Of the Fells

[heartofcourage]

Valentina knew that this moment would be difficult for Theo and she stood at his side as he lead her towards the graves. Looking at all that he had lost as startling, but he seemed to be at peace with the idea that they were gone, but never forgotten.

"I'm glad they brought your sister here. She can rest next to the people that made her the happiest in life." Valentina said softly as she helped him to place the flowers that Holly had given them. "I'm sorry that you had to lose any of them at all."

 

[KieranSoares]

Theo didn't have anything to say for a long stretch, until finally he took Valentina's hand. "Y'didn't have to come with me... Or help me. Thank you, love." His voice was barely above a whisper as he knelt before his two little girls' graves.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm glad I did." Valentina said softly as he knelt in front of the graves of his daughters.

She herself had almost been killed at a young age. Had it not been for the final deal that had sent her to live with Ashelin and Warwick, she was sure that Tamblin would have ordered her killed. She had to think on what that might have done to her mother if that even had occurred. Would she have married her father? Would she still be alive?

 

[KieranSoares]

With a heavy sigh, Theo reached out to touch the cool stone that read 'Kasey Leigh Irons.' It was clear just by how forlorn he was that Kasey had been her Da's little girl. When he finally rose, he felt a built up tension in his body just slip away, leaving him feeling physically drained and empty, but it was a little less painful now. He visited the graves of his parents and his sister and then his grandparents who'd passed away long ago before the raids. He painstakingly cleared grime and moss from their stones, gentle as could be even though he wasn't going to hurt a headstone. There was no family beyond them, though, and his grandfather's stone had an inscription that recorded the family's arrival in Kent in 1064 to escape the constant war in the isles.

 

[heartofcourage]

"She must have been a lovely girl." Valentina said softly as Theo touched Kasey's headstone. "I wish that I could have gotten the chance to meet her."

She sincerely wished that Theo's family was still there today and he had never known the sorrow that followed him around. She might never have gotten the chance to know him, but he still would have had the girls and wife that meant the world to him.

 

[KieranSoares]

When Theo finally rose to leave the graves, he wrapped an arm about Valentina's waist. He wasn't the sort of man to feel guilty for moving on, and he wanted to let his love know that he wasn't holding onto the past.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina leaned into Theo's side, letting out a sigh as he held her close. She was very happy with him and she was very proud that he had overcome so much in such a short amount of time. She wanted him to remember his family but love the family that they would one day have without hesitation or sadness. It would be a long road but she knew that they were in it together.

 

[KieranSoares]

That evening, Theo treated Valentina to a short lesson in cooking pike, and the next several days were spent exploring and Valentina hearing stories of Theo's life on the island. By the time they were headed back to Inverness, Theo was better than ever and seemed to have far less weight on his shoulders.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina was happy to see Theo lighter and freer after their trip to the fells. She was disappointed that it had ended so soon, but she had to get back home to her duties. It was a nice little trip, but her brothers would be waiting for them with a vengeance.

"Are you ready for all of the questions?" Valentina asked, looking towards Theo as they rode side by side. "I don't think you'll be ready for that."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ready 'r not, I'll manage," Theo assured her. But as they rode into the courtyard, they happened across Durban who turned to face them and crossed his arms.

"An' where've you been?" He demanded of both of them.

 

[heartofcourage]

"We went to the Fells, Durban. Papa knew we were leaving." Valentina said simply as she slipped from Raul's back and turned to face her brother. "I needed the chance to get away and Theo wanted to go home for a while."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Y'didn't even say goodbye, lass. I was lookin' everywhere fer you til I finally asked yer Da." Durban then fixed Theo with a distrustful, icy stare. His didn't dislike the man, but anyone who got close to Durban's sister was bound for trouble. "An' what did you two get up to?"

For the first time, Theo didn't balk at the largest Ghis brother's clear challenge. So he answered for both of them, "Tha's our business, General, an' neither of us owe ya an explanation." That clearly caught Durban off-guard, his glare becoming a bit confused as a man other than his own family challenged him right back. Theo kept Valentina's hand and confidently stepped forward, and Durban got out of their way.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina was about to start defending Theo and their trip to the Fells when Thei suddenly stood up homself and told her brother that it was none of his business. She was in as much shock as Durban, glancing towards Theo and then towards her brother, stammering as Gheo pulled her along towards the keep.

"You're asking for trouble." She murmured to Theo, looking up at him as if he were her new knight in shining armor.

 

[KieranSoares]

Once they were out of Durban's sight, Theo let out the breath he'd been holding, letting her in on the fact that his confidence in front of her brother was all an act. "I know," he muttered back. "But maybe 'e won't think I'm such a pushover now."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He won't think you're a pushover. He's trying to protect his baby sister." Valentina said with a smile as she reached up and pulled Theo down into a gentle kiss. "Better now? I'll kiss you until you feel better if that is what you want."

 

[KieranSoares]

Theo couldn't help a smile at her offer, and he murmured thoughtfully, "One 'r two more might do it." But he paused as he noticed Vincenzo approaching. "Uh... maybe in a bit."

"Cara mia," Vincenzo said with a smile, opening his arms to her as he came to welcome her home. "We've missed you. I did my best to keep your brothers from riding all the way to the fells after you."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Papa." Valentina said with a happy smile on her lips as she hugged him tightly, breathing in his scent of herbs and smoke. "I missed you."

She drew back slightly as he told her that, giving him a soft chuckle. "I'm glad that you kept them away. Theo and I had a wonderful time. He needed to go home and it was nice to actually travel a little bit for me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I knew it would be. And I knew you two needed some time away to really consider what you have," Vincenzo said with a nod. "Your mother is finally warming up to the idea. I've convinced her that she isn't losing a daughter. If anything, she's gaining a sweet man to help look after that daughter." He chuckled to himself and welcomed Theo back as well with a handshake and a friendly embrace. "But you'd better let Boar know you're back soon. Brogan too. Brogan's less concerned seeing as he trusts Theo, but you know how Boar is about other men."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Theo already had to put Durban in his place. I'm sure that we can do the same for Boar and Brogan if we have to. At least, Ashien is too far away to be concerned with matters like this." Valentina said with a smile towards Theo.

 

[KieranSoares]

"None of your brothers will ever be too far away to be concerned. How much would you like to bet that he'll bring it up next time he visits?" Vincenzo chuckled and then sent them off to see Kitty to let her know they were home.

 

[heartofcourage]

"But that won't be for a long while." Valentina murmured as she took Theo's hand to go and see her mother.

Kitty greeted them both warmly, hugging her youngest child tightly. Valentina had always been well protected by everyone around her and Kitty had done her best to dote on the daughter that she wasn't allowed to raise. Val had always soaked up the attention, blooming when she was around her loving mother.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I was worried you'd love traveling too much and never come back once you started," Kitty said with a soft chuckle, greeting Theo as well. She sat down with them, smiling as she asked, "So what did you two get up to?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Ma, you know I would never leave you behind." Valentina murmured as she gave her mother a warm smile. "Especially not now with you feeling so well. Papa has done wonders for your health."

She glanced over at Theo when her mother asked what they had gotten up to while they were gone. "We met a lot of Theo's family. We tended to some of his family's graves. He taught me how to cook pike and we went fishing nearly every day."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Cook? You managed to cook?" Kitty teased with a laugh, making Theo chuckle too.

"It took a few tries," Theo commented with a soft grin to Valentina. "Thankfully there's plenty o' fish t'be had there."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Theo is an excellent teacher." Valentina said as she glanced towards her lover and gave him the same soft smile. "He's patient and very kind. Especially when I get distracted and simply don't hear him. I don't think I could have found anyone else more perfect for me."