Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 01 Ch. 14

Marriage should be for love. Every priest of an Elven deity is being granted a new spell to divine if a couple loves each other and should be allowed to marry. There is a gap in the sexes there are one and a half females to every one male. Plural marriages should be restored.

YES, I said restored because the priesthood removed it over 5,000 years ago in order to try and be more 'civilized.' Instead, it's killing our people. I would remove the Grand Clerics today but we're giving them 100 years to get our faithful back on track and part of that's procreation."

She gave a mischievous smile, "If you can support a dozen children then have a dozen children. These items..." She divinely pulls every contraception potion bottle, ring, necklace, and device from the crowd including the cock ring Eldar wore. "SHOULD be outlawed until our population has tripled or more. All of the items here..." She let them fall to the ground. "Still function. They just have side effects now when used."

She took a moment, "Eleven society will stop using the terms bastard, impure, and abomination when discussing someone's Elven heritage. Every child should be cherished if raised by a single mother or a married couple. Those terms are terms from human society, not Elven society. You two Grand Clerics have a lot of work ahead of you.

The King and Queen have a lot of work ahead of them. They are seeing this message in their bed chamber right now. If they fail to act the Elven population may find they have no royal family. They will have a theocracy council represented by the Grand Clerics who actually follow the will of their Gods. Now onto some personal matters.

She walks over to Heliar, "Hand me your sword."

He took his sword out and presents it to her. She grabs the handle and his wrist and he drops to his knees. "The ability you wished to grant the sword has been added. The souls of your ancestors have moved on but the piece that holds that ability remains. Sheath the sword and present it to your eldest son. It's his legacy and burden to carry now."

Heliar handed his sword to Eldar, which he had never seen drawn before this night, "It's a family heirloom going back centuries and will only work for a worthy successor. I believe you're worthy. I called you out as worthy in my will even."

He walked back over and she held out a scabbard with another blade in it, "You're a politician, diplomat, planner, military adviser, a husband and most importantly a father. I did not say, warrior OR deep road explorer. Elara Strong Oak is dead. She got captured on that mission and died within days fighting them. There is no reason for you to continue searching for her and wasting resources on repeated and failed expeditions. Her spirit has moved on and you need to move on."

She turned to the female wedding party members. "I like your nicknames! 'Cook' you have a bun in the oven; your husband seeded that child a month ago. You remember the night in the camp where everyone paired off in one form or another. You got a bad batch on those bottles over there that made you extremely fertile."

Eagle-eye snickered and the Lady of Dreams looked at her. "She is not the only one who's pregnant from that evening. Need a hint as to who the father is?" Eagle-eye turned several shades of white then red before nodding.

"He is standing behind the groom. If the two of you want to get married by me then you better get in line."

Eagle-eye looked at Doc, he smiled at her. She walked over to Doc.

The Lady walked over to the male side of the line. "You all need to find a good wife or two if you do not already have one."

She looked at Hunter, "Find love, do not care what form it comes in or how long they will be there, you could easily die before them regardless."

She pauses and looked at Eldar, "Eldar will face that challenge several times. Love will find him again and he may go through the same issues over again. It does not diminish the love for the one or ones who dedicated their life to you. They knew you would be alive. Now you need to live!"

She walked up to Fireball, "You need to find a good wife or two but first you need to be fertile!" With that, she grabs him by balls. He screams out in a shriek of pain, "OH LADY THEY ARE BURNING."

She releases him, "Now you really are 'Fireballs.' They will feel like that for about a week, but if you're lucky you will find some lovely lady to help you out and ease your suffering."

She walked to the back and she turned to Keyno, "You, young lady, are very talented and you helped to remove the last vestiges of doubt in Eldar when you told him about the sword being purified. You gave him that information and he saw what he had to do and why it was important. It aligned with the vision I gave him. You and your brother should find some Elven spouses.

Because beautiful babies could be in your future and the skills you two have would be a benefit to the Elven people and a waste if it were lost. New skills and abilities introduced into the Elven race. Just like Master Trainer Yetto incorporating his human heritage and knowledge of the sword into Elven Blade Song and training Eldar. Now Eldar's younger Brother."

Keyno turned pink and nodded. She walked back up in front of Eldar, "Let us deal with the three remaining items. Eldar, when you get the time, get that sword set the way you want it in the meantime remove the blade from the sheath."

He drew the sword and the sword spoke to him.

Karti'Ros, "Unprecedented to have a goddess intervene, let us see if you are of the right material to wield your families Moon Blade."

The next thing Eldar knew he was wracked with pain as the sword went through his mind for everything from being breastfed to the goddess's appearance.

Karti'Ros, "You're young, intelligent, idealistic, and very skilled. A worthy wielder."

All went silent and the goddess looked at Eldar, "Good you're still alive!"

She held the sword while it was still in his hand. "Do not let go." He felt the handle changing shape beneath his hand and the round stone in the pommel was encased in metal. He noticed the blade for the first time and there were six runes along the side. He flipped his head to view the other side and there were five more. He noticed the blade glowed gray in color, just like the name he wanted for the mercenary band.

He looked at the pommel and the metal had extended over the stone but there was an opening to the stone; one side has the double crescent moons. The other side the Silvertree house insignia.

She looked Eldar in the eyes, "The grip will adjust to whichever hand you use it in. A special addition for you and any other ambidextrous or dual wielders who may carry it in the future. The sword has always been that color so you choose names well. Even when you did not know it would come into play."

She looked at Eldar, "Put it away when you're ready to get married, Knight Champion."

He sighed and inwardly cringed at her statement. He put the sword away and it was currently set for a right-hand draw. He would adjust it later.

She looked at him, "The ring, please. He pulled it out and placed it into her open hand. She closed her hand around it.

She looked at the Sister's "Charlemagne and Annette like the twin crescent moons in the sky tonight do agree to travel through the night sky that's Eldar's life until death do you part."

They both said in unison, "I do!"

She then looked to Eldar "Like the night sky searching for light do you take these two, these twin moons to brighten up your night sky until death do you part. Do you also promise when that day occurs you won't give up on life and will find love again?"

He looked at her "I do! You're being sneaky, but I do!"

She smiled at him, "With the blessing of the gods I pronounce you to be married to these lovely twins."

She leaned in and whispered so only he could hear, "I'm sneaker than you think, all of your children will be twins. Your wives will be sisters. There is a good chance that your future wives will be twins as well, but they will be sisters regardless."

She opened her hand and placed one ring in each of the two ladies' hands and 2 into Eldar's hands, "Place one ring on each lady's finger, the 2 rings they have will twist and lock together and then you both place it on his hand."

With a slight twisting sound, the two rings locked together and his ring was a wider version of the 2 the ladies were wearing. Each ring had a platinum-like band inlay-ed with a sapphire ring seven diamonds on each ring and the top has two platinum-like crescent moons with a slightly brighter sapphire between them. She stood straight "I present Annette, Charlemagne, and Eldar Silvertree."

^They stepped to the side and half-listen to the traditional wedding vows until she said, "May I present Sharia and Sharlo Stormcloud."

She leaned in and whispers into Doc's ear and he turns white for a second. Whiter than normal. Then there was clapping.

The elders from the 2 villages came forward as the Goddess shot into the sky like a shooting star. They nodded as one spoke, "We would like a combined meeting tomorrow with you and the others you feel are needed."

---

Jarron moved quickly away from the crowds and tried his crystal to the Queen and it would not go through. He heard in his mind, "All communication via these crystals will not function again until after you visit with the Queen. They are all shut down within the elven Kingdom and to all sources until that time. All magical travel is also blocked within and into the Elven Kingdom until this meeting occurs.

The Queen is receiving a similar message. All of you in Silent Falls are hearing this message in your heads. This is not to be discussed beyond what you are hearing now. Let Eldar dictate the pace as he has several tasks to complete before he will arrive in the Capital. Tasks he has set for himself and that we support. Nobody is to discuss this or try and push them to move faster than this needs to progress."

Jarron sighed, "Well, that is clear enough guidance."

---

The Queen was in her room and the King asked her, "What does all of that mean? Was it real? We saw the heads of two of our churches there, Jarron, and Heliar. Two members of our Blade Singer Council. Why were they all there? Was it truly real?

They heard a voice and turned to see the Lady of Dreams in their chambers. "This visit is not to be discussed or written about. What you saw was very real. You, Queen Estrana Goldeagle sent those Blade Singers to test him for corruption. He is far from corrupt as I have stated, it is the other way around with your Blade Singer Council's efforts to deny his natural talents.

Instead, when he arrives and over the next several months and years he will expose corruption and work to save you and your families destiny. He is an outsider to your corruption issues. An unknown that many will try and kill. Many will fail and fall in that effort. He is an outsider to your court. Right now, that is what the elven people need. A Champion who is an outsider to the corruption that has been building for centuries.

He is what the elven people need to effect meaningful change. If you are wise and listen to us, and to him. Unlike a lot of Blade Singers, he does not pay lip service to the code. He will help to guide you toward changes, most of the ideas he has are his own, forged by the corruption and intolerance within the elven society that exists today.

Every time we put a champion on the field you can expect the Royal Family to be tested. That last statement you can add to your journal for future generations if they choose to read it and listen to your words once you are gone. Some will and some will not. You are wondering if he is coming for your crown. To be the power behind the throne.

He argued against being named the Knight Champion. He does not seek power, only to live by the code and make the world better. He was appointed, in part, because he has his own vision to save the elven people. He is not our mouthpiece and most of the ideas you hear from him will be his own.

He cares for the people, even most of those who shun him and worked to keep him from excelling. All because of a birth circumstance that was not of his choosing. He was selected the day he was born because we saw the path he would take.

The path we helped to shape in only a few key decision points, namely those that ensured he would end up in your Academy for training. A deal struck by his late mother and Heliar's father without Heliar's knowledge until after both had passed.

You are scared to death of what this might mean. Listen to what he has to say and you might discover the truth of the matter for yourself. It is not as nefarious as you might be thinking, at least from him. Others in your court are another matter. Cancel court until he arrives in the Capital. He will be here in days. Until he arrives all outside communication and magical travel are suspended.

Have your guards watch for him and bring them all to the Palace as guests and to get your answers. Many will surprise you as he does not seek power, but if power is given to him he will temper it with kindness to your people. He and his wives will strive to be a role model of how a royal should act. There is much to learn from this champion.

You simply must have faith that we are doing what is required for the elven peoples' future survival. Else, all will be lost. Not everything is set. Some things may change. There are variables even we cannot account for, which is why you are just discovering this now. The other answer to your unasked question.

We have given you our warnings. He is the first Champion to my husband or daughter in over 8,000 years. He will not be the last as we will become more actively involved in the fate of our people for as long they exist in his world. There will be times where we will go silent for a period of time, to see if the people can stay on course. This will be long after you have passed on.

Your personal views on birth status, half-elves and impures are being challenged. It is up to you as the leader of the people to decide if what he tells you and what we have told you is important. She walked to the window and Whispered, "You can move again now." As she disappeared into the light of the moon that passed through the glass doors of her balcony.

The Queen looked at her husband, "I want the guards put on notice to watch for their arrival. None of this is to be discussed; other than a magical conjunction is being felt across the Kingdom affecting some magical abilities and is only expected to last for a few days from what we have been able to divine."

He sighed and nodded to his wife, "Very well my Queen. You are right of course." She got up and sent messages out through her handmaiden, the captain of her guard, and to the heads or seconds to all Elven churches. Including the suspension of open court until further notice.

---

Eldar looked at them, "There will be 16 of us, my group of 12, Jarron and my Father who will be working the Ambassadors we need, and our 2 Grand Clerics to discuss what the new village will do in regards to a combined religious church dedicated to both deities in the new village."

She looked at Eldar, "That many?"

He nodded, "Anything I agree too they have to be able to enforce and they might have a creative solution to some items of concern for you. I would like to meet back here midday if that works?" Everyone nodded.

Eldar walked over to his father who still shook his head at the events of the day. He glared at him, "Well, that was a new twist on how mother died."

He nodded, "Today is about gain; you gained two wives, your brother a purified sword. I still have to figure out what this one does but that should not take long. I was also given some clear guidance on going into the deep roads myself."

Eldar nodded, "If you had gone with this sword it would have likely not returned as you would not have returned. You, going to get a second wife now, one for love?"

He heard his brother laughing at Eldar's comment.

He walked over and whispered the command word to the sword.

He told him, "Just think it after you draw the weapon." He returned to his father's side while they looked at Eldar's brother Elios. "Let us see what the purified weapon looks like."

He drew out the blade and they all looked at it as it now looked like a clear Crystal with red and purple crystal-like veins that pulsed. He gave the command word and it now had purple and red flames. Eldar shouted over, "You have to sheath it to put it out. Be careful."

Eldar walked over to the two Grand Clerics; "I had no idea what was going to happen today or what she was going to say. I want to ensure we have a combined church in the village to the lady and her husband. I would also like a meeting with the two of you, Doc, and my wives to discuss another personal matter." They nodded.

Master Trainer Yetto walked over, "Two more students."

Eldar nodded, "You should ask for a field of 12. I have to find 2 students yet. I would hope to find one in the two villages."

He nodded, "What was this Knight Champion?"

Eldar hung his head, "She told me that I had been selected to be her husband's Knight Champion as I worship them both given my heritage and training. That and the skills you taught me."

He smiled, "I did not know about that 5 years for every championship rule. I will make sure you have a proper reception to receive your ring and get mine back. I leave first thing in the morning with the other two Grand Masters who will likely be forced to give up their position on the ruling council because of all this."

Eldar looked at him, "Travel when we travel if you like. We hopefully will be on the road the day after tomorrow. It was shown in the palace and you might get called in to answer questions you do not have the answers to yourself. Enjoy the extra work."

He shook his head, "I will talk with the others, a small delay might be better. Three students will be challenging enough and you're looking at two and building a village at the same time."

Eldar smiled, "You forgot about my daughters coming as well, and Annette we will see what the future holds, I cannot complain about the future of our race if I'm tasked with repopulating it myself."

Charlemagne and Annette snuck up behind him. Charlemagne quipped, "Not just yourself! You have help there."

He nodded, "True."

They stopped to eat and make small talk. He let the team know about the meeting and they would meet out by the wagons in the morning.

Eldar grabbed Doc, "How do you feel about making history twice?"

Doc looked at him, "Twice?"

Eldar smiled, "Did you not hear the King and Queen were getting this vision in their chambers?"

He turns white again. "Also, throwing the sword and getting married right behind me by the goddess herself."

He nodded, "You set me up."

Eldar nodded, "We were all set-up to play a part."

Eldar looked at him, "What did she say to make you turn white?"

He rolled his eyes, "She said Eagle-eye's sex drive will increase as her pregnancy continues."

Eldar laughed, "I got you topped! She told me all my wives' pregnancies will be twins!"

He nodded, "You got me beat!"

Eldar found Hunter, "I blame you!"

Hunter looked at Eldar, "For what?"

Eldar smiled at him, "The extra line in the wedding vows she gave me. Do you also promise when that day occurs you won't give up on life and will find love again? You owe me!"

Hunter smiled, "What do you want?"

Eldar looked at him, "The first part is easy continued support. The second part is to find a lady and get laid you grump ass."

He laughed at Eldar, "With no protection, better find love first."

Eldar nodded at him, "At least you're not 'Fireballs.'"