#alden struan skye

[theskyehealers]

The gods old and new had presented to them yet another blessing as Daphne stood with Alden, and their family learned of this blessed event.

Hilarity ensued as the clowder of children belonging to Alynne, Aviva, and Alden invaded the food presented to them by the too kind Randolph cousins and in view of the studious Baxter family.

Alden beamed with pride, his eyes moving first to his beloved Laurel and then to Rivka who had admitted she had already known and to Veda, his niece.

Two cousins set to change the course of the next generations of Skyes and Davenports.

[theskyehealers]

As the sun played with the thick brush of the trees, he found Daphne.

Slowly, he moved next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist, and kissed her temple.

"Not interrupting deep thoughts, I hope..." and peered out towards the forests and breathing out deeply, "Soon, all will be at peace, and the people will be contented by the festival. It will be a welcomed change after all the destruction we have endured. That I promise you my laurel."

[theskyehealers]

Alden sat before the circle of stones, a crackling fire blazing as he worked on sharpening his short sword with oil and a sharpening stone. Alynne was by his side, checking on the arching of each and every bow, assuring its flexibility and that each flint tip was appropriately secured. "Long and short bows are looking good." she said with a small sigh and took a seat on the tree stump beside her brother, peering into the fire. "I am glad you are here." Alden called, breaking the comfortable silence. "I would not be any other place." "Maybe with your daughters, your son?" She half-smiled at the thought of them, "Roslyn is dark haired like Jezyk, Junelle and Julian are fair-haired like me, Genevieve..." she chuckled, "has a head of these soft little curls that she can not help herself but chew on." and shook her head. "Planning on any more?" Alynne laughed lightly under her breath, "They are never planned, they happen." Alden paused a moment, "There are times...when Zinnia and Calla are sitting together, and 'talking' to one another, reminds me of our...psychic connection." Alynne furrowed her brows slightly, "You mean...they have 'it'?" Nodding slowly, Alden continued, "The boys do too, and Rivka..." and whistled low. Alynne couldn't believe it herself, "It's the bond that you and Daphne have, both your magic and hers made these special little babies." Alden tried to remember that this was not such a happy moment, this was about how serious this impending war was, and swallowed hard. "I know that..." "I know...this shouldn't be happening, but it is. We survived once and we will again." He tousled his sister's hair and shook his head again. "And how did you get to be so sure of yourself?" Alynne, not missing a beat slipping her bow onto her shoulder, and stood up. "Because I did what I had to do once, and if need be, I will again. I will do whatever is necessary to protect my family, that includes you, Daphne, my husband, your children, my children and no one is going to keep me from doing that, no one." Alden felt the power in her words reverberate through him, "I know I should have been there when our fath-" "Shadrian was not our father Alden. We have our mother and we have Lycanthro, and Ulrich." And paused for a moment before folding her arms over her chest, "Tell me, would you not do the same?"

"Yes, I would." He knew that much. "And this time, we are not alone, we have done well to keep our allies, and they grow more." and poked his forehead, before she heard the screams in the dark of the night. "A baby being born tonight is a good omen, new life to show nothing will take down Arbor."

[theskyehealers]

Alden thought for a moment, hearing of new folks at the borders of Arbor. It was no longer allowed, closing them off now, knowing trouble was brewing just beyond.

He kept Daphne close and their children closer, and made sure nightly they were all safe and accounted for.

He was first to rise, meeting with Silas nightly and daily, learning of what he had seen, and knowing just how close this was for his brother.

He had been trying to keep the lad busy, and it was serving to keep him distracted, if only enough.

When he heard who it was, he asked Daphne to accompany him and at the untied rope bridges keeping outsider out and insiders safe within, he noticed his sister-in-law with a man he remembered as the hand to Aviva.

Their temporary lodging was not as up to par as Alden would have wanted, but he would explain the situation to the pair, and that traveling out again would not be as easy.

"You come in dire times, and it is not about to get any better." Alden turned his dark stern gaze on Eddard, "you appear in good standing my lord, while you are here in Arbor you are both guests, I assure you." And leaned forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasping to one another as Alden formulated his thoughts, "We need every able bodied woman and man, I can see you are with child my lady." He commented to Tisha and nodded his congratulations with a quick smile and then focused his gaze on Ned, "A healer's eye." He mentioned, explaining how he knew and why he would not expect her to over work herself.

"Marrying my sister-in-law, and your connection to my own sister Aviva, I claim you as kin. Will you help our people?"

[theskyehealers]

The Skye siblings planned.

Alden made sure those that could and would fit were well armed, arrows, bows from Alynne & Jezyk, and The Stony Hills & Oxbow Lakes. Along with Exene, Eris, Juliette and Lexington.

Knowing that his sister had brought along not only another expert archer like Juliette, but meeting again the solemn, yet kind telekinetic Exene.

Aviva sent along supplies, and her apologies, home was where she needed to be, but Alden sent along a missive of thanks in response, and explained she didn't need to apologize; she was doing her part, keeping the Davenport Orphanage and Hospital well stocked and supplied for anything afoot.

His mother had sent along healing herbs, and ore. Short and long swords also armed the Tree People now, and for once, he felt a true chance for triumph.

[theskyehealers]

Sadira smirked as she watched the lands she would soon be claiming with her lover. "I shall do it now." and stepped away, peeling off the barely there gown she had been wearing to stand in her shift, with dagger in hand.

Barefoot and feeling the cold in the air, her skin pimpled and closed her eyes. Holding her hands out, balancing the dagger in the palm of her outstretched hand and a handful of the earth in the other, she closed her eyes and began to hum. "I call on you the mother of all, I call on you, the maker of us all, I call on you Mamut, call on you the Crone, I call on you the Witch." she began and felt the winds in the air whip at her hair.

Smiling, she continued and opened her eyes, "I bring forth an offering...." and gripped tightly at the dagger now, while her hand remained open with the handful of the dirt in the other. "Brown earth, green trees, you claim the roots, claim the trees." and smirked as she felt the winds continue to pick up. She gasped when she felt the whip in the air, practically backhanding her and almost causing her to lose her balance, but she fought to keep hold, and continued. "Black Night, White Moon...green earth, blue skies....come to life and claim what is in your right." and let out a scream as she felt herself rising off of the ground, but she fought back, to regain control and once she willed herself back to the ground, she dropped to one knee, panting hard. Carefully, she ran the dagger across her palm and clenched her hand in a fist, until her blood touched the earth beneath and placed her hand on the dirt, and felt it. "She is here..." and glanced back towards Malus, her face pale but triumphant. "She is coming...." but did not mention, yet that she noticed the finger and footprints left behind by another magicked being.

"terra tua est..." she called, and with a slight glance his way, she bowed her head, and heard a reply.

"si ves pacem, para bellum...."

"What...what is going on?" and looked out towards the treeline, studying the movement of the trees. "Something is really happening." Alden called, looking out over the dense terrain, and the explosion of life, that set off an aura of great darkness. Dark Earth Magic.

[theskyehealers]

It had finally come to head.

Arbor had been at peace, finding solace in their new leaders. For the most part, Alden and Daphne had done right by the people, they settled disputes, moved larger families is more fitting abodes and finally, yes finally babies were being born, again.

Alden almost let out a sigh of relief when presented to them was the largest obstacle; a claimant to Arbor.

One who did not appreciate others in his way, namely Braddock, Alden and Daphne.

And while he did not know it yet, Mal was unaware of one more ally against him: Silas.

[theskyehealers]

A house full meant he was purposefully sent off to leave his children, Roark, Rickard, Rivka, Zinnia and Calla to prepare a grand feast for all fathers. There was wine fermented not just with grapes, a roasted pig spinning on a spit, fruits of all colors, and his five creative children had drawn something for him, with their little hands and even an unsteady baby bum print, but all in all, Alden could not have been happier to celebrate with his grand family, and embraced Daphne, "Thank you...for giving me all this happiness."

[theskyehealers]

The Tree People of Arbor had placed their faith in Alden and Daphne; their seer and warden.

And now as danger loomed -- in the name of a man referred to as Malus, the couple would be tested, and prove their loyalty again to the people of Arbor.

Daphne and Alden knew...they would have to do this, together.

[theskyehealers]

Alden hadn't expected a missive, save one that brought such dire news. He froze as he read those words and glanced at Daphne.

Sitting there with their children happily playing; their twins and triplets and furrowed his brow.

He grabbed only his medicine bag, a change of clothes and was off, on horseback to head to Barley. He had offered barely a kiss and hug to his woman and children, in fear for the life of his oldest sister.

Pushing the horse hard, he remembered Aviva and the little things she did. She had protected him, had always been there for advice and loved each other as siblings would.

But even as those warm thoughts kept him going, he knew what it would mean for Alynne.....

Alynne had been out with Jezyk, walking the grounds and introducing herself to a few of the newest residents of The Stony Hills & Oxbow Lakes, when a runner had encountered them.

She swung about with Evie in her arms, perplexed by seeing the runner. Thanking him and sending him downhill and to the center of town, she assured him the Randolph cousins would provide a proper meal for him before he returned.

Flipping the missive over, she noticed the messy wax seal and its initials. "Why would Seth be writing..." she mused aloud and cracked the seal to read with growing apprehension.

"No...no...! It is Aviva." And looked to Jezyk, "the gods would not be so cruel...." and charged off with Evie in toe. She had to debate how to travel with a babe still at her breast and hesitated to leave her behind. The infant would slow her down, but she could not and grabbing clothing only for Genevieve, she ordered Esme to help her find Abelie.

And found the sullen girl hesitant to leave her little bleak world behind.

Abelie was still seething about the bitter fracture in her relationship with her mother, "I...do not wish to go....I can watch over my nieces-" and gasped when the neck of her bodice was gripped tightly and she was made to face the wrath of the far smaller Alynne.

"Forget whatever you think is wrong with your relationship with Mama! This is about Aviva! Either you get inside and pack a bag or you will be tasting my fist! GET!"

And just before dusk, the two sisters headed out, with Evie bound tight to Alynne's chest, and their mares pounding the hard packed earth, destination Barley and their beloved sister.

[theskyehealers]

Calla and Zinnia were naked little babies, freeing themselves of any scrap of clothes their parents wrapped them in.

"You have too much of my sister Alynne in you." Alden proclaimed in a laugh, spanking their naked bottoms playfully.

"My two little flowers..."

[theskyehealers]

Alden could still not believe his luck. Life in Arbor had settled into something comfortable. Despite the lack of new births among the people, Alden and Daphne had still not lost the faith of the people. Late at night, Alden thought of the probability of this curse he had been hearing about, yet Daphne still rounded further with their child.  And as her pregnancy continued and the pair of them monitored her pregnancy closely, they had their suspicions of yet again, a multiple birth. The Tree People seemed at ease with Daphne’s pregnancy, assuring she had to work as little as possible, bringing the growing family food almost every night.  And Alden dreamed, worried and dreamed, and unbeknownst to his own calling, he hailed Alynne. His own sister would come to the call, just in time for Daphne’s unexpected labor.  In the dead of a raging storm, Daphne pushed with the aid of Alynne.  Two women rounded with child, working together to bring new life into their world.  The first babe was little, but immediately grabbed hold of her mother, nestling her tender flesh into her mother’s warm skin, awaiting. The second babe came, quietly, and without breath. Alynne worked, clearing the baby’s mouth, kept Daphne warm, and finally, the second babe wailed, making her presence known. Following the immediate seclusion of Alden and his woman, and their newborns, Alynne and Jezyk and their own children carried for the triplets, and learned the way of life in Arbor again. When the 7 nights had passed, Alden emerged with Daphne by his side. “Today...we come to announce the names of our children, our new daughters.”  As Daphne held both, he marked his first daughter’s button nose, and forehead with soot and red ochre. “You are Zinnia, proclaimed and watched over by the mighty birds that protect these skies.  The Harrier, watches over you...”  And touched his second daughter’s nose and forehead, staining them black and red, “You are Calla, delicate yet fierce, and the Red Kite has chosen to watch over you.” and looked to their people. “The gods have been good to Daphne, our own earth mother.  Praised be! Praised be! Praised be!” he chanted with their people, regarding and revering his chosen.

[theskyehealers]

He witnessed the intended destruction of Arbor by Malus, his sorceress and the Crone.

Men and women had been placed in the funeral pyres. As if all they had experienced in Arbor had not been enough, they had lost their Elder, Braddock.

True Father to Silas, most trusted ally to Alden, they all mourned, with Alynne reminding him that the war was far from over, and that their wrath would be felt in due time.

Alden believed that, for his wrath was mighty.

[theskyehealers]

Brother and sister, raised by and with Wolves, by a diminutive healer mother, Wolf Father.

Arbor would be meeting more wolves than they’d ever seen.

A Wolf that had once lived and challenged Alynne and would make his way now to the Tree People.

Could Alden keep the peace and welcome his father to a section of land that were skeptical of strangers?

[theskyehealers]

Seasons changed, and the time had come for another fertility ritual, while Alden was more committed to the well being of the Tree People, he wondered. Would this mean more babies not only for Arbor, but for them.

[theskyehealers]

Any question why sullen, reserved and hesitant Alden fell for Daphne? She was irrevocably positive and always saw the light. And macking it all night long.