Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"You're as bad as your little sisters." Julia said, kissing his brow as they came to the main road and she saw Siobhan with Alban, a slightly worried look on her face as Alban tried to soothe her fears about something.

Julia saw a book under Siobhan's arm and a sack of lunch in the other. It seemed that Chessie was sending her cub to school with the others.

"Good morning, Siobhan. Alban. If you are going to the school, you are more than welcome to walk with the three of us." Julia said, greeting them as she pulled the twins to a stop.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I told you there'd be kids y'know there," Alban murmured to Siobhan with a smile before bowing his head to Julia. "We'd be glad t'come along, milady. I think tha's jus' what we need." He wrapped an arm around Siobhan and guided her forward. She had come to know Rhodan fairly well as he was friendly and the most charismatic of the king's children. Sam was an enigma, meanwhile. He kept to himself and his training, interacting mostly with his family and his mentors and any military idols.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Thank you my lady." Siobhan said softly to be polite as Alban guided her forward onto the path. "Chessie was going to come but she got called to the kitchens earlier than normal."

Julia chuckled at the tan wolf as she let Sam lead the way again. "No need to thank me, Siobhan. Rho and Sam make excellent partners to walk with."

 

[KieranSoares]

Unknowingly proving his mother's point, Rho came trotting up beside Siobhan, chattering about what Suara had planned for them all. Alban ushered Siobhan on to talk with him, and fell in step beside Julia.

"She's a lovely cub," Alban murmured to Julia. "I feel like we 'ad our first real family moment las' night."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She has a wounded soul, but it's clear that she loves you and Chessie." Julia said softly as Alban hung back to talk to her. "I remember when she was brought to the keep that evening by the guard. Sam and Rho were her age and my heart ached for her. I gave her one of Kate's old winter gowns to get her warm but she never seemed to stop shivering. Brogan worked for hours with her to get the story of what had happened. When she finally told him, he nearly lost it."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I was in the group he dispatched to her parents' home," Alban murmured. "It was like walkin' onto a battlefield, ruin an' blood everywhere." He knew that being a Wolf, Siobhan's hearing was sharp, so he kept his voice low enough not to be heard. "By the time I got back, though, Chessie was already lookin' after her."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Chessie made her a meal and Siobhan melted." Julia said with a smile. "Just as Chessie always seemed to be able to do so well. She had been talking about adopting a child so much to that point. It seems that fate just dropped Siobhan off when Chessie needed her most."

 

[KieranSoares]

"They got on so quickly, it was hard to believe Siobhan hadn' been there all along. Took a lot longer t'get used t'me, though." Alban smiled to Julia. "Seemed like she'd disappear anytime I came around til Chessie told 'er directly who I was."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She's still never told anyone the terror that her father inflicted. I don't know if she ever will." Julia said with a nod as they all turned onto the trail that would lead them towards the village.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's her secret t'keep, as I see it. She's th'only one left. No extended family, no grandparents... Migh' be she wants t'let those memories die."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Perhaps. Now, you and Chessie can work on making better memories for her." Julia said with a smile at Alban. "It's such a wonderful journey. She might be older than your typical cub, but you can see that she wants a family so bad."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Considerin' we're both a bit old t'be new parents, I think it balances out."

A large wagon came up beside their little group, driven by a farmer from outside Inverness. The wagon was loaded with a wide range of children and a few teens who'd both come to look after them all and learn as well. Many were scruffy country children taking advantage of the opportunity Suara and the Royal Family had offered, and some were of noble stock coming to learn a tribal language as it was difficult to find teachers elsewhere. Many people saw the benefit of learning Erygonian or Lunar as more werefolk came to the isles, especially travelers and nobles and those who were neighbors to werefolk.

"Yer Highness," the old farmer driving the wagon called, taking off his hat and many of the children followed suit. "Can I offer ya a ride?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Thank you for the offer, but we are enjoying the walk this morning." Julia said with a smile towards the farmer. "It does my heart some good to see all of these children interested in Suara's school."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well seein' as it's been offered free an' a lot o' these little ones 'ave friends from the villages, there's a lot o' excitement." The farmer smiled back at his little entourage before tipping his hat to Julia once more. "We've arranged fer someone t'drive a wagon out every session if any o' you need a ride in th'future, especially this winter." They continued on ahead.

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's good to see everyone excited about something." Julia commented as the wagon continued on its way, Rho walking a little faster to get there in time with everyone else.

 

[KieranSoares]

By the time they arrived, plenty of children from all over the three settlements had come in to learn, between the ages of eight and fourteen and a handful of older teens. Some Erygonian youths with a future in teaching had come at Suara's request to help, and plenty of non-Erygonians who lived in the village had come to speed their pickup of the language.

 

[heartofcourage]

Rho was immediately the center of attention, moving easily among the children as they were divided out into different groups. Suara took Sam under her wing and Siobhan hung back by Alban, still completely unsure.

"I don't know about this." Siobhan said softly to him, her golden eyes showing her worry.

She had never been allowed to be a wolf. Her da had abused her mother and her in the worst ways simply because they had fur instead of smooth skin. Crowds and tribal matters made her very nervous as if something terrible might happen if she allowed herself to enjoy the moment.

 

[KieranSoares]

Alban knelt before Siobhan, taking her hands. "Listen t'me, little cub," he murmured. "Things're different now. There'll​ always be dark corners in th'world fer werefolk, I won't deny tha'. But you're in a village of your own people who never got t'know you, an' humans who will support you no matter what you are. Every child 'ere is a mark o' parents 'r caretakers that support your people's culture an' history. This is a safe place."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Will you stay with me?" Siobhan asked Alban. "For a little while, at least?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"I will," Alban nodded, smoothing back her fur soothingly before standing to usher her on toward the area Suara had set aside for the class in front of her home. When it grew colder, she would move them all into a nearby old barn being renovated exactly for her purposes.

Suara welcomed each and every child, and when Siobhan came among the last, shyest children, Suara greeted her with a warm embrace. "Welcome, Azan," she murmured, calling Siobhan by her tribal middle name which her mother had given her. "Welcome home." Suara extended that greeting to all folk who were or were once tribal, be they from her tribe or nation or same religion or not.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Thank you, Suara." Siobhan said softly as she moved to take her spot near the back of the group, sitting down in the grass with her sack lunch and a small journal Chessie had given her that morning.

Julia stood back to watch, smiling as the children seemed so excited to be there for a new adventure.

 

[KieranSoares]

Alban settled just behind Siobhan, listening to Suara's welcome and her introduction of her assistants and helpers. She also mentioned Rho and Sam, not for being princes, but for being some of the most accomplished of the new learners of the language since the Erygonians' arrival. She also mentioned some people not present who worked around the three settlements who had offered to help students if they had questions outside of the class sessions, such as Kell Aleister, Kreston Maliar, and Suara's own granddaughter Naiya.

Suara began as basically as possible, as one would with a toddler learning to speak. She had taught many people to speak in her life and did so with grace and ease.

 

[heartofcourage]

Siobhan spoked dutifully along with the lesson, her voice almost a whisper. Julia glanced towards Alban, watching as he kept a dutiful eye on his cub. She moved towards Siobhan, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Speak with confidence, little cub. Everyone has to start somewhere when learning." Julia said softly, whispered just for her to hear.

Siobhan gave a little nod and spoke slightly louder, enough to be hear in the middle of the other students.

 

[KieranSoares]

Eventually when Siobhan had joined up with a group including Sam and she seemed more comfortable, Alban kissed her cheek and made his way away with Julia. Sam and Rho would see Siobhan home.

 

[heartofcourage]

"She'll take some time but she'll get there. Just keep loving her." Julia said as she and Alban started walking back towards the keep. "And marry Chessie already. That woman has the patience of a saint waiting for you to ask."