The Season of Gold: Elfen Gold

A Child Is Born

"Gather round, children, gather near. This tale nags at me to be told. If you tarry, then you've only you and you alone to blame when you become confused. Come, come, children. Do not dally. My old bones creak and moan their protests, begging me to begin."

Settling about him, their tiny faces eager, and their eyes bright with anticipation, they wait. They know he is about to begin yet another tale filled with beings which no longer roam the earth, and visit places only lived within one's dreams. They lean in close as he begins his whispery dialogue. As one, they close their eyes, trying to capture the images as his voice draws them easily into another time.

"And so," he proclaimed. "It begins...."

...Ar-Ion paced back and forth within the Great Hall, each step echoing loudly into the deafening silence. His thoughts were clouded, his fears rampant.

Wringing his hands, he turned and paced the length of the hall yet again. He dare not stop to allow his mind free rein. It was either pace or stand about like an ancient artifact that had long since outlived all usefulness ' and so he paced.

He heard the soft swish of the inner doors swinging open. He looked up. A court herald stepped into view, and with a sharp snap of his heels said, "My lord, please forgive this intrusion, but Captain Ra-Nu has insisted I announce him."

Ar-Ion nodded. "My Captain is to be the only one I shall see this eve. I will tolerate no further intrusions. None, save for news of my mate. Is that understood "

"Aye, my lord."

"Now, leave me, and forget not my wishes."

With a backward wave of his hand, Ar-Ion returned to his pacing.

Ra-Nu stood forgotten inside the door portal. He noted the worried frown marring Ar-Ion's youthful face ' aging it. He wondered if this was perhaps how Ar-Ion would appear in two hundred phasings or more.

Ra-Nu had been Ar-Ion's companion and personal guardian for as long as he could recall. They'd been nearly inseparable in their youth, and even now, managed to maintain the strong bond forged so many phasings past.

King Ar-Hur, Ar-Ion's grandfather, had ruled then. Ar-Ion's father and Ar-Hur's only