Tears filled my eyes as I sat down next to Mauro and I took his hand,

"Arainia,"

"I'm here Mauro, and so is Nuada." Nuada sat down beside me. Nuada had one had wrapped around me and the other took Mauro's hand. Mauro coughed and I moved the bandage on his neck. There was a long gash,

"What happened?"

"Humans." Mauro's General said. Nuala's face turned bitter.

"Nuada, Arainia…" He coughed again and he had a pained look on his face, "You two are the children I never had. The day you came here was a blessing. Do not hold a grudge against the humans. Bitterness and malice will be our undoing. Promise me…"

"I promise." He gripped my hand and looked to Nuada,

"I promise." He took one more strangled breath and then…he was gone. Mauro's wife let out a horrible sob and clung to Nuala. I buried my head in Nuada's shoulder and let my silent tears fall. He held me close to him and I could hear his heart racing.

Later that day we held a funeral. Nuada and I were right behind Nuala and Mauro's wife who were behind the casket. It was a funeral that he would have been proud of. It was a simple funeral but it had lots of meaning in it. It was not showy or glamorous, but it was a loving funeral filled with friends and family. Tears were shed and speeches were made. I was too choked up to say anything but Nuada gave a speech,

"…Mauro was a good man. He taught me a lot. I learned how to fight with honor and what it means to be a true warrior. Mauro was the father I never had. He treated me like I was his son, and that is something I never had. I will miss Mauro terribly…"

My heart was breaking. I felt sick. When the funeral was over I went behind the camp sight and became sick. My stomach felt like it was churning and my head was spinning.

"Arainia?"

"Nuala..."

"Are you alright? Should I get Nuada? Or the doctor?"

"No I am alright. Just a little…upset I guess. All the stress is getting to me." She kneeled down beside me and helped me stand. She took me back to my tent and stayed with me for a while until I felt better. Days passed and the sickness only got worse. I avoided telling Nuada because I did not want him to worry about me. I was sick again and once more Nuala had found me,

"Please…Arainia…will you let me at least take you to the doctor?"

I let out a sigh and nodded. We arrived at the doctor's tent and we entered,

"Lady Nuala, Lady Arainia. What can I help you with today?" Nuala gave me a slight nudge and I looked at the doctor,

"Well, I have not been feeling too well lately…"

"She has been getting sick the last few weeks and felt dizzy."

"Well let me take a look."

Later that day I found Nuada practicing with the General,

"Nuada!" He stopped and looked at me with a smile,

"I shall be back momentarily Kilmar." He came over to me and wrapped his arms around me and kissed me,

"Careful there,"

"Why?" He kissed me again and I pulled away slightly,

"Well that is what got us in trouble last time." He gave me a look of confusion before I leaned forward, "You are going to be a father." I pulled back to see his face. His mouth was open slightly and at first I thought he was not happy until a smile spread across his face as he picked me up and spun me around,

"When did you find out?"

"Today." He kissed me passionately and announced to the camp that he was going to be a father.

"A small miracle in this horrible dull moment in life."

"Our miracle." He smiled,

"Yes, our miracle."