[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.

Comments

[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.)

[tiltingwithlips]

Still grinning, Kate lets go of his hand, but only to put her arm around his waist.

Finally, finally, she feels easy. It has been a very long time in coming.

[valiantrebel]

Harry turns to face her, and cups her cheek with one hand.

"We stink of the road," he begins, some measure of wry and apologetic.

Yet if she does not mind...

[tiltingwithlips]

"Aye?" she says with a laugh. "And dogs, too, but that I am accustomed to."

[valiantrebel]

"Oh, we must come to expect better," he chuckles, and leans in to kiss her.

[tiltingwithlips]

Never in his life, she'll warrant.

But she wouldn't have him any other way.

She cups the back of his head and kisses back, very thorough.

[valiantrebel]

Another Percy has joined them.

Lady Margaret Percy stands some few paces off, clutching a set of letters in one hand. She watches them with an expression full of thunder and heartbreak. When Harry and Kate pull apart, she does not speak nor move until she is noticed.

Harry starts toward her. "My good mother--"

"Alive these several months and not a word!" she booms.

[tiltingwithlips]

Kate winces.

"Mother, we cry your pardon." She's only a step behind Harry. "If we had but been able--"

[valiantrebel]

"Your rebellion failed, and what of it! The wastrel son is now our king, or so he writes me! And where is your father, fled to Scotland with his shame and grief?" She turns to Kate, eyes blazing. "I sent letters to your brother, begging him for word of you! If my son was lost to the battle, could not my daughter have been spared? Yet I heard nothing, and kept this cold house for no one but the old!"

[tiltingwithlips]

Kate looks to Harry, visibly distressed, and reaches to touch Lady Percy's shoulder.

"Mother -- my lady -- what may we say? After Shrewsbury, there was so much demanded of us, such as you could not imagine -- our silence may not be excused, I know, but pray let it be forgiven."

[valiantrebel]

"She speaks rightly. But, Mother, what we have accomplished still--"

Lady Percy reaches for Kate's elbow, and meets her look, eyes brimming. She can bear it no longer, though, and throws her arms around her son's neck.

"Oh my Harry," she whispers. "You were gone and dead in every other corner of the world."

He sets his chin on her shoulder, and wraps both arms about her tight. "We are both of us hale and well," he says softly. "And talked of little else but the day of our return."

[tiltingwithlips]

Kate swallows, rubbing Lady Percy's back.

"Even so, mother, even so."

[valiantrebel]

These are her children. Lady Percy is not too proud to sob quietly for their sake. The winter has been very long.

She lets go of Harry and immediately envelops Kate in a hug. "How glad, how glad I am that you are not lost."

[tiltingwithlips]

That gets a shaky laugh, as Kate embraces her tightly.

"As are we, mother, as are we. Is all well here?"

[valiantrebel]

Lady Percy laughs, once and somewhat bitterly. "You are just returned. Come, let's to a smaller room. I'll have some wine drawn up, and we may speak together."

Harry knows of old that this tone brooks no argument -- so, road-weary as he and Kate might be, he dips his head. "We'll after thee, in all gladness."

Lady Percy is composed again: there'll be no more tears, though perhaps a few smiles.

[tiltingwithlips]

"I doubt not there is much to tell on both sides."

She reaches for Harry's hand again and gives him a worried look. But how much to tell her?

[valiantrebel]

His mouth flattens.

She must find out sometime or other, not least when they finally have a child. But if she does not ask directly...

Yet this is his mother. She will ask directly.

Harry takes Kate's hand, and circles her waist with the other. "What letters are those you bear?"

Lady Percy shoots him a canny look. "Thou know'st, I'm sure. What hast thou done, to earn such far-reaching and pedigreed pardons for us?"