[werewolf AU] homeward bound

[tiltingwithlips]

The coronation is done -- and quite an event that was -- and true to his word, the new king Henry, the fifth of that name, provided all that the Percys needed for their journey north. In truth, they needed little; they came from Warkworth with hardly anything in tow, and return the same way.

But they do carry with them the security of the King's pardon, intangible (and if Kate is honest with herself, still somewhat dubious. Henry is sincere in wishing them to be allies, she is certain, but his subjects may not forgive so easily).

It's a few days ride to Warkworth. Kate has spent much of it in thoughtful silence. As they ride up to the castle gate, though, she lets out an audible sigh of relief.

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[valiantrebel]

Though Harry has never been here like -- never as a wolf -- Northumberland is in him bone-deep and deeper. Even in this not-winter-not-spring season, he can smell it, what makes this place home, and his. The further north they've come, the more eager and excitable he's grown. When the castle walls came into view, it was all he could do not to race toward them, as fast his horse could go.

He beams at Kate as he pulls his horse up. "Beautiful old thing," he says, then cranes his neck up at the ramparts. "What ho! Wilt thou open, at long last?"

[tiltingwithlips]

That pulls a real, broad smile from Kate.

"Oh, it has been too long."

[valiantrebel]

"Who goes?" shouts a voice from up top, his accent even broader than Harry's.

Harry winks at Kate and grins. "Thy lord and master, villain! Wilt thou be him who keeps Harry Percy from his hearth and bed?"

A pause. "Harry Hotspur who dead at Shrewsbury is?"

He shrugs. "Well, if not for him, then open for the Lady Elizabeth, who hath ridden hard from London!"

"My lord does not call his lady wife Elizabeth!"

[tiltingwithlips]

Kate rolls her eyes. "But that is her name! Go to, sir, 'tis your lord and lady come home."

[valiantrebel]

After what is obviously frantic conferencing up above: "Cry your mercy, my lord, my lady! Phillip, get that gate open!"

The door heaves open, and the yard spreads out before them. Harry leans against the pommel of his saddle, drinking up the familiar sights. "After you, Mistress Elizabeth."

[tiltingwithlips]

Amused: "My lord."

She rides ahead of him -- and there in the courtyard are the men and women of their house, hurrying in from every corner to see if it can be true. Can Harry Percy have returned, alive? Is it really Lady Percy, come safely home?

[valiantrebel]

It's not just any stable boy who comes up to take their horses' reins, but Gilliams, the horsemaster.

"My lord," he stammers, as Harry hops off the roan. Harry pats him on the shoulder, grinning, before circling Kate's horse to offer her a hand.

"Your mother," Gilliams begins, but finds himself too overcome to continue.

[tiltingwithlips]

Kate accepts the help and dismounts, shooting a look towards Gilliams.

"Is she here?"

[valiantrebel]

Gilliams frowns, searching for words. "Quite moved by a bundle of letters that came with a royal seal."

Harry laughs. "He's kept his word, then, as you instructed."

"My lord, she's not been pleased, with the Earl fled and no word from Lady Percy nor Lord Mortimer."

[tiltingwithlips]

Kate's worried frown returns for a moment at the mention of her brother, but she schools her expression and sighs.

"I await the day we no longer must needs explain ourselves again and again," she says, giving Harry a wry look.

[valiantrebel]

He snorts. "Little enough explaining now; only bearing a well-earned tongue-lashing."

Gilliams hesitates. "Shall we send word, milord?"

"Go to, and be hasty! I'll not give my mother a minute more to summon anger o'er this."

Gilliams smiles, nodding, his eyes bright. "Right away, milord."

[tiltingwithlips]

"My lady!"

This time it's Kate's maid, Anne, rushing across the courtyard and throwing her arms around Kate. Kate laughs, startled, and hugs her back.

"We were so frightened, lady, with no word from you and the news from London -- and the old king dead--!"

"Anne, Anne, 'tis all well now!" Kate assures her, still laughing.

[valiantrebel]

"Indeed, all the world is new and well." He wags his eyebrows. "A new king may work marvels on a nation."

So might a soldier's wife, come to think of it.

[tiltingwithlips]

"Aye, well, so he may," Anne begins.

"Enough, Anne," Kate says. "No more talk of kings, for now."

[valiantrebel]

Harry opens his mouth for another quip -- but is interrupted, by an unholy baying.

The dogs have followed the rest of the castle staff outside to investigate all the commotion. Whether it's by scent or sight, they've realized who's come home, which means they're all barreling towards Harry and Kate, and Lady is two full lengths ahead of the rest.

"There's my girl!" Harry cries, and crouches down. Lady, however, skids to a stop and hangs back, uncertain. Harry smells different now. She wags her tail furiously, whimpering. It's Harry, it's definitely her Harry, but he smells like Kate.

[tiltingwithlips]

The rest of the pack follows Lady's lead, sniffing at the horses and the other servants and eyeing Harry.

Kate frowns and steps next to Harry, patting her thigh. "Come, Lady!"

[valiantrebel]

KATE. KATE KATE. Hello hello hello!

Lady pushes her head between Kate's knees and sits on her feet. Some of the other dogs jump up at her too.

Harry scoffs. "Treacherous creatures! Kate, thou hast turned all their affections, even from afar. Or I'm not forgiven yet for leaving."

He's very aware of all the servants watching.

[tiltingwithlips]

Kate crouches to take Lady's face in her hands, looking at her nose to nose.

"A long absence makes him no less thy master, Lady," she says firmly, then tousles her ears and turns her towards Harry. "Now greet him properly."

Once the wolf in charge . . .

[valiantrebel]

If the Big Lady wishes it so, then Lady herself is quivering with excitement to comply.

In the blink of eye, Harry is totally smothered -- just this side of bowled over, in fact -- by whining, licking, wagging, whimpering, clamoring wolfhound.

"There there!" He laughs and roughhouses with Lady and all other comers, and if there was any doubt that Harry Percy was home, this can only dispel it. He grins up at Kate, Lady perched squarely in his lap. "And here I had thought to smell sweeter for my mother."

[tiltingwithlips]

"She's known thee in every state there is, Harry," Kate points out dryly. "She is thy mother."

She hugs Racer and Silver, who are both insistently licking her face, and stands (at which point the dogs promptly transfer their affections to Harry, who's still at a convenient level. HI BOSS HELLO).

[valiantrebel]

OOF. Covered in dogs! Dignified triumphant homecoming: achieved.

Harry does at last shove them all off and out of the way. "Anyone else who wishes to welcome us so, let us speak after dinner." He brushes himself off and looks to Kate. "Let's inside, for God's sake."

[tiltingwithlips]

Grinning, she offers him her hand.

"And quickly, too."

[valiantrebel]

As Harry takes her hand, one of the servants raises a cheer. In between the applause, the shouting and the cries of Esperance!, Harry leans close while they walk. "Here comes the bride."

[tiltingwithlips]

She smacks him in the shoulder.

Home, sweet home.

[valiantrebel]

Home indeed! He squeezes her hand tighter as they cross the threshold into the great hall. It has been well enough managed in their absence: the place looks right, feels right, even -- smells right.

This is Kate's doing. Harry has been making a point of showing his gratitude many times over since Shrewsbury, but he's no husband at all if he does not punctuate his sentiments here.

(Unfortunately, there's no escaping the reality of his welcome from the dogs. He scrubs at his face with his palm as unobtrusively as he might, but it's really a losing battle.)