To Capture a Captain's Heart (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"But milady," one of her man spoke up. "They're going to attack our allies. Lithuania has long been a sister to Denmark, if not the entire Triad. We can't stand idly by."

 

[heartofcourage]

"If they were to attacking they would have done so already." Kayla said simply. "Thru were open and unprotected before. Why wait until we have arrived to attack?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't know... Unless they were waiting for us," the man shook his head.

As they entered the city, the governing lord came to meet them with the most worried expression. "Your Majesties," he said with a wavering voice. "I wish I could welcome you under better circumstances."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Do not apologize for something you cannot control." Kayla said as she shook hands with the mayor of the city. "We will do our hardest to keep them from the city."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Duke Arlas and Sir Lanen are on their way from the west, they should be a day away. Hopefully this general doesn't put too much force into his initial strike. Duke Arlas will send him fleeing back to Kiev with his tail between his legs. Come, I have spare rooms in my home, plenty for you and your closest men and King Elhardt. Oh, and pardon me for not introducing myself... I am the Lord of this estate, Andrius Artur." The old man motioned them onward to follow him.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla followed as the men allowed her to enter first. Even though she was their equal, they still deferred to her like the lady that she was. She spoke only briefly with Andrius before she retired to her chamber, exhausted beyond belief. She had a secret that very well might derail everything that they had planned for so far. She had wanted to keep it to herself until the battle was done, but as she slept in the pile of pillows, the bed dipping as Christopher joined her, she knew she had to tell him.

"I'm bleeding." She said softly. "It started in Malmö."

 

[KieranSoares]

Christopher's gaze quickly turned to Kayla, about to ask how she'd been hurt. But he realized what she meant before he could speak. He shifted closer and laid a gentle hand on her arm. "... Should I call for a healer?" He knew there was probably little they could do, and little they could've done even in Malmo.

 

[heartofcourage]

"No." She said softly, her voice barely a whisper laced with pain. "Don't tell anyone else. I don't want them to worry."

Kayla turned her dark eyes to her husband, giving him a look that was so full of sorrow she swore he might ever see her heart breaking. "I'm so sorry, Chris." There was nothing more she could really say to him as she lost the child they had wanted so much.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's not your fault, Kay..." He whispered in return even as his own heart shattered. "You didn't do anything wrong..." He laid beside her, his fingers stroking over her arm gently to offer what comfort he could while he found himself breaking on the inside as well.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I want to go home." She whispered to him, too numb to cry the tears that wanted to break free.

She didn't want Norway. She wanted to be home in Inverness where her family would coddle her and make her feel better. She needed her Ma to hug her until the ache went away. She needed her brothers to be protective of her and fight the battles that she felt too weak for.

 

[KieranSoares]

"... I'd take you home if I could..." He murmured and closed his eyes. "But... This is what we have to do... Kjotva needs us. Sweden needs us... We can't leave them to be taken over by Monomahk."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know." She whispered as she grabbed her husband up in a tight hug, her eyes closing as she pressed her cheek against his own. "There will be other times and other chances... And one day we'll have s family. Even if it's the last thing I do on this earth."

 

[KieranSoares]

The royals found a fair rest as their scouts watched the movements of the enemy, and it seemed that the opposing general was waiting for something. Perhaps a sign or reinforcements. Whatever it was, it seemed that the town's own reinforcements still had time to get there before all hell broke loose. At some point before dawn the next morning, Christopher pulled himself from Kayla's side to make sure his men were prepared as well as Elhardt's and those from Sweden.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla was up soon after Christopher, eating breakfast as she read over the reports from the evening before. She was struggling, but she kept herself as under control as she possibly could. She wanted to crumble but she owed it to Kjotva to keep her kingdom together and give her back her freedom. Her ache was minor compared to what her dear friend was going through.

 

[KieranSoares]

It was just as they were done eating and reading over the reports that spoke of nothing they didn't already know, that Lord Andrius Artur's allies came riding into the city in force. Duke Bernard Arlas arrived first much to the joy of the people, and Sir Marcus Lanen arrived second to even greater joy, being a very popular knight in Lithuania. Both leaders came to Artur's home to meet the foreign royalty.

When Christopher, Kayla, Elhardt, and Uther stepped into the main den to meet them, knight and duke bowed before them. "My lords and lady," Arlas spoke up. He was a fairly average man all around with a polished but not overly luxurious appearance. "I am Duke Bernard Arlas, and this is my finest knight, Sir Marcus Lanen." The knight was a tall and slim man with an angular face, but a noble and kind look about his features.

"We understand you have come to rescue the Queen of Sweden. As a sister to the Triad, Lithuania will aid you. As we speak, several other lords and knights are sending men to defend Lithuania from imminent Russian invasion and to honor our centuries-old love for our sister countries," Lanen stated boldly. It seemed they felt very strongly about their brothers and sisters from the northwest.

 

[heartofcourage]

"We are happy to have you with us in this endever." Kayla said to the men gathered as she was forced to take a seat as her knees suddenly felt weak. "I would like to see this resolved as peacefully as possible. Bloodshed will not endear us towards anyone."

 

[KieranSoares]

"If we can, milady, we will defend our country with words and letters, but you must understand that Lithuania has long been under the Russian boot and many of the people, terrified as they may be, are eager to see it lifted," the Duke told her calmly. He didn't necessarily want to fight, but he was more than willing if it was needed. His knight, however, looked ready to kill.

"We will be meeting with the opposing general and his officers in a more peaceful setting today if it can be arranged," Christopher told them. "The men are outfitted for battle and watchmen from the city and our armies are posted along the border, but I ask that we not let tempers or bad blood get in the way. The Triad has come for Kjotva, not for war."

"If war can be avoided at least until she is free, we will see it done. Our King has named me Marshall of battle should it come to that, and I will be the one who organizes our kingdom's men. Now... I will ride out and speak to this general and see if we cannot come to at least a short truce." The Duke turned then, ordering Lanen to remain in the city, and made his way out.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla listened dutifully to their planning, knowing that war and peace was best left to those with level heads. She simply didn't feel there at the moment, her mind and body focused on other things. She let out a long sigh as the meeting ended. The feel of Christopher's hand on her pale cheek was the only thing that brought her back to the present.

"I want to see the reports on the keep in Kiev. We need to know where he might be hiding Kjotva." She said, pushing forward despite her pain.

 

[KieranSoares]

When they were finally alone, Christopher knelt before Kayla. He was terribly worried at her pale complexion. "Kay, I think you should see a doctor. Just to make sure you're alright too. I can take care of things, but I need to know you're okay."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't need a healer, Christopher." She murmured, her dark eyes seeming too large for her delicate face as he pleaded with her. "Not right now. There's too much that needs to be done. I'll be fine. I promise you that."

 

[KieranSoares]

Christopher sighed, knowing he couldn't force her. "I just want to make sure you're okay, love. As much as I adore Kjotva, my priority here is you and your health."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla stared at Christopher as he looked at her with such passion. He was scared. Slowly, her shoulders drooped and she let him see just how tired she really was. The crown was heavy on her head and she had such a duty to her country.

"Alright." She said softly. "You can bring a doctor to see me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll find someone who can move with us, in case we end up going into Russia anytime soon," Christopher rose and kissed her before he left her side. On his way out, he directed a couple of the royal guards to keep a close eye on her while he was gone. Ulfric came to her before long, taking a seat at her side. With a long sigh, he glanced around them before pressing a small folded-up paper into her hand. It was a large, torn scrap, and when unfolded, it revealed a coded message which Ulfric had cracked and written the Swedish translation to below the original writing, then an English translation below that.

GM;
Moved to Arskov, will hang at New Year. TELL FATHER.
-QS

"Don't speak," Ulfric murmured. "Spies, at least ten in the city. Two in your royal guard." He glanced at her with that one serious eye. "We'll talk tonight... Elhardt and Christopher too, no one else."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla simply nodded, glancing at Ulfric as he mentioned that they would speak that evening. Things seemed dire, she thought to herself as she passed the note back towards her spy master. She wondered if Christopher knew what kind of danger he was in or about the moles that were operating in their close knit inner circle.

"A private dinner then." Kayla said softly as she stood from her seat and glanced at Ulfric. "In my chambers."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ulfric nodded, and rose at her side, his eye darting to one of her two royal guards that Christopher had left. It was the slightest signal to tell her that the man was one of the spies. She'd known the man since the moment she met her royal guard when she'd arrived in Norway, and he'd been one of her most loyal and her best leaders among the guard.