Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

The party was unlike anything Julia had seen while at the keep. Her children had made certain that everyone would eat, drink, and be merry. Julia couldn't keep the smile off her face as she kissed each child on the cheek, hugging them tightly as the band struck up a lively tune.

"I don't know how you all managed to make this happen." Julia said, smiling to Ciaran and Kate as her children sat next to her at the large dining table.

"Gran had a large hand in it." Kate said with a smile towards her brother. "And Ciaran stepped up as well to be her muscle."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Kate sweet-talked Kell into all the hard jobs, so it wasn't that tough," Ciaran insisted with a chuckle, glancing over to Kell who was gladly entertaining little Ashelin while Kitty happily looked after Heather.

"It really means a lot t'us, kids," Brogan reminded his children as he settled beside Julia, kissing his son and daughter each on the forehead.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia hugged them both tightly, enjoying her time with her eldest children. She knew sooner or later they would be gone and moments like this would be harder to have.

A few moments later, Mako entered the hall as quietly as possibly, his brown fur disheveled from running. His leather satchel was strung across his chest and he was panting heavily after a run. He was the chief courier for the royal family and as the ship had come into the harbor, he had gathered the letters of well wishes to bring to his aunt and uncle.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan rose from his seat with a chuckle to welcome Mako. "Y'didn't have t'hurry, lad." He hugged his nephew tight and brought him to sit down.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Mako only knows how to hurry." Julia said with a chuckle as she glanced towards her nephew.

Mako had always been close with Brogan and extremely loyal. Loyalty was important for secret correspondences and he had run all over the isle to do his bidding.

"You missed the ceremony dear." Julia said as she patted Mako's arm.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It was important," Mako insisted, picking a particular few letters out. There were letters from the Triad, the Rus, Mongolia, even those who didn't directly know Brogan and Julia but knew other members of their family, like Durban's warlord friend from China. Some even came from Suara's people who'd remained or returned to Africa, and from Arslan and Freja in Mongolia. Even Sarah had sent along her best wishes for them.

The letters Mako drew out were not from friends and family abroad, but rather those who'd long since passed. One was from Julia's mother, and one was a small package with a thin journal sent from Wick, labeled as a gift from Tamblin for Brogan.

 

[heartofcourage]

"How is this possible?" Julia asked as Mako offered her the letter from her mother and the package from Wick.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Tamblin left this for Uncle Brogan hidden in Wick," Mako murmured as he watched Brogan take the small journal. "Abel sent it. It was meant to be somewhere no one else would find it."

Looking to Julia's letter, Mako gave her a smile. "You might ask your brother about that. He's the one who told me it was on its way here from Chester."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia looked at her nephew and then at Brogan, absolutely speechless. She had no idea how these things had been hidden from them for so long.

"Thank you, love." Julia said as she kissed Mako's cheek and gave him a warm smile. "Go and get something to eat. I'm sure that your Ma will be wanting a dance sooner or later."

 

[KieranSoares]

Mako, ever the energetic soul, smiled brightly and practically bounded away at the mention of food, though he was sure to greet his family first. Brogan was left staring down at the leatherbound little journal, but he tucked it away. He knew it likely would be a melancholy sort of message for him, and he didn't want to ruin his happy mood.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Are you alright, love?" Julia asked, reaching out to touch Brogan's arm as he tucked the journal away for another time.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm okay," Brogan promised her with a gentle smile. "Jus' never thought my old man would've left somethin' fer me fer a special occasion. I 'ave a feeling I know what it's about." He drew her in closer and kissed her cheek. "But I won' worry about it til later."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I won't let you worry about it until later." Julia said with a smile as she pressed her forehead against Brogan's. "Let's dance. Then, I'm going to eat until this dress doesn't fit anymore."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Careful there. I fully intend t'enjoy tonight with you," Brogan warned with a smirk before bringing her out to the dance floor. Despite wounds in the past and getting just a bit older, Brogan was still as graceful a dancer as ever.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Are you certain you're not too old for that, Brogan Ghis?" Julia teased as her husband pulled her out onto then floor with the same grace that she'd always known from him. "Because I'm content to stuff myself like a wild pheasant and sleep the evening away."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, if yer so set on me actin' like an old man, I'll jus' nap all day an' read an' be useless." As they stepped perfectly in time and practically commanded the floor, Brogan glanced around to smile as he saw Kell and Kate dancing, and Annie and David even though David was still learning to dance in a ballroom.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Look at how happy your girls are." Julia whispered as she noticed Brogan looking at Annie and Kate dancing with the men that they adored. "I think they made fabulous choices and you are a good man for letting them make their own choices."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, the lads proved themselves, an' my girls know they're in good 'ands. I gave David a fight, but... after everythin' Kate and Kell went through, I didn't 'ave the heart t'fight with them." Brogan gave Kate a proud smile as she noticed her parents watching.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate blushed as her Da gave her a proud smile and she soon had her cheek pressed against Kell's chest, chuckling to herself. Of course her Da would be watching over them. She wouldn't be expected anything less.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell slowed as Kate's head laid against his chest, glancing over as Brogan's attention returned to Julia. With a chuckle, Kell kissed Kate's cheek. "Quite a love story, isn't it?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"A beautiful one. One that I hope we get to have." Kate said as Kell made comment about her parents and their story.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll do everything in my power to give you a story to tell to future generations," Kell promised her. "It won't be hard, though. You're incredibly easy to love when you're not being even more stubborn than your father." He grinned at that, always teasing her about it.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Hmmm...then I'll make sure that I'm more stubborn than you could have ever imagined." Kate promised with a grin.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I look forward to the challenge," he assured her with a kiss, still turning in graceful circles and in perfect step with her to the music. "And it won't be long before I manage to make you say yes to being mine, ring and all." He was persistent to say the least, and it had become something of a game, getting her to accept his proposal.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I still don't believe you have the courage, Khelt." Kate said with a grin. "Not in front of my family, at least. You just want to spirit me away, which is the easy way out."