Hello everyone, I'm here finally again! :) Sorry for going absent, but as most times life called for my presence. lol

I want to announce that my name "Dragon Rider and Friends" has been changed. I transferred it to match my title of other internet-worldly sites; "WhenBooksFly101". If you see this name, hi its me! Lol

On a side note, I appreciate the previous reviews and those who followed this story. It pleases me to know you guys want to keep an eye on it. (Despite the lack of chapters.)

Working on this story's plot I've come to decide that I have a lot planned. (At least I think)
There will be a hidden OC submitted by a dear friend of mine; whom shall make multiple appearances in the chapters to come. I may or may not be planning to work on his backstory once finished with what I have set here.

Anyways. I hope you continue to enjoy these new updates, and I look foreword to anything you have to say for it. Review whether you liked it, hated it, want to give some writing pointers, or want to point out something that I missed in the Halo world. (As I said, my knowledge of this amazing universe it limited.)

Thanks everyone! I bid thee good luck in the wild world of Writing, and have fun!

BOOKS OUT!

"Return to Sangheilios"
CHAPTER 3
"Honor and Family"

Stepping down the short stairway leading to ground level, Thel kept his eyes on the group of councilors ahead and clicked his mandibles. Would they listen to what he had to say? After his name was tainted by the Mark of Shame?

Flanked by his friend R'tas the Arbiter's hooves finally came to the light dirt that made the landing yard of the Military Base. His men kept nearby, but remained quiet and watched their commanders.

R'tas murmured, "I did not expect for the High Councilors to wait for us here...I assumed they would request our presence in a meeting rather than go out of their way."

They came to a stop at the base of the landing platform and watched as the second larger group approached. Thel grit his mandibles, "I can only think that during the happening of the great Schism, the Covenant blocked all communication with our world. I imagine they are concerned."

"Concerned enough to bring Honor Guards as their protectors?"

Thel gave his friend a sideways glance before fixing his eyes on the task at hand. The group was close now; near enough he could easily study each figure.

Five of them, unlike the Councilors on High Charity, wore grey and purple robes that fluttered about in the tiniest of breezes. On their heads were the flared helms that signified their station; also grey and purple.

The other five, were the Honor Guards. They walked silently on either side of their charge with massive spears in hand. Their armor, was a deep crimson red accented with ridges of glowing orange plates that stuck out from their elbows and shoulders. Similar to this were the blades of their weapons.

Thel watched as each kept in perfect pace to the Councilor closest to them. All showed great silent discipline that made him admire their commander.
Whom, at first glance, he assumed to be bringing up the rear.

The commander of the Guard, The Honor Guard Ultra, walked with confident long strides at the back of the procession. This warrior, was unlike the others entirely.

Instead of the deep red he wore a set of silver armor, which Thel noticed was particularly polished and shined until one could see his own reflection upon the metal.
What was odd was that his helm was as simple as R'tas', and his armor did not possess the large glowing ridges that extended from his limbs; similar to that of the other guards. Instead these were replaced with small orange globes imbedded into the surface of his thigh and chest plates.

Tied around his waist in a neat manner was a long section of bright red fabric that hung between his legs well below the knees. It was an odd accessory; one Thel had not yet seen in a warriors 'uniform'.

Squinting his amber eyes the Arbiter let his gaze linger on the odd Ultra.
It's weapon was a clean and simple staff...with no blades or blunt shapes to use for battle.

This Sangheili was certainly strange, and it seemed R'tas had noticed the difference as well.

The white armored male shifted on his hooves and leaned close to the Arbiter, murmuring between his mandibles, "She's quite the sight...one of the first I've seen in the ranks."

Thel nodded back, but something his friend said made him go wide eyed and falter.

*She?*

Turning to R'tas he blinked and the other male let out a quiet chuckle, "You have been in war far too long my friend. Obviously one of those hits to your head took some of your eyesight."

To this Thel clicked his mandibles and frowned, then flashed his eyes back to the Ultra. By the rings he saw it now...a subtle difference there for all to see if they took the time to acknowledge it.

The Ultra walked with fair grace; small head resting on a long neck and strong shoulders. Its arms and legs were slender yet not without muscle, and its height was slightly shorter than most males.
Similar to that of the human race, but not as profound, the warrior's figure possessed curves. Feminine curves.
With eyes like blue ice, -A rare thing to be seen in Sangheili- and deep brown skin, she was a rather beautiful sight.

Huffing to himself Thel diverted his gaze to the leading Councilor. He had just mistaken a fine female Sangheili for a male...
However if it were any defense to him he hadn't seen a female of his kind in years. As it was with the majority of his men.

Of course, there had been female servants on High Charity. But they were only ever seen by those higher in rank; such as the Prophets.

By Covenant tradition, a female was forbidden passage into ranks of battle. The prophets saw them as mere tools, and sadly, some on Sangheilios weren't much different.
The females of their race cooked, cleaned, and bore children to their warriors. They were deemed unfit for battle...until now it seemed.

Suddenly, a rugged nudge to the arm brought the Arbiter from his thoughts, and he focused on the now halted group standing before him. Sucking in a breath he took a step foreword, "Greetings Councilors of Vadimri. I am-"

One of the younger purple robed males seethed, voice stiff, "We know very well who you are, Arbiter."

The interruption made Thel blink and go silent, while R'tas tensed and crossed his arms; green eyes smoldering with hidden hate.

One of the elder Councilors let out a sigh, "We heard from the Covenant that a Heretic was shamed, but we were not aware that the Prophets assigned unto him the role of Arbiter. Nor did we think he would dare to return to his home world."

Their words were as if they spoke of a separate being; as if the man underneath the Arbiter's armor was nonexistent. Thel's chest ached with the burn of his hidden Mark of Shame. To these Sangheilis he was a Heretic brandishing a shiny set of armor.

Thel also realized that these males acted as if they knew of nothing that happened after the events of his trail. So it was true...the Covenant cut off all communications with Sangheilios; long before the event of the Great Schism.

*Wretched Prophets.*

Suddenly R'tas spoke up; his voice tinged with such a growl that the Honor Guards shifted into defensive stance.

"Thel 'Vadam is no Heretic."

His deep words resonated through the air and made the Councilors tense. The leader huffed, then stepped foreword towards the male with two mandibles.
While passing he gave Thel an uneasy glance, then looked up, "What is your name, warrior?"

R'tas uncrossed his arms and stared into the eyes of the Councilor, voice low so that it was difficult for Thel to hear.

"R'tas 'Vadum; former Shipmaster of the Shadow of Intent."

The Councilor tilted his head, "Former?"

He clicked his mandibles furiously and the Arbiter smirked despite himself. R'tas was about to reply, when a sharp clatter sounded and a gasp followed.

All eyes turned to the sound, and Thel was surprised to find it was the Honor Guard Ultra.

Sidestepping away from the female the Councilors murmured in quiet tones. She stood straight and tall; unmoving as her blue eyes fixed onto an unknown object ahead. Her hands curled into fists at her side and Thel noticed that her staff had been dropped. He almost didn't hear her nearly silent mutter.

*She's scolding herself.*

Why had she reacted in that way? Was it something they said?

Thinking the same thing one of the councilors stepped foreword, raising a hand in the direction of the female, "Is there something you would like to share with us?"

The Honor Guard remained silent and continued to stare ahead. This made the Council leader hiss, "Speak up female! I have no time for this!"
At his outburst Thel sucked in a breath and growled slightly. But R'tas beat him to a reaction.

His friend stepped foreword and sent a scowl to the older male's backside then let his gaze fall on the female before them. She was fidgeting and squirming now; blue eyes flashing over R'tas before falling to the floor.

*What could have happened to make her react in this way to R'tas?*

The white armored male nodded calmly, "Sister, what is it? You look as if you have seen a ghost."

Again there was silence, but this time the female looked up at him and sucked in a heavy breath. Thel watched her fists open and close; tilting his own head when she did something most unexpected.

Rising up like a thrumming motor the female let a quiet purr escape her chest. The sound was hardly something you would direct to a higher officer, let alone a stranger in public. It was enough to make all of the Council members tense, and the other Honor Guards cast confused glances to their commander.

R'tas cleared his throat and worked his two mandibles, "I hope you plan to explain yourself."

She smiled, then nodded as the tension left her body. For the first time Thel heard her speak.
The sound was like a creek in the fall; rippling over the earth.

"You may not recognize me, R'tas. It has been far too many years...But I recognize your face now...past the scars..."

She grimaced deeply at the sight of his torn mandibles, then stood straight and faced him, "My name is Rethea 'Vadum... if that holds any significance to your memory."

*'Vadum?*

This female shared Surnames with R'tas and claimed she had some sort of importance to him. Was she his mate? R'tas had never mentioned a mate.

Amber eyes wide Thel glanced from the female to his friend, noticing an odd look come over the Sangheili's face.
Slowly that look grew into a half smile, then a burst of laughter escaped him and he grinned, "Rethea! Is that you?"

He leapt foreword and took the female in his arms; holding her close and earning an equally joyous laugh from her as well. Everyone surrounding them murmured in confusion and cast blank glances to the others, Thel just stared.

The two stood there a moment in silence; R'tas's hand moving gently over the females shoulder. His voice eventually rose but so low that only Thel could hear.

"You would not believe the times I thought I would never see you again, sister."

Pulling away his mandibles were splayed in a wide smile, and for a moment he just looked the female over. She shared his look of joy, but their silence was interrupted when the leading councillor snorted, "I look foreword to an explanation for this...moment...R'tas."

He stood before them with a rather tight expression, and R'tas looked up with a huff.

Forcing a tight smile onto his face he nodded, "Apologies Councilors..." Then casting a gesture to Rethea he smiled, "Rethea 'Vadum is my sister."

Now it all made sense.

Thel straightened his stance and watched as the Councilors murmured amongst themselves, and the Honor Guards suppressed small chuckles at the news for their commander.

Then, a young Councilor nodded,"Putting the reunion aside, R'tas, we still await your explanation for returning to Sanghelios under no such notice."

This time, Thel did not remain silent. He looked up at them for a moment of thought to gather his words, then sighed. Now would not be the best time to tell them of the Covenant...in the open like this would bring far too many risks.

He finally spoke, before they could demand an answer from his friend.

"The war with the humans was victorious, but in the battle we made...great enemies. It was in our best interest to verify that Sangheilios was safe."

In a sense of words what he said was not a lie. They were victorious in the war, but rather than defeating the humans they had fought beside.

Unaware of the underlying meaning, the Councilors smiled brightly at the news. Until the mention of the enemy.

To this the eldest tilted his head, "And whom may I ask, Arbiter, is the enemy? Surely if we can cut down a race such as the humans than this new 'threat' would not present a challenge."

Foolish...all of them.

Thel shook his head suppressed a growl, "Unfortunately the time for explanations is not now. I would hate to rise a panic should anyone hear of what we have to say."

This caused a great deal of confusion amongst them, and he added, "I urge that we hold a meeting of council this evening; once my men and I are settled. R'tas and I shall tell you of everything then."

He glanced to said friend and received a small approving nod, before turning to see the Councilors repeat the gesture. The eldest seemed stiff...concerned for the reason why this male was holding valuable information.

But nevertheless, he nodded, "Very well then, Arbiter...The meeting shall be held after evening has fallen; I will send a messenger with the location and precise time."

R'tas chuckled heavily, and without a word the Councilors turned to leave. For a moment the Honor Guards remained behind.

They stood in silence, before a large male in the front spoke from behind his helm, "Commander..."

Thel followed their gazes to R'tas's sister, whom tensed and sucked in a breath and glanced to her brother. She nodded to her men, "I shall join you in a moment."

The lead guard shook his head, "Apologies for refusing orders...but we request that you remain here with your brother. We can tend to the Councilors."

Their loyalty and devotion to their commander was impressive, and to this Rethea blinked.

After a moment she stared back at them, then caught a smile on her mandibles. The female nodded, "Thank you..."

Her men merely nodded, then turned and stalked after the Councilors. Distance grew between the two groups, and R'tas chuckled, "I did not expect to find you like this sister...Honor Guard Ultra?..."

The female smirked and looked back at him before shrugging. Her blue eyes gleamed with pride.

"Seems your sister has proven capable of things more than child bearing and tending to the household."

She growled slightly, "However the task of convincing the males I could handle such a role was much harder than I first anticipated...but with effort and training I managed to claim it."

Thel couldn't help but chuckle when his friend nodded.

"I almost could not believe it was you standing before me. Last I saw you, you only stood up to my middle."

Rethea nodded, "I was young and rather frail; a time I do not miss."

She laughed; a full sound much smoother than the roaring chortles of some males.

Eventually going silent once again, Rethea turned to face Thel. Staring at him in thought she tilted her head. He shifted in anticipation of her words.

The female nodded, "I did not expect to see an Arbiter walking down beside my brother..."

He blinked when she gave him the slightest bow of her helm, "It is an honor to meet someone of such a role...despite what the others think."

*An honor? Surely this female is jesting...*

He clicked his mandible and she sighed, "I heard what you were accused of...truth to be said I did not agree with your charges to say the least..."

Astonished, Thel glanced to R'tas, who seemed to be just as confused as he was.

Clearing his throat Thel managed to click his mandibles and mutter, "You are one of few to have ever claimed that..."

Rethea gazed at him with sincerity in her eyes, "And more should. What you did to protect your fleet from the parasite was hardly worthy of what the Prophets charged you."

She didn't look down upon him with disgust, nor were her words dripping with the all familiar tone of hidden hatred he had heard so many adress him with. While some believed he was responsible for the destruction of the first Halo, this female did not.

Everything going quiet, Rethea took her eyes away from the Arbiter and turned to her brother. Her mandibles lifted in a smile, "Mother will be so happy to see you, R'tas. She feared the worst when we lost communications with the Covenant."

The topic was dropped for now...but Thel fully planned on questioning his friend later. Instead he listened to them speak.

R'tas reached up to rub the back of his helm as he nodded, "I can imagine how she felt." Straightening he nodded, "Very well then...we shall return home."

Thel stood by in silence. They were preparing to leave for the Vadum estate...and he had yet to decide how he wa going to spend his last free hours before the meeting that night. He had a feeling it was going to be a very busy, and very stressing evening.

One option was that he could go to his old home of the Vadam estate. What waited for him there was uncertian. If anyone was even still there he doubted it would be an easy reunion. He was formerly the Kiadon of the keep, and in his shaming he had in turn brought his entire line shame. Thel doubted it had been a situation taken lightly.

Suddenly, a voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Arbiter."

This drew his gaze upwards, and he found deep blue eyes staring back at him. Rethea stood there; her mandibles in a confident smile.

"Do you have anything planned for this afternoon, Arbiter? Is there anywhere you were going?"

Shaking his head he shrugged, "I was considering making a visit to my estate...to see how my family there are faring."

When he had left there were uncles, neices, nephews, and relatives distanced beyond that. He had no mate, nor a wife due to his status of "swordsman"; rendering him banned from marriage.

He did not have much left as far as direct family members, but he wanted to see them...to know that they were safe.

But, gazing over at R'tas's sister, he saw her expression darken into that of sadness and guilt. Mandibles twitching she glanced to her brother.

For a moment Thel was concerned and confused, but eventually the grimm look on the female's face dissapeared and she shook her head. Something still altered her voice however.

"Before you leave, would you want to axcompany us to Vadum? A warm meal awaits our arrival; made by some of our best cooks."

At the mentioning of fresh food Thel worked his mandibles to resist the onslaught of saliva threatening to gather. It had been years since he had a proper Sanghelian meal; it was nothing like the stale supply food on board the ships.

The part of him dreading his return home begged him to accept the offer, and without much thought he nodded with the slightest of chuckles, "If you would not mind my coming along."

R'tas laughed and stepped foreword to gently slap his hand over his friend's back, "Not at all!"

Turning the white armored male smiled, and Rethea nodded before spinning on her hooves, "Then come this way! I expect to ask questions and receive answers while traveling inland."

Her brother rolled his eyes and followed; speaking low to Thel, "Let us pray she does not damage our hearing before we arrive."

Please review! :) I need to know how i am doing with this story!