Caden Returns (Open)

[Caden J. Robertson]

He stood at the rail of the merchant ship watching the docks come into view. It had been far too long since he had seen the shores of his home. Six long years. So much had changed. He had changed. He wondered if people would remember him, he knew a few would, but most wouldn't, or so he thought.

He let one hand fall from the rail where they both rested and settled it atop the broad head of the white tiger at his side. Larger then his mother but just as docile as a kitten at the moment. Caden smiled as he rubbed the large feline's ears, a low rumbling purr emitted from deep in his throat. Like before most gave him wide berth when the cat was at his side, like now the sailors of the ship kept as far away from the cloaked young man and his potentially dangerous companion.

The Captain paused behind him clearing his throat to get the young man's attention. It was not till Caden turned his head in his general direction that he would speak. "We will be docking soon Sir. Would you like to have your things brought from your cabin?"

He thought about it a moment before giving a simple nod of his head. "Aye, thank you Captain, for everything." The man nodded and turned heading off to his duties hollering at one of the shipmates to retrieve the Lord's things.

Caden shook his head a little as he listened. He had told the Captain over and over that he was no Lord, but the man just would not listen, to him a young man with as much coin as Caden obviously had, must be a Lord of some kind.

At the nudge to his fingers he glanced down at the large white striped cat and grinned. "Aye Tavish, we will be home soon."

[Caden J. Robertson]

Long fingers lift to pull the hood of his cloak up further to hide his face one side badly scarred, the ridges of the six year old scar running from his ear to his chin. For a moment he let his finger tips trace the familliar scar, as he had touched it a million times this trip.

As the ship came to a stop and the crew started to double their bustling, Caden would take a deep breath and looked down at Tavish. "Come my friend, it's time to see what has become of my family, my friends." Those pale blue eyes lifted from the tiger as the big cat came to his feet and he stared out at the bustling docks. His mind though were focused on the past. The memory of a child, an infant, whose smile had filled his world. And that of her mother as well and all who saw her. She would be six now. He remembered reading her silly stories while she fell asleep in her cradle.

The call of the crew drew him from his thoughts and he would turn to take the single case from the cabin boy. with his other hand he ruffled the boy's hair and pressed a gold coin into his hand for payment. He watched as the lanky boy trotted off then turned and made his way down the plank stepping foot onto the dock. At his side Tavish moved with smooth grace, a low purr escaping his parted jaws.

As usual people moved out of their way in a hurry, eyeing the big cat warily. It was unusual to see such creatures in a place like this but even more unusal to see it running free without any sort of restraint. A small child, not more then two summers old, ran out from his mother's skirts and reached for the big cat. Before his mother could snatch him back, Tavish paused and dipped his head to the child rubbing that great feline head against the tiny child's chest making the little boy giggle. The mother was too anxious to realize Tavish was not going to harm the boy.

Seeing the look on her face, Caden dipped down and picked up the small child up off his feet and handed him to her. He flashed her a reassuring smile from under the cloak before he tapped Tavish on the top of the head and the pair continued down the dock heading for the pubs. He needed a bath and a room before he tried to find his beloved cousin and her daughter and the rest of his family.

[Lady Eirian Gwenyth Apollius]

Part I: You and I
you are home again

Lady Apollius

The season in the city was not the same as any spent in the country. Despite the scents of the salt ladden sea, a crisp wind, and the forest's earth always on the wheels of a wagon or heels of a traveler crossing the city gate, it was never the same. The sanctity, if not the sanctuary, of country living wasn't without its hardships. When one was craddled between God's Eden and several Scottish families, when one's land had been crossed with as much blood as it had goodness, you see the reality on the fraying edges of the eternal dream. She crossed her arms over her body. It felt thickened somehow, perhaps by the use of the heavy, extensive amounts of wool in dress, clasped coat to keep her warm. Lined in fur brown bits rimmed her wrist, the hood framing her face. Under the moonlight she felt herself blending in, not distinct, yet still identifiable. In this world of seeming opposites she looked to the constant nature of the sky. No matter how much it changed it still always stayed the sky. No matter how much the ater under it proved fickle it was always the sea. Much the same how no matter what befell the world she would always remain 'Eirian'. The name had become a state of being, or something some strove to be like. Virtuous, pious,resourceful. Brave, diligent, intelligent, artistic. Wise. Only those who were new to the ways of life here still pitited how tiny the body, imagining the frail health still remained. Well by now she was close to her thirty-first year, so it mattered little. Her footstep steps carried the musing women who wondered as she wandered down to the docks' edge, a few steps before one could come to the sand. Her body lowered to rest against the low rock wall there. In gazing the horizon, she could see her husband's eyes in the same act from wherever he was. She missed him , but he had duties to attend to once more no matter the season. (d)




Sir Robertson

Hours after his arrival found the young man freshly bathed, fed and bored. The tender of the pub prattling on meaningless chatter, nothing that answered his simple questions, distracted by others that entered. He heaved a sigh and stood. "Come Tavish let's walk." he spoke low to the large feline at his feet. The tiger lifted his massive head and blinked at him slowly almost in protest, then heaved his huge frame gracefully to huge paws. Caden turned then and headed out the door, Tavish on his heels. Outside he paused to take a deep breath, pale blue eyes lifting up to the night's sky, breathing in the cool crisp air. Home. Nothing was more sweet at this moment, the scent of the salty air, the feel of home soil under his booted feet. He pulled the cowl of his cloak tighter around his face hiding it from view. Letting his thoughts travel inwards he moved off towards the docks his foot falls soft on the ground, barely heard, nearly silent. The steps of stalker, the steps of someone who knew danger could lurk around any corner and was ready for it if came. Ahead of him Tavish picked up his pace loping down the path eager to stretch out couped up muscles. Caden grinned to himself as he watched the great cat, his movements reminding him of Anna. How he missed his first pet. She had been his constant companion. Even after he had been taken hostage on that ship. He frowned a moment remembering how she had died, defending him against the whip , Tavish had only been a few months old, his captors had decided he had done something wrong and took a cat o nine to his bared back, Anna had taken objection to the action and had attacked and killed the bearer of the whip. The Slaver in turn killed his beloved Anna. A tear slid slowly down his cheek which he quickly wiped away. So lost in his thoughts he was not aware that he was drawing close to someone else out for a late night walk. (d)




Lady Apollius

It was easy to become lost in memories, wasn't it? Images of loved ones could be made to live with just the right amount of color, just the right resonance to a voice. For Eirian, images had always been a non subjective matter for the most part given how the objective aspect was translating how they formed. If subjectives came to play, it was in the personal depths of her own heart. Talion's foppish smile joined the ranks of others from days gone by, years now. Of those were the likes of Caden and Jonus. While she could care little for the intrigues of the family that bore them, she loved each of them for being the family around her. Blood ties were few and far between for the welshwoman, so to find them in a land she had loved for years was a blessing from God. Through a long ago marriage of one of her grandmother's sisters, or a great grandmother, they were as kindred. She cared not whom inherited the clan in the end, only that they were well. In his absence much had happened, and with the ascent of Iain Robertson, the Robertsons were righting many wrongs, but it was not as if they cared of her any longer. Robertson guards had long since left her land, leaving only the few that elected to live as members of the household by choice. Caden's absence meant that the Steward's son became the captain of the household guard, though her steps were always well kept by some faithful person, handmaiden or otherwise. She remembered Caden's youth, his sense of intelligence firing with her teachings, his devotion, and his love of hope most of all. Even his strange companion had become a member of the family, lurking under her feet when she read or sewed. But those days were no more now. Slipped away as sand in hour glasses. Unlike Talion's many returns, Caden had yet to return even once. Jonus was dead, or so the story went. He had not been a young man when she met him. Nor was she as young as before, being that her twenties were behind her at last. (d)




Sir Robertson

His uncle indeed was dead. He had learned that not long after his escape six months ago. He had died of a fever, his old body unable to continue his search for his nephew. Their bond had demanded that he search for Caden till he could search no more. . Caden pushed the thoughts of his uncle away for now, the wound of his death still too fresh. He turned his thoughts instead to Eirian. The woman who had taken him under her wing, had earned his undying devotion and love. He thought of her smile, of her joy while she carried the tiny Hope in her belly. He felt a pang deep in his heart, missing them both more then he could ever say. His life had been changed in the span of one night, he had gone from a new husband on his honey moon, next in line to run the clan, to nothing more then a slave on a ship. His back bore testiment of senseless whippings, several scars from him getting between the whip and a small child or a woman, for which he had been beat more, but he suffered in silence each strike worth it when it didn't land against another's flesh. Again he shoved the unpleasant thoughts away pausing just a few feet away from the woman sitting against the wall. It took him a moment to realize she was even there, but then Tavish would be running past her feet kicking up sand as he took his late night run. Caden parted his lips to chastise the big cat but the words died as something in the woman's sitting frame struck him as familiar. (d)




Sir Robertson

The days of Caden sitting with her on the wide steps of the forest-garden, Jonus' visits to see his nephew thrive while enjoying favoring Eirian as the niece he never had were done. They were as done as the care free days of Talion's early retirement. Why, when the tiger crosed her line of sight she was apt to believe it was her mind manifesting those interior thoughts to show her something that was deeply missed. It did that, almost a cruel joke, to rationalize some part of the past or understand the future. She shut her eyes to it, having no desire to pay attention to the aspects that made some whisper to this very day. It had made men of God made, made enough to pull her from the shores, to nearly wish to cut her to ribbons. Eirian ran her fingers over the scars on her head that were hidden well by her thick, black hair. Anna's head could amost be felt against her covered legs now, the sound of her deep, rumbling purr filled her ears (d)




Sir Robertson

It took him more then a few moments to clear his head, visions of Eirian, laughing, nudging his shoulder when he said something amusing about some text they were pouring over, some piece of history that he took a moment to re write just to make her laugh. He cleared his throat, once, twice then called out in that all too familiar voice, grown deeper with age but unmistakeable, "Tavish, whatch what ye be doing will ye? I think ye might have scared the poor girl into complete silence." He had been surprised when she had not screamed, had not backed away had not come to her feet in surprise and fear. Something most did when they spied the large cat running free. For several moments he stood there, his feet rooted to the ground, It took him several breaths before he got up the nerve to step closer, afraid to believe she was who he thought she was. it had been so long, would she even remember him? of course she would, just as clearly as he remembered her. It was almost strange, beautiful Sienna's face had begun to fade in his memory, but Eirian's and Hope's were as clear in his mind as if she were at his side this very moment. Again he would shake his head supressing his hopes of finding his beloved cousin so soon upon his arrival.(d)




Lady Apollius

A voice accompanied the vision, thus making the 'vision' cemented in reality. Now that it was safe to watch the world pass again Eirian did so only to find that the memory of Ana was fresh, and her master's even closer. "No, I am not frightened, only...remembering." Cryptic little answer moved on the wind with the weight of a whisper yet it was with the force of a wave it slammed in to his ears, filling it to pull at all that was familiar in the memory of her. In return his voice pulled hard on her own recollections. It wasn't fair, was it? Only after watching the edge of the moon did she turn to look at the man who spoke only to freeze. A tilt of head, a narrowing of eye in study. By now her hood had been removed, leaving no mystery of features. Thick tendrils of hair danced around her face while the rest curled over her shoulder in a braid. Intense blue gaze held his reflection from more than just this moment. It was not that she didn't believe what she saw, but more than any Eirian had reason to appraise it. She slid down from the wall so her feet could touch the ground. When she stood to her full eight, her hands had clasped together. No one moved, on one spoke. (d)

Sir Robertson

It could not be. Could it? He stood stone still. the breeze tugging at his cloak. Making the clasps underneath rattle against his clothes. He almost missed it when the hood of his cloak nearly fell from his head. He caught it before it could fall away from his face completely but not before she would be allowed a glimpse of his handsome familiar face. Older, yes, hardened by wind and sun and hard work, but familiar none the less. Her voice had ripped through him like a knife cutting through butter. For a moment he could not even breathe. His azure colored eyes lifted up to land on her oh so familiar features, and this young man, so solid and strong, wanted to curl up at her feet and cry like the boy he had once been. "Eirian? is that really you?" soft whispered words forced past suddenly dry lips. Disbelief in his tone as if perhaps he thought he was dreaming. He took two steps forward, towards her his hand lifting from under his cloak for a moment as if to reach out to her, only to drop again. His eyes drank in the sight of her, memories suddenly coming to life right before his eyes. (d)

Lady Apollius

It was hard to bypass Eirian. Forgetfulness rarely became her. The loss of memory was nealry impossible in a mind that held the keys to viewing the reaches of time. Her eyes, reflecting that same source, put up a view of the man before her to the inside of herself. Pulling away the age from his features Eirian found the gentility under the harsh. Through the changes she could see the point of origin, a young man seeking a tutor, unknowing that he had found family. Her heart ceased to beat in her chest. She moved by a will entirely of Fate's concocting, each limb on a little unseen string that brought her two steps forward. Where he pulled his hand away, she took it in a half impetious, half nervous way. Tracing the lines on the palm, she looked up once more to see the boy unify again with the man he had become. "Caden.." Not of question, but affirmation to the obvious. "I can hardly believe it.." She whispered, her free hand covering her mouth in a state of shock. (d)

Sir Robertson

She remembered him. That in it's self shocked him, though why he was not quite so sure, of everyone he had known she was the most likely to remember him, knew him better then any other. When her hand caught his and traced the rough lines of his palm his tense frame melted. He relaxed and that same easy smile came to lips that had long for gotten how to smile. It felt almost strange, this sudden emotion. All had been locked away tight for so many years now. Her spoken words woke him from the moment and he lifted his work roughend hand, the one she was not holding and brushed the backs of his fingers against her soft skin. "Aye Cousin. I am finally home." He whispered softly. His eyes searched hers while his heart swelled. Those words felt good to say, being in the presence of his cousin felt even better, making the words even more true, more meaningful. He had no idea that she might think him a ghost, that all had thought him dead, all except perhaps Eirian. He watched her hand raise to her lips the shock in her eyes. He took in her features. Older now then before, but then so was he. She was still beautiful as she always would be in his eyes. The corner of his lips lifted again in a half smile his voice was low as he teased. "Why cousin, I do believe you have become an old woman."(d)

Lady Apollius

Why would she not remember him? Of all the people in the world there were so few who could claim to know the boy he was and the young man he'd become, but youth was chipping away from the person infront of her now. "You have been gone a long time, I never knew where you'd gone. All I could devise was death had not taken you.." She would know, she would feel if it had. She wondered what had thickened the calluses. What wars he had seen what places he had gone. The sea kissed the sure with the same gentleness Eirian applied to his cheek before she put both of her arms around him. Having to stand on tip toe to reach him, the small woman could only laugh "Aye, to many thirty is an elder age.." (d)

Caden Robertson

Perhaps later she would no longer want to know what his life had been like these past years. He knew his tales would make her heart ache with pain for what he had endured. For now he left the tales unsaid, the words unspoke, the years hidden in his soul. At her first words he sighed low. "Just know that I was not gone of my own free will Cousin, and the moment I was able I headed home." It was his bond to his home and his bond to Eirian and Hope that had kept him alive these long years. His devotion to his country had him striving to keep his head above water. He felt her hand on his cheek and he closed his eyes savoring the contact, then as her arms wraped around his tall frame his own came around her tiny waist and he lifted her off the ground with a low chuckle. " you are not old, I was simply teasing you." He buried his head against her shoulder and neck and held her tight for a long moment before gently setting her back on her feet. Slowly he let his hold on her relax. He let his gaze devour the sight of her, ignoring the fact that the breeze had picked up again and this time it managed to knock his cowl back revealing his face to her in full, and in so doing the ugly scar on the right side of his face, that ugly ridge stood out against his tanned skin pale and menacing. But for the moment, he didn't notice, he simply enjoyed the moment with his beloved cousin. (d)

Lady Apollius

Eirian chuckled as he picked her up off the ground. She never weighed much to any man and had become used to being hefted about at their whim. Caden was different, though. He was always gentle with her, if not bordering on reverant. When her feet touched the earth he found her hand caressing his face. No words needed to be said. Details would be filled as evidence of what the time away wrought were traced. For now it needed no telling. Scarred or no, Caden was perfect to her. "You are home, now. This is all that matters. How strange, as if to have dreamed you to life." Was she not thinking of him, worshipping his memory before this very moment? Eirian threaded her fingers through his own, gently teasing "I see your fondness for exotic creatures still remains. Whom is this one? It isn't Ana." (d)

Sir Robertson

For a single moment he had to resist the urge to jerk his face from her grasp to pull that cowl up to hide the evidince of his failure to protect not only himself but his young wife as well. For the briefest moment anger flashed in his blue eyes, not at her but himself. His hands curled into fists for just a moment as he fought for control. When the trembling in his limbs stopped he turned his head and softly kissed her fingertips letting her know without words that his upset had nothing to do with her or her touch. Her words made him smile and he whispered. " I had been thinking of you as well and like a ghost from my memories suddenly you were there. " He lifted his hand and brushed a dark strand of hair from her face then curled his fingers with hers, his hand dwarfing hers by quite a bit. At the mention of Anna his face became sad for a moment. "No ye are right. That is Tavish, Anna's son. Born just a few months before her death." At the finish of those words he turned and slowly started walking, knowing she would follow him. As if he had kn own they were talking about him the huge feline would bound towards them stopping just short of bowling them over and began to sniff around the two of them as they walked familliarizing himself with this new strange female.(d)

[Lady Eirian Gwenyth Apollius]

Part II - You and I

Lady Apollius


Eirian couldn't help but to trace the new aspect of him; the wicked scar hooked under her finger now that it had fished for his flesh. What else had it pulled from the inside of him? When last he was heard from, he was making his way in the world a man with a wife to care for. A name. When he flinched a fire sparked sensation; a prickling burn made her fingers recoil before he soothed them with a little kiss. "My poor, poor cousin," she muttered soft and low, "My poor, sweet Caden." The man before her was jaded. The fire under his skin was pain induced and by another's hand formed ,forced to live on in memory. He kissed her fingertips, she smiled. Why didn't she run from the tiger? It was one of the many oddities of valley life not given entirely to pastures of sheep or cattle. Strange people called it home: she rode on the back of elephants to festivals and had a white tiger reside under her feet. Now, Tavish was studied with the same blue eyes that observed all of the world. While they walked she looked down to him, offering a free hand to give scent. What would be smelled? The faint remnants of paints or ink, the ever present scent of water, wildflowers, and earth? It would be for Caden to tell her the story for her mind to wrap around, some things were sacred. Some things were not to be deduced, though of all people he knew that she could. So markedly different he was: gone was the golden hair, the lad still mingled with the new man, the pale skin. What remained constant were his eyes. (d)


Sir Robertson

He watched as Tavish carefully sniffed her offered hand taking in her scent and decideing wheather or not this woman was friend or foe. His low rumbling purr filled the air as he decided she was well enough and he pushed his head into her hand in greeting and acceptance. he turned then and bound off leaving them a trail of paw prints to follow. For a long time they walked in silence. The breeze rustled close cropped hair, dark as the night, no longer the golden blonde. The moon reflected off sun darkened skin that had once been pale. For a moment he just reveled in the presence of his long missed cousin. Her earlier words echoing in his brain. "Poor poor cousin, my poor Caden." he flinched inwardly then took a deep breath asking low. "How is little Hope? not so little now I would guess, " His voice was filled with fondness at the mention of the remembered child. His gaze left the horizon before them and dropped to hers as he waited for her answer. (d)





Lady Apollius

She trailed her fingers how through soft fur. It felt like Ana's, the same texture, the same gloss was how one could know this was the progency of the same. As the tiger bounded off to be one with sand and winter moon, Eirian stayed by Caden's side. She wound her arms around one of his as they walked, as if to guard him from a cold worse than what a winter sea could stir. "Still a child, though no more a babe. It seems as only yesterday that she was but a thought, growing within me. Now she is six years of age about, all limbs and energy. She is the country's child, she is a child born of wayfaring blood, and raised wity a wayfarer for a father. Her hair is dark as a raven's wing, her eyes like light earth save for the touch of blue star like bursts in the middle to match my own, she looks as her blood father with the slant of eyes, yet favors much of myself. She has a little brother now named Luke, my son with Apollo. He is nearly three. My angels, both. She is very clever,your little cousin, very skilled. Both children are already very attuned to languages. Hope speaks and understands Welsh, her father's distant Chinese to some degree, and the language of Avarian Rangers besides English. You would laugh to hear how she prays, very earnest, and very wistful. She has been my delight, they both have." (d)




Sir Robertson

He was rather surprised to hear that his cousin had born a second child, for some reason he had not felt she would have another but alas she now had a small son as well. He listened carefully to her tale of her children and grinned. " Congratulations on having borne a son. I look forward to meeting him, as well as seeing Hope again. I know she won't remember me but it is enough that I remember her. " He smiled again this time warmer , the action softening the harsher lines of his still handsome face despite the scars and lines the past years had left behind. Not just physical scars either, but emotional ones as well. He was now constantly at war with himself, two sides of a whole fighting to come together in harmony to create the man he was supposed to be, the man life had shaped him out to be. A sword he carried at his side though he did not touch it with the same pride he once had. No he rarely touched it at all, and when he did it was out of necessity. if he could avoid it's use he would. He walked silently for a while just letting the night wash over them watching Tavish as he ran and played with the waves as they crashed at his feet. "The King and Queen. Do they still fare well?" Each spoken word came with a lilting voice with the hint of his Scottish brogue but rarely did it show in his actual speech, his native tongue nearly beaten out of him, save for a slight accent noted here and again. (d)



Lady Apollius

"Beathag and Adam fare well, and as you have heard they are indeed the King and Queen, so coronated, so as set forth by the Bruce himself, and approved by his Holiness, ratified by the people. King and Queen of Scotland and England, Protector of Ireland, Wales and Mann by the Grace of God. Lord and Lady of the Isles. King and Queen of Skye." A lofty list of titles hadn't changed the heart o'ermuch. "Adam is a just, wise King and his wife is a patient and intelligent Queen. The world all fought it, including them, but we were happy to see the day at last pass, all that had been bled for..all wrong, vindicated. An unsure future, but it has been since the spring of the year their crowning, and the Griffin Reign is a good one. They are privy of many children born of the Queen, her majesty has given birth to three daughters and a son, of which the son was born with a sister, for twins. " She frowned, knitting her brow together with a few worry lines only come when the expression itself was there. Had he indeed missed so much? The birth of the royal family members, the way all went on. People who had come he hadn't known, people who left that he cherished. It dawned on her just how long he was gone. Eirian knew better than to say it aloud. The pain no doubt was as obvious as his scar. (d)




Sir Robertson

"It has been a good life for them then. Rough yes, I heard about the wars a bit, during times at port. Though the further we traveled from home the less I heard. I am pleased tae hear that their family has grown, they must be very proud." He smiled now, the most he had smiled in years really. He came to a stop to stare out at the ocean. His hand coming to rest on hers as it hooked to his arm. her fingers he caressed with roughened pads. Quietly he said. "Sienna, my wife, was lost, she and the babe she newly carried, their lives taken....... " His words confirming what had been long suspected, though most had thought Caden himself dead as well. His fingers tightened on her hand as he spoke unwilling to tell her of his failings, unwilling to see the disapointment in her eyes. Deep down a part of him knew that would not happen, but the greater part of him, the part of him that he had held to for so long feared it, hated the thought of it. It did not matter that in all truth there had not been a thing that even a grown man with years of experience could have done to save Sienna from her grisly fate. And so that failure rested deep in his soul, weighed his shoulders down in a way that had him standing with almost a curve to them as if something heavy physically rested upon them. He cleared his throat and suddenly changed the subject. "The Robertson Clan. How did it fare after I ..... I heard that Iain assumed Chieftian." (d)




Lady Apollius


"Nothing that is prized comes easy to the likes of them," or to anyone. Not to any of the island, a life fabled to be charmed came after the uncharming lots had passed away to be smiled on with the knowledge strength carried them all over. Was it doing so for him now, the thing he was still in the middle of? When he smiled she saw the years turn back to reveal the lad inside of the man that never would change. How deep did he have to go to dig it out? As quickly as it rose the smile died under the weight of grief striken words. "My prayers to their eternal peace will go.." A thing of action instead of meager condolenses, for that would never bring them back. The life he was supposed to have ripped from his fingers. It was sad. She crossed herself with her right hand in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. No one had ever stopped to think of the Robertson men pitted against one another, each promised to something, each an emblem. No one stopped to consider what each had one or lost, how each vanished in some way, large or small. Eirian couldn't help but to do so being the middle of the island as she was, with McGregor to the South of her, Robertson to the North of her, Campbell to the West, and McSween intermixed therein. The Valley had been privy to all the joy and all the rage of clan life by being the center of where each passed on the way to deal with the other. "By the King's favor, yes. There was a war this passed spring and summer twixt McGregor and Robertson, it even involved McDonalds and McSweens, and your wife's family, the Argylls. There are many things that came to light, many secrets, many wrongs that were righted almost with the loss of life by those who led parties declared as treasonists, but all were pardoned in the end. Robertson now fares far better than it has in a great while, though the old Chieftain is said to be in hiding with Iain's first wife, it is in them so much trial and heartache came to be, with another, from the McGregor. It will take me many hours over many days to relay it to you all, but I will, as with anything else your heart so desires as my mind and spirit both, my heart in tow, are all at your service Caden. I will say that the Lady of the McGregors and your cousin were in love with one another for many a year, and it is over this that much of the warring began in the first place, though the Mcdonalds thought to take advantage, take away the McGregor to get back the lands in Sleat the King had given McGregors for their service. The true seat of the McDonalds now rests on Raasay, and its islands surrounding, where those that served the crown's cause went to be seperated from those who would have it none. Such is the way of Celtic life. Find but one clan, Scottish, Irish, or Welsh that has grown tired of warring with another and it shall be the Judgement day when all men are on their knees, too busy to fight for prayer." She jested. How far they would walk or for how long wasn't really a question nor a concern. (d)




Sir Robertson

Caden listened intently to her tale, Quietly took it all in. In a way he was greatful that the Clan had gone to Iain. He had not seemed so bad the few times he had met him, and Caden truly hadn't wanted to become the Chieftain. Would have never even considered the idea if not for his scheming Grandfather. He was happier with his sword and his books. Or he had been once upon a time. Now his happiest moment in years was this moment listening to his cousin's tales of home, feeling the breeze off the sea and listening to the quiet of the waves rather then the loud snores of men, the whimpers of scared children and the wails and cries of women roughly used in the late of night. His soul was slightly soothed by this moment, even as they spoke of wars between clans. For a moment he wondered of his wife's family but then shrugged it off, her father and brothers were not his concern, he cared little for them as they had not treated Sienna well in the least. As his thoughts wandered for a moment he turnedthem back into the direction they had come asking in a slightly lighter tone. " How does your husband fare? Well I hope. I think I met him but once. I liked him well what I met of him. He is a good father yes?" His questions coming now almost in a rush, that boyish demeanor sneaking out without him knowing, once more eager for knowledge, thirsting to know things. He was not even aware that his expression had changed lighting his eyes and gentling the planes of his face. (d)




Lady Apollius

Questions wanted answeres; it was a childish quality to ask a variety of questions all in a single rush with expectation the wiser, older person could answer all of them with that same rush for the sake of knowledge. It was a trait she never discouraged. He had sought her out to be educated, and Eirian always felt she won the greater of the bargain. The stiff arm seemed to go lax as if it would almost start to swing! He had not only been her student, but he had guarded her and thus Hope all the time he was with her, even to the day of her birth, even to the months beyond. She mentioned but a little how the Argylls had been dealt a harsh hand, for some believing that the Argyll cheiftain had chosen wrong. While he no longer lived, his brother Raibert was no longer allowed to be Tanist for awhile, though he had naught to do with the choosing of matches. This tumbled them down a slippery slope in to being subservient to the Robertsons for years while none were the wiser, even in so far as to having the Tanists daughter no more than a servant for the old Robertson Chieftain. Fate was rectified though, the family vindicated, lands restored, and Raibert was a fine Chieftain. They said even with his hair all gray he was twenty years younger by merely seeing his children unshackled from the wrong bondage of others. His daughter Qynn and all of his sons were his pride, and they lived in Eliean Donan, a castle in the center of a loch. Other things, idle tellings came from her as well as to how the valley had grown in places or decreased in others, of how the General was still her nearest neighbor and how the Lord Guardian Kendrew lived now on the end of the valley in Drynoch with his wife Liliana, his sister, mother, and his children. As time went by to Talion she would return "He is a good husband, a good father, he has never been anything but a good father. He had loved hope since he learned she would be born, truly she is his daughter though she knows she has two fathers, one of blood, and Talion. This is why Hope carries his last name. She loves him madly, and her brother too. We have had our hard times Talion and I but we have endured them, come through better. In the Autumn we were privy to such times and what he bore witness too made him turn to God. I have never had a Christian for a husband," she jested "but it is not a terrible fate, for I am a Christian woman. There is more harmony, peace in his heart for allowing such a turn. He is well, he shows not his age in action though he is well over fifty now. I love him very much, so do our people." She laughed softly at his enthusiasm before watching the tide roll forward to a little pool of stone. "He will soon away for a time, I have grown used to his absence yet find I will wait for him always." (d)




Sir Robertson

When the pub came into view he stopped. He turned to her and kissed her forehead gently. " I am very pleased to know he makes you happy Cousin. Ye deserve to be happy." He gave her a rueful smile and brushed few strands of hair from her face. " I have missed you cousin, more then any will ever know. you and little Hope both." He rubbed her arms gently with his callused hands. "I would like to see Hope, and meet your son, Luke. Perhaps come home to the Valley again as I had been once before." he paused, speaking almost to himself more then to her. " I will have to see the King and Queen first, tell them my Oath is still good to them." He looked away then off into the distance, his jaw hardening as he thought of perhaps having to serve as a Knight again. It was no longer his dream. He had seen more of death and fighting, sensless fighting with no purpose, deaths that came with no reason other then at the amusement of some Lord or Slaver. Even his country could not inspire him with the wish to be amongst those who fought for it's glory any longer. If he had his way he would put his sword away and never touch it again. but he knew he never would. As long as there was a need to protect, he would be there to do the protecting. He glanced back at her meeting her gaze with his own. Those blue eyes tormented with his past, with his decisions deep inside that he knew he would have to deal with, but not right now, right now in this moment, that could wait.(d)




Lady Apollius

Eirian could see the turmoil that changed his face at the mention of enlisting again, of offering his sword .To see such pain at the mention of it made her heart break. It was all Caden had wanted, all he had dreamed of! He broke his back to achieve the honor only to have it ripped away while he was still so young in her opinion, to have what was honorable tarnished. Violence for the sake of violence though was a heavy thing, years of it had marred Talion more than most could ever understand, but he had kept going for so many years before retiring as it was all he knew, and there always seemed something or someone to fight for. "You, too, deserve your happiness. It is a new place again for you..with time you will find that." She took hi shand to kiss the palm of it. "We are for the winter here in the city, it has been long since we have spent time near the court, years in fact. I am a terrible hermit. Stay with us, either in the guild halls or our suites within the castle, we lack no room. We will go home together when it is time, when we look upon the land to see how things fare before returning to the capital. Make you no decision now. They will be pleased merely to see that you live, you needn't do anything right now..Caden. Nothing that your heart speaks not of to you." She rubbed her hand across his back, leading him to a place to sit along the shore not far from the view of the pub."Your place now..if anything, is with your family..is to heal. You need to guard your own heart more so than anything else." (d)




Sir Robertson

His hand curled against her cheek as she kissed his palm. Her words were soothing. the tension that had started to form relaxed a little. As they sat he let her lean against his sturdy frame, hard and muscular from years of hard work, work that even his military training had not prepared him for. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders letting her huddle under his cloak warmed by his body. "I will come stay with you if you wish it Cousin. I have no where else to go. I have no where else I would rather be. I will have to gather my things from the pub first. Just a bag is all." His voice lightened some, pleased with the thought of being so close to his family again. As they sat there Tavish came out of the shadows carrying a large bird between his jaws. he plopped down in the sand at their feet and began to pull the dead animal apart with sharp teeth and powerful jaws. (d)

[Caden J. Robertson]

Continued in the Streets of the Capital City..........