Beginning of Part 1
Life is a Gift
Spring, Chrónia 552
Two figures appeared onto a hill close to a farm situated west of Rouge, where a young couple lived. The figures knew that the woman was not able to give birth to a child, but nevertheless the couple wanted one really bad. The two figures got closer and it was now clearly visible that they weren't alone.
In the arms of the lean and beautiful woman, a baby wrapped in silken cloth was sleeping peacefully. The man had his arm wrapped around the waist of the woman and he was rather tall with broad shoulders. When they stepped out of the tree line into the bright moonlight their looks were perfectly visible, and to say the least, it was an odd scene.
The woman, wearing a white silken dress, had blond long hair with eyes tinting all shades of green. The man, on the other hand, looked completely different. While the woman looked strict yet affectionate, the man had an aura that radiated authority and yet he eyed easy going. The man had deep blue eyes, black hair with a shade of grey, a neatly trimmed beard and a tan. So yes, it was quite an odd scene. When they reached the fence that would lead them to the farm they both stopped and turned toward each other.
The man wrapped his arms around the woman and cautiously embraced her with the baby in between the two of them. "Relax my love. He will be in good hands, he'll be in better hands here than in ours." They both despised the idea of leaving their new-born son behind on a farm without any information that could lead to his real parents. It was even worse for the woman; it was her first child, thereby breaking her vow. The vow of being an eternal maiden. She had dedicated her life to wisdom and peace, never even thinking about starting a family, but that all changed after meeting the man that was now the father of her first child.
"I know Renar. It's just... He is my first child." The woman said and she looked into the sea blue eyes of her lover. "It's weird to say, but this is my first child and I certainly know it will be my last, this feeling…"
Renar sighed. "I know Thelia, I know." He looked at the little farm, where the hearth was still burning at this ungodly hour and he sighed deeply, yet again. "I am sure that we are making the right choice. But will he hate us? We abandon him without letting him know anything about his and our identity and-"
Thelia stopped his rambling by pressing her fingers on his lips. "That's something for the future, Renar. Hopefully he will inherit my wisdom and not your head filled with shed blood, so he will understand why we did it."
"I hope you are right." Renar sighed as he kissed her on the forehead, softly as closing his eyes. Once again, he would probably kiss her for the last time. A few moments passed until he opened his eyes and spoke up; "Now let's get this over with."
Thelia nodded sadly and Renar, as the gentlemen he was, opened the fence for the lady. She smiled just a little at his charming action. Always the charmer, she thought. It was a pity that she wouldn't be able to enjoy it after this anymore due to the family rivalry. It was only due to their parents that they couldn't meet, be lovers or have children. Not all members of the families agreed with it, but most supported their own house's ideals. Imagine Craxen the mad, god of madness, chaos and bloodshed, would discover that his twin brother had found love in the other house. Thelia stopped her thoughts, she would rather not think about that.
Side by side, almost pressed against each other they walked over the gravel path which led them towards the small farm. The farm was built out of wood and clay and was clearly visible in the moonlight. Ihmen must have been having a good night because the moon was shining bright. Suddenly the light coming from the farm died down and the farm was covered in darkness, except for the remnants of the earlier burning hearth. The two lovers' only light to rely on was the light of Lady Ihmen, goddess of seas, the moon, and rain.
When they reached the door, Thelia moved the baby boy in such a way they could both perfectly see him in the moon light. He was covered in black silken cloth and the only thing visible was his slightly frowning innocent little face. Thelia looked at him and tears began to well up. "I-I can't d-do it Renar." She stuttered as her heart broke while watching her only, and probably last son, for she was leaving him here, all alone.
"We have to, my love." Renar said as he cupped her face with his hand in order to lift it up so he could look into her beautiful eyes. "Listen to me Thelia, if we keep him, not only will his life be in danger, but it can even start a war. My father and brothers will not hesitate to wage war against your house for even the smallest things. As my brethren strike, your family isn't just going to sit there and wait for it to be over. The world will be torn apart, bound to choose sides. Immortal families will be torn apart and the world of mortals will never be the same. We just have to, dear, if you like it or not."
In response Thelia leaned forwards and kissed him softly on his lips. "Sometimes you are smarter than they give you credit for, Renar." She said while smiling softly.
Renar shot her a smile back as he picked up the enwrapped baby and lifted him, so he could look at his closed eyes. "You will be perfect my child." Renar said and he kissed the little baby on the forehead.
"Whose hair will you get?" Renar asked him. Thelia's hair was light blonde and neat, while Renar's hair consisted out of messy black hair with streaks of grey in it.
"We will see." He said amused, after a few seconds and Thelia laughed silently. Then she stood on her tip-toes and gave the baby a small kiss on his forehead. She sighed and silently muttered a farewell in his ear. 'Yes, farewell,' she thought, 'for now.'
Renar laid down the baby gently in front of the door, ready to be picked up by the first mortal who came out of the front door. "Farewell, my boy." he said as Thelia knocked hard on the door.
-Ω-
"What the-?" A man whispered to his wife who was lying next to him in bed. They had just gone to bed because they had been busy with moving and making new furniture in their new self-made house the entire day. It took them a full year to build their house and they had forsaken all odds by even working during the harsh winter. They were very tired and now, only their third night, the people from the village were already bothering him.
He stepped out of bed and unsheathed his sword, which was within reach from their bed. He strapped the sheath around his waist. "Stay here." He ordered his wife and she mouthed a 'Be careful.' back to him.
The man smiled softly at his wife's concern and then stalked towards the front door. He was about to open the door with his sword ready to defend their home when he felt something odd. A light tremble came from the other side of the door and the door shook in its hinges. Dust fell out of crevices and he frowned deeply.
Soft cries were heard from the other side of their door and for a moment the man dropped his guard in shock. 'Was that the cry of a baby?' He thought and carefully opened the door. Nothing was to be seen but when he was about to close the door again his eyes fell on the source of the tiny whimpers and cries.
A baby was lying in front of their door wrapped into a black cloth. He glanced around to look for any signs of its parents, but he could not find a trace.
When he was convinced that there was no danger he let his guard down and sheathed his sword on his belt. He bent down to pick up the baby, placed him in his arms and swayed him from the left to the right in order to calm him down. "Shh, shh don't cry little one. Everything will be okay." He whispered into the little boy's ear. He looked around while letting his eyes focus in the dark, but he couldn't see anything in the middle of the night. Utter darkness spread the lands and he found no sign of life as far as he could see. Strange was a thought that went through his head as he frowned once again.
"Crethos, my dear, what's going on?" The woman asked him when he closed the door while shushing the baby in his arms. He walked over to the bedroom, put off his belt as his wife looked at him questionably and shocked. Hundreds of question spooked through her mind as Crethos went to sit next to her in bed, but she didn't say anything.
"Thyia, my love, I found him at our front door. Something odd happened and when I wanted to open the door I heard a baby crying." He wanted to continue, but then noticed the baby boy had stopped crying and was slowly drifting to sleep. "-I found him in front of our door, without any traces of his parents or anybody else. Could he be a 'you know'?"
"We will see, Crethos, my dear." Thyia said. They looked at each other and both silently agreed they would keep the baby and raise him like their own. It was like a gift from the gods, they couldn't get a child and then suddenly one is left in front of their door. Thyia had been praying to Weveun, goddess of Marriage, birth, children and family. Had she finally listened to her prayers?
The baby let out a tiny yawn as Thyia carefully, took him in her arms, she pushed back the cloth that covered his head and it revealed small sprouts of hair. The baby smacked his lips and he slowly began to open his eyes. The left eyelid began to open first and it revealed a beautiful intense green eye.
Soon after, his right eye opened and surprisingly this eye had a complete different color. The eye had a dark blue tint, almost like the sea, and both were now staring up at the two people in slight curiosity. The eyes moved around rapidly taking in the new environment.
"He is beautiful." Thyia muttered, not taking her eyes of the boy. The boy had two different eye colors, which they both knew, could cause problems because the little boy lying in Thyia's arms was definitely a very special child.
"How shall we name him?" Crethos asked, eyebrows crossed while trying to come up with a name. Thyia shrugged as to say 'you may decide'. The only thing she could do was looking at her just unofficial-adopted son. "Let's call him Nathos." Crethos stated and Thyia beamed.
"It's beautiful." She replied in awe at both the beautiful name as the beautiful boy she was just given. She knew she was not going to let the parents down, even though she had no idea who they were.
-Ω-
Thelia and Renar had been watching the scene from a distance, eyes watering. Their son had just opened his eyes for the first time, and he was beautiful. He had both the eyes of Renar and Thelia, hopefully the same would go for his personality. "We made the right choice Thelia." Renar said, took her in his arms again and they embraced each other. "He's in good hands."
"He surely is." Thelia responded as she stared sadly towards the house. She watched how Nathos was being served a mixture of wine and honey via a cup by the two mortals and how he was being put into a small bed quickly made by the handyman Crethos.
"Now let's leave them alone. We are not needed here anymore." Renar said and before Thelia could disappear he took her hand.
"Shall we go somewhere special to spend our last night together?" He asked his eyes sparkling in the bright moonlight.
Thelia gave him a loving smile and she nodded. "I know just the place."