Weavespinner

Tarrin hugged Elke first, if only because she got to her children before their father. She hugged him, then hugged Je

"He brought everyone," Kimmie called lightly. "Can we come in too? It's a bit chilly out here, you know!"

Laughing, Elke Kael made room, and they moved aside so the others could enter. Jasana trotted up and jumped into her grandmother's arms, and Elke hugged her warmly before passing her off to Eron. "Jasana!" he said happily. "How's my little kitten?"

"I'm alright, Granpapa," she said with a bright smile. "We're home!"

Elke hugged Jula, whom she knew was Tarrin's bond-daughter, gave Kimmie a light hug, then offered her hand to Mist. She hadn't met Mist, only knew of her from what Je

"This is your grandson, Eron," Mist told her bluntly. "Say hello, Eron."

"Hello, Gramma," he said bashfully.

"And these are your newest grandchildren, Elke," Kimmie said proudly, holding up her bundle. "This is Tara, and Mist is holding Rina. They're your granddaughters."

Elke turned down the blanket and looked at Tara 's tiny little face, and her eyes simply melted when she saw the infant. "Oh," she said breathlessly. "She's beautiful, Kimmie!"

"They're identical, so when you see one, you've seen them both," Kimmie winked.

"Rubbish!" Elke said. "Let me see my other granddaughter, Mist!"

Mist laughed and presented the baby to her as Eron, with Jasana in his arms, came over and looked at Tara. Tarrin picked up Eron, Triana and Jula gathered in with Jesmind and Je

"We're home, Grandpa!" Jasana said again happily.

"How long are you going to visit?" Elke asked Je

"No, mother. We are home," he told her. "Everything's been settled, mother. I've come home."

Elke put her hands to her mouth again, then gave him a fierce hug. "I don't know where I'm going to put you all, but we'll find room," she said. "Are your friends staying long?"

"We'll be here for breakfast, mother," he told her. "There's a meadow out in the Frontier that I'm going to claim. About two hours in or so by horse. I'm going to build my house there. Mist and Kimmie have to go back to their own homes. We just wanted stop in and see you before we go."

"And have breakfast!" Je

"And have breakfast," Tarrin chuckled.

And they did just that. Triana had to Conjure the extra food, but Elke cooked it, with Je

"So, you're building a house," Eron said. "Why not stay here a while? We can round up a house-raising party, son. We can have it up in a few days."

"Thanks, father, but this is something I think we should do ourselves," he said. "I'm not building anything big or fancy. We just need a nice cabin with enough room for me and Jesmind and my daughters."

"And I won't be there too long," Jula told them. "I've been given my adulthood by Fae-da'Nar. I'm going to stay with father a while, and when I'm sure they're settled in, I'll be moving on."

"Well, that's nice to hear, girl," Elke told her. "Does this mean that everything's said and done, son?"

He nodded. "It's all over, mother. The day for the Firestaff came and went, and we're all still here. That's all that was needed. It won't be a problem for five thousand years. I think it's going to take me that long to recover from this," he admitted ruefully.

"Papa died," Jasana blurted. "But the shining lady brought him back again."

"Jasana!" Jesmind snapped.

"You didn't say I couldn't tell them," she said flippantly.

"You what?" Elke gasped.

"Well, it's technically true," he admitted sheepishly. "It's a long story."

"And you're not leaving this house until you tell it!" Elke said flatly, slamming down her tankard of water on the table.

More or less obliged to do so, Tarrin sat down and did just that. He told them about Jasana's abduction, and his wild plan to get her back. The others added in what they knew, and it took them most of the morning to tell it. "It was the only way I could pull it off," he said ruefully as he finished telling them about his confrontation with Val, and his using the Firestaff. "I took a huge chance, but it paid off in the end."

"You're as bad as your father!" Elke accused. Then she laughed. "But you're here now, and that's all that matters," she told him with a loving smile.

"I'm glad you're not mad," he smiled.

"I should be, but I'll forgive you this time," she told him.

They helped Elke clean up the dishes, and spent a little while just visiting. Eron and Elke took turns holding the twins and Eron, getting to know their energetic grandson, and Eron only broke two chairs and a pair of dishes as he zoomed around the room frenetically. Je

"My mate, if we want to get home, we should think of heading out," Jesmind warned.

"It is getting late," he agreed, standing up. "So, what do you say, mother, father? Want to come see the future home of your son?"

"I'd love to!" Elke said happily.

"I think I know which meadow you're talking about, son," Eron smiled. "Let me get my winter cloak and my boots."

They let Tarrin's parents get ready, and then they stepped outside. It was midafternoon now, still briskly cold, and still brightly su

"Jula? Where are you going?" Tarrin called.

"I think it's around the back. I don't know, I didn't come through it," she called.

"What are you talking about?"

"Just follow me!" she called.

They started out after her, and when they came around the house, he started sensing something magical. And it was strong. Je

"I think we just found out what Mother didn't do," Tarrin chuckled.

What the Goddess didn't do was create a strange stone arch behind the house, just inside the treeline. It was surrounded by a simple split rail fence that had a gate in it facing the house. The arch screamed of great power. The rather plain stone arch was one solid piece of white granite, some twenty spans high and eight spans wide at its base.

"Here it is," Jula said.

"What is this, Jula?" Triana asked.

"Mother knew you'd want an easy way to get back and forth from your parents' farm. So she made you one. Step through this, and it takes you to the meadow."