The Eldars

31

"Come in Teondae, make yourself at home," Mant says as they open the doors to their rooms.

"Thank you." Teondae says softly sitting on the soft bed rather than the window seat or chairs that are placed around the room.

"What did you wish to talk to us about?" Montani is ready to hit the sack and just wants this day to end.

"I would like to invite you to my home when you leave tomorrow. My people have shown a desire to meet you and have asked that you join them at least for a short time."

Montani wakes up a bit at that. She hadn't expected an invitation to the Vacar home. She looks over at Mant and nods. Looking back at Teondae, "We would be honored to join you, but you know that Leear's son will be joining us as well."

"Yes, but I wanted your thoughts before the invitation is extended to him. If you didn't wish to accept then there was no reason to tell the young elf." Teondae defends his action.

"Peace Teondae, I'm not criticizing you. You speak so lovingly of your home, there is no way I could turn down the chance of visiting. I know Mant feels the same and I'm sure the elf won't mind either." Montani says and is unable to hold back her yawns any more. "Forgive me, Teondae, terribly rude of me."

"No, totally understandable, it has been a long day for us all. Asuan." He bows to them both before leaving.

The next morning they are greeted by a young elf, well relatively young anyway. "Leean, it has been long since I've seen you. You've grown during the last ten years." The young elf looks like a younger version of his father. The resemblance is so strong that Mant has to do a double check to make sure that it isn't the crown prince before him after all.

The young elf smiles suddenly and the spark of mischievousness lacking in his father is very evident in the son. "Montani, when they told me Katiri was back and adopted by the Eldar I couldn't believe it. When they said that she was the leader of the Eldar, then I believed it. I never understood why you allowed the humans to treat you so badly."

"If you weren't of royal blood and were treated badly by other elves what would you do princeling?" Montani says holding back her laughter. "I had nowhere else to go. I was barely tolerated by the elves, okay, more than tolerated, but I wasn't invited to live here was I?"

Leean snorts his amusement, "That's because grandma and grandpa were terrified that you'd take over the elves. They are more than willing to follow your suggestions to avoid you doing just that."

"I think you underestimate your grandparents," Mant says hiding his own laughter.

"Leean, this is my husband and prince of the Eldar, Mant," Montani says introducing them.

Leean bows and Mant nods. "I had hoped my father would get over whatever was holding him back and marry you. Then when word came that your family was killed, well that hope was killed when there was no sign found of you still living."

Montani shakes her head, "Leean, would you really like to have a human for a step mother, someone decades younger than you? There was no chance of your father ever offering to marry me, we both knew that."

Mant stays silent. He had seen how the crown prince looks at Montani when she isn't watching. He's not so sure that the prince wouldn't have asked her.

Leean smiles sadly, "You have no idea just how loved you are here, at least as Katiri. You're making an even bigger name as Montani. Father could have done far worse than you."

Montani smiles sadly, "Your father couldn't even bother to come to my birthday party when I became an adult. Your people accepted me as a part time resident, they never would have tolerated me as the crown princess, and you know that."

"I failed to make your party, Montani, because I was out fighting. I had intended on asking you to marry me then. But your family was attacked and killed before I had the chance to make it back to you. You found someone that you can love and who loves you, and that is good enough for me."Leear stands in the open doorway. Mant hears the pain of that admission, but he takes the words for what they were meant to be. The prince holds no ill will for him marrying her.

"That is the reason? You could have sent me a message to let me know. The reason I wasn't there when my family was attacked was because they informed me that they contracted a marriage for me to someone in the village. I was less than happy, but what choice did I have? I had no other offers, and I knew that although you paid attention to me, the prince of the elves wouldn't be allowed to marry one such as I." Montani is nearly overwhelmed by this information.

Leear smiles sadly, "The secretive nature of the elves lost me the woman I loved. I did send messengers, but sadly they weren't as good as you at wood lore and managed to get themselves killed. When I found this out I sent more but it was already too late. You were gone, but presumed dead. I am happy that you were able to find acceptance among another people." Leear smiles a genuine smile, "and teach them the same humility that you've taught my people. Now come and eat, Teondae is here and is getting impatient."

Leean leads off with Mant in tow and they are quickly engaged in an animated conversation. Montani holds Leear back by putting her hand on his arm. Once the other two are out of sight she speaks, "I had no idea you felt that way Leear."

Leear smiles gently at her and takes a lock of her hair and sets it behind her ear. "I had to do a great deal of fast talking to my parents to get them to agree to it. I had wanted their approval before I asked. Then those things attacked and suddenly you were gone. For the record, young Mant is a good choice, far better than I am I think. You are happy with him and he'd do anything for you and that's how it should be."

"You will find someone to replace Shianne, Leear," Montani says softly in turn.

Leear shakes his head sadly, "To find another as wonderful as her? Won't happen. The fact that I found you, two incredible females was stretching fate beyond belief. I lost Shianne when she was giving me my daughter, I lost you because I moved too slowly. To think that there is another that could compare to either of you is ludicrous in the extreme. Now, the Vacar is truly getting anxious and your husband will be wondering where you are so we should go."