A New Morning

[Airen]

The morning sun beamed in through the small hut window, warming Airen's back. His eyes fluttered open to find a to small eyes peeking over his bed. "Daddy?" a soft young voice said, "I'm hungry!" The small eyes blinked then continued to stare innocently. Airen couldn't help but smile.

Airen kissed Elena softly on the forehead and slipped out of bed. "Alright little man," he said to Abel, "Let's see what we can find you to eat." he picked his son up and carried him to the kitchen. He sat him at the table and put a bowl of creamy grain in front of him.

"You know what tomorrow is, don't you?" Airen asked Abel with a smile.

"It's my birthday!" Abel answered excitedly.

"It is?" Airen answered suprisingly.

"Yep, I'll be three years old,"

"Wow, my little man is growing up quick." Airen smiled and rubbed Abel's head joyfully.

[Emora Deen]

Elena was still very sound a sleep when Airen kissed her forehead. Her subconscious acknowledged that somewhere in the back of her mind she was being touched, but a stronger part of her was too comfortable to wake up. The sun was warm, and she liked that. Her eyes fluttered open after a little bit longer, and she stretched her arm across the bed for her husband, who of course was not there. Instead she took the pillow and hugged it to her. She stretched across the bed on her stomach, closing her eyes for a moment. Faintly she heard the sound of laughter, and it she smiled into the pillow as her eyes fluttered open once again.

She nearly refused to get out of bed. It was warm in the sunlight, and nice to sleep in every once in a while. But, there were things to be done, and a son to take care of. So Elena reluctantly drew herself from the bed, grabbing the cotton robe from the rocking chair near the fireplace. Winter had set in, but the sun was warm, which spoke that the day would not be so frigidly cold. It would probably be tollerable. "Who is that I hear?" Elena called as she brushed her curly blond hair and pulled it back into a loose braid.

[Airen]

"Hey mommy," Abel said as he finished off his grain. "Daddy said he has a special surprise for my birthday tomorrow."

Airen smiled and looked at Elena. "Good morning, beautiful. How did you sleep?" A soft cool breeze whisped through the window, filling the room with the salty, yet delightful, smell of the sea.

[Emora Deen]

Elena lifted the back of her hand in front of her mouth as she yawned. "Well," she replied as she came up to her sun and ruffled his hair. "A surprise, huh?" she asked him as she bent and kissed his soft cheek. "That sounds really fun. Maybe we can tickle the information out of him later?" She gave her sun a big hug, smiling as she did so. Her heart filled with warmth and love whenever she looked at him, but a sadness as well. It was how she had looked at her other son at one time, one she didn't want to remember. Sadly, in some way, she still loved him too.

"We need to go into town today and restock the pantry," she told Airen with a smile. "I don't have anything to bake the c. a. k. e. with."

[Airen]

Airen stood up and stretched. "Alright," he replied. "We'll go in a little bit." He stepped out on the porch and peered out across the glistening water. Ighten really was a beautiful place. The life was so much easier now that he and Elena had settled down and left there darkened past behind them.

He poked his head back inside the door and waved the two inside to him, "Come here," he insisted energetically. Abel rushed out to him and Airen lifted him up into his arms. "Look," He pointed out into the water where a massive sea creature leaped from the water.

"Ohhh!!! What is it daddy?" Abel asked in amazement.

"That is a whale." The enormous beast sank back beneath the water as it's tail rose up above the surface splashing as it followed. Airen pulled Elena close to him placing his hand around her waist.

[Emora Deen]

Elena laughed at how excited Abel was, and she couldn't help but be a little excited herself. "Well, I think the whale had a good idea about sinking into the ocean again," Elena replied as a cold gust a wind blew in. She shivered and pressed closer to Airen's warm body. "Let's go back in where its warm!" She laughed and kissed him on the cheek.

"Mommy its not that cold!" Abel replied with a grin.

[Airen]

Airen buttoned his shirt and grabbed his sword. He looked at the flawless blade. Then sat it back on it's on the mount the was nailed to the wall. Everything that had happened with Elena, his father, their son, and everyone else along for the ride on his dark quest seemed like so long ago. He shook the thoughts from his head and went back into the kitchen where he found Elena and Abel laughing and playing.

"Everyone ready?" he said with a sincere smile.

[Emora Deen]

Elena had wrapped her son in his coat so he'd be warm as they made there way into town. The winter wind was chilly, but the air wasn't so bad. She pulled her cloak about herself and slipped her boots on. "Are you ready Abel?" she asked him with a smile as she ruffled his hair. He nodded as he leaped at her, and she wrapped her arms about her sun, lifting him up. "Oh, your getting so big!"

Abel's childhood was much more fun for her to enjoy. He did not grow at the speed that his brother had. His brother had grown so fast that his childhood had passed him by. Which probably had aided him into becoming a cruel adult... and the fact that he was essentially a reincarnation of a demon fire god. Her thoughts suddenly turned sour, but she shook it off as Abel smiled at her again. "Okay, Daddy, lets go," she told Airen, flashing her violet eyes at him.

[Airen]

Airen's past rushed over him as Elena and his eyes met. He remembered how nervous he was the day he had met her. Butterflies fluttering about in his stomach. He couldn't stop a smile from running across his face.

"I'm ready," he replied as he walked by, grabbed her hand, and led her out the door.

[Emora Deen]

The smell of the ocean traveled inland to the small town that sat neatly tucked next to the ocea. Peers spread out with ships, and the streets were filled with people. Merchants had opened their shops and pulled out their carts. They moved about fluently, and merrily, despite the threat of coming war. Arken had invaded Hepian, burned it to a cinder... and all the while those to the south seemed completely unmoved by the occurances. Maybe they thought the war would stop before it reached them?

"Fish! Fish! Fresh fish!" A voice called in the distance.

"Pastries? Would you like to try a pastry?"

A jumble of yelling that usually startled Abel, he seemed quietly amused with it that morning. He smiled at his mother and father, and she lifted him into her arms and kissed his cheek.

[Airen]

Airen strolled through the ruckus with fluid movements and a giant pearly white smile that radiated confidence. He led his family along the busy streets, stopping at various shops to look around.

The warm sun beamed down through the cool breeze that blew in form the water. Airen's small vanished and he cringed slightly. The cool breeze had shifted into an icy wind. The direction was no longer coming from the ocean but rather from farther inland. The rustling street seemed to freeze to a halt. This wasn't right.

Airen turned to his family and pulled them close. He tried to push away the wave of images of his mother that flooded back to him with the cold air. Abel's lip shriveled and shook as fear rose in him. Airen calmed his son and held him between himself and Elena. He wasn't sure what was about to happen, but he knew it wouldn't be good.

[Emora Deen]

Elena's eyes flickered to Airen as she rested her cheek against Abel's. "What's going on?" she asked him in a whisper, wondering why he had stopped short, and why he seemed so bothered. All she could tell was that the wind had changed directions, and to her annoyance, seemed colder than it had been a moment ago. The wind tossed her curly blond hair, and she swallowed hard, looking down the path they'd just come from.

[Airen]

Shadow crept over the land, as a ghostly figure appeared down the heavily traveled path. The villagers and traders all hid behind their carriages and mobile shops. Airen pushed Elena and Abel behind him, placing himself between the dark spirit and his family.

A chilling whisper washed across the air causing some of the people to screech in fear. The spirit was speaking but in a tongue unknown to Airen. He had seen some dark things in his days, but this creature struck a fear in him that he had never known.

'What is this thing,' he pondered to himself. ' Should I speak to it? Would it understand me?' He stiffened as a icy chill ran up his spine. He couldn't show fear to this demon. He never showed fear. Fear was weakness. Was the fear for himself or his family. It had to be for his family.

The ghastly figure floated closer but in no rush.

[Emora Deen]

"Airen," Elena breathed, gripping the back of his shirt. "Airen... lets go. Please... Lets go." Abel was starting to cry, and she took her hand from Airen's clothes to smooth his head. "Shh... Close your eyes, baby... It will be okay. Nothing is going to hurt you." Her violet eyes flashed to whatever was standing in front of them, moving closer, and she'd do anything it took to keep her son safe.