Another chapter done! R and R please! I'd love to get some feedback!

The end is nearing...what will happen? Only I know, but I'll gladly share with you when the time comes. If I get enough positive reactions I may just make a sequel...we shall see...

Ch 17

The labor was a long and painful one. Larka lay at the base of Azura's statue, eyes glazed over in pain, her screams echoing off the walls of the Shrine with each contraction. Larka screamed for Azura, for Liam, Taka, Krillan, and WhisperWing, but she knew none would come. The goddess was gone and her friends were far away, Larka was alone.

At times the pain was so intense she thought she would die or go insane, but Larka fought it, eyes wide, never taking her eyes off the statue. Time became irrelevant as Larka's labor continued on, it could have been hours or days, she knew not. It seemed like forever before; at last, Tyrade came into the world.

Larka was exhausted from the delivery, but she smiled as she held her newborn in her arms, wrapped in her traveling cloak and gurgling slightly as babies do. "Welcome, Tyrade, my daughter, welcome to the world." She said to her child. The baby girl was small, her skin a stormy blue like Larka's and with jet black wisps of hair, the color of Liam's, though Larka thought she could make out one or two silver strands.

"I believe the child is hungry." A voice said to Larka's left, making her whip her head around in surprise. There stood a Winged Twilight, the very same one that had watched over Larka at the boulder, looking at her with piercing, and intelligent eyes.

"I wasn't aware your kind could talk." Larka said, still surprised.

"We usually choose not to." The creature said frankly.

"Were you sent by the Goddess?" Larka asked.

"Yes, it appears I'm to be a guardian spirit, I'm now wondering if it is a cruel form of punishment as you seem terribly incompetent to even the simple needs of a child." The creature said. Larka glared at the creature and began to nurse Tyrade.

"So Azura has decided to leave you with me, do you even have a name?" Larka asked.

"Some would call me, Llilith." she said.

"How long have you been here?" Larka asked.

"I was here since the beginning of your labor, invisible." Llilith said.

"Well you could've at least shown yourself instead of leaving me alone!" Larka said angrily.

"What could a creature such as I do to help in a situation like that?" Llilith asked skeptically.

"You could've at least provided moral support…" Larka grumbled as she rewrapped Tyrade in the cloak now that she was done nursing.

"Strange creatures mortals are." Llilith murmured. "I'm not here to coddle you, I'm simply here to protect on your journey home, think of me as a guardian angel for the time." Llilith said wryly.

"And what happens when we reach my tribe and they see I have you for an angel?" Larka asked with mild contempt and sarcasm.

"Oh I won't always be around; and don't flatter yourself, it's not you I'm here to protect." Llilith said looking at Tyrade. Larka rolled her eyes, my daughter just had to get stuck with an intelligent and snippy Daedric creature, she thought.

Yawning Larka realized how tired she was, "Llilith, could you watch over us while I rest, wake me if Tyrade wakes." Larka asked the creature. Llilith nodded and flew up to perch on the statue's shoulder and fixed her stare on the baby who was sleeping peacefully. Closing her eyes Larka fell into a deep sleep.

"Wake up mortal! My charge is hungry." Llilith said into Larka's ear making her wake with a start.

"Gods above don't do that!" Larka yelled, only furthering Tyrade's hunger howls. "Shhhh, quiet darling, quiet." Larka murmured to the girl as she fed her. Though still exhausted and feeling slightly unclean Larka felt much better and stood up. "Do you have the ability to hold her while I go and wash up?" Larka asked Llilith once Tyrade was done feeding.

"I suppose if I must…" Llilith said taking the newborn apprehensively and suspiciously.

"She's just a baby, she won't bite, hard." Larka said with a smile as Tyrade squirmed in Llilith's winged arms. For a moment the bestial woman looked panicked but was soon holding her gently, if not stiffly. Larka smiled, satisfied that the baby would be safe for a few minutes, went out of the shrine, squinting in the sunlight of the morning. She walked a short distance before, luckily, finding a pool of fresh water. Larka was extremely grateful as she washed herself and her clothing in the clean refreshing water, it would have been unpleasant to have had to bathe in the ocean, no matter how calm or clean the waters.

Once Larka was washed and her cloths set in the sun she lay naked in the grass at the edge of the pool, letting the sun dry her. I have a child now, she thought to herself. The thought both excited and scared her, and she hoped that by the afternoon she could start the journey home to Liam. She was also grateful for Llilith, though the Winged Twilight was somewhat of a snobby pain. Larka knew that she would make the journey easier, though the fact that her child had a Daedric creature as a guardian puzzled Larka, it was clear that Azura had deemed Tyrade special.

Once she was dry and her cloths slightly damp Larka walked back to the Shrine to find a wailing Tyrade and an out straight Llilith. Laughing at the creature, Larka took Tyrade and soothed her till the baby fell asleep. "Shall we start the journey home?" Larka said.

"We might as well; once the baby is delivered safely to the tribe I am free to leave, that is until you summon me once more. Here's the ring that does it, but for my sake only call me when it's most dire, I am not thrilled with the idea of being a babysitter." Llilith said dryly, handing Larka a beautiful ring. The band was silver with Daedric runes carved into the sides and a deep purple amethyst in the center with two dark blue sapphires on either side. The purple stone flickered with white spell fire and the light grew stronger when Larka slide the band onto her pointer finger. "It will be yours till the girl is old enough to have it." Llilith said, "Now can we please go?"

"Alright, alright, we're off." Larka said as she opened the shrine door and the odd pair and child stepped into the afternoon sun.

Taka stood on the outer edges of the tribe's huts staring balefully into the distance. Today was the last day before they would be forced to proclaim Larka dead. In her heart the Wood Elf simply couldn't believe Larka wasn't coming back, and stood, staring out along the path she had left, hoping that any minute she would see Larka's form appear over the rise. A great gust of wind stirred Taka's midnight blue hair and her cape as she stood, praying silently. The wind howled and ash and sand were carried on it that stung Taka's skin and eyes, yet the Bosmer refused to blink, staring at the path willing Larka to come home.

Hours passed and still Taka stood, though the wind continued to howl and swirl around her she never looked away. At first Taka thought she was having a delusion when two figures appeared over the hill. The appearance of a Winged Twilight did nothing to discount the possibility. It was only when the wind suddenly stopped blowing and the air cleared that she saw Larka, Tyrade in her arms, walking slowly toward her, Llilith following behind. "Larka!" Taka shrieked, "Larka's back! Larka is back!" she yelled, running down the path but stopping just before crashing into her so as not to hurt the baby. Larka was beaming and both women had tears in their eyes as they embraced and Taka admired the little girl. Soon the tribe had come and WhisperWing and Krillan greeted her with joy and elation. The whole tribe was cheering and clapping as Larka stood there introducing everyone to Tyrade, who was now being held by Taka. Llilith was also introduced, so that no one would think her an enemy and attack her. Once that was done, with a solemn nod of her head the creature vanished, her task complete. Larka was slightly sad to see her go, the creaturehad grownon her after a while, but feeling the ring on her finger Larka knew that if Llilith was ever needed it would be simple to call her back.

Suddenly it went silent as Liam appeared. Larka looked up from the baby and met his gaze. Tentatively he took a step forward, not believing his eyes, but soon he was running towards her and her to him. The pair met with a crash and fell to the ground as they embraced. They rolled down the hill, hugging and laughing with joy, both crying. Getting up Larka took Tyrade from Taka and introduced Liam to his daughter. Gingerly Liam took the baby from Larka's arms and held her apprehensively till she opened her eyes and squirmed with happiness and comfort.

"My daughter, my daughter Tyrade." Liam said smiling.

The reunion was the happiest the tribe would ever see, and it continued on through the night till Tyrade went to sleep and everyone dissipated to their huts, exhausted, but happy. Larka smiled as she crawled into bed beside Liam, snuggling up to his warm body beneath the covers, "I'm home" she whispered.