Of the Fells

[KieranSoares]

"She and I have a common ground. We both miss the love of our life and some days we feel like we can't go on. She's my dearest friend." Warwick didn't go beyond that, and it was perhaps either because there was nothing more, or because he didn't want to broach the subject of maybe finding a new love. Warwick had served King Brian at first, helping guide and train Gale. He'd watched the King die, and was watching two of the three princes struggle with similar sickness at the moment. Warwick was perhaps Marianne's only true constant at the moment while her sons were sick or too busy.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, if you can't come here, we'll come to you. Alex enjoys adventure and he has his own horse now." Valentina offered. "And Theo wants to travel more. I've always wanted to travel the world and learn more from other healers."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You could certainly learn from Penn and Ellen. They've been making some interesting discoveries, and there's a fellow called Mariko Vamo who's teaching in Edinburgh with a little group of werefolk healers. And it'd be nice to have you all. I'm sure Marianne would like to see you again."

Valentina had met Marianne many times even before had passed, the woman having been like a sister to Ashelin and Kitty even from afar. She adored Valentina perhaps most out of the Ghis siblings as she'd seen Valentina grow up and had actively supported her education.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I will certainly be there, Da. And Cole will come too, I'm sure of it. His little family doesn't travel very much but I know his boys love to ride. His little girls are just as dainty as can be." Valentina said with a grin. "The youngest is named after Mummy. I'm sure he told you all about them."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm sure I could guess which is which, Cole's described them so much in his letters. And I don't mind admitting I'm particularly looking forward to meeting his wife. The way Cole talks about her... She definitely helped him find his place."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She's lovely." Valentina said with a grin. "She reminds me of Mummy. Always kind and wanting to care for people. She is always donating her time to cooking for the poor or making blankets for the babies. Brogan takes care of Cole like he is a brother and gives him time to spend with his family."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, all your brothers have always been close, especially Brogan with Cole and Ciaran. They decided when he was born that they had to look after him, especially Ciaran. And after that close call for Cole just after Julia married Brogan, Brogan has made sure Cole doesn't miss anything."

 

[heartofcourage]

The two of them talked well into the evening before Valentina sent him to bed to get some rest. After Warwick was settled, she made her way back to her room, pausing in the doorway to see Alex snuggled against Theo's side, the little boy sound asleep as Theo read to him from a book.

"I think he gave up a long time ago, love." Valentina said, leaning down to kiss Theo's cheek.

 

[KieranSoares]

Theo glanced down to Alex with a chuckle. "Didn' realize. Then again, he's been sleepin' on an' off all evenin'." Theo carefully scooped Alex up, rising from the bed. "I'm gonna go put 'im in 'is own bed. Yer father said 'e'd look after 'im tonight, but 'e ought t'be okay."

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina kissed Alex's forehead as Theo passed by to take him to his bedroom. She was pleased that Alex was doing better and she knew that they were on the right path with him. In time, this would be only a bad memory.

"Did he eat dinner?" Valentina asked when Theo came back. "Chessie was going to make sure he had easy food to swallow."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He did. Once she got done talkin' t'Warwick, she came by and sat with Alex fer a while." Theo drew Valentina in and kissed her lips lightly with a smile. "He's doin' alright, love."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll worry about him until he's up and riding on Pop again." Valentina said as Theo pulled her in and kissed her gently. "If he feels well enough, let's take him to Cole's tomorrow. Warwick wants to see him and visit Ashelin's grave."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I told 'im I'd let 'im out o' bed tomorrow, so I think 'e'll like tha'." He settled on the edge of her bed with a sigh, but he seemed relieved, if not happy. "Looks like we came out alright after all, much as I was afraid fer a while tha' we wouldn't."

He seemed to remember something, and rose from his seat to go to her nightstand where he'd laid a letter. "This came from Ireland for ya. I think from Khelt an' Sarah an' Shia."

 

[heartofcourage]

"From Ireland?" Valentina asked as she took the letter from Theo. "I wonder what it is."

She opened the letter and sat down on the edge of the bed herself, settling in to read what had been sent to her from Monaghan.

 

[KieranSoares]

Enclosed were two letters- one written by Kell, and other other seemed to be a letter of credit used between merchants trading over long distances. It was a letter for the equivalent of three-thousand Scottish silvers. It was more money than most people ever had at once in their lifetimes, and it was nearly enough to pay for a fairly sized house all at once in most places.

Kell's letter was a sincere message of thanks from himself, Sarah, Shia, and Sarin, and the people of the Hirim. The Hirim and Sarah had insisted on sending Valentina the money despite how Valentina rarely asked for more than what she needed to cover materials and the cost of living. The Hirim wanted her to use it in the future to cover the costs of those who might not be able to afford to pay her, and to provide for her own family as needed.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina was in shock as she saw the letter stating that they had send her 3,000 silvers. The shock was evident on her features as she looked up at Theo and handed him the note, her hands now shaking as she read the letter from Kell, explaining that it was all a gesture of thanks on the behalf of the Hiram and the royal family as well.

"What do we do with this?" Valentina asked, looking up at Theo with a lost expression.

 

[KieranSoares]

Theo looked down at the letter she'd placed in his hand, and he seemed oddly calm as she asked him what they'd do. "It's your money, love. There's merchants in town that'll cash it for ya."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's too much." Valentina said as Theo looked at it so calmly. "I mean, what do we use it for? We are already building a house. I make enough to keep food on our table. Alex has few wants beyond what he already has."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well... Th' Hirim did say it was partly t'help people who couldn' afford t'pay you. Maybe y'don' need t'do anythin' with it jus' yet. It'll be there fer emergencies an' t'cover people who can't pay," he offered with a smile. "An' it can help cover some costs whenever we decide to go explorin'."

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina could scarcely wrap her mind around the fact that she was now a very wealthy woman. She had styled her life after her father's living simply and staying dedicated to her craft. She felt tears welling in her eyes as she looked up at Theo, thinking of all the things she could do now.

"Perhaps we can add rooms to our new home. Places for me to take care of those critical cases and still be near Alex." She murmured, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Hey, what're the tears for, love?" He asked softly, kneeling down beside her to dry her eyes. Being a member of the Ghis family, she'd always been provided for up until she insisted on only using her own money. The Ghis, being royalty, had a fair treasury, but also lived fairly simply. The most money they spent on any kind of regular basis was on feasts and festivals. Richness usually didn't enter the equation.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Theo. This is just too much." She murmured as he dried her eyes, her arms wrapping around his neck to hug him tightly. "No one will have to worry ever again."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I bet they don' even realize th' good they've done fer people down the line." Theo's arms settled about her waist and he kissed her cheek.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina rested her head against Theo's shoulder, thinking about everything that might be done with that amount of money. New medicines could be cultivated and purchased. No one turned away when they needed help. It would ensure that Alex might be taken care of if something ever happened to her or Theo.

"They didn't have to do this." She murmured softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Th'way I see it, love... you've been given a little more power t'keep good people from sufferin'," Theo offered, running his fingers back through her hair.