Chapter Twelve
The Stuff of Legends
Jennifer always made it a point to get up early enough in the summer that she could have a cup of coffee and plan her day before Seren got up. But not long after she put the water in, she felt a dark presence, turning in time to see Bres peering in from the corridor.
"If you were trying to sneak up on me, I'm afraid it won't work. Your presence is too strong," Jennifer teased.
"I wasn't actually trying. What made you think so?" Bres asked curiously.
"I didn't hear you on the stairs," Jennifer explained.
"Delves have always been known for our stealth… before the Time of Migrations, we were often called the Children of the Mist," Bres said.
"Yes, I know that," Jennifer said.
"You do?" Bres said with surprise.
"The Vikings had legends of their own about Elvish races back in that time period, although Wizardkind calls them the Time of Invasions," Jennifer said with amusement.
"I suppose that viewpoint is understandable. Who are the Vikings?" Bres asked.
"Oh, they were invaders too… but from this world. Remind me when we get to Hogwarts and I'll show you a special globe that Severus has that will make explaining that a lot easier on both of us," Jennifer said.
"I would like to know more about Hogwarts. What sort of kingdom is it? What sort of battle techniques are learned there?" Bres asked curiously.
"Battle techniques?" Jennifer repeated.
"You did say there was a famous school there," Bres said.
"Wait… you know what? I think something got lost in translation. Hold that thought until I get a cup of coffee in front of me. Would you like one?" Jennifer added.
"Thank you," Bres said. He glanced around in time to see the oven door close as Mercy put in a tray of scones.
"Cream? Sugar?"
"I am still attempting to decide what I prefer," Bres replied, so Jennifer put them both out. Then she took a sip of her cup contentedly.
"There we are! Now, perhaps you should tell me what your idea of a school is. Does it always have something to do with battle?" Jennifer asked.
"Yes of course," Bres said with surprise.
"Very well, then tell me more about schools in your kingdom. Are there a lot of students under one instructor?"
"Yes, that's what makes it a school," he agreed.
"Fair enough. What would I learn at one of your schools?" Jennifer asked.
"Nothing," Bres replied. "Women aren't allowed."
"Yes, alright, then pretend that I am a man for the sake of argument. What would I learn at school?" Jennifer coaxed.
"Well, if you were to go to an archery school, you would learn how to use a longbow. A footman may go to school to learn swords, or a polearm school; and every young Delf would go to defense school to learn basic knife and dagger techniques."
"I see. Well, we do teach Defense at Hogwarts, that's only one subject out of many subjects that are taught. In this world, a school is more than a group you join to learn skills useful only in wartime. Hogwarts is a magic school that teaches all types of magic, and not just the sort of learning you need to be a soldier in a time of war. At Hogwarts, we teach all sorts of different magic skills," Jennifer explained. "For example, I teach Potions and Items Creation."
"Potions? Do you mean medicine?" Bres asked curiously.
"That's one of the uses of potions, yes, but there are many more," Jennifer said. "I suppose most Delvish children must come from their parents just like how the Danaan teach their children."
"Generally yes, but my parents had a kingdom to run, they were much too busy for that," Bres replied. "I had a nursemaid."
"Yes, but who was your teacher for specialized skills when you were growing up, the one who taught you about books and magic and the rest?" she asked intently.
"My grandfather's advisor, who was the Lord Scholar at the time, taught both my brother Barren and I how to read and calculate," Bres explained. "The Lord Sorcerer taught us magic, the Captain of the Castle Guard taught us defense, and the Lord's Chief Huntsman taught us our survival skills."
"It sounds like you have the makings of what we would call a school right there," Jennifer said with amusement. "You have had plenty of instructors; all you have to do is combine the ideas. Hogwarts is a place where many students of both genders gather to learn different types of magic. Magic is very complicated here compared to what you're used to in your world; it takes technique and study that lasts from the time they get out of primary school…a place where young students gather to learn about reading and math and such… until they are ready for adulthood. They go to school at Hogwarts for seven years," she explained. "You will probably be a bit overwhelmed by the amount of students there at first; I know that Bael de Danaan was when he came to Hogwarts. Of course, he had to teach students in a classroom, while you just have to worry about the library. Still, I wouldn't put it past any instructor to ask you into their class to talk about your race or what life is like in your kingdom as a cultural exchange."
"I will be learning about how to do that during my summer job," Bres reasoned. "So, I suppose I will be prepared by the time I get there. But may I ask about something Lunette mentioned yesterday? Am I to stay at the castle when I work there?"
"Actually, that part is up to you, really. It's true that room and board is included, and it's also true that Sirius and Anna wouldn't hesitate in letting you have the room you stayed in when you first arrived to return to in the evenings. You can choose," Jennifer explained.
"Where do you stay?" Bres asked.
"My family and I always stay at the castle… including Seren. She has her own room and
there's a daycare… that's a room where children who are too young for Hogwarts are supervised when their parents are working," Jennifer explained. "Of course, the daycare wasn't always there. I added it the year that Severus went to your world to fix the portal rifts. Before that time, most of the parents had to go back and forth, or do what Severus and I did. We stayed at the castle during the week and went home during the weekends." Jennifer took a sip of her coffee and became thoughtful. "You know, that may not be a bad choice for you either. You could stay at the castle during the weekdays and go home on the weekends."
"You'll have to explain that to me as well, I'm afraid," Bres said reluctantly. "How long
is a week?"
"Seven days in all, five days working, and two days off… well, maybe not entirely off. There are two days that students don't go to class, but we sometimes have special events going on at Hogwarts on the weekends, sports and trips and festivals and the like. The library stays open on the weekends so the students can do their research, so if you want to go home for the weekends, let Boulderdash know straight away so he can assign enough student helpers to come in and tend to the library."
Bres heard footsteps coming down the stairs.
"Ah! Here comes Seren… wait, is that the door?" Jennifer asked curiously. She heard excited chatter and squeals between Seren and another child. "That sounded like Caitlyn."
A moment later, Leu came into the kitchen from the corridor. Bres gazed curiously at the young man with grey hair and soft smile.
"Oh, you're back! Welcome home, Leu!" Jennifer greeted, hugging him warmly. "I was right! It was Caitlyn I heard! Have you eaten?"
"Yes, but a cup of coffee sounds good… hullo," Leu said to Bres, who nodded unsurely.
"Bres, this is one of my other son's, Llewellyn MacLir Murphy, but everyone calls him Leu."
"Ah, MacLir! I recognize that name," Bres said, then did a double-take. "What are you?"
Diana, who had come up behind Leu, stared at Bres fixedly.
"Human," she lied pointedly.
"Sorry, Diana, I don't think he knows better. Bres, we need to talk to you about your manners," Jennifer informed him with amusement. "I know that asking what race a person is is a very common question where you're from. I was asked 'what I was' all of the time while I was in the Otherworld. But in this world it's very rude, especially when so many races pretend to be human. It's not just a matter of trying to fit in… it's for their safety."
"I'm terribly sorry! It was simply my first reaction, and I should have been more tactful. It has been brought up before that I need to be careful and that humans are the dominant race, but I have met so many different races since that first introduction, from True Danaan to Pookah and everything in between," Bres said sincerely, standing long enough to give her an apologetic bow.
"It is imperative that you do not refer to Mage as a Pooka again. He is a Metamorphmagus," Diana said sternly.
"Diana's right, Bres. No matter how inhuman they seem to you, assume they're pretending to be human unless they tell you otherwise. And please use 'who are you' from now on," Jennifer added.
"Since it was a reflexive question, you may have to cast the Bubble Hex on him until he is used to it," Diana suggested.
"What an incredibly good idea. I think I shall," Jennifer decided. "May I cast a spell on you for a day or two to keep you from asking that question accidentally, Bres?"
"Very well," Bres agreed warily.
Jennifer pulled out her wand and tapped it towards him. Bres felt a sticky tingle on his mouth that faded quickly.
"There, it's done!" Jennifer confirmed, then glanced at the corridor. "Did the girls go upstairs?"
"Yes," Diana said, getting a cup for herself.
"Well, drat! Seren hasn't had her breakfast yet," Jennifer said. "And I haven't even seen my granddaughter!"
"I'll go bring them down, Mum," Leu offered. "That way Diana and Bres can have an interesting conversation," he added mischievously before going up to get the girls.
"Now, what did he mean by that?" Jennifer asked curiously.
"I don't know," Diana said evenly.
"Yes, alright, that'll do, Diana, you know you can't lie in front of me," Jennifer scolded, waggling a finger at her.
"Fine," Diana said with a sigh, sitting down with her coffee. "Leu is speaking about the fact that Fomorians do not consider the Svartalfar enemies. There was a point during the invasions that the Svartalfar switched sides to gain revenge on the Unseelie Court for breaking a deal with them."
"I have heard of this, but I was also taught that alliances were often short-lived and few races stayed on the same side for long. The only exception to that is that most races hated the humans and only the True Danaan ever took their side. At the time, humans were quite an undeveloped culture except for a small handful gifted with magic. All of the race who came through the portals to flee the demon scourge felt that humans were simply in the way," Bres said.
"Did the Svartalfar believe that we were in the way as well?" Diana challenged him.
"Well, yes, of course, but Fomorions were a formidable threat compared to humans," the Delf pointed out.
"That is true," Diana agreed.
"No wonder human history painted all of you as evil if the one thing you agreed on was that humans were a nuisance," Jennifer said drolly.
"That would be putting it kindly compared to what is written," Bres admitted.
"Very kindly," Diana agreed. "In the end, the humans overran us. Our brethren, the Giants, still have villages scattered around this world, but only one Fomorian city survives."
"That is true of us as well. We have a city of great enough population to sustain it, but we were besieged by the Demons and their Dark Fae allies. Only now is our situation changing," Bres said.
"I do not believe the situation for the Fomorians will ever improve," Diana said solemnly.
"Do you suppose…" whatever Bres was going to say was cut off as two girls ran in. They were the exact same height, and yet it was obvious from Caitlyn's movements that she was a great deal younger.
"Here we are! Hey, you! You had your breakfast, Caitlyn!" Leu said when she clamored into a seat.
"We woke up the lady!" Serendipity reported.
"The two of you shouldn't have been so loud in the corridor," Leu scolded them gently. "Lunette will be down in a minute."
"The scones will be out in five minutes, Jennifer, and I added some sausage rolls when I saw that we had company but they will take a bit longer," Mercy's voice reported.
"That's lovely! Come now, even if you've eaten, Leu, surely you have room enough for a scone or a sausage roll. Do we have coffee left?"
"I'll make more," Diana offered.
"Do you like coffee, Bres?" Leu asked.
"The taste is somewhat similar to Tanna, closer than the tea I've had so far," Bres said.
"Lunette said he's only had a basic black tea and he doesn't quite care for it," Jennifer explained.
"There are many kinds of tea, though," Leu said.
"I have heard that, but since I have been in this household, it seems that nearly everyone drinks coffee," Bres said.
"I prefer tea, but I know what you mean," Leu admitted with a soft chuckle.
"So how long are you staying, Leu?" Jennifer asked.
"Well, we finished the research on the Roman barge excavation, so now we have some down time since we'll have to make another bid," Leu said. "I was hoping to get back before Laura had her baby… did we?"
"Yes, you made it, just barely! She's due any day now," Jennifer replied.
"In that case, we'll stay here until we're invited to Lupin Island then moor the boat on their dock. From there we can head to Atlantis to visit Diana's parents for a few days," Leu said.
"Would you like to go?" Diana asked Bres suddenly, and Leu blinked, a bit surprised. "My grandfather is the Governor of our people, and he would probably be very interested in meeting an old allied race."
"Are you sure Mikolas is really going to be interested in that?" Leu asked uncertainty.
"Yes, very. He's always interested in making contact with any race that doesn't smell like humans. Besides, Bres still has the Stain on him," Diana said.
"The what?" Leu asked blankly.
"It is similar to a curse… it's magic that Fae races use to warn all other races that they are not to be trusted," Diana said.
"Do you have knowledge of this that I do not?" Bres asked with obvious surprise. "We have no records of the time of invasions, only stories from our elders that are too colored with legend to take seriously. If your people have better records than we do, then I would be most interested in going to your city to exchange information, if for no other reason." Diana nodded.
"Once we arrive at Lupin Island, I will fly ahead and see if my grandfather will grant an audience," Diana said. Jennifer smiled at that.
"I would be quite honored," Bres agreed sincerely.
Lunette came in quite pressed and looking ready for the day, going straight over to the coffee pot.
"Oh, it's just scones? I thought I smelled something meatier," Lunette admitted.
"Five minutes left on the sausage rolls," Mercy reported.
"Never mind, I think I'll go out. Bres, would you mind if I went back to New York for a week to visit a few more people?" Lunette asked.
"No, of course I wouldn't," Bres replied.
"Thanks! I'll go grab some things and head out. I'll be back in time for our Coven Night, Jennifer," Lunette promised. "If you need to get in touch with me, try the Book Club."
"Alright, Lunette," Jennifer said, putting the jam and the cream on the table. Bres watched her go thoughtfully, then turned back to Jennifer.
"What does it mean when she is so angry that she makes me leave the night before and yet behaves as if she isn't angry at all the next morning?" Bres asked in confusion.
"It means you're married," Leu replied, helping Caitlyn with her scone.
"Oh, it definitely means you're married," Jennifer confirmed with amusement.
"Agreed," Diana said, then went to get the girls some drinks.
"I don't suppose there are any books on the subject?" Bres inquired.
"Plenty, but none of them help," Jennifer said. "You'll simply have to figure it out like the rest of us," she teased, handing him a plate.
It was the next afternoon as Bres was studying in the library that Jennifer rapped on the open door excitedly.
"It's time! The Cottonwoods have been called, we need to get to the island! Oh, you are coming, aren't you? I suppose I should've asked!" Jennifer realized.
"You are so excited that your emotion is positively ripping through me," Bres admitted with an amused smile. "A new child in my kingdom is so rare an event that it's treated as a very special occasion. And yet, although your children have many children of their own, you are treating this with an exhausting amount of fervor."
"Now, don't you pick on me! Every baby is special," Jennifer chided him. "If you want to go to the island, you might want to pack your satchel! We'll be staying overnight, and then I believe you were planning on going with Leu and Diana back to meet her grandfather."
"Yes, of course," Bres said with interest. He quickly organized his work as Jennifer bounded down the library stairs again.
Jennifer, Bres, and Seren arrived just in time to see Andrew stepping out of the door with yet another pink-wrapped child. Family members who hadn't known yet laughed and gave him a hard time, some like Alicia and Zoe teaming up to call it poetic justice. There was a second round of laughter before they got close enough to hear, but Jennifer couldn't help but be amused, knowing that Andrew had told them her name before handing her off to Carol, who was more than a little delighted to finally get to hold one of her grandchildren on her very first day.
Seeing Carol's reaction, Jennifer intentionally took her time walking over to where everyone sat outside in a variety of mishmashed chairs around a very rustic grill with a fish sharing space with a pot of steaming mussels. The others finally noticed them when Seren ran through the middle of them on the way to the children's pen, her arms up and ready for Natalie to catch her and help her over the barrier to join Andrew's other girls.
"Sorry, Mum! Carol and Remus called 'Dibs'!" Andrew said with a chuckle.
"It's quite alright, Andrew, it's their turn… but don't expect me to stay anywhere else but on this island tonight."
"No problem, I'll put up the tent," Andrew said.
"Hey! Tents are a great idea! We have plenty of space along the ridge," Zoe said enthusiastically. "Dad, can I borrow the tent?"
"Anyone extra staying over has to help babysit and they have to cook for themselves," Andrew warned.
"I don't mind," Zoe said.
"You don't mind a small Black invasion, do you, Moony?" Sirius asked.
"If Andrew and Laura don't mind, I don't," Remus said. "What's wrong, Bres? Sirius, have you met Bres?"
"Yes, we already made him an honorary Black," Sirius confirmed.
Andrew, still hovering over Carol and his new daughter, stood up as Jennifer attempted to get Bres to step up when she, too, noticed him hesitate.
"Come along, Bres, it's alright! He won't bite," Jennifer insisted.
"I do," Sirius said, raising his hand.
"Me too," Remus volunteered, but then was distracted when Carol handed little Marianne to him.
Lord Bres, this is my son, Sir Andrew the Wise, the new father of yet another daughter," Jennifer teased. "Severus told me that you lost another naming battle."
"Now, I didn't entirely lose," Andrew immediately protested. "Laura promised that if I let her have this one, she will never bring up the name Fitzwilliam again."
"I hope you know that the vast majority of the pool had you having another girl this time. I think Fate has it in for you, Andrew," Sirius warned with a chuckle.
Just then, Doctor Cottonwood came out with a smile.
"Alright, the mother is ready for visitations… and she wants her daughter back," he reported with amusement.
"I'm going," Remus said, carefully standing up with the bundle and giving Marianne a warm smile.
"Oh, I want to go!" Jennifer said in a panic.
"Two is fine, but that's enough! Give them some time before you crowd in on them," the doctor protested.
"Come along, Jennifer, we'll visit together," Remus offered, and Jennifer immediately followed Remus and the baby in. Bres was still standing in the same position, helplessly watching Jennifer leave.
"You alright, Bres?" Sirius asked curiously, seeing how stiff he was.
"It's because of Andrew," Aurelius told them with a snort.
Bres looked over at the person who spoke. Aurelius' steady gaze reminding him of Jennifer's, despite a more stoic expression.
"He's awestruck by Andrew and is unsure of how to proceed and what decorum he needs to show. In Tir Na Nog, Andrew is a big hero for killing Lilith and releasing his people from her tyranny and expelling the demons and restoring peace and all that rot," Aurelius explained, rolling his eyes. "I guess his culture is really strict about propriety and formality, and since he doesn't know what to do and Mum decided to just introduce Andrew and leave, he's stuck."
"Huh. I guess being overly polite is a double-edged sword," Sirius decided. "Thanks, Bres, you gave me a reason to be grateful I have rude kids."
"I'm not grateful," Anna told Sirius, putting a tablecloth over a small table.
Andrew wasn't about to stand and listen to them tease Bres' discomfort. He strode over to Bres, putting a hand on his shoulder reassuringly.
"All I did in that battle was use my mother's love against Lilith, so if you owe anyone for releasing you from the demons, it is my mother, not me," Andrew told him in a warm, sincere tone. "As for bringing peace to your kingdom, I had nothing to do with that. It was the will of King Iuchar and Prince Dathbryn to make a quick truce, and, from what I heard, it was also your father's actions, by showing allegiance to Iuchar and showing his willingness to put aside past grievances with the Seelie Court. You, too, play an important part in finding peace for your kingdom, Bres. You came to a completely different world to learn about Lunette's culture, which you had no previous exposure to. And Leu told me earlier that you plan to go with them on the boat to visit the Fomorians. Have you ever been on a boat, Bres?"
"No, I have not," Bres admitted. "But I will go if the Fomorians wish to meet with me."
"What is your moniker? Your personal title," Andrew explained.
"I am Bres the Meticulous," Bres replied.
Andrew shook his head.
"You are now Bres the Peacemaker," Andrew informed him. "You are a friend of the Snape family, and will be treated as a brother."
"Hey! We adopted him first," Sirius complained.
"All the more reason for Bres to relax. This is an informal gathering, Bres. It's no different than grilling at the Black's house," Andrew informed him.
"It's a lot different! That grill is small, tilted, and all it ever has is fish on it," Sirius argued.
"Never mind that! Andrew just changed Bres' moniker! Is he allowed to do that?" Zoe wanted to know.
"I don't see why he can't, considering he saved their whole damn planet," Sirius reasoned.
"Hey, cousin! How about making me something other than Zoe the Quick Tongued?" Zoe requested.
"No," Andrew said flatly, walking towards the cottage.
"Hey, that's a great idea, Zoe! Can I be something other than Immaculate?" Sirius asked hopefully.
"Sorry, I can't hear either of you. I'm going to check on Laura," Andrew informed them, going inside.
"Bres, since you're just standing around anyway, how about lending me a hand over here?" Anna asked from where she was putting together the table.
"See what you get for being polite? You got recruited! Next time just sit down so that you're not noticed," Zoe advised.
"Don't corrupt him, Zoe, he's more fun this way," Sirius suggested, then got up to help pitch some tents.
Leu and Diana arrived as everyone gathered their plates, and as everyone attempted to get their kids sorted out, Leu walked up to Bres.
"Do you want to stay on the boat tonight? I thought that since you haven't been on one before, we can at least get you a little acclimated before we leave," Leu offered. "Can you swim?" Bres shook his head.
"The waters surrounding our kingdom are a solid sheet of ice, so there has never been a need," Bres explained.
"It's okay. When we head to the city, we'll put you in the bubble with Caitlyn," Leu said. "Caitlyn can actually swim as good as a fish, but there are a lot of water hazards, so we decided to do it the safe way until she's older. The internal parts of the city are open air. Since we're expected, we should have a pretty smooth ride, but there are still some boat safety rules for you to learn."
"I am quite interested," Bres assured him enthusiastically, then went over to let Jennifer know. Jennifer was holding a baby… which one, he wasn't quite sure; he only knew that she was too old to be Marianne.
"Yes, I think staying with them on a boat is a great idea," Jennifer said distractedly, then looked over to where Diana was helping Caitlyn fill her plate. "I think I'll stay here until Sunday, then we'll have to head home because Quintin has to work."
"As long as Leu doesn't offend anyone and gets us expelled from the city again, I shall drop Bres off before he has to be at work as well," Diana said.
"That's lovely! Have a good trip, Bres! I'm sure you'll be back with stories to tell!" Jennifer said. "I think I'll go take Alice back to the baby pen and help out for a bit."
"Perhaps that will keep her out of trouble," Diana suggested, waiting as Bres filled his plate with tiny portions of everything to try.
"May I inquire about your comment about Leu getting us expelled? Was that comment made in jest, or is it an actual concern?" Bres asked as he followed Diana and Caitlyn to a folded table.
"Humans have a natural inclination to offend, my husband is no different," Diana acknowledged. "It can be trying at times…"
"I understand, but being that I am now visiting as a diplomat, I would like to know as much as possible about what I should avoid doing while in your city. It would not look good if I were to accidentally start a war between us when it is my first official day as a peacemaker," Bres said.
Smirking at that, Diana nodded and began going over the basics.
Other than blowing a soap bubble the first time Bres saw Diana and Leu's Merrow crew, Bres adjusted quickly to the novelty of being on a boat. He barely commented on the armbands after Leu had explained it was a safety device in case Bres fell in the ocean, then spent several minutes wandering on the deck. But Delves were quite light on their feet by nature, and it wasn't long before he adjusted, following Leu below deck.
"It's a bit of a tub compared to my parents boat, really, because it's made for different purposes," Leu explained as they went below deck. A table and two benches took up most of the common area, with the galley being on one wall without anything but small counters between the range and the sink and cooler. "They're both motor-sailers, but this one is kitted out with equipment we need for wizard artifact excavations, which is what all of the extension arms and big sifting tubs are for on the deck. It's a working ship, where my parents have a pleasure yacht," Leu summarized. "If you stick around long enough, you'll probably end up on Mum's boat too."
"I would have been eager to learn about boats even for the one trip, but it is good to know it may prove to be useful information on other occasions," Bres said, watching as Caitlyn pulled out a couple of toys from a bin under one of the sofas and ran down the corridor to her room.
"Your room is across from the one you just saw Caitlyn run into, and the shower is next to it," Leu said. "There's a small table in there, but if you need to write, I suggest you come out and use this one, it's more stable. We'll leave just after breakfast tomorrow."
"Would it be alright if I observe your Merrow crew?" Bres asked.
"Sure, as long as you follow their instructions if they give any. Marina, make sure our guest is safe," Leu called out the door.
"Understood, sir," Bres heard the Merrow say. Bres smiled softly, intently listening as Leu continued giving him instructions.
The next morning they set off with a basket of bacon-filled blaas, nice and warm in Bres' hands as he watched the boat float from the dock from the saloon window. He heard the Merrows call out to each other, but sometimes the words were too muffled to hear and many of the words were so specific to boating that he had no way to translate them. Finally Bres came back inside, getting another one of the blaas.
"Will it take long to get to the Westernmost Isle?" Bres asked.
"Not really," Leu said, getting into a cabinet and pulling out a children's workbook. "Caitlyn! Do you want to color some letters?" he called out, and the little girl came running in, sitting next to him as Leu pulled out a lidded box of crayons.
"Are you teaching her how to write?" Bres asked with interest.
"She's still on the letter recognition stage," Leu explained. "Which one do you want to do, Caitlyn?"
"D!" she said, and he pulled out a coloring sheet that had a letter and a four-legged animal on it.
"May I try?" Bres asked.
"Which one should I give him?" Leu consulted Caitlyn.
"That," she said, showing him one she didn't want to do.
"That's an S. S is for spider," Leu told her, pulling the page out and handing it to him. "I assume there are spiders in Tir Na Nog."
"Oh, yes. And if they're anything like the ones there, I understand why she might not want to color it," he said, and she helpfully held out a black pencil for him. "Thank you very much. What is the letter called again?"
"S," Caitlyn said, but then began concentrating on her own sheet.
Leu smiled with amusement and decided that he had time to make tea, leaving the two of them to color.
By the time they arrived, Bres and Caitlyn were fast friends, and she had no hesitation in climbing on his lap once they entered the strange bubble ship.
"This Bubble Pod runs on magic, so we'll be swimming on either side of you. Just relax and enjoy the view," Leu told Bres as he sealed the capsule and lowered it into the water with his wand. Diana was already in the ocean, and Leu jumped in after, the two of them leading the Bubble Pod down under the lapping sea.
Sand drifted around from the edges of the beach, but even in the murky conditions, Bres could make out the silhouettes of buildings, some castle-like turrets and other stone structures. As the water began to clear, he noticed a long marble stair connecting the island to what was now clearly an underwater city, the window light seeming to twinkle with the movement of the water as they approached. The stairs themselves seemed to be leading to the very center of the complex and a domed palace; but Bres didn't get a very good look of it before they sank too low to see anything but barnacle-covered stone walls. It grew dark as they went through some sort of tunnel, and he felt his ears pressurize as the Bubble Pod suddenly lifted, and they found themselves inside a brightly lit room. Diana and Leu pulled themselves up out of the water, and Leu once again pulled his wand out of his wetsuit, lifting the Bubble Pod out and opening it.
Caitlyn excitedly scrambled out.
"Make me big!" Caitlyn said.
"Caitlyn, be patient," Leu scolded her as Diana turned around the satchel that had been on her back.
"Here, let me go first so that Bres can judge our size, since he is unlikely to need a potion," Diana said, handing Leu the satchel.
"You don't need a potion?" Leu asked curiously.
"I do not," Bres confirmed, then watched as Diana took a potion bottle and took a few steps away before drinking it, returning to her normal height. Making sure to step well back from the others, Bres also shot up to the exact same proportion he had been to Diana before. Caitlyn and Leu followed with their own potions, with Diana taking her hand to steady her.
"Welcome back, Explorer Diana," said one of the guards near the arch that led further inside the city. "Governor Mikolas is expecting you… and your guest."
"Then we will go there directly," Diana said, leading them through the arch and down a long hall with doors and corridors on either side, leading to all other areas of the city.
At the other end was a series of stairs that led to what appeared to be the governor's reception room, which was not dissimilar to the room Bres' father held court in. The older Fomorian had sharp black eyes and black hair with a grey speckled beard. Near his chair stood a beautiful Fomorion with long blonde hair who resembled Diana close enough that Bres was certain it was her mother.
Bres bowed regally and waited. Leu bowed as well.
"Diana, you have returned! Ah, and my little granddaughter!" Thera said, embracing Caitlyn. "Llewellyn, I see you're well," she added. Leu straightened from his bow.
"Yes, I am well, thank you, Thera. We have just finished our latest excavation," Leu reported.
"Yes, we have," Diana confirmed. "But the only Fomorion item there was a small perfume jar and its stopper pin."
"Every relic is precious, no matter how small," Mykolas assured her. "You have done well to return it. And what of this stranger from the Otherworld? Is this truly one of the Delvish kind?"
"He is," Diana confirmed. "He is Lord Bres the Peacemaker, second son of the Lord of Ilsudan."
"You are welcome to come forward and speak with me," Mykolas said. Bres finally stood.
"It is an honor to be in such a city of legend, and among a people we feared had long disappeared," Bres said in Fomorian.
"Ah! He speaks our tongue! It is an older dialect, but still a surprise!" Mikolas said, impressed.
"Our scholars teach several old languages as a matter of scholarly exercise. You see, a number of Fomorian words had migrated to Tir Na Nog, especially in the Northern tongues. It is treated as a root language," Bres explained.
"I see. So even in your world, the time of the Invasions is felt," Mikolas concluded with interest.
"Yes, that is so," Bres confirmed. "In the Northern Faelands, it is well known that many of the Danaan, descendents from the Fae migrants, also have Fomorian blood; some more than others, but it has made them quite distinct from the True Fae of Caer Brenin and the woodland Fae of King Minwyll's court. Their Northern Fae dialect has more Fomorian words than we do, so while there are no Fomorians in our lands, your presence here is felt."
"I see. And you… what is the health of your people? Are there many?" he asked.
"Our city and castle sustains five hundred, no more and no less. My father and his advisors say it is the minimum we can keep to sustain our civilization, but we could not grow beyond that during Lilith's reign. We could barely sustain ourselves, for we were under constant siege, surrounded by demons," Bres explained.
"And we are surrounded by humans, but unlike your situation, our siege will never end," Mikolas said darkly, thinking back. "When I became the Governor, there were ten dozen of us. At our lowest point, eight dozen. I was a Magus then, and fretted daily about our future. We were isolated from our enemies, yes, but we were foolishly isolated from potential allies as well. But then, a small group of thieving wizards discovered us, seeking the Cauldron of our greatest enemy. Soon others followed that both amazed us and horrified us… a blood of Morrigan… a blood of Merlin… the Governor was frantic, and we did what we could to stop them, but it was no use. Our power was nothing compared to the will of Jennifer Craw, who even in her pregnant state managed to take both our prisoners and the Cauldron of Dagda and escape."
"Jennifer Craw!" Bres exclaimed in extreme surprise, then put a hand to his mouth and bowed deeply in apology.
"It is alright. You may speak out of turn," Mikolas excused him.
"I was simply surprised that her name came up in such a context. She stole your enemy's Cauldron?" Bres asked.
"It was our enemy's Cauldron, and not technically ours. She was retrieving it in her ancestor's name, just as surely as we do any time we retrieve one of our relics," Thera interjected, earning an eye roll from her father.
"Thera, we do not talk about internal politics in front of strangers. Whether I label her a thief or not does not matter, considering she was pardoned for helping to rescue us from Ciardoth. Whether I personally decide not to forgive her completely or not for the Cauldron incident is inconsequential and private," Mikolas scolded her. Thera simply smiled at him, apparently unperturbed. "You'll have to forgive my daughter, Lord Bres, she lacks your manners."
"I understand. I am beginning to see that women in this world are particularly bold compared to what I'm used to in my culture. My wife is just as bold. It is rather refreshing, actually," Bres said with a hint of amusement.
"There are no bolder women than Fomorian women, that much is certain," Mikolas said, still frowning at his daughter disapprovingly.
"Except for Jennifer," Thera corrected unabashedly. "Isn't that right, Leu?"
"My wife is also very bold and lovely," Leu offered first, and was rewarded with a proud smile. "But my mother just can't stay out of anything," he added with amusement.
"So I am learning," Bres said with a nod of the head.
As the discussion turned to family matters, it was not long before Mikolas dismissed them and Thera picked up her granddaughter contentedly to take her to her room. Leu and Diana followed Thera while Mikolas invited Bres to walk with him.
"You must eat with us tonight so that we can have less formal conversation, but I still have much to discuss with you about engaging on a diplomatic level," Mikolas offered.
"I look forward to it, Governor, for I have many ideas on how it would be mutually beneficial. In fact, there may be a way we can help your situation," Bres suggested. "I understand if you do not wish to tell me your number, but I can see that your people have prospered since you were voted Governor. Am I correct in saying that your population is healthier now?"
"Due to an alliance with the Northern Giants, who share most of our traits, our number has nearly doubled since I was Magus. Some of our warriors have taken giant wives, who are grateful for having a chance to be in a warmer environment," Mikolas said with an amused smile that quickly faded. "Yes, it has helped, but we are still in a perilous position. The Wizards have added to our protections to make certain this area stays unfound and unclaimed by the voracious non-magical humans, but I can't help but wonder about its permanency. Strange flying craft mark our skies… what if one were to fall or breach the veil that protects us? It is a disturbing thought."
"May I offer a possible solution, Governor, even if informally given," Bres requested, and Mikolas nodded to him. "Our land is downtrodden, but it is vast. Our southernmost range where the ocean lies unfrozen has been untouched since the demons arrived; now that they are gone it is vacant, but still within our territory. In fact, our territory is too large for a mere city of five hundred to restore and cultivate. It will take many years, and as such, perhaps my Father would grant a land and sea parcel for our longest standing ally so that you might form a colony in our world. It would be hard work to bring the land back to life, and the winters in our territory are quite harsh indeed. But perhaps it would give you a bit of peace of mind if you knew there was a second home for your people… a second chance for survival. In Tir Na Nog there are fewer humans than there are Faefolk in this land, so few that many think they are legendary."
Mikolas walked in silence for a few moments, pausing to look out the window at the fish drifting by.
"It is an intriguing idea, but there would be many obstacles. Even if your lord and father were to agree to it, we would require a way to get our people back and forth. This island once had a grand portal to your realm; it was at the top of the island's tallest hill where the cursed trees grow. But at the end of the last war, when the Danaan fled back to their land, the portal was shut by the Wizard Merlin and has never opened again. I would consider such a colony only if the portal were reopened and remained open as long as my people still inhabit this city," Mikolas said firmly.
"That sounds like a daunting task, especially when I am still attempting to make sense of this confusing world," Bres admitted slowly.
"I understand, but we are simply speculating at this point, are we not? How long do you plan to stay?"
"For at least a year, until my first child is born and it is safe to return," Bres explained.
"The midsummer is approaching. It is a time of competition for our people, where returning scouts find their mates and others are sent out into the world on tasks for the city… tasks already chosen. Next year, I ask you to wait until after midsummer to return home. I shall send a scout with you to visit your kingdom and discuss renewing our alliance. Whether or not we consider your other proposal formally will depend on how much progress you have made when it comes to restoring our portal," Mikolas said.
"I understand. Thank you, Governor," Bres said.
"I shall also allow you to consult my Magus for the remainder of your trip. He can answer whatever questions you have without the necessity of as much propriety as what you need to speak to me," Mikolas added, and Bres smiled.
"Thank you, I am most grateful for any chance to learn more about your culture, and perhaps some of the history that intersects my own people's history," Bres replied.
"I shall inform him of your interest," Mikolas replied, then gradually caught up with the others.