Alanna's shout echoed throughout the halls of Pirates Swoop. "George? Thom? Aly? Alan?" Her footsteps rang through the halls filled with villagers from the nearby village gathered within he Swoop's walls for protection against the Carthaki invaders. She'd ridden home like a woman possessed after hearing the news, and even now, when she could see others alive, her heart still hammered.
She turned a corner and ran straight into a broad-shouldered figure who caught her in tight arms. She'd know that embrace if she were dead. Choking back tears, she wrapped her arms around her husband and shuddered. "When I heard an entire fleet was here..." She choked on tears and George tightened his hold on her.
"I know, lass. It's what I live with every time ye go off to battle some enemy." His lips pressed I to her hair before his hand came up to lift her head. He plundered her mouth with his, ferociously reassuring them both that each was alive.
Suddenly the air was filled with shrieks, and both Alanna and George jumped apart, ready for battle, hands on sword and knife handles. "MamaMamaMama!" Three shapes were hurtling themselves towards her and the warrior sank to her knees in relief. Her children- a copper-locked boy and two honey-blonde twins - launched themselves at her, covering her with kisses and tears and snotty noses ad she clutched them to her, kissing tousled heads and pink blotched cheeks.
"Babies, oh, sweetlings, I missed you so!" George knelt down beside the group, wrapping his long arms around his entire family- his entire world.
"MamaMama! There was a dragon and fireballs and-"
"Daine went right up to this huge beast off and-"
"Animals helped fight the bad men and the evil metal bird-things!"
Alanna laughed, looking down at each of her babes. "One at a time, please! I canna think with all of ye talkin' at once, me little ones," she said, faking an extremely accurate accent that was identical to the one her husband spoke with, lilting and all. George laughed and the children all raised eager voices, this time in single file, if hurriedly and one right after the other. Alanna laughed and hugged them closer. "What an adventure! And I didn't even get to be there for it! Next time Mama promises to be there for such a grand, exciting event," she said it jokingly, but her voice hid relieved eyes that looked promisingly at George. He closed the distance over their young ones and kissed her soundly.
"That's a promise," he whispered. The babes groaned in unison and were attacked and properly tickled by the grown-ups. Everything was well, safe and sound at Pirates Swoop once more.
A/N: That's probably it for Alanna and George! If you'd like a specific scene, feel free to request it! In the meantime, on to Daine and Numair! Thanks for reading snippets from the Lioness and the Rogue!