The Heart of Barley

"My cup runneth over...."

Helena carefully balanced the newborns in her arms, and breathed out. This time when Helena went into seclusion word was shared that finally her twins had been born. The birth had been quick, with Lorna grinning and laughing along with each, Ulrich present at the birth, both assisting and greeting his newborns. Artemis stood beside her mother, Albrecht content in Ulrich's arms and Ayla thumb in her mouth and clinging to her mother's skirts, all surrounded their parents as they announced the names of their twin daughters. Helena offered a worn but warm smile, "My cup runneth over..." and grinned at those that had gathered, Lorna winking at her, smirking at her oldest friend, proud of what she had endured, and still was. "We have all seen seven moons and sunrises together, mayhaps even more, I have lost track now." and laughed softly, "The goddess herself has granted my final yet another gift, two daughters." and because of busy arms, she allowed Artemis and Ayla to assist. First Artemis stepped forward, drawing the black line made of ocher down the bridge of the first of her twin sisters. Helena thanked her quietly, before calling out, "Twins..." and heard a few oohs and ahhs, and Ayla stepped forward to draw a line made of red ocher across her forehead. "My first...Ulrich and I have named her Ashrah...for we have been blessed and fortunate to have been chosen as her parents..." and peered into the face of her daughter, sleeping restfully against her, little milk bubbles at the corner of her tiny mouth, her hair was already visible, a warm ruddy hair of auburn that matched Artemis', Ayla's and Ulrich's, and then there was her smaller twin. Once Artemis had drawn that black line down her second twin's tiny nose, and Ayla followed with the red line across her forehead, she beamed at her little girls, thanking them, and then peered back at her teensy twin. "She has been given the name of Astrea..." and held her close as Astrea let out a small whimper and was carefully wrapped her back up. Unlike her other children with Ulrich, Astrea's hair was a bright cherry red, and was far tinier than any of her others. Holding her close, she thanked those that had gathered, and welcomed the clapping, the small gifts the people she loved brought to her newest babes. She had even been asked if she wanted more, and Helena laughed, "I have three little ones underfoot, not yet even a tooth in their mouths. The goddess has given with both hands...for that I am grateful."

Alden did not know how time had passed so quickly, and now that their twins were nearing two moons old, he had decided on sharing the news with his family. The psychic connection between himself and Alynne had been how he initially wanted to share the news of Daphne having brought their latest bairn into the world. Yet, to please Daphne, he had had missives created, and quietly, Alden made the official announcement of their twins, their sweet boy Oliver, already so curious and pale-haired, just like his mother, and their newest daughter, Ivy...their gift from the goddess herself. He could have been replete, but everyday that followed, he thanked Daphne for bringing so much precious life into their world.

Their love, witnessed by the majority of the Parker family and a collection of Exene's chosen sisters. Lorna officiating, Juliette standing with her, the union between Eris and Exene was bound into its truest knot.

Daphne and Alden’s Triplets as adults - Xavier Samuel is Roark, Anya Taylor Joy is Rivka and Luke Eisner is Rickard

It was in a moment of warmth and closeness, as Helena and Ulrich kept on with their plans, preparing for the eventual births of their own twins when they were alerted. The Wolves of Hillside had been warned by the Wolves of the Stony Hills & Oxbow Lakes that an intruder wandered. A rogue wolf, hellbent on righting a wrong. Gabriel, a wolf of the Stony Hills found himself talking with the Golden Wolf Bast, sharing the news the rogue wolf was giving chase to another wolf, a female at that. Even before Helena could waddle to the scene, and Ulrich hurry on, they saw the scene before them. With Arendt joining them he stood with his mother, protecting her as well. The rogue wolf viciously attacking the female wolf, teeth clamped about her neck, cutting off the last breath from her and was felled. Protected by Ulrich, he had tried to keep her from the bloody scene, where the wolves of Hillside also took to fight and end the interloper and murderous wolf's life with Bast claiming the rogue wolf's liver, re-instating his alpha status amongst the pack. Unable to stand by, Helena approached the fallen she-wolf and found her gone. With tears rimming her eyes, she cast a blessing over her, "Find peace my lady…" she whispered. She quick made arrangements to have her brought to the Healing Ward of the Morning Light, when she heard a soft whimper. A babe, far too small, but begging for warmth. His mother's last act was to protect him, leaving him in the dense brush. Helena hugged the newborn, still wet from the sac to the heat of her body and walked behind Arendt who now carried the fallen mother, wrapped in his cloak. Arendt had worried. His own mother was heavy with his new brothers or sisters in her belly, and now, there was a newborn babe, with no one to claim him and he balked, immediately apologizing for his inability to care for a newborn, just yet. He was not reprimanded, but Helena smiled to him, placing a reassuring hand on his arm, "My sweet boy, you have done enough, I would not ask it of you." When the babe was handed over to Ulrich, what little whimpers of protest settled, comforted not only by the heat of Ulrich's body, but by the scent of him. Helena worked delicately, talking to the fallen mother and washing her clean, reiterating the child would be safe and just how beautiful he was. Readying her for her final journey to her funeral pyre, she cried for her. "May the mother watch over you, may the stranger be kind at your sacrifice." and kissed her forehead. Ulrich and herself washed the babe, already besotted with him, she glanced to Ulrich, trying to sweeten him up, "He likes you..." The teeny whimpers from the newborn sent her body into response and soon, she felt her milk coming in. Even before he was brought to her breast she knew, despite worrying that Ulrich might find the addition of another newborn to their pack would be too much. Yet, Helena remained undeterred; he was their son. Ulrich eventually acquiesced, reminding her that the little wolf cub would have a far harder road before him, born to be omega to his alpha sister Artemis, and beta sister Ayla, not to mention the babes that still stirred inside her. But he was theirs.

@theheartofbarley

She was summoned and after her curtsy to Aurora she leaned against the door jam. “Ahh and so she finds her natural habitat…”. She walked over to the Princess and hugged Aurora if she would allow it. “I didn’t realize how much I missed ye…what’s this about Thornfield attacking ye?” She noticed her fiancé had not shown yet and she grew solemn. “Are ye allright?” Ella still felt extremely close to Aurora even if they had parted for months now.