Chapter 9: Argante

Atlantis felt like she was swimming through a fog, she couldn’t see a thing, but she had the sensation that she was swimming and she couldn’t quite make it to the surface and there was someone at the surface who desperately needed her help.

Where was she? What was she doing here? Looking around, she couldn’t see a thing; she felt sensations, though, emotions, of longing, love, sadness, pain, hope, hate, peace, and war. Why was she feeling these emotions?

Reaching out with her magic, Atlantis felt a reflection of her own and that of her v’ma’ter’i’ Tajor’s magic. Not a trace of Oberon’s magic could she feel. Why couldn’t she remember? Why did she have to swim to the surface? She was so tired. She yawned in her sleep and she drifted off on the current and knew nothing.

Oberon looked down at his v’ma’ter’a and knew that she was feeling her Little One, while she slept. He looked down at the Wee One and knew that she was not of his flesh, and for the first time envied his Mate. Closing his communication channel with Tajor and Atlantis, he handed the sleeping elf to his Mate, and left the room.

Returning to his lab, he sank down into his chair, and wept for the loss of his Little One.

Tajor felt the withdrawal of his Mate and was puzzled when he was handed their Little One, Tajor had learned some devious tricks from Atlantis, and slipped past the wall cutting him off from his Mate, and settled into Oberon’s mind.

He was stunned to learn that the Little One was his and not Oberon’s and Oberon’s Wee One had sacrificed her life so her twin would live. He felt the devastation Oberon felt and his heart ached for his v’ma’ter’i. He sent a wave of love to Oberon, whose metaphysical eyes lifted to meet his, and inquired how he had slipped past his shield?

Tajor winked and replied, “I have learned a lot from our Mate, she is brilliant with her magic. Some of the things she does is amazing and she doesn’t hide from us how she accomplishes her magic and I have copied her way of wielding magic and some of it works for me and some of it doesn’t, but I have learned much from her.”

“Our daughter that survived is as much yours and it is Atty’s or mine. She will have it no other way. Furthermore, didn’t you listen to what Isolade said? It was her destiny. She has gone ahead to live with Atlantis’s Mother and Father, who will raise and love her as their own. We need you Oberon. Come join us on our bed and enjoy our daughter with me.”

Oberon tasted the truth in the words that his Mate sent him through their link, and wiping his eyes, made his way back to his bed chamber. Looking down at his Mates, peace filled his heart and he crawled into bed and cuddled Tajor close to his body as he propped up his head and looked over his shoulder to see the Wee One that had graced their lives.

Whispering in Tajor’s ear, Oberon said, “She’s beautiful. She looks just like Atty except for her gray-green eyes that is all you my dear.” Through the telepathic link he had created with the Little One before she was born, he sent her waves of love and reassurance that she was the daughter of his heart.”

Tinkling laughter filled his mind and heart and he was thrilled to be the Father of her Heart. Tajor grinned at the interaction of his Little One with his Mate and was filled with contentment.

Atlantis moved restlessly on the bed and wiped her face with her hand and rolled over to face Tajor and threw her arm around him and rested her hand on Oberon’s ribs. Her v’ma’ter’i froze, holding her breath as she sighed and went back to sleep.

In his mind, Tajor asked Oberon, “How long do you think she will sleep?”

Oberon shrugged and replied, “I have no idea, and her magic is depleted. Did you see her wielding such power and might? She was magnificent!”

Tajor agreed with his Mate, remembering the sight of his Mate standing in the middle of the sun, blue hair flying around as the wind whipped it in circles, making the sun star of Terra Firma do as she demanded killing all the Werekin in one fell swoop.

Seeing her burned to a crisp was another image emblazoned in his mind, and he hoped he would never had to see her in that state ever again. He had been amazed when Twa had healed her and taken her burns on himself. He sighed and glanced down at his daughter who gnawed on her fingers. She was hungry.

Oberon stood up and went around to the other side of the bed, and moved in beside Atlantis. Gently he tugged her between his legs and he sat with his back against the head board. He slipped the covers down from Atlantis’s chest to reveal her perfect blue nipples. Tajor handed his daughter to Oberon who positioned her against Atlantis’s bosom and encouraged the Little One to latch on and suckle.

Joy filled his mind and the Wee One began to feed. He glanced at Tajor who stared with intensity at his daughter. Oberon settled back and enjoyed the slurping noises his daughter made as she took substance from Atlantis’s body.

Twenty Days Later

Oberon stood at the bedside of Twa, who was still between life and the Beyond. He leaned over and whispered in Twa’s mind, “You must live for the sake of Atlantis. She would grieve over you for many centuries if you went to the great Beyond, she would blame herself. You owed her much and the debt has been repaid, come back to us Twa. Our Little One has not yet been named and Atlantis has not woken up from her restorative sleep. Please Twa, we need you.”

Oberon stood and closed his eyes and sent a message to Twa’s Father asking him to come to him as soon as he could. Immediately Rowen appeared at Oberon’s side. He glanced down at his son and back at Oberon.

“He became to be this way of his own accord. He saved the life of Atlantis de El’a my Mate. Is there anything you or one of your Clan can do for him to relieve his suffering?”

Rowen gazed sadly at his only remaining male child and heir and shook his head no. There was nothing that could be done for him. “This is the result of free will, choice he made out of love and repentance towards Atlantis. It will have to be his choice to remain with us or go to the Beyond.”

“When you talk to him, remind him that he wants to find his brother perhaps that will give him enough incentive to find the willpower to remain with us. The pain that he is suffering is a good thing as it will remind him he is alive.”

Oberon nodded and gazed at Rowen. “Come inside and see the Daughter of my Heart.”

Grinning Rowen fell into place beside, Oberon and walked in companionable silence. They entered Oberon’s dwelling and heard Tajor’s laughter and a delighted baby giggle drift to them from the front of the house.

Oberon paused inside the door to the family room; Tajor was sitting on the floor making faces at their daughter. Glancing up, Tajor seeing their guests stood up, scooping up their daughter, and facing Rowen, “Welcome to our home, Rowen.”

“Thank you Tajor,” murmured Rowen whose gaze were snared by the swirling green-gray eyes of the Little One in Tajor’s arms; Rowen’s eyes went blank as he was given a vision of the future.

Coming out of his trance, Rowen’s eyes shifted to Tajor and said, “Under no circumstances are you to ever allow her out of your sight, not even when she is older, until she obtains her majority and can wield her own magic. There are forces in play that will seek her death. Be careful of whom you invite into your home, and reinforce your security so that those entering may not use their magic within your own home. Free-will decisions are not yet made so there are many paths to your daughter’s destiny; guard them and her well.”

Stunned by Rowen’s proclamation, Tajor said, “Why would anyone want to harm our daughter?”

“You know as well as I Tajor, that I cannot reveal your daughter’s destiny without destroying some paths that can be taken by free-will, I will not destroy any path that could be an easier one for your daughter to trod, just because you wish to know the answers to your question.”

Tajor’s face became red as Oberon came to stand beside him, putting his arm around his V’ma’ter’i and said, “Be at peace Tajor, Rowen is right we must take what he and Isolade have revealed to our hearts and guard our daughter well. You have our thanks for the advice that you have given Rowen. We will encourage Twa to come back to us as much as we can.”

Atlantis felt red, raw emotions hit her and she sat up in bed. Throwing back the covers she launched herself out of bed, almost falling down in her haste and the weakened state of her legs. Steadying herself, she walked slowly down the hall and made her way to the front room where she knew her V’ma’ter’i's were in deep conversation with Twa’s Father.

She leaned into the doorway and heard the final pronouncement of the Elemental standing in the room, holding onto the wall she came into the room, and crossed over to her Mates.

Rowen glanced at Atlantis and said, “My dear Lady, you have the thanks of the entire Elven Nation for the service that you rendered in ridding us of Those That Cannot Be Spoken Of.”

Slowly turning to face Rowen, Atlantis said, “It cost Twa so much more then it did me. I am very worried about him.”

“What Twa did was of his own free-will and that you must never regret as it will diminish his sacrifice,” warned the Elemental.

“Yes, this I am aware, however, it does not negate my worry for him. I checked on him as I became aware and he is in pain.”

Rowen nodded, “Let him battle that pain until he decides to live or go to the Beyond, if he chooses to remain, then you may take the pain from him with your magic. Be careful of your magic as with the way you have used it, it has changed and you will need to practice wielding it again, learning the new pitfalls and what it can do if wielded incorrectly.”

“May I came and see you at your school for training, Master Rowen?”

“Sadly no you may not. As you know no one may come to the school without the backing of their family. Yours have disowned you, this you know.”

Blushing, Atlantis’s cheeks turning a deeper blue, at her momentarily, lapse of memory; she nodded and said, “Of course, Master Rowen, my apologies for forgetting the facts as they stand.”

“You have been through a lot in the past moon cycle, my Lady and no apology is necessary, it should be your Clan to offer that apology in spades, but that is my humble opinion.”

Atlantis grinned and said, “Have you met our daughter?”

“Yes I have and she is a beauty.”

Atlantis brought her hand to her mouth and smothered a yawn, eyes watering, she yawned so long and hard. “I am so weary Master Rowen. I apologize for my very bad manners.”

“Again no apology necessary my Lady, you are entitled to be tired. What shall you name your daughter?”

Glancing at her Wee One Atlantis said, “I shall name her Argante, which means, born of fire and loss. Her magic is strong.”

“Yes it is. Guard her well, Atlantis; this is your only charge.”

Atlantis nodded her head.

“I will take my leave of you all, enjoy your quiet family moments and keep strong for each other and take the protection of Argante seriously.”

The Elemental disappeared into thin air. Oberon came around Tajor and swept Atlantis into his arms and said, “Tajor, we must put Atty to back to bed, she’s about to fall on her face.”

Atlantis slumped onto Oberon’s shoulder and was a sleep before they left the front room.

© All Rights Reserved. Copyrighted December 2007 by Georgia Lee Jones.

Chapter 8: Eighteen Months Later

“I can barely keep up with the demand for my disks,” muttered Oberon to Tajor. They were in Oberon’s lab working feverishly on the sun and silver disks that killed Werekin and Shapeshifters.

“The battle is raging all over Terra Firma, we have to contain them before the human population is decimated and the fight is very close to home.”

“We cannot let on how worried we are Oberon; Atlantis does not need to know.”

Oberon chuckled wearily and said, “She all ready knows Tajor. She has known for weeks that the battle with the Werekin is close to our homelands. We have become used to our v’ma’ter’a’s magic that we no longer notice her slipping in and out of our minds at will.”

“She is so close to birthing our Little Ones she does not need to worry about the possibilities of loosing loved ones to the coming battle.”

“My Lords?”

“Yes, Twa?” asked Oberon.

“A summons by King Borland for both of you.”

Turning Tajor noticed the transportation globes hanging in the air in front of Twa. Oberon sighed and said, “Twa, while we are gone you must protect our v’ma’ter’a at all cost.”

Oberon and Tajor’s movements mirrored each other’s and they simultaneously changed into the same clothing, and reached out for the transportation orbs and vanished. They appeared in the King’s private chambers. He was looking out the window whose view overlooked a dense forest.

“Thank you both for coming.”

“Your welcome your Majesty,” replied Oberon.

Clasping his hands behind his back, King Borland said, “We need an advantage over the Werekin, more then what your disks currently give to our warriors.”

Silence descended between the King and Oberon and Tajor, a prickle of unease crept up Oberon’s back, linking his mind with Tajor’s he shared his unease with his Mate.

Clearing his throat, the King continued, “It has been brought to my attention that we do have a secret weapon that we can unleash on Those That Cannot Be Spoken Of. Atlantis has innate magic and she can destroy all of the Werekin with her magic.”

Rage swirled in Oberon’s mind, blinding his focus until all he saw was red. Tajor was there anchoring him he felt Atlantis’s growl at his anger as it hit her like an ocean wave. He saw her double over in pain, and knew that his uncontrolled anger at the King’s suggestion had triggered her body to give birth.”

Tajor spoke into the deadly silence that filled the room, “Who brought our v’ma’ter’a to your attention?”

“Her uncle.”

Tajor sucked in his breath and held it and said between gritted teeth, “Her mother’s stepbrother? That uncle? The same one who wanted nothing to do with Atlantis when she was a Youngling? The same uncle who disowned her from her Clan because she was raised by the parents of her heart who happened to be Tree Elves, that Uncle?”

King Borland did not reply to the rhetorical questions from the brother of his heart. Who knew the answers to his questions before he asked them. Borland grimaced at his brother’s raging anger.

“No,” spat Oberon.

Turning around with a scowl on his face, Borland demanded, “You dare to tell your King no?”

“I dare because she is preparing to give birth to our Little Ones even as we speak,” replied Oberon as he began to calm down.

***

Atlantis was in the wintry garden thankful for a moments quiet from her hovering Mates. They were both in the lab working on the disks that would be sent to the Elven Warriors on the front lines killing the Werekin.

Atlantis used a subtle thread of magic and made two piles of disks and with a wave of her hand she added them to the stockpile in Oberon’s lab, placing hers under his so that the subtle difference in magic would be disguised.

Sighing, Atlantis slowly walked around the forest that happened to be in the enclosed sphere of protection that Oberon had put up as the battle with the Werekin began raging over a year ago.

Rubbing her belly, she hummed a tune to her Little Ones, who giggled back at her and kicked her hand, enjoying the push she gave them back through the layers of protection that separated them from her. Smiling Atlantis rubbed her enlarged stomach and chuckled.

“Hi Twa,” she said.

“How do you do that Atlantis? I haven’t been able to sneak up on you in months, well since you acknowledged that you were having your Little Ones,” grouched Twa.

A tingle of unease jangled her system and Atlantis said, “It is night time on the earth.”

Suddenly she was tired of winter and she turned the snow into water and made the sun chase away the clouds and evaporate the melted snow that was in the sphere, she made the sun burn brighter and she through a veil of protection over her and Twa, and she placed her hand on Twa’s shoulder and transported them to the flat roof of her home and waited.

“Your scaring me Atlantis, what is doing on?”

Waving her hand she brought the disks to her from Oberon’s lab, separating the disks into two separate piles; she looked at Twa and said, “They are here.”

A wave of red anger hit her mind and doubled her over, pain ripping through her body as the Little Ones began demanding entrance into the world.

Forcing the red haze of anger from her mind, she slammed a block in the middle of the communication channels she shared with her v’ma’ter’i closing them to her condition and the situation she currently faced.

Using his magic, Twa was stunned to feel the thick, sharp edge of evil bounce back at him form his probe of the land beyond the globe of protection. He threw up a ring of fire around the globe, burning the Werekin that were the closest to the circle of protection. From the corner of his eye he saw the blurred motions of the disks fly through the air through the sphere and incinerate the Werekin and shapeshifters that they met.

Waving her hand, Atlantis knew that unless something drastic happened she would be overwhelmed. She used a small hole in the layer of protection to develop and forced direct sun light through the hole and using her metaphysical eyes was stunned that it didn’t have the intensity of the disks and only singed the Werekin that it was trained upon.

Reaching down deep within her, Atlantis called upon the wind that roamed the earth, and demanded that it bring the sun to her aid. Suddenly the earth’s sun was in the sphere, and the burning intensity of it made her skin begin to blister.

Using her magic she dissolved the globe of protection, allowing the real earth’s sun to scorch the Werekin. She watched as bodies disintegrated into ash and dropped to the earth’s crust.

Weaving a spell, Atlantis sent the earth’s sun over the land seeking Werekin and dissolving them where they stood. When the oily feel of evil no longer lingered in her mind, Atlantis replaced the sun in the proper orbit at the exact place that it would have been in if she hadn’t stolen the sun from the sky to use it for her own devices.

Her breath was stolen from her lungs when she was doused with cold water from head to foot, it was only then that she realized that her clothes were on fire and her skin was blistered and she slowly slumped to the ground.

***

Twa realized what Atlantis was attempting to do, he sent a summons globes to her Mates. He then watched as the earth’s sun appeared and the walls of protection explode around them and the evil Werekin turn to ash. The sun chased the night away killing any Werekin in its path and before he could blink the earth returned to night, and eerie silence reining no sounds of night, not even a chirp of a cricket.

Shock thrust though his mind as he realized that Atlantis was on fire. He doused her with a waterfall that materialized out of thin air. He turned as her Mates appeared and watched in horror as Atlantis slumped to the ground. Oberon caught her body and disappeared with it into the forest. He laid her down on a bed that Tajor conjured up and gazed down at the ravished and burned body of their Mate.

Tajor leaned over the bed and whispered, “By the Gods, she’s going to die.”

Oberon said, “No she’s not.”

Sadly Twa gazed down at his friend and said, “No she is not.”

“Stretching out his hands over the bare burned body that belong to Atlantis, Twa, sent a healing stream of magic into her body and began healing her, taking on her wounds to his own body, and healed hers from the inside out.”

Atlantis opened her eyes and met the burned face that was Twa, knowing what he had done, quickly eased him down on the bed and summoned Isolade, the mage and healer to her side.

Isolade felt the summons from Atlantis and she knew it would be coming and her potions were ready for immediate use. “Quickly Atlantis, we must slather his body in this cream before he wakes up.”

Using her magic, Atlantis elevated the body of her friend Twa, using her magic; she opened the potion and wove the cream all over the back of his body while Isolade did the same for his front.

Atlantis studied the chemical components to the potion and suddenly the bed turned into the potion and she lowered Twa down and onto the bed and wrapped up his body in a blanket that had the potion on one side and gazed sadly down at her friend.

Isolade said, “There is nothing that you can do for him at this time Atlantis, your daughter needs to be born and born now or she will die and the Elves cannot loose her.”

The pain of her contractions doubled her over and she fell to her knees. Following Isolade’s instructions she squatted and bore down. After several pushes, a small body emerged from hers and Isolade cut the cord and the Little One bellowed out her displeasure of being on Terra Firma.

Puzzled, Atlantis searched her body and was dismayed to discover her other daughter was gone. The small memory of the Seeing she had sent awed her. Her wee one had given her life up so her twin could live. She had sent her Mother and Father a burst of love before she disappeared.

Putting her hand on her forehead, and propping it up on her knee, still squatting, Atlantis wondered how good of a Mother she would be if he could give birth and her daughter die without her noticing it.

Oberon was dismayed at the Seeing that Atlantis had discovered in her mind and wrapped his metaphysical arms around her and whispered that it was meant to be and the One Who Had Gone to the Beyond went joyfully, and knowing she saved the life of her sibling.

Isolade washed the little body she held her in arms with her magic. The spell she used was one she had spent the last 10 millennia perfecting for this very moment. This female elf was integral to the future of all Elves on Terra Firma and she was determined that she would live to see and meet her destiny.

She handed the Little One back to Atlantis who was in shock from learning that her other daughter had died. Using her magic to sound a clap of thunder over Atlantis’s head, she watched as the female looked up and the grief in her eyes dissolve and anger spiked in them.

“Hear me Atlantis! The One Who Is Not lived her life’s purpose in a moment…she was born to meet her destiny and she knew this and obeyed her destiny. The Little One in your arms must be protected no matter what even above your v’ma’ter’i. You must live for one reason and one reason alone. For the protection of the Little One in your arms for the destiny of the Elves are bound with her and her survival.”

Atlantis was startled to hear the thunder clap above her head and anger at Isolade’s tactics pushed away the sorrow of viewing the Seeing from the One Who Went Beyond.

She listened to Isolade’s words and felt the magic that was her daughter twining thread around her mind and heart keeping her tied to the Little One in her arms. The commitment in the moment of bonding weighted down on Atlantis’s spirit. Closing her eyes, she embraced her destiny and the commitment to the protection of her Little One and the sacrifice of her other Little One was placed in honor in her mind and her heart.

Looking down at the Wee One in her arms, she was met with dark stormy blue eyes, Atlantis smiled and whispered her welcome and caressed her Little One with her magic. The Little One seemed to sigh and closed her eyes and fell fast asleep.

Looking up at Isolade, Atlantis said, “About Twa, will he live?”

Isolade replied, “The will to live is strong with him, however, the decision will be his to make and his alone.”

“Oberon, Tajor? Help me stand up please,” requested Atlantis.

Slowly she walked over to the bed that held Twa, and she whispered in his mind, “The Little One has been born. You have much to teach her my friend, live for her.”

Suddenly Atlantis was tired and looked at her Mates and said, “I need to lie down.” The extended use of her magic and the birth of her daughter had depleted her energy to very low levels; she would need rest to find her balance.

© All Rights Reserved. Copyrighted October 2007, Version

Chapter 7: Hearth and Home

(This story begins approximately 5 millennia before the disappearance of the Island of Atlantis.)

Winter had come the northern part of earth again. Atlantis loved earth’s winter but could not enjoy it as she once had by walking out amongst the humans and feeling the cold nipping at her nose and toes.

Her v’ma’ter’i had forbidden her to leave the comfort of their secured home. The only one who could unweave the magical barrier was Oberon, or that’s what she let him believe, however, she obeyed him as he was terrified that the They Which Can Not Be Spoken Of would find her and destroy her.

He had taken her and Tajor, “in hand” as he termed it and taught them how to use his magical disks that could destroy They Which Can Not Be Spoken Of the moment it entered their bodies.

Atlantis glanced around her and decided that if she could not walk on the land during the earth’s winter she would bring it to her. Sitting on the cloud she felt Oberon’s magical orb he had placed as a barrier around them protecting them from intruders. Letting go a small stream of energy, Atlantis put grey clouds above her and dropped the temperature on the ground and made rain begin to fall from the sky. Before the rain hit the ground it morphed into snow.

Sighing in happiness, Atlantis left the cloud she was sitting on and appeared on the ground and danced in circles, her long blue hair streaming out behind her, arms outstretched, and tongue out trying to catch the snowflakes. Giggling she made a funnel of snow and wrapping the particles together, she made them in to balls and laid them behind a tree, hiding them from her Mates in case they came outside to investigate the drop in temperature.

With a wave of her hand, she installed fireplaces in all the rooms in her home, and lit them with fire. Grinning she raced over the land to the pond, it was not yet frozen over, using her magic, she froze the water to solid ice.

She felt Twa rather then saw him and using her magic, picked up a snow missile and launched it at him hitting him on the back. Snow outlined him as he was trying to be invisible.

Grinning at him Atlantis said, “Good afternoon to you Twa.”

“You can see me?”

Giggling Atlantis said, “Yep, I sure can see you and you look sooo cute with all that snow covering you from head to foot!”

“Well for someone in your condition you are having way too much fun!”

Lifting an eyebrow at Twa Atlantis inquired, “Someone in my condition?”

Twa let out an exaggerated sigh and said, “When are you going to admit that you are going to have a Little One?”

Placing her hands on her hips, Atlantis glared at Twa, “I’ve all ready admitted that to myself, Twa. I just haven’t told you yet.”

“Or your v’ma’ter’i, who pretend they don’t know your going to have their Little One.”

“Who asked you anyway?” grouched Atlantis and using her magic bundled up in a fur coat and thigh high, fur-lined boots and stopped away from her friend.

Dogging Atlantis’s steps, Twa continued, “It’s nothing to be ashamed of you know.”

“Who said anything about being ashamed?” snapped Atlantis.

Hurrying after the seven foot elf in front of him, Twa yelled, “You are too!”

Atlantis felt her cheeks warm up at his accusation. She sent all her snowballs flying at his head, enjoying the satisfying thumps as they hit their target.

“Your being childish Atlantis,” grumbled Twa.

Growling a warning at Twa, Atlantis stopped abruptly and whirled around and faced him, “What do you want Twa?”

“I want you to tell Oberon and Tajor you are expecting their Little One. Tonight!”

Glaring at Twa, Atlantis took a deep breath, gritting her teeth she muttered, “How dare you order me about!”

“I dare because you have cut yourself off emotionally from your v’ma’ter’i and they are afraid you will die or not carry the Little One to term, or both!”

The shock of Twa’s words settled into her bones and Atlantis was no longer angry, and whispered, “I haven’t cut them off.”

“Yes you have. Have you felt them in your mind for the last several moon cycles?”

Atlantis shook her head no and looked at Twa. Taking another deep breath, Atlantis rocked back on her heels and relaxed her body and allowed her magic to roam within her body.

She explored each fiber of her body to be sure she was well, and then she began exploring the connection that she was developing with her Mates. A huge block was on both of the links she had with them. She contemplated it with her metaphysical eyes; touching it to see who it belonged to shocked she felt her own magic radiate back at her.

She followed the block back to the origin and discovered that Twa was right she had blocked them entrance to her mind because she was mortified being with child, but not so much embarrassed that she was going to have a Little One, but how she got that way in the first place.

Feeling her cheeks warm up, Atlantis admitted that she was embarrassed over the loss of choice to be with her Mates and she felt the barriers dissolve. Immediately she felt her Mates relief and joy over being allowed back in her mind. She brushed them both with her magic and whispered that she was expecting their first Little One.

Duel sets of emotions rushed at her, joy and happiness from Tajor and euphoria and worry from Oberon. Smiling she gave them a metaphysical hug and came back to her own body and said to Twa, “Thank you my friend it took courage to come after me like you did.”

Blushing Twa said, “Aww, it’s nothing Atlantis. It’s what friends are for and all though those snowballs did pack a punch.”

Grinning at Twa, Atlantis said, “Ha, you didn’t feel them one bit, you allowed me to hit you with them. Twa I might be bit giddy from time to time, but I really am not dumb.”

Twa fell on the ground laughing until tears streamed out of his eyes, and looking up at Atlantis glaring down at him she said, “You should see yourself, all covered in snow.”

Reaching up to her fur hat, Atlantis felt cold under her fingers and then brushed her hand down her coat and piles of snow fell off, the more she brushed off the more she saw on the coat.

Her eyes began to narrow as she contemplated the Elemental on the ground incredibly happy with his mischief. Using her hand she dumped a pile of snow on top of Twa and then flashed herself to the porch and came to an abrupt halt as she met her Mates coming out the door in their summer clothing, both were standing their shivering and in union demanded, “What’s this?”

“Snow.”

“Yea we know its snow, doll, but where did it come from?”

“Mother Earth.”

“How?”

“I brought it here. It is my favorite time on the earth right now. The snow crunches as you walk over it, the quiet of the forests, and the cool nipping at your fingers and your noses. I put fireplaces in our home so we can enjoy mulled wine around the fireplace at night.”

Sighing Oberon looked at Tajor and he said, “Well, I guess we have snow.”

Tajor grinned and said, “Indeed.”

Taking a step towards her Mates she was suddenly engulfed by them, sandwiched between them, and she whispered, “I am so sorry that I cut you both off from me, I didn’t mean to do that, but I was so embarrassed over how I became to be the way I am.”

Chuckles rumbled out of their chests and vibrated down in her belly, “Aww, Sweetness, it was our fault that you lost control of your magic as you did when you joined with us for the first time. We should have claimed you right away.”

Atlantis looked up at Oberon who was standing in front of her and she whispered, “Do your really mean that?”

Gazing down at Oberon, he was rocked to the core of his being that his woman had to ask that of him. Cupping her chin with is finger, he leaned down and kissed the snowflake off her nose and said, “Atlantis, I mean that with all my heart. I will be forever to blame for your insecurities at our joining; it is I who do not deserve you. Your love for us, has kept Tajor and I from becoming That Which Cannot Be Spoken Of. We are forever in your debt.”

Oberon caressed her cheek and ran his fingers through her hair, cupping the back of her head he continued, “Atty, you have returned laughter to our lives and are carrying our Little One. You have made us so happy.”

Glancing at Tajor, silently communicating with his Mate, he looked back down at Atlantis and said, “It is passed time that Tajor and I tell you that we adore you, we love you, you are our life. We also thank you.”

“For what do you thank me?” whispered Atlantis, amazed at Oberon calling her by her childhood nickname.

“We thank you for not unraveling the protection and being willing to be confined within. We both know you could unravel them in a moment as your magic is awesome to behold, however, you have pretended that you have not the ability to do so. The pretending for our sakes must stop. We are not so egotistical that we cannot love and admire you just the way you are—you are a powerful Elven female in your own right. Nothing can take that away from you.”

Tajor leaned over and whispered in Atlantis’s ear, “And you’re a very beautiful Elven female that we call ours.”

Tears brimmed Atlantis’s eyes and she blinked them back and buried her nose in Oberon’s chest and hugged him tightly. Joy bubbled up in Atlantis’ heart. She had come home at last to love, peace, and happiness.

With her mind link to her Mates, she whispered, “I hope you don’t mind, but we will be having two little girls joining our family.”

“Girls?” Tajor exclaimed, “Are you sure? Rarely are girls born into my family!”

“Of course I am sure, Tajor. Only girls are ever born into the de El’a family.”

Atlantis stilled as she felt the caress of Oberon’s magic deep in her womb caressing her babies and introducing himself as their Father.

Withdrawing his magic from the Little Ones tucked in Atlantis’s body, Oberon spoke aloud, “Atlantis is correct we have two very tiny, girls who think their Father’s are a wee bit silly.”

Atlantis laughed aloud, her laughter ringing in the stillness of the winter day. “They are smart Little Ones all ready.”

Tajor grunted in disbelief that he had fathered a Little Girl. He sent his magic into Atlantis’s body and caressed his Little Ones introducing himself to his Little Ones and told them he loved them.

He felt a little puff of a metaphysical grins and joy pulse out to him as they went to sleep. He withdrew his magic from his babes and gazes over Atlantis’s head at Oberon who had tears in the corners of his eyes.

Leaning over Tajor said, “Oh, Atlantis they are so beautiful and so tiny. You must take it easy and let us take care of you.”

Atlantis groaned as she envisioned her next year full of thou shalt and thou shalt not’s coming from both of her Mates and groaned again. Oberon chuckled and said, “Now Atty we are that bad.”

Atlantis groaned and muttered, “No your worse.”

Tajor chuckled. Using his magic he transported is family into their home and he settled them on the couch in front of the fire, snuggling Atlantis between them and removing her coat and putting a blanket over her, smiled happily, and whispered in his Mate's minds,
"There my loves, all warm and cozy."

© All Rights Reserved. Copyrighted October 2007, Version I, by Georgia Lee Jones.

Chapter 6: One Week Later

(This story begins approximately 5 millennia before the disappearance of the Island of Atlantis.)

“My Lady Atlantis,” drawled Twa as he strolled into the dining hall, devoid of anyone but them.

Hiding a grimace at hearing Twa’s voice, Atlantis put down the fruit she was eating and dabbed her mouth. “The top of the morning to you Twa.”

Twa jumped up in the chair and knelt on his knees and put his elbows on the table and cupped his cheeks in his hands as he gazed at Atlantis. “When are you going to tell your Mates?”

Startled at his inquiry, Atlantis clasped her hands tightly together in her lap, hiding them under the table so Twa wouldn’t see her anxiety she blinked at him owlishly and muttered, “I am sure you know what you are speaking of and it seems to be all riddle’s to me.”

Undaunted by Atlantis’s sharp comeback, he knew that she wasn’t about to reveal her secret yet. Feeling the tension in her he smiled and said, “Really Atlantis you need to be more trusting of me you know.”

Blinking at her old adversary, Atlantis smirked and said, “Trusting? That’s a quaint way to describe our relationship.”

“You do realize Atlantis that I have volunteered my services to that of Lord Oberon and Lord Tajor that it also extends to you as their Lady and v’ma’ter’a?”

Using her magic, Atlantis picked up the apple she had been eating and sent it flying to the floor, raising and eyebrow she said, “Fine pick it up.”

Twa keeping his eyes on Atlantis’s gaze pointed to the floor and raised it back to the table and placed it on the table in front of her plate. Eyes twinkling, “Really Atlantis you must truly be more subtle in your mischief as no one enjoys a bore.”

Jaw dropping Atlantis scowled at Twa and demanded, “What is it that you want Twa?”

“I want to serve you as I do my Lords, however, I see that I have much atoning to make up for from a century and a half ago, will you allow me to make amends?”

Contemplating the Elemental in front of her, Atlantis knew it would be foolhardy to try to go up against him as he was forty-seven centuries older then her, she had been lucky to catch him off guard when she was a Little One and knew that warring with him in her new home would be foolish. Sighing she knew that it was not in her to hold a grudge and she did want to be at peace with him. “All right Twa, I will allow you to make amends.”

Thrills raced up and down his spine, Twa held out his hand and said, “Shake on it?”

Knowing that this would be the final say in the matter she placed her hand in his and said, “I allow you make amends and we both will know when the past is past and our future is bright.”

Twa was impressed with her formal declaration, and declared, “It is agreed.”

Atlantis continued eating and watched Twa’s eyes twinkle merrily as he contemplated her under half lowered eyelids and casually said, “You’ve taken on some old stogies you know.”

Coughing and choking on the drink she had been drinking, she spewed it all over, quickly using her magic; the droplets froze in mid air, reversed them, and settled in an empty dish on the table. “Twa! You almost got a face full of drink. You must be more careful as to the stuff you say when I’m eating. Old stogies? You’d better not let them hear you say that.”

“Well they are and its true. They don’t have fun any more. You are young and it’s your duty to remind them about fun and games.”

Raising an eyebrow at that declaration Atlantis reached for the wet cloth, warming it with magic, she cleaned her hands and mouth. “And I supposed you have a perfect way of reminding them of that?”

Sitting back on his heels, Twa put a hand across his chest and said, “Me? Remind them? Hardly, but I think you’ll have plenty of ideas all of your own, of course I would be honored if you looked to me for guidance.”

Chuckling Atlantis said, “Okay I’ll bite, what is your plan to remind my Mates that fun is the order of the day?”

Smirking, Twa leans forward and whispers, “You have perfect control of your magic its innate so you can do anything you please with it. You could do any number of things to interrupt their day and their schedules, like freezing the pool, exploding items that Oberon is working with, or at least pretending to have them explode, optical illusions, or flood Tajor's garden.”

Eyes round Atlantis said, “They’d just get rip roaring mad at me.”

“Perhaps, but then you could put your fingers in your ears and say neener, neener, catch me if you can, and then poof off to another room, leaving a faint magical trail for them to follow, a game of magical tag.”

Atlantis giggled and admitted that the idea did indeed appeal to her. “Magical tag, hmm, interesting of course, they would try to cheat by reading my mind to see where I was planning to land next. Hmm, I could lay out a false trail there and they haven’t spent much time in my mind as I have spent in theirs.”

“Now that’s the spirit,” exclaimed Twa, “Here have this.” Holding out his hand a ring appeared.

“When you play with them, this will give you complete invisibility.”

“Really? I can be in a room, but they won’t see me?”

“That’s right.”

Smiling Atlantis picked up the gift and put it on her index finger. “Can you see me?”

Twa laughed and said, “Of course I can see you, as it is only attuned to your Mates.”

“Oh,” Atlantis sighed in disappointment.

Laughing Twa exclaimed, “You sound so disappointed. You really don’t want to hide from your new best friend to you?”

Atlantis replied, “Hmmm, can I move objects with out being seen or does this only hide me?”

“It only hides you. So if you move something, then you’ll get caught.”

A shout from the top of the stairs, “Twa! Have you seen Atlantis?” asked Tajor.

Winking at Atlantis Twa said, “Yes, my Lord I have seen her.”

Sighing in frustration at the Elemental’s emphasis on seen, indicating that he meant that he knew what she looked like. Sighing, Tajor said, “That’s not what I meant, by seen, of course you know what she looks like, I mean have you seen her today?”

“Of course I have seen her today,” replied Twa, adding a dose of disgust in his voice.

Tajor growled. “Do you know where she is right this minute?”

“Yes I know where she is right this minute.”

Grinning Atlantis made the wind rustle around Tajor teasing him, caressing him. A giggle escaped as he spun around to see if she was behind him. Her magic pulled him away from Twa and outside, where the whirlwind of her powers kept him chasing, what he believed to be her, but was instead an optical illusion.

After awhile of playing with Tajor, Atlantis allowed her powers to dissipate. Giggling, Atlantis said to Twa, “You are right about one thing Twa, this will be fun. Tajor is standing out there with his hands on his hips and trying to explain to Oberon that he was chasing me not nothing as Oberon claims.”

Rubbing his hands together, Twa exclaimed, “I’m going to go out there and witness this.” He disappeared.

Jumping up Atlantis hurried outside and stopped at the top of the stairs leading out when she heard Tajor exclaim, “I tell you Oberon, I was trying to find Atlantis and Twa was giving me the run around and then a breeze came up and caressed me and I followed it outside. It was Atlantis’s magic I tell you and she’s hiding from me.”

Looking down at his v’ma’ter’i, Oberon was highly amused. He glanced around and said, “Well, I’m telling you my love, that I don’t feel her magic at all.”

Atlantis allowed a small puff of wind to caress Oberon’s earlobe. He stiffened as he saw a smirk cross Tajor’s face. He looked around him and didn’t see a thing. Atlantis heard through her link with her Mates that they were conferring.

“I thinks she’s playing a game with us,” said Oberon.

“You think?” demanded Tajor.

Oberon chuckled.

“So how do we catch her?” inquired Tajor.

“Oh, I think we should ignore her.”

Atlantis allowed her magic to surge and pick Oberon up, flipping him over, gently setting him down on the grass at Tajor’s feet. Tajor looked down at his Mate sitting back on his heels looking up at him.

Using the mind link Tajor said, “Ignore her hmm?”

Oberon grinned; gaining his feet he used his magic to scan the grounds for his v’ma’ter’a. He was puzzled when he could not find her magic, but he knew she had not gone far, but was puzzled that he could not find her. He quickly used his tenuous link to her mind to carefully look out of her eyes, she was giggling to herself very pleased with the mischief she had created.

Aloud he said to Tajor, “I have work to do. I’ll see you at eventide. See if you can’t find our Little Elf and bring her to dinner too.”

Casually, Oberon climbed the steps and just as he passed Atlantis’s position he disbelieved his eyes and grabbed her and tossed her over his shoulder and swatted her behind, “Play games will me, will you doll? Now I can teach you about games my Wee Elf.”

Atlantis’s stomach lurched when Oberon grabbed her around the waist and turned her over his shoulders and gave her a swat. “Come Tajor, let’s teach our v’ma’ter’a all about games.”

Tajor’s body reacted to the sinfully exotic flavor of his lover’s voice, he studied Oberon’s arms, seeing nothing over this shoulder, but Oberon thought he had caught Atlantis. Running to catch up with him, he asked, “Ah, Oberon, what are you doing?”

Laughing a carefree laugh that slid over Tajor’s spine like a smooth, rich dessert, Oberon said, “I am going to tie Atlantis up, and teach her what happens to very naughty little Elves that happen to belong to me.”

© All Rights Reserved. Copyrighted September 2007, Version I, by Georgia Lee Jones.

Chapter 5: The Morning After

(This story begins approximately 5 millennia before the disappearance of the Island of Atlantis.)

Atlantis slowly became aware of her surroundings, the sun was not shining on her face as it did each morning since she moved into her new home. She immediately checked her spirit connection with her v’ma’ter’i and was relieved that they were neither fighting nor making love. She decided that she was in no mood to put up with either, however the complete silence in their link concerned her, cracking open her eyes she moved her head to where the window should be, but was met with the blue-grey expanse of a male chest. Propping her body up and leaning on her elbow, she turned to discover who was in her bed.

Shocked spread though her body as she realized she was not in her own bed. Slowly her eyes traveled up the male chest to the neck then chin, and finally she locked eyes with Tajor. Swallowing Atlantis’s eyes grew round and she whispered, “Where am I and what am I doing here?”

A wiry grin spread over Tajor’s face as he whispered back, “You are in my bed as you should have been over fifty years ago.”

“But how?”

“How much of the spirit connection are you aware of Atlantis?”

Swallowing convulsively and licking her lips she replied, “Everything.”

A puff of air on the back of her neck told her that Oberon was sitting close to her, and was confirmed as he whispered, “And for the last fifty years, you have been eavesdropping to personal communications between Tajor and I?”

Atlantis stiffened at the venom in the question at hand, turning her head so she could see Oberon form the corner of her eye she hissed, “Personal communications? There is no such thing between v’ma’ter’i and v’ma’ter’a, this you know.”

Slowly Atlantis sank down onto the bed and became aware that she was not wearing her thin gown she went to bed with the previous evening. She brought a hand to her face and covered her eyes as she gently massaged the tension around the sockets. She took inventory of her inner being and realized that she felt silence in the connection because both of her v’ma’ter’i were shielding her from their thoughts and emotions.

Her heart began beating faster as she took stock of her body. She felt a dull ache between her thighs and she tighten her muscles and instantly knew she had slept with both of her v’ma’ter’i this past night. King Borlan was right the spirit connection chose for them, but what could be so important to all three of them be bound together after fifty years of separation.

Tears sprang to her eyes as she whispered, “I would have claimed you fifty years ago Tajor, but Oberon was so against me being a part of you that I could not bear to reveal myself to you. I never meant to hurt you, cause you grief, or self doubt.”

Tajor saw the tears seeping from her eyes as she lay beside him hiding behind her hand. Suddenly he found his way into her mind, as she was assaulted by the memories of hurt and rejection dealt to her by Oberon and the envy she had felt whenever they had made love.

Letting go of the wall he had set down in the middle of her spirit link with him, he leaned over and scooped her up into his arms, kissing her on the top of her head, “Oh, Sweet One, please don’t cry.”

As she felt Tajor in her mind for the first time, the tears were impossible to hold back any longer and they streamed down her cheeks and onto Tajor’s bare chest. Sobs shook her frame as she willingly shared her memories with him over the past fifty years, some were happy, some sad, same angry, and others full of jealousy.

Tajor stroked her hair as his love sobbed in his arms and she had been so young when the spirit connection had been made and she was out of depth, as she had no one to turn to as she dealt with her reality that she could not tell anyone of her rejection by her mates as she was embarrassed by the rejection and did not wish to bring shame on the parents of her heart.

Tajor felt Oberon’s presence in his mind and he did not shut his mate out as he needed Oberon to feel what Atlantis was feeling as she quietly sobbed between them. Tajor caressed his spirit connection with Atlantis, trying to convey that she was no longer alone.

Through his emotions he showed his Beloved that she was loved of him freely and completely and that he no longer held her responsible for the decisions he had made by not defying his mate to claim her as he knew he should have all those years ago. Feeling her accept his emotional apology, he was thrilled to feel her hand and then arm slip around her waist and her sobbing quiet.

Tajor was startled to feel Oberon enter Atlantis’s mind and waited for her reaction. In her mind he saw her lifting her metaphysical head, startled at his presence, frozen as she expected rejection as she waited to see what he wanted.

The barriers that he had built up around his heart since he had lost his v’ma’ter’a to That Which Cannot Be Spoken, as he watched Atlantis sobbing in Tajor’s arms, broken and hopeless, and he knew it was his fault entirely. Oberon settled down onto the bed and tossed an arm over his eyes and sought out his connection with Tajor to see what he was seeing in Atlantis.

Warmth had enveloped him as he had entered Tajor’s mind, hope, and love, but he recognized them as Tajor’s feelings and began sifting through the layers in his Mate’s mind to find the ones that belonged to Atlantis. He was overwhelmed by deep sorrow and regret.

Sorrow for the lost years and regret that she couldn’t remember their joining. Amused at what he had found, he withdrew and eased down the fragile communication path to enter Atlantis’s mind and was shocked to see her laying there sobbing inconsolably on the floor of her mind as grief swallowed her up as she remembered the past years and was helpless under their on slot.

Atlantis became aware of Oberon’s presence in her mind and she fought the instinctive reaction to slam down a barrier between them, but knew that if she did block him from her mind more harm then good would ever come of it.

Slowly she stood, up and faced his emotional entrance and waited for his rejection, instead she felt warmth against her back and mescaline arms reach around her and a hard chest at her back. Peace flooded her as she felt the barriers drop from Oberon’s mind inviting her to peek into all the boxes where he stored his memories of his first love.

Shocked by the openness of Oberon’s invitation to sift through his memories, and unsure which memory to choose, she chose the only one that truly mattered, the one of their joining.

After departing their niece and her v’ma’ter’i, Tajor had gone directly to his garden and Oberon to his study, they had both shielded their thoughts from the other for the rest of the afternoon, and evening—something they had never done. Exhausted they had both come to bed worn out and fell into a restless sleep.

The spirit connection simultaneously reached out to her, and forcibly brought her across the distance and she materialized between them. Reliving the safe feeling her sprit felt she had instinctively snuggled close to Tajor. She witnessed the magic of their spirit connection snapping around them and binding them together. Tajor and Oberon had become aware of her presence at the same time and their hands move in concert with the other. Belatedly, Atlantis realized that they were reacting to old memories of their first v’ma’ter’a and that they had thought she was a part of their jointly reoccurring dream.

Looking down from above the threesome in the bed, Oberon was disturbed by what he had seen but shrugged it off as a part of the weirdness that some dreams could take on and had returned to making love to her. At this point Tajor had slipped into Oberon’s mind and they began making love to one another as they had done in years past, both were convinced that she was a dream when she didn’t join in their mind play as their first v’ma’ter’a had done.

Tajor was confused why his dream seemed to hold a warm female body between him and his mate. The spirit connection rode their passion hard and both of her mates had given into its urging and had completed their joining.

Tajor had woken up first, and from years of habit he was in Oberon’s mind when he realized that the previous night had been real, just not with whom they had remembered. Tajor’s gasp had woken up Oberon who had shut down their mental links. When that happened, she saw herself move restlessly, but return to sleep.

After awhile, she had woken up, and returning to her present state, Atlantis was releaved that she had her memories back. She felt Oberson anger at himself for his obstinate stance against her, when they had first met, and his current regret that she had stiffened at his embrace, although he knew he had no one to blame except for himself.

Unaware that she had been holding her body rigid, she relaxed back into Oberon’s chest, drawing Tajor with her, their joint weight too much and Oberon toppled backwards onto the bed. Giggling, at being sprawled on Oberon’s chest, and having Tajor for a blanket, she knew that her time of sorrow was over and a new, fun and loving time in her life was about to begin.

© All Rights Reserved. Copyrighted September 2007, Version I, by Georgia Lee Jones.

Chaper 4: Half Century Later

(This story begins approximately 5 millennia before the disappearance of the Island of Atlantis and 50 years after Chapter 3.)

Atlantis swallowed and gazed with envy at her best friend Hadrese, who had recently given birth to her first Elven Little One. “Hadrese, he’s beautiful. What have you named him?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” gazing down at her son Hadrese asked, “Would you like to hold him?”

Grinning from ear to ear, Atlantis nodded and held out her hands, scooping up the Little One, Atlantis, marveled at the glowing green skin, the cutest little pointy ears she had ever seen. He lay in her arms; head nestled in the crook of her elbow and his little butt in the palm of her hand.

“He’s so tiny Hadrese,” she laughed and said, “I barely remember when Tri’an was this small. Naw, I doubt the big lunk was ever this small!”

Hadrese giggled over her friend’s description of her brother of her heart. He had grown up and had reached his final height of eight feet two inches tall. He was a handsome elf, but very clumsy.

“We are about to have company Atlantis.”

“If your mate and you wish to be alone, my dear, then I would be happy to return later.”

Laughing Hadrese said, “No, please don’t go, it’s my Uncle Oberon and his V’ma’ter’i, Tajor, both eccentrics extraordinaire.”

Atlantis felt tension settle in her shoulders and used a little of her magic to relax her arms so the Little One would not awaken. Atlantis swallowed and wondered if either one of them had changed since she had eaten dinner with them over a half century ago.

The door opened and in tumbled in Twa, robed in yellow and red and trimmed in black. He opened the door with a flourish and announced, “Lord Oberon and Lord Tajor, have arrived.”

Atlantis’s eyebrow shot up, as she beheld her old nemesis. He had not bothered her in over a half a century. She watched as his eyes began to twinkle. He rushed to her side and picked up her hand and bowed over it, kissing the air above it, “Lady Atlantis, how are you, m’dear? I haven’t seen you in many a decade.”

Suppressing a smirk, she replied, “Good afternoon, Twa, how are you?”

Grinning he gushed, “I am much finer in beholding your beauty!”

Atlantis could not suppress a bark of genuine laughter, that escaped her throat, as she watched Twa’s twinkling eyes and mischievous grin, for whatever reasons the elemental was being incredibly suave and debonair to her today.

Lifting her eyes, she gazed into the burning gaze of Oberon, without missing a beat, Atlantis inclined her head, and said, “Lord Oberon, it is a pleasure to see you again.”

Glancing towards Tajor she beamed at him, “I see you Lord Tajor.”

Both males bowed from the waist and smiled, “A pleasure Atlantis,” Tajor murmured. Their eyes fell together to the Little One her arms, “Your nephew, my Lords is gorgeous.”

The Little One stirred in her arms and looked up into her face, rolled his eyes around and then returned to napping. “He has Dorn’s eyes.”

Smiling Hadrese said, “He sure does.” Hadrese’s v’ma’ter’i was her cousin once removed on the du Nuven side of family. He had defied her Mam’s sibling’s mandate and had befriended her over a hundred years ago, and she had been the one to recently introduce him to Hadrese.

Atlantis had watched the two form their spirit connection and become a family. She was holding her cousin twice removed in her arms; he had green skin like his mother and his father’s startling sky blue ones.

As she stared down at the little face and memorized his features, wistfully wishing that she could have one of her own.

Hadrese watched her friend trace her Little Ones face with the back of her index finger. Her gaze rested on Twa’s and followed his gaze back to her uncle and his mate. The raw hunger on their faces told her that they wanted a Little One of their own and wondered why they had abruptly stopped interviewing Elven females trying to find another v’ma’ter’a.

The entrance of her mate and her father, King Borlan, interrupted her line of thought.

Atlantis stood as soon as King Borlan entered the room, he greeted his twin brother in an exuberant fashion and hugged his mate, and Tajor, smiles and congratulations were given and received.

The King’s gaze settled on Atlantis’s face and his mouth went slack, “As I live and breathe Atlantis de El’a. You look just like your beautiful Mother. You’ve given this old heart quite the jolt, my dear. For a moment I thought it was your Mam came back to rejoin with us. You are a credit to your Mam and your Sire.”

Inclining her head, Atlantis beamed at King Borlan, who instructed her, “Now sit down. Your holding my grandson and I do not want to see you uncomfortable.”

Smiling at King Borlan, Atlantis settled down in her chair, cuddling the Little One close in her arms. Glancing back at King Borlan, she murmured, “Thank you Sire, for your kind words. I have been told that you were the last to see my Mam alive.”

King Borlan gazed down at the Elven female holding his grandson, choosing his words carefully, he said, “I was and your Mam was a credit to all elves, carrying her duty to our race with honor and dignity.”

Startled at her Overlord’s open admiration of her Mam, Atlantis gazed into his eyes; a lump settled into her throat, she nodded. Grinning she inquired, “Would you hold your grandson Sire?”

Grinning King Borlan said, “Indeed my dear.”

Atlantis stood and walked around the end of bed and as she passed Oberon and Tajor the spirit connection reacted and enveloped her. She continued walking as if nothing extraordinary had happened and laid the tiny Little One in the King’s arms.

Stepping back she curtsied and turned to Hadrese and Dorn. “Congratulations my dears, he’s lovely. I’ll return later to see you. I wish you goodnight.”

Good manners dictated that she wish the remaining two high lords good evening as well, turning slightly, she inclined her head to them and said, “My Lords a pleasure to see you both again, may the sun shine on your face and the wind be at your back.”

Looking down at Twa, she said, “I can say with all sincerity, Twa, it was a pleasure seeing you this time around.”

Grinning at his old nemesis, Twa put a leg forward and bowed, “Atlantis you have a truly beautiful soul, may all the wishes of your heart come true.”

Atlantis smiled gently down at the elemental in front of her, using her magic, she willed herself home. Barely able to control the spirit connection with her v’ma’ter’i without letting them know she knew of their existence she staggered to a chair in her public room, and sank down into its the depths. Leaning back she closed her eyes and accepted the wash of magic over her mind and soul, instead of the soothing her as it usually did, she became edgier and grouchier.

Scowling Atlantis stood up and paced up and down the room she paused as she felt anger and betrayal come roaring down the spirit link, she knew from the taste of magic that Oberon was livid. Slowly, she came to a halt in the middle of the room, taking a deep breath she sent her mind seeking down the connection and into Oberon’s mind she willed her magic to see with Oberon’s eyes, he was glaring at his brother the King.

Nothing was being said except Oberon was breathing heavily and his heart rate was more rapid then usual. Gently Atlantis let go of the connection and found the one Tajor had with Oberon and eased down its path, he was shielding hard from his mate, getting into his mind would be riskier then normal, but she had many years of practice and wormed her way past his defenses.

He was replaying his memories of seeing her for the first time in decades, the pleasure seeing her gave him and the anger he felt when Twa had touched her hand. He had memorized her features and details of her smile. Warmth flooded Atlantis as he remembered his pleasure at seeing her with a Little One in her arms, the longing to see her arms filled with his own child, a dull ache that he kept hidden had roared to life, as she had passed him and Oberon on her way to give the King his grandson.

Atlantis felt his shock when she seemingly didn’t feel the spirit connection and the self-doubt that had been nagging him for years that perhaps she wasn’t his v’ma’ter’a returned making his disbelief in ownself intensify. He had been staring at the place she had vanished from when the King had softly said, “Oberon, you stubborn ass.”

Startled from his musings he had cast his gaze at his brother-in-law wondering what his problem was with his mate.

“You have ignored your duties to yourself and Tajor for how many years?”

Startled, he glanced at his mate, to find him looking blankly at his brother. “I have no idea what you mean.”

“Atlantis de El’a is your v’ma’ter’a and you have not claimed her?”

Shocked coursed through Tajor at his King’s pronouncement. He had blinked and had felt anger roaring at him through his mate’s link with him.

“That is quite impossible, Sire,” stated Oberon.

Standing up Borlan leaned over and gave his grandson to his daughter and turned to his brother, looking down at him, he said, “I felt that flare of magic. It came from both of you and it’s because you have not claimed Atlantis as v’ma’ter’a both of your magic’s are out of control. Two things could take place, you both become Werekin or your spirit connection with Atlantis will seek out what you all three desire and force freewill from you and connect you all accepting of it or not.”

Tajor had cut off his spirit path with Oberon the moment he heard Borlan’s pronouncement. Oberon hissed, “It’s impossible for us to have the connection with Atlantis, we only met her once over five decades ago, if a connection was made we would have know it.”

Dorn had snorted and said, “Uncle Oberon you don’t know do you?”

Glancing down at his nephew by Life Joining Oberon glared at the younger elf and didn’t say a word.

Tajor was not so reticence with his inquiry, “Know what Dorn?”

Dorn had glanced at Hadrese who had inclined her head, silently agreeing with Dorn about something they were silently communicating. Dorn said, “Exactly five decades ago, the elementals gave her, her own home. As one of her childhood companions, I was quite surprised by it, as you know as well as I do, that you are not given your own home by the elementals without having a spirit connection.”

“When we questioned Atlantis about it, but she just grinned and shrugged her shoulders and said she must be beloved of the elements and was given a rare gift, she had pointed out she had been birthed at the moment her Sire had passed into the Beyond. At first Hadrese and I didn’t believe her, but as the years passed and we have not once seen any Elven male near her except for those of us who grew up with her, we began to believe her explanation.”

“It has only been recently as the last decade that her companions have been meeting their mates and moving off, that I have noticed a change in Atlantis,” stated Hadrese, “She has become incredibly reserved and sad, she hides it well, but I have seen glimpses of it recently.”

Crossing his arms Oberon had said, “If that is all true, then why haven’t we felt the spirit connection snap between us? With our first v’ma’ter’a it roared into place and there was no question about the connection no denying it.”

Tajor had turned and muttered, “I told you five decades ago it was in place and you said it was impossible.”

“Hmm, yes, the breath of fresh air, I remember you saying something about that, but I have not felt it.”

“Breath of fresh air did you say Uncle Oberon?” demanded Hadrese. Dorn had sucked air into his lungs and shock spread across his face.

“Yes,” was his terse reply.

“That is what you feel when you have a connection with a Sky Elf, their magic is subtle and sometimes you don’t realize your mate is with you especially if that elf is trying to hide its presence from your conscience mind. I know Atty, she would have respected your wishes not to claim her and remained a quiet shadow in your minds, so subtle that after the first whiff of her magic you would have no longer felt her presence.”

It had been at Hadrese’s pronouncement that triggered Oberon’s roaring anger had blazed a path down to her and had enveloped her. Slowly she allowed her connection with Tajor to melt and then melt away from Oberon and she returned to her surroundings, darkness had fallen, since elves could see in darkness, she did not bother setting a magical glow she transported herself into the gardens, she stood under the moonlight and absorbed the feel of the grass under bare feet, reveling in the cool breeze on her bare skin.
Her body tingled and she shivered, as her breasts became pointy tips, if Oberon had not stood between her and Tajor she would have claimed him many decades ago, however, Oberon did stand between them…a perplexity of major proportions.

Glossary

Beyond: The place where Elves go upon passing from the phycial world, it is unknown if they retain their bodies here or just their spirits move on, but Elven tradition belives that the entire body moves on to join those that have gone before.

Seeing: A vision that is sent with the last drop of Elven magic moments prior to entering the Beyond. After an Elf passes into the Beyond, they are remembered by their loved ones, but their names are spoken aloud no more.

Shapeshifters: For many millennia the Elves, who chose to take the shape of a wild animal and adhering to the laws of nature, were given grace by the Goddess of All Else and became their own species, becoming totally removed from the Elven clans.

Those That Cannot Be Spoken Of: Once elves, turned wholly evil, they rely upon blood for survival and can change innocents into their new state as well. The Elves left behind uses the phrase, as tradition believes that speaking their names can make them rise from death.

Those That Remain in the Light: The Werekin's term for their brethern who do not embrace their dark side and become evil.

V’ma’ter’i: The loose equivalent to the human term of life and mate the ending in “i” is for an Elven male.

V’mat’er’a: The loose equivalent to the human term of life and mate ending in “a” is for an Elven female.

V’mat’er’em: The loose equivilant to the human term of mating for life for both Elven genders.

Werekin: The technical term for Those That Cannot Be Spoken Of these wholly evil beings were once Elves, choosing to have all encompassing power, perverting their natrual born magic, the only exception are Shapeshifters. Werekin many centures later turn into Werepires or commonly called Vampires by humans.

© All Rights Reserved. Copyrighted July 2007, Version I, by Georgia Lee Jones.