Chamberlain's Struggles

Chapter 20

The next day, Chamberlain woke up and fed his babies as they had woken and were getting fussy. Even though they were down here in the deep gutters of the castle, it would be possible their cries might be heard by someone who would be passing through the lower corridors too. Sil knew he needed to keep them quiet.

While feeding and after feeding them, Sil was awfully hungry himself. He wanted so much to join the breakfast feast. But for now, he had to wait on La to bring him food, until a plan was established to get him accepted again.

It was just a little while later that SkekLa did come down to the room with a good amount of food.

"It was not so easy to get this amount of scraps. SkekNa just really gets on my nerves." La said.

"Thank you, La. I know. Being Ung's ally, he does mine too." Sil said.

La watched as her mate hungrily ate the meal. He was grateful to her. Then he began, "We need to work up a plan to get me back in. Who among the allies of us might be the most helpful to us?"

"Ekt and Ayuk still hold the loyalty the most." La said.

"Hmm. Somewhat knowing of Ekt's nature, we might need his help for now about Ka and Lil. We need a watcher over them at times right now. Until we get me back in, the little ones must be kept hidden." Sil said.

"At certain times of the day, we can all take turns watching them."

"Yes, but we must get Ekt on our side first."

"Agreed."

"Bring Ekt down here." Sil said.

"I can talk to him easily and get him down here." La said.

"What did become of my robes by the way?" Sil asked.

"Ekt did make them into other things while you were gone. Once you're back in, or when he's on our side, we can get him to make you some new real robes." La said.

"Yes. I really don't want to be seen in these Gelfling robes much longer."

"They gave you something to wear."

"If not for Rakkida attack, I would have still had some of my old robes on."

"It is what it is right now. But I will go and get Ekt now. He should be just finishing the choir." La said.

She left to go get Ekt.

Chamberlain knew this had to work. They needed another ally to help take care of the babies. When he got back in, he and La would make sure to keep them with them near all times. But they might need a babysitter/watcher too.
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Sil soon heard voices. He got up and went to see. He left the twins in the room. He wasn't going too far. He recognized the voices.

La had gotten Ekt down in here, saying she had wanted to show him something pretty.

"So where is this surprise?" Ekt asked.

Sil heard that and took it as his cue. "It's me."

The Ornamentalist was so shocked that he fell backwards. He looked up, feeling his heart pounding so hard. "Chamberlain! You have not been welcome here."

"Ekt, need your help." Sil said.

"With what, support? I still give it to the Emperor."

"There still is something we need to show you." La said.

"But what of SkekLach? Is he still favored?" Sil asked.

"Over the top in fact." La said.

"Too much." Ekt said.

"Well, must now show you what we need your help with." Sil said. He led the way, but then made La and Ekt come to a stop. He went into the room and gathered up the twins.

Ekt was impatient now that he knew his ex-ally was back. What could he possibly need from him? Then he saw Sil come forward with a big white bundle over his shoulders. What could it be?

"La and me had been close before I was banished." Sil said. "This is the results. We know of Emperor's rules, but it happened."

Ekt was surprised at this. He saw as the wrapping was undone to reveal something that had never been seen before: baby Skeksis.

He took one look at them and was shocked.

"We need your support in watching over them, Ekt." La said. "I only found out last night. Sil hasn't been here long. But we have to get the Emperor to see that SkekLach is nothing but trouble. And we need someone to help watch our little ones."

"They look different in some ways than us, but it is in a way, somewhat darling." Ekt started to say.

"The one that looks like me is Ka, and the one that looks like La is Lil." Chamberlain said.

"How old are they?" Ekt asked.

"Sixteen days." Sil said. "I carried them for all time I was gone. I wouldn't have trusted Tek to deliver them."

"SkekTek has been more wary of a lot of us lately. Especially of Lach. He seems to have a control over him." Ekt said.

"That can prove another point, that I knew Lach was stealing Gelfling essence. But please, Ekt, we need you to help us with the babies and support about Lach." Sil said.

"And what can I do with the babies?" Ekt asked.

"Watch them when we need you. Sil and me will do what we can for now, but they must be kept hidden." La said.

"I'll go along with it for now. But still must do my own chores." Ekt said.

"You can make clothes when you watch them. La and me must come up with a plan. I must get back in here. Gelflings are no good to me anymore. Lived with some while out there." Sil said.

The three of them would take care of the twins while trying to bring Lach's downfall.
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La told Sil that she had been watching Lach for the time that Sil was gone to confirm his story. Sil was glad he had her support. Her drawings could help prove it too. Secretly at night, they went to her room and she showed him.

"This could prove I was right." Sil said.

"I'm sure even Tek will come forward. He's got to be tired of being afraid of Lach." La said.

Chamberlain knew this needed to work. He didn't want to live down in the catacombs forever and the Collector needed to be put out of commission with his lies and stealing. And Sil needed his offspring to have a home here.

Over all the months that Sil had been gone, La had missed her mate so much. She had barely ever had time to ever truly be happy. The only time it had seemed she had been was at night when she could bring out her pictures of Sil. But she was more thrilled that he had made it out there and returned to her.

Now that Ekt was on their side, Chamberlain asked that he make him some more robes of like what he had before. He wanted out of the Gelfling made clothes.

Ekt did notice some marks on Sil's arms that he never remembered seeing on him before. "What are those marks from? Never seen those before."

"Scars from Rakkida attack. Happened same day I was banished and Gelfling boy and his Mounders saved me." Sil said simply. He also showed the ones on his leg too.

La knew that if her love had been in that condition, he would have never been allowed to leave the castle. But he had been fine when he left. There just had been no telling what would happen to him out there.

Ekt said he would get the robes ready. No one would want to look at those scars. They were horrible. And Sil was ready to get rid of the Gelfling clothes.