Of the Fells

[heartofcourage]

"Stay with me a while longer, love. Eat some stew and then you can rest. We need you stronger to go home." Valentina murmured as Theo returned with a bowl of stew and Valentina dutifully fed her older brother until he was full.

 

[KieranSoares]

Although Brogan healed over the next week, his mental state made no improvement. By the time he was able to walk without too much issue and strong enough to stand the journey home, some people were worried for the future of the Ghis and Inverness if Brogan couldn't get out of his dark mentality.

Theo helped Brogan and Julia climb into a covered wagon the morning they were setting out. Valentina would ride her dear horse Raul most of the journey so she could freely dart between wagons and carts to check on other healing warriors, and Theo would drive the wagon that Julia and Brogan rode in.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia sat beside Theo as he drove the wagon. She was slightly green from morning sickness, chewing on herbs that Valentina had given her, and struggling to remain the calm and collected queen that the people of Inverness needed.

"You watch Valentina like a man in love." Julia murmured softly as she looked at the man beside her. "It's obvious you think of her often."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I am in love," Theo told her honestly with a smile. He wouldn't hide it, there was no need to do so. "She's a lovely lass an' we certainly seem t'work t'gether pretty well. I want t'thank you again fer bringin' me t'Inverness, milady."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia gave him a smile, her hand covering his own and squeezing it gently. "It's been my pleasure, Theo. Ciaran and Annie love you like an Uncle. I don't know what I would have done without you around to be honest."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't know what I would've done if y'hadn't brought me here. So I think we'll call it even, aye?"

The journey was uneventful and though their arrival brought a sigh of relief to everyone in Inverness, there was no real celebration for the end of the war at the news of the state of the king and his family. No one in Inverness was left unhurt in some way, mental, emotional, or physical. Everyone was glad for things to simply be normal again. In the keep, Brogan remained silent even after Vincenzo took a look at him and deemed him plenty able to talk by this point.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He'll talk when he's ready, Papa." Valentina murmured as she distracted Annie with a new bottle to stuff with herbs.

Since they had returned to Inverness, she and Theo had taken care of Annie and Ciaran more and more to allow their parents to rest and heal. Annie was a bright little girl with a love of horses and fairy tales. Ciaran was still so young that he enjoyed anything.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know. I don't expect him to just start making conversation." Vincenzo came to her side. "I would never speak again if I were him." He made sure to keep their conversation in Italian so not to trouble Annie. "And how about you and Theo? How are things going?"

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina paused when her father turned the conversation towards her and Theo. She let out a little sigh and turned her dark eyes towards him.

"Things changed in Wick." She confessed to him. "He doesn't want to change me. He accepts that he will be alone some nights. He knows that he would alone with our children if we should have them. Papa...I think he might be the one for me."

 

[KieranSoares]

Vincenzo nodded, unable to help the smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Hm... well, don't tell your mother that just yet. She'll either start crying or plan a wedding. Or both. But..." He met her eyes quite seriously then. "I want you to promise me something, Valentina. If you stay with him and if you have children, you cannot devote everything to your work. Theo will need you, and children will need their mother more often than you currently have time to give. I expect you to take on help, and when your family needs you, you leave the job to others."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Papa, I know all of that." She said softly, knowing that he still worried about her. "But that is a long, long way away. I promise that I will start to slow down...starting with our trip to France. I won't work, I will relax, and I'll explore."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Good... My worst fear in this life is that you won't enjoy your own. I can't tell you how hard I tried, those times you came to Italy, to put you ahead of my job. Back then, it was just as difficult for me as it is for you. But now that I've learned what's worth leaving my work behind for..." Of course he meant her and Kitty.

 

[heartofcourage]

"And you make Ma very happy." Valentina said, remembering how he had always tried to make time for her when she was younger and she was sent to Italy.

She remembered fishing with him off the pier in town, her grandmother cooking the fish, learning about herbs just the way that Annie was right that moment. They were some of her fondest memories.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I certainly try. She deserves nothing but the best, just like you and your brothers and sisters. I can't tell you how much of a blessing your mother is for me. Coming to Scotland gave me the big family I'd always wanted, but never let myself have time to make."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, thankfully you had time to make me." Valentina said as she kissed her father's cheek fondly and handed Annie another glass bottle once she filled the one she had.

 

[KieranSoares]

"When I saw your mother, I had nothing but time," he smiled fondly at the memory. "She came to me both times for the same reason and stayed a long time, but the first time I tried not to let myself get attached until the end. As soon as she was gone, I wanted so badly to catch the next ship to England and ride to Scotland and steal her away. But I buried myself in my work until I got a letter from Tamblin a long time later, saying Kitty was having trouble again. When she came to me that time... I didn't waste a single day in telling her exactly what I felt. And I could've died and been happy as anything when she told me the same."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Papa, the first time she has Kayla and Ashien!" Valentina teased, laughing at the slight blush that appeared on his tanned skin. "How scandalous to fall in love with a woman carrying her husband's children."

 

[KieranSoares]

"And how scandalous to steal away with a man in the middle of the day, thinking dear old Dad wouldn't notice," he teased right back.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Papa..." Valentina scolded her father as Theo returned with a freshly changed Ciaran, the bright eyed little boy babbling like mad to the man that held him. "It would serve you right if I taught Theo Italian so he could know what you say to me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"And what would he do? It's my little girl he's running off with. I'll just tell your brothers that their little sister has a proper suitor." Vincenzo smiled to Theo and gladly took Ciaran. Theo had no idea what was being said, but he caught the tone and glanced to Valentina.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You wouldn't dare." Val threatened as Ciaran squealed happily as he was taken into his grandfather's arms. "At least give me some time to get on a better footing. They would tear the two of us apart if given the chance."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, I'm fairly certain they all suspect something at this point. I wonder if Durban or Boar has had a talk with your man yet. If not, he's in for one hell of a conversation." Vincenzo stepped away with that, leaving Valentina and Theo with Annie for the moment. Vincenzo was off to see Kitty.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He's threatening to turn my brothers loose." Valentina whispered as Annie looked up at the two of them with a curious gaze. "Which is something you'll have to worry about when you're older, Annie love."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm no' gonna say I ain' a little worried. But I can 'andle it," Theo shrugged slightly. "At least... I can 'andle 'em righ' now while they're still healin'. No' sure about later. Oughta be okay with Ashien, but I'm pretty sure I'm helpless when it comes t'Durban at 'is best."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Hopefully they don't challenge you to a fight then." Valentina said with a smile. "However, I am more than prepared to care for your wounds if you do."