The Titans were standing in the throne room of the Blue Palace, slightly uncomfortable with the ceremony held in their honor, while the High Queen Elisif spoke.
"Young heroes, you have traveled from far away lands to aid us in our time of desperate need. You have placed your lives and souls in jeopardy in order to save our realm and countless lives. There are no words nor gifts that could express our gratitude. But this does not mean that we will let you leave our world without some token of recognition for your acts. Therefore, please step forward as we call your names and receive the rewards that we have prepared for you. Archmage Othrelas, if you will?"
Darys stepped forward and said "The gifts are somewhat of a personal nature, so I will give them separately to each one of you. Robin, please step forward."
Robin approached Darys, who spoke. "Your courage, determination and leadership have been decisive in the battle. Therefore I present to you –" he held forward a scabbarded sword with a single-edged, slightly curved blade, similar to a katana – "a sword made from the finest ebony mined under Red Mountain and crafted by Eorlund Gray-Mane himself. It will cut through stone and steel as if they are paper, and it will even defeat Dwemer alloy and Orichalcum. Its enchantment will dismay your enemies and kindle courage in your friends. Use it wisely and it will see you through many more victories."
Robin took the sword, overwhelmed. He stammered a thanks, bowed and returned to his friends.
"Beast Boy. Lord of Animals, Visage of Dragons, please approach." Beast Boy blushed at the epithets and stepped forward.
"There is little that I could gift you, for you have shown us not only your strength and power, but also your courage and wisdom. Whatever gift I thought of bestowing to you was far from satisfactory, until I remembered this. This is the Ring of Hircine, the Lord of the Hunt. I have studied the effect it would have on you. It will give you the power of another animal when you transform. You may have the strength of a bear in the swift form of a deer, or the cunning of the fox in the form of a wolf. May it serve you well."
Beast Boy took the ring, bowed clumsily and walked back. Lucia took his arm and whispered in his ear. He blushed again.
"Knight Cyborg, the Steel Fist, Lord of Battle. Please approach and receive your reward."
Cyborg walked over to Darys, who smiled and offered him a bracelet large enough to be placed around Cyborg's metallic arm.
"I have enchanted this bracelet myself, with guidance from Paarthunax. It will add the power of the Voice to the bolts that you unleash, increasing their power tremendously. May your enemies tremble and fall when they feel its thunder!"
Cyborg nodded his head in gratitude, then strode back to stand beside Sophie. Darys looked at them and smiled knowingly. He then got serious again and continued.
"Starfire, Mistress of the Sky, Dragonslayer! Please step forward!"
Blushing, Starfire flitted towards Darys. "The Bards are already singing of your strength, bravery and beauty across the realm. Yet you have another power, one that may be hidden from a casual observer, but which is probably the strongest and most important talent that you have." He gave her a golden circlet with a perfect emerald set into its center, saying "Wear this and neither you nor your friends shall know despair nor anguish, but share among all the happiness and joy of your existence. It is possibly the greatest gift that you carry within yourself."
Starfire lowered her eyes, blushing furiously, then curtsied prettily and flitted back to stand beside Robin, taking his hand.
Darys cleared his throat. "Last I may call you, but foremost you are in our hearts and minds, sorceress Raven. Please come forth."
Raven approached, pulling down her hood. Darys smiled at her and said in a quiet voice, so that only she could hear.
"I have wondered for a long time about the gift I could give you," he said, as he presented her with a silver necklace that had a beautiful, clear amethyst set in it. The workmanship was exquisite, the jewel perfect. As Raven accepted the necklace, she could feel the mystical energy in it.
"The necklace was also made by Eorlund himself, and the enchantment on it is mine. It will allow you to release your hold on your emotions while you wear it, guarding you from the effects they have on you and those around you."
"Thank you", Raven said in a hoarse whisper, nodding her head and returning to her friends.
"And now," Darys said, "let us celebrate!"
The celebration in the courtyard of Castle Dour lasted the entire afternoon and night, and it continued well into the next day. An endless supply of food and drink of all kinds constantly came and went. The Bards from the College took turns singing a mix of old epics and new creations that evoked the events in the battle. Jugglers and illusionists awed the spectators. Dancing and music brought out everyone's good cheer, and even the inevitable drunken brawls were conducted and tolerated in a general spirit of light-heartedness. There seemed to be no end in sight, and even die-hard party animals like Cyborg and Beast Boy were starting to get exhausted with the endless revelry.
Darys moved gracefully through the crowd, making sure that his guests were never lacking of food, drink or entertainment. He noticed Robin and Starfire sitting together, a frown on Robin's face, while Starfire was watching in fascination at a literal parade of young, strong warriors trying to catch her attention, showing off and flexing their muscles. Darys approached the couple, smiling, and whispered something in Robin's ear. Robin looked up at Darys, still frowning. Darys winked at him. Robin hesitantly placed his hand over Starfire's, causing her to turn and look into his eyes with a strange smile on her face. The young warriors vying for her attention melted back into the crowd, looking for other opportunities.
Cyborg was sitting in the midst of the Companions, laughing and exchanging with them tall stories about prowess both in combat and at the dining table. Sophie was sitting beside him, gazing at Cyborg with an inscrutable expression in her green eyes. Darys smiled and left them to their enjoyment.
He then sauntered off to where the Bards of the College sat in a circle around Beast Boy. Lucia, sitting beside him, noticed her father's gaze and smiled at Darys. He smiled back and gave her an imperceptible nod. She grinned at him and blew him a kiss.
Darys felt a touch on his arm. He turned to see Raven watching him with a somewhat puzzled expression.
"I thought fathers were possessive of their daughters", she said quietly, a slight smile on her face.
"None more than me", he replied, returning the smile. "But I would be a harsh father to them indeed, if I did not allow them to celebrate and live their lives fully." His smile faded. "Ours is an unforgiving land, and one never knows if the joy and happiness that one finds now will be the last one. So I let them find it, watching anxiously so that it does not turn into regret." He smiled at Raven again. "Besides, their current interests could hardly be improved upon!"
Raven sighed. "I sometimes wish –"
"I know." Darys interrupted her, taking her hand, his face serious. "But you do have a family, and you know it. Do not allow the yearning for what you lack blind you to the blessings of what you do have."
"I realize that. But it is still hard for me not to wish for it."
"It is not wrong to wish. Wishing for better things makes us stronger, as it gives us purpose and direction in life. As long as the wish does not turn into obsession, it is what gives us hope and determination to face life and its troubles. But I should not have to tell you this, you know it as well as I do."
Raven smiled. "Thank you again." She stood beside Darys for a few moments more, watching her friends enjoy themselves.
Darys looked at her. "You still have doubts." It was not a question.
She looked up at him. "Yes, but they are less personal. I was wondering if all this could happen again. I would not like to have to go through it all more than once."
Days looked into the distance. "It will not be repeated, at least not in the near future or in a similar way. Other forces have been awakened and made aware of what has happened. The Daedric Princes are always in strife with each other, and they will be watchful of each other now, so that none of them is allowed to do something like this again. Your world may have similar forces that balance each other in the background, beyond what we may know or feel. And yet it does not mean that we can afford to lower our guard, for it may fall on us again to defend that which we value most." A smile appeared on his face and he looked at her. "But if such a day comes, I can think of nobody that I would like at my side more than you and your friends."
As they gathered around the portal, they exchanged their farewells. Darys embraced them all once again and stood watching, his arms around his daughter's shoulders, as the Titans disappeared one by one through the swirling vortex.
As the last one of them stepped out of the portal and into the Main Ops Room, the portal diminished and finally vanished. The Titans, standing together, watched the spot on the floor where it stood.
Finally, with a sigh, Robin said "Well, we're home."
Thanks to all that had the patience to read this story. Please let me know if you liked it or not, and if you have any ideas or suggestions please feel free to PM me. Cheers all!
