Christopher and Steven make their way up the long staircase to Xavier and Violet’s home, and knock upon the large metal door. Violet soon opens it, and leads the two into the dining area. A steaming roast of some sort of exotic beast lay upon the table, with fresh mushrooms, and a bottle of dark elvin wine beside the fragrant dish. Christopher’s hazel eyes light up, as he gazes upon the aromatic feast and the bottle of black cherry wine.

“Please sit down my good friends. This will be our last meal together for what I fear, will be a very long time.” Violet slowly rests beside Xavier, and flinches suddenly, crying out and seems to be in some sort of pain. Xavier kneels down beside her and rubs his wife’s lower back as he has done for many weeks now, to ease the constant pains she has encountered. Violet breathes a sigh of relief as the throbbing eases from her lower back with the loving hands unknotting her tense muscles.

“Thank you again my love. The pain seems to be getting worse, as the baby grows inside of me.” A look of concern washes over Xavier’s face, and he worries that this is a bad sign for his wife and their child. He has seen the other women and none have had these episodes.

“You’ll have to take it a bit easier now Violet. You are only six months through your pregnancy, and must not push yourself so much. You have to think of our child!” Xavier knows that it is almost impossible with so many of the dark elvin woman pregnant at the same time, for his wife to simply not help. Steven is Xavier’s greatest aid right now, working closely with him, hunting and providing daily for the small city, and knows that the task will be his alone when the old ranger leaves for Silvinesh. Xavier will miss the Silvinesh elf, more than Steven could ever know.

“Steven, is there not some way for me to change your mind about leaving us? At least until spring, then, once the children are born, we can both leave together, and find this fabled exit into Drakonbech?” Steven shakes his head, and only wishes he had the time. Steven would have gladly stayed forever, in the world he has slowly come to call home, but it is simply beyond his ability to do so. He must leave now, or perish.