Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"Probably tearin' th'forest apart if I know 'im at all..." He spoke quietly as he pulled on fresh clothes and his belt and strapped his claymore to his back. He didn't carry it as often as he had in his younger days, but this was an emergency that might warrant it if the anger between the races turned into riots. He outright sprinted out of the keep, finding Kate outside ready to help him.

"Kate, yer no' comin' with me on this one," he said quickly as Cole brought him a horse.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Da, you aren't keeping me here." Kate insisted as she continued to saddle up her horse, glancing towards her father. "This is my kingdom as much as yours now. I'm not staying behind just because you think it isn't safe."

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan was expecting her to resist, and he caught the lead of her horse. "Listen to me, young lass," he said very sternly, waiting until she held his gaze. "This is one of th'worst things you'll ever face as a Queen; your people fighting among themselves. If yer going t'come, you stay between me an' Cole, no exceptions. When people start hatin' each other fer somethin' like race, they'll lash out at anyone, including th'heir of Scotland. Don' give 'em a chance fer their anger t'get out o' control an' hurt you. If th'worst happens... be ready t'fight yer own people." It was the one thing Brogan had never had the heart to do until lives were threatened. His people loved and trusted him, and even in the worst situation it felt so wrong to hurt them for anything. "Get yer Claymore an' yer Wolf, this'll be 'is first proper lesson in bein' a Lord Protector."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate listened to her father intently, her long red curls blowing into her face as the winter breeze picked up. She nodded her understanding as he made no bones about how this would all happen and to be prepared if she had to take drastic action.

"I promise, Da." She said softly as he told her to get her claymore and her wolf. "I'll be right back then."

Turning she hurried back into the keep to find Kell and her sword, silently shaking on the inside at the serious tone that her father had taken with her.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell was perched in the window in his tower bedroom, but he was ready in a flash when Kate came hurrying to get him. "What's going on?" He asked upon seeing her expression, instinctively reaching for his knife belt and sword.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Kayla and Lucy are missing and we're going out with Da to help them look." Kate said as she went to get her claymore and to tie her thick curls back to withstand the wind. "He warned me that we might not like what we find."

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell followed her to get her claymore and when they came outside, Brogan was up on his horse waiting for them and their own horses were waiting. Once they were in their saddles, they took off to start the search where Lucy and Kayla had last been seen. In the snow, they found tracks of werefolk and sleds, and Kell was immediately galloping off to follow them

 

[heartofcourage]

"Da, who would take Kayla and Lucy?" Kate asked as they followed the trail as best as they could, Kell riding ahead to see where the tracks went. "No one from our village would hurt either of them."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Lot o' werefolk an' humans 'ave gone missing lately fer one reason 'r another... I suspect it migh' be th'werefolk. Th'missing humans 'r all known fer hating werefolk, so th'ones who left might've gone because they didn' feel safe. But takin' two humans... I can't forgive 'em even if they are scared."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Da, we have to be willing to forgive them. With that kind of hatred, they will only remain scared and bitter." Kate tried to reason with her father. "You can't let what you feel for Kayla and Lucy to cloud your judgement."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's no' clouding my judgement... no' with all the blood Cole found in th'trap they were caught in," he murmured. She hadn't seen the trap or heard a word about it until then. "Cole's sure both of 'em were hurt... more'n just a little. There were spikes a' the bottom. A little thing like Lucy could've died easily on one of 'em, an' it could kill anyone jus' from blood loss."

 

[heartofcourage]

"They were caught in a trap?" Kate asked, a bit stunned at that piece of information. "Da, if they were dead, wouldn't they have been left behind? Why would they take bodies with them?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's possible they could die o' wounds like tha' if they're still alive," Brogan answered, but then a rider came out from the forest.

"Brogan!" It was Boar. "There's werefolk gatherin' at th'south end. They said they've got prisoners an' demands for you." His eyes were wide with fear, hoping to the Gods that the prisoners weren't Lucy and Kayla. If they were, they were in terrible danger and the werefolk holding them were going to face serious retribution.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate saw the haunted and worried look in her uncle's eyes as he came to find Brogan. Kate knew Boar must have been terrified at the thought of losing his daughter and his granddaughter, as well as Kayla's unborn child.

"We'll figure this out, Uncle Boar." Kate said softly, her heart going out to him.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan was immediately off, motioning for them to follow. When they arrived, they found many Invernessians including Eli and Leon and most of Kate's male cousins already gathered, having all dropped their work to come find Kayla and Lucy. Across from them stood a large group of werefolk, many that Kate recognized as past victims of abuse by humans or those who had lost loved ones to hunters. Among their ringleaders was Norr, Ruben's brother-in-law. He was about Kell's age, and rumor had it that his wife had recently been taken by hunters. As Brogan approached, the werefolk grew restless.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate didn't like the tense energy in the air as the two sides faced off. She knew that the were folk were scared and angry. Her Da seemed intent to make everything as smooth as possible. She wasn't sure that simple words were going to be enough to save anyone's life that evening.

 

[KieranSoares]

Norr..." Brogan sighed, hurt to see that it was family facing him.

"You know what we want, Brogan..."

"An' I wish I could do all of it... but Norr, I can't punish people fer not likin' werefolk. An' I've always put my best forward in keepin' hunters away, but I can't pursue 'em outside Inverness without permission from other lords. I'm doin' all I can, an' I treat werefolk and humans th' same when it comes t'the law. I'm tryin' my best t'root out corruption an' bias. I can't do anythin' more, an' I can't change what's already 'appened."

Norr snarled darkly, pointing his spear back toward Kayla and Lucy. "It's them or safety for my people!" More werefolk and humans had begun to gather to see what was going on, and just in time to see Eli suddenly break from the family to dash across the no-man's land toward his daughter and sister when he saw Norr's weapon so close to them and saw them hurt. But Norr was ready and met him head-on.

"Tha's my little girl, you bastard!" Eli roared as they collided and Norr threw away his spear for fair combat. A few blows were exchanged before several people from both sides rushed forward to break them up. In the middle of the commotion, Kate caught the flash of a knife and heard her Uncle Boar cry out suddenly in anguish. The sides parted, and Eli fell to his knees in the snow, blood staining the whiteness and his cloak as it rushed from a wound in his chest. Norr stood across from him with the bloody knife in hand, looking completely shocked. Eli collapsed forward and Norr dropped the knife, looking down at his own blood-stained hands in horror. He looked to Boar, tears filling his eyes as their gazes met.

"I... I didn't-" but Norr never got to finish as a bolt suddenly flew out of nowhere and struck him in the belly and he fell back. In the confusion, the anger, and the sorrow, several members of either side began rioting, but it was the Ghis who snatched up Eli, Kayla, and Lucy and got them out. Kayla would find herself in Durban's arms while Kreston took Lucy, and Boar managed to pull his mortally-wounded son from the fighting. It was only when Brogan's armed warriors intervened that all the rioters from both sides and all the rebel werefolk in attendance were arrested and hauled away, leaving a few battered fighters to be taken to healers and the still-trembling Norr laying in his blood in the snow. Brogan came to kneel beside him, and everyone heard in the silence as Norr begged for forgiveness. Brogan quietly told him that he was forgiven before Norr took one last shuddering breath. Ruben hurried to his side, but he didn't know whether to hate his brother-in-law or be distraught at his passing. Meanwhile, the rest were focused on Eli who was struggling for breath.

"Lucy..." Eli whispered even as blood welled up in his throat as his father held him. "Kay..." He shuddered violently, unable to see and unable to understand what was happening. "Ma," he finally cried out fearfully as his vision went dark. "Oh, god..."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate watched from the line of men as Elijah stepped forward to challenge Norr for his daughter and sister. She had never seen her soft spoken cousin so upset, but he was a man ready to kill for their safety. Then it seemed like hell came to earth as Norr and Elijah clashed, leaving both wounded and dying in the aftermath. Her Da made his way to Norr's side with Ruben, listening to his dying words, as Boar tended to his son as he slowly faded away. Kayla was screaming for her brother, Leon doing much the same.

"Everyone back." Kate called, turning her horse away from the scene to look at the soldiers and men of Inverness that were gathered. "Back to the keep. This is done."

She had no want for them to see the family break apart. It was a moment for them and them alone.

 

[KieranSoares]

The soldiers left at her command, taking the arrested aggressors- human and werefolk- away for questioning to await Brogan's judgment. Norr's life slowly slipped away after begging Brogan for forgiveness, having not meant to kill Eli. Brogan, not wanting the young man to die in guilt, forgave him and Norr's eyes closed forever. Ruben was silent, knowing his heart would truly break when he faced Norr's sisters, one Ruben's own wife.

Eli was begging fearfully for his parents and his sister and his daughter. No one had ever seen him so afraid in his life, but it was clear his greatest fear was death. He died in his father's arms with Kayla and Leon at his side, leaving Boar looking as if he weren't sure whether to explode or fall to pieces.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate watched the scene from the back of her steed, knowing that this was one of the darkest moments the Ghis would have to face. She wanted to cry for her cousin, but the tears wouldn't come. Instead, she simply say in silent vigil as Elijah and Norr were taken care of.

She briefly wondered if someone had been so kind to her real father when he died. Was he buried with honor or was he left to rot? She made a promise to herself right then and there that no matter what the situation was, she would never let someone die alone.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ruben carried Norr quietly away, Brogan letting him take his horse. Boar took up his son's body without another word to anyone, and carried him back toward the keep. Brogan climbed up on Kate's saddle behind her, wiping Norr's blood from his arm where Norr had held on til his dying breath. Really no one said a word, but Brogan wrapped an arm around Kate, holding her tightly and thanking the Gods that he didn't have to face the loss of a child. Emma would be the most heartbroken, Eli having been closest with her.

Little Lucy was left confused in her uncle's arms, and he carried both Lucy and Kayla back toward the keep with him.

 

[heartofcourage]

"What will be the punishment for this?" Kate asked as her Da wrapped his arm around her waist and held her tightly. "It seems like there's been so much sorrow already for everyone involved. It doesn't seem right to punish anyone anymore."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Few days in prison fer the' rioters... But I won't do anythin' harsh... The only real injuries were between Eli an' Norr." He pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Let's go home, love... I think the family needs t'be together." Whenever hard times or tragedy struck the family, they came together and only select members, such as Brogan and Julia, had any real contact with the public to keep things going.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia was up with Heather when Brogan and Kate came back to the keep. Something had happened, that much she was certain of. They were both somber and Kate was soon heading off with Kell as Brogan came and took her by the waist, escorting her back towards their room.

"Love, what happened?" She asked him softly as Heather dozed against her shoulder, finally drifting off after being fussy for most of the evening.

Everything was interrupted by the most blood curdling and heart wrenching scream that Julia had ever heard in her life. It soon was muffled, but Julia looked towards Brogan for answers.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan hugged Julia tight as he heard what he knew was Emma's scream. "Eli's gone... He an' Norr killed each other when Eli tried t'get Lucy back... I jailed th' rioters." He sighed quietly, laying his head against Julia's shoulder. Seeing his nephew and a respectable Wolf die over something so pointless as racism had hurt his very soul.