Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"Just make sure you send a little warning ahead. My mistress would be glad to have you, but she's never quite gotten over her sins... She is, after all, the one most responsible for your being born next to Arland Wick." Khelt knew the story well. Many times, he and Shia had listened to Sarah's woes and guilt. "My lady would not hesitate to do anything for your mother, in the hopes that she might in some small way show her grief at what happened. But she has often said it was a blessing that you came from that terrible time. You have done your parents and your clan very proud. That is the only solace my queen takes in her past." He was very honest with her, letting her understand just how Sarah really felt behind her mask of unshakable calm.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I have to admit that all wasn't well when I found out who my real father was." Kate admitted as he told her that Sarah still carried a great deal of guilt when it came to her birth. "I couldn't have asked for a better father than Brogan Ghis though. He is my hero."

She thought back on all of the memories she had with her father. Her fondest was the night when she was four and he rocked her to sleep to stories of the heroes of Inverness. He had told her that night that she could be anything that she wanted to be if she just tried. That night had always stuck with her.

"And my Ma has never made me feel like I didn't belong. I have them both to thank for making me into the person that I am today." She murmured.

 

[KieranSoares]

"The Ghis are a rare breed to be sure," Khelt agreed with a small nod. He remained with them for the next week until Alex was sure Kell was healed well and on the last stretch of the sickness. Once suffocation was averted, the plague was left as nothing but a weak fever and Kell was strong enough to power through it quickly though he wouldn't be quite one-hundred percent until he was fully healed and had a couple more weeks to regain his energy. Khelt rode with them as far as the Lunar village before a short but soft goodbye, and then he disappeared into the forest without a trace.

Their arrival back home in Inverness, after Kate had been gone almost two weeks and Kell almost three, was unexpected so soon. Alex headed home and it was only Kate and Kell who entered the keep. There Julia was in Brogan's usual place overseeing everything while Ciaran cared for his youngest sisters and Brogan was off looking over the town and outlying villages personally to see everyone was healing and the worst had passed. Things had calmed down considerably but Sam and Rho were still out helping those left weakest by the plague, and the rest of the Ghis were still offering what support they could.

Chessie had just come out to bring Julia tea. "Here y'are, love," she said with her usual cheery smile undimmed by the exhausting weeks of cooking for almost a thousand plague-stricken people. She happened to glance to the door when Kate and Kell entered arm in arm, and her smile softened. "Well, now. Look who's back."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia glanced up from the papers she had been reading to see Kate and Kell entering the great hall arm in arm. She smiled and stood, greeting them both with a warm embrace. She truly cared for Kell like he was her own son and it was obvious Kate loved him very deeply as well.

"It's good to see you on your feet, Kell." Julia murmured. "I'm sure kitten fought hard to keep you up and going."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She had to fight to hold me down," Kell said with a smile, his voice still fairly raspy and quiet. "And she managed to be a good hostess for my grandfather even while she was caring for me."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Your grandfather came?" Julia said with surprise. "I'm sure it was welcome to have him there. It was a long time since the last time you saw him."

Julia ushered them both to a seat next to here and Chessie was soon there with hot cider and a hearty stew for the both of them.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell was very content to be back home beside the girl he loved and the woman who loved him like a son, and he thanked Chessie softly when she served the stew and cider. He'd missed her cooking, and food altogether after being unable to eat much thanks to his healing throat. Alex had said Kell still needed to take it.easy and be careful, but Kell was totally cured and would never face the werefolk plague again.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll remind Sam and Rho that you are still healing." Julia said at the weary look on Kell's face. "I don't want them to be rough with you. They've settled down a great deal but they can still run a soul ragged if they really wanted to."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Don't worry about me, I can handle them," Kell assured her softly.

"Don't be stubborn, lad," Chessie warned on her way out, making Kell chuckle.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You say that now until Sam and Rho have you in tears." Julia said with a fond smile, laughing as Kell insisted that he could handle the twins. "I thought that too. Then they learned how to walk and talk."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll just set Khan on them. He probably wants something to chew on," Kell shrugged. Little Khan hadn't been a bother while Kate was in Aberdeen, but now that he was home he'd scampered off somewhere. Kate found out where when he came running into the main hall with a large boot in his teeth, the huge thing blocking his vision until he ran right into one of the huge wooden supports that had been made from a large tree trunk. Cole stepped out, carrying his other boot, and Khan skittered away only to run into a chair.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate watched as her tiger ran away from Cole, struggling to pull the boot with him that he had stolen. She had to laugh as he tried to run with a determination that would serve him when he got older. She stood from Kell's side, scooping up the tiger in her arms before he could run into anything else.

"Sorry, Uncle Cole." Kate said with a smile as she pulled the boot from Khan and offered it back to her uncle. "He's forgets his manners sometimes."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Only sometimes?" Cole said with a shake of his head. "He got into th' jerky in Chessie's pantry just before you left. He's worse than Sam an' Rho."

"He's just a cub trying to make fun for himself. He'll shape up," Kell spoke up, and Cole sighed.

"I s'pose I can't be mad at 'im. Always 'ad trouble getting mad at kids." Cole ruffled the little cub's fur and went on his way while Khan gnawed happily on Kate's fingers. He never bit her, only got hold of her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"And I missed you too." Kate said with a grin as she nuzzled against Khan's fur while he nibbled on her fingers.

"He's been running all around the keep looking for you. The twins were trying to entertain him, but it was a poor substitution for you." Julia said as Kate came closed and she kissed her daughter's cheek. "Your day has been the same since you've been gone. You would have thought that he had lost the most important person in his life."

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan had no idea when Kate was to return, so he came home long after dinner, having stayed out to help around town. He came into the main hall where Chessie had a meal waiting for him and his few men who'd been gone with him. Kell had long since gone to bed, too tired to stay up. Brogan had been worrying every moment for his daughter and her Wolf. He would've been heartbroken if Kell died, and even more so for Kate who would never be the same if Kell was gone.

 

[heartofcourage]

After she was sure that Kell was comfortable back in his room and Khan was staying out of trouble, Kate made her way back down to the great hall. She smiled as she saw her father there eating with the men that had gone out on patrol with him. Deciding to surprise him, she snuck up to his chair and pressed a kiss against his cheek.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan froze, turning his head to see Kate and letting out a soft laugh. "Hiya, kitten," he murmured, sliding his chair back and pulling her tightly into his arms. "How long y'been back?" He then glanced around. "Is... Is Kell alright?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"He came through with flying colors thanks to Alex." Kate assured her father as he hugged her tightly and she pressed her cheek against his chest. "I got back this afternoon. Ma has been making sure that the both of us were well fed and taken care of."

 

[KieranSoares]

"And no one told me?" Brogan rolled his eyes. "I oughta ground you an' yer mother fer no' sendin' someone out t'tell me. Too bad yer too sweet t'stay mad at."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She said you were busy." Kate murmured, knowing that her father wasn't truly mad at either of them. "I missed you, Da."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm never too busy for my baby," Brogan told her softly but very clearly. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and hugged her just a little tighter. "I missed you too, love. I worried about you both every day.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate smiled as he held her tighter and told her that he missed her greatly. "I was worried too for a while. I didn't think he would make it but Alex knew exactly what to do. Without him there, Kell would have died."

 

[KieranSoares]

"That'll be somethin' t'tell Val and Theo. Y'know Alex'll be modest about it an' tell 'em it was no big deal." Brogan finally let her go then. "I think I'll have ya come out round the villages with me tomorrow an' do one las' check around. Make sure no one needs anything. Til then, I better finish up an get back t'yer Ma. She won' be happy I missed dinner." He'd made it a priority to miss dinner as little as possible, knowing having the family together to eat meant a lot to Julia.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You know Ma never stays mad for long." Kate said with a smile as he talked fondly about his wife. "She loves you too much for that."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Nah, I'm jus' too handsome t'stay mad at. It's a good trick. I jus' go wrap 'er up in my arms til she melts an' I'm good t'go. Not too different from what you used t'do to me when you were little. Always huggin' Da til he forgave you fer lettin' the horses out 'r stealin' my books."