Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Kate dropped by the village, seeing Phearson grazing on a patch of grass while Rho sat in the shade of a nearby tree. She dismounted from the cart, sitting down next to her brother. She wrapped her arm around his shoulders and pressed a kiss against his temple.

"You did good." She murmured with a smile, looking down at her brother with a sense of pride. "You'll serve Inverness well as king with Sam at your side."

 

[KieranSoares]

Rho had been running around with Phearson distributing supplies ever since he'd arrived and no longer needed to direct people, so he was fairly tired himself. He looked up at her and gave her a smile. "Me? Look at you. You figured out how to be everywhere at once and keep things running smoothly. Ma and Da and Marianne'll be proud."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Let's go home. Sam and you can sleep in the back of the wagon while I drive and Phearson will follow." Kate said as she stood with her brother and went to gather Sam from where he was still helping to give out food. "Come on, Sam. It's time to go home for some rest."

 

[KieranSoares]

"But I'm not done," Sam said as if confused. He didn't like leaving things half-finished. That was when Suara approached.

"You've done your part, young one," she said softly. Sam and Rho had always felt wary of her as they were responsible for the death of Tidannon, but she had been courteous to them as honorable warriors who'd defeated her son fairly for the sake of their mother, and now she was becoming quite fond of them. "Go on." She scooted Sam along with Kate and he finally followed. He was asleep within minutes of getting into the cart.

 

[heartofcourage]

Phearson was tied to the back of the cart, the old warhorse following dutifully behind them as Kate guided the cart back towards Inverness. She was surprised when Rho stayed up while Sam slumbered, talking with her about different things. It seemed that her younger brother had really taken an interest in what it took to run Inverness and she knew that their father would be very proud of his children.

 

[KieranSoares]

When they returned, they found Ciaran fast asleep at the main hall table. He'd been making bandages all day in between helping run water around town to those who couldn't get it themselves. Brogan was at his usual chair writing. Inverness would need more supplies to recover from the sickness, so he was sending for aid from his allies and Marianne.

Brogan looked up as Kate and the twins entered, and he rose to meet them and kissed Kate's cheek and hugged the boys close. "Everythin' go alright?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Very well, Da." Kate said with a smile as she glanced towards the twins. "Rho did amazing on Phearson and Sam did just as well as his right hand man. You would have been incredibly proud of the both of them."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm proud o' all of you. Everyone in this family stepped up an' helped with all they 'ad. I couldn' ask fer a better family. Especially th' kids. You an' yer brothers, all yer cousins, y'went above an' beyond. But this was only day one. It's gonna get tougher, but I know we can make it an' keep too many from bein' taken by disease "

Brogan sent the boys off to bed and turned to Kate. "Y'did me proud, love, takin' initiative like tha' t'make sure the werefolk were alright, lettin' us catch this thing before it got too out o' hand. Ye'll make Scotland damned proud one day soon, if Inverness is anything t'go by."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You know, you and Ma are the only two people that I want to make proud." Kate said softly as she looked up at her father. "As long as you are proud, that's all I can ask for in life. I want to be as good of a ruler as you have been here in Inverness."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yer well on yer way t'bein' better. I didn't know how t'do anything when I took over, an' Durban was too far away t'ask fer help seein' as Da taught him everything. Ye'll be a fine Queen an' Marianne'll find peace knowin' her son chose th'right lass fer the job." Brogan sent her off to bed with one last kiss to her cheek. "Get some rest, darlin'. I love you."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate kissed her father's cheek before she retired to bed. It felt good to get between the covers, a long yawn issuing from her lips as Khan snuggled up against her side. Everything suddenly felt so right in her life. The issues that she thought she would face were dissolving, leaving her with a clear view of the future that she had worked so hard for.

Julia had long started staying up for Brogan in times of trouble. He would work hard, sometimes to the point of exhaustion, and she always wanted to be there to support him when he needed it most. With infant twins, that made it easy too as they slept little and demanded her attention. That evening, she was rocking Ashelin in front of the fire as Heather slumbered, glancing up at the door to their room as Brogan finally stepped in.

"Did the children return?" She asked softly as Ashelin's green eyes turned towards the man that she loved so dearly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Jus' a few minutes ago. They're off t'bed. Ciaran fell asleep a' the table makin' bandages so I carried 'im to 'is room," he told her with a nod. He greeted her with a sweet kiss and Ashelin with the same. "Kate says Sam an' Rho really came into their own t'day. Rho 'ad Phearson an' was leadin' while Sam helped everyone along. An' Kate did a bit o' both."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You carried Ciaran? Brogan, he's nearly your size." Julia said with a soft laugh as her husband gave her a sweet kiss and spared one for Ashelin as well. "Rho will do everything that he can to make you proud. Kate and Sam as well. Unlike what happened with your Da, you show them all the time that they are loved and that they are good people. I think that will serve them well in the future."

Ashelin instantly reached out for her father, always wanting to be in his arms when he was anywhere near her. Julia let her daughter go, smiling as Brogan held her against his chest while the little girl cooed in happiness.

"And one day, Ashelin will want to do the same." Julia murmured softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"An' Heather will, especially fer you. I think ya finally 'ave yer little princess t' take after you, be less s warrior, more a proper court lady. But she'll do amazin' things too, so'll Ash an' all our children." Brogan took a seat beside Julia and Ashelin was soon drifting off to sleep clutching his tunic. As Brogan fell quiet, Julia could see his mind begin to race as it often did in the evenings, especially is times of strain or crisis. He'd sent other messengers to get help, but his great concern outside Inverness was for Kell. If he grew ill on the way to or from Aberdeen, it was possible nobody would find him in time to help him.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He'll be alright." Julia said softly as she looked at her husband, knowing the look on his face very well. "He's too stubborn to get ill and Kate's too stubborn to let him die. It's hard to let this out of our hands, but we can't control everything."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He'll get sick, either he already is or will be when 'e gets back. Stubborn's got nothin' t'do with plague. But I know he'll stick by Kate as always when 'e gets back. If 'e can't follow her, she'll go to him. An' tha's the way it should be." He loved the Wolf beyond reason, considering him absolutely a Ghis at this point regardless of his relationship with Kate.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia could hear the fondness in his voice as he spoke about Kell and she knew that when Kate decided she wanted to wed, there would be no hesitation from her father. Julia kissed Brogan's cheek and lay down next to him, her head resting in his lap as she let out a long, tired sigh.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Long day fer you too, love?" Brogan asked softly. He'd been in and out of the keep all day so he hadn't really seen what all she'd been doing or what anyone else in the keep was up to except Cole and Ciaran.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Between the girls and helping Chessie get things ready to go to the villages, I'm worn out." Julia admitted. "Chessie cooked all day long. I've never seen someone produce so much in such a short amount of time. She's truly a wonder."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Tha's why I charmed 'er into stickin' around," he told her with a soft but roguish smile. Of course Chessie was Ciaran's widow, and she'd nearly left for Edinburgh after his death when she learned from Cole that Ciaran had loved Julia too, though she never knew of the affair. She wasn't jealous or spiteful of Julia, but she couldn't stand staying where her husband had died. Brogan had sent her off on a vacation to her family in Edinburgh, telling her she didn't have to stay. But a month later she was back and it was business as usual. It had taken her years to really be herself again, but she'd never lost her friendship with Julia and had been an aunt to the children.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Sometimes I want to cry when I look at her after everything that happened. She never got the chance to have a family with Ciaran and she never remarried." Julia said in a soft voice. "She's taken our children in as her own, but I always wonder if she doesn't have some regrets."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm sure she 'as. But it's no' too late. She's about yer age an' she's been seein' tha' Lion from th' Erygonian village... If 'e makes it through th'plague alright, I've got a feeling he won't hesitate much longer in askin' Chessie t'be with 'im. Near-death experiences 'ave a way o' makin' a person quit wastin' time." He knew it all too well after so many near-fatal wounds, poison, and his own attempted suicide in their twenty years together. Each time he'd recovered, he said things and did things he'd previously been waiting for the 'right moment' to do. Every time something reminded him of how easily and quickly his life could end, he settled all his grievances and debts and worries in the hope that, when it was his time, he'd have no regrets and no one would think ill of him when he was gone. Especially his wife and children.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia didn't respond to his statement, already having drifted off to sleep with her head resting on her husband's strong thigh. Her hand wrapped over his knee, green eyes closed in exhaustion. It had been an incredibly long day. It felt good to rest in her husband's strong embrace knowing that she and all of their children were safe.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan smiled to himself and carefully lifted Julia up to lay her in bed. Once she was covered up, he set aside his belts and boots and tunic, and he joined her side for a much-needed rest.

The next morning was quiet but incredibly busy. Brogan posted himself in the main hall once more where he could oversee everything and everyone coming and going as well as keep track of stocks and people. Chessie had instituted an 'eat when you're hungry' rule around the keep so that her staff could have food waiting aside for people to come and get, and they could focus on cooking for those working in the villages and town and the sick.

Brogan sent Kate out once more, posting her in the Lunar village while Sam and Rho went to the Erygonians. Ciaran continued to help making supplies for the healers, and the rest of the family did whatever they could, including moving supplies, bringing firewood to warm the homes of the sick, and keeping order as a few opportunistic thieves had been getting into the homes of people away helping the others.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate was busy in the village, checking in on each family and making sure that they had what they needed. She paused when it came to her aunt's family, standing respectfully in the living room of her home as she waited for Selena to finish with her youngest grandchildren.

The little twins had been saved from the worst and they had come to stay with her until Ruben and Telma were well again. Luna was caring for them and Katya and Timmal as she had picked up an immunity while in Rhodes.

"I could take them with me back to the keep to give you a rest." Kate offered as the two little boys started crying the moment Selena stood to look at her niece. "It would give you time to care for Kreston and his family too."