Chapter 27: Atona Says Goodbye

Atona and Ambien woke the next morning holding each other and completely at peace. Without saying a word they both got out of bed and got dressed to go downstairs to breakfast. They both knew the decisions that were about to be made would change their lives forever. In the dining hall everyone was seated once again around the table. After the feast was served and eaten, everyone settled into their seats preparing for the discussion that was about to come. The dwarves entered just then with two sweet little bundles of joy and love. They had brought the babies back to Atona so she could say goodbye to them and decide what to do with them. Atona scooped up first the boy then the girl holding them close and placing kisses on their fat little cheeks. She slowly handed them each to Ambien so he could have them for a few minutes.

"Well, dear, what are you going to do with the little darlings when you leave?" Balfor asked, eating a roll.

"I want to send Christina with you Rozelle. I want her to go with you and be raised in safety. When she gets big enough to go to magic school I want you to make sure she gets to go."

"Atona, we couldn't. What about you? What are we going to tell her about you?" Rozelle said blinking back tears and trying to talk around the lump in her throat.

"I will be around to see her as much as I can. I want you to tell her that I'm adventuring and it's really important. That I will be back to collect her when I get this very important mission done. That will be the story until things can get normal."

"If that is what you want. Then we will ensure her safety and your wishes." Jeremiah said holding his wife. "Darling, look at it this way we will have two babies to take care of."

"No, my love we will have three. I'm pregnant."

"Rozelle, that's great news. I can't possibly send Christina with you now. You won't be able to manage all three."

"Nonsense. She will do great, and I'm sure mother will make sure that those babies are constantly in the garden and playing by the fountain. She will keep the babies busy while Rozelle rests. Mother will be so delighted to have more children in the house. Are you sure you don't want to send Christopher with us too?" Jaden asked.

"Jaden, you're going with them?" Atona asked.

"Yes, I want to make sure that they make it back safe. Andrianna is going with me to meet my parents. That is if it's ok with the King."

"It's fine with me. I don't think I could have stopped her from following you. Nor could I stop my son from following Atona on her mission. Atona if you haven't decided where to send Christopher I have a suggestion."

"You mean you don't mind us going father?" Andrianna asked, pure joy in her voice.

"No, I think you should go. It would be good for both of you."

"Sir, you said you had an idea for Christopher. I am open to suggestions." Atona said taking the boy back from Ambien.

"There is a family that lives on the edge of the Vale, that just recently lost their baby. Their child was about the same age and would gladly take in your son. No one would know the difference, whether it was their son or not."

"That sounds like a good plan. I would want the same story for both. I also would like your clan to train him about the sword Balfor."

"Atona, you can send him with us. He will be perfectly safe, I promise." Rozelle said.

"It would be safer for both of them if they are separated. The word is out that there are twins now. Justine is fairly safe since you married Jeremiah. That leaves only my two precious children to take their rightful throne. So I must separate them to keep them safe."

"I understand. Like the stories never mentioned me. No one knew there were two heirs to the throne."

"Right. Balfor, I would send him to live with you but he would stick out. The only elf child in a dwarven community."

"We can solve that when he gets older. We can start to send several of our children over there to learn and he would blend in. He could go to class with the other children and come home with them and no one would know. Except for those of us in this room." King Tarrowlin said.

"No one in this room is going to say anything to anyone, father." Ambien said.

"Well, we need to start getting ready to go. I need to pack up the babies things so they can have them when they leave. I also need to pack my things and look at the maps and decide the best place to start." Atona said getting up from her seat and heading towards the stairs with Christine in her arms. She went upstairs, and set the baby in her bed. She turned and seen Ambien place the other baby in his bed. They smiled at each other then went to packing up the babies' things. Each baby had a favorite blanket and toy, Atona was sure to pack those items along with some of their clothes. The tears were running down her face as she packed their stuff away. She started getting her stuff ready when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

"Atona, I just wanted you to know that it is a great honor and a pleasure to be able to take Christine with us. The two girls will grow up together just as we did, depending on each other. You need to get this settled by her third birthday. You have to be the one to hand her, her dagger. Hopefully, the ceremony will be in the palace that you and I have vague memories of. I'm glad that father left us clues on how to get our kingdom back, but that just means that he knew this was going to happen."

"Yes, he probably figured that it would. There were probably signs early on that this Norvinia lady was after the throne. Father wouldn't want us to be without a home. Mother would want us to take care of each other, and teach our children to do the same. Remember how mad she used to get when I would pick on you or pull your pig tails."

"She would get so mad, she would tremble all over. I remember father telling her that we were just being sisters. She would tell him that someday we were all we were going to have. That we needed to love each other and not be mean to each other. She knew then too didn't she."

"I think so. They wanted what was best for us. Just like I want for the twins." She said picking up the girl and kissing her and hugging her close one last time.

"Here take her now. Here's all her stuff, I love you all, and I will miss you all."

"We love you. You stay safe. Ambien keep her safe, don't let anything happen to her. Swear on your life."

"Rozelle, I swear I will not let anything happen to her." Ambien said hugging Rozelle and the girl. He kissed them both on the cheek and watched as Rozelle turned and walked out the door.

"Time to get this big guy to his new home. Ambien am I doing the right thing?"

"I believe you are. You're risking everything to make sure they are safe, it's what your parents did."

"Let's get going then. I want to be on the road before dark." They went downstairs and found the couple standing there waiting for her son. They were a handsome couple and the king was right, no one would know any different for they resembled her son so well. She was hesitant at first to hand him over, her heart was saying things like if you hand him over you will never get him back. Don't let go of someone you love, and that loves you back so unconditionally.

"Atona, the agreement states that they will return the child when you are ready for him. Also that he is to know who you are and where you are. That he is to go to school with the other elven children in the dwarves complex. Is that everything?"

"Yes, I will be back before their third birthday to carry out our birthday tradition."

"Very well then. We promise to take care of him as our own, making sure he is safe and knows who his mother is. Atona, he will never truly be ours, but he will help us to heal after losing ours so tragically." The gentleman said. Atona leaned in and kissed the boy one last time, as she squeezed his hand, Ambien kissed him. She promptly turned around, wiped her eyes and ran upstairs to grab her gear. Ambien ran after her, to make sure she was going to be alright. He took her into his arms and they both cried together holding each other tightly. They were just calming down when someone knocked on the door. They both turned to see Jaden and Andrianna standing there.

"Are you two alright?" Andrianna said coming into the room, and taking Ambiens' hand.

"Yes, we will be fine now." Atona said hugging Jaden.

"So you two are off to your kingdom. Your mother will be thrilled, not only does she get her son back but she gets to meet her knew daughter-in-law. And she will find that she is grandma again. Are you excited, Jaden? And how about you?"

"I am excited, and sad. I don't feel right leaving you two to go about this alone. I should be going with you all, but I want to make sure my brother gets home safe."

"Jaden, you should be going with your brother. I want you there to guard my daughter. If an ambush happens again you get my daughter, sister, niece, and Andrianna out of there right away. I know your brother can fend for himself."

"I'm excited to go, but now you have made me a little nervous. What happens if there is another ambush? I wont be any good in a fight. I'm not even healed completely yet. Oh, Jaden what are we going to do?"

"Stop, you are going to be fine, little sister. Dad is sending some of the best guards with you. Alistair is one of them, you know as well as I do, that he is one of the best because of his teacher. You will be fine. Go meet Jadens family, and enjoy yourself. We will be back before you know it and you can tell me all about it."

"Thanks, Ambien. I don't know what's wrong with me."

"I do. You're nervous, we all are. So much has happened these last few days. So many lives have been changed. We will endure and overcome."

"We better go. The caravan is waiting for us." Jaden said hugging Atona close, then grasping Ambien by the arm in a brotherly shake. Andrianna hugged each of them and kissed her brother on the cheek. Atona and Ambien grabbed their saddle bags and went downstairs. Atona hugged the Queen and Balfor kissing him on the cheek just so she could watch his face turn red. After their goodbyes they went out to the stable, where they were surprised to find Bryson and Grayson standing waiting on them.

"What are you two doing here?" Ambien asked, as he led his horse out of the stall to put the saddle on.

"We are going with you. You're going to need our help. Our Uncle is quiet eccentric and doesn't talk to anyone he doesn't know."

"Very well. Help Atona with her horse." Ambien said seeing Atona struggling to get her mare to stand still. They soon had their horses ready and were on the road to Artol. The first stop to find the Smiling Jester.