Part Four – A Family Way

   The cries of labor and delivery filled the small chamber as Rio and Arial tended to the birth of the twins.   Catherine Clearlake had been the first to arrive.   Arial pinched the umbilical cord tightly between a pair of thin stone cylinders and Rio, using Glow's enchanted dagger, cut the cord just above where she held it and cast a quick Cure Light Wounds to seal the end.   Then they washed the newborn gently with water they'd warmed from the Moonwell and wrapped her in soft fur.

   Rio stretched and yawned and looked lovingly and his wife and daughter.  Arial held the newborn securely and was sitting next to Glow on the small palate that was Rio and Glow's bed.   Glow was radiant and Arial seemed captivated by her new sister.   Catherine had cried only briefly and now slept quietly in Arial's arms.

   Sensing a momentary lull in the process Rio excused himself and went to let the others, whom he'd kicked out into the grove for the time being, know how it was going.   He found them bundled up around the small fire pit he'd built trying to keep warm.   The weather was gray and windy and the temperature within the grove hovered at just above freezing.   Outside the grove, beyond the extension of Rio's invocation, it was well below freezing and snow lay heavily on the surroundings.

   He told them the birth of his daughter had gone well and that he hoped Atrus would make his appearance before nightfall.

   "You take care of your family and don't worry about us."   Bejorn had said.   "We'll be fine out here."

   When Rio returned a few minutes later he found Arial and Glow talking about the specifics of birthing, babies and women's anatomy in general.   It was a conversation he let them finish before inquiring as to how Glow was doing.

   "I've been more comfortable if that's what you're asking."  She said with a wry smile.

   Rio knelt at the edge of their bed and took her hands in his.   He kissed one and then the other and gazed into her eyes.   "Your daughters are the most beautiful gifts I could ever be given."

   Glow squeezed his hands.   "Our son will be here soon, within the hour I think and then our home will be complete."

   Rio nodded and his thoughts turned to the other places they had made their home.   The Grove at Waterdeep and the wild passion they'd shared as new lovers.   He remembered the excitement of the chase and the raging heat of their love making.   His pulse quickened and he leaned down to kiss his beautiful wife and nibble on her nose.

   Then there was High Forest where they had truly become one.   The nine years they'd lived there were simple times free of the dangers and turmoil that made up so much of the history of the Moonshae.   During that period he and Glow had tried and tested their love, together forging a bond that anchored them together at the core of their beings.   They'd shared their thoughts, feelings, joys, fears, loves, losses, bodies and minds in a way that only her mental abilities made possible and had come to know each other at a deep spiritual level.   And now, with Glow's words, Rio came to realize that he truly was home.   This land so rich in history had made him a part of itself and there could be no going back.

   "Our home…" He said wistfully as the realization struck him.   "I am Rio of the Moonshae."   A profound joy washed over the druid as the last wistful longings for the Crescent Isles passed out of his life and into the past.   "My home and my heart are here in this place.   From this day forward I am an Otherworlder no more."

   "I wish I could see where you grew up." Arial said as she came around to sit next to him.   "It makes me sad that we can't go there."

   Rio smiled and reached out to his daughter who came into his arms for a big hug.

   "What were your mama and papa like?"  She asked looking up into his eyes.

   "Oh sunshine," he said kissing her forehead, "they would have loved you so much.   My father was an alchemist in the service of the Lord of Windrock and my mother a horse trainer in the Lord's stables.   I remember often, over my father's half-hearted protests, we would ride for hours through the countryside stopping to have a picnic lunch, or do some rock climbing, or just stop to watch the sunset before returning to the castle."

   Rio shook his head slowly and smiled.   "And then there's your Uncle Simon.   He always said I'd marry someone who was much too good for me.   He was teasing of course but I wonder what he'd say if he knew how close to the truth he was for all those years."

   He winked at Glow and proceeded to relate some of the more amusing tales of his childhood and adventures with his parents and Simon as they explored the Windrock landscape.   After perhaps thirty of forty minutes he was cut short by Glow's exclamation.

   "Wow!"   She said as the contractions began again abruptly.   "It looks like we won't be waiting an hour after all."

   The birth of their son, Atrus Silvermoon, came quickly and Rio found himself holding both Atrus and Catherine while Arial cleaned up after the births.   Glow had withdrawn into herself and was deep in the healing trance that her abilities of mind over matter made possible.   As with Catherine he and Arial had carefully cut Atrus' umbilical cord and then cleaned him up gently with warm water before wrapping him snugly in soft furs.   As he cradled his newborn children in each arm a sense of wonder and contentment washed over him and he knew that the EarthMother had blessed him and held them all in her arms in much the same way as he held Atrus and Catherine.

   When Glow announced that she was ready to hold her children Rio brought the infants to her and placed them gently in her arms.   Her hair was disheveled and she looked like, well, like she'd just given birth to twins, but as he sat down next to her and watched as she checked Atrus and then Catherine for any anomalies, it seemed to him that she had never been more beautiful.   He smiled to himself, stretched and yawned.   It had been a long day as he had been up since well before the sunrise and now, as evening approached, the stress of anticipation and the day's events had begun to take its toll.

   "I'd better let the others know it's ok to come back inside." He said.   "Although they haven't once complained I know that they must be tired of waiting out in the cold."

   "By all means." Glow said.   "Tell them I will see them in the morning and that they can meet Catherine and Atrus then."

   Rio nodded, rose from a sitting position and stretched again.   As he made his way through their excavated home it gradually became cooler.    Because of the heated stones that Glow had set about each day, and because of the insulation of the rock itself, the back portion of their home had stabilized at a cool but not uncomfortable sixty-five to seventy degrees.   As he made his way toward the entrance it became cooler and he estimated that the room he had designated for the guests to be around fifty or fifty-five.   When he got to the zigzagged entryway the temperature dropped down to the ambient temperature of the grove, a chilly thirty-five, and Rio pulled his robe around him.

   His internal clock told him that it was shortly after sundown but the gray overcast skies made it impossible to tell exactly.   As he approached the others he noticed, out of the corner of his eye, a wolfhound watching the group from the edge of the forest.   He recognized it as the one that had been making appearances throughout the fall and winter and wondered if now he would finally get a chance to befriend it.   Bending slowly to one knee he reached out with his hand and with his senses toward the lone creature and began the invocation of Animal Friendship.

   For several long minutes after the spell had been completed the wolfhound stood unmoving, regarding the druid with steady gray eyes.   Rio held it's gaze and finally it padded over to him and cautiously sniffed his outstretched hand.

   "Welcome my elusive neighbor." He said quietly.   "It is good to finally meet you."   The wolfhound cocked its head at him as if trying to understand the strange human vocal patterns and then sat down.   Rio gently raised his hand and scratched the large creature, which he estimated at close to one hundred pounds, behind one ear.   As he examined it he noticed differences from the moorhounds the island was so famous for.   It had a more pronounced snout and a thicker, bushier tail that indicated wolves in the not too distant ancestry.

   "Oh Papa she's beautiful."

   Arial's words took Rio somewhat by surprise as she approached from behind him.   His daughters skill at moving quietly and without leaving a trace of her passage was developing rapidly and the druid knew that she would require minimal instruction to perfect the ability, if indeed she would need any at all.

   The wolfhound rolled her eyes to watch Arial approach but seemed content for the moment to sit placidly and allow Rio to stroke her.   The others, who were still huddled around the campfire, watched with interest but made no move to approach.

   "She's the one I've seen up on the ridge watching us isn't she?"   Arial asked as she came to stand next to Rio.   "I tried to get her to come to me but I just can't get the words right."

   "You will." Rio assured her.   "When the time is right the Circle will open for you and weave you into itself.    You are almost ready."

   The wolfhound's nose twitched as it turned toward Arial to investigate her scent and it showed no sign of alarm or concern as she reached out her hand which the creature sniffed thoroughly.   Arial stood calmly and allowed the wolfhound to sniff her from top to bottom.   It stood nearly as tall as her chest and Rio had no doubt that it could easily hunt and kill animals more than three times its size and weight.   He had a great respect for the canine species and knew from first hand experience how liberating the form could be.

   Finally the lady wolf decided she'd had enough and padded back into the forest.   The druid smiled as he watched Arial wave.   "Don't worry little bear."   He said in reply to her unasked question.   "She'll be back."

   The two sat for a few moments with the others around the campfire.   Rio accepted their congratulations and handshakes with a smile and thanked them again for patience and willingness to wait outside during the birthing process.

   The Archivist grinned.   "It is merely another chapter in the book and one that I am proud to be a part of."

   During the past month Bejorn had labored along side Rio as he continued the excavation of their cliff side home and they had spoken at length about his adventures in the company of the OtherWorlders.

   "How do you see your work progressing?"  The druid asked him still partly amazed that anyone would want to write a book about him.

   The archivist frowned.   "I'd be a lot happier if I knew when I would be able to get some more paper but all in all I'm making due.   I guess I really got spoiled living in Callidyr and forgot what a luxury paper really is."

   Rio nodded.   "Cherri, Beneton and the other magi I've traveled with certainly treated it as if it were a precious thing.   I never paid much attention to it to tell you the truth."

   "If nothing else it's taught me to be efficient with its use." The Archivist said.   "Probably a good lesson for an old man on his last great adventure."

   The druid smiled.   In the flickering firelight Rio could again see how much Bejorn looked like his Uncle Rinth and he resolved to try and locate some paper for the old man if at all possible.

   "The reason I came out in the first place was to let you know that Glow and the babies are resting comfortably and that you are welcome to return indoors whenever you're ready."   Rio barely managed to get the last sentence out before another huge yawn overtook him.   "For myself it has been a long day and I am going to retire whether my young cub does or not."

   Arial grinned and hugged him.   "Good night Papa.   I'm going to check on Chippers and then I'll be right in."

   Rio nodded knowing that Arial had made it her responsibility to make sure Chippers, one of the local squirrels who helped keep watch on the grove, was safe and secure.   Before heading inside to bed Rio knelt at the edge of the Moonwell and bowed down to drink from his cupped hand.   The water was cold and clear and although it did nothing to alleviate his tiredness it did help him clear his thoughts and relax.

   Thanking the EarthMother for her blessings he rose and returned to Glow's side where he fell fast and deeply into sleep.

   He awoke to find Glow breast feeding Catherine.   She was humming softly to herself and smiled at Rio as he stretched.   Yawning he rolled over and peeked in on Atrus who was sleeping quietly.   Excusing himself he pushed aside the sailcloth room divider that he'd put in to help keep the drafts to a minimum and made his way into the grove.   It was still the deep of night and looking up he was surprised to notice that the clouds had broken revealing the brilliance of the night sky.   The moon, which was almost full, had nearly set and he wondered if Lothar would return as instructed.

   Transforming briefly into a large cat, the druid relieved himself as cats do and then padded over to the Moonwell.   The water was glowing faintly and he knew that the power of the EarthMother kept it from freezing despite the temperature.   He gazed into its depths reverently and then returned to his natural form and his bed.

   The next day dawned cold and clear and shortly after their late communal breakfast, at which Bejorn, Herve and Morn were introduced to Atrus and Catherine, a snow white falcon descended into the grove landing near the Moonwell.

   "My love," Rio said to Glow as he watched the falcon drink from the Moonwell,  "I believe the twins have a visitor."

   Turning from the Moonwell the falcon shook its wings and transformed into the Great Druid.   She greeted them with a smile.

   "I came because I wanted to see how you were doing and especially to meet the new additions to your family."   Robyn came to stand next to Glow who was holding Catherine.   "May I?"

   Carefully Glow transferred her tiny bundle into Robyn's arms.   "This is Catherine Clearlake."  Glow told her.   "She's the elder by an hour or so."

   "She's beautiful." Robyn said holding her with practiced experience.   "Tristan and I have wondered when Alicia and Keane will make grandparents of us.   I think they both understand that the throne will need an heir but I've been reluctant to approach them about it."

   Glow grinned.   "Given one of the conversations I had with her while Rio and I were staying at Caer Callidyr I don't think you will have to wait long."

   "Really?!" Robyn said looking up with obvious interest.   "What do you know that I don't?"

   "Come on."  Glow said taking Atrus from Rio.   "This is Atrus Silvermoon and I'll tell you about it while I give these two their breakfast."

   Rio watched as Robyn and Glow disappeared into their cliff side home.   While they were gone he enlisted Morn and Herve to help with clearing the small plot of land at the top of the cliff that they would use for Arial's garden in the spring.   It was cold, hard work but neither of the two men complained and they actually made significant progress before Arial appeared informing Rio that Robyn needed to speak with him.

   "I wish the birth of your children was the only thing that brought me here today."   Robyn said seriously as the two sat together around the small campfire.   "But sadly that is not the case."

   Rio could see pain in her face and hear the sadness in her voice and wondered what dire news he was about to learn.

   "I received word yesterday afternoon that Ferdan has passed quietly from this world into the next."

   "Oh no." Rio said shaking his head.   "When… How did it happen?"

   "The EarthMother said she took him quietly while he slept.   At first I was angry but he led a long life in her service and it is not my place to question her will."   Robyn Kendrick sighed.   "I just wish I could have been there with him in his last days."

   Rio nodded but could find no words.   Finally Robyn continued.

   "I have sent word to the others and will perform the Final Journey in ten days hence.   As my second it will fall on you to read the Song of the Dawn as is our custom.   If you will come to the grove the day before I will see that you are prepared."

   "I am yours to command my lady." Rio said somberly.   "I'll be there."

   Robyn looked up at him and smiled.   "Now," she said putting that sad business behind them, "Show me around your home."

   The two spent several hours together as Rio showed Robyn through his cliff side home, discussed his plans for its expansion and then gave her a tour of the surrounding area.   Arial had joined them early into the tour and Robyn commented at how much she'd grown in just the few months since she'd seen her last.

   "She has a natural aptitude." Rio told Robyn as his daughter ranged ahead out of earshot.   "I expect that she will be ready to formally take on the duties of Aspirant at the spring equinox and am already preparing her Rite of Passage."

   Robyn nodded.   "Nothing too dangerous I trust."

   "No." Rio replied.   "There is a wolfhound who lives in the area.   I've made contact with it once and think that it will be a good test for her to track it and bring it back as a friend."

   "That's a pretty big test."  Robyn said seriously.   "Are you sure she will be up to it?"

   "I think so." He said watching his daughter stop to examine an odd looking rock.   "The hard part is going to be convincing Glow that it's not too dangerous a task.   I'll keep an eye on her of course should anything go horribly wrong but I have a lot of faith in her abilities, strength and determination."

   Robyn smiled.   "I look forward to hearing how it goes."

   "How what goes?" Arial said returning to the grownups.

   "We were talking about you becoming an initiate." Rio said smiling at his daughter.   "That time is very close at hand."

   Arial's eyes widened.   "I promise I'll always follow Nara's ways." She said looking from Rio to Robyn and back again.

   Robyn knelt in front of her and took her by the shoulders.   "You know it will not always be easy and will sometimes require painful sacrifices."

   Arial nodded as Robyn continued.   Her voice softened and she smiled at the young girl standing in front of her.   "I see within you a stout heart, a brave soul and a strong spirit.   I would be honored to have you as a member of my Circle."

   By the time they returned to the grove it was late afternoon and the sky had once again grown cloudy and dark.   Soon the wind began to howl and by evening the snow had once again begun to swirl.   Robyn stayed with them that night, sleeping as a large tabby on Arial's bed, and departed the next morning.   Rio wished her a safe journey and assured her that he would be there the day before the ceremony for Ferdan.

   Two days later, right on schedule, Lothar appeared at the grove.   The young man was wearing a thick cloak, gloves, heavy leggings, warm padded boots and an odd looking fur hat that had flaps coming down to cover his ears.   He carried a mammoth backpack with ease, complete with tent and bedroll, and looked like he'd come to stay.

   "A good sign." Rio thought to himself as he greeted the lad with a firm handshake.   "I hope he knows what he's in for."

   "You are free to set up your tent anywhere to the left of the Moonwell you desire."  He told him matter-of-factly.   "I suggest you make it fairly close to the cliff wall but the exact placement is up to you.   Also feel free to use as many of the bricks in whatever manner you see fit."

   Lothar nodded.   "Thank you sir."

   Rio studied the young man as he slung the backpack down and began to rummage through it.   After a moment he pulled tent stakes and poles from a side pocket and began to set up his new home.   The tent was rather large measuring maybe eight feet wide by eight feet deep and was close to six feet in height.   After Lothar had gotten it set up and dragged his belongings inside Rio introduced him to the others.   The young man made sweeping bows to both Glow and Arial and shook the men's hands respectfully.   Bejorn barely gave the lad a chance to get comfortable around the small fire before he started in with the questions.

   Lothar seemed willing enough to talk about himself and his upbringing in the small fishing village and the two sat in animated conversation for the better part of the evening.   Rio listened with interest and discretely cast Detect Lie a few minutes into the dialog.   Despite the fact he didn't expect to catch Lothar in any falsehoods it made the druid feel good that the lad was who he claimed to be and that his sense about Lothar's moral fiber was right on the mark.

   That night, after the others had retired for the evening, Rio called Lothar over to the Moonwell.

   "You are about to take your first steps on a journey that will last for the rest of your lifetime." Rio said in a clear but quiet voice.   "Ahead of you is a path that will take you many places and teach you many things about yourself and about the world around you.   It is a journey that only you can make, but it is also one that you will never travel alone."

   "Are you ready to begin your travels knowing that there is no final destination?"

   "I am." Lothar replied without hesitation.

   "You now stand at the altar of the EarthMother.   Will you accept the structure of her Circle, abide by its tenets and hold her will above all other things?

   "I will." Lothar said, again without hesitation.

   "Give me your hand."  Lothar's eyes widened as Rio turned his hand palm up and produced Glows dagger from a fold in his cloak.

   The young man gritted his teeth but held his hand steady as Rio made a small cut across his palm.   "Let a drop of your blood fall into the Moonwell.   Then cup your hands together and take a drink of the water."

   Lothar made a fist and let a drop of his blood fall.   Then he knelt down, cupped his hands in the cool water and drank from the Moonwell.

   "Now rise and let me see your hand."   Lothar held out his hands.   There was no sign of the cut Rio had made only moments before.   "I welcome you into the Circle of Life." Rio said beaming at the young man.   "Your journey has begun."

   "Am I a druid now?" Lothar asked, his voice tinged with excitement.

   Rio laughed, not unkindly, and clapped the lad on the forearm.   "No." He said shaking his head and smiling.   "But you will be if it is within you to become one."

Continued in Part Five - The Time of the Season