Chapter 70
The guild had never been this quiet.
Not after wars.
Not after councils.
Not even after Dorian's goat incident.
This was different.
This was reverent.
Dorian stood outside the room pacing like a condemned man.
"I am not built for this," he muttered.
Rowan leaned against the wall.
"You survived sieges."
"Yes."
"Dragon assaults."
"Yes."
"Three generals."
"Yes."
"This is louder."
A scream echoed from inside the room.
Dorian flinched violently.
"That is definitely louder."
Rowan's jaw tightened.
But he did not move.
He did not pace.
He did not shout.
He stood.
Still.
The same way Aurelian once had.
Dorian noticed.
"...You're breathing slow."
Rowan did not look at him.
"Yes."
"...You learned that from him."
Rowan's voice softened.
"Yes."
Another cry.
Then—
Silence.
The kind that freezes the world.
The door opened slowly.
A midwife stepped out.
Smiling.
"She is healthy."
Rowan did not move for half a heartbeat.
Then he did.
He entered quietly.
Dorian exhaled for what felt like the first time in hours.
Aurelian stood nearby.
Older now.
Not four.
Not fifteen.
Somewhere in between.
Old enough to understand.
Young enough to still look small.
"Uncle."
"Yes?"
"Is she here."
Dorian swallowed.
"...Yes."
Aurelian nodded once.
He stepped into the room.
Carefully.
Lila sat propped against pillows.
Tired.
Radiant.
Rowan stood beside her.
Holding something impossibly small.
Aurelian stopped walking.
He had seen monsters.
He had seen councils.
He had seen whispers.
But he had never seen this.
Rowan looked at him.
"Aurelian."
His voice was softer than Aurelian had ever heard it.
"She is your sister."
Aurelian stepped closer.
The tiny bundle shifted.
A small sound escaped her.
Not a scream.
Not a cry.
Just a sound.
Alive.
Aurelian blinked.
"...She is very small."
Lila smiled faintly.
"Yes."
Aurelian looked at Rowan.
"Will they expect things from her."
Rowan's eyes softened.
"Not if we stand."
Aurelian nodded slowly.
He leaned closer.
The baby's tiny fingers curled weakly.
Without thinking—
Aurelian held out one finger.
She grabbed it.
Firmly.
The room went still.
Dorian leaned against the doorway.
Watching.
No jokes.
No commentary.
Just this.
Aurelian looked down at her.
"She does not know stories."
"No," Rowan said quietly.
"She does not know expectation."
"No."
Aurelian smiled faintly.
"Good."
The baby made another soft sound.
Aurelian blinked.
"...She is loud."
Dorian finally spoke.
"Of course she is."
Aurelian glanced back at him.
"...Will I have to protect her."
Rowan answered gently.
"Yes."
Aurelian thought carefully.
"...Optional."
Rowan smiled.
"Yes."
The baby squeezed his finger tighter.
Aurelian looked at her.
"I will let you be small."
Rowan closed his eyes briefly.
Dorian looked away for a second.
Just a second.
Lila whispered softly:
"Her name is Elowen."
Aurelian nodded.
"Elowen."
The baby stirred again.
Aurelian leaned closer.
"Hello."
She did not understand.
She did not need to.
The world would whisper again one day.
Stories would form.
Expectation would knock.
But for now—
There were no legends.
No banners.
No councils.
Just a brother.
A sister.
And a family choosing to stand between them and everything else.
Dorian cleared his throat.
"...Protector version two."
Rowan almost laughed.
Almost.
The chicken perched silently on the windowsill.
Watching.
Always watching.
Aurelian looked at his sister one last time.
"She is very small."
Rowan nodded.
"Yes."
Aurelian smiled.
"Good."