“Meadow will let us know that once she be done wif her. Ye can stay here as lon' as ye like lad, there be no one kickin' ye out of the mountain,” the elder halfling said to the brooding ranger. Caerwyn nodded, managing another little smile. “We kin always use a strong hand here! And Connor can.. I dunno.. turn the lights on!”
“Heeeyyyy....” Connor said immediately, despite knowing the easy manner in which Daman teased. Anna giggled quietly, almost too giddy in the aftermath of all of the trauma. Everything felt surreal.
“So whut's been wit' ye Connor!” Daman asked as they gathered for a meal and to await the the news of Jaelle's hands.
“Magic, of course!” Connor quipped playfully, “Chased some Pit-kind from the mountains most recently.” Caerwyn turned to listen.
“We could bring the whole kit out this way you know... .Stay a while...” Anna whispered softly to Connor. He nodded a little.
“Oh, good idea,” he replied easily. They both knew, whatever the outcome, Jaelle wouldn't be able to travel soon.
“Pit stuff huh?” Daman grinned. Connor nodded. “Soun's like a story ter me!”
“A bit,” Anna nodded, wrinkling her nose.
“So whuts it aboot?” Daman asked, always keen for a good story.
“A well someone thought he could operate a gate in the mountains...bloody thing woke me up when he switched it on.” Connor began. Anna set her jaw lightly, remembering that exact night.
“Whut kinner gate?” Daman asked curiously.
“A gate between realities....between us and the Pits,” Connor began, easily, “He was moving others there or here, depending on their wants. Some that came here were trying to organize the gnolls.”
“And how ye manage ter get rid of it?” Daman asked focusing in on the finer details immediately.
“Oh, that was actually easier than I thought,” Connor answered, recentering his thoughts, “Turns out there was this gnome lady who was the prime part of the gate. Once I got her away, the gate collapsed.”
“A gnome..?” Daman asked curiously. Caerwyn blinked in surprise.
“That was the last little bird we brought this way...” Anna said, nodding a little, a small frown on her face. Connor nodded as well.
“Deep gnome actually,” he said, “Her left arm had been replaced with something of the Pits, and it made her a good focus, it seems.”
“Ser.. wait a minute,” Daman stopped Connor, “Ye used the gnome's arm ter dispel the gate?” Anna shook her head quickly.
“Not us...”
“Oh no...the gnome's arm made her very suitable to be the gate,” Connor clarified.
“Used by someone else..” Anna clarified further.
“Were you able to do anything to restore her arm?” Caerwyn asked. Anna shook her head. He nodded back sadly.
“Ye took someone else's arm..?” Daman asked, squinting in confusion.
“No, I didn't...she still has that arm,” Connor said, “The Blacks were involved, if it helps.”
“Of course they were! They like arms!” Daman said.
“An Pits,” Anna said making a face.
“Yes...usually the figurative ones,” Connor said, “Arms, that is.”
“Har! Aye! So is there be an armless gnome walkin 'bout?” Daman asked.
“She kept it....” Anna said, looking a little dubious. Connor laughed a little.
“No, not yet,” Connor said, “She keeps it, seems rather attached to it, if you pardon the pun.”
“Har!” Daman exclaimed, “Sorry lad, as ye can imagine I have an interest in arm stories!” He waved his stubby left one up. Caerwyn glanced over in surprise at this. Connor only grinned and nodded.
“I doubt you'd be wnting this one,” Connor offered. Daman squinted.
“So yer suggestin' there be a chance I kin get it?”
“Pretty slim, I'd guess,” Connor answered, “I meant one like it.”
“Awrite awrite,” Daman acquiesced, “Its been so long without one that it prolly be weird with one like that.”
“Probably.....” Connor said, squinting a little,”You know, I'm not sure I ever heard how you came to be without.” Anna's brows twitched upward.
“Har! These?” Daman exclaimed, “I though I told Anna girl here tha' story!”
“Yes well,” Connor said, looking dubiously at Anna, “She's not thought to inform me.” Connor let his mask slip a little, showing a playfullness. She wrinkled her nose and thought about it. Something tickled her memory about such a tale but it had been so long and really, she'd come to just accept the 'condition' without a thought.
“Werl whuts be the whole point of this bardin' thing then!” Daman said. Anna's face scrunched up a little then she made a small 'oh' with her mouth. “Ha! She remembered!”
“Oh indeed!” Connor agreed, his playfully dubious gaze intensifying some.
“Lets have it lass, ye be havin' a prettier voice than mine,” Daman declared. She felt the heat rush to her face and leaned into Connor some to cover it shyly.
“That was told a long time ago...” She offered self-consciously, though tries to smile through it.
“Are ye seriously tellin -me- that ye heard somethin' ter lon' ago??” Daman quipped. Connor covered a snicker with his hand. Anna blushed more deeply and lowers her eyes.
“He's very old...” Lei Lowcliff, another elder, offered sideways to Caerwyn. Daman laughed. Caerwyn nodded a bit and smiled.
“I gathered that, yes,” he answered.
“Well..” Daman began slowly. Anna continued to wrack her brain trying to gather the details of the tale in her mind. “It wus a long time ago.. I can tell ye that much.”
“How long is long?” the ranger prodded.
“There be dragons about' the place, that long!” Daman quipped. Caerwyn nodded and Anna nearly laughed. She bit it back and watched quietly.
“Very old indeed,” the young man said, leaning to Lei a bit.
“Oh he is archaic!” she answered, “When he was young the century wasn't even planned!”
“But sharper then most,” Anna said, winking playfully at Caerwyn.
“Har.. aye aye,” the eldest halfling snickered at the banter. For an odd moment he sounded very much like a sailor to Anna.
“I gathered that as well,” Caerwyn smiled to Anna.
“Ter be honest, it be so long ago... the whole thing is blurry now, but at the time there be a lot to be wary of in the desert,” Daman mused, “In particular was this nasty bit of a dragon that tended to not mind eating the folk around.”
“It's -still- no picnic... in places,” Caerwyn cut in a bit. Daman laughed.
“Aye aye, gotta watch yerself around the place,” he said then picked up his thread, “This be dragon had a tendency to like the halfling kind and back when I was jumping more than I be walking. Werl, lets just say that she and I had a major disagreement of where my arm should be. She insisted that it be in her teet, I said the contrary. Evidently she had a higher stake than me.” Anna wrinkled her nose slightly.
“I remember now...” Anna whispered, mostly to herself.
“Were you ever able to settle accounts with her?” Caerwyn asked.
“Oh we settled!” Daman laughed, “She be dead now and I am still kicking.” Connor grinned at this.
“There's a lesson there to be sure,” Connor said with amusement.
“So I loss a hand!” Daman grinned, “I think I came out on the winning side, beside, it wasn't the good hand! I wus hopin' to dig in the dragon when she was taken care of for me rings. Alas... there be a time fer goodbye! Besides! Who needs ter be walkin' about with dragon parts!”
“Sounds like you ended up having the higher stake after all,” Caewyn said, smilng broadly. Connor wrinkled his nose at the notion.
“The same dragon that caused the split....” Anna leaned over to whisper to Connor.
“Which split? I think I remember two,” he answered.
“The halfling tribes split,” she said, gesturing slightly with her hand, “Shadowfangs..” Recognition flashed in Connor's eyes and he nodded slightly.
“And most likely the rings had,” Caerwyn was continuing, “...passed on anyway.”
“Ew...” Daman said. Connor made a face as well. “Suppose there be that too lad.” Caerwyn smiled a little sheepishly. Anna made a little face but then set her long cooled soup down next to her.
“You -do- do wonders with that remaining hand though,” Caerwyn recovered, nodding at Daman.
“Aye well, she ain't called Lady Comfort for no reason,” he quipped.
“I was so intent on holding Jaelle's shoulders I didn't even notice.”
“Comes with the practice lad!” Daman said, “Iffen ye decide to stick about I kin show ye some tricks.”
“If I do, I'd like that much,” Caerwyn said, 'Thank you.”
“You'll need to cut off your hand though...only way to do it proper,” Connor said evenly, looking to Caerwyn. Anna giggled quietly, unable to remain as straight as Connor, caught off guard by his joke.
“Har! The lad's gotta point!” Daman laughed.
“Oh?” Caerwyn said to Connor, “I don't know if I'm -that- interested.” More smiles and amusement were shared though each of their thoughts lingered heavily over the events of the cave nearby. The lack of sound or news weighed on each of them, something likely tangible to the elder.
Connor took a spoonful of soup, though made a face at the coolness of it. He swallowed it down anyway.
“Lots to be seein' 'round here this time o' year ter,” Daman said, picking up the earlier portion of their conversation. Anna smiled a little. “Gryphon migrations soon as well'.. tha's a sight ter see.” He grinned. Anna's heart lifted instantly.
“Oh!”
“Ohhh... I'll surely have to stay for that. And hmmm...” Connor said, immediately brightening as well, “You wouldn't mind a few more eyes here for a time would you?” Anna brightened, knowing exactly what Connor was thinking. She turned hopeful eyes on Daman.
“Never enough lad,” Daman answered easily.
“How big are the flocks, if that's the proper term?” Caerwyn asked curiously.
“The biggest flocks are about two dozen or so, but they gather aroun' the mountains this time o' year,” Daman answered.
“I've never seen more than two gryphons in one place at a time...” Caerwyn mused then turned a little regretful, “And I'd like to stay for the migrations, but sadly I have obligations I must meet.”
“Har lad, well ye be in for a spectacle iffen ye stay,” Daman smiled.
“Sight to be held, so the tales go,” Anna echoed.
“Perhaps I could return later to try and catch the migrations in progress?” Caerwyn asked.
“I dunno lad! It ain' gonna be waitin' fer ye!” Daman answered.
“I understand,” Caerwyn nodded.
“The other littles...and our not-so-littles might enjoy the sight,” Connor said. Anna smiled and settled against Connor. She closed her eyes and imagined briefly the younger children running at play here in the near-wilds, seeing Jaelle healed and whole with her baby girl in her arms.
“Aye lad! Bring ter little ones,” Daman said easily, “They coul' always use some more here.”
“A vacation would do them well, I think,” Connor nodded. Anna nodded as well, opening her eyes.
“Hopefully heal some wounds with good company...”she murmured.
“You're youngsters are how old Connor?” Caerwyn sked.
“My son is in his twenties,” Connor answered easily, “...as is Anna's. I thought to also bring Finn, Lissa and Liam along with Aislin of course.”
“I misunderstood,” Caerwyn said, “I know you were bringing the rescued children but I didn;t know if you meant your own as well or not”
“Doubting they'd let us go with out,” Anna said nodding.
“They can be stubborn like that,” Connor added. Anna wrinkled her nose and snickered.
“So how many between the ter of ye?” Daman asked. An old, deep pang hit Anna. Not enough, she thought sadly to herself. She opened her eyes to look at Connor. Connor was pressing his lips before answering. She knew he felt the same pang.
“Her son, my son and the three we rescued makes five,” Connor answered somewhat selectively, “Jaelle's daughter makes six under our roof right now.”
“Ye didnae answer me question!” The elder pressed, perhaps knowing, perhaps not. Anna lowered her eyes, the pang becoming a stabbing.
“There is no other number to give,” Connor answered. Anna could hear, almost feel the discomfort in his voice, compounding her own. “There are no children between us.”
“Why be that lad?” Daman asked, seeming genuinely curious. Perhaps he thought it an injury he could heal with the ways of his people. If only, she wished with sudden fervent want. She fought back tears. If only.... Connor took a couple of breaths, perhaps his struggle was similar to hers.
“It seems those like us are no longer welcome to produce children of our own,” He said finally.
“Ahhhhh,” Daman nodded to Connor with the realization, “Ye be pointy eared!” Connor nodded in return. She felt the familiar motion as she leaned against him.
“Well that's a cryin' shame,” Daman declared instantly, “Ye be having really hairy children...” His words caught Anna and possibly Connor off guard. They both laughed a little. It was a bittersweet sound. Anna's heart ached all the more but she couldn't help but blush at the thought. If only...
“Well ye can have more dogs iffen it helps,” Daman offered. Anna looked up right away, remembering the stout friendly dogs of the clans. Her heart warmed a little at the thought and she smiled at him in thanks.
“I'd best stay with just Teph here,” The woodsman said with a small smile, something on his voice that Anna didn't quite understand. Her emotion sensitive ears pricked a little but she didn't feel she could pry despite her curiosity.
“It may!” Connor answered, “And we'll be back I'm sure. We still have a decades left in us.”
Their beloved Sachi came home at the end of a long, long stay. The playful giant ever-pup keeping Anna company and Connor damp with dog kisses.
The children did come, all eagerly awaiting the view of swaths of gryphons filling the sky on their way to warmer places of plenty. So very much happened in those weeks, so much healing but a rift formed too. One that stacked with the previous rift. Anna couldn't shake the feeling that Jaelle had become a little more Mist's child and a little less her family.
