Sebastian sat in his tent enjoying the sound of enthused laughter from the children playing outside as he wrote a new union ceremony for his union with Anca. He was shocked when that peace was disturbed by Aberle stumbling into his tent. The intrusion without given permission was one thing, as he was a little embarrassed for Aberle to find Anca asleep in his bed when he hadn't yet informed the Elders of their forthcoming union ceremony. Aberle was so stunned at the sight of Anca there, that he stopped and stared for a full minute before Sebastian demanded his attention by rising from his chair and stepping forward.
"Forgive me friend. A traveling vampire has entered our territory. When challenged by a guard he presented this," Aberle held out his hand, which held a sacred necklace that could only belong to a lycan leader. Sebastian immediately took the necklace and studied it, to ensure it was real before looking at his friend quizzically, asking for an explanation. "He has asked for sanctuary and council with the leader of our clan. What shall I do?"
"He has presented the symbol of peace to us, Aberle. We must acquiesce to his wish. We are within our own land. He is a single traveler We are in no danger at this moment." Sebastian soothed Aberle's worries and handed him back the necklace so he could greet this vampire traveler and invite him to take council with the leader. Once his friend had left his tent, Sebastian turned to look at Anca, lying sleeping peacefully in his bed, after being woken in the night from worry for her son.
She had sensed he was in dire need of shelter from the humans and was starving. It had taken her a few hours to reach out to him, without alarming him, to ensure he was safe. She used their connection to guide him to the nearest village or town, convincing him to take shelter wherever he could and rest. Sebastian hoped she slept well and worried no more for her son, but at that moment, he had more to worry about that Caspar. Drawing a piece of muslin, sewn into the roof of the tent, out of its binds, he drew it across the center of the tent to hide Anca from view of his visitor. He did not wish to wake her and ask her to leave, as if he were ashamed of her and their new relationship. But nor did he wish for any vampire to discover that he had taken a new bride.
A few moments later, Aberle returned with the vampire, leading him into the tent, though they could both see the vampire looked warily around him, before bowing to Sebastian, as was custom.
"I have journeyed far, celebrated leader of lycans, to speak with you. My Master...Damian...Master of the united British clans, unofficial Master of the world of vampires...has sent this note for you in search of peaceful treaty." He explained, remaining in the bowed position, to lower his status amongst the men in the room. It was a courtesy he continued until Sebastian took the offered envelope from him and asked him to sit with him. The three men sat on the floor of the tent, keeping each of them equal to the other as Sebastian quietly and thoughtfully read his letter from Damian. Once he had finished, he raised his eyes to study the vampire curiously.
"What is your name, dear boy?" He asked.
"I am Harrison sir, son of Amelia, sire of Damian. Forgive me, I do not know what to call you as it has been long since we vampires have been aware of lycanthropes." Harrison apologized, bowing his head. He was very much honored that he had been chosen by Clarke for this mission, after having proven so reckless all those years ago and been forced to suffer solitude from others for over two hundred years. Now, his reward for his bravery and facing that adversity was to be Damian's voice to dozens of lycan clans. It was a reward he felt unworthy of and yet, he was even more astounded that the lycan cared enough to ask his name and raised his eyebrows at his lineage.
"Then we are blessed to have you with us Harrison. Your lineage is great indeed. We have heard tales not only of your Master but also of your mother and her great deeds since recovering from her ordeal." Sebastian surprised both Harrison and Aberle, by knowing about Amelia. He showed a knowledge of vampire history that was kept only for lycan clan leaders. He liked Harrison. Explaining his lineage was the vampire custom of explaining who he was. But it also showed respect and proved to Sebastian that Damian had risked sending a very valuable and loved member of his community to treat with him on his behalf.
"You may call me Sebastian, as I know your Master also wishes to be called Damian." He smiled then, seeing that the young man nodded his head with a faint smile of agreement for Damian's strange ways. He took another moment to contemplate the letter he held and the severity of the situation Damian had explained. The simple fact he had sent Harrison to speak with the lycans, rather than an ordinary, expendable soldier was intriguing. It certainly spoke of his faith and his wish for freedom, peace and hospitality between them. "I should very much like to reply to your Masters letter with one of my own. Does this agree with you?" He asked curiously, waiting on Harrison's nod before going back to his seat, that he had occupied just a few moments ago. He wrote a brief letter for the young man to take back to his clan.
"I thank you greatly Elder Sebastian. It will please my Master to hear of your hospitality to me. As it will, how greatly received I have been by all the lycan clans I have encountered on my journey. I hope we may find peace between us soon." Harrison expressed his wishes, accepted Sebastian's letter and left with another bow. Sebastian was sure he wouldn't see him again any time soon, unless he returned with Damian. But all the same, he was surprised to hear that the young man had gone to numerous other lycan clans with the same message. Hearing that he had been well treated told Sebastian that the other clans felt as he did...that peace with the vampires was unavoidable if they wished to survive.
-
It was many weeks before Damian received the lycan letters and could rejoice Harrison's safe return. He had been advised to travel carefully, as a human, so he came to no harm from either lycan or human foe. Rumors were spreading of a darkness that crept into villages at night and stole away children and lives from innocent villagers. Damian feared more than ever that humans were rediscovering the creatures of his world.
As soon as Harrison had given his report, of being well treated and handed back the dozen letters he had returned with, he was sent to feed and rest, as Damian digested the news. He was home safely and had been treated well. There was still some respect between the old enemies. That was good to know. Opening one letter after another, he was pleased to see that they all said the same thing. The lycans wanted peace. They made no mention of how great their numbers were, of how they had survived the last scourging of their species, nor of why they had agreed to treat with him. Until he came to a particularly long letter. Most were nothing more than a few lines, accepting his offer of peace talks, until he came to Sebastian's.
Master Damian,
It grieves us to hear of the news your man Harrison has brought to us. We have known of Bran for many years now, as he came to us to learn the ways of our people. For ten years we aided him in every way we knew. Children grew to love and respect him and now he has betrayed us all. There is no way to explain to you the depth of his betrayal, though I feel it is unnecessary, as you must feel this way because of the woman Vairi. My scouts were ordered some weeks ago to deny Bran and his new mate shelter within our clans and access to our territories. He will be alone in the world now, with none to help him hide from the fate he has brought upon his head.
I wish you to know that our numbers are diminished since your time of knowing us. We struggle daily to ensure our survival and there are few now who travel on their coming of age ceremony and find another lycan for their mate. We have resorted in these past years to accepting human mates which, as you know, grieves us.
We are an old people, as are the vampires. We wish for solitude and peace between us all and we accept your generous offer of peace talks. It would be an honor to meet the vampire Master who has surpassed all others of his kind. We shall offer you shelter, food and safety for the length of your stay in our territories and pray that you feel welcome enough to entrust your own safety and that of your family, to our hands.
We anticipate your arrival and the peace we may bring to one another.
Elder Sebastian
Damian smiled at the letter as he placed it onto his desk in wonder. Sebastian was indeed an old soul, as he was himself and thought nothing of betraying their struggles to an old enemy. Damian was glad to see that some Elders still regarded each other with kindness and respect, even if they had been taught their whole lives to hate one another. He felt encouraged by the letters of support from the lycans and knew that it might just be time to bring about a peace previously unknown to both worlds. When his study room door opened and Kaitlin entered with a smile, he couldn't help but return it in hope. The only thing he had cared about since uniting with her was making the world safe enough for her to live in. Soon, he would achieve that long held goal.
"Have the letters shown much promise?" Kaitlin wondered gently as she advanced towards his chair and perched on the arm, softly caressing the base of his neck with her fingers like always. For a moment, he enjoyed the thoughtful, loving gesture and then returned to the topic at hand, knowing full well how she liked to be involved.
"Yes, darling. This one, from an Elder Sebastian, gives us a lot of information that will help us with the other clans. He tells us of troubled times, low numbers and loss of faith. This we can use with the other lycan clans to show that we understand and sympathized with their troubles." Damian realized that all that Sebastian had told him, could be used to gain the other leaders trust and help them understand that they were all in the same situation, struggling to survive. He neither wanted to put the lycans at an advantage or disadvantage that could quickly become dangerous to him and his family.
"He says they have been forced, more often of late, to take in human mates and turn them into a lycan. The numbers are so few it is difficult for the call to avoid uniting those of family, without running out of lycan members to choose from. This also, I believe, we can help with if it comes to such a thing. Our territories are always more full of humans than those the lycans choose. If we can share those territories and be civil with one another we can open up new areas for the call to work within."
Kaitlin couldn't help but smile at Damian's wise choice. It was an excellent idea. Of all the ways he could offer assistance to their clans, giving them a solution that would raise their numbers and open up more territories to them was the safety and wisest. Then they might realize he was trying to truly help them, not put them in a situation where he could take the upper hand.
"That would be beneficial to us both. If indeed they accept the truce and if war with the humans ever comes, their growing numbers could only help us. It would be wise to offer this as a bargaining plea before others consider it dangerous and put their warnings forward." Kaitlin liked the idea but also wanted Damian to be careful who he kept council with until the meeting. The Elders had already proven themselves untrustworthy, on more than one occasion, she didn't want his well thought out, well laid plans being ruined because someone was spiteful towards him.
"This was also my worry. Over these few weeks Trey and I have often spoke of this adventure into lycan territories and he worries much for my safety. I cannot honestly tell him it is unfounded. To remove me would open up the other clans to bickering from within." Damian knew that had the lycans known about Mortimer and his recent actions, they would jump upon it without thought to the consequences. They would attempt to create more discord and use it to dethrone him and send the vampire clans spiraling into a destructive wave of chaos that could see the end of their species altogether. He couldn't allow it.
"It is too late for regrets, my love. You have the replies from the lycans now. You must act. We shall begin our journey tomorrow and meet the lycan leaders in treaty." Kaitlin soothed his fears with the bare facts. The time for indecision was well and truly gone, the time for action had arrived. She needed him to remember that before he started doubting himself.
"I shall send my reply to them this evening, asking them to meet in Italy, in a neutral area where we may all meet in peace and have no thought of territorial boundaries to hamper our discussions." Damian nodded lightly, smiling up at Kaitlin thoughtfully before suggesting that they retire for a few hours and enjoy watching their great grand-children play. And while they did that, he would try to keep his mind on the success of his plan and the imminent meeting that would require every ounce of his energy.
-
Damian was worried, the moment he knew Vairi was pregnant that his request for satisfaction for Corbin's attack could no longer be met. He didn't care what the other Elders or lycans thought about it, he could no longer demand the death of two people, who were about to have a child together. He would no more kill the mother and unborn child than allow it to be born into a world where its parents faced death. No, now that there was a child involved, things would have to change. Even Kaitlin agreed with him on that. He was worried about how he would tell the lycans of his change of heart when they met in just a few days time. But it seemed that once again his wife had the answer he needed and he didn't even have to ask her.
"Darling...about Vairi and the child...I was thinking that I might know what we could do." Kaitlin broke through the peacefulness of the room as Damian relaxed in a chair in the library, reading a book. She had been sitting silently knitting a new pair of winter hats and gloves for the children when the thought came to her. Damian lowered his book and asked her to continue.
"Go on." He urged her.
"Well, the lycans have complained their numbers are diminishing and Vairi is now a lycan. Unless this child is of her vampire blood all three would be allowed to live. However, I have thought about the timing of such a pregnancy and find that the child must have been conceived prior to even Bran's knowledge of his lycan blood." She explained her theory fully so Damian could see the sense of her words and the unlikely possibility of the child being conceived and having grown to such an advanced stage since Vairi's transformation ritual on Purgatory Island.
"Could that be so?" Damian wondered, fully trusting Kaitlin's calculations. She had been a mother herself many times and he realized that he had never once questioned the timing of the pregnancy, nor had Bran. It seemed very possible that they were expecting the child of two vampires, not two lycans.
"She is very advanced within the pregnancy. Her pains have been a false labor" Kaitlin continued, knowing the signs all too well. She could see the pained recognition from Damian, that he also recalled the false labor she had encountered with Johanna. She had been in such agony they truly believed she had gone into labor, until she had been told she had yet a few more weeks. The agony of waiting had replaced the agony of the pain. "If we appeal to the lycans, tell them of this sudden development, they might wish for the child to die. But, if it is a human child, of two vampires...well, then we can offer it protection." She rationalized, knowing that the lycans required growing numbers to keep their people in existence. But she really thought that a life within the vampire house was much better for a human child than that of seclusion within a lycan clan.
At least the child would be on the doorstep of a human village and have human friends, within both the village and the clan house to grow up with. They would be an outcast in a lycan clan.
"What about Vairi and Bran? They have been sentenced to death. And the prospect of two lycans raising a human child? Especially one who has the right to choose a vampire life? It is impossible." Damian sighed at the useless situation before them. They could no longer sentence Bran and Vairi to death, as there was a child involved, but neither could they choose whether that child was raised by a human, lycan or vampire. Once it was born, it would be an equal part of all clans.
"I believe that if the child is human, it should be given to a human family. It should never know of its lineage and Vairi and Bran must bear this heartache or offer themselves to their death." Kaitlin's words weighted heavily on them both. As parents, they could no longer think of giving away a child as the only resort for the situation, but they could also not rule it out as an option. It seemed terrible to them, to think of carrying a child and giving it away to someone else, but in Vairi and Bran's predicament it made a certain sense.
"It is the only way, my love. To bring a human child into our home would be wonderful, especially if it chose a vampire life once it became of age. But we can have no surety that it will not retain some of its fathers lycan blood. And I am sure the lycans will not accept such a tainted child within their clans." She could see that Damian was hesitant to agree. They had never faced such a difficulty before and he hoped they never would again.
"And if the child were to die? What then would we do with its parents?" He asked, because he had to.
"Naturally?" Kaitlin wondered whether Damian was suggesting killing the child or inquiring what would happen if Vairi miscarried. When he nodded, she let out a sigh of relief but decided to think worst case scenario anyway. "Then we would be spared the decision. Unnaturally, you would require the lycans agreement beforehand." She admitted gently that the lycans would need to be brought into the discussion if they hoped to prevent the sticky situation getting any worse by killing the child. It was by rights one of them just as much as it was a human and a vampire. But when he sighed and nodded to himself, she knew he had come to a decision.
"We must take this distressing news with us to the lycan meeting and hope we may find an answer." He wished that it was that simple, but something told him that it wouldn't end well. As Kaitlin resumed her knitting, Damian attempted to return to his book but found it too difficult. He would either have to subject a child to death, take it from its parents or hope that it died on its own. It was the worst choice he'd ever had to make in his entire existence.