Time for Change

41

"Now, since I've only met a small fraction of you before I'd like to meet each of you in order of families."

"Could my father's family come up first?" Shelby says and there is a shuffling of bodies as her family comes forward. Since this is the family Tyler knows he is able to greet many of them by name. His memory is far superior to Shelby's and she sighs at it. Her husband is greatly talented.

Tyler turns to her and smiles, "I have had to work on memorizing for many years, Shelby. In time you learn tricks on how to improve your memory. But still it is fallible."

Shelby smiles at him before turning to the people before her. "I wish for my mother's family to come forward." There are far less of them then of the others and it takes just a short time for them to meet Tyler and pay their respect to Shelby.

Then Shelby has the others come up in order of her father's siblings birth. Her father had been the oldest. She holds back her tears as she thinks of him. She misses him still. She feels a gentle squeeze as Tyler takes her hand even as he talks to her relatives.

It takes some time, but finally the introductions are finished.

"This will be the room in which you will have your meals. The great hall will not be able to hold all of you and the normal amount of elves." Tyler smirks, "My elves are even less pleased at the idea of sharing their dining hall with so many humans as you are with them." There had been a great many sounds of relief at Tyler's announcement.

"For over three centuries humans have been banned here and only recently has that law been revoked. There are some, my mother included, that feel that law shouldn't have been revoked.

"For the most part you are of the lower levels of society and would never have been allowed here. This is to honor my wife that I have opened my home to you. No matter how you feel about elves in general or me in specific have respect for her. She's trying to save your lives and I have no wish to hurt her.

"If you have any needs or wish something please don't hesitate to ask those that are helping you. They have their instructions, but if you have needs that they aren't able to meet they will come to me. At that time I will talk to you about those requests.

"On behalf of my wife and I welcome." Tyler gives the roomful of people a bow and escorts Shelby from the room.

Other elves start escorting families away.

"Thank you Tyler," Shelby says smiling at him.

Tyler doesn't like the tight look on her face and frowns. "What's wrong, Shelby?"

He escorts her into their room and holds her.

"I just miss my father and some of the older adults that should have been there but have passed on."

"Your mother's family was there, but you don't mention her."

Shelby smiles sadly, "My mother passed when I was very young and I've had longer time to accustom myself to that loss. I was far closer to my father's family." Tyler gives her a hug before releasing her.

"Have lunch with me." Tyler was going to have to return to his interrogations after lunch.

"Thank you, I'd love to." Shelby sits with him while they wait for their food to come. The children had gone to meet and play with their cousins for the day.

Just as they finish their food there is a knock at their door. Tyler gets a sly smile on his face and turns to Shelby. "I have one more surprise for you today."

The door opens and Shelby's friends come in. Shelby jumps up and goes over to hug Jan.

"What are you guys doing here?" Shelby demands but before they can answer Tyler does.

"You are far closer to your friends than you are your family. Senator Hughs would have turned his sights onto them shortly. They too will be staying here until the situation is dealt with."

Shelby goes over to Tyler and gives him another hug.

"The problem is, the guest suites have been taken by your family." Tyler looks at them and says,"You can be placed in rooms separated from each other or you can share our suite. The children can share with Shelby's. Shelby has her room that can be set up as a guest room if you wish."

Shelby's jaw drops, she's speechless and so are her friends. What Tyler is doing is unprecedented.

"Don't worry the walls are sound proofed," Tyler says sarcastically.

Leigh is the one to regain his composure first, "Thank you King Tyler. I know I would prefer to have my kids with Shelby's and it is an honor to stay here." Jan is nodding her head to shocked to speak.

Tyler looks at Shelby and finds her smiling a in a way that makes his knees weak. "Thank you Tyler."