Chapter 3: A Family Moment
Eriond strolled a few yards behind his two friends and sent his thought into the heavens. He had searched for the identity of the strange warriors he was to deliver to the Vale in the Orb of Aldur and he was confused with what he saw. He silently asked his father, UL, the Father of the Gods and father to all, if he had seen the correct people. UL calmed his concern and apprehension. "Don't worry my son. I have shown thee who thou art to convey to this place. They are aptly qualified to complete this task that I and the all-powerful ones of their world hath seen fit to bestow upon them," UL told the youngest of his seven sons. Confident in his Father's instructions, Eriond entered the cottage that had been his home in the early years of his childhood.
Every time Eriond stepped into carefully constructed home, the scent of warm freshly baked bread and perfumed roses filled his nostrils and he felt content and safe. Eriond glanced around the dining room and saw Belgarath sitting next to his tawny haired, golden-eyed wife Poledra, who showed no signs of age on her milky complexion despite the fact she was nearly seven thousand years old like her husband. As always, they were wrestling over a pint of ale that Belgarath had pilfered from his daughter's pantry and suddenly, without a word, Poledra banished the tankard into some unknown place and Belgarath promptly created another one when his wife's head was turned.
He then looked to the kitchen and found Polgara and Durnik, two of the most powerful people in the world, pulling cups and saucers out of the beautifully detailed cabinets Durnik had crafted with his own hands to prepare the tea that they were so fond of. Eriond smiled at the picture of cozy domesticity they created in stark contrast to the many powerful abilities they possessed.
Finally, the young god's gaze fell upon the King and Queen of Riva who sat on the cushy divan near the flickering flames that emanated from the stone hearth. He watched as Ce'Nedra wormed her way under her husband's arm and rested her fiery copper curls on his shoulder. Many years of marriage had taken the initial shock out of Ce'Nedra's romantic tendencies that often brought propriety to naught which had often embarrassed and startled Garion in the past, but now he resigned to the fact that Ce'Nedra would show affection whenever she wanted, paying no heed to whoever was around. Garion reached out and placed his hand on Ce'Nedra's swollen stomach that sheltered the next Princess of Riva and he smiled. Garion tenderly kissed the marble skin of Ce'Nedra's forehead and looked into her emerald green eyes. Then, Ce'Nedra leaned forward and whispered something into her husband's ear. Even from the distance, Eriond saw his Majesty blush furiously and Eriond guessed that Garion hadn't completely shed his proper and practical Sendarian upbringing.
Eriond loved seeing that his family hadn't changed in the years he had been away. He cherished the fact that he still had a place in this strange group of family and friends even though he was now the resident deity of Angarak. Eriond carefully stored the images of the people he loved in his mind because he knew once these demon-fighters had returned to their own dimension, he would have to return to the Kingdoms of the East so that he could guide, protect, and serve the peoples of Mallorea, Cthol Murgos, Gar og Nadrak, and Mishrak Ac Thull.
"Well," Eriond said to his family, "let's bring these people here shall we?"
A/N: Sorry this chapter was a little dull, but I wanted to make sure everyone was up to speed on what was happening and to also delve deeper into the lives of the characters. I promise, the story-line picks up in the next chapter. Don't give up now!!!
