Chamberlain's Struggles

Chapter 19

Sil waited until well after nightfall before he broke camp and took his babies down to the castle entrance.

Garthim guarded the entrance. Sil raised his hand and called them off. They stepped aside and let him pass.

Chamberlain was so glad to be home. He usually would love to start whimpering to let others know he was around, but not this time. He stayed quiet and moved along. He moved toward La's quarters first. She might be asleep.

When he got there, she was sleeping as he had predicted. Most of the other Skeksis would be too. He smiled down at her.

Looking down at her, she needed to know he was home. He nudged her awake.

"Huh? What do you want?!" She snapped.

"Just a hello." Sil smiled.

La's eyes widened. "Sil! You're back!" She cried out excitedly.

She jumped out of bed and wanting to run into his arms, but he stopped her.

"Hold on. Don't do that. You might harm them." Sil said.

La was surprised that he didn't want to hug her. Then he had said 'them.'

"Sorry, La, but I'm just protecting our children." Sil said.

"Our... children...?" She questioned. "I never had any while you were gone."

"I did. You were the only one I mated with. One of them even looks like you." Sil said. "Come, see them."

La saw that her mate was cradling a sling around him and some weights were in it. She came forward to see what he was talking about. She also noticed he had different clothes on, but didn't say anything at the moment.

Chamberlain opened up the sling to show her two small Skeksis that didn't have teeth, hair, or spikes. They looked very different from adult Skeksis.

"How old are they?" She asked.

"Not very old. Maybe 15 days." Sil said.

"I have missed you so much." La said and gave him a kiss.

"I missed you too." He gave her a nuzzle.

"But I do notice that you look so strange in those clothes." She said.

"I know. Gelflings made it for me. I've been with some Gelflings while I was gone. I might have stayed away from Gelfling if it wasn't for the fact that not long after I was banished, Rakkida found me and tried to kill me. I almost was dead and a Gelfling boy saved me with his Mounders. He took me to the healer and they saved me. It wasn't till much later I found out I was carrying babies. I was introduced to the Gelfling clan as well and given a job until I was accused of killing some of them. Byron and Wyneth saved me again and we ran away to a cave where we made a new home there and I had Ka and Lil there." Sil explained. He proceeded to tell the rest as well, up until he had decided to come home.

La listened intently.

When he was done with the explanation, Chamberlain pointed out the scars on his arms and leg from the Rakkida attack. They were still quite visible. His mate felt for him deeply.

"I commend those two Gelflings for saving you. And for helping you bring our babies into the world. They are cute. Can I hold one?" La asked.

"Sure. They are half yours too." Sil said.

He let her hold the lighter one, Lil. As he saw his mate hold her child for the first time, he saw how much Lil looked like La. He couldn't have been happier. He also let her hold Ka too, when she asked for him and handing Lil back.

La could see how Ka looked like Sil. She would be determined to be a good parent alongside Sil. But there was also a problem yet: Chamberlain needed to be accepted back into the castle.

"Sil, it's great you're back, but you remember what happened when you were forced out? They might do it again. They must not know you're here yet." La said.

"I know. I need rest and such before trying to get accepted back in. One of us may need to stay with the babies. I am worried about them. I haven't let them out of my sight much." Sil said.

"For now, go down to the catacombs, to our special spot. I watched many of the others while you were gone and none of the others ever went down there. You and the babies should be safe down there." La said.

"Thank you. Can you also bring me food?"

"Yes. I'll be happy to. Since we all get scraps from SkekNa anyway and walk away, I can do that." La said. "What about the babies? I see they have no teeth. What do they eat?" She was curious.

"Milk. They have to feed from me for the time being. They can't be far from me for long. I have to nurse them a few times a day." He said.

La understood, if thinking a little unusual. But their kind had never had babies before, so the concept was new to her. Sil was addressed as a male, but for the babies, caring for them was using his female half as well.

La wanted to spend more time with him. Together, the new parents went down to their secret spot in the catacombs. There, they did some more kissing and nuzzling and hugging when the babies were put down for the moment.

But La needed to get her sleep too for another day up top. She helped her mate and babies get set up for a comfortable stay temporarily and had to go back up to bed. She would come down again soon enough.

Sil was so happy that La had accepted the babies just fine. But the issue was the other Skeksis. How were they going to react? He could see Tek's reaction, wanting to study them; and the Emperor's, for not wanting younger rivals, but Sil would see to it that he protected his little ones no matter what. He would also have to stand up to Lach that he wasn't going to get near Ka or Lil either.

Chamberlain reflected the last nine months. He had had a more peaceful life with the Gelflings than he had here, but he was Skeksis too and so were his babies. Maybe Ka and Lil would have an effect on the clan too.

But the Gelflings hadn't been too comfortable around him either all the time. Sil had tried to only bring out his diplomatic and nice side to them. It had worked for the queen for a little while and Wyneth and Byron. All others just wouldn't accept him around. This was for the best, coming home.

Sil had also gained new experiences out there that he wouldn't be using here. It would take some getting used to again.

He settled down for the night on the bedding down here. Lil and Ka were beside him. He thought about how much he would miss Byron and Wyneth, but this just needed to be done. But he would remember them for what they had done for him. Though he knew there was also a chance he might see them again, if they were brought in by the Garthim, or they would be killed eventually.

He didn't want them killed, but Gelflings had seemed more dangerous lately. If they were brought in, he would try to get them under his wing. He would make sure of it.

Sil felt he had somewhat regretted leaving his friends, but he was just so ready to come back to his mate more than anything. He was happy to be back for the moment. He needed his rest. For now, he could relax, but tomorrow or sometime shortly, he needed to find a way to get accepted back in here. He needed this for the sake of his babies. They were safer here in the castle than out there in the wilderness. Sil settled down to get a peaceful night's sleep beside his babies.