Cetcily awoke three days later, glancing out of the window she saw the gentle falling snow, she was calm, at peace with the world. Her hands protectively stroked her ‘pregnant’ belly… She tried sitting up, but pain wrecked riddles through her, and the memory of giving birth invaded her tranquility!

“Theo!” She called out with worry evident in her voice! She could hear running footsteps from down the hallway before she could register Theo throwing the door open, barging into her room.

“Cet!” He looked at her panic glazing over his eyes with tears. His first thoughts were that she came to bleeding again, his attempt at saving her further away…

“Where is she?” She asked freaking out, trying to lift herself out of bed! Afraid she might have lost the child, not able to remember much.

“She’s fine, she’s sleeping!” Theo sighed a sigh of relieve going to sit beside her, holding her hand.

“She’s safe. Beautiful and healthy, at least healthy by Elf and Human standards… I’ll bring her to you.” His smile was warm, a breath of fresh air to her, she was pleased to know that this man was as accepting of her, an Elf… She hesitated for a moment on whether to tell him her secrets… Not yet... She eased her head into her pillow. Either way she was sure she could trust Theo, and even Tay, but... How would she tell them?

It was then she remembered the Prince, he ought to be a King now, she shrugged. What if he too after learning she wasn’t Human was as accepting as Theo had been? She would never know now…

Theo stepped back into her room holding a fragile baby in his arms.

“She’s exceptionally special.” He told her as she took noticed of the scales beneath the blanket on her dear baby’s neck and the protruding bulbs behind her ears that have yet to tear through the infant’s skin.

“A Halfling with the strangest features, I know you have secrets Cet, and I won’t ask if you’re not ready to tell, but tell me at least if I should be concerned about her scales?” He asked curious to know if she had an answer, and she did.

“I guess there is no better time than now to explaine... It is because of my father, he was part Dragoon, an ancient race that had vanished during the war, and knowledge of them gone from all of our history there’s nothing more I know about him except that he and my mother used forbidden magic to seal me in time. The Fairy and Nymph blood in my veins has been able to keep the drastic characteristic of the Mer-People, the Dragoon and Harpies from showing in me, but she has… A Human’s blood in her that rendered some of the Nymphs and Fairies’ Gifts null.” She smiled gracefully at the baby in her arms as she told Theo the rest of her story, leaving no details out.

“This is the first I have heard you speak of the rest of your origins! But she has none of the trades of the Mer-People other than the scales; which, if I understand, could be from the Dragoons!” Theo looked skeptically at Cetcily, not sure how to process the information, but not doubting her at all. If at all, Cet could see he was non the less loving of her. Slowly Cetcily lifted the soft scales around her girl’s neck, so as not to harm her, knowing that it could hurt her slightly by doing this, and so gills were revealed to Theo.

“Extraordinary!” His amazement not hidden at all behind his aging wise features.

“Do you think she will be able to speak telepathically as you and the other Fair-Folk?” He asked. Cet having told him how the Fair people communicate telepathically, and how Elves aren’t actually “Fair” Folk, and that Elves can only learn the Tongues of the Fair Folk if taught. Telepathically was a special kind of magic bestowed upon the care givers of the world that no Elf or Human… Or Dragoon could use.

“Perhaps, I can’t say for sure what natural Magic she might have inherited. Not even I have telepathy, though a tolerance against extreme cold and hot temperatures I've not noticed anything exceptional about myself at all...” She enlightened him. But she clicked her tongue!

"Well except for Transformation and Summoning Magic." She clicked her tongue, how could she have forgotten, in the months past she had limited her use in Magic, not wanting to draw more attention to herself, if at all there were people who could sense Aura and Magic accuratly.

Theo didn't even seem surprised by this bit of information, perhaps becuase anything she has told him or still needed to tell him, was surprising! He nodded in understanding, having been told before by Gypsies that there existed Magic outside of the elements! He though was more interseted in the set Magic that the Fair Folk possesed that came to be a natural 'trait' to them.

Some examples from the Mer-People alone were, the healing properties of their tears, and the drinking of their blood that prolonged other beings’ lives! As well as being able to withstand extreme cold enviroments due to natural attributes to wind and water.

“I sense such strong presence of Mana surrounding her, her Aura... And her Magic..." Cet was fearful of how this will be preceived if ever someone was to find out!

"It will be… Magnificent!” Theo reasured her.

"Will you tell Tay about Asha?" Theo asked, not knowing what was going through this new mother's mind.

"Perhaps, I sont know... I want to, but..." She hesitated, a thousand reason not to tell anyone else listing itself!

“I can feel that something is differnt about her, and I fear the others will too! Theo, they aren’t as accepting as you! They’ll avoid her like a plague!” Tears filled her eyes, but she dared not spill them.

“It doesn’t matter! As long as she has you to love her, and I, her grandfather!” He tucked a long strand of brown hair behind Cetcily’s Elven ears.

“Thank you Theo!” She craddled Asah in her arms, taking peace in marveling her baby girl.

All while Tay stood outside listening intently, tears staining her cheeks. An unknown fear growing inside of her.