Elnor helped Laris clear away the breakfast dishes before he and Picard set out for their customary stroll through the vineyard. Despite having just eaten, each of them plucked the occasional grape that smelled especially delicious to eat as they walked. Number One padded contentedly between them, happy to be in the company of his master and his master's young protegé. Suspicious of the newcomer at first, Number One had quickly warmed up to Elnor, especially as Elnor often reached down to give him a quick scratch behind the ears or a gentle stroke down his back. Animals as pets had been an unaffordable luxury on Vashti. Here on Earth, Elnor was finding them to be a comforting presence, accepting and undemanding.
"Elnor," began Picard, "I've been meaning to ask you. When I came to Vashti to ask for the help of the Qowat Milat, you were quite angry with me at first. And rightly so. Why did you change your mind? Why did you bind your sword to my cause?"
"Zani," Elnor said. He considered leaving his answer at that one word as Zani was a force unto herself, but he knew Picard deserved the full answer. "She pointed out to me that I needed you as much as you needed me." He paused and then continued, "Also, she kicked me out."
"She kicked you out!" Picard stopped walking and stared at Elnor, surprise plain on his face.
"Yes, she made it clear that while a boy might live among the nuns, I was no longer a boy. It was time for me to leave." Seeing Picard's expression, Elnor added, "She kicked me out with love in her heart. She knew that leaving was what was best for me, and there you were, needing my help. Also, I believe she knew that we both needed to heal. Me from my feeling of being abandoned, and you from your feeling of guilt."
"She was right, you know," admitted Picard as he resumed walking, "we did need to heal." He paused before continuing, "Zani always has been wiser than me."
Elnor laughed, "She's wiser than anyone. She has to be to lead the Qowat Milat and keep a rebellious young boy in line."
"She kicked you out," Picard muttered mostly to himself as if he couldn't quite believe it.
Elnor gently steered Picard in a direction that would lead them back to the chateau, mindful that the midday sun, mild as it was for a Romulan, might be getting too warm for an elderly human, no matter if that human was a very stubborn Jean-Luc Picard.