A Grand Peace (part one for all to read)

They had chosen to settle in the village were they had first met. It was a nice place with friendly residents. There was a tavern that finally had a good cook, (the last one left in rather a hurry after several death threats, due to his cooking) a bakery that made the best peach pies, and several shops that sold everything from cloaks to weapons.
They loved it there. It became the home neither of them had truly ever known. Illisse had let it be known that she was a healer and occasionally her services were needed. But she and Val were happiest just making their new house a home.
They had lived there many months when the falcon arrived. It carried a not from Tel�Arma �Valandil, you must come here at once. I have a message for you from the shades�. Looking at Illisse, Val wondered what would happen this time. Their last meeting with the druid had lead to an adventure that had nearly ended in death. He did not want to put his love in harms way again.
Without a word, Illisse began to get their packs ready. Taking her in his arms, Val says, �Illisse, please my love, stay here. You will be safe. I will send for Lindor to come and�� Before he could finish his sentence, there was a red glow from the parchment, �Illisse must come, Val. She will be safer with you�. Not knowing whether to be afraid of what is going on or the fact that Tel�Arma knew what he was thinking, Val looked down into Illisse�s eyes, �Well, melamin,� smiling �It looks like you don�t even get to argue with me about your going�.
Beginning to worry, Illisse finished getting ready and loaded the horses with Val. It was midday when they left. During the four day trip to Tel�Arma�s, they speculated back and forth about the message, none coming close to the truth.
Arriving at the druid�s home, they were surprised to see Lindor. Seeing them, he laughed �don�t tell me, another adventure.�, as he walked up the steps of the porch.
Tel�Arma was sitting at the table in his great room, working on a potion. No one wanted to know what it was for. �Ah, good you are all here. Help yourself to food and we can begin. Valandil, you met the remnants of your people Tel�Alfirin, several months ago. Since you left them, things there have greatly changed. Helevorn, who was the elder, has decided, that, since you have not returned to lead them, he will become their leader. The one elf who would have been able to stop him, your old teacher, has left this world. He has also decided that all of the things that have gone wrong are to be laid at the feet of Illisse�s people Tel�Emyndil, and due to their corruption, by men, they should all be destroyed. Helevorn, himself has been corrupted, though he does not yet realize this. He carries on him, Illisse, a piece of the treasure, that nearly cost you your life. I was a fool not to have seen this before, however, I must not bear too much of the blame. Even the shades had not seen it. He has sent messengers to Tel�Emyndil giving them a chance to repent themselves and return to what he sees as the true Elven Way, or be destroyed� frowning � not seeing anything wrong with their way of live, Tel�Emyndil are determined to defend it. Valandil, Illisse, Lindor, you must not let this war even get started. An Elven war would destroy us all.�
Valandil looks at Illisse then back to Tel�Arma, �Why us? How can the three of us stop it?� �Not three, two. By your bonding, you and Illisse can show them that your two peoples can live together. You are two halves of the whole. Lindor will be going as more of a disguise. He will be a traveling musician � He plays the flute beautifully� Tel�Arma smiled at him. Lindor ducked his head �Humph�
�Tel�Arma, Illisse and I are bonded by blood alone, we have not done anything more formal that that.�
�That is enough. Just by doing that much you can show your people what they are capable of. Smiling at them, he looks almost�.happy�.as if he sees something they can not.
�You must begin your journey now. There is no time to waste. I have fresh packs for you. Illisse, I have also packed some of my fresh herbs in yours. I will keep watch on you.�
Taking time only to make sure the horses were fed and rested and to double check their packs, the three set off just after midday. They had decided to go to Tel�Alfirin first since going to Tel�Emyndil would take them quite some time. This was something that bothered Valandil. �I don�t understand why Helevorn even wants to think about your people Illisse, they live so far away that it should not bother him.�
�I do not understand either,� replied Illisse.
Lindor paused a moment, �Tel�Arma said that Helevorn has a piece of that treasure, yet he did not say what it looked like. We know that the Blood Moon Stone held a special curse � look how it affected Illisse�s former love. What curse does this piece hold?�
�There are so many questions� says Val, �let us hope that when we get to Tel�Alfirin we find some answers.�
It took them nearly two weeks of traveling thru some very rainy weather to reach the stone trees that marked the beginning of Tel�Alfirin lands.
The guards stepped out from the trees. There were many more than the last time they were here. They were not even given time to get off of their horses. The guards pulled them down and shoved them all the way thru the pass to the elven city. Helevorn stood waiting for them �I see you have finally returned Taren tanya nae. If you think to rule here you are too late. I am leader here now.
Illisse had been, very quietly, looking Helevorn over, to see if she could spot the piece of the treasure. Seeing her startled look, Lindor grabbed for her and held her tightly in his arms. �My lord, the lady is not well. She needs to rest in quiet.�
Valandil, realizing what Illisse had seen lifted her from Lindor�s arms. �Melamin,� caressing her face, he whispered, �do not make a sound. We will get out of here as soon as we can�. Without looking at Helevorn, Valandil carried her up the stairs to the garden that had been his teachers.
Helevorn spoke from behind them, �Does she need a healer?� �No Helevorn, she is a healer, she has only had a hard journey here and being treated so rough by your guards has not helped her any. I will take care of her.� Valandil turned on him �Leave us in peace.�
Watching Helevorn and his aides leave, Lindor turned to them �What is it? Did you see the piece?�
Valandil and Illisse exchanged looks. She nodded at him. �It is a small mithril charm tied into his hair. Ta naa lythari. I do not know how we will be able to get it from him.�
�Lindor, you must speak with him. We need to find out what his plans are. Perhaps you can use your music to charm him.� Illisse smiled at him, �You are the only one that can do this. He is too afraid of Valandil even to relax. I can see it in his eyes.�
Using his guise as a musician, Lindor offered to play for Helevorn after supper. Using some small magic in his music, Lindor tried to get Helevorn to tell him what his plans were. Lindor soon realized that the curse on the charm was blocking his magic. He would be able to do nothing but play his music. Returning to the garden where Valandil and Illisse had chosen to stay, Lindor told them of the trouble. �We must give up on him for now. We should go to Tel�Emyndil and try from there to stop this war.�
Valandil and Lindor took turns keeping watch that night, Illisse warned them not to trust Helevorn to leave them alone.(she could feel the magic rising within her) They were proved right in the early hours of the morning. Surprisingly enough it was Helevorn himself sneaking close to them. He was trying to kill Valandil. �I WILL BE KING!� he snarled �YOU DO NOT BELONG HERE!� Raising his arm high they saw the knife in his hand.
Seeing the knife, Valandil sprang to his feet, a fire in his eyes. He called his sword silently to his hand and just as Helevorn was swinging the knife down, Valandil swiftly and easily turned his sword to intercept it, severing Helevorn's hand. Rising to his full height over Helevorn, speaking in a commanding, and regal voice, Valandil reveals an awesome power and the royalty within him, that he had so carefully hidden, even from Illisse. (Though she had seen a little of his power before, she had never experienced anything like this in a living being before).
�See what has transpired here, Helevorn? You realize not what you have become, but look at yourself and the deeds you have committed. You desire power as you never have before. You are cursed. You think you are fit to rule? You are no more fit to rule that those who serve you. I will not allow you to harm others and may your lost hand be a reminder to the terrible treason you have committed. What is it to attempt the murder of one of your brethren? Ponder this and I will give you a chance to repent. I will forgive you if you are truly sincere. If you do not wish to take this second chance, you will leave and never return, cursed as a true outcast from your own people. Either way you will be disgraced.� With a deft flick of his wrist, he chopped Helevorns hair short. Catching the chain on the tip of his blade, Valandil draws it up and examines it, careful not to touch it. He looks gravely down at Helevorn and his bleeding stump. �I have taken the curse from you. Now make your decision��

Name:
E-Mail:
Subject:
Response:
> They had chosen to settle in the village were they had first met. It was a nice place with friendly residents. There was a tavern that finally had a good cook, (the last one left in rather a hurry after several death threats, due to his cooking) a bakery that made the best peach pies, and several shops that sold everything from cloaks to weapons. > They loved it there. It became the home neither of them had truly ever known. Illisse had let it be known that she was a healer and occasionally her services were needed. But she and Val were happiest just making their new house a home. > They had lived there many months when the falcon arrived. It carried a not from Tel�Arma �Valandil, you must come here at once. I have a message for you from the shades�. Looking at Illisse, Val wondered what would happen this time. Their last meeting with the druid had lead to an adventure that had nearly ended in death. He did not want to put his love in harms way again. > Without a word, Illisse began to get their packs ready. Taking her in his arms, Val says, �Illisse, please my love, stay here. You will be safe. I will send for Lindor to come and�� Before he could finish his sentence, there was a red glow from the parchment, �Illisse must come, Val. She will be safer with you�. Not knowing whether to be afraid of what is going on or the fact that Tel�Arma knew what he was thinking, Val looked down into Illisse�s eyes, �Well, melamin,� smiling �It looks like you don�t even get to argue with me about your going�. > Beginning to worry, Illisse finished getting ready and loaded the horses with Val. It was midday when they left. During the four day trip to Tel�Arma�s, they speculated back and forth about the message, none coming close to the truth. > Arriving at the druid�s home, they were surprised to see Lindor. Seeing them, he laughed �don�t tell me, another adventure.�, as he walked up the steps of the porch. > Tel�Arma was sitting at the table in his great room, working on a potion. No one wanted to know what it was for. �Ah, good you are all here. Help yourself to food and we can begin. Valandil, you met the remnants of your people Tel�Alfirin, several months ago. Since you left them, things there have greatly changed. Helevorn, who was the elder, has decided, that, since you have not returned to lead them, he will become their leader. The one elf who would have been able to stop him, your old teacher, has left this world. He has also decided that all of the things that have gone wrong are to be laid at the feet of Illisse�s people Tel�Emyndil, and due to their corruption, by men, they should all be destroyed. Helevorn, himself has been corrupted, though he does not yet realize this. He carries on him, Illisse, a piece of the treasure, that nearly cost you your life. I was a fool not to have seen this before, however, I must not bear too much of the blame. Even the shades had not seen it. He has sent messengers to Tel�Emyndil giving them a chance to repent themselves and return to what he sees as the true Elven Way, or be destroyed� frowning � not seeing anything wrong with their way of live, Tel�Emyndil are determined to defend it. Valandil, Illisse, Lindor, you must not let this war even get started. An Elven war would destroy us all.� > Valandil looks at Illisse then back to Tel�Arma, �Why us? How can the three of us stop it?� �Not three, two. By your bonding, you and Illisse can show them that your two peoples can live together. You are two halves of the whole. Lindor will be going as more of a disguise. He will be a traveling musician � He plays the flute beautifully� Tel�Arma smiled at him. Lindor ducked his head �Humph� > �Tel�Arma, Illisse and I are bonded by blood alone, we have not done anything more formal that that.� > �That is enough. Just by doing that much you can show your people what they are capable of. Smiling at them, he looks almost�.happy�.as if he sees something they can not. > �You must begin your journey now. There is no time to waste. I have fresh packs for you. Illisse, I have also packed some of my fresh herbs in yours. I will keep watch on you.� > Taking time only to make sure the horses were fed and rested and to double check their packs, the three set off just after midday. They had decided to go to Tel�Alfirin first since going to Tel�Emyndil would take them quite some time. This was something that bothered Valandil. �I don�t understand why Helevorn even wants to think about your people Illisse, they live so far away that it should not bother him.� > �I do not understand either,� replied Illisse. > Lindor paused a moment, �Tel�Arma said that Helevorn has a piece of that treasure, yet he did not say what it looked like. We know that the Blood Moon Stone held a special curse � look how it affected Illisse�s former love. What curse does this piece hold?� > �There are so many questions� says Val, �let us hope that when we get to Tel�Alfirin we find some answers.� > It took them nearly two weeks of traveling thru some very rainy weather to reach the stone trees that marked the beginning of Tel�Alfirin lands. > The guards stepped out from the trees. There were many more than the last time they were here. They were not even given time to get off of their horses. The guards pulled them down and shoved them all the way thru the pass to the elven city. Helevorn stood waiting for them �I see you have finally returned Taren tanya nae. If you think to rule here you are too late. I am leader here now. > Illisse had been, very quietly, looking Helevorn over, to see if she could spot the piece of the treasure. Seeing her startled look, Lindor grabbed for her and held her tightly in his arms. �My lord, the lady is not well. She needs to rest in quiet.� > Valandil, realizing what Illisse had seen lifted her from Lindor�s arms. �Melamin,� caressing her face, he whispered, �do not make a sound. We will get out of here as soon as we can�. Without looking at Helevorn, Valandil carried her up the stairs to the garden that had been his teachers. > Helevorn spoke from behind them, �Does she need a healer?� �No Helevorn, she is a healer, she has only had a hard journey here and being treated so rough by your guards has not helped her any. I will take care of her.� Valandil turned on him �Leave us in peace.� > Watching Helevorn and his aides leave, Lindor turned to them �What is it? Did you see the piece?� > Valandil and Illisse exchanged looks. She nodded at him. �It is a small mithril charm tied into his hair. Ta naa lythari. I do not know how we will be able to get it from him.� > �Lindor, you must speak with him. We need to find out what his plans are. Perhaps you can use your music to charm him.� Illisse smiled at him, �You are the only one that can do this. He is too afraid of Valandil even to relax. I can see it in his eyes.� > Using his guise as a musician, Lindor offered to play for Helevorn after supper. Using some small magic in his music, Lindor tried to get Helevorn to tell him what his plans were. Lindor soon realized that the curse on the charm was blocking his magic. He would be able to do nothing but play his music. Returning to the garden where Valandil and Illisse had chosen to stay, Lindor told them of the trouble. �We must give up on him for now. We should go to Tel�Emyndil and try from there to stop this war.� > Valandil and Lindor took turns keeping watch that night, Illisse warned them not to trust Helevorn to leave them alone.(she could feel the magic rising within her) They were proved right in the early hours of the morning. Surprisingly enough it was Helevorn himself sneaking close to them. He was trying to kill Valandil. �I WILL BE KING!� he snarled �YOU DO NOT BELONG HERE!� Raising his arm high they saw the knife in his hand. > Seeing the knife, Valandil sprang to his feet, a fire in his eyes. He called his sword silently to his hand and just as Helevorn was swinging the knife down, Valandil swiftly and easily turned his sword to intercept it, severing Helevorn's hand. Rising to his full height over Helevorn, speaking in a commanding, and regal voice, Valandil reveals an awesome power and the royalty within him, that he had so carefully hidden, even from Illisse. (Though she had seen a little of his power before, she had never experienced anything like this in a living being before). > �See what has transpired here, Helevorn? You realize not what you have become, but look at yourself and the deeds you have committed. You desire power as you never have before. You are cursed. You think you are fit to rule? You are no more fit to rule that those who serve you. I will not allow you to harm others and may your lost hand be a reminder to the terrible treason you have committed. What is it to attempt the murder of one of your brethren? Ponder this and I will give you a chance to repent. I will forgive you if you are truly sincere. If you do not wish to take this second chance, you will leave and never return, cursed as a true outcast from your own people. Either way you will be disgraced.� With a deft flick of his wrist, he chopped Helevorns hair short. Catching the chain on the tip of his blade, Valandil draws it up and examines it, careful not to touch it. He looks gravely down at Helevorn and his bleeding stump. �I have taken the curse from you. Now make your decision��
Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
	Upload Image (members only)