KieranSoares
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"You don't have to be afraid of losing me, Kayla," Christopher murmured before pulling her in closer. "I may have been the one to widow you the first time... but I won't do that again."
To Capture a Captain's Heart (closed)
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heartofcourage
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"I'll always be afraid of losing you, Chris. As long as you are involved in my protection and draw a breath, I'll worry about you." She said softly as he hugged her tighter. "You're my life. You hold my heart and my soul. I hope that you never give them back."
KieranSoares
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"I don't intend to," he assured her softly. "Sleep, love..."
That next morning was eerily quiet considering the huge feat the Triad's men were about to undetake. Everyone knew the plan, everyone knew their places, and everyone knew what was at stake. Hardly anyone spoke beyond leaders relaying additional orders every so often. Ulfric was especially silent, standing out in the open and simply waiting. Every few minutes, one of his men would come to whisper to him and he'd nod. He only ever spoke in return when a change had to be made somewhere to fit Monomakh's own changes to Kjotva's execution or wedding.
When Christopher and Kayla emerged, Arslan and Freja had joined Ulfric and were discussing the plan one last time. Several of Arslan's men were poised in absolute secrecy with their full armor and weapons to emerge when the signal was given. The signal, it was decided, would be Ulfric's first kill. There would be a ring of guards around the proceedings, so several of those men would have to die for the mission. Ulfric would aim for their captain if he could, but the moment the first armored man fell, everyone else would rush forward and the panic would begin.
That next morning was eerily quiet considering the huge feat the Triad's men were about to undetake. Everyone knew the plan, everyone knew their places, and everyone knew what was at stake. Hardly anyone spoke beyond leaders relaying additional orders every so often. Ulfric was especially silent, standing out in the open and simply waiting. Every few minutes, one of his men would come to whisper to him and he'd nod. He only ever spoke in return when a change had to be made somewhere to fit Monomakh's own changes to Kjotva's execution or wedding.
When Christopher and Kayla emerged, Arslan and Freja had joined Ulfric and were discussing the plan one last time. Several of Arslan's men were poised in absolute secrecy with their full armor and weapons to emerge when the signal was given. The signal, it was decided, would be Ulfric's first kill. There would be a ring of guards around the proceedings, so several of those men would have to die for the mission. Ulfric would aim for their captain if he could, but the moment the first armored man fell, everyone else would rush forward and the panic would begin.
heartofcourage
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Kayla was quiet too as she stood next to Christopher, listening to the plans that were being put into place. She was just a cog at this point to the plans that had been carefully laid out. She knew that Ashien was on the other side of the city doing the same as they waited for the plan that would either save Kjotva or doom them all to further war.
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As noon approached and everyone filed into the village square, it seemed the entire town had turned out and then some, but less than half of the crowd seemed excited or jeered as last preparations were made up on a tall platform. It seemed another change had been made as, instead of an executioner's block, a tall pole had been set up and soldiers were piling kindling and hay and wood around it and under the platform. Ulfric, who was next to Kayla as they entered the square, looked incredibly alarmed at the change in execution style, but he also realized that, should things go wrong, they had a little bit longer to save Kjotva as the flames would take time to spread. A headsman's axe would be much more difficult to save her from. Ulfric looked to Kayla and murmured before he left her side, "Spread the word around... attack when you see flames. Don't wait for me to kill." Then he was gone into the crowd.
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Kayla nodded at Ulfric's order, the horrific manner of Kjotva's death making her feel panicked. She informed as many as she could of the change in plans and then she set herself up close to the platform where the kindling was being piled as the crowds awaited either the wedding or the execution of the Queen of Sweden.
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At the stroke of noon, a large escort arrived in the square with two carriages. One was the royal regal carriage of Prince Monomakh, who stepped into view at great fanfare of quite a number of the people. The second was a jail cart with thick bars and in it lay a battered Kjotva who was hardly conscious. The Triad men around Kayla tensed, wanting to rescue her then and there, but she would be killed on the spot if they tried.
Kjotva was half-carried up to the platform, hands bound with rope red from her blood at being bound so long. It looked like there had been some attempt to clean her up as she was in a simple, clean white sun dress and her hair was neatly combed and braided, but the bruises on her face and arms and bare shins and feet were dark as could be and stood out terribly even on her darker skin.
Monomakh stepped up on the platform, addressing his people in a long speech that few of the Triad could understand because almost none of them spoke the Kievan language. It wasn't until Monomakh spoke to Kjotva that they could understand. "Queen Kjotva Arslansdottir, I give you one final chance; give me your hand and unite our countries for peace, or burn as a warmonger and a half-breed unfit for your late husband's throne."
As the silence fell after Monomakh's question, Kjotva lifted her head, having been staring absently at the wood beneath her feet. She looked at the Kievan Prince and, her hands still bound, she took his own hand slowly and gave him an exhausted smile. Just when it looked as though she was about to accept his offer, she suddenly and violently jerked his arm and a harsh crack told the crowd that she'd broken the Prince's wrist. He only grunted in pain, though, and struck her hard across the face, sending her to the platform floor. He glared at attendants that tried to come and help him, sending them away and ignoring his wrist for the moment.
"Very well..." he snarled quietly to Kjotva. "Then you will burn like the witch you are." He turned, yelling to the executioner, and soldiers rushed up to the platform to pick the dazed Kjotva up and tie her to the stake. A priest began reading in his native tongue from the Bible as a torch was brought out and lit. The moment the torch touched to the kindling, all hell broke loose.
Kjotva was half-carried up to the platform, hands bound with rope red from her blood at being bound so long. It looked like there had been some attempt to clean her up as she was in a simple, clean white sun dress and her hair was neatly combed and braided, but the bruises on her face and arms and bare shins and feet were dark as could be and stood out terribly even on her darker skin.
Monomakh stepped up on the platform, addressing his people in a long speech that few of the Triad could understand because almost none of them spoke the Kievan language. It wasn't until Monomakh spoke to Kjotva that they could understand. "Queen Kjotva Arslansdottir, I give you one final chance; give me your hand and unite our countries for peace, or burn as a warmonger and a half-breed unfit for your late husband's throne."
As the silence fell after Monomakh's question, Kjotva lifted her head, having been staring absently at the wood beneath her feet. She looked at the Kievan Prince and, her hands still bound, she took his own hand slowly and gave him an exhausted smile. Just when it looked as though she was about to accept his offer, she suddenly and violently jerked his arm and a harsh crack told the crowd that she'd broken the Prince's wrist. He only grunted in pain, though, and struck her hard across the face, sending her to the platform floor. He glared at attendants that tried to come and help him, sending them away and ignoring his wrist for the moment.
"Very well..." he snarled quietly to Kjotva. "Then you will burn like the witch you are." He turned, yelling to the executioner, and soldiers rushed up to the platform to pick the dazed Kjotva up and tie her to the stake. A priest began reading in his native tongue from the Bible as a torch was brought out and lit. The moment the torch touched to the kindling, all hell broke loose.
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Kayla watched the entire scene in horror. Kjotva was barely recognizable as she was brought to the platform and there was a bit of satisfaction among the men around her when she broke Monomakh's wrist. She watched silently as Kjotva was ordered to death, placed against the stake as all hell broke loose.
Someone behind her grabbed her about the waist, pushing her up and onto the platform. She was the smallest of all the soldiers, the quickest and the most likely to reach Kjotva in time. She was already pulling her dagger free to cut her bonds as she raced along the wooden planks to her friend.
Someone behind her grabbed her about the waist, pushing her up and onto the platform. She was the smallest of all the soldiers, the quickest and the most likely to reach Kjotva in time. She was already pulling her dagger free to cut her bonds as she raced along the wooden planks to her friend.
KieranSoares
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Monomahk saw Kayla the moment she got her footing on the platform, and he drew his blade with a growl. "Back away if you value your life, girl!"
"Kayla..." Kjotva murmured, looking up weakly at her sister Queen with terror for the smaller woman's safety.
"Kayla..." Kjotva murmured, looking up weakly at her sister Queen with terror for the smaller woman's safety.
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Kayla ignored the order to stop where she was as she found her way to Kjotva and stared to saw through the bonds that kept her secured to the stake. She kept one eye out for Monomahk, keeping him a good distance away from him until Kjotva was freed and she was able to pull her away from the burning pile of kindling. If she had to protect the both in the chaos, she most definitely would.
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Kjotva barely had the strength to follow, but she was off the platform when Monomakh caught Kayla by the back of her dress. He snatched her back, snarling, "So you're Olaf's harlot," before he drew back his blade to swing.
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Kayla made sure that Kjotva was safely in the hands of her father's men, dragged into the panicked crowds before she let her guard down. The force of someone pulling her back by her dress had her gasping and soon she was face to face with a very angry king. She saw him pull back his blade to swing, his words ringing in her ears. He knew who she was and it didn't seem to matter in the least.
"The Queen of Norway." She answered as she stabbed him in the side with her dagger which was still in her hand.
"The Queen of Norway." She answered as she stabbed him in the side with her dagger which was still in her hand.
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When she moved closer to stab him, he swung too far and his blade's hilt just barely missed her as he doubled over in pain with a subdued grunt. If there was anything to be said for the man, he had an incredible threshold for pain, because he reacted very quickly. With a pommel-strike to her chest that would only leave a nasty bruise, he unintentionally knocked her from the platform right into Ashien's arms. Her twin steadied her before lifting his own blade to deflect Monomakh's vengeful slash, and he held Monomakh off for Kayla. "Go, Kay, go!" Ashien urged her. "Help the Khan!" Off on the edge of the square, Arslan and Freja were struggling to break through the wall of soldiers to get the quickly-weakening Kjotva out safely before she passed out.
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The strike to her chest winded her as she fell from the platform. Ashien caught her in his arms, steadying her before he took the brunt of the king's next sword strike. She was just catching her breath as she pushed her way through the crowd, leaving him to fight off the enraged man as she sought to help Arslan and Freja get Kjotva free from the city.
The soldiers were blocking the way, large barred door behind them. Too distracted by the rush of the crowd, they didn't notice the small woman ducking beneath the line and unbarring the door. Soon, it was flung open and people were streaming through.
The soldiers were blocking the way, large barred door behind them. Too distracted by the rush of the crowd, they didn't notice the small woman ducking beneath the line and unbarring the door. Soon, it was flung open and people were streaming through.
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The soldiers shouted like mad for the gate to be secured, but the rush of panicking townspeople and fleeing Triad allies overwhelmed the soldiers, even trampled a couple who couldn't get good footing. Kjotva collapsed just past the gate, but that was when the armored Mongolians raced in to secure their exit, and a few with horses gave the steeds to Kayla, Arslan, and Freja and a few bodyguards for them to flee. Arslan helped Freja get Kjotva up into a saddle and they took off at a full sprint on horseback that the unprepared soldiers couldn't hope to catch up with.
Arriving at their hidden camp in the forest where they'd planned for the leaders to rendezvous, Freja got Kjotva down off the horse and laid her across Arslan's cloak to look her over. Seeing only bruises and exhaustion, Freja sat back with a relieved sigh as Kjotva slowly looked up at her. "Hello, sweet little girl," Freja whispered as tears of relief gathered in her eyes. Arslan came to kneel beside her, speaking softly in his native tongue. Kjotva cracked a small smile and drew each parent down to kiss them, then she reached out a hand to Kayla.
Arriving at their hidden camp in the forest where they'd planned for the leaders to rendezvous, Freja got Kjotva down off the horse and laid her across Arslan's cloak to look her over. Seeing only bruises and exhaustion, Freja sat back with a relieved sigh as Kjotva slowly looked up at her. "Hello, sweet little girl," Freja whispered as tears of relief gathered in her eyes. Arslan came to kneel beside her, speaking softly in his native tongue. Kjotva cracked a small smile and drew each parent down to kiss them, then she reached out a hand to Kayla.
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Kayla took Kjotva's hand and squeezed it, understanding what she was going through in that moment. She couldn't help looking back towards the city, however. She had to go back to make sure that Ashien and Christopher were alright. It worried her that she hadn't seen them make it out of the city in all of the chaos.
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"Thank you, sister..." Kjotva murmured. "Go... go get them." She knew just by how Kayla looked back that she had to go get Christopher and the others. Arslan took his horse's reins then and handed them over to Kayla.
"Take Jima, he's the fastest here," Arslan told her, offering her a hand up into the saddle of the stocky steppe horse.
"Take Jima, he's the fastest here," Arslan told her, offering her a hand up into the saddle of the stocky steppe horse.
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Kayla mounted Jima quickly with Arslan's help and soon she left the family behind as she raced back towards the town to find Ulfric, Ash, and Christopher. She hoped that they hadn't been caught in the crush of people and she would never forgive herself if something had happened to Ashien as she left him fighting with the king of the Rus. Dylandra might never forgive her either.
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By the time Kayla got close, it was easy to see that most of the innocent bystanders had gotten out and only a handful of Triad and Mongolian men remained, getting overwhelmed as they tried to retreat. It wasn't until a streak of white burst in and caused the Kievan soldiers to panic that the others got a chance to flee. Ballas, roaring and snarling viciously, defended their exit until they'd made it out and fled in all different directions so as not to lead the enemy to the camp. Ballas came running in Kayla's direction, but skirted past so not to scare her horse. She hadn't seen Ashien among those fleeing.
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Kayla refused to leave until she put eyes on her twin. Ballas was running in a circle around her, trying not to frighten her horse as she looked around the area to see if her brother or her husband were being left behind by the retreating forces.
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It was as the soldiers were regrouping and spotted Kayla that Ballas finally charged at her horse, causing the frightened beast to turn and run. Other riders came to distract the soldiers away from Kayla, yelling to her in their native tongues to flee.
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Kayla jerked back on the reigns, turning the horse as Ballas scared the poor beast into a hard run. She could feels tears on her cheeks as she looked over her shoulder one more time, struggling to see if Ashien and Christopher were still there.
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When she finally arrived back at the camp, Christopher came running and pulled her into his arms the moment she had stepped down from the horse. "What the hell were you thinking, going back?" He demanded, and we would've been angry if he hadn't been so terrified.
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"I couldn't find you or Ash. I had to make sure you were alright." Kayla said in a tiny voice as she husband scolded her for going back to the city to look for them. "I thought you had been captured or killed and I wasn't going to leave you behind."
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Christopher hugged her tightly then with a sigh of relief despite his stress. "Ulfric told you that you had to get out of there as fast as possible... not go back..." He fell silent for a moment, then murmured quietly, "Ashien was hurt... not badly, but enough that when he got here, he passed out when the adrenaline went down... But Ulfric isn't back yet."
