Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"Bye, Bell." Kayla called after the woman, glancing towards Aleister as he looked at her with a scowling look. "She doesn't scare me, Aleister. Don't worry."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I love 'er t'death, but goddamn she pesters th'hell out o' me, jus' like 'er Ma." Aleister sighed and came to lean on the counter, scratching his short beard. "Glad you came along, a' least... I don' 'ave t'deal with so many nosy an' gossiping people anymore. I'm content t'say a few words an' be done with most folks "

 

[heartofcourage]

"You are a mysterious, quiet man, Aleister. People just want to get to know you better." Kayla said as he let his frustrations be known. "Maybe talking to people outside of the bakery would help that. After I get back from Edinburgh, you're going to come to the keep and I'm going to introduce you to some people."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Oh, hell no," Aleister said quickly, and it finally became clear that it wasn't necessarily that he didn't like people. The veteran warrior who'd probably seen some of the most terrifying things a man could see, was shy.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Yes. I insist. I'll be with you every step of the way." Kayla said, watching as a panicked look crossed his face. "It would just be my family. They are as welcoming as anyone that you'll find."

 

[KieranSoares]

Aleister sighed, glancing at her for a moment. "I guess Bell was right... never argue with a lady..." He was still reluctant as could be. "I'm no' much of a talker t'people I don' know, ye've got t'know tha' by now... I don't know how well I'd hold up if th' King an' Queen showed up..." Being at the keep, they surely would come to greet their guest if they weren't already away to Inverlochly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"My Aunt Julia is as warm and loving as they come. She'll adore you, Aleister. My uncle is just like my Da. He's gruff, but he's got a soft heart." Kayla said, suddenly thinking about Gale.

Gale was much the same way. He was gruff, but he had always been so incredibly kind to her. She still couldn't believe that he was dying.

 

[KieranSoares]

"If you insist, I guess..." he sighed. But then he caught the odd expression on her face as she remembered Gale. "... Y'alright?" He asked softly. "Y'look a little upset..."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla was quiet for a long moment as she looked up at Aleister. She let out a long sigh, glancing to see that the shop was deserted before she glanced back at him.

"Can I share a secret with you? Something that you can't tell another soul." She asked softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"O'course y'can," Aleister nodded, turning to face her fully to show he was listening. His expression told her that he wouldn't tell her secrets for anything. "Y'can tell me anythin'."

 

[heartofcourage]

"When I lived in Edinburgh, I worked for Queen Marianne. I was one of her ladies in waiting." She said softly, looking at him as he stopped to listen. "And I fell in love with the king while I was in her court. He's the father of my child."

She let out a deep breath and lowered her head. "When Marianne found out, she banished me from court. I understand her anger and I know that I made a mistake, but we truly cared for one another. Now he's dying and he doesn't even know. That's why I have to go to Edinburgh."

 

[KieranSoares]

Aleister's brows slowly stitched together in concern, and when she fell silent, he stepped around the counter. "C'mere..." he half-whispered, wrapping her up in a comforting and gentle embrace. Despite having only worked together a short time, she was his friend and he was determined to do what he could for her.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla hugged him back tightly, letting out a soft sigh as he seemed to understand her better than anyone else. "I have to tell him that he is going to have an heir. Even if he dies, he has the right to know."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Tha' he does. You do what y'need t'do, don' worry about hurryin' back. I've always got a place fer ya here." He held her at arm's length and gazed down at her with his usual calm and serious expression. "Listen, why don' you leave a little early t'day an' get plenty o' rest fer th'journey? Say, a couple hours early."

 

[heartofcourage]

"No." Kayla said softly. "I want to work all day. I don't want to be home where I have to think about these bad things."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Tha's jus' fine too." Aleister embraced her once more before they set back to work. She ended up staying even a bit late and Aleister didn't mind at all. He sent her home that night with bread she could take on her journey, and when she took a closer look at the bundle later, she'd see he snuck in a sweet roll too.

 

[heartofcourage]

The party heading to Edinburgh left early the next morning. Kayla sat in a wagon next to her Uncle Brogan and Da, sitting between the two men as they discussed what would happen when Gale ultimately died. She was unsure what her father had told her uncle, but she had the thought that he knew. Her mother and Aunt Julia sat in the back of the wagon, quietly talking to one another as Leon, Eli, Gabriel, Seamus and Durban rode their horses. Kate and Kell followed behind on their own steads a short distance away, talking to one another about her upcoming lessons.

Annie and Ciaran had chosen to stay behind to take care of both sets of twins, Ciaran taking Rho and Sam into the woods to camp with Annie caring for Heather and Ashelin in her home. Kayla had chosen to stay behind for the time being, choosing rather to pay her respects as she and Christopher took their ship back to Norway. Ashien and Dylandra would travel with his twin when the time came.

Kayla looked down at the bundle that she carried in her lap, thinking about Aleister and how kind he had been to her. "Da, what if Gale doesn't want to see me?" She asked Boar softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm sure he does," Boar assured her softly. "I remember how 'e looked at you las' I was there."

Brogan reached over to take his niece's hand. He'd long since figured out what was going on with Julia's own suspicions. "He'll be more'n happy, love."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I just wish that things would turn out differently for him. First his Da and then his brothers...and now him. I don't think one family should have to suffer so much." Kayla said as her uncle took her hand and held it tightly. "He's a good man and a good hearted king."

 

[KieranSoares]

"The least we can do is make everythin' a little easier..." Brogan sighed. "Marianne's asked Julia an' I t'help her get everythin' in order while we're there. Hopefully we can ease some worries an' give Gale some peace an' Marianne less t'struggle with."

The journey seemed fairly quick and they were soon being shown into Marianne's private den where she was sitting at her desk and trying to work on a multitude of papers. She looked up to see the Ghis family enter, and her gaze stopped at Kayla. Tears filled her eyes and she rose from her seat to wrap Kayla up in a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry..." She whispered. "I shouldn't have separated you two..." She lifted her head and met Kayla's eyes. "He misses you so... He wouldn't have gotten so ill so quickly if I hadn't broken his heart sending you away... I didn't know how much he loved you..." She was completely distraught with herself.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla was surprised with Marianne's reaction to her. She hadn't expected the queen to wrap her tightly in her arms and apologize for sending her away. She looked the other woman in the eyes, listening to her say just how much Gale loved her.

"It'll all be alright." She said softly, glancing at her father and her mother. "I would like to see him. As quickly as possible."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Of course. He's in his room." Marianne walked with her to the door in the upper halls, but let her go in alone. In his large, plain bed in his sparsely decorated chambers lay the ailing king. Kayla had known him to have weather-darkened skin like his father, but he was almost pale as snow. His long and beautiful brown hair had lost its shine, tied only loosely to keep it out of his face. He was dressed in a plain white tunic and dark trousers, his blanket having fallen to the floor when he pushed it aside during a spike of fever. It was the first time Kayla had seen him without his neatly-trimmed goatee. He had developed a short beard by now, having not shaved since she left.

Gale heard the door close, and he opened up his once beautiful, now dull brown eyes to see her. "K-... Kayla...?" He whispered. In his sudden urge to hurry to her side, he sat up too quickly and very nearly fell out of bed when he felt dizzy and his vision blurred.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla stood there for a long moment, watching the man that she loved so dearly struggle to get out of bed to greet her. She shook her head slightly and hurried to his side, pressing him back to the sheets as she crawled into bed next to him. Once they were both settled, her head resting against his pillow, she reached out and touched his gaunt cheek.

"I see I can't leave you alone without things going awry." She said softly, giving him a soft smile. "What's wrong, Gale?"

 

[KieranSoares]

Gale couldn't help one of his warm, handsome smiles as she touched his cheek. "I always said I wanted to be just like Da, didn't I...? I guess I was a little too eager..." He lifted a hand to press to her own before he kissed her palm. "God, I missed you... I was already feeling sick when my mother sent you away... It got so much worse with that heartbreak..." He sighed and let his forehead touch to her own. "I... I heard why she sent you away... I tried to be careful... I'm so sorry..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm here now, though. And I won't leave you again." She murmured softly as he showed signs of life, his eyes a little brighter and his charming rouge like smile making her heart clench in a painful way.

"I thought, at first, that this child would ruin my life. I hasn't though. I'll always have a part of your with me, Gale." She said softly as their foreheads pressed tightly together. "But I also believe that you will be getting better."