Chapter 23: Forgiveness

Now with the babies she would have to stay around long enough for them to not be so dependent on her. The dreams she kept having, and Grayson showing up, meant things were going to get bad around here and she didn't know what to do at the moment she needed to think. When they got to the bottom of the stairs, she noticed everyone standing around talking. Jaden came and took the little girl from her and she found a chair in the corner to look around and think. Her mind was spinning from all the information she just took in. She couldn't imagine what was going to happen next. She finally made up her mind that she was going to just take it one day at a time. She was getting up to go and join the rest of the crowd in the dining hall for dinner when Balfar came over.

"How are you doing, Atona?" He asked softly with great concern etched across his face.

"I'm alright I guess, I'm not sure what all is going on right now."

"That is understandable. That boy loves you more than life itself." He said sitting down beside her and nodding his head towards Ambien.

"I truly love him. The problem is the secrets, the adventuring I haven't done yet, and of course his crown."

"Don't you worry about the crown. It was here for centuries before you came along it will be here after the two of you are gone. That boy has done everything possible to try to stay here with you. He has been having nightmares for four days straight."

"He has? Balfar, he used to tell me these things. What happened?"

"Love happened darling pure and simple. He doesn't want the ones he loves hurt, so rather than tell you, he takes it all on himself." He said lighting his pipe, after struggling to get the tobacco in it.

"There are so many things I wanted to do and see yet."

"Lass, you're still young yet. You have plenty of time to go and see and do all those things. Plus did you forget you have your own crown to go save. That is an adventure that only you can do."

"You're right. I need to stop worrying about everything and let the Gods handle the small stuff. If Ambien and I are destined to be together then that is what will happen."

"That's it. That's my girl. Let's go eat before it's all gone." He said getting up, and offering her his hand.

"Yes, let's do. I'm about to starve. Those babies really take it out of me. They sleep fine at night, but during the day they wear me out."

"I imagine they are a lot like their mother." He said with a smile. Leading her into the dining room, he led her to the head of the table to sit next to Ambien. Ambien saw them come in, and was relieved to see her smiling again. He was sure, she was mad at him. He knew what he said was right, but he knew that was no way to handle Atona. She needed to be handled with kid gloves because of her temper. She had always been like that. He noticed when they came up to the table, and Atona sat down, that she had been crying. Her eyes were still red, and puffy, and the tear trails were still wet down her cheeks. He looked away from her almost instantly knowing he was the one who put them there.

He looked over towards Jaden and his sister, whom had the babies, the touch of disappointment in his sisters' eyes, was almost too much. Jaden's look of displeasure was enough to make him want to crawl under the table. Instead he reached out and took Atona's hand and kissed it. Looking at her with all the love he had for her showing right there in his eyes, he hoped it was enough to make her forgive him. She looked at him and smiled knowing he was trying hard to tell her how much he loved her, and that he was sorry. She leaned over and kissed him full on the lips and then whispered in his ear. "We need to talk after dinner."

"I agree. I will help you put the babies down, and then we can stroll through the garden and talk." He whispered giving her hand a small squeeze.

"It's a date. Don't forget me." She said pleading with her eyes. He couldn't tell if she meant that evening or when he left.

"I could never forget you. Not even if all the stars fell from the skies, I wouldn't be able to forget you."

They started serving dinner before Atona could respond. His words echoed in her ears, all through dinner. He was so right. She had tried to leave the valley to get him out of her heart and her head but he still remained there. She had also remained in his heart and mind. They just may be truly destined to be together. Her travels did give her enough time to think about things that were so minor to her now. They were such big problems at the time. She watched as Andrianna and Jaden held the babies and played with them. Andrianna was talking to the sweet girl with blonde hair, and crystal blue eyes. Christina was going to be so special; there was something about her that screamed she was important. Antonio was just as dear. His blonde hair was set with curls; his green eyes looked deep in your soul when he looked at you.

Everyone finished dinner and went to the parlor to visit and enjoy the music that Bryson was playing on his flute. He was also weaving tales about dragons, goblins, and orcs. The babies started getting fussy, so Atona got up to take them upstairs.

"I believe that they have had enough excitement for one day. I'm going to carry them up and put them to bed." She told her mother taking the little girl from her.

"Alright, but will you return and join us?" Her mother asked, pleading for her to come back and join the family.

"Yes, mother, I will come back if I don't fall asleep with the babies like I normally do."

"Then I will have to go and keep you company so you don't fall asleep." Ambien said coming up behind her and taking the little boy. Antonio's face lit up upon seeing him.

"Let's go before they get into their full blown hissy fits. They will ruin Bryson's performance."

"Right behind you my love." They went upstairs and Atona sat down in a chair near the fire to feed Christina. Ambien sat in the other chair feeding Christopher. Once the babies were asleep, they sat in the chairs near the fire.

"Darling, I'm sorry I was so hurtful to you earlier today. I am anxious over this trade deal, and I really don't want to leave you."

"Ambien, you don't have to apologize. I understand, I was just being my stubborn self. I was never good at taking orders. When you and the rest leave in the morning so will we. I will take the babies and Andrianna and go to stay with the dwarves for a while. We will come back once in a while to visit your folks and my mother. I have been thinking that when we come to visit however we just bring one baby at a time."

"Why would you want to do that?" He said getting up and pouring some wine.

"Well, no one outside the village knows that I had twins, except Balfar of course, and his clan. So if I carry only one baby at a time then no one will know about the other."

"You may have a point. That does sound like a good idea, and if anything bad does happen then they will only have the chance to get one of the babies. I don't wish anything bad to happen, but the way things have been working."

"And the dreams you've been having, for several days even weeks."

"How did you know about that?" He said spinning around and looking at her.

"Balfar told me about them earlier this evening. That's how I came to the conclusions I have. You see dear I love you and don't want anything to happen to you either. So now I understand how and why you feel the way you do. We need to come up with a plan, and that is the best one I can think of."

"I can't believe he told you. No wait I can believe it. There has never been a secret kept between the two of you."

"And there should never have been one between us. We have kept a lot of secrets from each other. Do you remember what you told me the last night I seen you? The night before I left you told me something and I thought about what you said the whole time I was gone."

"I remember. I told you not to make a decision of such great importance until you know all the facts. The cards have been dealt it's up to us to decide what to do."

"I kept thinking about that and couldn't get you out of my mind. I could not let you go no matter how much I tried."

"Did you figure out what it was that I was trying to tell you?"

"Not till I came back here. Then I understood all too clearly."

"'I'm sorry you had to learn the way you did."

"It's alright. I'm glad I learned when I did, and I have all the best parts." There was a knock on the door then, it startled them from their thoughts.

"Who's there?" Ambien said.

"It's your sister. I came to fetch the two of you back to the festivities. Atona, your mother is getting worried."

"Tell her we will be right down. We were just catching a few moments to ourselves before Ambien had to leave in the morning."

"I will tell her. Take your time; love shouldn't be rushed for anyone." She said chuckling as she left. Ambien and Atona checked to make sure they were still dressed appropriately, and then went back down the stairs to join the rest of the family in the festivities.

Ambien's parents had already excused themselves to go to bed. The party was dwindling down and people were starting to leave. Bryson was playing a slow tune on his flute and singing about lovers that were destined to be together. Atona almost thought he was singing about her and Ambien until the song ended with them both dying before they got the chance to tell each other how they felt. Tears rolled down her face at the thought of not being able to talk to Ambien again. She couldn't imagine not being able to talk to him again or see him. He squeezed her hand, reminding her that he was right there and not going anywhere.

As she wiped her tears she noticed Jaden and Andrianna leaving the room and heading to the garden. Their favorite place to spend time together, talking, walking, and just being alone was the garden. Everyone knew of their relationship and no one said a word about it. As she thought about it, no one had said anything about her and Ambien's relationship either. She wasn't going to let that part bother her tonight, she told herself. She was going to enjoy all the time she had with him that she could.

Rozella came up to her and hugged her with tears running down her face. "I will miss you too Rozella, I will see you again soon. You know I will. There is no reason for these tears." Atona said wiping them from her sisters' face.

"You may be older than me, but you needed the most care." Rozella said.

"Only because you refused to let anyone care for you, except for me that is." Atona said.

"Well sister I love you and will be praying for you."

"Rozella, May the sun always shine on your face and the wind always be at your back."

"May your paths be straight and the hills never steep."

"You remembered?"

"How could I forget, you have always told me that when you left. It was father's farewell to us and anyone else he spoke to."

Everyone parted ways and ventured off to bed after saying their own farewells. Tears were shed and laughter soon followed as people left the palace to find peace and privacy. Ambien and Atona went up the stairs to Atona's room. They soon lay on the bed and held each other close afraid to let go. For in the morning they would be apart again.