A few days had passed since Selase had revealed that Lady Paige was once again pregnant. The news had initially shocked the couple but as the days passed, they both grew to not only accept another child, but to truly relish in the idea.
Lady Paige sat on their couch just enjoying Lord Walter's embrace. She heard a sound and looked over at the balcony doors. She smiled seeing Selase land on the balcony. Having just come back from hunting food. She stood up from the couch and began walking towards the doors to the balcony so she could open the door for her. As her hand touched the knob Selase's head turned before she suddenly jumped off the balcony and began flapping her wings as she soared out of the courtyard and over the roof of the Keep to the South.
Paige and Walter both frowned and then they heard her shriek. Paige's eyes opened wide as she looked at Walter.
"She said one of her children is here." Paige grinned as she moved quickly to the door. Rushing through she turned left instead of right and ran for the stairs that went up to Walter's telescope.
Lord Walter was fast behind her.
He scooped her up as she started climbing the stairs and carried her up the stairs a bit quicker.
"Walter!" Paige exclaimed as he pulled her up in his arms and began laughing. She grinned as he sat her down. She grabbed the telescope and adjusted its position quickly towards the small spec she figured was Selase in mid air. She looked through the telescope and after a moment picked up Selase. Her wings were flapping as she hovered in mid air over the small island in the middle of Lake Athena. Her front claws seemed to be grasping another set of claws as she saw a second gryphon hovering with her.
"Do you know which daughter it is?" Paige asked as she moved to the side.
Lord Walter looked through the telescope at the two gryphons and watched for a moment. Finally he shook his head.
"No, I can't tell by the markings I see. Most of this new gryphon is blocked by Selase. But they are now flying this way." Walter told her.
Paige grabbed his hand and they both moved down to the outer courtyard. As they entered the outer courtyard they turned to look to the South and they saw both gryphons swoop down towards the south gate.
Selase let out a shriek as she came down and then landed before folding in her wings and she ran through the gate. The second gryphon followed suit.
Selase ran up between Lord Walter and Lady Paige. Her head nuzzled them both as their opposite arms rose up and hugged her to them.
Paige's eyes opened as she pulled her arm back and she saw Selase's daughter. Her eyes opened wider at what she saw. She saw the small patch of discolored feathers on the bird's forehead.
"Selana?" Paige almost screamed in disbelief.
Selana nodded as she whistled.
Paige moved past Selase and threw her arms around as much of the large bird's neck as she could as she cried happily.
"Selana?" Lord Walter said shocked. "How is this possible?"
Selana began to whistle and Paige stopped her.
"No, we can wait on the tale." Paige said as she broke the hug and stepped back. "After all this time, the two of you should go and be with each other. Then go and visit with the rest of your family."
Selase squawked even as Paige turned to look at her.
"No Selase. We'll be fine, go, enjoy time with your children. Your daughter is alive again and you deserve the time to embrace and enjoy each other as you should have all these years." Paige told her as she moved closer to Selase.
Selase chirped as she nuzzled Paige's stomach.
"We'll be fine, Selase. I promise. We'll miss you but we'll be okay." Paige smiled as she stroked Selase's beak.
Selana walked up to Lord Walter and she nuzzled the side of his head as tears ran down his cheeks.
Walter's arms rose up and hugged her to him.
"I'm so sorry I wasn't able to save you." Walter told her hauntedly.
Selana whistled and chirped.
"She says that wasn't your fault. You did everything you could. And most importantly, you saved her Mother and sisters. And she is grateful for that." Paige told him.
Walter opened his mouth to say something and Selana shook her head before she chirped and whistled.
"She says don't. You did all you could and now she has her life back as well as her Mom and sisters. Without what you did, the trolls would have killed them all, including those who had come to defend Selase and her eggs. They would all be dead without what you did." Paige told him. "Just accept what she's saying, my love." Paige told him as she stepped up and wrapped her arm around his left arm.
Walter sighed but nodded even as a crowd of the workers were beginning to form up behind them to see the second gryphon.
"Friends." Lord Walter said as he became aware of the commotion the workers were making. "This is our dear friend's daughter Selana. It was she who helped my bride rescue my son's soul on the day of the twin's birth."
Everyone murmured excitedly at that.
"Thank you for helping me save my son's soul, Selana. For knocking me out of the way of that blade, allowing it to strike you instead. I can't thank you or Selase enough for what you both have done for our family." Paige told Selana and then looked at Selase. "Go ahead and take your daughter to visit your other girls, Selase. Selana can tell us what has happened once you both return."
Selase chirped warily but nodded. They both nuzzled the Lord and Lady again and then turned and ran out the South gate before unfurling their wings and rising up into the sky. They circled the Keep three times before they shot off to the East.
Nine days later:
"Father, when will Selase be back?" Young Cabe asked him as they sat in the great hall just before lunch.
"It is much too difficult to say Cabe." Walter smiled. "Having her child back, after all these years, I think she will take an extended time away. But I'm sure if something were to arise, she'd return quickly."
Young Cabe sighed as he nodded.
"My Lord." Raynold said as he walked into the great hall with a family of three, the woman looked fairly familiar. "You may remember Beth, Gerald and their daughter, she was the young Mother that Lady Aine saved from the fire in Brightsong when she was thirteen."
"Of course, Beth, Gerald, it is good seeing you again." Lord Walter said as he stood up. "I remember you left some time ago to visit your Mother as I recall."
"We did, my Lord. And while my Mother was dying, it had been a ruse by the landlord. When we got there he forced her debt upon us and trapped us there." Beth explained. "It is why it has taken us so long to return."
Lord Walter's face darkened as he growled in anger.
"But that has been remedied my Lord." Beth told him quickly.
"What has been remedied?" Lady Paige said as she came around the corner carrying little Taisce. "Beth?" Lady Paige said in surprise seeing her.
"Yes my Lady." Beth smiled at being remembered. "I have a letter for you from your daughter, Lady Aine." Beth held it out.
Paige grinned and took the letter and then hugged her.
"Please, sit and enjoy lunch with us." Lady Paige told her.
The three of them moved up and sat down at the great table after Lady Paige sat down on the chair Lord Walter held for her. Lord Walter took little Taisce and settled her in the highchair on Paige's left side.
"What do the twins have to say?" Happy asked with curiosity burning deeply in her soul.
Paige grinned even as she opened the letter.
"Well, let's find out." Paige began reading the cover of the letter.
"Dear family, just know that as this letter ends we both are fine, as are Dame Tessa, Sister Alison and Everin." Paige read while telling them it was Aine writing.
"Oh, have they brought in others to join them?" Veronica asked.
"I would assume so." Sir Frederick told her.
Most of the letter was so matter of fact and boring.
"Daithi is right." Young Veronica complained. "Aine should let him do the writing."
Everyone chuckled at her disappointment. While Lord Walter had nodded throughout the telling of what all Aine had done to right the situation with the landlord and the Clerics.
"Well it would have been difficult since he wasn't with her when all this happened." Paige told her.
As the story switched from Aine to Daithi inside the structure on the Astral plane the entire vibe of the letter changed. Knowing that everything worked out and her children were safe, Paige allowed her own ability as a Bard to channel what Daithi had written in telling the story.
They all gasped when they realized that Aine was facing the same Amatan that their Father had to face that night beside the lake.
Lady Paige smiled as she heard the grunts and moans as her family listened to what happened during the contest. She saw instantly the embellishment of blows and magic energies that were used and she added her own embellishments to them.
They groaned as the demon's magic struck Aine's knee. And then they cheered as Selana had kicked the Amatan. They groaned again as the demon turned his magic against Selana.
The wonder that befell them as Lord Markus appeared and intercepted the sword strike meant for Aine's head.
The cheer they gave as the demon was banished, was dwarfed by the one that followed the defeat of the Amatan and the subsequent destruction of his sword.
"I'm so glad they got a Cleric of Athena with them now." Young Veronica said happily.
"Who does this white Witch revere?" Young Allie asked.
"Aine says he reveres Mother Hera." Paige told her. "And now we know what happened with Selana and how she came to be made whole once again."
Walter nodded as he squeezed her hand.
"I can't believe one of the first things she had to face was an Amatan." Lord Walter sighed. "And not any Amatan, one with a personal grudge."
"Thankfully with how well you trained her, she was more than a match." Paige said softly before they kissed passionately.
They grinned as most of their kids complained about them kissing.
"Isn't it interesting that only our first born was always happy about our love being expressed?" Lord Walter asked his bride.
All the kids complained about his comparison.
"Well I suppose it is only right as he was denied his family for much of his youth. All of our other children have been spoiled. Hardly a day goes by that they don't see our love expressed physically many times throughout the day." Lady Paige winked at Walter as she stroked his cheek.
"Wait until they have to watch as we sit on a swing when we're in our nineties." Walter winked back to Paige.
They both laughed as their kids began gagging and groaning at the thought.
"I know I've missed seeing the love between you both." Beth said as she was grinning. "I'm sure if the town didn't see the two of you kiss in front of them when you were down there they'd think you were mad at each other."
Everyone laughed at that.
"So the vile demon tried once again to take Daithi's soul." Walter sighed as they laid in bed that night.
"I would have thought he learned his lesson last time." Paige nodded. "But then, not being a true Paladin and knowing how to use the power like you do, I suppose I wasn't a big enough threat."
Walter chuckled.
"If he had been smart enough, he would have known not to mess with you again. I blame myself though. Before you got pregnant with Patrick and after the twins were old enough to be left with their nanny we should have gone after the demon. I should have known better." Walter sighed.
"It was a crazy time my Love. You were so enthralled by the twins as well as keeping your promise to Ralph." Paige said as she nuzzled his neck.
"Very true. Since our connection through the rings have grown, I've truly enjoyed the memories you shared with me of Ralph as a baby and growing up. You did a wonderful job raising him alone. Putting yourself to the side as he grew. If I knew nothing else, I would still be so impressed and amazed at the woman you are." Walter said before they kissed.
"Do you really think we'll be sitting on a swing together when we're in our nineties and kissing?" Paige smiled.
"If I have any choice in the matter. Maybe we should check with Sylvester and see if he can concoct some longevity potions for us to help ensure we're both more than fit to do so." Walter grinned.
Paige laughed.
"I don't know, maybe. I'd love to live long into our childrens' lives. To see all the grandkids and great grandkids. But then I also worry if it would disrupt the natural order of things. I went down to the school and read a book for school kids a few years back. And one of the characters was named Harvey Dent. He said "You Either Die A Hero, Or You Live Long Enough To See Yourself Become The Villain." Look what happened when Mahn went looking for an unnatural way to keep from dying. I don't think I'd care to live so long that the simple things no longer gave me pleasure. That I would seek out things that twisted me like that." Paige sighed.
Walter nodded.
"There is truth in your words. We could lose a lot of loved ones living so long. Already my parents and your Mother are having issues. Not to mention Sir Cabe, Allie's been very worried about him." Walter said as he sighed.
Paige nodded.
"It's funny that before I met you, I never considered or thought about living for very long. I'd always assumed I'd meet my end before I reached fifty. But then meeting you and falling head over heels in love with you, there isn't enough time in eternity for me to express how much I love and treasure you." Walter said as he watched a happy tear run down Paige's cheek. He moved his head closer and they kissed again.
"As long as we're together and able to chase after each other from time to time, I'll be happy." Walter said before he kissed her again.
As their tongues met the magic of the rings bridged the gap between them physically and they entered that ethereal space of pure thought. As pleasurable as their romantic intimacies were, when it flowed into the realm of thought, it escalated beyond words to describe. The physical world was lost to them during those times.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well! Back to Callan Sunday! Still don't have anything else finished so...not sure what comes after that break point.
LouBe - hehe Did you read it on the app? I usually try not to spoil but to give some speculation as to who said that and why. lol I was very impressed with Lady Aine! She was doing very well and she probably would have succeeded without Lord Markus's help...just with more aches and pains. lol The Amatan was indeed the first one Lord Walter faced beside the lake on their trek to Wheeler's Ridge. But the Muse never bothered to explain who the Paladin was before he became the Amatan, only that he had killed Lords Markus and Jefferies. So you don't need to kick yourself! Yes, I was completely thrown for a loop when the Muse said she came back to life. And as for Selana joining the company...maybe? lol hehe...well, true enough they would. But I think his soul is safe now...well as safe as anyone's. They definitely got to rest up! They got 3 days before heading East. So glad you enjoyed it!
To the Adventure! -Tim
