Medieval/Fantasy

[Zylaa]

((Ok, I'm horribly lost... there was a wildcat attack as a result of Arajay's familiar saving the girl, Thawheneb is... a traitor? Is that what was happening in your last post, Heero?))
The wildcat stopped when it heard Tessa's cousin's call.

[Heero007]

((Yes there was a wildcat attack due to Arjay's fimiliar attacking. Thawheneb was trying to find out why the Queen had fainted, his apprentice forced the mind signature of another Drow onto her mind so he wouldn't be killed because of his intrusion into her mind. And Hjary is finally embracing the fact that he is royalty.))

[My email doesn't work anymore]

Tessa hugged close around her cousin's waist and quickly pulled one of the few untattered flowers from her hair and tossed it out to the wildcat.

"Thank you for everything!" she cried out as the horse galloped off. Peacefully she rested her head against Gertin's back, glad to be home again.

*****

Havin stood at the trunk of the beech tree inspecting the bark critically. Finally he took his hand and placed a finger as high he could reach onto the bark and with a quick downward motion a thin glowing line appeared in the bark. Carefully he coaxed the thin wider with his fingers until it was wide enough. Nimbly Havin slid though the shining barrier onto a small wooden platform overlooking a brightly lit forrest, contrasting the world he just left.

It was Roalds forrest, the home of the Roald family that had been protecting hte secrets of hte Shadow Arts and Hjary relics for hundreds of generations. only they had hte ability to travel from one world to another through the sacred art of portals.

Quickly Havin lept from the platform and began trekking though the forrest floor towards Jamaitre's training hall.

*****

Diae awoke uneasily that next morning. A small headache throbbed in her temples before she realized it was an interference in her probing resistence. Concentrating hse searched for a signature and instantly recognized Captain De'ityh's. Diae panicked, for years it had been known the captain had a fancy for the queen. Had it been possible her conversation last night had been overheard and now he was taking advantage of hte opportunity?

Hurriedly she wrapped on a robe and fled quickly fomr her tent. She used her Sight to make sure none of hte soldiers were up and about as she approched De'ityh's tent and flung open the door flap. Silently she scolded herself for what she was about to do and strode over to where the captain was sleeping. Leaning over she placed ahnd on his cheek and planted a deep kiss on his lips. Instantly he awoke and stared up trying to comprehend what was happening.

Finally Diae broke the kiss and looked down at him lovingly.

De'ityh returned to expression still trying to amount his good fortune. "Diae..." he whispered softly.

Her expression suddenly turned to one of rage as her fears had been confirmed and she fiercly brandished her talons and forced them deep into the captain's throat and chest. "How dare you try and manipulate my emotions through your retched telepathy!" she snarled.

Deityh ould barely scream as the sickening sound of his lungs being punctured was heard and he was motionless. Diae pulled her hands form his bpdy and scratched her talons into the tent canvas cleaning off hte blood before they disappeared again. Using her Sight she made sure Thawheneb alone and she left and paced back to his tent opneing hte flap slightly.

"Thawheneb? Is it okay if I speak with you right now?"

[Heero007]

Gertin smiled briefly. His uncle would be happy and finally be able to rest knowing that his little niece was safe. And the rest would be much needed, for a Drow Army was camped only half a kilometer away from the capitol. They would need Thenin's full attention and he needed to be able to act to the best of his abilty. Which he would not be able to do if he was half asleep when they came.

* * *

Jamaitre sensed Havin enter the training hall. "Greetings brother." he said as he swung a staff under his legs. jumping over it before the blade at the end of the staff could connect with his legs. He then threw the staff end-over-end into the center of a target, then drew his swords and began to spin them in his hands.

"So how did the meeting with young Hjary go?" he asked, he knew how they had gone, but he wanted to hear how Havin thought they had. Jamaitre continued exercising in a small circle in the center of the hall as he waited for his brother to reply. Havin, he knew, would be annpyed at his view on the meeting. He thought that they had gone extrememly well, and had often told his younger brother to expect this reaction from the Hier of Hjary. Besides, his brother had a habit of getting frustrated with Jamaitre's foresight and had, on occassion, challenged him to a duel, because Havin's patience vanished while Jama's remained.

He looked over at Havin, still spinning his swords as he waited for an answer.

* * *

Thawheneb walked to his tent flap door, "Of course M'lady." he said.

"What is it you wish to discuss my Queen?" he asked as she entered his tent.

[My email doesn't work anymore]

Tessa easily recognized the military complex in the distance as they approached and lept off the horse before it came to a full halt. Gleefully she ran past the baffled guards in place around the building and halls and skipped up the many stairs leading to the general's quarters. Without as much as a knock she bounded inot Theningwanur's room and pounced ontop of her uncle.

"Uncle Thenin! I'm home and you're okay!"

*****

Havin scowled as he removed his jacket and undershirt and strapped on his training bracers.

"Do you ever stop practicing? And I suppose I can't say it went badly considering I was assigned to be the 3,387th Truthbringer yet the only one able to carry out my purpose. Hjary's young and is already starting to show understanding of his fate. So I still have faith in him. Though the little side instructions were really unnecessary."

Rasing a hand he summoned one of the many sabers from the wall and crossed blade's with his brother.

"I'm curious to know what your first plan of training is. Teaching a stubborn child centuries of ancient swordplay and Shadow Arts within the time we've been limited too will be quite a task."

*****

In the darkness of the dormitory Marsethius' spirit loomed waiting impatiently for the little brat he was supposed to be watching finally fall asleep. If it were his decision the boy would have been imprisoned and enslaved a long time ago. Shaking his regreats away as the boy finally put himself to bed the spectre probed and spored a dream into the boy's mind. A particularly vile one he crafted of the Heir leading hte Drow troops and crushing the Light Elves captial with extrodinary power. He cast a weak obediance spell for good measure.

*****

Diae set herself upon a stool trying not to take notice of the split table over in the corner.

"I've been thinking hard about it and I've noticed that I'me so close to coming of age I genuinely think it's time that I....marry." she lied spitefully. Normally she would've tolf Thawheneb about her spirit summoning but it was Drow belief that the dead deserved to be that way and not to be brought back. No one supported that more than Thawheneb, who in fact, Diae grimly remembered, had killed his own father in the Drow gladitorial arena.

"But seeing my position it's required that a tournament take place to decide on my suitor. So I'd like you to arrange the competition. I know I've been asking alot of you lately but you know that only a member of the military can become King."

She paused a moment. It hadn't occured to her in the least until now that by taking a husband her duties would be severely lessened and someone else would be taking her position as the ultimate ruler of the Drow. But she continued.

"And of course you'd know the men of the proper age and qualifications to be candidates. Once this final slaughter of hte surface scum has taken place and we return to our realm are you willing to arrange the tournament?"

[Heero007]

Theningwanur smiled and spun his niece in his arms. Being so young she could get away with the common rule she had just broken, but Thenin would not have punished her anyways, he'd been too worried about his little niece. "Where ave you been?" ha asked as he embraced the seven-year-old Elf.

* * *

Jamaitre shrugged and half-heartedly lunged at his brother. "I plan to have him run the Initiates(sp?) Shadow Course." he said easily, he knew it would probably cause his brother to pause. Sending a boy with no training what so ever through that course was a death sentence, or at least that's what it semed to most people.

The First Shadow course had been designed to test the limits of the Initiates(sp?), those who- if they survived- might become Shadow Apprentices. This course had killed many hopefulls, even some of the Royal House's children had died in the course. But nevertheless, the course showed the strength and quick reflexes of the person who ran it. It was the most dealy Initiates Course that had ever been eeveloped, and it was for an artform that was more deadly than the Elven forms of Arcane.

The Elves had early on ridiculed the Shadow Arts for the death toll of its first course. Over time though, the Elves saw how powerful this form of Arcane was and held their toungues, for numerous times they had been saved by the Shadow Warriors of Hjary.

Jamaitre looked at his brother. "You know how I will teach him, and you know how hard I will be on him." he said. "I must admit though, if this Hjary survives the inevitable war, will he show the same tastes in garb as the first."

The Shadow Arts teacher had wondered this for many years. The first William Hjary, even when he had the right to wear grand garments had chosen to keep his dress simple. He wore none embroidered black trousers and a black tunic. He had dressed as the common people did, even among other Royal Houses. Another thing he wondered was if the the second would reflect the first's ideals of working with the people when he wanted something built instead of just having them build it for him as if they were slaves. Many on his Council were common people, and Jamaitre wondered about that also. Would this Hjary follow in the footsteps of his ancestor or not.

I guess that is something that we will find out together. Jamaitre thought as he waited for Havin's answer.

* * *

Thawheneb looked at the Queen, hiding his surprise. "Yes, of course my Lady." he said. "I know many who would preticipate, my apprentice amone them." he sighed. "But for Demith it would be mainly to prove himself a grand warrior and gain more favor in our eyes."

He stratched his chin. "As for the others, they would undoubtadly only want to join their lesser blood with yours." he frowned. "Those with strong enough bloodlines to join with the your's number few, and as you may suspect Demith is among them. It is not by my will that I say this, but by way of his line. It is one of the most pure in the entire Dark Elven Realm."

[My email doesn't work anymore]

Tessa suddenly grew quiet despite the cheerful reunion with Thenin. Fretfully the little elf struggled in vain to hide her tears as she recalled her capture back at the encampment.

"Oh Uncle Thenin it was terrible! I got lost trying to find our party and the Drow caught me! They were really mean and nasty and I wouldn't have gotten out if it weren't for the nice human lady we saw earlier. Her hishy cat got me out and back. I'm just happy to be home."

She threw her arms around his neck again sniffling into his shoulder.

*****

Havin paused blocking Jama's blow and staying in stance. He didn't expect his brother to put such a young inexperienced student into the Initiates training. In the old days when it was still a fairly common practice amoung humans boys would train for years in advance just to prepare for even the earliest stages. Even then more than half of the candidates had quit or lost their lives before the apprentices were selected. Could the soul reincarnate of a Master prove better?

"I've learned to trust your judgement Jama," he sighed taking another half-hearted jab "You know your limits when it comes to training and you know what's at stake. And I have faith William. He's already displayed the King's humble nature and preference of simplicity. Hopefully his memories will begin coming back with time."

Both of them knew that there were many parts still unknown about the legend behind the great King William Hjary. It was a hope of every Roald that the Heir would be able to fill in pieces of the puzzles with the memories preserved in his ancient soul.

*****

Diae looked down at the ground blushing slightly in embarrasment that she almost had forgotten the attack the night before.

"And after such a noble and difficult rescue he displayed I think it's fair to say that I owe Demith my life."

Trying to hide her uneasiness she glanced back over at Thawheneb "If all you say is true then there is probably no other candidate as worthy. But I am of nobility therefor not liable to choose my own mate. The tournament was designed so that the suitors would engage in combat until all were slain except one. The only other authority that can make the selection would be hte most powerful male in the Drow hierarchy."

Almost smuggly she glanced down at Thawheneb's Ring of Scions. "Which, considering the circumstances, would be you. But I'm pretty sure which form of choosing both of us would prefer."

[Heero007]

Theningwanur held his little niece. "It's okay Tessa." he said, "You're safe now."

* * *

Jama blocked his brother's attack and launched several half-hearted thrusts at his brother. "Don't worry Havin." he said. "I believe that this boy will be able to survive the Initiates course." he paused. "He may be the one to fulfill the Prophecy, but there are a great many unknowns about what was said in it, and how we should interept(sp?) them."

He shook his hea and looked around, seeing their eldest brother Gerju walking up to them with a sword in hand. He put it enbetween the blades of his dueling brothers, after Havin had blocked the Jama's half-hearted attacks. "Must you two always fight when you disagree over something?" he asked, sounding lightly amused with his siblings. He turned to Havin and raised an eyebrow. "How did the meeting with young Hjary go?"

* * *

Thawheneb nodded, "Yes, gladatorial games are much more amusing than choosing a suitor for you." he said. "It will also give me an oppurtunity to weed out the weakest commander from our ranks." he laughed, "I doubt that most of the commanders we currently have would survive in the arena considering how they got their power. It will be my honor to arrange these games."

[My email doesn't work anymore]

Quietly Tessa's grandmother, Friel, entered the general's chambers and took the small elf from her uncle's arms.

"There there little one. Let's take you home and allow your uncle to get some rest." she said soothingly hugging the tired little Tessa.

Friel took a small bottle of potion from her robe pocket and handed it to her son. "A small sleeping draft. Daybreak will be coming soon and the onslaught is not far from the capital. You need all the rest you can get Thenin." With that she left carrying the sleeping child home.

*****

Havin sighed sheathing the sword into his belt. He could never figure out how his eldest brother was the most carefree and easily amused of the three.

"I suppose it went well for the most part. I believe he's definently the one we've been searching for but he'll still need a bit of convincing I can tell. But now I'm doubting I should have left William at the capital for the night. I thought it'd be the perfect opportunity to retreive the Master Sword from the Light Elves but they'll be to preoccupied with the battle by the time William is supposed to be summoned to council."

Nervously Havin remembered a premonition Jamaitre had not too long ago. For some reason he'd left out major details in describing it, but all he said that it involved the Master Sword being destroyed in a battle between the Light and Dark Elves within the first's capital. Luckily there had been times the brothers had been able to prevent the occurances within Jama's premonitions. But they were sorely outnumbered by the failed attempts. retrieving the Master Sword was almost as important as returning the human race to the throne of Kretog.

*****

Diae nodded and rose to her feet pulling her cloak around tighter. "It's settled then. I don't believe I'll need to give furthur instruction seeing you've arranged so many of these in the past. Do as you wish with it Thawheneb, but our attack at sunrise is not too far away now. The soldiers will be awaking soon and we all must be prepared. Ash'na te vian."

She saluted her general and stepped out of Thawheneb's tent and made her way back to the Grand Pavilion. Noticing some confused soldiers were already awake and inspecting De'ityh's corpse. "May the gods bless anyone who figures it out." she thought to herself scowling and hurrying back into her tent. Only about 1 in every 9 Drow had the ability to grow talons at will as she did. Most of those Drow didn't even know they had such a gift. So to witness the damage was quite rare.

Closing her tent flap and using a weka light spell in the dark she began changing back into her battle garb. Not too long after the spectre of Marsethius reappeared at the makeshift altar. "It has been done. I've infected the boy's mind with as many thoughts and fantasies of joining your force as possible. It's obvious he's far too untrained to recognize any forms of mind probing so that's not the greatest of our worries." he explained frowning slightly

Carelessly a small pouch was flung upon the table. "Here are a few of his hairs if you find a controlling spell necessary. but something has me preoccupied Diae. The Heir's body seems to contain a significantly large amount of Shadow Arts magic and our own Dark Arts magic. Highly abnormal for a human don't you think?" Marsethius asked suspiciously.

Diae took a dry gulp and glanced away from her father, "There is...an explanation for that."

[Heero007]

Thenin nodded. "Thank you Mother." He said as he looked at the potion. He'd never been one to take these except when needed and this was a time when he knew that he would need it now.

He pulled the cork out of the mouth of the bottle and drank the potion until the bottle was empty. Within a few minutes he had drifted into a deep slumber.

* * *

William tossed and turned in his sleep as he heard whispers in his head. "Join forces with the Drow, it is your only chance." "Join us or die. " "We can give you true power." The voice said to him.

He woke up suddenly as he could take no more. He grabbed his head, whet was going on with him? He couldn't join forces with the Drow! Or could he and avoid a war. He didn't know, he simply held his head and rocked back and forth, his head felt like it was about ready to explode if the voice continued. Thankfully the voice vanished and left Hjary to his thoughts.... thoughts that were now more confused than ever.

* * *

Jamaitre looked at his brothers. "I'm sorry to say this, but we may have to steal the Grand Master's Sword from the Elves." he paused. "Unless young Hjary can remember the secrets of how it was originally forged."

His eldest brother remained silent for a long while. "What you speak of could be considered an act of treason by the Light Elves." he said, frowning deeply. "We could end up destroying our only alliance by doing so."

"I am aware of that." He said. "Put we may have to take the risk."

* * *

Thawheneb watched the Queen leave as his apprentice entered. He looked at Demith. "I suppose you heard our converstation." he stated.

Demith nodded. "Indeed Master." he said. "I must ask you though, what motivation does the Queen have for getting married?" he shook his head in confusion. "It doesn't make any sense, she hasn't desired to have a mate for almost fifteen hundred years, why would she decide to choose a mate right now?"

"I do not know my friend, but we shall find out." he said with a sigh. "How we do so, I do not know yet, but will soon find out. Until then you must act normally, is that clear?"

"Yes Master, I shall obey." without another word Demith walked out of the tent and walked around the camp, leaving his master to his thoughts.

[My email doesn't work anymore]

A passing Light Elven caretaker for the military complex was patrolling the residence halls when he heard a disturbance in one of the guest rooms. Checking his ledger he searched for who was occupyikng the room that night. Blinking a few times he stared down at the name William Hjary written in quickly in the slot. The caretaker shook his head for a moment and looked down again wide-eyed at the entry in disbelief.

Finally he removed a set of keys from his pocket and opened the door. "Er, Master....Hjary? Is everything alright?"

*****

Havin rolled his eyes and returned the sword to the rack. Opening their armoury and grabbing his bow and quiver he laughed at his brothers.

"If I'm not mistaken the Grand Master's Sword is a human artifact. If anything we'd simply be withdrawing it from their care after all these years. Besides, many of the materials and proper smiths aren't existing in Kretog now to forge such a weapon." Havin grimaced. During the downfall of the humans the Drow had executed the most skilled craftsmen in the realm. They hadn't even bothered to use them for their own purposes. A horrible waste.

Shaking out of reverie Havin added "I'll fetch Prince Hjary and the relics. I'm the only one of us he's met so far and trusts....sort of. And I don't think you two need instructions on thievery at this point," he chuckled. "So is it a plan or am I just being a blubbering fool?"

Waiting for his brother to respond he pulled on his armor.

*****

Marsethius was infuriated "You mean to tell me that not only was the Heir within the palace and readily available for execution all his life, but you performed a sacreligious blood transfer on him too!?"

Diae scowled and slammed her sword down on the table. "Would you just let me finish?! By giving part of my blood to him and taking some of his then erasing the memory I sealed many advantages. First of all we both know blood is the main source of a being's power. By trading a small portion it would be impossible for Hjary's Heir to use his full power and attack that made his forcestor legendary. I on the other hand don't need my full power to take him on."

Marsethius considered this but then snarled back at his daughter "Then why couldn't you have just slayed him and have it over with?!"

Diae simply glared and kept her cool. "I could have but honestly I prefered to have him grow up in a life of pain and misery within our slave chambers and honestly I wanted to have a worthy opponent for once someday. But that is not the point right now. Though powerful I found the Shadow Arts has one major flaw. A male Shadow Practioner is inable to harm a female practioner. A foolish little act of chivalry I suppose. With blood so rich in Shadow magic coursing through my veins I learned a few simple spells, automatically making me a practioner."

The queen raised her hand and admired the intertwined symbols of the Darkness and Shadow Arts on her palm. "In other words the Heir will never be able to turn a blade against me."

[Heero007]

William looked up at the Light Elf. "Voices.... in my head." he managed, obviously in pain as he held his head. He rocked back and forth as the messages played themselves over and over again in his head. "Make them stop!"

* * *

Gerju and Jama looked at eachother and shook their heads. How had Havin missed such a crucial point in the lectures that Father gave them everyday, especially on the Grand Master's sword.

An awkward silence hung in the air between the three brothers for a long moment, Jama finally broke it after he could stand it no more. "Havin," he said, "don't you remember Father's lectures on that sword?"

Gerju looked at his brother, frowning. "Only remind him of what he knows Jama, there is still some that Father has not yet taught." he warned.

"He'll find out anyway." Jama said. "The Grand Master's Sword was made by William Hjary the Great and the Elves from a few pieces of the original Grand Master's Sword which had been broken at the Battle of Hutyre. They could not find all the pieces of the broken blade so they replacedthe missing metal with Hjary's special metal that e had made. They forged a shadow blade together using Hjary's mysterious powers and his smithing skills. Unknown to them was that this Grand Master's Sword could only be used by one of the Hjary line due to their ability to use the sword to amplify thier power." He sighed. "So techniquely it is a joint artifact, and one that they will most likely take time in deciding to surrender."

Gerju sighed. "The original Blade was made by a Hjary, but it was crafted largely by the Elves." he said. "Having the original blade at the core of Hjary's blade makes them want to keep it, even though they know that they cannot if they want to achieve victory."

* * *

Demith walked in front of the Queen's tent for a moment, snarling as watched the younglings walk around, making a joke out of the coming battle. He was the apprentice of Thawheneb and they both hated this kind of jesting. He started making his way forward to stop them when three of his rivals stepped in his way, stopping him dead in his tracks.

"What do you think that you are doing?" they asked. "You can't involve yourself. Stopping this jesting will only destroy your stature."

"Get out of my way!" he growled, fury in his eyes.

"No." they said and then all three of the men jumped him and plowed him through the grand tent's entry flap. They wrestled on the ground for several moments and then Demith threw them off, unaware of the Queen and her Father's spectre.

Demith drew a dagger but soon dropped it and howled in pain as he was stabbed. Blinding rage set in and he let it take him, revealing a dark form that few Drow, he and Thawheneb among them, had. Talons extended from his finger tips, black wings emerged from his back, his eyes gleamed a murderous red.

The three rivals had fear in their eyes and tried to scramble out of the tent, but were unable to make it to the exit flap. Demith grabbed one of them and tore his body into shreds as his fangs appeared. He grabbed the other and bit into his neck with his fangs and then ripped his head off. The third he pushed to the ground, plunged his hand through his chest, clenched his heart with taloned hands and ripped it out in one smooth motion.

The heart still in his hand, Demith ate it as was this form's demand. He was still unaware that he was in the Queen's tent as his dark feature began to receed(sp?).

[My email doesn't work anymore]

The caretaker's eyes widened as he dashed into the hall looking for the medicine closet. He'd only had seen these symptoms once himself before but there was no mistakening the cause. Grabbing a small bottle hed hurried back into the room and pulled the boys hand from his ear placing a few drops into his ear canal.

"There. That sould suppress any voices for now m'boy. But it seems that if your mind was sporred there's nothing I can do to rid of it permanently. Feeling any better Master William?"

He felt horribly foolish addressing the boy in such a manner if he truly was the person he was supposed to be. Glancing over a the table he couldn't help but notice the regal-looknig artifacts.

*****

Havin dropped his crossbow and silently cursed himself for being so ignorant. He had known the Elves had took part in forging the Master Sword but he didn't realize it was the remke f the earlier blade. Of course, he never cared much for the history of weapons in their weekly lectures. More so prophecy interpretations and portal spells.

"But then..." Havin paused not sure how to react. "Look, I'm not sure how we're to get it back at this point. Even though it would be most powerful and bountiful in the hands of the humans the Light Elves are too arrogant to give up something equally ancient to their history."

He sighed and gathered the rest of his things. "I'm just going to leave that situation up to you two. Right now I think it's best to get the prince out of the capitol before the Drow assault. I'm just worried he may not genuinely trust me yet."

Grimancing Havin dashed from the training hall and back out into the forrest preparing his portal spell back into the other realm.

*****

Diae spun around as the soldiers fell through her tent flap in a pathetic heap. Growling she reached for her sword but pulled back noticing Demith was amoung them. Suddenly as he began transforming but the queen realized it too late. Screaming in protest she fell to her knees as her own dark form began to emerge. Transforming fully forced all others with the ability that were close enough to morph as well.

As her wings and talons appeared her hearing became impecably sharp. Suddenly she could hear all the noises in and around her tent and picked up the jesting of the battle not far away. Like all the times before Diae lost control on her form and she lunged past Demith's mass slaughter and out into the open. Spotting the group she barred her fangs and growled pouncing upon the soldier who appeared to be leading them on, who in turn fell to the ground screaming as the talons left long deep gashes on her chest.

"Imbecile!" She spat out in much more raspy voice than usual. Her glaring red in furry. "How dare you mock my battle on the Surface Scum!?! It's bile like you that has been ruining the dignity and pride of my army! I'm capable of defeating all on my own but maybe I just want to make pathetic younglings like you feel you have some worth to me!"

Furociously she slashed at all of those in the group who had been too stunned in fear to run away. Ripping apart their stomachs ensuring they slowly and painfully bled to death she felt her dark features retreating and regained control.

Hurrying back into the tent she stopped short in front of Demith. "I find it odd that everytime we've met up lately you've been covered in the gore of your latest victim." she sneered Her eyes went wide however, as she felt her mind barrier being torn down suddenly and a brief message sporred in "Don't try and find me" it said "You've disappointed me greatly." Sensing her father's memory signature she looked around. The spectre was nowhere to be seen.

[Heero007]

William looked at the caretaker. "I am fine." he said to the Elf. "Thank you."

* * *

Jamaitre looked at his edlest brother. "Perhaps we should inform Father of our intentions." he said.

"No," Gerju said, "he would protest, and Havin's departure would only make him protest more."

* * *

Thawheneb's transformation, for all it similarities had it's differences. Instead of maintaining his normal skin, scales and spikes appeared, his eyes turned red, and his fangs were sharped than others. His talonms were longer and his black wings had a fiery color scheme on them that no one could explain. Of all the Dark Elven clans his clan name was Nightmare, and it was very appropriate whn he was seen in this form, which had happened only once, and that had been when Diae's father had been alive.

Thawheneb contained his bloodlust that was the unwanted sideaffect of this form. A few moments later the transofrmation vanished and he was back to normal again. What had caused it, he did not know, but he suspect that he soon would know, and if not he had ways of finding out.

Demith fell to one knee as his transformation vanished. "Cle mor gythop." he said. He stood and then turned and saw the Queen and instantly dropped to one knee again. "M'lady." he said, keeping his head low as servants of the Queen often did.

[My email doesn't work anymore]

Havin hurried and climbed up the tree tothe platform drawing the glowing line down it's bark. Carefully he climbed through and out into the outskirts of the capital. All the elves were now hustling about frantically trying to prepare for the battle.

For a moment he throught he caught a glimpse of the military complex when suddenly he felt both his arms getting pulled paifully from behind. Turning his head he saw two very stern-looking Elven guards grasping him. "Do you mind?!" he shouted, probably louder than he should have. "I'm in a bit of a hurry at the moment!"

The taller of the guards glared and twisted Havin's arm tighter "You and everyone else. But we find it more than peculiar that a human is now going through our capital right before the begining of a war." He nodded to the shorter guard who drew out a register with his free hand. "Your name?"

Havin grimanced and knew this was no time to lie about his identity. "Havin Roald sir. Now if you don't mind I--" but the smaller guard cut him short. "You haven't been registered as a visitor to the city in the last three weeks. Quite questionable if you ask me. Let's keep this one in confinement for the time being."

Havin tried to tear himself from their grip but they knocked him unconcious and carried him off to the prison before he had a chance to outmaneuver them.

*****

Diae was infuriated with the intrusion and would have slit Demith's throat by now if he wasn't held in such high regard with Thawheneb. But also she couldn't held but feel startled at his gesture. Few soldiers ever showed such respect to her. It had been a long while since the Queen had witnessed a Drow so loyal to the monarchy and military. Suddenly it gave her an idea.

She sent a brief mental message to one of her guards and then stepped over the corpses to sit at the table. "You may rise Demith. I'll be honest I've been meaning to talk to you as of late. There is a part of my plan of battle that involves uttermost secrecy and cooperation. Thus I can only assign the task to the most loyal of my soldiers. I have confidence to trust the task in your hands but first I want to confirm your loyalty."

Almost on cue the guard entered pushing in one of the youngest soldiers in the encampment. It was Demith's younger brother Astin, who now stared nervously at the Queen, his brother and the mutilated corpses on the ground.

"If you are truly worthy of my trust Demith and a loyal fighter in my army then prove it by killing your brother."