Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"We hope work will work around them. If not, we'll be buried." Kate said simply as Kell tried to make her feel better about the entire situation.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It will work around them, or be dealt out to someone who can better deal with it while we care for our family. I won't let you be one of those leaders whose children grow up considering their nursemaid more of a mother than you."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I won't have my child raised by a nursemaid. My mother didn't raise me like that." Kate said with a quiet passion in her voice. "Nor did my father. He kept me at his knee when he attended to important business. He showed me around an important dinner when I was only two months old. Ma said that Ciaran and Annie had long since gone to bed, but there I was, dressed in a sleeping gown while Da introduced me to anyone that cared to meet me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Then we agree. Our children won't be coddled, parentless nobles. They'll know the importance of family and they'll know we take our responsibilities to them very seriously. We might have help every so often, that's just unavoidable. But it'll be other family members, or friends who are as close as blood."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Kell, our children will work for everything that they earn. I won't allow them to simply gain a title because they were born into a position. They have to prove that they are honorable people." Kate said softly as Kell agreed with her on how they would raise their children together. "It is the only way to make them appreciate what they have."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Then there's one plan made and agreed upon. That makes this a productive day, and now we can sleep all we like," Kell chuckled softly, relaxing into the sheets with a sigh.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Says the man who is gone half the day, leaving me alone with the lines of lords that wish to get my attention." Kate said as he relaxed and she was soon pressed up against his side, her head resting against his shoulder with a sigh.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Our work happens in very different places from one another. While you deal with pomped up nobles, kings, and lordlings in a lovely castle, I deal with snitches, spies, thieves, and assassins in dirty alleys." Kell nuzzled against her shoulder to find a comfortable spot for his head to rest.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll trade you." Kate murmured softly as he nuzzled against her naked shoulder. "Any day and any time you like."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I promise I'll get you out of here for danger and adventure as often as I can." Kell smiled and fell still as he found the perfect position.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm still waiting." Kate said as Kell fell still.

She was soon still herself, the only sound in the room that of Khan as he got himself sorted at the edge of the bed. She looked around their rooms, half decorated with their items that had arrived from Inverness throughout the time that they had been in Edinburgh. Kell's books were haphazardly stacked on his desk. Her clothes a mess in the corner next to the wardrobe. What little jewels she owned before she became queen were scattered on her vanity. It was a reflection of how she felt just then: a little scattered.

If she looked hard enough, she might have been able to see a secret guard that Kell had put into place. She knew Qira was always around, always watching and listening, giving them what privacy he could. That was something she didn't want to find, however. She liked knowing that she was protected but there was a part of her that wished it didn't have to be that way.

 

[KieranSoares]

As if he knew what she was thinking, Kell murmured sleepily after a while, "They never come near our room unless invited." He glanced through half-closed eyes at her a moment.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Can you be sure of that?" Kate asked as he looked at her with half lidded eyes. "There are times where you sleep. How do you know they are not near the room at those times?"

She was being stubborn and contrary as she normally was, posing difficult questions to Kell simply because she could.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Because they know Qira will find out and kill them," Kell muttered. "And Qira won't come near without good reason." He always seemed to have an answer or counter to her stubborn questions. Many to do with security often ended in 'Qira has it handled.'

 

[heartofcourage]

"Why do you always have to have the last word?" Kate asked him as he muttered the answers that she knew was coming. "Can't you let me win an argument once in a while?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"You have to work for it," Kell smiled lightly. "Stubbornness doesn't win everything."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You smile now, but wait until I decide to get competitive about it." Kate murmured, kissing his cheek before she snuggled more against his side and sighed, her green eyes finally closing as she let herself simply relax.

Over the coming days, Kate had to painfully watch her family start to head back to Inverness. She knew that her parents would be staying a while longer, but she said goodbye to her siblings, each of them going back home to tend to their own business save the smallest twins. She clung to Heather tightly as she watched the wagons with them all leaving the castle grounds, a hard lump in her throat.

It was back to the monotony of daily life after that. It seemed that every lord in the kingdom had made it his mission to come to her with the intent of stealing land from someone else. She constantly said no, making many enemies in the process. It simply wasn't something that she wanted to decide upon so quickly.

"Qira, I give you permission to dispatch the next one through that door with the same request." She muttered to the ever hidden panther, glancing in his direction as the door closed behind the last lord that she had sent on his way.

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira emerged from behind the door as it closed, his expression calm as he regarded the door lock for a moment and then slid it shut. "You need break," he muttered in broken English. He came to sit in the chair in front of her desk, his sharp and calm gaze resting on her for a long moment.

"... If it helps," he began in Erygonian, "there is an Elder coming to see you today. She is the leader of an unofficial tribe, more of a ragtag community. She represents all werefolk in Edinburgh. She is coming to introduce herself and keep you updated on werefolk labor and Hunter activity."

 

[heartofcourage]

"What is her name?" Kate asked as he slid the lock on her door shut and she was soon peacefully alone for the first time all day.

She didn't stop working for an instant, however. She was soon pulling papers together that needed reviewing and a signature. There was a never ending supply of things that needed to be done, no matter how prepared she was that day.

"I can only take a short break. I have two more lords coming this afternoon as well. I don't think they're asking for land. They father's recently passed away and they are coming to tell me about their new status and how things have been going." Kate murmured, glancing back up at Qira. "And I'll rest soon. Kell is already planning a small vacation for us."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Her common name is Cerys Addyn, from her days as a slave. As I understand it, she doesn't use her real name outside her family." Qira's shoulders relaxed slightly, likely needing the break himself after watching the visiting lords like a hawk. Some had grown angry and Qira had become a bit worried for Kate's safety. Being a young woman, he feared some of the older men would think they could bully her into submission.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate sat back in her own chair, running her fingers through her hair as she watched Qira get comfortable himself. She knew things had gotten tense with a few of her meetings, but it wasn't something that she could control. She was going to say what needed to be said, no matter if that particular lord liked it or not.

"It's too late for lunch, I suppose, and much too early for dinner. Maybe you can order us some tea and scones before she comes." Kate muttered as she stood from her chair and stretched, turning to look out the windows of her office to the city beyond.

She could see the little garden that Warwick had ordered built behind her back. When she had protested, he had told her simply that it was a gift and everything was already taken care of. When it was done, she would be grateful that he was so wonderfully stubborn.

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira nodded, beginning to rise as he remembered something. "If you're still looking for a lady-in-waiting... Cerys may have a recommendation. She has good connections to some families around Scotland. She won't name anyone she isn't sure of."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I haven't even given it much thought since it was first brought up. My Ma has been doing all of those duties, but I know she and my father are planning to go home next week." Kate said as she turned from the window to look at Qira. "I suppose I should start asking around. It won't be long until I'll have a need for someone."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll keep an ear out as well," he nodded before turning to unlock the door and head to the kitchens. Kate was left to her own devices for a while before he returned, but their peace was short-lived. As they were eating in relative silence, the sound of some kind of commotion arose from the main hall below. Qira rose and paused to listen for a moment before relaxing.

"Your husband is having a minor problem," he muttered, turning to open the door once more. "Should I save him or would you like the honor?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"What kind of minor problem?" Kate asked, looking up at Qira with a questioning glance as he moved to open the door to her office. "A problem that Kell can't handle?"

She stood as well, intent to find out just what was happening.