Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Julia let out a long sigh as she knew her husband was right. Ciaran would care for Sam and Rho while they were gone and he would check in on his sisters every day. Selena and Kreston would take good care of them and Vincenzo was always around if something went wrong. The icing on the cake would have been if Val and Theo were still in town, but they had packed up their children and left for the south of France to visit Seamus at his vineyard.

"I guess you're right." She said softly, giving him a soft smile. "We deserve to get away and have our time alone."

 

[KieranSoares]

"If anyone deserves time away at all, it's you," Brogan whispered, lifting a hand to her cheek as he set his forehead to her own. He would always tell her that even for all the stress he endured, she took on much worse, especially when he failed and fell and she had to take over for him.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia smiled fondly up at her husband, pressing her lips against his as he caressed her cheek and their foreheads pressed together. He had turned into a soft romantic as their life together progressed and she wouldn't have wanted it any other way. She loved him dearly and the time away from Inverness would do them both some good.

A knock sounded at their door, followed by Kate peeking her head around the opening door. "Da? Can I talk to you?" She asked softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan turned from Julia to see Kate, and he smiled to her. "Sure, kitten." He'd taken to calling her by the nickname more often now. He kissed Julia once more before stepping out to face Kate. "What d'ya need, lass?" He asked softly as he wrapped an arm around her.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate stepped into the room and hugged her father tightly, smiling as he called her kitten. The nickname that she use to hate now made her think fondly about her family. Julia moved forward and kissed her daughter's forehead, giving her a tight hug.

"I'll leave you two to talk. The babies need their evening meal before they are tucked into bed." She murmured.

Kate waited until her Ma had closed the door and she turned to look back at her father. "Da, are you sure that you want to leave Inverness in my hands? What if something happens that I can't fix?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"We'll only be gone two weeks, love," Brogan assured her softly. "Even on th' off chance tha' somethin' does 'appen, we're not far away an' we'll only be there a short time. An' you have plenty o' family an' my most trusted men around ya. Just keep yer wolf close an' ye'll do fine." He knew Kell could help her if anything went wrong. Not to mention, he liked to see them working together.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Marianne wants me to come to Edinburgh when you return. She thinks it's time to start showing me how to run the kingdom." Kate said softly, knowing that her father had already talked to Marianne about splitting her time between Inverness and Edinburgh. "I think she's just lonely and wants me around as a companion."

 

[KieranSoares]

"That's certainly part of it... But ye've got a lot t'live up to an' I'm sure ya know it." Brogan sat down with her and took her hands. "Brian was th' finest King Scotland 'ad since... Well, since before Edinburgh was the capital, an' Gale kept up tha' standard with everythin' 'e had despite losin' 'is brothers an' father. Tha', an' everyone's expectin' t'see a daughter o' House Ghis an' Inverness be a warrior and an unbreakable defender like yer Ma and I always try t'be."

He met her eyes with what was one of the most serious, concerned, gentle expressions she'd ever seen. "But I don't want ya t'pay attention to all that. Yer not Brian, an' yer no' Brogan 'r Julia. Yer Kate, an' you don' owe anyone a thing as long as y'do yer best. That's th'only expectation y'should ever pay attention to; do yer best. Y'don't have to give in to other people's image o' what their queen should be as long as you do all you can. After all... Since when 'ave y'ever conformed t'people's idea o' what y'should be, aye?" He gave her a smile then, and touched her cheek before kissing her forehead.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate was quiet for a long moment as she soaked in those words, her forehead resting against her father's cheek. She never thought that she would be the queen of Inverness, let alone the queen of all Scotland. It was a position that she would take pride in but one that she was also frightened of. In time, she might be able to build confidence, but right then, she was a scared young woman.

"Do you think I could have some money to order a few new gowns?" She asked him, pulling her forehead away to look up into his dark eyes. "I mean, I know I put up a fight when I have to wear them, but I feel like...well, maybe a queen should start getting use to them. Ma always looks so beautiful."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You know y'don't 'ave t'wear 'em everyday even as a queen," Brogan reminded her with a smile. "But o' course y'can order 'em if ye'd like. Jus' let Cole know, 'e'll order 'em." After all, Cole had long since become an advisor and something of a steward for the keep and family.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Thank you, Da." Kate said, kissing him cheek before she pulled back with an even more serious look on her face. "And I expect you to treat Ma to an absolutely wonderful time in Inverlochly. If you don't, I'm not allowing you back in Inverness."

The children had all conspired to make sure that their time away would go smoothly. Ciaran was taking the twins hiking in the woods up towards Loch Ness. Annie and David would help Kate with the day to day overseeing of the kingdom. Kell had even volunteered for a heavier load in order that they gave Julia the time that she had never had with her husband.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Trust me, love, I intend t'fall in love with yer Ma all over again, and... Well, we're hopin' t'have another wedding after. Our first was fer her people, the second fer mine... But we never married fer love. It's been somethin' of a dream of ours t'have one more, fer nothin' but love, and we wanted you kids t'be there."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We could plan it for you. A surprise." Kate said, a twinkle in her emerald eyes. "It can all be in place before you get back from Inverlochly!"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Jus' don't breathe a word t'yer Ma," Brogan whispered with a grin and kissed her cheek. "Sweet lass. Now speakin' o' weddings, I wanted t'mention somethin' t'you... I got four letters the minute we got 'one from Edinburgh, all from Earls and Lords askin' fer yer hand." He looked down at her with a bit of a smirk. "Between yer looks an' yer future, ye've got a fair handful of men after ya."

 

[heartofcourage]

"And I've only got eyes for one, Da." Kate said softly, a hint of blush on her cheeks as she admitted that to her father. "So, you can tell them that I thank them for their interest, but they can bugger off."

She grinned and hugged her father tightly, giving him one last kiss on the cheek. "I'll take good care of Inverness for you. I promise."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know y'will, that's why I left it t'you." Brogan stood with his daughter and they parted ways in the hall as Brogan went to find Julia and Kell came to join Kate with little Khan padding alongside him.

"You look happy," Kell commented casually.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I had a talk with my Da." Kate said softly as she leaned down and scratched behind Khan's ears, grinning at his hearty purr. "You know, I have four men vying for my hand in marriage."

She glanced up at Kell, wondering how he would take that news. "I told my Da that they needed to bugger off."

 

[KieranSoares]

"They do," Kell nodded resolutely. Even though he said no more, Kate could see his hackles raise ever so slightly at the thought of someone trying to steal her away. Even if they were only friends and nothing more, he would've still very much disliked the idea of power-hungry, shallow lords vying for her hand.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're handsome when you're angry." Kate teased as she stood and looked up at her wolf, a light blazing in his golden gaze. "You know this will happen many more times before I turn 18 and officially become the high queen of Scotland. Just know that you are my best friend and that you are still the best kisser I know."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm the only kisser you know," Kell teased back. He was about to lean in to kiss her then, but Khan wasn't having it. He gnawed on Kell's fingers and the dark Wolf paused. "What, do you have something to say about it?"

Khan simply gazed up with the most innocent gaze without releasing Kell's fingers from his needle-like teeth. Kell sighed and shook his head. "First Ciaran, now Khan..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He's here to protect me." Kate said with a smug tone in her voice as she leaned in and kissed Kell's cheek. "Let's take him for a walk. I have some things to talk about with you. A surprise...for Ma."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Oh?" Kell set Khan down at their feet and the cub happily padded along with them. "What'd you have in mind?" They made their way outside where it'd be less likely they'd run into Julia or anyone who might tell her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"We're going to plan a surprise wedding for the both of them. The weather is nice, so outdoors. Maybe on the loch." Kate said, her mind working a mile a minute. "And she wore Gran's dress the first time. Maybe Gran will let us borrow it again. Lots of flowers and food. It'll be beautiful."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Just tell me if and when you want help, and I'll do everything I can." He paused with her as they came to the gate of the courtyard, and looked out toward the town. "... Hm... I'm going to miss this place when I'm in Edinburgh."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Me too." Kate said softly as she took Kell's hand and squeezed it. "I always thought that I wanted to get as far away from here as I could, but now all I want to do is stay."