Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

Kell rolled his eyes and Qira cracked the slightest smile. "I feel the same."

"I think if Grandfather wasn't Sarah Monaghan's Spymaster, Qira would've preferred he became your Lord Protector," Kell chuckled.

"Definitely."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're easily distracted, Kell." Kate said with a smile, chuckling as his ears twitched ever so slightly in his displeasure. "A pretty smile from me and you forget yourself."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I can multitask," Kell insisted.

"You could be better, Captain," Qira supported Kate, and Kell sighed.

"I wouldn't have introduced you if I'd known you two were going to gang up on me."

"I serve her, Captain. Not you," Qira reminded him. "You did say she was the boss."

"Using my own words against me. Typical."

 

[heartofcourage]

"And don't think that will change any time soon." Kate said. "I will not be promising to obey you in our wedding vows."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You don't have to. Just consider my words when I have your best interests at heart," Kell insisted, taking her hand. "And even if he doesn't talk much, consider Qira's as well."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Since Qira supersedes you now, I suppose I should." Kate glanced towards Qira and gave him a smile. "The two of us will get to know each other sooner or later. We might not ever speak day to day, but I insist on knowing those that help to guard me."

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira nodded, murmuring, "I will introduce the men and women who work with me to defend you, as they come. Until the coronation, I'm still testing them."

"Qira hand-picked his own inner circle. I don't even know some of them. But it's best that way. Secrets are best-kept when few people know them," Kell nodded. "And I trust him with not just my life, but yours. He won't let anyone near that isn't completely unshakable in their loyalty and dedication."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We'll be the best of friends." Kate chuckled as their meeting continued until it grew late and she wanted to retire to bed.

She wasn't even really sure when Qira disappeared, but he was gone in what seemed like the blink of an eye. If he could disappear so easily, she knew that Kell was taking her safety seriously.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell walked with Kate to her room, the way long since familiar. They had spent some nights together just for the comfort of it, but Kell knew his boundaries and had never asked or pushed for more. "I'm glad you like Qira," he murmured as they arrived at the door. "He's a good man in all respects and I've known him forever. I might even trust him more than myself when it comes to you."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Because you can barely keep your hands to yourself." Kate said with a grin as they both entered her room and she was soon sinking down into her chair by the fire with a long and tired sigh. "I honestly cannot wait to be back home in Inverness. I miss it terribly."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've kept my hands to myself just fine, thank you," Kell chuckled. "I haven't asked you for a single thing, even if it's tempting." As she settled, he leaned by the mantle, crossing his arms comfortably. "I miss it too," he agreed quietly. "There have been a few nights when I'd have liked to just sit and talk to your parents or your brothers or Chessie."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It'll be lonely when we have to leave for good." Kate said, a little bit of sadness creeping into her voice. "I miss my Da horribly. I even miss my rotten baby brothers."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know, love. It's going to be hard without them." Kell stepped over and knelt at her side, taking her hand. "I promise we'll visit them as often as possible. And I'll make it as easy as I can for them to come to us too."

 

[heartofcourage]

"In between running a kingdom and loving one another and learning how to live away from Inverness and keeping each other from danger. It sounds like a pretty tall order, Kell." Kate commented as he came to take her hand in his own.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It is. But we'll manage. If only for the sake of keeping you sane," Kell offered with a soft smile. "I'm here to help you, and so are our advisors and many of the lords."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You'll spoil me." Kate commented as she leaned in and kissed her wolf, sighing as she relaxed in his presences.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Only a little," Kell chuckled as their lips parted. "It's the least I owe you, Kate."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You'll always owe me." Kate said with a grin as she hugged her wolf tightly.

 

[KieranSoares]

Over the next few days, Qira kept his word and introduced a few people to Kate who he knew he'd be keeping in her guard detail after her coronation. All three were women of varying race and origin, but all three were intensely focused on their work. Qira had taken care to choose mostly women as Kate's guardians, just for the sake of her ever feeling uncomfortable surrounded by men.

In the meantime, Kell disappeared fairly often when they weren't needed, but all he would tell Kate was that he was looking over his network. He never gave details even when they were completely alone, insisting secrecy was his best weapon. When the time came to head back to Inverness, they weren't escorted by Edinburgh guardsmen or Invernessians, but Qira and the women looking after Kate.

 

[heartofcourage]

When they reached Inverness, Kate was surprised to see preparations for her birthday already in full swing. The keep had been cleaned within an inch of it's life and new tapestries hung. She would take them to Edinburgh with her when the time came that and brought a tear to her eye. Her Ma was making sure that she would never forget where she came from.

 

[KieranSoares]

As per Kate's taste, the tapestries, save one, were all from history around Scotland and not just Inverness. Most were of allied clan territories and then counties under the High Throne, to show Kate's fairness to all her friends and subjects. And there were a few guests that Kate had not been told to expect as she returned home that first day. In the great hall, she would find her uncles Cahal and Abel all the way from Wick waiting for her, and even her great-uncle Matthias whom she had not gotten to spend much time with in her life, but had adored her and wrote to her often nonetheless.

All of Brogan's siblings had come for the occasion too, and they would stay until Kate's coronation to give her a proper send-off. Kayla and Ashien had just arrived with their families, and even Ulfric and Kjotva had come as they had always adored Kate and were considered family through Kayla. Watching over it all was Julia, Kitty, and Brogan and one more unexpected guest- Khelt Aleister the First. He was beside Julia, talking to her quietly until Kate and Kell entered.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate was not expecting the large welcome that they received when they entered the great hall. She grinned to see all the family that was bear and dear to her heart. However, the one person she wanted to hug the most was the one she approached first.

"I missed you." She murmured against her Da's ear, hugging him tightly. "You have no idea how much I missed you."

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan had quickly come from the back of the hall to meet Kate, everyone stepping aside understanding the king needed to see his daughter. Once Kate was in his arms, Brogan let go a deep sigh and he kissed her cheek. "Hiya, darlin'," he murmured. "It was too quiet without ya, Kitten..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're sure you can't come to Edinburgh with me? The castle has lots of room for everyone." Kate whispered, letting him see just how important he was to her.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. But ol' Inverness is my place," Brogan murmured, smiling down at her sadly. "But I'll be there often enough. Promise. Now come on, love. Yer Ma's missed you too."