The return of the Lady of Ravenscrest

[Dame Kaelyn Urquhart-Raven]

It had been a while since she last was at her home... and her heart lurched at the sight of its beauty. Her children we still at the Castle... where they would be safe as war still loomed about.

Her Knights had fixed the place up after her rampage not so long ago... tables placed back in their spots... doors fixed and once more back on their hinges... all signs of her grief erased by them... she smiled as she entered the house looking around to see all that they had done.

There were several letters from Kerrigan in Argania on a small table... she took them and walked to the small window seat and broke the seals and read them....

" My beloved Cousin,

I know it has been months since I last wrote and for that I am sorry.... but I have men still searching for Darius. So far we have found no trace of him or the men with him, but I will continue the search until we have proof of what happened to him."

Your Cousin,
King Kerrigan


Kae's heart broke even more as she read the words... she did not want to believe her loving husband dea.... but to much time has gone by... yet a part of her clung to hope that something anything would be found out. Kae began to cry and so involved in reading the letter she had not heard Pagan arrive... he was standing beside her " Word of Lord Darius??" he asked and when she looked up at him he knew that he was still 'missing'. " Lady... he will be found on way or another know King Kerrigan will not rest until it is so." his blue eyes softened as he gave her a warm smile.

Holding out his hand to her to help her rise....she took it and threw her arms around him to hug him. The large Knight was not prepared for such a thing for she had never done so in all the years they had been together... he could do nothing except try to console his Lady and Queen. Kae cried until she thought she had no more tears and Pagan....Sir Lyon de Satuin just held her as a friend would hold another friend. " M'Lady let me take you to your brother.... you should be with family." she pulled back from him and looked up and nodded. They left RavensCrest and went to find DMitrii.... she needed her brother more than ever now.

[Sir Dmitrii Zurban]

It was in the days before Dmitrii and Aegraine had left for the lands of Lady Eirian, in service of the Duke. This day, he was in Castle Zurban, on the lands near Turas Lan proper.

Troika, the second horse of that name, was being groomed and saddled ready to meet Aegraine at the port wall. He had stayed at his manor for the past few weeks... and by the end of this day, he would be residing at the Griffin Castle.

Dmitrii finished packing his bag with essentials for the extended stay in the Capital. His own castle, secondary to any other would be evacuated, save the few to maintain it during the impending war.

He took one last look around... He had issued orders to burn it to the ground and the remaining people to escape, should the English forces make it that close.

The moment of silence was also a prayer for his sister... of whom he had been sinfully delinquent in seeing her in her time of suffereing the loss of her husband. "Hazzards of being in love..." he pondered.

Just then, a knock upon the door broke his train of thought. "Enter..." he responded.

The servant opened the door... "Milord... M'Lady Kaelyn... she req'st yaer presence..." Dmitrii hefted the bag of essentials over his shoulder... "Kaelyn? Here?" and immediately walked into the waiting area.

As he entered, the knight bowed and he saw Kaelyn...Dropping his bag, he went over to her and hugged her tight. "Kae...forgive a delinquent brother... I have missed you very much..." the r's rolling off his accented tongue.

The hug was extended more than usual... and a whisper in her ear. "I am so sorry to hear about Darius... I know you are distraught..." Then he pushed her back a bit, kissed her cheek... "Yu look well... but yu have not been eating well, I see... and how are the children?" all said in the same sentence.

In his own gentle way, he was reprimanding her... and himself...

[Dame Kaelyn Urquhart-Raven]

Kaelyn had not been to see her brother in some time and was grateful to Pagan for escorting her this day. She stood silent as Pagan spoke to the servant who with a nod to her hurried to find Dmitrii.

They waited in a small reception room... she walked to the window and looked out... Pagan remained with her. Dmitrii had come to teh room and Pagan spoke in hushed tones to Dmitrii and then turned " I wil leave you two alone.... by your leave M'Lady." he said and left brother and sister alone.

Kae smiled at Dmitrii " You have nay been delinquet brother... so there is nothing to forgive... I have missed you as well." she hugged him and kisssed both his scruffy cheeks softly.

He led her to a small setee and once she sat he sat next to her, her hands were in her lap and with the thumb on her left hand she rolled it over her wedding ring. Her eyes saddened when he mentioned Darius...she looked into his slate colored eyes as she spoke " Kerrigan still searches but so far nothing has come about...I can do naught but cling to hope that news will come and I will know what happened to him."she lowered her head and faught back her emotions and yes... her tears.

" Your niece and nephew are staying with Bess at the Castle... Ciara is with them. They have grown so much and are doing well soon I think they will be crawling all over." she gave a soft chuckle.

She knew he could see she had not been taking great care of herself... and in his gentle way gave her a scolding she knew she had coming. " I sleep when I can and tis the same with eating... so no need to scold further." her tone light and teasing for she knew he was only concerned for her.

It was then he took her small hand into his and she once more met his gaze.. " By the Gods Dmi I miss him so very much... and our children as well. How am I to do this on my own??" tears fell from her sapphire hues. " Dmi.... it hurts......" her words trailed off as her emotions consumed her... she laid her head on his shoulder... and just let it go.

Not to often had she been so emotional in front of him.... but thy were family and she loved him.... and right now she needed him and his strength to help get her through this.

[Sir Dmitrii Zurban]

Dmitrii was glad to hear of his niece and nephew... and was ashamed he had not seen them since their birth... he sat next to Kaelyn and placed his hand upon her knee for reassurement.

"Yu can do this... Yu are a Uruqhart... a sibling of a staunch mother and father..." he paused... "and my sister..." then he winked... "Yu shant do this alone... I may be tardy alot, but we are together where no man can put asunder... we are connected in an eerie sort of way..." he pokes her shoulder with a stiff finger... "Any woman who survives childbirth... especially one of twins... can survive anything... even the gruelling pain of losing a spouse..."

He smirks... "I have survived losing a spouse... and several relations after... and yes, yu can too..." he shrugs and winks at he... "And what if Darius is alive... for good or naught... twould be a blessing... and if he is truly dead... I am sure he lives on in the children..." his steel-gray eyes sparkle... "So belly to the bar lass.. war is coming... and our Rangers need not a weak, distraught female..."

He was teasing her a bit, and attempting to rile her soul... She wouldn't kill him... at least it might make her think...

"Kaelyn..." as he always called her... "...know this now... I shall be riding to get the Lady Eirian... Lord Adam and Lady Bess needs her..." he shakes his head as she began to speak... "Nay, not alone... Captain Aegraine lePower is riding with me..." then he smiled.

[Dame Kaelyn Urquhart-Raven]

Kaelyn looked at her brother as he spoke her emotions their in the depths of her blue eyes... sadness, grief, disbelief all warred within the woman who was so strong and proud... now but a shell of her former self. She took a long deep slow breath and let it out just as slow. "Dmitrii I know you are busy doing things for Adam, we all have our duties that keep us from our families." She said softly and squeezed his hand where it lay upon her knee "I remember well the pain you went through after losing Tori... and Aye we are connected by blood and by our hearts. We are both Urquharts... no stronger bond could there be for us... than the gift our mother gave to us. You are right as usual that I will survive though I feel like my heart is dead within me except for where you and my children are concerned. If for some reason I do not make it through this war.... I have asked Bess and Adam to help look after Garet and Jelani... Maahes will take my men in, Pagan and Phantom have asked to be assigned to you...I have honored their request. They are loyal to you as they have been to me... YOU are the crowned prince of Argania and will inherit all that is mine; I have made arrangements to see it made so and do nay think to argue with me about it. Blackmoor and Ravens Crest will be kept for your nephew and niece."

She stood and walked to the window and looked out at the garden below. " Should Darius be found..." her words trailed for she knew it was wishful thinking for if he were alive he would have tried to contact her or at least sent word.

With his words of bellying up to the bar... an instant transformation happened and she once more became the warrior she was. Blocking her feelings... hardening her heart... pushing emotion aside it was what was ended for her to go to war and do what must be done for the good of Skye and Scotland!

The ICE QUEEN lives once more... emotions were a distraction and the rangers as well as the Knights in her command needed her at the top of her game if they were to survive this damn war!

Kae smiled at her brother when he told her he was not going alone but in the company of a woman no less "Dmirtrii... tell lady Eirian I said hello and give her my love. Be safe brother and keep your hands and mind off the Captain." She teased. He was devilishly and boyishly handsome and one day she prayed he would find love once more and perhaps make her an Aunt?


"I should go... Dmitrii know this I love you." She turned and hugged him tightly like it would be the last time she would see him. War was coming and she was not one to think herself invincible in any way... death was a real possibility.

[Sir Dmitrii Zurban]

Dmitrii smiled at her beloved sister... for both their lives now swung in the balance of life and death... just as many others did... they too would obey the commands of generals and Lords... but nothing... nothing on earth nor under heaven could break the love they shared.

"I shall give Lady Eirian yer regards my sister... but as for the young, beautiful Captain... that is for her... and I to decide..." he offered her a wicked smirk... "I pray both of us shall come out of this war unharmed... I think not upon the afterlife promises yu make... but should either of us fall..." he ceased speaking, and took her into his arms. His beard scratching her face... leaning his head he kisses her neck... "Ya lyub lu tyb ya, sistra..." is all he muttered.

Taking a long silent hug, he then pushed her back and looked at her. One eye winked, flashing the steel gray in a sparkle. With no words spoken, he turned and walked from the room... leaving her to her own... Swinging the double sword harness upon his back and cinching it as he walked from the castle.

Upon the black Andalusian stallion, he rose... only to wave once and turn to ride off, never looking back.