Chapter Seventy-Nine

Visions

The next day… was my birthday. I had managed not to tell Hawke and Co when my birthday was… but that all went out the window when I came downstairs that day to see Alistair on one knee with a bouquet of roses in a rainbow of colors, dressed in a tux, and the living room decorated with birthday streamers and a damn finger-food feast.

I flushed as the rest of the crew began arriving for breakfast – every Tuesday was breakfast, every other day was dinner or lunch – and I could see them all pale. I coughed, "Er… Alistair… what's all this?"

"I promised you that I would never forget your birthday like those back in your homelands did each year. It isn't a holiday here after all… well, not in Kirkwall. Leliana managed to promote it in Orlais – both Valentines' Day and White Day as you described them. Ferelden is doing that this year too since Leliana managed to slyly mention it to Eamon as a way to get me an extra day-off each year so I could spend your birthday with you. Ferelden will only be celebrating Valentines' Day though – combining White day with it like in America."

"It's your birthday?" Hawke looked mortified.

I shrugged, "I er… I'm so used to forgetting about it that it just never comes up anymore. It – as Alistair said, it was a holiday back home that celebrated love and sex; so I was forgotten while people rushed to have a romantic dinner with their significant other or something. Alex always had to work, though he never forgot – it was also our anniversary after all. I just… I guess it never crossed my mind to tell you all."

Alistair laughed, "You wouldn't have told me if I didn't gripe how unfair it was that you knew mine and I had no way to stealthily discover yours."

I glanced at the table with the finger foods and waddled over – I was sore today for no apparent reason other than 'fuck you, that's why' – and lit up when I saw Deviled Eggs and Potstickers… were those Egg Rolls? I began loading up a plate and waddled over to sit down while saying, "This is perfect… I love you Alistair."

He pouted, "I haven't even shown you the gift I got you yet…"

I coughed, "Honey – we both know that I am incredibly easy to please; you got me food – I'm happy."

Merrill frowned, "You always get us such wonderful things for our birthdays…"

I supposed I had, but I hadn't done that with any expectation; I shrugged, "Because I thought you would like those things. Fenris would be happy with an Apple – they're his favorite – but I figured that book about Shartan was better. Bela liked the Ship in a Bottle… I don't know… did I… did I get the wrong things?"

"Not at all, Kitten – I especially liked the quip about men below deck waiting to serve my every command," Isabela smiled.

Aveline sighed, "I suppose I was a bit prickly about the Shield… you were right that I could just keep Wesleys' shield mounted above my bed – less chance of it getting irreparable damaged that way…"

Anders grinned, "I actually liked the amulet you got me for my birthday."

"Feathers… you found my family signet ring. Did I want to start answering letters from the Merchants' Guild? Not really, but I am more than happy to have the ring back."

Alistair grinned, "Last month, you got me a cart full of Cheese and little figurines – I loved it. You know, I put all those figurines around the Throne Room – I figured, they were each painted with a noble crest, I may as well glue them down to mark seats. The Landsmeet 3 days later was a lot more fun – no one could help themselves from just touching them."

I laughed, "Not what I expected you to do with them, but… that's cute."

"Well, what did you expect?" Alistair asked mischievously.

"I expected you to use them to mock the nobles by playing around and making silly voices while you expressed what could have been said in Landsmeets if the nobles didn't have sticks up their arses. Like when you play with the Grey Warden Hand Puppet set I got you at the beginning of the Blight."

"Oh – I did that all of once; then the idea struck me to see what the nobles would think. Aedan recognized your handiwork and now the whole Landsmeet knows that you made them yourself. Bryland asked if he could pry his off and take it home. I politely told him that those were my birthday gift so… nope."

"What did the figurines look like?" Varric asked off-handedly.

Alistair smirked, "Soldiers with a raised sword and ready shield. The shields had the crest painted on them. Now there is a little soldier riding a griffon with the Theirin Family Crest on his shield glued to the Throne in Ferelden. I play around with it while the nobles spout boring things – I am about half-sure they've already caught on because if I start playing with it, at least one person will inject a change in topic."

Hawke laughed – and that's when Cullen entered the room and tripped, "What's all this?"

Fenris spoke, "Our mate has been hiding her birthday from us – Alistair surprised her."

Cullen… I swore I could see the gears turning and the 'loading' sigil on his forehead. I could almost hear the 'ding!' as he said, "It's what?"

"Valentines' Day – the new Chantry holiday – was started because Ara described to Leliana what her birthday was back in her homelands. Lo and behold, that was exactly what her birthday was – chocolates, roses, stuffed animals, and people being loving; Ara rarely got to celebrate her birthday because of the Holiday; but in this case, Eamon shoves me out the door so that I can celebrate the holiday with Ara, not realizing that it is the Queens' Birthday."

I blew out a puff of air, "Two years ago, Loghain gifted me the Amulet of Gwaren."

The other Templars looked awkward – except Basilio. Brienne said, "I… does the Divine know…?"

"Unless Leli told her, then no. I…"

A vision hit me – long and detailed in three sections, I came out of it with a small smile and said, "I think a trip to the Basin is in order…"

Alistair knelt beside me, "What's his name?"

"Kell Ar Colban O Red-Lion – and… oh, Alistair – it's Alex," I cried happily. Kell was my husband – reborn as an Avvar to come back to me. This was the blessing of having a 'Moon' mate; it was always someone you would have known in a former life – not that you would usually recall that.

"What about Levi?" Fenris frowned.

"Alex lived a full and happy life, Levi… lived a full and happy life too… and now, Alex has come back to me. He doesn't remember, of course, but this is my Alex. This is… this is my…"

"But he'll be at the Hold – you said Red-Lion would…" Rain said.

I nodded, "And he's grown – tomorrow, I will be making a trip to Stone-Bear Hold."

"What is his title?" Rain asked.

"Tiger – he was always more of a tiger. I… I need to go to him…"

"Well – we can't hold a candle to first love," Cullen remarked drily. I snorted, "I love you just as much as I love him; I just missed him greatly. I thought I would never see him again. I don't care that he looks a bit different that he did – I don't care that he doesn't sound the same… I get him back."

"You know he won't act entirely the same either," Rain pointed out.

"A soul is a Soul, Rain – he's still the same man… gotta ask though – what is it with me and finding the virgins? Alistair, Cullen, Alex, and even… all were virgin when I met them – Alex said it had to do with my 'charm' whatever that meant."

Alistair and Cullen both went bright red. Sebastian just laughed – he'd loosened up a lot since I'd told him he had to be Prince.

Merrill spoke, "Oh – it must be your pure aura; the Dalish have many theories about that."

Basilio snorted but didn't say anything. Probably a wise idea since everyone turned to look at him. I pursed my lips, "Do you have something to say, Knight-Templar?"

"Not at the moment."

Cullen gave him a hard look, "You are walking on very thin ice, Basilio."

"We heard the elf yelling yesterday – we all know that she liked her time as a slave," Basilio said snidely. I closed my eyes – fighting back the tears, "No – I didn't."

He rolled his eyes, "According to what you apparently like in bed, that's a lie."

I shook as I stood and said, "You know nothing about me, Basilio – you know nothing about my circumstances and what happened to me. Yes, Cullen walked in on Alistair and me playing around and thought the worst – you do see that his lip is split, right? But you don't know what put me there – you don't have the faintest idea what made me… you don't know how hard I struggle with the idea that I like it at all. You don't even know that I panic when I get off sometimes. So you know what? Go ahead – believe that I am a whore all you want; Goddess only knows that I think it too especially with how many mates I have. But you won't disrespect me in my house. Pack your things – you will be returning to the Gallows. And yeah – I already know that you plan to spread this news around to Meredith and everyone else that will listen that I am a shameful slut… so fuck you – and if you try to slander me then I will bring this matter before the Divine. I don't care what you say as long as it is the truth but the minute you make up false charges against me then I will retaliate. Sticks and Stone may break my damn bones, but words can't hurt me when they come from a man as weak and insecure as you. You think to knock me down to make yourself feel better – go ahead. Magma, see to it that he leaves without delay – I'm going back to bed."

I hated my birthday.

The amount of gifts I woke up to the next day was staggering. Apparently, Hawke went around literally shouting that Valentines' day – the new Chantry Holiday – was my birthday. Nobles all over Kirkwall, as well as my friends, all seemed to rush out to get me at least a small gift yesterday.

The Du Lancets got me a beautiful golden armband with rubies and onyx inlaid in a griffon pattern – griffons were popular right now due to their 'return'; the Viscount managed to gift me a leather-bound notebook with a pretty gold quill; even Meredith – sneeringly – gifted me a pair of leather cuffs.

I had lit up at that last one and thanked her profusely; Alistair looked highly amused and said, "You were just saying how we needed a new pair of those."

In other words, I chose to ignore the implied insult and take the gift – I needed it anyway.

Then there was Varric – he gifted me an advanced copy of his retelling of the Blight. it was pretty much word for word what I had told him – though he didn't do the smut that I would have thrown in there.

He sighed, "Feathers… I… back in the Deep Roads, I shouldn't have shot at you."

Alistair went rigid, "You?"

"Yeah, I… I let my emotions get away from me; Bartrand had just betrayed us and I took it out on her because she had known it would happen… Fenris already hit me really hard and Obsidian almost did worse; not to mention what Hawke almost did and… well… yeah."

Alistair was twitching and I crawled into his lap and put his hand on my belly, "He's active today."

Varric was – at once – forgotten as Alistair smiled brightly at our sons' little kicks to Alistairs' hand. I could see the Dwarf relax as he realized I had redirected my husbands' attention.

I headed out not long after – with Fenris, Cullen, Rain, Hawke and Sebastian. Alistair wanted to go, but he had to return to Ferelden.

When we got close, I extended my wings and 'fell' off the griffon we were riding to flap my own way down to the hold. I saw them pointing and… Thane Svarah Sun-Hair had even come out.

I approached her at once and said, "Blessings on your hold, Thane Sun-Hair."

Fenris – upon landing – scolded me, "That was foolish and reckless – what if you had twisted your wing and couldn't catch yourself? Think of the Babe, Ara…"

All five men wore traditional Avvar armor – and most of them were uncomfortable having their chests and scars bared, but Rain… well, I hadn't known he had a tattoo of a rain cloud on his left chest.

I sighed, "Amatus, I am not a fool – I know my limits when I am pregnant as I have been such before. Also, I have a great deal more knowledge of what is acceptable or healthy while pregnant than you do since I come from a world that is more technologically and informationally advanced. If my wing had been injured, then I still have the control of the elements to guide me. I had a backup plan, Fenris – you should know how fiercely protective I will be of this baby. Now…"

Thane sun-hair was 6'1 – an average Avvar womans' height – and tanned, her hair was brown and her eyes were blue. I couldn't help looking around in hopes to find my mate.

Thane Sun-Hair cleared her throat, but before she could speak, a great bear began wondering toward us. I lit up, "This must be the famous Storvacker I've heard so much about."

The bear made a sound of approval and sat in front of me, tilting her head. I reached out and patted her on the head, "Brave and wild – a wonderful Hold Beast."

Svarah blinked, "You really are a messenger of the Lady, aren't you?"

"You could say that, I suppose – I call her 'The Goddess' but they could be considered the same. This is Fenris – you might consider him a champion of Kroth – not many could live after having so much Lyrium forcibly imbued into their skin and live to not only tell the tale but use the abilities that come with it."

She looked him over and said, "What abilities, Lowlander?"

Fenris smirked, "I can rip your heart out and not leave a single mark on your skin – or I can steal into your hold and take a bride without anyone the wiser… not that I will; I already have my bride." Fenris had a hand over my shoulder. I looked around again – more people had come out, but he still wasn't there.

Cullen said, "You mean we have her."

"No – you have yet to mate with her, so for the moment she is only mine and Alistairs… and Kells. Kell was with her before he was Kell and she was Ara. We come looking for Kell Ar Colden O Red-Lion, Thane – a recent addition to your Hold."

"What do you mean by 'Before he was Kell and she was Ara'?" the Augur asked.

I spoke, "I'm the Fairy Queen – when I died in my life on another world I came here to this new life… Kell was my husband back in that world – under a different name, of course. We had a family – a life together… I died first, while our son was merely three. He died decades later – a full life. He is my anchor – my balance in the universe… my moon. I have mourned him for three years before being granted knowledge of him being reborn to this world as I was. Of course, the choice is his – but I am his."

A deep, smooth voice – deeper than Fenris' and smoother than Alistairs' – spoke and caused me to turn, "Lowlander."

It was him – 6'7 with long red hair tied back by a strip of brown leather, bright grey eyes that were cautious, tanned skin crossed with scars and hardened from labor, and wielding a pair of axes with a bow strapped to his back. My heard stuttered to see his stubble-covered jaw. I took a hesitant step toward him, "Kell…"

He took a corresponding step back and I stilled, "Oh… I… I see…"

Cullen looked confused, "Is his head in his arse like mine was?"

Rain sighed, "It appears so – come Ara…"

A tear slipped from my eye but I refused to back down yet, "Mon Amore…"

"I don't know you, Lowlander; and I certainly wouldn't want another mans' wife."

I looked at Rain, "So much for your theory…" I turned back to Kell – my Kell… "I apologize for intruding… I…"

The Augur spoke, "She speaks true."

Kell glanced at the Augur, "Does she?"

"The gods say so – they say the Fae cannot tell an untruth."

Fenris had me wrapped into his arms, "Come, my love – we have overstayed our welcome. Thane Sun-Hair, we did bring gifts to smooth our ruffling of feathers. Rain…"

Rain instantly waved a hand and the three chests – one carried by each griffon – sailed toward the Thane. One was filled with fresh meats, one with leathers and one with ores. Cullen spoke as Fenris helped me back onto the Griffon, "Take it from someone who knows, Ser Red-Lion… if you resist… you will lose her – for good. I almost lost her – and I didn't realize… Ara has had a tough time of it – and you didn't see the pure joy on her face when she learned of you. She had no intention to seek you out until she learned who you were to her. We will be on our way now."

Thane Sun-Hair said, "Where do we find you?"

I shook my head but didn't look up, "You don't. I'll be back in 7 years, there about… But I won't make anything difficult. I'm sorry to have intruded, Thane. I…"

"Stop – it's already late. And you've prepared a large guest gift; let us host you tonight. Traveling at night wouldn't be good for the babe, right?"

"I… very well… I uh – I also know the location of the burial site of Tyrdda Bright-Axe?"

Thane Sun-Hair looked impressed, "If you're willing to share it…"

"I have no use for it – it is your history, not mine."

"Which of your men fathered the Babe?" Kell asked – his voice was guarded.

"The Lowlander King – the Dragon of Ferelden – is my first mate; the babe is his though as my mate, the babe is also considered yours and theirs," I pointed to Fenris, Cullen, Hawke and Sebastian – making it obvious that I was excluding Rain. "I have five mates in total – 6 if you count both yourself and this one who has asked to court me – Hawke here was courting me but not anymore since Cullen there isn't being thick anymore. I wouldn't take you away from here, Kell – I would instead give you a portal mirror to visit or talk with me whenever you wished; I would protect the hold if called on – even should you dismiss me as a woman you have no want for. I am yours – I was always yours."

"And where were you when Red-Lion Hold was sacked and destroyed by Darkspawn?"

I stumbled back as though I had been slapped; Fenris began glowing as his eyes narrowed, "She was ending the Blight as fast as she could – and losing her first babe while she did so."

Everyone seemed to still. A tear slid from my eyes, "That is when Red-Lion fell, yes – I had just been slammed against a golem and told I'd lost the babe I hadn't known I carried. I… I'm sorry. A life for a life – Red-Lion was meant to fall; and back then, I didn't know that saving a life would doom an innocent so I would have saved Red-Lion Hold… only for innocent children to pay the price. That's how I lost my babe – I saved a friend."

Hawke rubbed my shoulder, "And I thank you for saving my sisters' life."

Kell looked murderous, "Your sisters' life was paid for by that of an unborn babe?"

I looked away, "I didn't know at the time that saving someone could have such consequences. I'm sorry for your Hold, Kell. I will stay out of your way…"

The Thane made a motion and the six of us were taken to a spare hut to freshen up.

Svarah visited to escort us to dinner; when I said I didn't mind sleeping in a puppy pile, the Thane laughed and said, "And if Kell chooses to prove his worth as a warrior?"

"If he gets caught, I can't promise his safety – Fenris is already stewing about Kell having the stench of one that has their head up their arse. I think I heard his say that he would smell Kell coming with how much his head is filled with shit."

Svarah sniggered, "Aye – you just might. If he weren't so thick about it at the moment, you might have slept separately in hopes he'd come, right?"

I nodded sadly, "I don't think he'll come – I shouldn't have come here so early, I just… I learned who he was and I couldn't help myself. We can talk at dinner about the Portal Mirror I'll leave with the Hold. You can call on me or mine to aid in defending the Hold."

"You've impressed me Lowlander – very much. I don't think it's right that a guest do so much for us and not be part of the Hold. I will speak with the Hold – if I have my way, you won't be a guest – you will be Kin. Already you've done several things for the hold with no true expectation. The amount of meats, leathers and ores you brought will last us a winter; you bear the marks of the Lady… the Augur has agreed that you have earned a legend-mark for your deeds and willingness to depart without fuss when it became clear that the one thing you came here for wasn't going to come to you. You are Ara Feather-Fall now."

I blinked – uh… what? I didn't think I'd done nearly enough to earn a legend-mark. When I said that, she smiled, "You would be part of the Hold anyway if Kell managed to 'steal' you away – but as a guest you gave us so many provisions that we'll last a while and you gave us the location of the burial site for Tyrdda Bright-Axe. You arrived on Griffons. And you respected the spirits."

"Feather-Fall huh… I suppose I didn't have a proper last name anyway. I just switched between my adopted brothers' last name and my first husbands'. I used to go by Anderson – it was… when Kell was still Alex, that was his last name and thus mine as his wife. I was born Campos – meaning 'Fields' in my fathers' tongue. And my first name meant 'fathers joy'. Abigail – that was my name…"

"That's a pretty name – Abigail. What does Ara mean?"

"Ara means 'brings rain' in Arabic. It's gender neutral – a girl or a boy could bear the name. It's supposed to be a blessing. Arvaala as a whole has no meaning – it's just a jumble of letters." I shrugged.

Rain sniggered, "I'm honored – since my name is Rain and all…"

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah – perhaps my name was more of a curse than a blessing."

Sebastian laughed, "She has a point there."

Svarah led me into the banquet hall – Avvarian people usually ate as a community, I recalled. As a 'guest' of the Hold, I was sat beside Svarah. Fenris actually sat beside Svarah… I was sat in his lap.

The Augur asked, "Lowlander – can you prove your 'phasing' ability?"

"Do you have someone that needs a heart ripped out?" Fenris replied flippantly. I hit his shoulder, "Behave."

"For you, Amatus," he smirked.

Svarah said, "You may hold my heart in your hands, Lowlander – but I wouldn't rip it out if I were you."

I moved off Fenris' lap and he plunged his hand into her chest. The hall got silent – really silent – as I said, "How does it feel, my thane, to know he holds your very life in his hands? Is it thrilling or breath-taking? I don't take you for the type to be fearful of it, after all."

Svarah smiled at me, "Got me all figured out, do you?"

"You are the woman that fought while her hair was on fire, are you not?"

The Augur laughed, "You truly do deserve your legend mark, Feather-Fall."

I shrugged, "Just because I can see the future?"

"No – because you already brought luck to our hold," he quipped back.

I tilted my head, "I have?"

"Aye – while you and yours cleaned up from your flight, I got an omen of good harvest and a few other good signs. Stone-Bear Hold will survive even if the world comes at us from all sides."

"Oh – yeah, you will. What am I smelling? It smells really good…" I looked around only to catch sight of Kell holding a platter of some baked fish wrapped in clay and pungent leaves. I looked away as I sat back in Fenris' lap. The elf – proceeding to follow Avvar custom – fed me by his own hand to show I was his woman.

Cullen would also offer me bits of food from his plate since the two men had different dishes. Sebastian was too far away and not married to me yet anyway. Cullen was technically breaking custom since we weren't married… only Fenris – or Kell due to our shared 'history' – should be allowed to feed me… unless Cullen planned to marry me tonight, that is.

Fenris or Rain would school Cullen about his misstep later – for now, the Avvar would assume Cullen and I were fully married.

Kell kept glancing at me – and the fact that I caught him looking should show that I had been glancing too. The expression on his face reminded me of when Alex was trying to solve a particularly difficult puzzle. It wrenched at my heart… until I gasped as that feeling of warmth – like I experienced in the tub that day I had chosen to let Cullen and Fenris go – flooded me again.

From the looks on the faces of any male I could even vaguely call a mate, I could tell I want the only one to feel it this time. Fenris looked at me, "What was that?"

"That was… I think that was Duncan…" I was pale.

"What do you mean – how did the child do anything?" Rain asked – I knew pretty much everyone was listening.

"I… I felt it once before – back when the two of you… had abandoned me and I was going to cut the mate link… I was just talking aloud in the bath and… directing the words to Duncan… and the feeling hit. It was like Duncan was trying to cheer me up. I think my son inherited my mothers' version of Empathy – rather than just sensing the emotions of those around him like I do, he can… manipulate the emotions. I think he was trying to make me feel bet…" I was cut off as my Ley Line mirror began ringing.

I fumbled around with my bag to pull it out, "Alistair?"

"I just got the strangest feeling – it felt warm and like I was wrapped in pure love. I just… wanted to call you, I guess." He flushed.

"That settles it – our son is an Empath, Alistair! I'm at Stone-Bear Hold and I was feeling a little upset; this is the second time our little one has 'calmed' me with Empathy. He isn't going to be a mage; rather… he's inherited my mothers' natural abilities."

Alistair looked confused, "Then… how did I feel it all the way across Ferelden?"

"Through our mate link. Sebastian felt it too since his emotions are connected to me at the moment." I smiled softly.

"Okay – that's wonderful. Who would be the asshole that upset you?"

"My husband from Earth," I sighed.

Alistair groaned, "You have a really bad record of your mates being arses in the beginning or at some point. Didn't I take a good month or two to warm up to the idea of being with you? You were still mourning the one making you upset now. Then Fenris left you after wedding you and Cullen stuffed his head so far up his ass that I was surprised he could still walk right. Now Kell slash Alex is being the arse. Hopefully Iron Bull is more… receptive."

"Bull loves the Red-Heads, Al – he'll let me have all the fun in the world. The trick will be getting him to fall for me without realizing he's actually in love until it's far too late to back out."

Kell stiffened. Svarah poked the side wall of the mirror, "Is this that portal mirror you spoke of?"

"Well, this is a hand-held version, yes – I could send bits of this fish through to Alistair if I wanted and he could send me bits of that cheese he's nibbling. When connected to a larger mirror, I could walk through to spend the night at his place. This yellow Citrine will connect to my lion mate here, the emerald button connects to Fenris, the ruby will eventually connect to my fire mate, the sapphire connects to Alistair, the Amethyst connects to me and the Moonstone on mine connects to Kell… I mean the one for your hold."

"You used gems that symbolize the elements and… Moonstone?" the Augur asked.

"There are 5 sections in Danu – Fire, Water, Earth, Air, and Moon; likewise, there are five types of primary mate. My Air mate is my warrior leader, my earth mate is my unwavering force, my water mate is steadying and in charge, my fire mate is passion and protection, and my moon mate is… unique. Moon based mates are so rare that if you have one, either they are your only mate, or they are your fifth. If you have a mate that is linked to the Moon for you, then it means that you knew one another in a past life and are destined to be together through every life. The Moon is immortality and eternity, enlightenment or even the dark side of nature. The moon is what controls the tides, the rains, the waters, and even the seasons. So Moon Mates symbolize Complete Neutrality and balance in all things," I explained.

"And what does the Amethyst symbolize?" Kell asked in a tight voice.

"Peace and Harmony. Amethysts are said to help the mind flow freely. Travelers wore amethyst to protect them against ambush, and soldiers wore amethyst amulets to ward off harm and grant them victory in battle. It can help in deep meditation too. Furthermore, it encourages surrender and humility, opening the mind to receive wisdom, insight, and guidance from the heavens. It can also aid in the pain of loss; it serves those navigating the death and dying process. As a Wiccan, I usually put a cleansed Amethyst in my drink to promote health, peace and good dreams. Amethyst is one of the best healing crystals. I used to keep a good sized crystal near my deck of cards that I used for readings – like reading rune-stones, but… cards."

I pulled out a glass case filled with gems, "Name an attribute that you would wish to gain."

Kell looked hesitant, "Love."

I flinched, "Amethyst, Garnet or Pink Quarts – also known as Rose Quartz."

Fenris grumbled and said, "Healing – I know you add rocks to your shampoos."

"Black Obsidian, Clear Quartz and Prehnite usually… if you want a full Chakra cleanse, use Smokey Quartz, Carnelian, Citrine, Aventurine, Blue Lace Agate, Amethyst, and Clear Quartz in your drink."

"Chakra… what is that?" Svarah asked.

I moved to sit cross legged on the floor and motioned starting at the bottom, "Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Heart, Throat, Third Eye, and Crown – the seven chakra points in order. The Root represents our foundation and gives us the feeling of being grounded. When the root chakra is open, we feel confident in our ability to withstand challenges and stand on our own two feet. When it's blocked, we feel threatened, as if we're standing on unstable ground."

"So… it deals with Survival?" Kell asked. I nodded excitedly, "Yes! Second is the sacral chakra; it helps inform how we relate to our emotions and the emotions of others. It also governs creativity and sexual energy. Third is the solar plexus chakra; it speaks to your ability to be confident and in control of your life. If your solar plexus chakra is blocked, you might feel overwhelming amounts of shame and self-doubt."

"So Passion and Self-Worth in those two," the Augur simplified.

I nodded, "Fourth – the Heart Chakra – is the bridge between the ones before and the ones to come. The ones before all dealt with materiality and the ones after deal with spirit. Heart Chakra can influence our ability to give and receive love not just from other… but from ourselves. Someone with a blocked heart chakra will have difficulty fully opening up to the people in their life."

"Rather self-explanatory then," Sebastian commented.

I smiled softly – not realizing that I was during my usual meditations as I spoke and that people could see the chakras lighting up – the root turned red, the Sacral turned Orange, the Solar Plexus turned yellow, and the Heart was Green.

"The Throat Chakra gives voice to the heart chakra and controls our ability to communicate our personal power. It allows us to express ourselves truly and clearly." I said – my throat chakra lit up light blue.

"The Third Eye controls our ability to see the big picture and connect to intuition – it is they eye of our soul and registers information beyond the surface level. Visions and intuitive hits are not uncommon for someone with an open third-eye chakra," I hummed – Dark Blue light filled this spot.

"And finally, the Crown Chakra; it represents our ability to be fully connected spiritually. It controls spiritual connection." I lit up violet. "The mantra I learned – in order – is this; I can't grow from an unsteady foundation; I always honor others but not before myself; Self-love starts when I accept all parts of myself; When I love myself, loving others comes easily; I speak my truth, always; I am open to exploring what cannot be seen; I am a vessel for love and light."

Kell looked like someone had beat him with a chair, the Augur was drop jawed and my party was shaking their heads. I tilted my head, "What?"

Fenris sighed, "You glowed."

I looked down and saw it, "Oh… That tends to happen to me a lot – though I am not usually a rainbow of color…"

Cullen stood, "I think it is time for bed, my heart."

I held a hand out – no damn way was I going to be able to stand on my own at 5 months pregnant. Sebastian beat the others to me and helped me to stand.

I heard someone else speak, "If Kell does not intend to take you – then I do,"

I wrinkled my nose, but couldn't respond because Kell snarled, "I have first right at trying for her."

My lip twitched, "I look forward to seeing how you might steal me away – I sleep with many men piled around me. Let us see if you are still light footed as a Tiger on the hunt, my love – because Fenris and Cullen are still a bit upset that you rejected me at first. If you get caught, you know the consequences."

He actually smirked with a predatory glint in his eyes, "I won't get caught; rest assured – you'll be in my bed by morning and likely still asleep as I pluck you from your furs and men."

"Then I'll sleep quite soundly – but know this; if we share a bed, there is no going back. It will link our souls in marriage. So if you succeed in stealing me away – especially with such a challenge before you – we will be married tomorrow."

Svarah chuckled, "Then I will prepare a ceremony – just in case."

Fenris plucked me into his arms and looked at Kell, "One chance – that is what you get. If you fail, then you will have to wait the 7 years until she was originally meant to come here."

Kell nodded firmly, "Understood, Lowlander."

"And if you succeed, then my mates will be your family – whether that means lovers or brothers is between you and them."

He smirked, "I will see you later…"

"Is that confidence or arrogance, my sweet Kell? I suppose we will see – catch me if you can."

We headed off to bed – and I was more snuggly entrenched between the five men than I had ever been in my life; I was also dressed – in case Kell did succeed.