"I'm feeling oddly at peace with myself." A hand pops up to lay on Alex's stomach. "It really hasn't bothered me, even when I was running around the battlefield. But you're right, it does feel like forever and a day. Never thought so much would happen in just a few hours..."
"Hrm...." Creshnibon sighed sadly, turning away from the kobolds who were clambering about their town hall in an effort to restore it and facing Alexandra squarely. "Have you given any thought to what you're going to do now? After you've rested some, I mean."
"When I first came to the Hidden Village I was just passing through and searching for my siblings. But with a daughter on the way I feel like I should settle down for a bit and give her a chance at a more stable life. I probably won't stay settled for long, though. I really do need to reclaim my honor before I can face Father again."
Creshnibon pursed her lips, but nodded slightly. "I was afraid that you would say that. I understand, of course. You've got something important to do." The naga smiled then, and continued; "As it turns out, I am the only surviving council member. I would have offered a seat to you, but I don't want to place further burden on you if you're going to be taking care of a child. I offered to Aescila, but.... Well, I'll let her tell you herself. I know she wanted to talk to you too. Along with damn near everybody else."
"I do seem to be quite the popular lady, today." A wry little grin was given with that before a moment of silence, and during then Alex simply watched the kobolds clamber over each other as they repaired the hall. "But I'll probably return after some time. I really do like it here. Mind keeping that offer on hold for a couple of years?"
"Of course! You'll always be welcome here, Alex. And so long as I have a say in the matter, we'll welcome you onto the town council with open arms as soon as you decide to take up that mantle." Creshnibon replied earnestly, smiling.
Alex returned that smiled and bowed her head toward the Matriarch. "If you'll excuse me..." Unless the naga wished to add anything more Alex felt now would be a good time to find another of the people wishing for her audience, and Haedrin felt like the next appropriate target. Now to track him down...
Haedrin, like Creshnibon, was easy to find and busy. The man had removed his helmet for the first time since Alexandra had met him, and without it he was a striking figure. Short blue hair clung to his head from sweat, and as with all of the fae his face looked like it had been sculpted long ago in the image of some long forgotten deity. There was only one flaw, at least as far as the man's kin were no doubt concerned, and that was the scar running over his right eye and down his cheek. Very few weapons could scar one of the fey, particularly one of the sidhe like Haedrin, as no faerie that she had ever heard of wore scars willingly. The knight turned toward Alexandra and bowed as she approached, having been overseeing the construction of an earthen wall around the perimeter of the hidden village. "Lady Alexandra. I hope to find you well today." His voice sounded odd without his helmet on, though not in an unpleasant way, as before it had sounded warped and unnatural.
"Indeed, Sir Haedrin." Alex was not surprised to see quite the handsome creature underneath that helmet, none of the fey she had met had ever been anything less than perfect, but the scar he bore was an obvious curiosity. For a moment she wondered if it were something he suffered in the battle, but she quickly discarded that idea as she got a better look at it. It looked old and set, something that bore a bit of history, and Alex wasn't prepared to pry into that past. So she turned her attention away from the blemish and more toward what he was doing. "How fares the reconstruction? Your people are proving quite diligent, and I'm surprised the Village is as restored as it is in just a few hours."
"It's going better than I expected. The added help from more of our people was a big surprise, but a welcome one. I know Lady Albatross wants to see you in the infirmary, so I'm afraid that I'll keep this brief." He stepped toward her and drew a sword that looked like it had never been used from a scabbard at his belt. "Kneel, if you will."
The drawing of the weapon was a bit of a surprise, but considering what they had all been through Alex knew that he wasn't intending to use it to harm her. So she fell to one knee without a word and lowered her head so that she was looking at his feet.
"You should look up at me for this." He said calmly, and when she had looked up at his golden eyes he gently rested the flat of the blade on her shoulder. "Alexandra Alistar, Dragonborn, Daughter of Aureus. I name thee friend of the fey, sworn to no oath save what you choose to take but owed our allegiance nonetheless. By the power vested in me by Titania, Queen of Summer, I name thee knight-errant of the Summer Court, and grant thee all rights and privileges warranted by such a title. As mortalborn, you are free to accept or refuse responsibilities as you see fit, but you may call upon the aid of all faeriekind in your hours of greatest need." He flicked the blade to her opposite shoulder once, and let it rest there for a moment before removing it from her shoulder and sheathing it. "You may rise." He continued, and then offered her a hand up.
Her eyes did rise, and though she wore a blank expression there was a certain air of honor and simple joy as she was soon titled knight-errant of the Summer Court. Though she knew nothing of the inner workings of the fey courts to be offered this kind of respect was something that others would gladly sacrifice a limb to hold. When she was offered the hand she readily accepted. Once she was on her feet she held his hand a little longer than was probably necessary before bowing her head once again. "I am truly honored Haedrin. Though I may not be able to offer much I will offer my aid to the Summer Court whenever Fate will permit."
Haedrin didn't try to pull away sooner than he had to either, though his smile was friendly, not suggestive. "I am sure that you will adjust quickly to your title. You won't have anything forced upon you, but occasionally members of my kind will come to you and ask your aid. Sadly, I cannot say that there will be no consequences for refusing, but the Court itself will never hold it against you at least, nor will Titania. Nor will I, for that matter, and if you should need my aid in battle you need but call out my name three times. I will be there as quickly as I may." He finally did release her hand after squeezing it lightly.
"I understand. Though I'm not long for politics I've seen my fair share." Once her hand was released Alex took in a deep breath and let out a deep sigh before opening her eyes and smiling. "And if I ever do feel the need to call for your aid I fear it will be in the face of another massive battle like this. But don't worry, if that happens I'll make sure to watch your back."
The knight smirked at Alex's words, apparently not much minding the prospect of another battle on such a scale. "Aye, though if we ever face such numbers all at once again, I'll be surprised. Spare the politics and grudges little worry, and follow your honor and you will do well by the Courts, whether they like it or not."
"Ha, I will keep that in mind!" At that Alex looked like she was preparing to leave to speak with Lady Albatross, but she paused and turned back. "Haedrin, how much do you know of Aescila's background?"
"I know that she took place in the invasion at Artmirst, but that she fled before the Devourer was destroyed. Like many of her kind following the death of their vile god, she has renounced her race's old ways, and as such no retribution has been brought against her. Though, I suppose you'd want to know about how she came to absorb Dina, right?"
"I actually know quite a bit about that. It's quite amazing how demons have the potential to become the most intimate of creatures one would ever know. I'm asking because she holds Dina's memories and fears you may be facing rough times under the watch of Lady Albatross. Though I do agree that acting with honor will help you fare well I will advise that you at least guard yourself against any underhanded tactics."
"Oh...." Haedrin said, somewhat mutedly, and then seemed to realize something as his eyes perked up. "Oh! Oh that..... Yes, I do remember that now. Thank you for reminding me, I should be able to deal with that easily enough before it really becomes a problem now."
A look of confusion came across the she-dragon's face, but she wasn't one to pry. If it meant that he would have an easier time then even the blind warning she had given the knight would be a blessing. "If you'll please excuse me." Her next destination, the infirmary.
The Lady Albatross had changed out of her black leather catsuit in the time since last Alexandra had seen her, it seemed. Now, she wore an equally tight nurse's outfit that rode up to her upper thighs, and cut down to her belly button. Indeed, the only practical portion of the outfit seemed to be the apron covering her front, but that didn't stop her from beaming brilliantly as she spotted Alexandra coming toward her. She immediately stepped up and wrapped the dragoness in a tight hug, kissing her twice on both cheeks and once on the lips. "Alexandra! You got my present I see! Of course, after the bravery and skill that you demonstrated today, the Queen hardly needed any convincing! How are you doing? Is the little one giving you any troubles yet?"
Though it still seemed a bit odd even now Alexandra had been swept up in the affections of the odd Lady once before. It was less of a shock now and more simply an awkward oddity that seemed somewhat fitting for the noble. Of course the outfit the woman wore didn't help in the least, and Alex felt slightly embarrassed at being swept up by what could only be called a naughty nurse. "I'm doing quite well, and she hasn't offered me any troubles past not being able to wear my armor at the moment."
"Excellent! You look well enough. Make sure you come and find me if you start to feel faint!" The fae woman gave a suggestive wink, "I'll take excellent care of you!" Giggling slightly, the woman sighed, once more flipping back to mildly serious. It was then that Alex noticed that the Lady was not among their own wounded, but rather among the bound, soulless victims of the invaders. Her former neighbors.
With the promise of 'excellent care' in her mind Alex's smile was a bit forced, but she still accepted the offer at its word. But with the seriousness returning she was given the chance to look around, and finding what the Dark Slime had coined as the converted Alex took a moment to look them all over. "Are they truly mindless husks?"
"Yes." The Lady, however, was smiling, almost giddy with glee. "Oh you're going to love this." Just then, Abariel entered the infirmary, the angel's presence drawing the gazes of all of the injured. She seemed to be carrying a small box under her arm, and she stepped up and greeted Alex and Lady Albatross with a nod. "Alexandra, I hope to find you well."
With Abariel walking in Alex was surprised, at the appearance of the angel and the reaction that had on all of the injured. "Quite well, considering how things could have turned out." Though she wasn't about to outright say anything the box seemed out of place, and the pregnant warrior wondered what purpose it held. But considering what the Lady has said she was content to simply sit and watch. It felt like something interesting was going to happen.
Lady Albatross held out her hands, and Abariel promptly handed her the box. She turned toward the corrupted ones, and Alex noted that several of their number seemed to be dead, and indeed she recognized the bodies of some of the converted that had taken part in the battle. Closing her eyes, Lady Albatross began to sing, a slow and quiet tune at first that gradually built itself up. Even though she couldn't understand the words of the song, as much as she tried to resist Alexandra felt herself become swept up in the song, as did everyone else present. Even Abariel was seemingly not immune, as the angel watched the fae woman intently just as Alex did, and it didn't take a genius to guess that some sort of magic was being done. Within moments, the song ended, and Alex noted a glowing strand reaching out from the woman's hand to each of the bound people. Without further ado, the Lady danced her hand across the lid of the box and opened it. The golden glowing strands emanating from her fingers briefly intensified as an orb shot down each and then vanished even as the fallen went still and began to glow in turn. "This is the best part!" The Lady said, and suddenly a grey orb shot up and out of each of them, forming an orb in the air that Abariel quickly waved a hand toward, forming a barrier around it. The women of the Hidden Village began to stir, the living and the dead, and one by one they opened their eyes.... And began to speak just as they had before. "What's going on?" "Why am I tied up?" "Who are you?" "Why are we all in the infirmary?" "How did Alexandra get pregnant!?" "She's pregnant!" Congratulations! Can you untie us please?" "Who's Alexandra?" Lady Albatross bubbled with gleeful laughter, and Abariel was smiling as well as she waved a hand toward a group of satyrs who had been waiting on the side. The fey warriors cut the women loose immediately, and for all intents and purposes they looked as if they had never been harmed at all.
If Alex was ever to be awestruck then this was as good a time as any. And awestruck she was, her hand coming up to rest at her mouth as she watched not only the dead and broken turned back to life but the emptiness of those that had been lost restored back to their former selves. "You are right, my lady, that did not disappoint..." For a while she simply stared at the miracle that was brought to life before her very eyes, but eventually she realized that her neighbors had noticed her pregnancy. It caused an embarrassed flush to brighten her cheeks, and she actually acted like quite the demure princess by turning away slightly before answering. "It's a long story, but this is nothing. Wait until you see Aescila." And if they wished to know more Alex would take some time to sit and explain things to them, her tale encompassing the invasion, the retreat, and the fight to restore the Village. But of course they were bound to have far too many questions to answer, and Alex had a few of her own. So when an appropriate opening showed itself she motioned to Lady Albatross and snuck her over to one side for a bit more privacy. "This seems almost unreal. I want to know how, but... what about the others, the ones that were captured by the floating fortress. Have we managed to reclaim them?"
The group did of course ask Alex for an explanation, and pestered her with a thousand questions until she could take no more, and motioned for Lady Albatross. "All right girls, Alexandra has had a long day, and there are others than can see to your curiosity and much work to be done besides." The group disassembled after that, and she, Abariel and the Lady were left more or less alone in the now empty corner of the infirmary. It was the angel that answered her question, however; "Some of them. Maybe about half. Only one of the other council members survived, the rest had their bodies already consumed by the fortress by the time we managed to bring it down, and if nothing remained of their physical forms we had no choice but to release their souls to the mercy of the afterlife. I am sorry, but we did all that we could."
"That's quite alright. It's more than I expected. More than anyone would have expected. This is a miracle in and of itself." Alex had to take a moment to sit down. She had written those that had been captured as nothing more than lost. With this revelation in hand she didn't know how to react.
"Aye. Though, you shouldn't thank just the angels for it." Lady Albatross said, smirking, and Abariel nodded. "Of course. The daemon, Matthias, was the one who finally brought down the vessel, and retrieved the lost souls from it." Lady Albatross pouted, and Abariel smiled coyly to Alex before saying; "And the Lady's talents were useful as well, of course."
"Matthias?" She had heard of him, the one known as Godslayer. He had been instrumental in defeating the invasion at Artmirst before it claimed more than that town, but beyond that he was a complete mystery. But Father had mentioned something about that daemon before, and when he spoke of that beast he did so with the utmost respect, something he never did. But of course there was more than just the Godslayer involved, and at seeing Lady Albatross pout it put a bit of mirth back in the dragonkin that Abariel could play coy just as well as the noble. "Indeed. You have my utmost gratitude, my lady, and I'm certain Creshnibon will say the same."
"Oooh, I'll go tell her right now! Maybe I can get to her before she sees any of the formerly corrupted running around!" Grinning like a school girl, Lady Albatross turned and sprinted out of the room, the run not really very fast and possibly hindered both by the high heels that the woman had on her feet and the ample jiggling she did as she ran for the door. When she was gone, Abariel sighed, but was still smiling as she turned back to Alex. "That woman is completely insane.... But in a good way, if that makes any sense."
"It does." Alex couldn't help but feel herself smiling just like Abariel. "I wonder if she's going to give Creshnibon a heart attack, but the Matriarch could use some levity. That woman has been running ragged for the past day." That was when Alex realized she was alone with the angel. "Abariel, I have a question." Her head turned, and though it wasn't as joyous as it was before the look in her face said it wouldn't be anything spectacularly serious. "How long does it take for an angel to mature? I'm assuming that since my daughter hasn't been born yet she's going to follow that route of development, and I'd like to know how long her childhood will last."
Abariel turned toward Alex, and much of the mirth dropped from her face as she considered the question, though it became more simply blank than grim. In a matter of fact tone, she explained; "An angel will take something like six months to reach the equivalent of a teenager in mortal terms, and after that it takes them another twenty years to develop to full adulthood. Normally, a child of an angel would always be another angel unless the father was powerful enough to override that, but in this case the moment of conception was.... Unusual. I cannot say anything for certain, but I doubt that your daughter will be an angel in full. More likely, she will retain some traits from you, and some from Aescila's former heritage as well."
"I thought as much." The fact that Abariel knew so much of the child's conception brought that embarrassed flush back to Alex's cheek. But since she already knew Alex didn't think it would be best to dwell on that fact. "If you wish you can come visit us at anytime. I'm sure Aes would love the visit, and considering how close you and Dina were I think it would be nice if you came to play with her spiritual daughter from time to time."
Abariel frowned slightly at first, but then smiled and nodded following Alex's offer. "I... Think that I will take you up on that. She has to learn of that part of her heritage from somewhere, after all."
The frown brought the woman to a pause, and for a moment Alex wondered if she had thought wrong. Maybe Abariel didn't want to be confronted by Dina's ghost, even if Alex was certain that Dina existed within Aes not as some subjugated spirit but as a part to a greater whole. But Abariel did accept, and Alex felt a bit of relief. "If you'll excuse me." She also figured she would give the angel some time to think. Of course there were others who wished to speak with the dragon, and though Aes was waiting for her somewhere Alex wanted to speak with that slime. There were many a thing to consider, and only after Alex had heard as much as she could would she sit down with her lover to talk about their future.
The slime was being guarded by six gruffs, a troll and three sorceresses, and as such she wasn't going to get any privacy for this meeting. Even still, the slime offered her a nod and a smile, trying to be friendly even if Alexandra wouldn't. "Lady Alexandra. I thank you for your time."
With the guard in view Alex simply nodded toward them before walking past and sitting near the captured creature. "Not a problem." The dragon looked relaxed, and she truly was. Though she was unarmed and sitting across from a construct that could quite clearly attack at any moment she was certain that that such would not happen. The slime had already been defeated once, and even if it tried to escape the fey that surrounded them would not give it that chance. "Before we begin I'd like to know something. Do you have a name?"
"A name.... No, not truly. My guards have called me 'slime' or 'creature,' but I do not think that I like those names. The Lord that passed by here called me 'Azhur,' would you like to call me by that name?"
"Azhur will do just fine. What would you like to speak about?"
"I would like to request asylum in your village. I know you have little reason to trust me, but the control of my masters is broken, and I will offer you and yours no further threat in their name. It.... Is very nice here."
"That it is." Had Alex any kind of drink she would have taken a sip right then to use as a pause while she considered her answer. Alas, she did not, so awkward silence would have to do. "This village was founded by entities seeking asylum, most from Hell that had attacked this world a couple years ago during their own invasion. You doing the same seems no different. But this decision does not lie with me alone. You will need to speak with Creshnibon, and most likely with others that will rise to replace the other leaders that were lost. That will probably include the fey who hold you captive. They most likely will want to study you simply because you are an unknown entity and they are this world's defenders. But I will pass along your request, and I will consider it myself. In the meantime do you have any other requests?"
"Thank you, Lady Alexandra." The slime woman said earnestly, smiling. "Your word will go a long way. I don't expect to be freed immediately, only given a chance to prove myself. I will speak to Creshnibon when she isn't occupied. That was all I wished to ask of you."
"Very well. If you'll excuse me." It seemed like an honest request, and the fey had done the same when the demons had abandoned their march, but nothing was ever as simple as it seemed. But Alex would keep to her word, and before she left she asked if any of the guards would like anything. If it was a simple task she would complete it herself, and once that was done it was time to unwind with Aescila.
The guards shook their heads, and Alexandra felt drawn to Aescila, where the black winged angel was visible on the sandy beach bordering the lake.
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