Kvetha Fricai!
Yes! Hello once again!

I would like to start off by saying that I am sorry this took so long to come.
I think I re-wrote this chapter at least twice. Not to mention the fact I have school 5/7 days a week. T.T

Anyway.
ONTO THE SHOW! XD

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Inheritance Cycle, they belong to CP. I do not own any characters other than those who I made.

Chapter 21 - Clearer Than Crystal

It was Tamora's remark that snapped him from his thoughts.
"Who the heck are you?

LPOV

Linah's eyes widened in shock, her eyes were still glassy from crying.
In her happiness of seeing Joshua alive and safe, she had completely forgotten about her mother who stood just a few metres from her.

Linah looked up to Joshua to see that he was doing the same weird hand sign as he had done when they first met.
"Atra esterní ono thelduin."

What surprised her more though was her mother responded!
"Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr." She smiled and turned to face Linah. "My name is Erona. I am indeed an elf but as you will notice I am fluent in English as well as the Ancient Language."

There was a long awkward silence that filled the clearing.
It was finally broken for Linah when Zadac spoke to her.
So far so good. Though if Tamora doesn't breathe soon I'm afraid she may faint.
Linah looked over at Tamora and sure enough her face was changing colours as she glared at Linah's mother who was looking intently at Joshua.

JPOV
Joshua stood there completely shocked that Erona was as she said fluent in English.
Not many elves would be – then again he had never met an actual elf besides Linah who was only half.
He just remained looking at her, taking in all the features of an elf.
The pointed ears, the sharp face and facial features.
Joshua could have looked at Linah and seen just those things but there were differences between the pair. Erona had green eyes that reminded Joshua of the forest, she was noticeably taller than normal women, her movements were swift and flowed like liquid and a subtle difference would be the way she held herself with such pride and courage.

There was a long silence when nobody spoke, Joshua and Erona simply stared at each other wondering how the other knew so much of the others language.
Twice Joshua went to say something but decided against it.
It was on the third occasion when he felt a slight nudge on his mental barrier.
Thinking it was either Linah or Zadac he opened his mind quickly only to realize it wasn't them.

You open your mind too quickly when someone pushes against your barriers.

Well I had thought it to be Linah or Zadac, I have become accustomed to only hearing their voices inside my head that I have forgotten to be careful to who I open my mind to.

About Linah... she seems attached to you, she was panicking the whole time you were gone and then when you arrived she instantly dropped her weapon and ran to you. She seemed more than happy to see you but she hasn't yet said anything about your female companion. Am I right to assume there is some jealousy between the two?

Joshua's eyes widened with shock at what Erona had implied.
How could she think that there was jealousy between Tamora and Linah?

I take it as a no. She laughed quietly inside her head before continuing. Or maybe you just don't notice it. My daughter likes you Joshua, I hope you don't break her heart.

If Joshua's eyes could become wider, they had!
I don't like her in that way, and she doesn't like me that way either, it's more of a family-type like. Hang on a second... did you say d-da-daughter?! Linah is your... You are... she... you...

Erona's laugh echoed in their minds as they continued to stare at her.
Hmm... It seems I forgot that bit in my little introduction. No matter, you know now. Yes, she is my daughter although I think it best if you get Linah to tell you the story because I have already had to tell it twice today and it is a long story.
And you better hope that you are correct in that she only likes you as a brotherly figure. Not that you aren't a good boy, just she's too young.
Erona smiled slightly.

Her smile didn't remain however because no sooner had she smiled did Tamora interrupt again.
"Am I missing out on something here? Josh and this Aroma haven't looked away from each other in five minutes and Linah is smirking every few seconds!"

Linah snickered causing both Joshua and Erona to turn to her simultaneously only to see her holding her mouth shut with both her hands.
"Sorry Tamora." Joshua started to apologize but was cut off by another giggle from Linah. "We were just discussing the situation. We can talk over something to eat because I am starved!"

LPOV
As the day dragged on – possibly the longest Linah had ever had to go through – the talking that had began as Linah explaining how she met her mother, it had changed to Joshua and Tamora telling the others about their trip into the city and was now just idle chatter.

But unknown to the others, Linah was having a silent argument between herself and Zadac.
Just ask her, child. You have just met her; she will be expecting torrents of endless questions. And I would say there is a fair chance that she already has the answers to most of the questions you want to ask.

I'm not asking while the others are here... I'm only okay with you being involved because I can't really block you out like I can with Joshua and Tamora.
Besides, I have already asked a few questions; she's my mother who hasn't ever had a chance to talk to me so I think it only fair that she should get a chance to ask her questions.

Zadac rolled his big silvery eye as he moved his head closer to Linah's leg.
Well one of you needs to start the conversation. And I doubt your mother will be the one who starts it seeing as she hasn't said a word since she introduced herself.

Fine... after I stop eating.
To make her point she took another huge chunk out of her meat so that her mouth was almost too full to close.

* * *

Linah. Just go and talk to her. What are you afraid of?
Zadac's thoughts were once again filling her head.
It was now dark out and well after Linah had stopped eating but she still hadn't spoken to her mother – nor had her mother spoken to her.

Erona sat by herself near the fire they had made not long before Joshua and Tamora had disappeared into the darkness – Linah didn't even want to fathom what it was they could be doing, so she kept telling herself that they were just scouting for food like berries.

Surely there is no reason for you to ask me that, you could easily see what it is I am afraid of.

I can... You are afraid of being caught, falling off me when we are flying, losing me, losing Joshua, bats and what will be waiting for us when we reach our destination. Well at least that's what I know you are afraid of because you were just thinking them.

I'm afraid that she will disappear. I just got her back, I'm scared that I will become attached to her like I am to you and Joshua and that I will wake up one day and she will be gone.
I'm scared to get close to her because there is a serious possibility she will just up and leave. I wouldn't be the same ever again.

Zadac pulled Linah closer to him by extending his wing around her and bringing it back so that he was, in a way, hugging her.
Better to get to know her and miss her if she leaves than to be upset if she leaves because you never tried talking to her.

* * *

Deep breaths...
In.
Out.
In.
Out.

Stop freaking out, child! Relax. She is your mother not a vicious three headed dog.

Linah nodded slightly and stood up crossing the distance between her and her mother in a few strides.
She hadn't anticipated her throat becoming the Hadarac Desert and for her mind to be absolutely blank.
"Uh." Linah managed to croak out as she took a seat next to her mother.

Erona turned her head to look directly at Linah.
Both their faces were half covered by the darkness but on the side that was illuminated by the crackling flames were two different eyes set in the same shape face.
To the right was the woman with forest green eyes that glimmered in the light.
And the person to the left had the clearest crystal blue eyes that had ever been seen on a human girl.
Only one other person had those eyes, and he was more than likely sitting at home, in the chair by the fire becoming drowsier by the second.

It seemed as though hours had passed before Erona spoke at last.
"I was the one who told your father to find someone else you know." Neither Linah nor Erona dare look away from each other now that the conversation had started. "He deserved someone who would love him as much as he had loved me."

"Did you love him?" Linah asked before she could stop herself.

"Did... still do." Erona smiled but the sadness was there in those green eyes clearer than crystal.

Ah love... it hold the pack together. :P

And on the note of love, I would like to say that I love each and every reviewer of this story more than I love reviews!
And that's saying something. :P

So as always, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and HOPEFULLY I will be able to update soon.
Even if it means my art assignment still remains undone! :P

Random Song:
What's My Age Again? - Blink 182

And as always,
Sé onr sverdar sitja hvass!