Ilyana and Haldir were standing in front of the heavily crafted oak doors of the main hall where Inyanga and Haldir were sitting. Theodir had called his brother and his wife to tell them their decision.
Ilyana appeared flustered to be in this situation, but over the last few days she felt so liberated from all the emotions, all the agony and all the hatred she had harbored in her heart that standing here right now in front of the closed door, felt lighter. It was as if her body was levitating in the space she had left behind in her youth. Hundreds of years of living with the hatred for Theodir and pining for his younger brother, agonized her heart. She wasted so much precious time when all she had to do was look over her shoulder and her husband was standing there. Her throat bobbed and she swallowed her saliva.
"Should we go in?" he asked tenderly, as he tucked a stray strand of her golden hair behind her ears.
She pursed her lips and nodded as her face flushed. She wanted to get over with it, go back to Evindal and then start over her life—anew. "Yes," she replied, her voice a mere whisper.
Theodir smiled confidently and then opened the door to enter the room. He crossed the space between him and his brother with his chin high up, with victory that shone in his eyes, with pride that swelled in his chest. He walked in with his queen, his wife and his lover. His gaze met his brother's and he found only appreciation. Haldir got up as Theodir approached him. When he was near him, Haldir clasped his forearms and then embraced him, like the two men would. The elves looked surreal.
Haldir pulled away and said warmly, "Sit."
Theodir sat next to his wife while Haldir sat next to his wife. Ruvyn was giggling while playing with Inyanga's hair. He clutched them and refused to leave. His mother was least bothered about it, as she stroked his pink cheeks tenderly. Ilyana watched them as a smile crept on her lips. They both looked so lovely together. When she had come from Evindal, she was so jealous of Inyanga, so jealous of Haldir, for having a full family, while all she had was acrimony in her heart. Every time she saw Inyanga with her little one, she wanted to strip him away from her, but now—now the sight was beautiful enough to bring tears to her eyes. She gulped thinking how could she even think of separating the child from his mother.
Seeing Ilyana's eyes on Ruvyn, at first, Inyanga became apprehensive. However, later she relaxed. She got up and handed him to Ilyana. "I think you should cuddle him a bit," she said. "He should know you nicely."
As icy surprise surged through her body, Ilyana gasped. Inyanga had never shown this confidence earlier. With shaking hands, she took Ruvyn in her hands and as soon as she cradled him in her arms, Ruvyn stared at her with his light blue eyes. His hand shot up to the strand of hair that had come out and he grabbed it tightly in his hand. "Ow!" Ilyana cried. "You naughty boy!" she said and Ruvyn giggled. A throaty laughter from the side rumbled through the room.
Haldir wrapped his arm over Inyanga's shoulder as she leaned her face on his chest and curled her legs up. They watched Ilyana playing with Ruvyn and it seemed… lovely. He then looked at his older brother who was also looking at his wife. Theodir turned to him and said, "Ilyana and I have come to a decision. We will let Ruvyn stay with you for as long as you want to keep him."
Inyanga shot up straight, overexcited by the news. "What?"
Theodir chuckled at her reaction. He leaned back on his sofa. "Yes, you can nurse him, feed him and be with him for as long as you like. We won't force you to give him up. However—" His eyes went to Haldir who appeared tense as his shoulders drew back and Adam's apple bobbed. "We will come to take him when the need for the kingdom arises. He is going to be the king of Evindal, and I hope you understand this deeply. I have to preserve our bloodline, and it can only be done with this child." That's if his wife doesn't get pregnant soon. "Evindal hasn't had a royal baby in hundreds of years. Ruvyn was born at a time when we were all dealing with child-birth problems. So, you have to be prepared for that."
Haldir's chest tightened. He was so moved by the decision that he was speechless. A shaky breath left his lips. He said, "I fully understand your decision, brother, and I will abide by the laws of Evindal."
"That's good then," Theodir replied, feeling very relaxed. After that they didn't talk about it at all and only continued to play with Ruvyn. And Theodir wondered if he would ever get his wife pregnant. She looked beautiful with a child and what would his child look like? It was just the beginning.
Ilyana invited Inyanga to come to the elf kingdom and see what her home was like. "You are, after all, the bride of the prince of Evindal," she had said. Inyanga hugged her sister-in-law tightly and said that she would come soon.
Theodir and Ilyana left for Evindal a day later.
—
It was evening and after a day's hectic work, Ileus was sitting with Anastasia in their room, the two of them reading his favorite book, when Iona entered—all teary and frustrated. Ileus immediately tucked the book beneath his pillow and covered his wife, who was sitting nude beneath her shirt over his lap. "There is something called knocking!" he blurted. "Or have you forgotten what that means?"
"Oh, shut up!" said Iona. She had a classic pout on her face. "I want to go back to Galahar!" She sat on the couch that was near the window opposite them. She pulled her feet up and crossed her hands across her chest.
"Then go. Who is stopping you?" said Ileus, only as irritated as her.
Anastasia swatted his arm. "Shut up!" she scowled at him. He rolled his eyes and plopped on the pillow back. Anastasia slipped down him cautiously and covered herself properly. "What is it, Iona?" she asked affectionately.
Iona's tears rolled down her cheeks. "I miss him, and I miss him terribly!"
Anastasia stopped herself from laughing at her innocent sister-in-law. "Why don't you and I go for some shopping?" she suggested.
"No!" Ileus countered as his voice boomed in the room. "Princesses don't need to shop. Whatever you want, I will get it here." He was too concerned for Iona's safety. Aed Ruad was still lurking somewhere out there.
"How preposterous!" Anastasia said. "We will go shopping."
"No." His voice boomed again.
"You can't stop us!" Iona shot at him, ready to fight.
"Then try to go," Ileus said in a mulish tone. "Try to leave the palace's premises."
"Really Aly?" Anastasia asked with a raised eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?"
"That's a warning."
