Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"Th' lumberjacks aren't like tha'..." Brogan thought aloud, but then something struck him. "Dammit, I know who it is... Las' month a big band o' lads came from England lookin' fer work. Mostly from Carlisle an' Newcastle. Northern English are usually pretty awful t'werefolk. With th'exception o' yer Ma, o' course. I'll bet it's them."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Kell is there right now looking into the problem. He should be back this evening with more information on what is going on." Kate mentioned softly. "He wants to take a look at everything on his own instead of relying on the words of others."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Good. Words change an' rumors get confused fer fact. I'd never trust words alone 'cept in my closest allies an' family. Ye'd do well t'remember tha', kitten. Kell's one o' those allies." He smiled down at her then. He had not made it a secret to her that he quite liked Kell, but he tended to keep it quiet from most people, especially Kell himself to make sure the wolf stayed in line around Kate. Not that there was really a danger.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate smiled up at her father, laughing softly at the look that he gave her. She knew that he liked Kell, even if he wasn't prepared to tell anyone that. It made her incredibly happy that the most important man in her life got along so well with the man that she was falling in love with.

"I trust his word." She said softly. "Just as I trust you and Ma."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Don' trust 'im too much," Brogan chuckled. "Fer th'sake o'yer old man's heart if nothin' else." He drew her closer and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Beauty. I missed ya. More'n my pride'll let me say."

 

[heartofcourage]

"And I missed you, Da." Kate said in complete and total honesty as she hugged her father tightly, her cheek pressing against his broad shoulder. "You know that I always need your advice...even if I do become the Queen of Scotland."

After lunch, Julia took the twins to the nursery, tucking them both into their crib before she turned to look at Ciaran. It had been a long time since they had a long talk between one another and she knew that they were overdue for one.

"How are you feeling, my heart?" Julia asked softly as she took a seat across from him, taking his hand and squeezing it gently.

 

[KieranSoares]

"In all honesty... much better than I was before you left," Ciaran smiled to his mother. He'd been hard at work making a place for himself in Inverness, taking lessons from Kell, Valentina, Theo, Durban, and Vincenzo so he could become a proper forester. He was nearly aiming to be a nomad, but he didn't want to stray too far from home for too long. "I had a talk with Uncle Durban... and I think I'm going to start working with him properly and make my own money. It's time I found my way, right?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Your Da and I want you to be happy, Ciaran. If going out into the world to make your own way is what will make you happy, then we will support you completely." Julia said softly as she gave her son a smile. "Just...don't get too far away from home, huh? Your Da and I would miss having your sunny face around the keep."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't plan to ever leave for good. It's like Gran said about Da and his siblings, 'they all come back to Inverness.' Even Ashien and Kayla can't stay away, living so far off."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia wrapped her son in a tight hug, pressing her cheek against his own. "You are a good boy, Ciaran. One that I am very proud of. Your Da is so proud of you too. He was so afraid that you might want to leave Inverness for good after all that has happened."

 

[KieranSoares]

"None of that was worth leaving the people I love," Ciaran murmured, kissing Julia's cheek. Once he sat back, he spoke up, "So... What are the plans from here on out, what with Kate in training? Is Da going to pick Rho or Sam to succeed him?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't know. Your Da has a lot to think about with Kate becoming the heir to the Scottish throne. If your brothers are willing and able, then he will choose them. If not, there are others in this family that would be just as great on the throne." Julia said softly as she spoke of such important matters with her son.

"I'm hoping to soon take a trip to Chester. I would like all of you to come with me to meet your Uncle and to visit my home." Julia said, giving his hands a squeeze. "I haven't been back in 18 years, love. It would mean the world to me to show you and your siblings a little bit of my past."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Uncle Maxwell?" Ciaran asked quietly. He remembered the brief meeting with the cold man. "I'd love to see Chester, but I'm not so sure Maxwell would be so happy to see us, unless he's changed. Of course I'll go regardless."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Love, it doesn't matter to me if Maxwell welcomes us or not. He can kick us out on the streets for all that I care. I owe it to your grandmother to go back to Chester. She was a good woman and I regret the fact that she never got to meet any of you." Julia murmured, a little stunned that Ciaran remembered meeting his uncle when he was so young.

 

[KieranSoares]

"All of us would be glad to go. A little adventure, like we used to have when we went out to the forest or visited other lords and kings." Those very 'adventures' had given many of them an adventurous spirit. For Annie, it further solidified that her place was in Inverness.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You use to love those little adventures. Do you remember the wooden sword that your Da gave you? You would wear it everywhere and protect your sisters with it." Julia remembered fondly. "Those are some of the best memories that I have when you were all so tiny."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I still have that sword. Or, rather, Rho has it," Ciaran smiled with a soft laugh. "He likes to beat up on Sam with it whenever Sam gets too serious. I think they've found a balance for themselves."

 

[heartofcourage]

"My hope is they can each find a place in the world and live without one another always being near. They'll find different interests as they grow older." Julia said, smiling as Ciaran laughed with ease. "And Heather and Ashelin...I can't wait to see what their little personalities are like."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ashelin's going to turn out like Aunt Selena, I'll bet you anything. Heather... I imagine she'll be more like you." Having spent so much time learning how his little sisters worked, Ciaran had a good idea of Ashelin's opinionated personality already and Heather's peaceful nature.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Another Kitten to make my hair grey, huh?" Julia teased as Ciaran spoke about what he saw in his tiny sisters. "I know she'll have s brother willing to teach her anything she wishes to know about the world around her. She'll be in very good hands."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It won't be long before at least one of them will be following me off to the woods like Sam and Rho did when they were little," Ciaran chuckled softly, remembering the first time the then six-year old twins had wandered off after their brother while he was out with Durban, putting half of Inverness in a panic when the boys just disappeared.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You might not have wanted to be king of Inverness, but you'll always be the protector of this family when your Da and I are long gone, Ciaran." Julia said softly. "They all adore you and need your advice and love more than you could ever know."

 

[KieranSoares]

"That's even more to live up to than being a king," Ciaran smiled to his mother. "But I think I can handle that."

When Ashelin awoke and began fussing, Ciaran rose to tend to her, finding that her little doll had rolled away from her. He tucked it in between the sisters and Ashelin settled once more. Ciaran smiled lovingly and looked to his mother, "They're going to be a lot like Sam and Rho, I can already see it."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You'll be a good father when the time comes, Ciaran." Julia said with a laugh as he stood to tend to his little sister when she fussed. "I know that one day Lir is going to send you someone that completes you again."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ciaran smiled to his mother softly, "Let's hope so... I could certainly use someone to look after me as much as I look after these two," he looked down to the twins before returning to Julia's side. "And I'm sure there are plenty of children across Scotland who need a good home. With how much Da talks about Daniel, I'm sure he couldn't object to more grandchildren."