Of the Fells

[KieranSoares]

"Is Warwick still around'?" He asked quietly. He didn't know if the subject was painful for her, but he was genuinely curious about the people who'd raised her as their own despite the danger it might've brought them if Tamblin had decided to do away with Valentina. Theo thought to himself, he owed them quite a bit of gratitude.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He lives in Edinburgh now. He's a good man and Cole sees him regularly. I never have time to get away to see him. He writes me letters all the time." Valentina said as she watched Theo take care of her pole. "He was never the same after Ashelin died. I don't think he ever wanted to believe that the cancer would take her from him. He's one of Queen Marianne's closest advisors though. I think he has a soft spot for her."

 

[KieranSoares]

"As I 'eard it, yer Ma an' Queen Marianne had a close group of friends... I'm bettin' Ashelin an' Warwick were among 'em." Theo threw his line out a way, letting the pole rest across his leg so he'd feel any bites while he turned his attention fully to Valentina. "I really owe Warwick a thank-you. Ashelin too. I migh' not 'ave met you, or you wouldn't be th' same if no' fer them. Y'might be a completely different lovely lass somewhere else in Scotland 'r Italy."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Papa wanted me to live with him in the worst way. He realized that first summer that he couldn't raise a baby and still keep up his healing the way that he was. He did what he knew would be best in the situation." Valentina said as she cast her own line and held the pole loosely in her hands. "I know my Ma was heartbroken over having to give me up. She loved Papa so much but Tamblin refused to let her go. He saw her as a possession that was his alone."

 

[KieranSoares]

"But she got 'er Prince Charming in th'end." Theo reached over to take one of her hands. "An' you 'ave both your parents t'gether now with a good future ahead. All Scotland knew Tamblin was mad but no one could stand up against 'im til yer brothers. Now... Even if there's still war an' heartache, it's better this way "

 

[heartofcourage]

"My brother is a good king. He does his best for Inverness and he has fought so hard to undo all the damage that Tamblin caused." Valentina said as she glanced over at Theo. "You know, without all of the war and turmoil, I would never have met you. I wouldn't be sitting here right this moment if it weren't for all of those hard times."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Hard times show people fer who they really are... An' make us our best at our worst. An' you learn who really cares in th' hard times. I think that's one o' the things tha' makes yer family so close."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, I hope that you feel comfortable with my family." Val said with a soft smile. "Because I would really like to see you become a bigger part of it sooner or later."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Maybe. I do love 'em dearly... They're all so kind t'me an' Annie an' Ciaran'd be reason enough t'stick around if I didn' 'ave you. But I don't want t'rush anything. I like valet things take their own time an' course. Especially considerin' yer brothers an' yer Ma would 'ave my hide if I moved too fast. I migh' not listen if any of 'em were opposed, but rushin' takes th'fun out o' little moments like this."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, I'm in no rush to go anywhere." Val said with a smile as Theo explained that he wanted to take things slowly. "Except maybe to travel some more. I think I know someone who will go on their adventures with me too."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm like a loyal dog. I'll follow you anywhere as long as you love me," Theo nodded with a content smile before drawing her close against his side. He let his arm remain wrapped about her waist.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, you've done a pretty good job making me love you, Amore." She said softly, kissing his cheek as they relaxed on the bank of the loch and waited for the fish to start biting. "You're probably the first man that has ever seen me for what I really am and haven't wanted to change me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"What man in 'is right mind would want t'change a lovely lass who thinks fer herself an' knows what's really important in life? I'm no' the sort t'want a quiet little thing tha' can't do anything unless 'er father 'r husband says it's alright. Tha's not right. A woman is jus' as much her own person as a man. There's no difference." It was common amongst the Ghis to uphold such ideals, which meant Theo had a perfect place among them. He kissed her lips softly and murmured, "The only change I'd ever ask you for is fer you t'work a little less so I can be selfish and keep you all t'myself."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You should know that I'll never work less." Valentina said softly as her kissed her. "Maybe when I have children, but even then I'll still work as hard as I always have to make sure that everyone is well taken care of."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I wouldn' expect you to," Theo shook his head with a smile. "I'd never really ask unless I 'ad a good reason." Just as he spoke, there was a tug on his line and he pulled it in to find a medium pike had taken the bait. "Fells pike're good eatin'. Ever had one?" He asked as he pulled the hook.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I can't say that I've ever had a pike from here." Val said with a smile. "Are you going to cook them for me tonight?"

She gave him a smile as she leaned in and kissed him gently. "Are you sure you don't mind going slow and steady with all of this?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Sure am. To both questions," Theo answered with all the ease of a man who was exactly where he wanted to be in life. He threw out the line again and laid back easily in the grass. The pike were big enough that they probably only needed three or four, but he was in no rush.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I could make some wilted greens tonight. It's about the only thing that I can make on the fire that won't char." Valentina murmured as she rested her pole in the grass and settled down with her head on his shoulder. "Chessie tried to teach me how to make scones, but they would always burn before I pulled them out. Papa tried to teach me how to make noodles and they always turned into a mushy pile."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Too much heat fer too long, tha's all ye've got wrong," Theo told her simply. "I'll show ya. The trick with most food is t'cook it til y'think it's almost done. It keeps cookin' inside few a while even after y'pull it off th'fire. Bakin's a little different, but the same idea."

 

[heartofcourage]

"If you could teach me how to make pasta, I'm certain that Papa could die a happy Italian." Valentina teased Theo, laughing softly at the look on his face. "He would never say it, but he thinks I'm hopeless in the culinary arts."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You probably are. But give me a few weeks an' ye'll be alright," Theo teased and brushed her dark hair back. "He'll have t'teach me how t'make pasta, though, before I can teach you."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He would love to teach you his pasta recipe. It's a family secret. I don't think that he's ever even told Ma what goes into it." Valentina said softly as he brushed his fingers through her long, dark hair.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I bet I could figure it out if 'e let me try it an' experiment with some spices," Theo grinned. He pulled Valentina closer to lay against him. It wasn't for any particular reason, he simply enjoyed keeping her close. Except for some members of her family, she'd never had anyone to just lay around and cuddle with.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina gave him a sweet smile as he held her closer, her eyes drifting shut as she caught a quick nap at his side while they lazily waited for the fish to bite. It was nice to feel safe in his arms and to not have anything to do. All of those days of stress and late night healings would catch up with a person and wear them down over time.

 

[KieranSoares]

A few fish and a nap later, the mist had cleared and it was nearly noon. The skies were still grey with bits of blue peeking here and there, and Theo decided it was time to face the graves of his family. Holly was all to glad to get them some flowers and Theo took Valentina to a quiet little corner of the island away from any noise in town. It was a small cemetery, the majority of the graves less than ten years old. They could be told by how the earth was still mounded and hadn't flattened out yet. Theo quietly made his way to a back corner where a line of similar, simple graves with hand-carved headstones lay. They were all joined by a central stone that read simply 'Irons.' The names of Theo's parents and wife and daughters and a few cousins lay there, the newest addition being his sister whose body had been sent to the island to be buried after she was killed protecting baby Ciaran.