Title: The Scars of Your Love [2/3]
Author: synergyfox
Pairing: Cara/Dahlia... I suppose it would also be considered unrequited Cara/Kahlan but still like acknowledged?
Rating: M
Warnings: Angst, crack, grandma!Shota... wait whut? Oh and edits are slowly being made - my eyes are droopy however.
Word Count: 2,895
Disclaimer: Trust me, it's a good thing I don't own LotS because there would be a lot more nekkid and Mord'Sith.
Summary: A chance to right past wrongs.
This would be the... sequel to
Crimson Regret.
So like, throughout all of this
thedawn has been constantly attempting to keep me from distraction (an impossible task but a valiant attempt, I must admit) - and dragging me from the pits of writer's block (it's been a long process - writing this fic) massive props to that woman.
evanevieveblack has also been helping me out a lot too... a number of these ideas were hers. And of course... to the lovely and most talented
jolo_65 because she is always awesome and hopefully is enjoying her vacation in Hawaii. She will have many-a-fic to return to.
Part: |
1 | 2 |
VII.
“You hit him?”
A nod.
“In the face?”
Another nod.
“With a shovel?”
Sam sniffed, nodding his head with slumped shoulders and eyes glued to the ground, attempting to avoid his mother’s cool, green gaze at all costs.
“Why?”
His shoulders moved up and down in a shrug, bottom lip jutting out, tears threatening to fall. He had disappointed his mother and he knew it; she asked him to watch over his sister and not get in trouble at the school house. Yet here he was, bashing another boy’s face in with the not-so-blunt end of a shovel.
The arm wrapping around his shoulder was unexpected and he chanced a glance up at his mother. She didn’t seem mad.
But it was his mother and she hid her emotions well.
“Why did you hit the Harris boy in the face with a shovel? You could have killed him. I taught you how to incapacitate without killing.”
He took a breath, this was his chance - it was not or never, maybe his mother would understand.
“He was hurting his sister. He slapped her and I told him to stop and he just laughed and pushed her into the ground and she started crying…”
Kahlan was perched on the other side of the room, studying the mother and child - watching the barely noticeable flutter of emotions cross Cara’s features as she listened to Sam. “Katie Harris? The little redheaded girl?”
Sam nodded quietly, lowering his eyes once more as he tried to find the words. “He said his sister would grow up to be a whore like his mother and you and Aunt Dahlia. So I hit him.”
“And nearly cleaved his face in two, you were lucky the Healer was in town.”
“But he called her a whore! And you and Aunt Dahlia too!”
Kahlan cocked her head to the side - he did have a point, if anyone had called Cara a whore in her presence she would have confessed them on the spot.
Her stomach churned.
Or at least she wished she would have when Richard spat it in Cara’s face after the public whipping.
Her attention was pulled back to Cara and Sam as the blonde woman pulled the nine-year-old boy onto her lap, brushing her fingers through his short, unruly, dark locks. “I know it felt like a good decision at the time, but you must think before you act.”
Sam scowled and crossed his arms over his chest, shaking his head in protest. “He insulted you and Aunt Dahlia and Katie… I had to defend your honor. It was the thing to do as the man of this house!”
Kahlan’s lips twitched upwards at the adorableness of her son, he was the man of the house… the nine-year-old, little-man.
“Yes… you are the man of the house. Hit him with the blunt side of the shovel next time.”
He looked up again with a small grin this time, “next time?”
“Nobody insults our family.” Cara muttered and planted a kiss on top of Sam’s head, jaw clenching in anger. “And I am going to have a few words with that boy’s father. If you see the Harris boy hurt his sister again, don’t worry about a shovel, you break his face with your fist. I’ll worry about the mess.”
VIII.
“Bring him back.”
Kahlan looked down, hand flying to her mouth when she saw Sam kneeling over one of the wolves, tears streaming down his cheeks. Sonia was curled up next to him, arms wrapped around the neck of her own canine, nose buried in the animal’s fur.
“You have to bring him back Sam, you have to.”
The boy frowned, at a loss as to what to do.
Kahlan dropped into a crouch next to them, gently touching the barely there barrier - heart shattering at the desperation in the boy’s face. “I don’t know how…” He whimpered, tearing up.
“He can’t be dead, Sam.” Sonia cried, voiced muffled against the fur of her own dog - Snowball if she recalled correctly.
Sam took a calming breath and licked his lower lip with the tip of his tongue, a habit obviously picked up from his mother. He closed his eyes and moved his the dead beast around, “maybe it’ll work… mother did it that one time when one of the Guard died.”
Kahlan sucked in a breath as Sam took a deep breath, leaning down to do something she truly never expected. It was an awkward position with Sam so close to the dog’s mouth, but the golden wisp of light that escaped his lips as he exhaled had her sole attention.
Blood pounded in her ears and a smile broke out on her face as the canine took a breath, eyes fluttering open. Sam cried out joyfully and threw his arms around the beast’s neck, tears soaking its fur, “Cinnamon!”
Sonia and Snowball moved closer to the other two, the paler dog pushing its nose against the previously deceased one’s and licking Cinnamon’s muzzle.
Hours seemed to pass as the two siblings curled up against each other, their two four-legged friends taking up residence on their laps. “We need to get home…” Sonia whispered, brushing her fingers slowly through Cinnamon’s fur and scratching behind his ears. “Mom and Aunt Dahlia are going to be worried.”
Sam nodded quietly, hands buried in his best friend’s fur.
IX.
Cara’s brows furrowed as she leaned back into the bedding, Dahlia straddling her hips with a pout on her lips, “you want to give them what?”
“Puppies. Children love puppies.” Dahlia dropped forward, bracing herself with her hands on either side of Cara’s head - trapping her.
“Dogs. Loud, smelly, obnoxious dogs that defecate everywhere? They aren’t even practical.”
Dahlia leaned down further, brushing her lips against Cara’s with a smirk. “Of course they are, they can be trained to hunt and attack on command. They are extremely practical.”
Cara closed her eyes, exhaling slowly as she drummed her fingertips slowly against Dahlia’s hips. “Very well, we can get them puppies.”
"Good, because they're outside already." Dahlia grinned, leaning down to press her lips against Cara’s.
Cara's eyes narrowed to slits and she quickly brought her hand against Dahlia's backside, "what if I had said no?"
Dahlia smirked and nipped teasingly at Cara’s throat, dipping her head to whisper haughtily, “as if you could ever resist me. Especially when I do this.” The taller woman trailed a hand slowly down Cara’s side before pushing her hips forward, eliciting a small moan from both of them.
“True…”
“And you will of course be rewarded for your compliance later tonight, when the children are sleeping.” Dahlia smirked, sitting up to straddle Cara’s hips, “that much I can promise you.” She tapped the tip of Cara’s nose before hopping up and pulling the other woman to her feet. “Now come on, you’ll want to see their faces when they realize you’ve okayed the dogs.”
“They already know about the dogs? Do you think I am a pushover?”
“When it comes to your children and myself? Yes.”
Cara rolled her eyes but could not keep the grin at bay.
X.
“Stay within eyesight, you two.” Cara warned, pointing at the twins to emphasize her point before offering them both a handful of coins. Dahlia slipped her arm around Cara’s waist and kissed the side of her head, “oh save the glaring for your fellow Guard. It isn’t nearly as intimidating as it used to be.”
Cara visibly wilted as Sam and Sonia rushed off to spend their new found riches, “I’m intimidating…” Cara mumbled, jutting her lower lip out.
Dahlia’s lips twitched and she brought her free hand up, patting Cara’s abdomen lightly, “yes. You’re still incredibly intimidating.”
A scream.
Cara pulled herself from Dahlia’s arms, drawing her sword as she stepped in front of the woman protectively. Everyone’s eyes were on Sonia - her small hand gripping a young boy’s neck, eyes as black as night.
“Oh no…” Cara whispered, handing her weapons over to Dahlia and rushing into the crowd.
Kahlan watched as Cara lifted Sonia up into her arms, holding her protectively while Dahlia took the stance of protector. Sonia relaxed, the power leaving her once she released the boy’s neck, going limp in Cara’s hold.
The boy fell to his knees, looking up at Sonia with devotion in his eyes.
“Command me, Confessor.”
Whispers broke out - the only living Confessor was in Aydindril and she was a grown woman.
Cara closed her eyes - at least the boy appeared to be an orphan, he was absolutely filthy. “We need to leave…” Dahlia hissed and Cara nodded her head, looking down at the boy.
“You’re coming with us… follow Sam. It will benefit your Mistress.”
The boy nodded obediently, smiling happily at the chance to serve the child-Confessor.
XI.
“Grandma!” Dahlia lifted her eyes from the task at hand (stitching the gash on Cara’s inner thigh) as the children scrambled off of the porches.
“Ach!” Cara hissed, leg tensing as Dahlia accidentally poked her with the needle, “watch where you’re putting that.”
Dahlia’s turned slowly, glaring at her lover, “if you hadn’t gotten injured I wouldn’t have to worry about stitching your skin back together.”
Cowed, the shorter blonde offered a small smile, “sorry…”
“Just… be more careful, okay? I don’t think I can deal with you dying out there.” She made a point of tending a bit more carefully to Cara’s thigh as Shota approached with Sonia and Sam talking excitedly to her.
“And then mom came limping up the path and Aunt Dahlia was so angry the Keeper would have wet his britches!” Sam exclaimed, flailing his arms around during his explanation in attempt to get his side across with more detail.
Sonia bobbed her head up and down with a grin, “yeah! And she grabbed mom by her ear! I thought for sure mom was gonna get spanked!”
Kahlan laughed and watched as Dahlia glanced at Cara with a spark in her eye, holding a promise of punishment still to come.
Sam screwed his face up, stopping to turn and face his sister, “Aunt Dahlia can’t spank mom because mom is way too awesome to get spanked!”
Cara waved her hand, stretching carefully while Dahlia set to tying the stitching off, “don’t give your Aunt ideas. She’s scary when she’s determined.” The former Mord’Sith let out a low huff, jutting her bottom lip out, “you aren’t actually going to spank me are you?”
“Well it might get the point across.” Dahlia smirked, tugging and breaking the stitch with practiced ease before patting the wound - earning a low hiss from the blonde sprawled out across her lap. “Or I could just clean the wound with a bottle of spirits.” Cara paled and Dahlia leaned over, bracing herself with her hand near Cara’s shoulder, “calm yourself. I’ll be doing nothing more than tending to your wound further. An injured Guard is a dead Guard.”
Shota waved her hand, drawing up three chairs, “I could just heal the wound.”
Dahlia smirked and flicked Cara’s thigh near the wound as she sat up, “nope. She got herself injured; she’s going to heal the normal way. Injuries teach you lessons.”
“You just want to torture me.” Cara muttered, crossing her arms over her chest to sulk.
Shota’s lips twitched upwards in amusement, “very well - the lady of the house has spoken. Now… who wants presents?”
Both children let loose squeals of delight, abandoning their chairs in favor of Shota’s lap. “Who would have thought the Witch Woman would find such pleasure in spoiling young children with gifts?” Cara teased with a grin - only to wince as soon as Dahlia smacked her thigh lightly. “Ouch! Woman!”
“Don’t goad Shota.”
A huff came in reply.
XII.
Kahlan averted her eyes from the scene in front of her - Cara was sleeping soundly on her side, burrowed deep in the heavy blankets with Dahlia spooning her from behind, holding her tight. It was winter and the home was chilled from the snowfall outside; she whipped her head around when a door creaked open.
Her lips twitched upwards in amusement as Sam and Sonia moved in as quietly as they possibly could, careful of what she assumed to be the squeaky floorboard in front of the door. Cara shifted slightly in the bed and Kahlan backed away to watch it play out, curious.
The four-year-olds whispered excitedly to each other, forgetting to keep quiet for a moment - waking the other woman in bed. Dahlia turned her head and nuzzled the back of Cara's, pulling her closer but moved no further than that. Kahlan pursed her lips when she saw a movement - Dahlia's hand slowly rising from where it had been.
They pounced.
Kahlan instinctively took a step back as not to get hit by the children even though in the back of her mind she knew she could not touch either of them. The twins scrambled over the bed and across the covers, throwing themselves over the two women in bed. "Wake up! Father Winter came!" Sam shouted and Cara let out a groan, rolling over onto her back as Dahlia whined lowly.
"You're both servants of the Keeper, I swear." Cara growled, sitting up and wrapping them both up in her arms.
Both children squirmed around, trying to escape as Dahlia yanked the covers back so the blonde could get the children under. Thankfully they were both clothed, even if their attire was only comprised of oversized shirts.
"Banes of the Underworld!" Dahlia declared and both women set to the task of tickling the now giggling children into submission.
It was adorable as they squealed and tried to get away.
"Mercy! Mercy!"
"Mercy?! I'll give you mercy!" Cara growled, leaning down to blow a raspberry on Sonia's exposed stomach.
"Mother!!!" The child screeched, giggling more and renewing her effort to get away.
"Daughter!!" Cara mocked, flopping onto her side to wrap her arms tight around the young girl.
Sam let out a disgruntled shout, already wrapped up in a one-armed vice-like hug by Dahlia. Dahlia yanked the blankets back over the family to keep the chill off and they all settled down after a while.
An hour passed with a few giggles from the children as Cara and Dahlia occasionally tickled them for some attempted infraction (really they were just attempting to get the two adults out of bed). Cara let out a groan and curled in around Sonia before kissing her head and whispering so only the child could hear. "Do you think we can beat your lazy aunt and brother to the kitchen? She made sweet bread last night."
Sonia nodded with a grin plastered on her face and they both scrambled out of bed, throwing the covers back to impede the other two as much as possible.
Kahlan chuckled and followed the duo, watching as Cara lifted Sonia up onto the wooden counter and made a move towards the fresh bread. “Cara Mason, touch that and I will break every single one of your fingers.” It wasn’t so much the threat that caused Cara to retract her hand, but the tone of Dahlia’s voice.
The children burst into a fit of giggles at the sheepish look on Cara’s features.
XIII.
Something was off.
Cara was pacing back and forth in on the porch while Dahlia desperately tried to calm the shorter blonde down. “Something could have happened to her, we’re not that far from a Mord’Sith Temple! They could have taken her.”
Dahlia brought her hands up and gripped Cara’s shoulder’s tightly, forcing her to stop wearing a path in the wood, “I highly doubt any Mord’Sith took her. We checked that Temple… it’s abandoned. Calm yourself.” Cara closed her eyes and took a deep breath before nodding her head, slowly calming down. “We’ll find her. Now think.” Dahlia brought her hands up and threaded her fingers into the lengthening hair, guiding the other woman’s forehead to her own. “Where would you have gone at three years old in Spring?”
The former Mord’Sith closed her eyes again, relaxing at the close proximity to Dahlia before a brilliant smile dominated her features. “I know where she is… get Sam.” Dahlia pressed her lips tenderly to Cara’s lips before rushing into the wooden home, returning quickly with Sam in her arms.
Kahlan followed the two women closely, barely taking in her surroundings which was why she was more than a little confused when they came to a stop a clearing full of wild Spring berries. She zeroed in on the young child surrounded by dozens of Night Wisps, face and clothes stained purple from the berry extract. “Mommy! Meet my new friends!” Sonia grinned, chewing happily on a tiny fistful of berries, “they said you’re their mommy too!”
Cara blinked rapidly, mouth opening and closing in shock.
“Mommy?” Sonia asked, nibbling on another purple berry.
The woman in question stumbled forward, dropping to her knees as soon as she got near her daughter and wrapped her up tight. “Don’t you ever leave my sight again.” Cara choked, pushing her nose into Sonia’s hair - inhaling her daughter’s scent, desperately fighting the tears threatening to fall.
Wisps surrounded them, moving to part for Dahlia and Sam - taking residence in hair and behind ears.
A/N: Hopefully this wasn't too angsty.