Storm Born Book One

Chapter two

It was late afternoon when  Edward strode down the corridor to the quarters shared by Fenwynn and his wife. He had been surprised when she had rushed forward from the back of the Gathered Elders, He had been standing alone at the back of the wagon with Darius, and Rosalind was talking some distance away with the elder he now knew to be her grandfather. Darius was watching the proceedings with wide eyes he was not used to being around so many people all at once and it had him clinging to his trousers warily.

Fenwynn had leaped from his horse and rushed to her gathering her into his arms and spinning her around as she launched herself into his arms, the joy of their reunion had been written on both their faces as he kissed her soundly before setting her back on her feet and pulling her by the hand, to introduce her to him. She was a beautiful woman her hair long straight a slightly darker color than Rosalind's more of a silvery grey, her eyes were darker too, large almost black. He noticed her face was kind and held a hint of merriment She seemed far less reserved than he had always assumed she would be and it made him warm to her immediately.

"This is my wife Merrion and Merrion this is my good friend Edward Thorn and this young man is Darius"

"I am pleased to welcome you both Alpha Thorn, we should all get out of this cold, especially the child we will have chambers prepared for you all".

"My mate... " he had expected her to join him, he started spinning around looking for her before noticing the elders were leading her away. He moved to follow her before Fenwynn took hold of his arm to stop him.

"She is their high priestess, we should give them some time" he held Edward in his gaze.

Not able to think of anything to say to go against the elfs' assessment of the situation he had ceded to it, reluctantly allowing himself and Darius to be guided away by Merion as she took them to the chamber that she shared with Fenwynn.

Opening the door, the silent corridor gave way to a cacophony of noise as two excited children rushed to their father. The children, boys were identical in every way with a strong resemblance to their father. their heads turned in unison and both ran across the room coming to a halt in front of him, bowing politely they then threw themselves into his embrace a smaller child walked out of a room on the far side of the chamber and padded across the room to her father she waited patiently her countenance cal, she looked to be around four or five, and her small face held a worldly wise look, unnatural in such a young child. The boys having had their fill of their father's hugs stepped back.

 "Meredith has missed you too Father".

Fenwynn crouched and opened his arms "Come little one I have missed you " the small fairy-like child walked into his embrace. As he closed his arms around her she reached up and touched his face exploring it with her fingers a smile lit up her face "Papa" she cried out hugging herself to him, It was then that Edward realised the child was blind.

He had felt remiss at never having asked about Fenwynn's children or his wife on their journey, It had not come up, but he could see how much his small family adored him. He felt like an interloper, an intruder as he stood awkwardly in the doorway, It was Merrion who noticed his discomfort and led him to a chair, before leaving to fetch refreshments. Fenwynn stood patiently as the children chattered over each other telling him of all their accomplishments since he had seen them last, even Meredith now had a more childlike exuberance.

Merrion had spent the afternoon fussing about feeding them all before taking them to where they would be lodged he was surprised at how spacious it was a sitting room two bedrooms a small place to cook in it was more than he had in the last ten years. He turned asking her where the others were being housed.