To Capture a Captain's Heart (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"I'm just so happy." Kayla said as she snuffled, wrapping her arms around her husband's neck and drawing herself tightly against him. "And I'm so sorry for not trusting you, Christopher."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm th' one who's supposed t' be apologizing about that, no' you..." Christopher chuckled quietly before kissing her once more. "So... what say you an' me get a bottle o' wine an' spend some time in th' private parlor where we can watch th'moon rise, hm?"

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla smiled and gave him a nod, taking his hand as she slipped from the surface of her desk and walked nude beside him into their private chambers. She pulled on a light robe before she stepped out onto her private balcony and settled into a cushioned bench with a sigh.

 

[KieranSoares]

Christopher fetched the bottle of wine in just his tunic and trousers, raising knowing smirks from the ladies among the staff, but he didn't care at all. When he settled beside Kayla with the bottle and two glasses in his hands, he leaned over to kiss her sweetly.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla snuggled up against her husband's side, receiving his kiss with a smile on her lips. She adored her husband and would do anything in her power to show him that.

"I was thinking..." She said softly as she took a glass from his hand. "We both know that we want to start a family, but there's still so much to do here in Norway. I'm not above just letting nature take its course, but perhaps we should wait a little while until things calm down."

 

[KieranSoares]

"If I'm honest, I think it's about as calm as it's goin' to get for some time," Christopher spoke as his gaze turned to the moon after pouring their wine. "But I'll follow your lead, as always. You know tha'."

 

[heartofcourage]

"With the Jarls perhaps, but there is still so much to be done to help the citizens. I want to visit the north and talk to the citizens myself there. I want to show them that things will be different with Olaf gone." She said softly as she took a drink from her wineglass.

 

[KieranSoares]

"They migh' not want it to be different, seein' as they're so set on a leader who can fight," Christopher sighed. "But I think I understand what they need... so I'm absolutely goin' with you." However, he didn't let on his thoughts.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm not letting you fight for me, Chris." She murmured softly, looking at her husband as she saw him deep in thought. "And I was serious about not letting anyone die just to prove a point."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm not goin' t'die. But I sure as hell won' let you get yourself hurt either. What good am I as Lord Protector if I purposely let the woman I've sworn my life to go get herself hurt?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm not going to get hurt, Chris." She said softly, leaning in to kiss his cheek gently. "I promise you that."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know you won't, because I won' let you," he said with a resolute nod. He'd made up his mind about what all was going to happen in Jarl Rakkar's lands, and he was nothing if not decisive when it came to protecting people as he'd done since the day he'd begun military training at thirteen.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Don't go and do anything stupid, Christopher." Kayla said softly, looking up at her husband as his face turned resolute. "Because I'm not going to lose you again."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don' do stupid things," Christopher told her with a smile. "I do foolish things because I'm a fool in love an' you, m'dear Queen, are too brave for your own good. Someone 'as t'keep you from bein' too brave an' getting yourself hurt. But I promise you you're not goin' t'lose me. Th'last thing I want is t'be separated from you."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're the biggest fool that I know." She said softly, grinning at Christopher as she leaned in and kissed him gently.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll take that as a compliment."

A few weeks passed before Jarl Rakkar returned with the group of trusted leaders from his estate as they'd agreed upon in their parliament meeting. The leaders were all common men, and two women, with common jobs, but they'd taken it upon themselves to head their villages in Rakkar's rugged lands in the northernmost part of Norway. They came dressed their best, but it was modest compared to the wear of lords and ladies. Still, they were confident, especially the two women who looked like they could just about break any lesser man in half. They and Rakkar seemed to lead the group.

When Christopher and Kayla came to meet them, Rakkar showed he'd begun to learn English as he bowed before Kayla and spoke gently, "My Queen." His followers bowed too, but looked at her with a scrutinizing gaze.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla had dressed down for the occasion, leaving her silver circlet behind and having a dress of deep green specially made. It was demure, without any of the trappings that a queen might be expected to have. She greeted the gathered group with a smile and a nod to them all.

"Velkommen." She murmured, having taken the time to learn some Norwegian in the hopes that her guests would be put more at ease.

 

[KieranSoares]

Rakkar stepped forward to kiss her hand with a smile that told her he was glad for her hospitality. He had dressed in more rugged clothing himself, but he was still identifiable as a great warrior and leader. His translator stepped forward, bowing before Kayla. "Your Ladyship. These are the eight representatives chosen by Jarl Rakkar's eight villages within his estates. Other than the Jarl himself, they chose their own leader among the eight who happens to speak English."

He turned, and from the group stepped a woman that reminded Kayla of Selena in how she held herself and her air of self-reliance. This woman had long blonde hair and blue eyes as seemed to be common among Scandinavians, and she had broad shoulders and hips that told of a lifetime of hard work and scars that shone proudly on her neck and arms and hands that spoke of that same work and war. She did not wear a dress, preferring the freedom of movement of men's clothing. She fixed Kayla with an icy gaze, clearly sizing the new queen up and considering her looks against what she'd imagined a proper queen of Norway should look like.

"This is Lady Kjersten Baard, she is a knight of Norway, one of only ten women in the country with such a title. She was given this honor for her leadership position in defending Trondheim from a pirate invasion five years ago, and she's defended her village of Orheim on the coast up north countless times from similar invaders. She was chosen as the representative for her sense of tradition and her merit. Jarl Rakkar has given her leave to decide for the group rather than himself as he would like them to receive an unbiased opinion."

Kjersten, who'd had her arms crossed as she looked Kayla over, offered a scarred hand out to her, but it was clear she had serious doubts. "Lady Kayla." It also seemed she wasn't going to address her as a queen yet.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla didn't look at the woman's lapse in protocol as a slight. She still had a lot to prove to these men and woman about who she was and what she was doing. She took the woman's hand and gave her a firm shake.

"Lady Kjersten." She said softly, looking at the rest of the people assembled. "I am very honored to have you all here in Trondheim. I have been looking forward to this meeting for quite some time now."

 

[KieranSoares]

"So have our people," Kjersten spoke simply, and then her eyes turned to Christopher. She didn't seem too impressed by him either, but then again, most Scandinavians didn't give people of the Isles much credit until they proved themselves.

The translator took that moment to introduce Christopher. "And this, Lady Kjersten, is Lord Protector General Christopher Callaghan, formerly Captain of the Irish Monaghan soldiers under Lord Stephen Monaghan."

"You're the one who killed Olaf in a duel, even after he defeated you in battle?" Kjersten questioned, her expression unreadable.

"I did, in defense of the Queen," Christopher nodded.

"Why?"

"Because I love her."

"Not for anyone else?"

"I went to Inverness with the intention of killing him to stop the invasion of Scotland and cut off Lady Sarah Monaghan's best fighters. But when I arrived, it became solely about Kayla."

"... Hm." Kjersten remained unreadable and glanced at Kayla once more. "Did she fight?"

"She was the last Ghis to remain in Inverness aside from Durban when it was surely lost, even after everyone else had fled."

Jarl Rakkar then stepped forward, realizing tensions were rising between Kjersten and Christopher. He took Kjersten's hand, speaking softly to her, a quiet plea for peace it seemed, and in that moment, it was clear to Kayla and Christopher that the Jarl and Kjersten were more than just fellow leaders, simply by the way he looked at her. Kjersten yielded to his calmer judgement and forced herself to relax.

"We welcome you all to lunch with us, and afterward, we can work our exactly what it is you need from us. We don't want unrest and doubt," Christopher reasoned quietly, and Kjersten nodded before they made their way to the dining room.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla stepped into the great hall where a traditional Norwegian meal had been prepared for the enjoyment of everyone. She had also made sure to inform the servants that the table would be prepared without a head setting. She wanted to put these men and woman at ease by showing them that she was not the kind of ruler that flaunted their position.

 

[KieranSoares]

The group was nearly about to sit down when Ulfric entered, having not been present earlier as he'd been expected. At the sight of the former Lord Regent and General, the visiting Norwegians all instantly bowed before him. It was clear they deeply trusted and adored him with how they greeted him, but Kjersten stepped forward and hugged him tightly, murmuring in Norwegian, "Far..." Which Kayla knew to be the Norwegian equivalent to 'Dad' for all intents and purposes.

Ulfric chuckled and hugged the only slightly-shorter woman tightly before noting Christopher's confused expression. "I meant to tell you two..."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla was shocked as Kjersten greeted Ulfric with a hug. She had no idea that Ulfric had a family and had children. She smiled and simply shook her head.

"You are as mysterious as always, Ulfric." She said softly as Christopher pulled out her chair at the table and she sat down with the rest.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's part of my charm. I'm afraid she's terribly stubborn, though," Ulfric smiled as he took a seat beside Kjersten.

"A bit like you, then," Christopher chuckled and Ulfric nodded. Thanks to the addition of Ulfric, the meal ended up not being awkward and quiet, but rather a short while of peace and simple discussion about Norway with plenty of laughter. Afterward when they made their way out into the courtyard, Kjersten seemed to have softened a little bit after seeing how her father seemed to treat Kayla like she was his daughter as well.

"Alright, then... Kjersten? What is it that you require of the Queen?" Ulfric turned them back toward the reason they were really there."

"I'll admit I was hoping that you'd be King, Dad. What you've proven in yourself is what I want from her."

"You can't expect her to be just like me."

"I don't. But I want to be sure that my country has fallen into hands that are just as able as the hands it was in."

"I could tell you that it has, that you've nothing to worry about, but I know words mean little to you, and you're too impatient to let time prove it and you allow no room for mistakes. I understand you were one of the people who demanded a duel."

"But not a duel to the death like those extremists who are too bloodthirsty even to be proper Vikings. I've already seen that she trusts you, and anyone who does is certainly in their right mind. But I've yet to see her ability to lead, or her strength in battle."

"Have you not seen the changes Kayla has already made?" Ulfric raised an eyebrow. At his daughter's silence, he laid a hand on her shoulder. "In the time between our first official council meeting and now, she has sent aid across Norway to the starving, and she has removed Sedgerickssen. He awaits her judgement in prison while she receives information about all of his crimes. Those alone should tell you of her ability. And as for her strength... You cannot ask her to fight one of her own to prove it."

"If she is challenged, I am the one who will fight," Christopher interjected suddenly, and Kjersten, who still didn't think much of him, was given pause by this. Christopher continued, "She's been through enough, and not only as her Lord Protector but also her husband, it's my job and my honor to fight in her name and take all challenges."

"Then you wouldn't deny me duel for her honor."

"No, I wouldn't."

"Kjersten," Ulfric growled.

"It's alright," she told him as she faced Christopher. "He needs to prove himself too if he's going to be the leader of all warriors in Norway."

"Let her challenge me, Ulfric. We're here to prove a point, but not to hurt anyone."

"Then we will keep the sheathes on our blades."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Enough." Kayla said suddenly, her voice soft but full of steel just as her mother's had been when she settled disputes between her siblings. "I do not want a duel fought in my honor. I do not want anyone of my subjects to be hurt in any way."