. Thankfully Ashien had trimmed his claws down and had given her a file to do the same whenever they grew out. He was already turning out to be much like Ballas.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're going to love your life here, Khan." Kate promised as the tiger cub kneaded at her chest and continued to purr. "I promise to take the best care of you."

 

[KieranSoares]

The next morning, it was tiny Khan who awoke her, pouncing on her feet before diving under the covers to gnaw her toes playfully with a growl. He then darted out and toward her bedroom door as someone knocked, and he began scraping at the door frantically with a bright squeak of excitement.

"Kate? Breakfast," her uncle Durban called. If he was there at the keep for breakfast, that meant that the whole family was probably there, all to see Ashien, Dylan, Kayla, and Christopher whose visits were usually only once every couple years if even that often.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate kicked her feet as Khan nibbled on her toes. His baby teeth were sharp and she was about to tell him no when the knocking at her door sounded. She let out a long sigh as she sat up and listened to her uncle tell her that breakfast was ready. Running a hand through her wild red curls, she glanced down at Khan as he purred and stalked along the door.

"Alright, we'll go to get breakfast." She said as she dressed for her day and scooped up her kitten, walking down the corridors to the main hall.

 

[KieranSoares]

As Kate arrived in the great hall, she saw a lovely sight that told her that her family had made a full recovery from the war. Her father and elder brother were laughing as Durban caught Rho and Sam in a headlock each, until Sam slipped out and scrambled onto his uncle's back and triumphantly freed his brother.

It also seemed Ciaran had made a friend of Dazu, the great werelion whom the Ghis had taken in as a warrior after Ruben freed him and Julia gladly accepted him into Inverness. Meanwhile, Julia, Kitty, and the rest of the family and close family friends like Cole were sitting together at the huge head table. Kell was beside Julia, laughing at something Marri had said about Durban being a big soft bear.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate smiled to herself as she went to join her family, stopping first at her uncle Ashien's side. She leaned in and kissed his cheek, giving him a warm smile.

"I wanted to thank you again for Khan." She said, letting him know just how much she had already come to love the little tiger.

 

[KieranSoares]

"You're absolutely welcome, sweetheart," Ashien kissed her cheek in return, and laughed as Khan reached out to paw at him from Kate's arms, until Khan's mother Asha came over to clean Khan's face, at which he growled in protest.

"'E sounds like you when y'were little an' yer Ma tried t'give ya a bath," Brogan commented as he came to sit down.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Then we have something in common." Kate said with a laugh as she sat down next to her father, placing Khan on the ground as he was tended to by his mother.

"Katherine, your father was telling me that you are going to learn what it takes to be the ruler of Inverness." Kayla said as she glanced up from the sleeping Heather that was in her arms. "Perhaps you should come to Norway soon. I would be glad to show you the ropes."

Julia laughed softly as Kayla offered her that. "You are very kind, Kayla. We could send her during the summer. I think that would be a lovely time to visit."

"I'll have to think about it, Aunt Kayla." Kate said with a smile as she glanced over towards Kell.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan then leaned over, whispering in Kate's ear, "I'll let ya take yer bold wolf if y'like." He chuckled and took his seat by Julia, wrapping an arm around her. Kell, which his wolf hearing, had caught that, and he was trying not to let his ears lay back in embarrassment.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Da..." Kate whispered, looking at him as her cheeks turned red.

Before she could say anything else, Emma entered the great hall, a sober look on her face as she searched the family for Boar. The moment she found him, she took a deep breath to steady herself.

"Lynndon. I need to talk to you." She said, only calling him by his birth name when things were serious.

 

[KieranSoares]

Boar stood from his seat and took Emma's hands. "Wha's wrong, love?" He stepped off to the side with her so no one would overhear. The rest of the family had heard her serious tone, but didn't try ask questions and continued about breakfast.

Boar stood in the arch of the side hall with his wife, meeting her eyes. "I'm listenin'.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Kayla's home." She said softly, looking at her husband as she let out a long sigh, a strange emotion crossing her features. "Marianne has sent her away from her court. She wrote a note that simply said that Kayla's services were no longer needed. She won't tell me what's wrong or what she did."

 

[KieranSoares]

Boar's brow furrowed with worry and confusion. "Is she alrigh'? Not 'urt 'r sick?" He looked down to the floor in thought, crossing his arms. "... I'll go talk to 'er... but d'ya have any idea at all what it migh' be?"