Announcement of new member

[Noor bint Daniyal]

Queen Noor had called a meeting in the Ribat for the Council of Elders.

A sunny afternoon, and Queen Noor's jet landed outside Lindström. The plane had escorted Queen Noor and five sons, along with their Leonid security detail, all the way from Teldrin to Lindström for the announcement of the fifth son's name to the Council of Elders of the House of Ayreon-Kalirion.

She expected that her husband, King Noah, father of the newest child (but not the first four), would come soon too. She had asked him to announce to the Council the agreed name of their son, and that he would have the honour to inscribe in Tuuler's Book the name of this new member of the house.

The quadruplets were delighted and honoured to have a little brother. Zahir al Din, or Aldin as he was most commonly called by his family, was the most responsible and serious-minded of them all. Despite his age (soon six), he seemed to be the most mature, and the kindest among them. Noor had given him the honour and duty of carrying the child from the plane to the limousine cortege that would take them all to the Ribat.

Once they arrived at the Ribat, it was still a few hours until the meeting would start. The family (minus Noah) had lunch with Emperor Naian and the Timeless Shadow. It was very hard for Noor (and for the quadruplets especially) not to even hint to the new family member's name.

[King Noah]

All eyes in the Tuuler Kalir Chamber were on the King of Elwynn.

With the Lady Yumi Zotrasdóttir, the Secretary of the King's Court, by his side King Noah graciously entered the space where the Council of Elders of the House of Ayreon-Kalirion traditionally meets.

First he walked up to his Lady Wife Mortal, Queen Noor of Goldshire, and their five boys. He kissed her and whispered some sweet words in her ear which put a smile on her face. The quadruplets - which King Noah raises like they were of his own body - were already jumping and dancing around vying for his attention when he, one by one, raised them high up in the air which made them sqeal of delight.

When the family greeting had ended, King Noah took their newborn boy into his arms and slowly rocked it while softly singing an ancient Valtian baby welcoming song, to which the baby responded by making all kind of noises of contentment.

The King then happily and proudly turned to all those that were present in the Tuuler Kalir Chamber.

"Your Imperial Hignesses, this is our son. The son of Noor and Noah Ayreon-Kalirion and his name is Vilhjálm Daniel Gudrödar."

[Isabella Kalirion]

The Simrani Sisters, Isabella and Miranda, take this as their cue to clap politely.

[Aldin]

Aldin, watching the ceremony intently, also clapped along all the other members of his extended family. He smiled at his mother and stepfather as they held his new half-brother.

Suddenly he felt a sharp pain on the back of his head, he had fallen to the floor. His eyes rolled back into his head and he heard his voice say words he didn't quite fully understand, but that he felt the meaning of them inherently.

"The family of Elijah grows stronger every day! With the joyful cooperation between the high realm of the North and the empire of the South, Elijah's love spreads across both hemispheres of the world with the blessing of Bous! Elijah the Beloved loves his children and Elijah wants all to be his children! Seek out his love first or he shall seek you out last!"

[Noor bint Daniyal]

Bloody hell, my son's an epileptic! We've been cursed!

[The Timeless Shadow]

The Timeless Shadow had been invited to observe the meeting. She felt a great spiritual awakening when Aldin prophesied. She shouted out across the hall, "Thus saith the Lord! All heed Elijah's words! Heed them! Follow them! Elijah's love conquers all evil!"

[Aldin]

Aldin opened his eyes to see his mother's very concerned face.

"Don't be alarmed dear Mother! Despite the nasty knot on the back of my head, I have never felt better!"

He turned his head to see a very pale woman waving her hands and shouting about Elijah, "She knows, too. She knows how angry he his."

A voice, a soothing voice with an exotic accent, came from behind his mother's head, he focused his eyes to see a young man in Bovic robes, "Who is angry, Zahir the Blessed?"

"Blessed?"

"Yes my calf, on your birth you received a special blessing from the Pentheros, as a grandchild of Nathan the Once-Living God and Saint Elijah the Beloved, you are a very special child."

Noor bent down to comfort Aldin, "You remember Elder Sergius, of the Athlonic branch of our family? He's the Metrobosarch of Lyrica, he helps all of Storish Bovics."

Aldin nodded then looked at Sergius, "Elijah is angry, Your Eminence. I don't know why, but he is very upset."

Sergius nodded then smiled at the boy, "Well he's not angry at you, that's for sure!"

Aldin's face was expressionless, "Of course he's not, I haven't done anything, I'm only five."

"Almost six!" Noor interjected proudly.

Sergius looked embarrassed, "I didn't mean to patronize you, Aldin. You have a wisdom beyond your years, that's evident now. Children are sometimes used as a conduit for divine messages, but it seems you are destined to be more than just a messenger. I think you should visit the tomb of your grandfather, Elijahs' Rest, and allow his spirit to speak to you again for clarity."

The pale woman, who had been silently watching this dialogue, interjected, "I would be happy to chaperon the boy to Elijah's Rest, I was just there and heard Elijah's voice too! He must desperately need to tell us something!"

Sergius held up his hand to stop them, "First, I think you should visit the Pentheros to tell him first hand of what happened here. He will be able to verify this as a miracle so you may go on to Elijah's Rest in confidence."