OOC: This is for those who have been with Eriel and Keralin during their adventures together. Special note goes to Star Gazer, I-L-S and dracoaestas asking them to take part in this very special story with their characters.

Keralin and Aelir entered the birthing grounds of Du Weldenvarden where both Eriel and Emrhyst awaited him. Keralin had been awaiting this day for many months and it filled him with joy, fear, anticipation and a few other emotions that jumbled together creating a mixture of confusion and happiness. The trees here were tall and seemed to bend around to create a completely safe place, free of all evil, in which an Elf could give birth.
I can't believe the day is finally here! Keralin said to Aelir.
Nor can I. You are about to be a father and that is no small thing. Aelir said with exitement.
Things are going to be different from now on... I am different. Keralin said breathing in the air. He looked at Aelir. Then again so are we all. It was then Keralin saw her and he saw how she had changed. Keralin only just smiled and ran to her side.

OOC: =P I'm nervous xD

IC: Emrhyst let out a roar of joy and flew, somewhat slowly, to Keralin and Aelir. She was heavy in her pregnancy, although not quite at the birthing stage yet, unlike her rider who lay with her back straight under an emergent, its leaves sheltering her from direct sunlight.
Eriel gently held up her hand to grasped Keralin's. Her grip had not weakened a lot during her pregnancy, but anticipation, happiness and a tinge of fear had done its job.
Her abdomen was unsurprisingly, significantly larger than what it had been several months back when they were still away from Alagaesia. Her other features remained the same as always, save a few specific parts of course.
Emrhyst dipped her head, lips in a toothy grin. The mother-to-be awaits you both. You would do best to hurry along Aelir. She said then embraced her mate, purring gently.

OOC: Err... Aelir has Emrhyst's green one, and Emrhyst has Aelir's blue one.

OOC: As much as I want to say "It's not too hard", I know what you mean.
Also, check the archive sectionfor: Time is Wasting, Time is Gone.

Keralin grasped Eriel's hand, feeling the grip that she was exerting he held her hand with both of his hands. His face revealed nothing but joy, his hand holding Eriel's firmly and his eyes shed a few tears. "How are you doing?" He asked. He didn't have time to get an answer though as the rest of his new family joined them. "Thank you all for coming." He said to them. "I'm relieved that you all could make it here today." He pressure on his hand made him look back at Eriel. "You're doing fine."

Aelir embraced Emrhyst as well, glad to see her. It may sound corny, but I think that she can wait for a few moments. I do love you and I want to spend some time with you. He stayed with his head wrapped around Emrhyst's.

Keralin watched the rest, happy that for once in their lives they were together and not fighting some great evil. My friends. He thought. No, My family.

Simply a place where our young one can fly without hurting himself too much if he falls. Aelir said.

I hope we're not too late. Aeraldi fervently pleaded. The fact that I was invited means that we are trusted.
I don't see why you care so much, it's simply another weakling being brought into the world.
Not just that, it's the fact that it's another life that has been living inside another. I feel that this is important for us as well. Besides, I want to give the child a small gift.
What could you possibly give an elven child?
Hope. He said. He flew harder, the forests of Du Weldenvarden appearing below him.

Emrhyst purred, How about the mountain with leaves as a bed... She commented absentmindedly.

Eriel looked up as she heard the wing beats of Aeraldi, smiling in joy.

OOC:Meh.. kinda blank today...

Keralin looked at Aeralid as he landed. "Glad you could make it." He said cheerfully.
I hoped I wasn't too late, it was hard convincing my other side to come.
"Well I'll tell you that any misbehaving here will throw you out quicker than you could roar."
Yes, I felt the magic when I entered. He looked at Eriel, then at Emrhyst. I can feel the magic from them already. He said to his other side.
So can I, their power will be great.

OOC: Hm... when should we start with the birthing itself? page 3? On my next turn?

OOC: When you're ready then we are.

OOC: Oh no please no. I prefer to have someone help me out here, or we're never gonna get anywhere =\

OOC: Alright then we might as well start on page three.

OOC: Ok then.

IC: Eriel smiled and shut her eyes, concentrating on fanning the wards around them, now that she could feel the child's energy peaking, she wasn't going to take a chance. She knew that Galbatorix probably knew about her pregnancy, but she also knew that he would never be able to enter the grounds upon which her friends stood, not if he would risk losing his soul to the wards and his body to every one of her friends around her, or so she hoped.

Emrhyst nudged Aelir gently. So.. what d'you think of my suggestion?

OOC: ILS yur up.

OOC: Kk, I'm just going to post that it happened... Anyone who wants to add anything just tell me...

IC: Eriel looked up at her friends with a smile then shut her eyes, breathing deeply, she looked up at Keralin, gently clasping his hand.

*time skip*

OOC: I feel weird...

OOC: I know. This post was really hard to type, I couldn't really think of much.

Keralin sat with Eriel for the entire time and held her hand. When it was all done Keralin held the child within his hands and felt the child's breathing as it cried it's voice to the world. He kneeled next to Eriel and held the child, showing her the child. "Isn't he beautiful?" He said.
Aelir leaned closer and watched the child with one eye, even though he had no hand in it, he knew that this was his child as well.

Aeraldi didn't want to crowd around but he did use his eye to look closer at the child. Our mother did the same for us.
And yet, I feel strange.
So do I. It's a feeling you can't describe. Both sides of Aeraldi watched the child and said nothing.

OOC: Err... who's turn is it?

OOC: Yay! Star's back!

IC: Phalynx waited silently. Finally, she saw the new life enter the world. She heard the high-pitched cry of the new-born, and caught a scent that could only be described as "newness". Phal smiled and snaked her head forward eagerly to get a closer look. He is a beautiful child. Elf children contain a great deal of power, do they not? For I can certainly sense it in him, Phal said softly. As she spoke, she only let the child feel the barest hint of her consciousness, not sure yet how he would react to a dragon his parents weren't bonded with.

OOC: I'll let you post first Eriel as I-L-S was talking to you. I'll post after.

OOC:Ok...

IC: Eriel smiled. "Yes, his name is Hayren, and he looks elated to see, or rather, feel you Phal." The child smiled and turned his head between Faefnir and Phal repeatedly.

Emrhyst gently nudged Faefnir. It won't do you any good thinking of the fallen on a day of birth would it? If I was any more superstitious I would have said you were giving us bad luck. Emrhyst laughed.

Keralin was beyond words at this point, the child slowly looking at the separate dragons. As much as he wanted the child to look at him he knew he shouldn't be so selfish, he held the child's hand within his own and the child held his. He knew that the child, Hayren, noticed him.

Aelir craned his neck over Phalynx and looked at the child himself, interested. The child looked to fragile to him, so defenceless. He said to his rider, I promise to defend him as I can. He is my child as well. Feelings of gratitude from Keralin washed over Aelir as he said those words.
And when you and Emrhyst have yours, I swear to do the same.

Do you think that we were that squishy when we were hatched? Aeraldi wondered.
No, we were perfect then. Everyone else feared us. Aeraldi answered with force.
Seems like a dream now. He continued.
I barely remember it, it was so many ages ago. So many civilisations came and fell. He shook his head. Bah, it helps not to dwell upon the past and things that cannot change. We are here to bring the new child into a world fraught with danger, I just hope he doesn't see it too soon.
I can agree to that.

OOC: You're up Star.
btw I was thinking of getting Taliear to appear in this as well... Hm...