It was night when my wife couldn't bear the pain any longer. We awoke sharply, I from her screams and her from sweat. She was half-screaming, groaning and turning in the sheets and all I could do was try to comfort her, but she knew it was time, and I, with no knowledge of what to do, ran from the room without a word. My wings, which had not minutes ago been caressing my wife, switched open enough for me to glide as quickly down the halls as I could, and I found the midwife, startled awake from my barging the door open, her husband swinging his arm over her chest. I could tell her nothing, as the words could not find themselves to form with the help of my tongue and dry throat. She understood immediately, with one cursory glance at my eyes, which later she had said were sharp as daggers, and rolled off the bed and ran out the room in her nakedness, her husband following suite. I had more prominent plans myself and rushed away from the room in search of the thing I needed most.
My wings opened once I reached the cold air outside, and I began my flight to the center of Dractalemh, where the portal to the world resided, and it did not take me long. Dractalemh was not what it used to be, and we kept ourselves close to the center in an effort to rebuild, while the ruins of old skirted the boundaries and remained a constant stain of a nightmare. My sister had tried to rebuild in my absence, long ago, but my race was long gone, aside from the branch family, the Red Sky, but they were outcasted; banished, until recently, and now we rebuild again, with the help of my wife's kin, the elves of Teles.
Upon seeing the portal to the world below my wings folded inward so I could descend easily, and I touched the ground with a hasty grace; admittedly, I stumbled on the landing, but I quickly reformed myself and pressed the palm of my left hand against the pulsating light. In an instant, like the blink of an eye, I was in a barren wasteland with only the obelisk before me as an immediate object of interest. I turned heel, and sped off to the west, my wings opening as quickly as I could make them, until i found a hut with dimmed lights in the barren.
Though usually I would knock, I just barged through the door, making a loud crashing sound as the pots and pans that hung on the walls opposite of me vibrated and fell to the ground. I hesitated a moment, bending down to grab what I could in a flurry of excited discomfort, but when I looked up I could see two figures. One was a pale white drake leaning on the hallway arch, with a hand rubbing his eyes, and the other was my sister, Irlaede, who stood in front of him, both of them half-nude and irritated.
"I—" I began, but my sister raised a hand quickly.
"Drunk again, are we?" she asked in a ired huff.
"N-no!" I stuttered, "It's uh.. it's..."
"This isn't the first time, Azmond."
"It's not that, Irlaede!"
"Perhaps you can give him a moment to speak, wife," said the white drake tiredly, rubbing his eyes again. "Come, brother, say what you need."
"It's uh," I was too panicked to say it correctly. I was embarrassed of the situation I put myself in, and my words seemed to fight themselves, and when I was done, the four piercing eyes they gave me left an impression for a few days. The white drake, Tsu'caro, raised his hand to tell me to slow down and breathe, and so I did.
When I regained my bearings, I was able to tell them what I needed to say..
"Nanthaliene," I said, finally," she's ready. She's giving birth."
My sister pondered for a moment, then sighed. She went back into the room and left Tsu'caro to watch me with his cold, unreadable eyes. I could hear her asking about the midwife and other help, to which I tried to tell her I had done what needed to be done, but none would know as well as Irlaede how to deliver a drake, be it half-breed or not. I heard her chuckle, but her calmness drove me to a quick anger, and Tsu'caro checked me immediately.
"You may be king now, brother," he said with a trill, seemingly a bit amused of the situation," but you don't know everything."
It sounded as though he had more news for me; I could read it in his eyes as they flickered with more curiosity than I'd seen them in ages. I disregarded it for the meantime and rushed into the room to help my sister find what she needed, though she breathed a bit of fire at me for intervening. Tsu'caro continued to look amused, his arms crossed over his chest as his white scales retreated back into his skin. Though he knew my scent, he probably couldn't help it, as his kin were once my enemy, and the memories probably still haunted him.
When my sister was ready the three of us left the hut. Tsu'caro, apparently, didn't feel the need to dress, though we could warm ourselves easily, but propriety generally calls for it. Though I digress; ironically, and embarrassing as it was, I was also particularly underdressed in my haste, and I had no right to judge. Irlaede was always a proper woman, before and after the fall of Dractalemh, and so she dressed as such.
It took us the same amount of time to get back to my home. I will spare the details, but Irlaede could not stop chiding me the entire way, especially about how I should have heeded her the day before and had her stay with us in our patchwork homestead, but my worries are always high; though Tala'anaim was in what the mortals called 'The Unknown Lands,' it would only take a lost soul to find it, and we did not need the world to know, and I needed someone to watch Tala'anaim, and my sister did not mind it. Though she could visit as often as she wanted, she enjoyed her privacy. She had lived alone for so long before, not knowing if I lived, and grew accustomed to the feeling of solitude; Tsu'caro was the exception, and though we had our differences in the past I always liked him, and I respected him just as much, and he loved Irlaede enough to protect her, even from his brother, Berun Metal-Arms, who died fighting him in our fight against the Red Sky years ago.
My sister hurried to my wife, and soon the midwife was ordered to fetch some things from down the hall and Tsu'caro and I watched her pass us frantically. We stayed in silence for a moment until she passed us again, and I turned when I sensed another presence approaching.
"Good morning, Stalize," I greeted, and the elf bowed his head. He never looked tired, and I did not know if he slept this night. He was a close friend and confidant of Nanthaliene, as well as her old mentor in the ways of battle. I trusted him as well, though it goes without saying, or he wouldn't be here.
"Yes," he said simply, though he heard the screams from the room and I could hear his muscles tensing under his skin. I stared at him a while, reading him for a moment for no reason in particular, then waved an arm.
"If you'd like to help," I said," then do so. Ask Irlaede what you can do."
"Surprised you aren't doing the same," he retorted, and I growled.
"I wouldn't know what I'm doing. I'd just be fumbling around." He smiled at that. Stalize bowed once more, then leisurely made his way to the room without another word.
I was glad he left, honestly, both to help my wife and to help me. I wanted to pry into Tsu'caro for a moment, but when I shifted my head I saw his eyes were closed, and just as before at his home he had his arms crossed over his chest. I listened to his breath, and it sounded as though he was trying to remain calm. I didn't blame him. It wasnt the events of the night, but I was sure it had something to do with me. So, genuinely intrigued, I pressed him.
"Something on your mind?"
He opened his eyes, and his pupils seemed to adjust to the dim lights of the hallway. He stared at me for a moment before he opened his mouth to say something, but apparently could not find the right words, and sooner shut his mouth again. I looked to the floor.
"Bad dream?" I asked him softly, and I heard him shuffle in place.
"Yes."
"Your brother?" I heard his tendons tense in his fingers, possibly gripping his bicep with enough force to make it shed blood. He breathed in slowly, and on the release he answered.
"He seems to visit often," he muttered under a spit of flame. He tried to control his ire, but knew I was genuinely concerned, and so he did nothing. It made me realize, in that moment, that I had never made any movement to console him about the past. It was my fault, I knew, and I think subconsciously I just never wanted to approach the matter, but the guilt of the past years in weight seemed to finally drop on my head like a roof that had caved in, and I found myself silent from the impact. Tsu'caro could feel it, and I could hear the same familiar trill he used when he found something amusing. This made me look up at him, and he began to chuckle, of all things. I was, admittedly surprised, and he saw the confusion on my face and put a hand on my shoulder.
"The past is the past," he said calmly, then crossed his arms again," my brother knew my heart. He knew what would happen, and let it happen. He may not have seemed too bright to you, but underneath all that rage and anger was a brilliant mind. Brilliant, indeed."
I found that all of a sudden I couldn't speak; out of shame or because Tsu'caro, after all these years, was finally opening up to me, and once it started, it seemed not to end. It was the longest I've ever heard him talk.
"You know, before Azarül," he continued," and the Red Sky's banishment, he did like you. He praised you, even. But Azarül convinced us to think otherwise, and you know how Azarül was, very persuasive. Berun was traditional and always did things the right way. One time, when we were here in that time long past, we, uh, we got into an argument over... over, uh, some sort of food... can't seem to remember, and he..." he started to laugh excitedly, remembering what seemed to be the funniest story," ...he challenged me, can you believe that? To a duel. We were younger, but you know how he is, uh, was. Hot-tempered, as hot as the food, that much I remember. I think our mother made it... anyway, his scales sprung out of his skin and, I didn't know what to do, so I offered the food to him. And he was so confused, he was just... he took it in his hands, but I didn't let go and he started to get really angry! At this point I was just, I had to struggle to keep my hands on the food because I was damn-near falling on the floor laughing, and it turned into some sort of tugging match..."
I listened. He continued on, recanting these moments of a time before darkness. Not just for him, no, but for all of us. We all have such stories, we just don't air them out often, and for Tsu'caro it seems to have been a long time since he'd thought of his brother in such a way. It made me start to think about my brother as well, and how he was when we were younger, but I hated those thoughts, and so I discarded them with the shake of my head.
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"Irlaede," I said, cutting him out of his memories," always chided me when I was younger. What you saw back at your home was nothing more than habit for her. She'd always been like that, but less so in recent years. It almost makes me miss it, but her solitude I think damaged her in one way or another. I was so happy to find her again, but... she didn't seem keen to return the sentiment. Not at first, mind you."
"Well," Tsu'caro stated," the dark seems to be able to reach anyone. Azarül and Ieghos, while their motives and plans were different, were like-minded to spread that disease. It pains me to know how deep Azarül drove his claws into Berun. And if Azarül were alive today, I would..." Tsu'caro took a deep breath, but said nothing more on the matter.
Amid the screams of pain from Nanthaliene and the soothing voice from Irlaede, the two of us sat in silence for a while. I could not hide my worry or impatience any longer, but when I started towards the room, Tsu'caro stopped me by grabbing my shoulder.
"Come," he said," let's get a drink."
I agreed, and we left the hallway and made our way into the banquet hall. It wasn't much; two long rows of tables lay parallel in the middle of the room with some scattered dishes the servants, I suppose, forgot to clean. But they were probably getting drunk the last time we held a feast, and Nanthaliene and I have not been in the banquet hall since. Still, I should reprimand them, but I think I'll go easy this time. Dractalemh was not much to look at anyways, anymore.
I found the nearest bottle of mead. This one was unopened, fortunately, which was good because it came from Nanthaliene's homeland, Teles. She said it came from the South Star, somewhere on Wolf's Tail, and sent to the North Star as a gesture of goodwill; a hope to start reparations after the last king had broken away from the realm. She said the mead was a good year as well, but the year was carved on wood back in Teles and escaped my memory when my wife told me, so I suppose it just wasn't that important to me. Nor is it now.
I cracked the bottle and Tsu'caro reluctantly grabbed two of the many drinking horns scattered around the room. He almost seemed to chide me with his eyes, but I returned the favor with a shrug. I began to pour into the first horn, but stopped suddenly. I looked at Tsu'caro, who had already been looking down the hall with his cold hazel eyes. He breathed a sign of relief and turned his head at me. We both sensed something, that was certain, but perhaps it was our nerves of the night. I started to pour again, trying to shake the feeling off, but it lingered, much to my irritation.
I blinked, and there was a third horn sitting in front of me. At first I was confused, thinking I was too far stressed to be seeing things correctly, then I was alarmed. I lifted the bottle quickly, in a way that I meant to swing it, but I was in such an awkward position, and so the bottle kind of just left my hand.
Someone caught it, but it was not me, nor was it Tsu'caro. It was a cloaked body, standing just beside us. It took me not more than a second to grow frustrated, and I punched his arm as hard as I could.
"Damn you, Ban!" I hissed, and Tsu'caro seemed to trill again. Ban's hood dissipated, and his smile brought back memories. He began to pour the mead, making sure we all had an even amount, before he smashed his drink with ours.
"Wouldn't miss this for the world," he said, happily, but I knew better. Of course, he wouldn't, but the Eldengar do not just appear for occasions such as these. Ban had something else to talk about, but he did not mention it yet. We gulped down our drinks in one go each. Though I did not care to participate in the game, Ban seemed to try to beat us, as was his nature, and he did, though Tsu'caro and I did not have that nature. Ban slammed his horn down on the table, then jumped and landed on the end as if he was perched, which didn't seem particularly odd considering his mannerisms, and was also not odd considering what he was.
"Looking for dragonflies?" Tsu'caro said in attempted humor.
"Not this time," retorted Ban," but I can't help it. Being stuck as an owl the majority of my days has its tendencies. I'm surprised you two aren't cowering in caves of gold."
"What are you doing here, Ban?" I asked, almost rudely. Ban looked at me with his, admittedly, infectious grin.
"What do you mean?" he asked," Ciluyue saw this in her mirror. I came to be here with you."
"That's not all, is it?" I asked, rather irritated," The Eldengar do not just appear for events such as these."
Ban bobbed his head from one shoulder to another with a look of ponder on his face.
"I suppose there is another matter," he admitted, and I growled. He smiled again and placed a hand on my shoulder," but not now. You two wanted to drink, so let's drink."
I could not argue. I was still a nervous wreck, and I needed to calm myself down. So we had another drink. A moment passed in silence, and Ban poured another. So we drank that round as well. When that did not seem to rock the awkward silence, he poured another, and we drank again.
"We'll be going through the whole cabinet tonight at this rate," Tsu'caro trilled. He seemed to be rather happy. Maybe this was something he, too, needed, and I was not selfish. Rather, I enjoyed the sensation of other people's joy, and could not help but to nudge Ban's arm with my horn. He chuckled, and poured another round.
After five more rounds of mead, my nerves seemed to settle, and I was ready to talk. I looked to Ban, who was humming with his eyes closed, then turned to Tsu'caro, who listened patiently with his eyes closed as well. I groaned.
"Will one of you tell me what's going on in the world below?" I asked, with no hesitation," By the gods, it can be so boring up here."
"Doesn't hurt to visit every once in a while," said Ban. I slumped back, raising my brow in acknowledgement.
"I suppose I could have," I said softly," but with Nanthaliene being pregnant, I didn't want to go anywhere. I just wanted to be here with her."
"Sounds about right."
"What's that mean?"
"You've always been that way," said Ban," at least so long as I've known you. So protective. So much love in your heart. Can't even—"
"Ban," Tsu'caro stopped him. I stared at Ban, knowing what he wanted to say. I could feel a wisp of flame rise in my throat.
"Say it," I snuffed the flame as quickly as I could. I waved an arm," you might as well. We've come this far in the conversation."
"No, it was not right of me," said Ban. His tone was apologetic, which soothed my ears, and also my temper. I looked at Tsu'caro, who took a drink from his horn.
"The War of the Five Kingdoms," his voice echoed out of the horn between gulps, and when he was finished drinking, he continued," finally has an outcome. Kænn of Öranc, with the help of Taerentym, has succeeded in his endeavors for a free Vyndcanlund."
"Vyndcanlund?" I asked, not entirely familiar with the name.
"The north land, to the east of Esterebor. You remember Cair, right? well Cair is, was, to the south, in Lüs Colinus. If memory serves, the Sulræans came from Ereglan and conquered the Kingdom of Cair."
"Oh yes, that much I knew," I scratched my cheek," just been so many names in the last thousand years. Though I am happy the Antamon dynasty is over. I really despised Vanteles..."
"I would have taken his head for you," Tsu'caro said casually, squinting his eyes in a playful manner," but we were enemies, so I think it was good for me that you suffered him." I laughed at that.
"In any case," Ban continued Tsu'caro's update," Lüs Colinus will soon retaliate. The pieces have been set again. The game is not over."
I blinked at him," is that what you came here for? Does it affect me? My family?"
"No," he said, rubbing his neck," unfortunately, that's not the only concern. However, I said I wouldn't talk about it. We can just talk about it tomorrow."
"I would like to know now," I demanded. His silence betrayed him. I leaned in close, my eyes unmoving, like daggers piercing his face. "What is it you know?"
"Uh..." he laughed nervously," it's just—"
"Ban, how wonderful it is to see you!" My sister's voice boomed from behind me. It did not cause me to waver, and I did not take my gaze away from Ban. He looked at Irlaede, smiled warmly, and bowed his head.
"Lady Irlaede," he said, jumping from his posture hastily in an attempt to rid himself of me. I let him go, and he greeted my sister with a gentle hug.
"What would be your reason for being here?" she asked, genuinely curious. He was about to answer, but she held up a hand and checked herself. "Ah, Eldengar business. I needn't have asked. It will have to wait, dear Ban. Azmond?"
I turned to look at her, and her gentle smile told me all I should know, and I hastily jumped from my seat to run past her, but she stopped me. I gave her a look of frustrated confusion, and with her nature she calmed me.
"You have a son," she said simply. I could feel my heart skip a beat.
"So..." I said shakily," so what's... wrong?"
"Nothing," she said, blinking in amusement," however, your wife is still giving birth."
At that moment it seemed I was not alone in my surprise. I could hear Tsu'caro choke on his drink behind me, and Ban whistled.
"Two for one," said Ban," not bad, Az."
"Why can't I see my child?" I asked," I would like to see him."
"You may, in a moment, but please try to relax for now. He is still crying in his mother's arms. When she is ready to begin again, I will bring him out."
"Care to uh," Ban wiggled the bottle of mead in his hand," join us for a round, Lady?"
She giggled, but shook her head," I must remain clear-minded. But I may join you afterwards." I noticed she took a glance at Tsu'caro behind me, who's cheeks I could feel warm up from where I stood. I also heard him shuffle in place.
Irlaede bowed slowly, but not to me. She had dismissed herself from the room, and soon returned to the task at hand. I stood in place, attempting to gain control over the emotions that overwhelmed me. Ban could sense this, and so wiggled the bottle again with a cheerful sound.
"What will you name him?"
We were a few more drinks in when Ban asked this question, and I was happy. I had a son, an heir to my line, and Tsu'caro could feel my pride as if I wore it on my chest. He punched my arm playfully, and we toasted another drink.
"I haven't really thought about it. I figured I'd let my wife decide."
"Watch," said Ban," she gives him a name as ugly as his father's."
"To be fair," I said, matter of factly," a drake's name is traditional, but the length of it can, admittedly, be unbearable."
"So says Azmondaliuscaertydin," Tsu'caro said," Prince... King of Dractalemh."
"I suppose Red Sky was right to rid themselves of tradition," I shifted in my seat," though as long a name can be, it doesn't take more than a second to say, considering we've lived a thousand lifetimes."
"Red Sky's values didn't always have to be about revenge. But, yes, some changes we sought after were more subtle. Pairing, for one, didn't have to be lifelong. Though, I am happy enough to spend the rest of mine with your sister."
"And I with Nanthaliene," I said. We raised our cups and drank, but I noticed Ban remained silent on the matter.
"I'm sorry, Ban," I said to him, but he waved me off with his smile.
"Love is complicated, I think it was good for me to rid myself of it."
"Ciluyue ever give you a hard time about it?" Tsu'caro asked, obviously drunk at this point.
"I believe," Ban ignored the joke part of the question," she did love me as well. But our work is important. There aren't many of us left. You tell me what Falkend would do with himself if we left."
"Probably hide with the dwarves in Esterebor," I snorted, recieving a small bit of laughter from both in my company. "Don't you ever grow tired of knowing what will happen and attempting to move the pieces yourself?" He paused and stayed silent long enough to contemplate the question.
"Sometimes it tends to be a bit overbearing," he said," but look at it this way. If i was not an Eldengar, I wouldn't be here now, enjoying a drink with you."
"Nor would you be here for subsequent reasons," I chided him calmly," but I am glad you are here."
"Listen—"
Ban started to speak, but Irlaede was in the room again. This time I did not hesitate to greet her, and I hounded her with questions. She stared at me gently, and I looked down to notice she was carrying my first child. My eyes met hers again, and she nodded, so I carefully plucked the small being from her arms, and turned as slowly as I could. The babe's head nestled into the crook of my arm, and I could not stop staring. It was like the gods sent down one of their own.
"Tallam," my sister said.
"What?"
"Your wife named him Tallam."
"Is she fine?"
"She is fine. Your second child has come as well. A girl."
I stared at Tallam for a moment longer. Tsu'caro stood up and came next to me, but Ban held back, seemingly enjoying the moment. I raised my head to gaze at Irlaede again.
"Can I come see them?"
"You may."
I turned to Tsu'caro, and though he initially seemed not to want any part of it, he reluctantly let me put Tallam in his arms. Tsu'caro stood still, not sure how to process what was happening, but I was gone already. I wanted to see my wife over anything. I knew Tallam would be safe with Tsu'caro and Irlaede, so I did not second the thought. After weaving my way down the hall I approached the room, where I could hear the cooing of another child. I hesitated, but forced my legs to move through the doorway, and I stared softly at Nanthaliene, who was in the bed, on top of the bloody sheets, holding my second child. She saw me and gently reached her arm out, beckoning me closer. I obeyed, and rested my hand in hers as she pulled me down to meet my daughter.
"You will name her," Nanthaliene said with no hint of exhaustion. I put myself between Nanthaliene's legs and rested my head on her chest, staring at the child, not ever wanting to take my eyes off of her.
"Vysedda," I said softly," my mother's name."
I did not see Ban again for some time.