Talarine: Ally to the Angels

Chapter 9

Tal watched the boys as they worked hard, they had begged her to let them help around the forge and she had agreed but she smiled at a thought as she worked on the dull blade that she had heated up and was now bringing the heavy hammer down upon. "Alcander! Duston! Front and center." Tal called out to them as she looked the blade over carefully.

"Yes Aunt Tal?" They asked worridly as she placed the blade in the water trough.

"How would you boys like to visit someplace special? Someplace that your daddy, a few of my friends and I used to visit when we could?" She watched their eyes light up with excitement "I thought so. Gather up your warmest clothing we will head out tonight." As she said that they raced off to get their winter items on and she smiled. Alpha walked in and shook his head as he brought in the warmest clothing items he could find.

"If they are going with you have them put these on. I bought them when I took Alexander up to the frozen North years ago. It will keep them warm throughout the nights." Tal nodded as she placed her stuff away. She looked to her open cabinet and sighed; she wanted to make something for Anaurael but it was hard when she didn't have the needed items for it. "Let me guess, you want to forge something for Anaurael but you dont have the ore, gems or salts for it.

Tal nodded, "Though I am sure that Greed would be able to find the materials for me. I don't want him to overwork any of his goblins for this matter. I may have Xypherius see if someone can get him to speak in private about the Gold Salts as those are next to impossible to find but I can find the Gold ore, the gems needed I will have to buy unless Greed decides to aid in that."

"What kind of gems will you need?"

"A diamond with a few other ones. But the Diamond is the most important one as it will need to fit into the bracelet I have drawn out over and over; this particular bracelet... It must be a surprise as like the armors and weapons, Valkrien jewelery is rare to find." Little did Tal know, Greed had a goblin keeping an eye on her and he, after overlooking the plans for the bracelet and taking the finished plans with him, vanished to speak to Greed. Tal told Alpha about learning how to forge the jewelry along with weapons and armors and he was greatly impressed

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Tal prepared the boys, but stopped after shifting to let the boys ride her back. "Aunt Tal! Look! Its beginning to snow!" Tal looked up to see that the grey clouds were lettig their soft flakes fall and she smiled as Alpha's voice reached her when he appeared next to her.

Happy travels Tal. He smiled as her tail swished in the sign of thank you. Xypherius had been quickly informed and he had come up with a plan to surprise her when she reached her destination.

As she walked the boys giggled as the snow fell and touched their noses. Tal looked over to see her friend Dorn appear and the male wolf took Duston upon his back which made the trip easier. When they arrived Tal nodded to Dorn and together they waded through the snow and were able to reach their old hangout just before nightfall of the next day. When Duston was off his back, Dorn shifted and started a fire for the boys to keep warm by. Tal looked over the almost barren landscape and smiled to herself as the night began to fall over the land. She was in wolf form still and huffed to the males and the boys found themselves upon the backs of Dorn and Tal one more time. Before they could ask a bright light lit up the night sky and they sat in utter amazment.

Tal lifted her head and howled with Dorn doing the same. Their howls echoed across the frozen land as the light shined bright and slowly changed colors. Tal watched as Xypherius landed next to her and together with Dorn and the twin boys, this first night was enjoyed. After the boys went to sleep, Tal left Dorn and Xypherius to get the ore. Even though Xypherius had wanted to argue, Tal had told him what it was for and he was shocked and happy to let her get the ore. As she mined the ore, she began to think of things she could do with all the ore she was getting. She mined as much as she needed with a little more for another project she was planning and then left the miniture mine and returned to the males who were carrying on an interesting converstation.

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Soon they returned to the town and Tal set to work, she melted down the gold to work out the dirt and heard a noise. She looked up to see the same Greed Goblin from several times before and it left several gems on the desk to include the needed diamond and a bag of the Gold salts. Tal thanked the goblin and it beamed at her, as she removed the dirt from the bottem of the melted gold ingots she took up the bag of Gold Salt and threw a pinch upon the flames and watched them turn the golden color she nodded and, remembering how she wanted the bracelet, set to work. She sang as she twisted the newly heated metal and slowly and very carefully set the jewels into the vine like lines of the bracelet. When the main golden rose was set with the diamond and every other rose was inlaid with the other gems, did she smile and begin the final preperations for finishing up the bracelet; thankfully she knew what song to sing as she finished up the bracelet. She wrapped each gem carefully in the rose petals to keep them in place and found herself smiling happily.

She was almost happiest when forging something but seeing Anaurael and the others along with Xypherius made her beyond happy and now she was just excited to have crafted something for Anaurael to enjoy. On the inside of the bracelet she very carefully and tenderly carved in the words: For my dearest sister. "Almost done." She spoke outloud as Xypherius appeared ready to take the gift to Izarius for him to hand over to Anaurael. Tal searched for a box small enough to hold the Bracelet in and was lucky enough that Alpha happened to walk in with a wooden box that had a red velvet in it that the bracelet sat comfortably upon. When it was finally handed over Xypherius nodded and left.

When he found Izarius, the Archangel was about to stop him but Xypherius was quick to speak, stopping the powerful angel in his own tracks and taking him by surprise. "Tal asked me to hand this over to you. Within the box is something she made for Anaurael but she wanted it delivered to her as soon as possible." He handed the item over and vanished before anything more could be spoken, leaving Izarius baffled at what had just happened.

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Tal had promised the Twins that they would attend the Winter Festival and she had kept her promise. Even Xypherius found himself enjoying the festival in his own way. Alcander was having a blast as he and his brother raced around with laugher clear all around them. Voices were loud and cheer filled the air as music could be heard floating on the wind. Tal tried some of the food for Xypherius to taste on her lips and he enjoyed certain flavors; one of those flavors was the smoked salmon that held hints of applewood and lemon, while another was the roasted ham with honey, brownish looking sugar and touch of pineapple. He would later discribe the mixtures of flavors as possibly the best thing he would every taste on Tal's lips to his brother and invited Xypherael and Kartha to join them. "The Festival lasts a month and there is always something new to try." When they took up his offer they were introduced to Alcander and Duston, both boys could only stare in awe at the powerful Angel with the crossbow upon his back. They were told that like them Xypherius and Xypherael were twins and the boys began to refer Xypherael and Kartha as Uncle and Aunt. Which surprised them until Tal explained.

"Through me being with Xypherius you are techincally their aunt and uncle. This is how they see it, they are still to young to fully understand but they know that much." And after the boys where prepared they went out to enjoy the festival. This pattern continued several times over until Xypherius decided to head for the heavens and Xypherael took Kartha back with him, leaving Tal to take care of the boys until Xypherius returned with the news that Tyrael wished to see the boys, along with Anaurael who wanted to personally thank Tal. Tal awoke the boys and once outside shifted into her wolf form to carry at least one of them upon her back.