Of the Fells

[KieranSoares]

"I'll risk it," Theo nodded before he pressed a kiss to her cheek, making Annie giggle. He chuckled in return and scooped Annie up in one arm.

 

[heartofcourage]

"How about we go for a ride, Annie love." Valentina suggested as Annie was scooped into Theo's arm. "I bet Phearson is itching for a good ride."

 

[KieranSoares]

The days seemed to pass incredibly slowly as Inverness awaited her king's recovery with plenty of worry that he would never be the same, but Valentina was the second to know, after Julia, the morning when Brogan disappeared. According to a simple note he'd left behind, he'd gone to talk to Sarah who was held in the keel's small prison so she could be well-guarded. Many people were expecting Brogan or Julia to pronounce a death sentence before long, but as Brogan reappeared about noon, a young guard told him Sarah had escaped and Brogan bid him let Sarah go to her exile.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina waited patiently for Brogan's return from the jail, knowing what her brother would do while he was there. When she spotted him coming back down the hallway, the two just stared at one another for a long moment.

"Are you sure this is what you want, Brogan?" Valentina asked him. "You are within your rights to order her execution. I can make sure that she feels no pain."

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan shook his head slowly as he came to a halt before her. In a hoarse, deep tone that was weak from disuse, he murmured, "She's 'ad enough... We all 'ave. Another death'll only break more hearts." Of course he was referring to her parents.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina nodded softly, looking at him as he made a difficult decision. "You're a good man, Brogan." She said softly as she wrapped her brother in a tight hug. "With a good head on his shoulders."

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan's broad arms- though slimmed a bit from his poor health and voluntary lack of nutrition while he was with Sarah- wrapped Valentina up in a familiar gentle but strong embrace. "... Thank you... fer not givin' up on me. Even when I gave up on myself." As light returned to his thoughts, he was beginning to truly see what he'd nearly left behind and given up for the sake of being released from his pain and shame.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You'll never get rid of me, brother." She murmured, knowing that he was going to be alright. "Now, go pamper your wife. When you're ready to talk about things, Durban and Boar are ready to listen."

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan nodded, but just before he parted from her, he met her eyes once more. Without any other explanation, he murmured, "Theo's a good man... 'E'd make a fine member o' the family." With that, Valentina had the absolute support of the brother who, in years past, had been the most staunchly opposed to any man getting within ten feet of his sisters. Brogan went on his way, back to Julia's arms where he simply needed to be.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina was stunned by Brogan's words. She stood there in the hall, watching him return to his wife before she went to her room. She needed some time to think on her own about the turn that her future had so suddenly taken.

 

[KieranSoares]

It was a quiet day, though there was a good feeling in the air as people began to hear that Brogan had voice again. It was certainly a welcome relief to his family, especially Annie and Julia and Kitty. He didn't come out much at first, but he was at least willing to talk to his brothers when they came to see him again.

After a long while, it was Durban who came to find Valentina, coming to a halt in the open doorway to her room. "Hiya, lass," his voice rumbled softly.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina didn't hear the low timber of her brother's voice at first, but she noticed movement at her door. She turned to look at him, blinking slightly as she was startled before she smiled at him and invited him into her room.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" She asked him as she set aside the herbs that she had been working with.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Can't I come see my li'l sister? Maybe apologize fer bein' an ass?" Durban stepped in to hug her tightly. After his disagreements with his family and his sometimes all-out arguments especially with Selena during the war, he was seeking to right things.

 

[heartofcourage]

"There's nothing to apologize for, Durban." Valentina answered honestly. "You did what you thought you had to do to protect this family. I don't fault you for that."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Could 'ave been less thick-'eaded," Durban muttered. "An'... I'm really grateful fer all y'did, savin' me... I know it was 'ard t'leave Vincenzo behind an' come back with me."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's always hard to leave Papa, no matter what." Valentina said softly. "But I will be doing the same when we go to France. And so you're not surprised when the moment comes, Theo is coming with me and we are together."

 

[KieranSoares]

Durban took a deep, slow breath at that curt announcement and shook his head. "Ah... well... I s'pose I better no' say anythin' then..." He didn't like it, regardless of the good man Theo was and how he'd proven himself a priceless ally and friend to the Ghis after saving Annie and Ciaran and becoming a protector and an assistant for Valentina and Vincenzo as needed. No matter the good man Theo was, Durban simply had a horrible time accepting that his little sister was a woman and a man had an interest in her and she in him.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know you will anyway." Valentina said as she crossed her arms over her chest and looked at the displeasure in her brother's eyes. "Durban, I love him and he loves me. You knew that this was going to happen sooner or later. I deserve a chance at being happy just as any of us do."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You do. I never said y'didn't. None of us did." Durban laid his hands on her shoulders. "We just..." he sighed quietly. "It's hard to explain... Brogan an' I... then later Boar... We never wanted any of our siblings t'feel th'pain o' heartbreak. But I promise I won' get between you an' Theo an' I'll see th'others don't either. I jus' want t'talk to 'im."

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina looked at her brother, weighing the idea of allowing him to talk to Theo. she let out a long breath and shook her head slightly.

"Alright. You can talk to him." Valentina finally conceded. "But if you lay a hand on him, I will not be happy."

 

[KieranSoares]

"'E doesn' 'ave a thing t'fear from me, long as 'e doesn't hurt you in any way," Durban assured her. "But Val... like I told yer Da when 'e married Ma, like I told our brothers when I met their wives an' like I told Kreston when I met 'im... any man breaks my girls' hearts, be they my Ma, my sisters 'r my sisters-in-law, I break th'man responsible." She'd never heard about him even warning their brothers and her father.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina knew his deep seated want to protect people came from his father's reign of terror. He wanted to protect everyone from the bad things in the world and it was admirable. She simply wrapped him up in a tight hug and held him.

"He loves me for me." Val admitted to her brother. "He doesn't want me to change anything."

 

[KieranSoares]

"A man who realizes yer already perfect definitely deserves a chance," Durban assured her with a smile. He turned his head to see, but didn't let go of Valentina when he heard footsteps pause at her doorway. It was Theo. They made eye-contact and Theo was about to back away and leave them be until Durban turned to him. "Theo. Jus' th'man I wanted t'see."

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina knew that Durban was going to grill Theo on his intentions, but she never thought that she would be there for the interrogation. The look that she gave Theo told him not to argue and to answer truthfully anything that Durban might ask.

 

[KieranSoares]

Durban motioned Theo in and sat down with him and Valentina. Durban fixed Theo with that look Valentina had seen her brothers stare down beasts and warriors with, that made many people who faced them flinch away. Theo wanted to look away, but instead he did what any Ghis brother would do if another fixed them with such a stare. His expression hardened and he silently dared Durban to challenge his honor and good intentions. Valentina had only ever seen this between her brothers and Selena and, on rare occasions, with Kitty when she'd had enough of someone.

Durban only registered mild surprise, hiding how impressed he was with the simple but bold glare. "Theo, I don' think I need t'tell you yer treadin' thin ice by bein' with my little sister."

"I knew I was treadin' some border jus' by makin' friends with 'er."

"Right. But I won' discourage you when y'both obviously respect each other jus' fine. Yer likely t'get th'same from our other brothers, maybe Selena too, an' definitely Ma an' Vincenzo if y'haven't already. Since we understand each other, I only 'ave one question... D'ya love 'er?"

Theo seemed surprised by the simple and so seemingly obvious question. As he had thus far with the brothers when directly confronting them, he was resolute and left no room for weakness or doubt: "I love 'er, Durban."

"Good... If she ever cries because of you, yer dead. Just in case y'forgot," Durban stated simply, even casually as he stood and headed for the door. "Boar won' be nearly as nice." And he was gone off down the hall. Theo's tension and hard expression relaxed as he looked to Valentina, giving her a peaceful smile.