She stepped out from the room and nodded. "I had to make sure he was OK." Brushing past him, she went outside. She came up short and he bumped into her.
A woman flung her arms around Elunara. "Thank you so much!"
"Uh, you're welcome?"
Lucy kissed her on the cheek. "I got a job at the tannery!" She squeaked. "Oh, I'm having so much fun. It's really quite fascinating. So, now I'm an apprentice! And it's all thanks to you." She kissed her other cheek. "Maybe next, you can help Terica find something that interests her!"
Elunara laughed. "I'm glad it's working out for you. I was just headed down to speak with Grogek."
Lucy blinked a couple of times before looking up. "Oh, that's not Grogek." She put her hands to her red cheeks. "You were busy. I'm so sorry for interrupting you."
"Nah. It's not that. Someone tried to take Bradly, Charnak here brought him back to me."
"Oh no! How horrible!"
"Yeah, we can discuss it more later, I have to speak to Grogek."
"Yes, yes of course, I'll let you get back to it." She ran off.
"What was that about?" He hesitated. "If I may ask?"
"Lucy has been having trouble finding her place in town. I've been having people let her try their trade in order for her to learn something that interests her. I don't believe in anyone being stuck in a job they hate. They must find their place, or leave."
"The more I learn about you, the more my heart fills." He ran his hand down her back. "You are a wise and benevolent leader, who loves her people. Your rage is endless and your power great, yet you show them kindness and love."
She made her way down to the training yard and stood on the side, waiting for Grogek to finish what he was doing. He raised an eyebrow and meandered on over to Elunara.
He deliberately kissed her. "Yes, my love?"
"A man, hired by that bitch Barbara tried to take Bradly."
Grogek growled.
"Charnak was able to intercede the man and killed him before he could get off a portal."
Grogek considered Charnak. "You have returned our son to us. For that, I am grateful."
Jordan jogged up. "What's going on?"
"Charnak saved Bradly from an attempted kidnapping."
Jordan's eyes grew large. "Oh, Gods, how is he doing?"
"He and Darguni are in their room with Lydia. He's shaken up, but doing well."
Jordan put a hand on Charnak's shoulder. "Thank the Gods for you."
Elunara nodded. "Yes, I am incredibly grateful. This... alters things." She spied the kids and gestured. "Excuse me." She left them there to go to the kids. Bradly was shifting his eyes back and forth.
"Honey, you can't be afraid your whole life." She stooped down and brushed her fingers through his hair.
"I'm trying to not be, Momma."
"I know you feel awful right now. Once before? I was kidnapped too. I was taken to a faraway place, covered in ice, and locked in a tent with no way out. Darguni was only about six months old. I was scared, tired and I desperately wanted my husband and baby. But I didn't give up. I was smart and resourceful. Yes, it was painful. Yes, it was disgusting and awful. But you have to keep your head on in those situations. I'll teach you how. I'll teach all three of you how. Besides, I saved Zelinnia. Even when captured myself, I still managed to save someone else. You can do great things too, my little love."
"You think so?"
"Sweetheart, you have a capacity that is far beyond anything you can imagine. It's the same for all three of you." She brushed the hair back on all three faces. "I will teach you. You see how well Lydia can run now. I'll help lead you down the path of the just."
The three of them wrapped their arms around her at the same time and she laughed as she fell on her ass.
"Alright, come on, get off of me. I'll hurt you, don't think I won't." She warned.
They giggled as they climbed off of her.
"We love you, Momma." They both cried at once.
"Um..." Lydia put her hands behind her back and dug the toe of her shoe in the dirt. "Can I love you too?"
Elunara stroked the child's hair. "You can do anything you want, Darling. Don't ever let anyone tell you different."
Lydia leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "I love you." She whispered, before turning and running after the boys. She stumbled, and Darguni caught her. She blushed up at him.
"Well, they're well on their way." Elunara laughed.
"My body swells with emotion every time I am near her." Charnak murmured.
Jordan smacked him on the shoulder. "Welcome to the club, buddy."
"Elunara tends to cause that kind of a reaction." Grogek grinned. "Welcome to the fold, for we are legion. So long as she wishes to call you as such."
Elunara stood up and wiped her butt off. She straightened her spine and marched over. "We have not finished our discussion." She turned and walked away.
He scrambled to keep up with her, as Jordan and Grogek grinned at each other.
"I just wonder if we're going to have to make room in the house." Jordan snirked.
"He could have not found a better way into her heart."
"Or ours, for that matter." Jordan snorted.
"Yes, saving one of our children is the best way to do it. I wonder if it was a true leap of heroism, or if this fell in his lap and he took it." Grogek tapped his foot.
"Elunara will out all lies."
"Only she will know how to fit him in." Grogek stretched his back out. "Though it would be nice to have another helping to train our men."
Jordan snorted. "He's got an army to worry about."
"You know, I've been very angry with you." She rounded on him the moment they stepped through the barrier. "I am the one in charge." She shoved a finger into his chest. "I call the shots, I'm the one who's on top of things. I am the one who dominates, who tells YOU what to do. You don't do as I say, I get EXTREMELY pissed off." She jabbed him several times. "If I tell you NO, then you LISTEN to ME."
"Yes my goddess, forgive me... I... I should not have..."
She laid her hand on his chest and stood on her toes. "I want to be the one who says what stays and what goes." She got close to his face. "I want to be the one to do something first." She stared at his mouth. She dropped back down on to her feet. "You saved my son today. If you did it by accident, or if you set out to do something to impress me, you have." She put both hands on the sides of his face. "I am grateful. She went back on her toes and brushed her mouth against his.
He leaned forward and pressed his mouth to hers. His hands came around her hips, and he slid his hands upwards. He was slow and methodical; savoring this moment on the off chance she changed her mind. He would have this one moment of beauty to himself. He spoke to her in his own language.
She laughed and ran a finger along his lower lip. "Usually when Grogek says that, I tease him for going sentimental on me." It was a cruel slap, but one she had to know his response to.
"It's fascinating how much like my brother I truly am." He murmured, forehead pressed to hers, as he ran his hands up and down her back and ass. "When I found out my brother had been captured by... off worlders, I thought he had gone soft and worthless. If he could not free himself from your clutches, he was as good as dead to me. Who would have thought that I would come here to slay him, and find a great warrior goddess instead?"
She laughed. "Is that so?"
He brushed his hands down her arms. "Now I find myself envious of him and all that he has. I want you in my bed, and I want to make love to you. I want you to teach me all that you claim I lack."
"I've shared my bed with hundreds of men. And I'll share my body again with hundreds more. Can you handle that? Can you look them in the face and know that they are mere amusements to me? Can you be one of my champions without using it against my toys?"
"I will do anything to please my goddess." He breathed.
"You must understand that I need them. I feed off of them. No matter how much you try to give me, I will always crave more. If you discourage even a single one..."
"No, my goddess. Never. Grogek is always your number one; Jordan is always your number two. I will never take their place. All I beg for... is a small section."
"Fine then, I will allow it."
He grabbed her up by the waist and spun her around. "I'll never make you regret it."
She laughed softly. "Put me down, dippy. We must walk into camp with dignity."
He sat her on the ground. "Dippy?"