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Ulrich nodded. "A worthy occupation," he agreed. "We need more linguists in this world. Unfortunately, they are few and far between ... as far as I know, Elnara, Serenity, Ulani and the queen are the only people in the entire Four Lands who know every language there is. I mean, there are people who know more than one language - most know at least two - but those who know all six ... are needed."

Serenity was getting a drink in the kitchen when she heard someone moving around out in the living room. Curious, she headed out to investigate.

She spotted the tiny child wandering around and blinked.

"Hmm.... interesting, while there is no one back home that knows all the languages, seeing as that would be quite a feat, far more than six, it's not unusual to have linguists back home," Lore murmured.

It was an interesting thought, though he could see why Ulrich said they needed.

The child came out on the other side of the couch and looked around, then turned around and climbed up onto it.

Elnara turned to look at her mother and blinked. "Idhril?" she asked, hardly daring to believe it. Her eyes sparkled excitedly, and she took Lore's hand. "Come on! Idhril's here!" She jumped off the bench and started for the house, tugging gently on Lore's hand to get him to follow.

Elnara paused when she reached the door and opened it slowly, cautiously, as if afraid of what she might see inside. But once it was open, she poked her head in and was delighted to see her newest daughter sitting on the couch, looking as if she belonged there.

She stepped inside and beckoned for Lore to follow.

Idhril looked around the room, her golden eyes taking in everything. When her gaze reached the door, she paused and stared at the two who were standing there.

Elnara moved forward silently and knelt in front of her daughter. She smiled warmly at her, her eyes almost glowing.

"Hello, Idhril," she murmured, holding one hand out to her, palm up.

Idhril stared back at Elnara for a moment, then broke into a wide childish smile, her eyes lighting up almost like candles - for that was very close to their colour.

"Hello Mama!" she said in a voice that while soft, wasn't really quiet. A pleasant, warm voice to listen to. Her golden eyes turned to Lore, and she smiled at him just as she had smiled at Elnara. "Hello, Papa!"

Idhril looked back and forth between Lore and Elnara, and her expression seemed almost torn for a moment, as if she were trying to decide who to go to first. Finally, she made up her mind and reached out one hand to each of them. She giggled, so light it almost seemed like a titter.

Elnara laughed and clasped Idhril's tiny hand in her own, putting her other arm around Lore's shoulders and leaning her head against him. "I think we should take her outside to meet the others," she suggested softly. "And so that we don't wake Ulani or Aliya."

Selfishly, Elnara wanted to be the one to take her outside - but she had had the opportunity of being the first to hold all of her other five children, and Lore, she was sure, would appreciate the meaning in having that status.

"You go ahead," she murmured, lifting Idhril's tiny hand to her lips and kissing it softly. Then she touched her cheek lovingly and turned her gently towards Lore.

Idhril giggled at Elnara, but when she was directed to Lore she went to him willingly, holding both arms out to him eagerly. "Papa, come!" she said brightly. She flexed her fingers as if to get him to hurry up and pick her up.

Idhril smiled as Lore picked her up, and she lay her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. After all, notwithstanding she was like a child rather than a baby, she was still a newborn. She put her arms loosely around Lore's neck. To be honest she looked as though she might fall asleep at any moment.

Elnara felt a warmth growing within her as she moved to open the door for them. It was a picture perfect moment.