To Capture a Captain's Heart (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"Dylandra would kill me if I let you, not that I haven't considered letting you take him for a while so we can go traveling with just the two of us. We'll see. She might not even part with him for that. It was hard enough to bring myself to take him with me and leave her almost on her own."

 

[heartofcourage]

"So, young man, you've charmed another lady." Kayla said to Ballas as the great cat settled at her feet in the most content manner.

Perhaps it was time to think about a pet. Ashien had mentioned a hound for Christopher. It very well might put the both of them at ease and let them settle into a little life that might one day include children.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm sure he charms both cat and humankind," Ashien smiled. He noted the thoughtful look that had come to Kayla's face. "What's on your mind?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Just thinking about what we were discussing last night." Kayla said with a small smile. "Ashien thinks it would do us some good to get a pet. Perhaps a hound."

She glanced towards Christopher, knowing that the past few weeks had been hard on him as well. She so desperately wanted them to grow as close as they had been back in Norway and to never lose sight of how much they loved one another. She was secretly terrified that by losing the baby, she might have ruined something so precious.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I used to have a hunting hound when I was a boy. I think I'd like that," Christopher smiled to Kayla. "We could use someone to cause a little trouble back home."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We'll get the best hound that Norway has to offer." She said with a smile, glad that Christopher seemed to be on board for the idea. "And we can dote on a good hound just as much as we could on a child."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well hopefully he'll be more than just a pet. It'd be nice to have a hunting partner or two. We'll see about that when we get to it." Christopher leaned over to kiss her cheek.

"Just make sure you consider a mutt. Purebreds are all well and good, but the mixed are always the most friendly," Ashien added before rising. "I'll be back." Ballas stood with him, looking up to see what he was up to. "I'm not running off," Ashien chuckled. "Stay, lad." Ballas sat back down and watched as Ashien made his way over to speak to his squire. Ballas looked to Kayla then and sat back on his haunches, pawing the air to show her he wanted to play.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla ruffled Ballas's fur as he sat there and indicated that he wanted to play. She reached out and playfully wrestled with her tiger, laughing brightly as he batted at her with his giant paws. It was the first really joyful noise that had come from her since the loss of the baby. Perhaps Ballas knew how sad she was.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kayla's training continued, capitalizing on the fencing practice she'd done as a young girl, well into the plans to rescue Kjotva. Lithuania finally had the resources and men on the border to defend, so the Triad could move into the Kievan Rus undetected, disguised as merchants and pilgrims in small groups, acting as if they were headed to Kiev's grand cathedrals and markets. It was convincing considering the Russians' beautiful architecture and strict Eastern Orthodox Church that demanded beautiful cathedrals with soaring arches and domed roofs.

Kayla and Elhardt traveled in separate groups, Kayla as a pilgrim and Elhardt as a merchant so that if one was found out, it'd be harder to find the other in time to stop them. Christopher acted as a watchman of the pilgrim group, made up of Kayla, Ulfric, Ashien, the squire Benjamin, and the most trustworthy of Kayla's guardians who were proven not to be spies. The two who had been spies were in the Lithuanian city prison for the time being. Elhardt's group was similar to Kayla's but dressed up like well-to-do traveling merchants and caravan guards.

Kayla's group headed a bit further north, but both would close in on the village where Kjotva was being held at roughly the same time. Once they were both there, they'd have to wait until the day of the execution and save Kjotva at the last moment as she was so heavily guarded and they wouldn't be able to get into the prison by any means anyhow.

It was the last night before they'd arrive that Ashien was teaching Kayla to fight with her dagger and sword after having taught her to use a buckler shield. The weapons were small except the medium sword, and able to be hidden under pilgrim robes until the right moment. The pilgrims could safely carry a sword on their hip because no one expected them to go on long, dangerous journeys unarmed, but anything more would tip someone off.

Christopher was going over the plan with Ulfric one more time. Thus far, they intended to separate and go in amongst the crowd that would be at the execution, then when the headsman took the platform, they'd advance and a man on a roof would shoot the headsman. That was the signal to strike and kill the guards and rush Kjotva out on some horses that would be waiting nearby with a pair of guards who'd see her out safely. Elhardt's group would be doing the same thing, so it was decided that Christopher would partner with Kayla and Ulfric with his elder brother. Everyone had a partner so that as many people as possible could get out without being arrested or killed in the chaos.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla had to stop to rest, sweat beading on her brow as she looked towards her brother who stood there as if the training hard barely bothered him. She had seen that smug smile on his face so many times before, but in that moment, it made her blood boil.

"You are such a show off." She muttered, wiping her sleeve across her face to clear the sweat and the dirt from her skin.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I got it from Boar," Ashien grinned. "But I do this training every day, love. You're still not used to it, in-shape as you are." He sheathed his knife and pulled out a kerchief to wipe her face. "I dare say you look quite the fierce warrior now, though. Much more confident. The dirt helps," He chuckled at her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're not my father nor my husband." Kayla said as her brother wiped her face free of dirt. "I don't need my face cleaned like a child."

She took the moment to sweep his leg from under him, her blade instantly against his throat as he hit the ground. "And you should definitely keep your guard up around me, brother."

She grinned down at him as she looked towards Ballas. The great cat sat purring, his eyes closed as he enjoyed the last of the dying light around him. "What say you, great Ballas. Shall young Master Ashien be shown mercy?"

 

[KieranSoares]

Ballas yawned hugely before coming to nudge Kayla away, then laid across Ashien's stomach. "Ugh, Jesus, you're heavy," Ashien grunted. "Why is everyone picking on me?"

"Because we can," Chris smiled as he came over to them. Ashien shooed Ballas away and stood to dust himself off.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Besides, your wife isn't here to do it. That just leaves your sister to take up the mantle." Kayla said as Christopher came to her side and Ballas was shooed away. "And trust me, I relish every moment that I can pick on you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Boar was the one who picked on you when we were young, not me. I believe I am wronged," Ashien straightened up, feigning offense.

"Better you than me," Christopher grinned, making Ashien raise an eyebrow with a smile.

"Ah, just wait until you're back home. When you get a hound or two, she'll set them on you."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm so sweet that animals can't resist." Kayla said with a grin towards her twin and her husband. "It's served me well so far. I always have the two of you at my beck and call as well."

"Besides, Ash, Ma always said that you beat me up all of the time when she was expecting us. I was born nearly black and blue!" Kayla teased her brother.

 

[KieranSoares]

"You were in the way, both of us stuck like that," Ashien shrugged. Ulfric stepped over with his arms crossed.

"Alright, kids. Get to bed. We're starting out before sunrise to make up for some lost time."

"Always spoiling the fun, Ulfric," Christopher smiled to his dear friend. Ulfric cracked his first smile since they'd left the border.

"As Royal Adviser, that is my duty and my life's joy."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla bid a good night to her twin and Ulfric before she took Christopher's arm to head to their room. Once she was beneath the covers, she stared at her husband in the low candlelight. Her eyes were drooping and sleep nearly upon her as she felt his hand smoothing over her hair.

"Are you scared, Chris?" She asked him softly, her eyes closing as her thick lashes fanned across her cheeks.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm so scared that I don't even feel it anymore," he answered with complete honesty. This entire operation since they'd set out to Lithuania had terrified him for both his own sake and Kayla's.

 

[heartofcourage]

"No matter what happens, I love you." She murmured, her dark eyes opening once more as she looked at him in the dim light. "I always have and I always will."

 

[KieranSoares]

"That's exactly what's kept me from curling up in a ball and crying," he murmured. "I love you too, Kay... no matter what happens."

The next day came far too quickly, and their arrival in the village of Arskov went unnoticed. A shady man came to Ulfric and uttered a code phrase in Latin, signalling that Elhardt was already on the other side of the village. But then he added something that gave Ulfric pause.

"Jesus Christ, he's going to give us away," Ulfric murmured, his eyes wide. But he wasn't talking about his older brother.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Who will give us away?" Kayla asked in sudden concern as Ulfric seemed to come up short with what he was told. "Ulfric, if it isn't safe, then perhaps we should stay put for the time being."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Arslan Khan," Ulfric turned to meet her gaze. "Kjotva's father." The furious and vicious Khan, known for incredible triumphs and savage warfare, had come for his daughter. "Kayla, come with me, now."

Christopher rose, but Ulfric lifted a hand. "She'll be safe, Chris, we're going to go to the Khan and talk him out of this rage. You stay here and make sure everything keeps on course. We'll be back before nightfall."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We'll be back, Chris." Kayla assured him, pressing a kiss against her husband's lips before she followed after Ulfric to soothe the angered Khan.

"Hopefully he hasn't already given himself away. Kjotva would be killed if he has." Kayla said softly as she followed Ulfric through the streets.

 

[KieranSoares]

"He's not quite here yet... but we have to hurry to meet him and stop him. He'll be coming in on the eastern road." Ulfric brought her to a stable where he bought a horse- theirs had all had to be given to Elhardt's group to make each group look like merchants or pilgrims, as pilgrims tended to go on foot. He climbed up onto its back with Kayla and they rode out the east entry road. They were just in time, too. The moment Arskov was out of sight behind them, a huge band of Mongolian riders with their bows and sabers appeared on the opposite horizon, materializing out of the forest.

Ulfric kicked the horse into a sprint and they charged to meet the group before they could garner attention. Seeing the fast-approaching pair, the riders drew their bows and waited for their leader to mark them as a threat. Ulfric raised a hand into the air, shouting in Norwegian, "Hail, Khan!"

The Khan, dressed in full lamellar armor over dark fur clothing and his metal-plated fur cap with the horse hair streaming out in a black plume, called for his men to lower their bows, and he called back in Norwegian as well, "Hail, Norseman!"

When Ulfric drew closer, a smile broke across the great warrior's face and the Khan laughed in a warm bellow. "Ulfric! I didn't recognize you, brother!"

"I have changed a bit since we last met, Arslan," Ulfric nodded as he pulled the horse to a halt before the Khan's own steppe horse.

"A little more short-sighted, I'd say," Arslan chuckled, tapping his temple on the side where Ulfric had lost an eye.

"Oh, no, quite the opposite," Ulfric chuckled and the two shook hands. As he leaned forward, the Khan finally saw Kayla, having not seen her from afar as she was so much smaller than Ulfric and hidden behind him.

"And who is this?"

"Queen Kayla Ghis of Norway, whom I serve as adviser."

"Good to meet you, madame," Arslan bowed his head to her. It was easy to see where Kjotva's firm jaw and darker skin came from as well as her more eastern characteristics both in looks and mannerisms.