Amora and Aenan were now on the dance floor with some other couples. Amora's red hair glistened in the night's light as they danced. She was grateful she decided to take those boring etiquette and dance classes they taught in the learning halls seriously. Aenan couldn't take his eyes off the redhead. Taking a moment, he glanced towards his cousin Laech who was looking stunned by how fast and easy snagging a lady was.
"We haven't really spoken since your arrival" Aenan finally spoke to Amora since they started the dance.
"Um yes we haven't and I guess we have been busy with the learning halls and you busy with your water elemental friends" Amora replied. She glanced towards Bloom who was returning from the cake area now and smiling at her. Amora knew how much Bloom wanted to be the one Aenan was dancing with. No doubt the water elemental was charming and breathtakingly handsome but she didn't feel the same way Bloom felt for this Aenan. Aenan continued talking and asking Amora questions about herself and Amora only tried to answer without sounding like her mind was wandering.
"I see how our Ulanni will stun heads in the coming balls" Grandma Daeva said to Ruslan as they both watched Amora and Aenan dance and smile at each other.
"Mother you know all Daeva women are beautiful and always stun during the ball seasons. look at little Linetta she's already dancing with the fifth boy and Cascade has the eyes of boys" Ruslan commented with a laugh.
The song finally came to an end and the dancing couples bowed to each other.
"Another dance my lady?" Aenan asked Amora. Just then, Bloom was standing close by.
"Um, no I think I'll pass but my friend here will take the dance" Amora pushed Bloom forward. Bloom's face reddened.
"Very well then, can I have this dance Bloom?" Aenan bowed.
"Yes" Bloom replied and then mouthed "thank you" to Amora as the dance began. Bloom danced gracefully, hoping that Aenan would notice how graceful she was without being a noble. Aenan said few words to her and even complimented her beautiful gown and this made Bloom squeal internally for joy.
Just as the second dance was ending, there was a loud trumpet sound from the skies. There was a carriage being drawn by three golden Pegasus. Their mane was the most beautiful thing and it glistened in the moonlight. The trumpet continued sounding as the carriage drew closer.
"It's from the royal palace" Aquata whispered to Bloom and Amora.
The carriage landed on the open space created and out came a man with golden yellow hair. He wore a trim royal blue regalia and had the royal logo of two dragons breathing fire forming a diamond shape on his chest.
"Good evening Lady Daeva and to the entire household of Daeva. I bring good tidings and name day wishes from the palace of great King Egan Tanwyn and Queen Aslaug and the entire royal household. The king and queen extends their apologies for missing your soiree as they are making preparations for the festival of the moon goddess and the celebration of their union" The man spoke with lots of timbre in his voice. He clapped his hands twice and then two people came from the carriage carrying basketfuls of jewels and fine silks.
"They sent this gifts to you in celebration and also wishes to invite you to the palace for the ceremonial ball in honor of the moon goddess" The man handed Grandma Daeva a sealed envelope that contained the invite. The man further assured the others present that their invitations would be dispatched by morning and with this he and the gift bearing men, got into the carriage and took off still blaring their trumpets.
Grandma Daeva had her sons carry the gifts inside the house and carried on with the party. Amora had never seen anything so grand in her entire life. She thought herself to be lucky. In the human world, she was comfortable with her mother and here her real family was one of the richest in the land.
The party soon ended and the last of the guests were leaving. The brownies cleaned up the kitchen and packed up.
"Thank you for coming Finnegan, I am most happy to have had you cater for my soiree" Grandma Daeva said to the head brownie chef who was grinning from ear to ear receiving the praises being showered by the matriarch.
The brownies packed up and with one swoosh disappeared into thin air.
"Ah that indeed was a good one" Grandma said as she opened a portal and stepped inside, going straight to her chambers instead of taking the stairs. Yes she was that tired.
Amora, Bloom and Aquata helped Lady Sereia and Lady Olette put everything back in order.
"We really should hire servants" Lady Olette joked.
"It's a big house with lots of children,so why servants?" Amora asked.
"Most nobles have servants" Bloom replied. Bloom's parents had allowed her stay with the Daevas for the night. Blossom her sister had tried to tag along but Bloom wouldn't let it.
"Not this noble family Bloom, we are different" Sereia said quite calmly as she placed the giant vase where it was supposed to stand.
Meanwhile, in Quintina and Anan's chambers, Aither was giving her a tough time. She was trying to get the hyperactive air elemental to settle down. That was one negatives of the air elementals. Whenever air elementals were at Aither's age, they are difficult to control and that stage was often called the "Whirlwind age" and Aither was one big hurricane not even a whirlwind.
"Aither please stop doing that. Come take off your garments and go to bed" she said sounding very tired and panting from running after him with her big belly. Aither finally went to her and she immediately clamped some bracelet into his skin. Aither let out a defeaning cry as the bracelet touched his skin and grew hot as his mother casted a binding spell on it.
"Come on now my love, that was harsh" Anan spoke as he came in hearing the boy's cry. Aither ran to him face stained with tears.
"He needs to be tamed Anan, I can't keep running after him in my condition" she said as she began to take off her jewelries and garments. Anan put Aither to sleep in the bed next to theirs and began to help his wife undress. Quintina felt a sharp pain in her stomach and flinched a little and then she saw water running down her legs.
"What is it my love?" Anan asked as he saw her squeeze her face in pain.
"Mother! Get Mother! The child is coming" Quintina yelled as she held her waist and tried to walk but the pain only worsened. "Motherrrrr!" She yelled and that woke Aither who immediately began to cry.
"Quick fetch some clothes. Sereia, Aquata, Cascade draw water from the stream into the bath" Olette ordered. Amora had never seen a woman in labour and this was looking like a lot of work.
"Breathe my love breathe" Anan held his sweating wife. For the first time, Amora saw Lilith helping in a genuine way. She was still wearing her black dress from the soiree but she was helping, placing warm clothes on Quintina's face.
"Heat up the water Ulanni" Lilith said to Amora who had forgotten that it was her duty to heat up the water when it got cold. She immediately placed her hands into the water and with a red glow the water began to heat.
"Not so hot you fool" Lilith cussed. Amora couldn't handle the sight. She immediately left the room breathing heavily.
Bloom had to take care of the little ones who were now wide awake, curious and Evander and Aither crying for their mothers.
"Hush now little ones, everything is going to be alright" she said trying to comfort them but it wasn't working.
Grandma Daeva cast a spell to summon a white crow. Amora had never seen a white crow, but here she was seeing one being summoned.
"Go get Olga" the lady said and the bird disappeared.
"Mother hot! I need air, I need to go out ahhhhhhhh" Quintina screamed. Easton immediately put a hex on the bed she was laying and sent it outside into the garden gently. Easton had to be in charge of keeping his brothers and his brother in-law with him while the women and older girls, helped to make sure everything goes well.
Olga, a dark skinned lady with long grey locs and a face and skin like that of a forty year old woman. Amora could tell that she was older than she appeared just like her grandmother. Amora got to know that Olga was a hundred and ten years old. Amora further learned from Bloom that Olga was a breed of naturite and a healer and had her way with plants making her one of the most powerful naturites in the entire Vadina. Olga's family was rumored to have been blessed by Ainoa the goddess of fertility with the knowledge of birthing and helping pregnant women.
"When I finish from the learning halls, I hope to become Olga's apprentice and become like her" Bloom said to Amora and Aquata as they watched the scene in front of them.
"How do these people look so young?" She asked herself.
There was a strong breeze now and it seemed like it was going to rain.
"Quick, everyone space out I need space" Olga instructed. "I only want the Lady Daeva and two of you" she pointed to Lady Olette and Lady Sereia. The rain was beginning to drop now.
"Lilith I am going to need you to divert the rain or hold it " Grandma Daeva said to Lilith. Lilith wanted to protest but the older lady shut her up with a do-as-you-are-told look.
Grandma Daeva conjured a white dome over the yelling Quintina,Olga, herself, Sereia and Olette. She gave Lilith a look to go ahead with the rain.
Lilith's eyes grew white and then black as she looked up and then there was white light around her as she conjured all the dark clouds in one place and held it in place while her eyes went from dark to white to dark again as she intensified her holding strength.
"Oh by the gods I shall not have anymore children" Quintina cried out in pains.
"hush now child, do not bring curses upon yourself. This is the joy of motherhood. Now I urge you Quintina daughter of Daeva, with the strength of your mother and women in your lineage, push your child. You have to birth your child" Olga urged the sweating and crying lady.
Quintina yelled and pushed but nothing was happening. Lightening was beginning to flash through the black clouds Lilith was holding together. Amora noticed that Lilith began to absorb the lightening and groan like the cloud was beginning to weigh her down.
" Oh I can't, I can't . I am tired" Quintina cried.
"Push my child, you are almost there" Grandma Daeva urged her daughter. Quintina's dress was soaked in blood and sweat as she pushed. Sereia and Olette cleaned her face as she pushed. Bloom and Aquata were trying to keep the children quiet as they cried. Amora closed her eyes and made silent prayers for Quintina.
"I can't hold on any longer" Lilith groaned. "Try harder Thora, Try" That was Easton, Lilith's father urging her to hold on.
With one last and final push, the baby came out and began to cry.
"Oh thank you! Oh praise be to Ainoa" Grandma Daeva sang. The baby had been born a few minutes to midnight which meant the baby was sharing the same name day with her. The dome disappeared as Olga handed the baby to her tired mother.
"Oh it's a girl! A pretty girl the prettiest I've ever seen" Quintina gushed. Anan came and was gushing over the baby too. Lilith was still holding the rain. Olga had everyone go inside the house and that instead, Lilith let go and there was a large storm.
Olga and grandma Daeva performed the after birth rites where a spell was casted, drawing out the child's energy to know whether the baby was an elemental, witch, or naturite. As Grandma Daeva and Olga said the last word on the spell, there was a white and black light hovering over the child and then the lights mixed, forming a shining grey light.
"Oh she is a witch and an air elemental" Olga announced and everyone shouted for joy. Quintina held her child closer to her breasts shedding tears of happiness.
The Daeva household dotted on the child till the next morning. They really couldn't sleep. They kept cooing and gushing at the beautiful baby.
"What do we call her? Anan asked his wife.
" Aethra Evera Erjon" Quintina replied and kissed the baby girl.