King's Arrival

[Northen Light36]

Shadow wasn't sorry when Saph left him as soon as they'd arrived at the Sanctuary. The two men had met on the road, but they hadn't been pleasent company for each other. They'd been closer to Flash then they'd ever been to each other and without that line of connection they'd travelled in silence that had been sullen and angry on Saph's part and extremely uncomfortable on Shadow's. He hadn't realised the good natured Saph was even capable of that sort of cold anger.

Shadow pushed those thoughts away as he went looking for his children, Alyssa and little Shade. It would be worth the journey to reunite with Luminous and Dami and his adoptive 'grandchildren'. Before he found them though, he found himself face to face with Amaro and in the middle of another uncomfortable silence. This one he chose to break with a nod of greeting. "Lord Melissan-Ronoh," he remarked.

"King Brightmore," Amaro replied, giving the barest nod of greeting. "You were Chosen then?"

"By Efil," Shadow confirmed. "I'm looking for my children, at the moment, but, if you are willing, Lord Cousin, I would speak with you and Lady Acqua later."

Amaro blinked, taken aback for a moment at the formal yet friendly 'Lord Cousin', then his eyes hardened slightly and went just a little wary. "We will hear you, Lord Cousin," he replied in kind. "At a later moment. As for your children, I believe they are with my sister's children inside the Etafian tree."

"Thank you," Shadow replied and parted company with the other noble to make his way into the Etafian tree. "Dami? Luminous?" he called. "Alyssa?"

Alyssa and Dami came sprinting down the stairs at near break neck speeds to throw themselves into Shadow's arms. "Uncle Shadow/Daddy!" they squealed in unison, hugging him tightly.

[Kender Bard]

Luminous came walking out onto the balcony just one level above, leaning over and grinning brightly. "Father!" she cried out and leapt over the edge, her sign slowing her fall so that she landed softly next to him. She reached over the children's head to hug him. "I missed you so much!"

[Northen Light36]

Shadow laughed, with a hint of tears in his eyes, as he tried to hug his daughter and the two children all at once. "Forces, it's good to see you all."

Shade and Lillian made their own way downstairs, with Lillian holding the little boy's hand carefully so he wouldn't fall. Once safely at the bottom, she allowed Shade to run over to join the rest of the family in huging Shadow and quietly slipped back upstairs to give the family their privacy.

"Enough," Shadow laughed, after giving Shade a hug as well. "I don't have enough arms for all this hugging. Come on, show me where we can sit down together and you can tell me all that's happened since I saw you all last."

[Kender Bard]

"This way," Luminous urged, slipping her hand into his as she headed back into the Etafian tree. There was a very large table, engraved with Etaf's symbol, with many seats on the first floor and she slid into one of these. "Is Mother going to be coming along too?"

[Northen Light36]

Shadow sighed as he took a seat and lifted Shade into his lap while Alyssa and Dami climbed into seats next to him. "She wanted to, Luminous," he replied. "However, with the state the kingdom is in, after the demon attacks, we couldn't both be away. Particularly after having sent you and Dami both to safety. It would have sent the wrong message. She does send her love to all of you, however."

[Kender Bard]

Luminous couldn't help but look a little disappointed. "I hope she'll be all right. But at least you're here, now." She smiled at him again.

[Northen Light36]

"Lya can take care of herself," Shadow assured Luminous, reaching out to rub his daughter's back. "And I'm very glad to be back with you all. Have you been well looked after here? What have you been doing?"

Dami piped up happily, "Lilly's here too, Daddy. I introduced her and Aly and now we're all friends. We play together all day, with Shade too, when he's not taking a nap. Sometimes Lilly's mummy sometimes says we're wearing Shade out and he has to take a nap. Lumi's been looking after us too, really really well."

"I like having a sorta big sister," Alyssa chimed in, smiling at Luminous. "And the angels are really nice too."

Shadow smiled and waited to hear what Luminous had been doing. "I hope you've been spending at least some time with your friends, Lumi, and not just looking after your brother and cousins."

[Kender Bard]

"I've been spending time with Bas, Pas, and Aries," Luminous confirmed with a slight smile. "There's some other people here that are a bit closer to my age and they've been interesting to meet."

[Northen Light36]

"I'm glad you're making friends," Shadow murmured, smiling. "I sometimes worry you're a little bit isolated. Well, perhaps there's a benefit to this whole mess. And it's nearly over, as well. All the ring bearers have been called to the Sanctuary."

"What about Mummy?" Alyssa asked, looking up at Shadow. "Is Mummy coming?"

"I'm not sure," Shadow replied. "I think she might, but I can't promise."

Alyssa nodded, but looked sadly at the table and went quiet for a moment.

Shadow decided to distract her and rose from the table. "Come on, why don't you all show me where you've been staying and help me find a place to sleep? Then you little ones can go play while Luminous and I talk about adult things.

[Kender Bard]

Luminous's brows furrowed slightly at that--she hoped it wouldn't be bad news, but she knew that in these grim times, it wasn't likely to be good.

"You don't have to stay in the tree, if you don't want," she explained. "By now, you'd be forced to take a mid or upper room. There's also little houses that are firmly ground level that you can take. And of course, if you really want, you can ask the angels to make you something. They seem to really like fulfilling requests for the Chosen, though the Soahcian ones might have a bit of fun about it." She couldn't help but grin at that.

[Northen Light36]

Shadow looked thoughtful. "Well, I don't mind taking a higher room but it's up to you all. Do you three want me close, or would you like a little distance?"

"Can Shade and I stay close to you, Uncle Shadow?" Alyssa asked, reaching up to take his hand. "I missed you."

"Of course, sweetheart."

Dami looked at Luminous, waiting to see his sister's opinion first."

[Northen Light36]

Shadow looked thoughtful. "Well, I don't mind taking a higher room but it's up to you all. Do you three want me close, or would you like a little distance?"

"Can Shade and I stay close to you, Uncle Shadow?" Alyssa asked, reaching up to take his hand. "I missed you."

"Of course, sweetheart."

Dami looked at Luminous, waiting to see his sister's opinion first."

[Kender Bard]

"I think the little ones want you near at hand," Luminous said with a smile. "So if you can make the walk, there's a room upstairs. This way." She slid out of her chair and sprinted up the stairs with all the energy of her age.

[Northen Light36]

Shadow smiled and picked Shade up, supporting the toddler with one arm while Alyssa clung to his other hand, before following his daughter upstairs.

Dami had to be satisfied with holding onto Alyssa's hand, but he skipped a little as he walked. The little boy was happy he hadn't had to look like a girl or a baby by asking his father to stay, but he still got to stay close to his daddy. "We saved you the best room, Daddy."

"Did you?" Shadow asked with a warm, amused smile. "Well thank you very much."

[Kender Bard]

Luminous opened the door to the room, letting Shadow take a look at it. It was considerably plain and small, but at least the furniture looked comfortable.