Arya-Chapter Six

Baby and Kitten

Arya and Faolin strolled through Du Weldenvarden,
each lost in their own thoughts, yet
acutely aware of each other.
When they reached the outer edge of Ellesmera,
they parted reluctantly.
Arya walked slowly toward her mother’s chambers,
her hand trailing, fingertips brushing lightly against every plant
she passed.
She smiled slightly thinking back on the day’s happenings.
Arya stiffened slightly, feeling a strange consciousness brush against her own;
then relaxed, recognizing it as Islanzadi’s.
“Mother?”
she queried.
“Arya, dear; we have a surprise for you!
Well, two actually. A birthday present, and a random exciting happening!
Come quickly, will you?”
“All right, mother.”
agreed Arya, her curiosity aroused,
“Shall I come to your quarters?”
“No, dear; come to the main gathering hall.”
“I’ll be right there.”
said Arya, abruptly snapping off the link, reversed direction, and began to
stride quickly to the Gathering Hall.

Arya quietly pushed the door open, peeking inside.
Islanzadi sat on the floor cradling something in her arms.
Several elves Arya didn’t know stood around her,
oohing and ahhing at whatever it was she was holding.
What do you have there, Mom?
Arya asked, stepping through the door and touching two fingers to her lips simultaneously.
Islanzadi turned toward Arya, her face an expression of delight.
“Arya! Come look at this!”
Arya stepped forward gingerly, unsure of what to expect.
Her face lit up as she realized what it was in her mother’s arms.
“It’s a baby!”
She frowned slightly
“I’ve never seen one before, but it doesn’t look elvish.”
One of the strange elves stepped in,
“no, Princess.”
she said, touching her fingers to her lips,
“she is not elvish. We were traveling toward Ellesmera when we
heard a most piteous sound.
She was screaming in hunger and pain.
Her back was scratched up as if she had been dragged over rocks
and she was extremely thin.”
Arya’s eyes widened with sympathy.
“Oh, so she’s a girl then? And human?”
The elf smiled.
“She is both. And an orphan also, most likely.
There was an aura of magic surrounding her, as if she had been transported there
magically, when I followed the magic trail I found it ended in Urubaen.”
The elf paused, sadness etched on her face.
“Whoever transported her to Du Weldenwarden was a magic user, yes, but the task probably killed them.”
Arya was shocked by the news.
“But how,”
she asked
“could they have transported her into Du Weldenvarden when it is protected by arcane wards?”
“We found her”
responded another elf,
“in the extreme outskirts of Du Weldenvarden. The wards are very weak there.”
Islanzadi stood gracefully, the baby cradled loosely in her arms.
“I am sure our guests are quite tired from their long and hazardous journey,”
she said tactfully
“perhaps it would be best if they were shown to their rooms.”
“We thank you,”
said the tallest of the elves, slender and willowy with silver hair
“What say you to do about the baby?”
Islanzadi paused, struck by this.
“I had not thought on the matter”
she admitted
“We should return her to her own kind, a kind person in a small village mayhap.”
The elf bowed in deference to her wishes.
“It shall be as the Queen says.”
he agreed.
“And with her Majesty’s permission we shall retire to our quarters.”
“One more thing before you go,”
ordered Islanzadi imperiously, though her face was soft
“Would you mind if the baby stayed here for a time?”
The elf bowed
“It would be our pleasure if it pleases you to do such a thing.”
Islanzadi smiled brilliantly.
“I thank you.”
The elves all bowed as one and left the room slowly,
beginning to talk among themselves as they emerged into the bright sunlight.
Arya turned to Islanzadi,
“May I hold her, Mother?”
she begged
“just for a moment?”
Islanzadi smiled gently
“of course, dear. In fact,”
she paused slightly
“ I have a meeting this afternoon, it will take about two hours.
Will you care for her until then?”
Arya grinned suddenly, thrilled with the prospect.
She held out her arms tentatively to the infant, relieved when the child nearly came to her, giggling.
“Pretty girl.”
whispered Arya into the baby’s ear, swinging from side to side to make the baby smile.
Islanzadi smiled benevolently watching the two interact, and was on the verge of leaving when Arya stopped her with a question.
“Wait! Mother, what is her name?”
Islanzadi paused, apparently in deep thought.
“I believe on of our guests said it is ‘Angela.’
Rather nice isn’t it, though I’ve never heard it before.”
Arya looked at Angela and said thoughtfully,
“It suits her.”
Islanzadi smiled and turned and walked away, though Arya didn’t notice.
She hoisted the chubby rascal onto her hip and swished down one of the paths to one of her favorite meadows, singing a random song as she went.
Presently they reached the meadow, and Arya set Angela down in the tall, sweet grass, watching over her protectively as Angela crawled off in exploration.
Arya followed Angela around the meadow; the baby seemed fascinated by each and every plant she came across, though amazingly, she did not put anything in her mouth.
Finally, exhausted she flopped onto the ground and fell asleep, cherubic face relaxed completely.
Arya picked her up gently, and laid her on a blanket, spread out in some shorter grass.
Angela curled up like a kitten in the center.
Arya sat watching her for some time, then turned to see Maud the werecat come walking into the clearing looking decidedly proud of herself.
“What are you carrying?”
asked Arya, curious about the bundle she cradled in her arms.
“And,” she added, “where have you been these past few months?”
Maud smiled proudly and sat down across from Arya on the blanket,
tipping the bundle slightly to reveal a baby’s face.
“Another baby?”
gasped Arya.
Maud nodded and set it down.
The baby wriggled and suddenly his image wavered, as if he was a reflection that a strong wind had blown.
Then, a kitten was crawling out of the blanket towards Angela.
“Your baby!”
exclaimed Arya.
“What is his name?”
Maud paused slightly.
“For his true name you’ll have to search elsewhere.
But I call him Solembum.”
Arya laughed lightly.
“Solembum.”
she said, trying out the name on her tongue.
“Solembum.”
She repeated, then nodded at the aforementioned kitten who was enthusiastically licking Angela’s face.
“They seem to like each other, don’t they?”
Maud leaned forward, studying the now awake Angela closely.
Maud turned to Arya,
“Arya,”
she said very seriously,
“this child will be very important in the future,
farther in the future then most humans live.”
Maud looked decisive.
“I’ll just have to insure she lives that long.”
Maud leaned forward, then breathed on Angela, whispering a spell Arya couldn’t hear.
Angela looked surprised for a moment, then her countenance seemed to change for a second.
Ina moment she shook her head, as if to clear away a memory.
Then she laughed out loud, and turned to Solembum, hugging him tight