The Eldars

46

"This isn't how I expected to return to Malinor," Montani grouses as Mant holds her close as the eagle banks to turn towards Malinor.

"Don't complain, Montani, if Teondae hadn't of healed you, you would be dead. You are the first person to survive the arbita bite."

When Montani had first awakened and found out that she almost died she was indeed stricken. It wasn't until she listened to the music that she relaxed. She still hasn't found a way to tell Mant her secret. Now she was going to have to deal with everyone when she tells her secret and she's running out of time.

"I'm not complaining. I'm very thankful to him, Mant." She takes a deep breath although it won't matter since she's communicating through the mind.

"I'm pregnant." Those words get Mant to look at her in shock. "I wanted to make sure the babies were okay before I said anything."

If anything Mant looks even more shocked. "Babies? As in plural?"

Montani bites her lip and nods. "Teondae confirmed it after he checked my health the last time. We're having twins. He says that he couldn't tell what they are, but I'm not so sure of that."

Montani isn't so sure that Mant heard anything after the word twins. He looks like he's been hit over the head with something to make him lose all his wits.

"Hey, you can freak out after we're home. You need to get it together for when we talk to your father." Montani isn't looking forward to that. Nor is she looking forward to explaining why they have three extras with them. All three will be staying for the winter and needing a place to stay.

Mant comes back with a start and a sour face. "Let's do this together, I'm not going to take the fall alone."

Montani giggles, "Fine. But you get to take the lead. That is your father after all."

"And your father in law as well as foster father. He loves you more than he loves me." Mant retorts.

Montani pulls back so she can see him better and gives him a worried look, "You don't actually believe that do you?"

"It doesn't matter, Montani, because I love you too."

"Mant, it's not true. Your parents love you more than you can believe. When you left, they were heartbroken. I heard your mother cry herself to sleep more times than not and Mauntie wasn't much better." Mant hides his shock. He never thought about how much his disappearance might have affected his parents. He truly believed that they didn't even really miss him the whole time he was gone, since they had Montani.

"Just because they love me doesn't mean they didn't miss you, you idiot. Now you better figure something out since we were supposed to be back months ago."

Montani's acidic words make Mant smile. The sight of his father's worried face should make the smile leave but actually makes the smile grow bigger.

The fact that Mant has to carry Montani makes the entire council frown and mutter behind Mauntie. So much attention is paid to Mant and his precious cargo that they don't notice the others in their midst.

"Mant, what's wrong with Montani?" Mauntie asks anxiously.

Mant's smile turns into a smirk aimed at himself. Some things never change. "Hello father. Nice to see you again. Yeah we had a lovely time fighting the evil ones. Montani went a little over board, but that's nothing unusual. Who are your friends?" Mant plays devil's advocate with himself. Making Mauntie embarrassed at his lack of greeting to his only child.

"Well, I'd like to tell you. " Mant motions to the others to step forward as Mauntie steps back in embarrassment.

"Father, council members. This is Leean, son of Leear, son of the elven king and Montani's personal friend." His father manages a real smile as he greets the elven prince and bows to him. The council does as well.

Next Mant motions to the newest member of their group to come forward. "This is Jewel. She is the daughter of the high councilor of the dwarves. Consider her equal to a princess since the dwarves don't have a king." Again Mauntie and the others bow to her. The muttering of the others has grown. No dwarves have been seen since the last great war.

"Finally, my personal friend as well as Montani's Prince Teondae of the Vacar." This time the muttering is no longer muttering but near shouting after the initial shock wears off. Mant's look is positively evil as he watches the looks of dismay and shock run their course over the people.

"Actually, it's king Mant. Not that it matters much among my people." Teondae's quiet words are almost completely lost amid the tumult of those around them.

"Apologies Teondae." Mant says and Teondae shrugs.

"Enough!" Montani says and struggles against Mant's hold so she can stand. Mant reluctantly sets her down and Montani has to hold onto Mant to stay upright.

She isn't yelling but her mind voice is sharp and whip like in its strike. "If my friend is unwelcome here than so too am I." She looks at each and everyone of them.

"Teondae, saved my life and..." She looks up at Mant apologetically but he nods in understanding. "The life of my children. You will give him honor or I will return to the elves." She'd go back to the humans but doesn't think that they'd accept her as readily as the elves would.

Mauntie steps forward in concern. "Montani, what happened?"

Yet it's Jewel that answers. "She was guesting in our halls when she was bitten by a rare and poisonous spider. It's bite is invariably deadly. If it hadn't of been for the vacar king she would have died shortly after it was discovered that she'd been bitten."

Molani comes pushing people away. "Is it true?"

Mant nods and Molani turns to the council and her husband and starts cutting them down to size as she escorts Montani away. Mant scoops her up after only a couple of steps. Montani was already unconscious in his arms.

The others not knowing what else to do follow behind Mant and Montani as he follows his mother. He smirks as she leads them to her house. It is as he feared, his mother isn't about to let Montani go back to his house until she is sure that Montani will be fine.

He nods as his mother tells him to take Montani back to her old room. Molani stops the others from following and frowns as she looks them over.

"An elf, a dwarf and something I don't recognize." Molani says out loud with a puzzled frown on her face.

Teondae steps forward and gives her a bow, "I am Teondae, the elf is prince Leean, the dwarf is high councilman daughter Jewel. I am a vacar." Teondae watches carefully, he has a spell prepared if it should be necessary, but he hopes not.

Molani, only shows her surprise at his race by the uplifting of her eyebrows. "Well, since you are all traveling with Montani and Mant you must all be friends with them. I welcome you all. If they had told us of your coming than I would have had suitable rooms prepared for you all. Teondae, the others are children of their leaders, are you as well?"

Teondae is impressed that the Eldar female is taking this so well. "No, I am the vacar leader. My people sent me with Mant and Montani to help fix misconceptions and lies long held and viewed by others."

"Oh, you mean the stories?" Molani says thoughtfully and Teondae nods. "They're just stories are they not?"

"No, unfortunately they aren't." For the first time Teondae finds fear in the Eldar females face. "But neither do they tell the truth. The stories are based off a small group of rebels. What the stories tell, is only part of the gruesome truth. I helped to hunt down and destroy the traitors, including my brother."

Molani's eyes widen then fill with compassionate tears. "That must have been hard for you. You and those with you are more than welcome to stay. If you would make yourselves comfortable I'll see about some refreshments and getting some rooms ready." Molani shows them into the very room Montani first met Mant. They all sit down and make themselves comfortable. Molani leaves to set about the tasks of being a hostess.

"I didn't know you had to take down your own brother," Jewel says softly. "That must have been hard."

"It was. But it's all in the past now," Teondae closes the subject and Jewel wisely refrains from asking any more questions.