Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"It'll get boring. I don't like big parties and I don't have many friends. Are you sure that you're up for all of that?" Kate asked, giving him a small smile over the top of her tea cup.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't care much for outsiders anyway. I like boring." Qira took a drink of his own tea. "Oh... And don't tell your husband I know all of that about him. He doesn't know."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Qira, what you share with me is simply between us. It’s the same relationship I have with his grandfather. He doesn’t need to know everything that goes on in my life.” Kate said in absolute seriousness.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Your secrets are your own, milady," Qira promised quite serenely. "When I'm around, no one else will hear, I promise."

 

[heartofcourage]

“That is why we will have a beautiful partnership.” Kate said, giving him a smile before she finished her tea and went back to work.

A few hours later, she emerged to find her husband. Her family understood she would be busy and she would make time for them when she could, but not seeing Kell was not negotiable. They had to form a routine to get them through the hard times when it was just the both of them in Edinburgh after all the celebrations were over.

When she found him at the stables, she quietly made her way next to him, watching as one of the stablehands worked a dark filly that seemed to interest Kell. She very carefully slipped her hand in his own, squeezing it gently.

 

[KieranSoares]

As he always was outside private quarters, Kell was in full uniform and stood watching the stablehand with perfect posture and sharp focus. But when Kate's hand slipped into his own, Kell's shoulders relaxed slightly and his fingers linked with her own. "Milady," he murmured with a light smile.

 

[heartofcourage]

“My lord.” Kate said softly, looking at him with a small smile on her own lips. “Don’t tell me you bought a new horse.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Not for myself, no." Kell glanced over the young horse as the stablehand took her through her paces. "She'll be a gift for one of my distinguished agents."

 

[heartofcourage]

“You’re to be a generous Lord Protector then.” Kate said with a chuckle a smile he said that he had purchased the horse for someone else. “You’ll make me look bad by comparison.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"No one else will know, he's not exactly a visible agent." Kell leaned down to kiss her as no one was paying attention to them.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Well, favored among your agents then.” Kate said as he leaned down to kiss her in a private moment.

 

[KieranSoares]

"We get along well," Kell confirmed simply. "I'm going to be hiring a few more from the area once things settle down."

 

[heartofcourage]

“How big is the bounty on my head?” She asked softly as he mentioned hiring more people for protection.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell's brow furrowed and he met her gaze. "Who told you there was a bounty?" His expression alone confirmed it was true.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Does someone really need to tell me?” Kate asked as Kell’s brow furrowed. “You don’t need to know my secret sources.”

Kate kissed Kell one more time, gently touching his cheek. “And I’m not afraid.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know you're not. And I don't know if that makes you brave, or just a fool," Kell murmured, letting his forehead rest against hers for a long moment.

 

[heartofcourage]

“We could fake my death and split the money.” Kate said with a small smile to her husband was he rested his head against her own.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm afraid such a high profile assassination requires proof, love. Very bloody, unpleasant proof," Kell muttered, nuzzling against her gently.

 

[heartofcourage]

“I’d like to keep my head attached to my shoulders.” Late said as he nuzzled against her, her green eyes closing as she savored the moment.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell sighed, and muttered, "You've been talking to Qira, then. I'm glad he's on our side, and not anyone else's. I'd even be worried about him if he were working for an ally."

 

[heartofcourage]

“You don’t need to worry about who I’ve been talking to.” Kate said as Kell expressed husband relief that Qira was working for them and not anyone else.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know I don't. And your life is your own. It'd be... hypocritical, if nothing else, if I said you shouldn't have your own secrets and whatnot." Kell glanced out to the young horse and stablehand again, straightening up and resuming his public appearance as the man approached.

"She's good-tempered, milord," the stablehand reported. "Should be easier to train than most." He then bowed to Kate. "Your Majesty."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Is he talking about me or the horse?” Kate asked, giving Kell a nudge in the side with her elbow.

 

[KieranSoares]

"You aren't good-tempered," Kell countered in a whisper with a secret smirk. He shook the man's hand and dismissed him with proper thanks.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate chuckled as she slipped her arm into her husband’s, waiting until he had dismissed the man and they turned to make their way back into the castle. “I’m supposed to be planning the final ball, but I’ve found myself bored with parties.”