There was no doubt about it, the feeling of danger and fear burned high in the deepest of his Soul!! He didn't hear what she was saying, it didn't matter, the very sound of the voice made his heart cold like ice and his soul hot like fire. He was almost too afraid to look up, a primal instict told him to run, he was alone, none of his kind were along his side to defend them from this foul creature. After seconds that seemed to be hours Elendirill looked up. His eyes were deceived, it had taken the form of one of his kind!!! How ... how ... it was like she was just laughing at him and his entire race by taking the form of one of them!!! After her spawn had killed thousands and thousands of elves throughout history, it took all the cunning of the remaining elves to keep the dragons away, so they would turn on eachother, and the newer races of their lands ... This ... beast .. had taken the form of an elf!

Like a flash of lightning Elendirill jumped back to were he had put down his sword, in the same movement he took it in both hands and faced the dragon, screaming a warcry that hasn't been heard for ages, cursing the dragon kind for the heartbraking losses they caused within the elven community ...

So he started to go faster and faster. It was almost sunset so just 2 more hours and Vuldaran would be at his destination. But the most dangerous passes still had to come and there was a strange light behind him in the air that seemed to be closing in on him..... FAST

"This doesn't look promising", he said to himself, "I'd better go faster if that thing is after me, I guess I can just beat it before the cave, there I'll place a Ban on it's entrance. That Ban will keep me safe from everything but those damn Elves."

Yesterday evening, the High Council adjourned to pray and meditate, and this morning they would announce their considered interpretation to the gathered religious leaders. They commenced with the usual prayers and ritual ceremonies of purification and invocation. Then came the reading of the Revelation of the Oracle:

My beloved brethren, I am the Oracle of Reisn and I am Hope Everlasting.

When the fire of the Ambitious Servants burns in the dark forest
There shall be a Gathering of Travelers
And they shall be strangers one to another

The beast shall arise, freshly quickened
It shall fly without wings and see with Innocent eyes
No beast is safe from its ravenous hunger

The Gathering shall appear to the brethren
The silent keepers who abjure the Wyrm
Take care, One among them is Worthy

The One is pure and righteous,
Giving and forgiving, generous of spirit,
Strong and true, the Most Righteous among you

The wyrm shall enter your home, but the brethren shall greet it not
The beast shall feast in your kitchen and in your stable
Then, the Worthy One shall learn Truth from the great fire

Another wyrm shall come to ravage the strongest among you
They shall run willingly into Harm's Way
And sacrifice themselves for the Greater Good

The One shall rescue you from your blindness and deception
At great personal sacrifice, speaking to the brethren
After a long silent journey for the sake of Selfless Charity

Great Wisdom perceives the brethren in their Faith and Haste
They rebuke the wyrm, and fear it not
The Gathering flees, yet the beast remains among them

The One shall learn Truth from the fiery tongue
Woe to those who seek refuge in the storm
For their homes are plundered and their lives uprooted

Hasten to receive them and keep them safe
Within its lair, Evil awaits the General
And the Gathering shall follow, in time

The third wyrm, yet not as such, wheels in the fire
Bringing deluge to quench Chaos' thirst
Every home touched, each family scattered

I am the Oracle of Reisn and I am Hope Everlasting

quote:

(translation of what the elemental spirit was thinking)
my duty is primary
my survival is secondary

bearers come and go, this bearer must go
the Ancient Staff must endure

my duty is to align the Ancient Staff with the new bearer
the new bearer must be the One touched by the Guardian of the Elements

this bearer is eager to go to Evil One
this bearer is careless and sees only the elf and the orb

when the time is right, I will act
when the time is right, this bearer will believe my illusions

DQueene felt inside a little bag at her waist, getting a pinch of the sand she had added when she had gathered supplies at the Abbey. As the elf was charging her, she quickly cast her sleep spell on him and watched him crumple silently to the ground.

Shana stopped in her tracks when two things happened almost simultaneously, she heard DQueene say something and suddenly the elf was crumbling to the ground. “Is he dead?” She whispered. “Did you kill him?”

As if to answer her question for himself, suddenly Elendirill made a loud noise: “ZZZzzz…ZZZzzz…ZZZzzz.”

Having a hard time deciding whether she wanted to laugh or cry, she giggled and had to wipe tears from her eyes: “Well, I guess not.”

Kegger's trek to the glacier had been a refreshing exercise. After her brief announcement about the invasion of Vordasto, the monks packed up their camp and hurried toward the Abbey. They prayed for a bit of luck and a tailwind, hoping they could arrive before sunset.

Like usual it was Kegger who welcomed the guests but Eandrae hadn’t time for chatting with the domestic woman. She sighted, again this lack of time, when would it be like the earlier days when she had years to stay somewhere. Yes, her bones were definitive to old for this stuff. The witch asked her donkey to stay in the stables while she went to the back yard of the abbey.

It was a large yard with some flowerbeds, a well and of course grapevines everywhere you looked. In one of the outer corners there was a small stair, which only could be seen by talented persons because a hiding spell was waved over it. Andréa went to the stairs and entered a cold, dark room she waited for a while and like usual a woman entered the room and beckoned the old woman to follow her. They walked trough a small hall lightened with only a few torches.

After a silent walk the two women’s reached a new room, which was in severe contrast with the previous room and the hall. This new chamber was filled with light and it spread a warm feeling. A small bed stood in the left corner and next to it was a table with a two-arm candle. The floor was covered with several colourful carpets and in the middle of the room stood a sober table with four chairs.

“As long as I can remember me, nothing ever changed in your room Phoebe, “ said the old witch to the woman who escorted her. “Even you are staying always the same, never get older, never get younger “

The woman with the timeless face looked the old witch who she had know her whole life, she was the midwife when Eandrae’s mother gave birth too the twins. “If there is a person who should know that my outer appearance is just a case, then it is you my child, but it seems to me that there isn’t time to chat about the lost old days so lets sit down and tell me what I can do for you “

There, again this lack of time, with again a sight Eandrae walked to the table and sat down. She looked to the woman across from her and started to explain her vision then she talked about how someone called her and about the Guardian saving Mari. When she finished her story she looked into Phoebe’s dark blue eyes.

“So you found her, finally” was the only thing the woman answered. Letting Eandrae alone with her though she stood up and walked to the fireplace were she prepared some tea. “Do you want also a cup of tea my dear” she asked. Eandrae only nodded, when she saw how the woman returned with the tea she asked what she meant with that sentence and who did she found?

For the first time in her life Eandrae saw a small grin on the face of the woman who was some kind of a mother to her. “Well you’re knew apprentice my dear, you should have meet her already in the halls but you couldn’t wait and had to leave “ answered the woman while nipping on her tea.

The old witch was chocked. What did Phoebe said? An apprentice? She didn’t want an apprentice, she never wanted want, and she wouldn’t take one. It wasn’t her job to teach those irritating young mages that was something for Brigham but not for her.

“Impossible” Eandrae almost cried. She jumped of her chair and started to pace up and down. “ It is impossible, I can’t handle an apprentice, not in those times “ she mumbled “but on the other hand, if I had to choose an apprentice she would be worthy. I already noticed that she has far more talent then hundred of Brigham’s apprentices “.

“Yes that would be it, when she Eandrae would teach an apprentice who was even more talented that Brigham “ while she toughed about the furious face of her former master she started to laugh.

Phoebe looked to the old woman who held her stomach while tears running from her face. “Well I think that you had your fun now, maybe we can start with the more important things “ she said with a severe voice and putted down her cop of tea . “The one who kidnapped the elfin woman will bring shadow and pain among the people if he succeed to find the orb and activate it . “ Phoebe sighted , went to her bookcase and took a small, in leather wrapped , scroll then she continued with her explanation “it is just like mentioned in the scrolls of destruction and it seems like we have to prevent the worse “

“We don’t have the time on our side so you have to hurry . Read as soon as possible the scroll then you understand more about this evil surrounding us . Take care my child and if you need my support you know how to find me “ with these words Phoebe handed the scroll to the witch . Eandrae took the roll and left the room back to the back yard of the abbey .

While looking to the sky she could see that the sun already appeared so she stayed the whole night in Phoebe’s accommodation but that wasn’t strange at all because the passing of time was totally different there then on earth . Now she could also feel the hunger and thirst so she walked to the kitchen were she found an upset Kegger who informed her about the disaster in Vordasto . Eandrae helped her to pack her stuff together and escorted her to the gates .

When she passed the stables she looked inside to see how her donkey was doing . It seemed that the animal didn’t need anything and was ready to leave , while she turned to the doorway to get some food for her journey a little move catches her attention . It was the strange Elmo who lay in the straw while licking his wounded and dirty pawn .

“You better don’t do that otherwise you’ll be sick from that mess . It must hurt , let me see what I can do about it“ while talking to Elmo she took his pawn and looked at it . “Mhh it must be cleaned before I can heal you “ . With a single gesture she took the animal and brought it to the kitchen . A small request to the elements of water and fire and in no time the washing tub was filled with warm water . The old woman wanted to throw Elmo in the tub but the animal , which had a natural aversion towards water to get cleaned , wanted to corporate with the old woman . He paddled with his four pawns and it took Eandrae to much of her force to keep him in the water so she couldn’t to stay out of the wetness . “Ohhh stop it you little bastard “ she said to the baby while trying to keep him at his place with one had cause she needed the other to grab the brush but Elmo felt that this was his change to escape from this terrible bath and with a pawn he beat the other hand away and jumped out of the tub . A whole wave of water ended on the old woman .

“That’s it you little horror “ she screamed while sending a ray of elemental energy to Elmo’s direction . With a rough gesture Eandrae threw him back in the tub and started to clean him with the brush . This time it seemed that Elmo understood to stay silent in the water if he didn’t want to get hurt so he let the old woman do her thing while he wept silently .

The little creature didn't know what to do... He feared the strange wet tub and he feared the creature that kept him inside it and stroked his rugged skin. But as he feared that again trying to escape wasn't going to help, he decided to sit it out. If things would get dangerous, he was confident his jaws would always be able to help him out of the situation. Putting all the trust in his jaws, the little creature's mouth immediately started to produce saliva, and his nostrils became aware of the remarkable body odour of the two legger. The uncomfortable situation banned out of his thoughts, he opened his big toothless mouth widely and barely aware of his next action, put it with a snapping and drooling sound around the woman's arm.

Against a nearby wall was a cylinder carved from the ivory horn of a narwhal. The cylinder had been carefully hollowed out to form a watertight container for a scroll or a map, but since Bignor never learned how to read he never bothered opening it. The purple and gold cloth bag beside the cylinder was made from fine silk, so densely woven that it, too, was waterproof. Something inside the bag was glowing softly, casting eerie shadows on the cavern wall above it.

-----------------------

The bridge at the top of the chasm remained standing despite the abuse of wind and stampeding refugees. It was somewhat worse for the wear, and the next dwarf to cross it would probably decide to start a career rebuilding it -- for an exhorbatant fee, of course. Perhaps a couple of trolls could be recruited to collect donations for such a worthy public service project.

At each end of the vast stone expanse, where the road met the bridge, stood a large oil-fed torch. Sparkl visited those torches frequently, to test the winds, view the mists below, and use the torches as a jumping off point for further journeys to the north and west of Vordasto. "What shall I see this day?" she mused, as she flitted from the south torch to the north in a single blink, "away up north in the mountain caves?"

DQueene who seemed to be studying Shana’s face intently, had a puzzled look on her face: “You know child, without all of that hair around your face, you remind me of someone I used to know.” She shook her head in bewilderment: “I just can’t remember who.”

DQueene looked at the elf lying on the ground and said bitterly: “I know why he attacked me. He blames all dragons for the acts of only a few. He doesn’t question if I am guilty, only if my kind are guilty. Of course, I have killed elves in battle; I won’t claim complete innocence of the deed. But I have never killed a woman or child and I have never killed for sport.”

Shana just looked at her for a moment and then walked over to her horse and grabbed a rope off the saddle. “Well, we’ll make him see sense one way or another.” She smiled at Mari: “Won’t we, Mari?” She hesitated for a moment and then she whispered to Mari again. “And, uh,” she licked her lips, “if you have any soap, I’ll take a bath in the hot springs before we sleep.” She smiled uncertainly at Mari again and rushed over to tie the elf up carefully.

"Shall we pray for rescue?" asked Mrs. Kegger. The monks gathered in a circle and joined hands to pray, in their accustomed manner,

-----------------------

The elemental spirit was pleased with itself. The snowstorm had worked to its advantage, hiding most of the landscape and many of the landmarks along Vudaran's journey through the Forbidden Mountains. More than once, Vuldaran seemed surprised and confused that the path had come to dead end. It only seemed to make him more determined to hurry back to his last landmark and forge forward even quicker than before.

A few more subtle illusions, thought the spirit, and I'll have Vuldaran back at the Castle Ruins by the time darkness falls, instead of deep within the mountains. That is, if the rings he's wearing don't get in my way.

-----------------------

The Abbot had learned the "official" interpretation of the Oracle's Revelation, and decided to return to the Abbey at first light. Well, maybe after breakfast. No use traveling on an empty stomach. Anyway, it had been the consensus of his betters that the revelation was referring to future events, probably centered around a remote region far to the south, and thus not at all pertaining to the Snowcross Abbey either now or in the foreseeable future.

"That is indd-d-deed a relief and a b-b-blessing," he mused, "and one m-more thing for which t-t-to b-be thankful." He raised his wine glass to punctuate the toast.

Mari's face brightened up, she was glad: Shana had given up her refusal to take a bath and DQueene and Elendirill were still alive. Tension slowly left her body and she smiled back:
"Ok, we'll leave those two buttheads to their own. Guess, they only need a reasonable chat or two to find out that the SHADOW is more important than old feuds. Come on, I've got some reeeeaaaaally wonderful soap here, foamy and bubbly and soooo soft, you'll love it."
Both went to a nearby brook, watered the horses quickly and Shana was so kind to share her grain between her horses and Zanor. Whilst the animals were munching happily, Mari wove a short rune of invisibility in the air, encircling the hot spring and shrouding both females from unwelcome peepers for about 30 minutes.
"Ok, don't be shy, Shana, just throw your old stuff here on the ground, I'll undress, too, ok? My muscles need a long hot soaking bath. And here's the soap..."
Saying this she turned a bit aside, quickly popped out of her own clothes, taking care to keep her backpack nearby and dropped thankfully into the brew.
"Aaaahhhh, that's good," Mari closed her eyes and relaxed. Through her half-closed eyes, hidden by her eyelashes, she watched Shana standing there, still hesistant.
"Come on, you coward, don't tell me you're scared of water? Ok, if you can't make up your mind, then hand me the soap, will you?" Shana took one more step, bend forward with the soap in her outstretched hand - a short and firm tug, a large splash - Shana was in the water.
"Hah, gotcha! Ok, your clothes are ruined, right? So, take them off and relax..." Mari laughed heartily.
"And in the meantime I'll use the soap, thank you."
Mari turned her back on Shana and started to create a lot of foam, relishing the soft scent of lavender, citronell and rosebud...

Shana just sat there for a minute wondering if she should laugh or duck the other girl under the water for what she had just done. After all, she’d only hesitated for a minute! She glanced around and although it was toasty warm in the water, there was snow within arms reach of the pond. She slowly scooted to the edge of the pond, keeping an eye on Mari the whole time. Yep, so far so good, she smiled wickedly and reached out and scooped up a large handful of snow. With a quick scoot in Mari’s direction she rubbed the snow down Mari’s head all the way down her back.

"Wuuaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh", Mari screamed, turned around and ducked Shana under water. Both girls squealed, fought, splashed for a timebeing, having a lot of fun and Mari noticed (with a bleeding heart) how skinny, bruised and scarred that little girl was. After some time she was able to convince Shana how soothing and soft the soap was - some minutes later the little girl allowed Mari to lather and scrub her back (gladly), her ears (reluctantly), her neck (bravely) and her face (with a grimace).
"Ok, Fighter, it's time to dress now." Mari dived shortly under water, came up and then left the warm pool reluctantly, looking for a towel she had in her backpack. Quickly drying herself she then slipped into her old clothes and rummaged in her backpack for suitable others.
"Drat, that linen shirt and those nice leather breeches meant for you are safely left behind in the Abbey... Hmmmm, but what's left? Ha!" Fishing out a cotton shirt she waved it triumphantly.
"Look, Shana, this is perfect - this dark blue will suit your eyes perfectly and will provide a far better tarnish than the white linen one. There's a small spell woven in it, keeps water off. Now, wait a sec, I have to look for more - you wouldn't want walk barelegged, would you?"
She looked at Shana who seemed quite happy in the warm water, eyes shining, a smile on her face, a child at last.
"Ok, but I warn you, you'd better take gooooood care of this! These are my favourite pants." Mari held up a pair of fine deerskin breeches, smooth, soft and of a brownish golden colour.
"Now get out, get out, here's a towel and be quick, you wouldn't want to get a cold, would you? Oh, yes, and you'll probably need this belt, guess my pants are a bit too large for you."
Shana hopped out of the pool and Mari wrapped the towel around her, rubbing her dry and helping her to dress.
"And don't worry about your gender, it's our secret, ok? And hurry up, please. I'm so hungry I could eat a roasted elf."
Nestling at her long hair with her fingers, she tried to dry and entangle it, but then decided that the campfire was more helpful.

Daryll had been running around all day, he was so restless sometimes ...

Elmira, Daryll's mother, just finished the last chores on the farm, and now she took the tools inside. They were old, and totally worn down, but they were all she had left. She should go to the blacksmith in town someday to have them fixed, but since her husband died, now almost 3 years ago, she didn't like to be among other people, she only wanted to be with Daryll. She smiled, life had not been nice to her, she had to take care of the farm and the surrounding lands, she even had to sell a big part of their lands, because it was too much for her to meantain by herself. That was also the reason why she could keep her tools inside the main building, she didn't have as much tools as she used too. The barn outside was almost faling apart, she didn't use it anymore, there was no need for it anymore. But she found some comfort in her only son, now almost 8 years old ...

Her days had all been the same, after a hard days work she would come in and prepare dinner for two. Always with fresh vegtables, and sometimes a bit of meat. Today she was going to prepare a caserole with the few winter vegtables she had taken with her. Winter was always a rough time for them, but they have always managed, and they didn't eat that much anyway.
Daryll took a chair and moved it next to her, so he could climb up and watch her preparing the food. Elmira looked at him and pinched him in the cheek with a smile. He was such a good boy, she thought ...

She finished late today, and it was getting darker, but suddenly it was dark as night. How did that happen so fast? Elmira thought a bit worried, you don't spend your entire life getting up at dawn and going to sleep at dusk without learning something about the cycle of day and night. Elmira turned around and she froze ...

Just moments later everything was quiet, an unnatural silence had fallen over the lands, it had begun ...

DQueene grabbed the elf's sword from the ground, where it had fallen when the spell struck, and then carefully removed all of his arrows from his quiver. Placing them on the opposite side of the camp fire from the elf, she slowly walked back to Elendirill's side.

Leaning over the elf, she stared at him, studying him closely and noting the nobility of his features. She spoke quietly "Okay, elf, one last chance to prove yourself." She leaned down and slowly untied his hands. Walking back to the other side of the fire, she sat down by his sword and arrows.

She listened to the two girls romping in the water close by and smiled drowsily. "Ah, they are so young. No matter their sorrows they always seem to find joy in life.” She thought as she drifted to sleep, “If only I could…”

The dream came swiftly as it often did, she saw him as she had seen him that first time they had met. So strong for a human, kind and full of laughter, he saw her only as a beautiful elven maiden. He fell in love as swiftly as she did. Their romance was a whirlwind and their marriage had been blessed with love and laughter for ten full years. She had forsaken her dragon self, never telling him of her true form. Dragon kind was greatly reviled for the acts of a few cruel rogues who had allied themselves with darkness. She feared seeing his love for her turn to disgust and so played the coward and told him not.

Then, suddenly her dream sped forward to the day that unbelievable miracle had happened and she bore a daughter. Such a union as they had was rare, and had never produced a child, and yet she was here. A beautiful little cherub, she had appeared to be truly half-elf and half-human. Her only distinguishing mark was the one on her hip, the same as the one on my hip, the same as the one on my granddams’ hip: the mark of the Queen. I rocked her in my arms and laughed and sang a lullaby.

...
Hush my darling sleep tonight
For Love and Caring is thy right
Sleep, sweet baby until Morning’s Light
In my arms so sweet and tight
…

My dream sped forward and I wanted to shout “No, let me hold her a little longer, she is mine!” but it was no use. I again received the message that I was needed home, some evil had befallen my granddam and I must return to secure the Lair. My husband worried for me to go on my own, but he knew I was a fine fighter and he laughed and joked about his getting to have our daughter all to himself for the month or so I would be gone.

Again my dream sped forward, I was going home, and I had flown to the last hilltop and walked the valley in between. I had one more hill and I would see my home, I ran … I was so happy… and then I stared in horror. My home… my home was ashes. There was livestock lying slaughtered and bloated in the sun. I ran; I ran so hard! I saw him lying on his side. They had toyed with him, it was obvious, he had small cuts and bruises all over him; but he had fought back, this gentle man of mine. His hands were so bruised; I held them in mine and sobbed. I got up slowly and searched everywhere for my baby. I would bury them together and they would care for each other until we were together again. I pulled what was left of my house apart board by board looking for her small body and found nothing until I came to our great hearth. Lying there was an abomination, a talisman so evil that at first I didn’t understand how I had missed sensing it from miles away. Twisted in its spell casting was a hiding, shielding it from the magick senses until viewed closely. I knew I dared not touch it so I picked up a hammer and crushed it into a million tiny pieces. I went to my husband and buried him, falling to my knees and crying for what might have been.

I felt a small hand touching my face and a voice saying, “Shhh, it’s alright.”

I opened my tearful eyes and looked up at the child Shana; it was her hand rubbing my face. Mari was patting my back and making soothing noises right along with her. I looked at them both and tried to smile, “I’m sorry, it’s a dream I have to often. I’m okay.” I paused and thought I saw a movement across the fire. I glanced at the elf but he was still, and thought, “It must have been my eyes or a shadow from the fire. He shouldn’t be awake yet unless he’s got some magick resistance.”

I looked at Mari and Shana, “Why don’t we sleep for a couple of hours, break our fast, and then continue on? The horses must rest and so must we, or we can help no one.”

He snorted, looking up he saw two stupid mules running straight towards him. The precence of the other thing was still there but his desperate hunger took over. The two mules ran into him and when they looked up you could saw fear in their eyes. With his one claw he pinned down one of the mules, it was screaming of fear or could it have been the pain because it's ribcage was being crushed by the dragons claw. The other mules fear dripped down it's hinds legs. He opened his mouth lowered his head and bit into the flesh of the mule that was still standing. He lifted his head and closed his jaws and crushed the mule. Chewing a little bit just to get the large bones broken so that he could swallow it easier. He swallowed it down, it went down easy. Blood was flowing from the nostrils of the mule beneath his claw and it had already stopped screaming. He lifted his claw and picked up the mule and again opened his mouth and swallowed it whole.
He was pleased his stomach was full and the hunger pains was gone. Then suddenly the precence returned, he looked furiously around but didn't see it. He knew it must have been in the abbey but in his true form there was no way he could enter. There was just one way to enter he didn't like it but it was his only way to find out what was in the abbey that attracted him.
He started incanting one of the only two spells he knew. The one spell was the one sent by his queen to ward of the spell by the soldiers but this was not the spell now. When he stop incantating and the spell was complete a blue mist appeared out of nowhere, surrounding him. He started changing his wings got smaller, his tail was busy dissapearing, his horns withdrew back into his scull and finally his scales started turning into human skin. The mist withdrew and there standing was Drakonis in human form, golden locks flowing from his forehead and a body that looked like the best blacksmits and crafters in the world created him. Wet blood still dripped from his mouth from the mules he ate. Wiping the blood of he noticed he was naked and went in searched for clothes to wear. He hated the idea of clothes it always scratched him. He walked into the barn when he spied a few pieces of clothing. It was a tunic of pale green and a pair of black pants, he quikly pulled it on and headed towards the abbey to find this thing that attracted him............

My head hurts ...

Elendirill could think again. He wasn't awake yet, but the horror of dreaming a dreamless sleep was over. He wasn't awake, nor sleeping, but no dreams came to him. He was trying to remember what happened and after awhile it struck him like a blow from a cavetroll. There was a gragon amongst them, a dragon who takes the form of one of his noble kind ... He remembered what he did. Elendirill cursed himself for not have thought it over better. Ofcourse you can't charge in on a dragon like that! He should have taken her in her sleep. But his instincts were stronger than his mind ... How did he become like that? He was so calm, even for an elf, nothing seemed to touch him, and he enjoyed being alone, hunting down the animals who were his equal. How did he come so hot-headed?

Elendirill felt how reality would come back soon, he started to feel his legs again, and that was not a pleasant feeling, his entire body was bruised and hurt, not only from the fight, but from his previous ordeal too. He decided not to move, but to open his eyes. Everything was blurry first, and he was looking directly into the fire, but then he could see something moving behind the fire. It was the dragon! But something was wrong, she was ... she was crying? Dragons are not supposed to have feelings? He had seen one of their kind killing hundreds of elves once, and it didn't even ate them, he just threw them back at the other elves! It was too cruel for words, seeing friends and other elves he knew being smacked down just in front of him. That was his last day as a warrior, and so was it for many other. He was always looking for solitude after that, but he was still young, and when he had met Feraila, well, she helped him recover from what he saw. She opened up the old wounds, and then she closed them forgood with a tender kiss and comforting arms. She had done much for him ...

Maybe it was because of her tears, or maybe because of his own sadness, but a single tear rolled down from his face. He had felt too much sorrow these last days of his life, which seemed like years now, to spill more tears. This one tear was all he had left, but it expressed so much inner grief ...
Elendirill lay down his head again, pretending to be asleep. He saw one of them turning towards him between the lids of his eyes. He needed more time to think now, he wanted to take off on his own again, but he was too weak, and as humiliating as it may be, he might need there help ... He would lose all his honour if it would mean for Feraila to be free, he would even lose his life for her ...

And then Elendirill fell asleep, for real this time ...

"Ok, sleep would be a very good idea... I'll take over the first watch. You two can take a nap now. DQueene, may I wake you up in about 2 hours to take over the next shift?"
The Dragon-Elf-Woman nodded, rolled over, pulled the cloak over her body and closed her eyes, she was weary and emotionally drained.
"Ok, Shana, take a rest now, I'll take care over everything, don't worry, Little One. And don't forget to cover yourself properly, I'll need to dry my hair at the fireside."
Shana frowned slightly, she did not seem to like being fussed over, but was too tired to protest. Cuddling herself next to DQueene, she seemed to fall asleep within the next second. Mari smiled, pulled the cloak up a little bit higher, so the girl was tucked in safe and warm, then she plodded to the fire, spreading out her hair before the campfire.
After a while she got bored and remembered her task to give Elendirill the map. She crept up to him and peered into his face. He seemed fast asleep, then she noticed a small drop on his cheek. Had he cried? She stroked his cheek and tasted her fingertips: Yes, it tasted salty. Hovering her hands in a short distance over his body she sent out blue again and added a wee faint of gold to it. After a while she saw his features relax... "Hopeful dreams, Elf, may peace come back to your heart", she whispered and crept back to the fire.
Mari was weary and restless at the same time, so she decided to look after the horses and the mule, nibbling at a stale piece of onion bread. They stood calmly nearby, everything seemed alright.
"Hi, Zanor, me boy, are you ok? I'm a bit lonely," she whispered and stroked his mane, playing a bit with it. The stallion butted her playfully into her shoulder and then started to nibble her hair. Mari lent against his body and felt their bond and his warmth.
"You know what? It's really great to have a friend, specially a four-legged one - even one wanting to eat my hair. Here, want to share the bread with me instead?" she smiled contently. A short nort, a quick gobble and both chewed, united in harmony.

A cold and wet group of monks and Kegger trundled up to the Abbey, thankful that their prayers for a safe return home had been answered. As they approached the great iron door, they spotted a handsome golden-haired young man walking toward them from the direction of the workshop and stables. He was plainly dressed and shoeless.

"Come inside, quickly!" Kegger called to the young man, "Before you catch your death of cold. You poor thing! You must have fled Vordasto without even stopping to put your shoes on."

Although they themselves were shivering uncontrollably, several of the monks removed their leather sandals and held them out as an offering to the young man. The Caldaria's great hearth would be a welcomed relief from their ordeal on the glacier. A hot bath wouldn't be a bad idea, either.

As the group entered the Abbey, they couldn't believe their ears. A woman's voice came from the direction of the kitchen, and she was -- is it possible? -- screaming: "That's it you little horror!" Then came the sound of lightening, followed by a splash and a "meeping" sound.

Kegger and several of the monks rushed into the kitchen only to find Eandrae scrubbing the hide of a small, large-headed, and very unhappy bluish-gray creature. Water and suds were everywhere, and Eandrae was soaked from head to toe. Despite her previous yelling and the obvious struggle that had taken place, Eandrae appeared to be quite content and pleased with herself.

Brother Arnu, recognizing Eandrae instantly, stifled a laugh and offered her a hug of greeting. Kegger was busy removing her snow-caked traveling apparel and fetching a mop and bucket. The rest of the monks gathered near the hearth to soak up its blessed warmth and regain the feeling in their fingers and toes. A few random embers escaped from the fire and floated around the room, but none of the monks seemed to notice them.

What was that noise outside ? It seemed that Kegger and the monks arrived and yes , the whole troops stood already in the room were Eandrae tried to get the dirt of from Elmo . Grmpfff why looked those monks that stupid to her ? Didn’t they never saw a woman cleaning and unwilling child ? It became even more worse when that Brother , what was his name again ? Yes Brother Arnu , when he greeted her and wanted to hug her . Her , Eandrae , The Witch everyone feared . With a loud snarl she pushed him away send him and the other out of the room .

Now that the little critter was cleaned Eandrae could heal his wounds . With a little bit help of her magical skills it took her less then a minute . Elmo still looked feared towards her and while those great eyes looked into hers Eandrae already cursed her impatient . She turned her head to the left and the right to see of someone was in the neighborhood but it seemed that she and the animal were the only ones . With a last view she secured herself that their were alone then she grabbed Elmo and gave him a short hug and left the room .
Kegger could clean the mess when she came back though the witch cause she had more important things to do then playing a housemaid .

Before she left the abbey to travel in the dimension of the Wind Elements the old witch concentrated her thoughts and contacted her old friend Dqueene .
“I found some more information about this Evil we’re feeling . It is subscribed in the Scrolls of destruction . I am going to study them in the wind dimension and contact you as soon as I found something important . “

He gladly excepted the invitation to enter the abbey. All that he hoped wasthat the monks did not find out his true identity. He heared the sounds that came from what must be the kitchen and saw all the monks rushing toward the place. All the monks stood in the doorway so he couldn't see what was going on. But then some of them cleared out and the first thing he noticed was a little blue creature. That must be the thing that attracted him. He went in for a closer look.......

When the monks brought Illillitl up from the cellar to the kitchen, Kegger met them at the door.

"You'll all have to eat your bread by the hearth tonight, dears. The kitchen is a shambles. I'll be mopping and cleaning for hours. Here's your bread." as she handed them a large basket, "Now, will one of you brave men kindly remove that," her thumb pointed to a squeeky clean Elmo "from my kitchen?"

Without a further word, everyone set to their tasks. The kitchen was mopped and scrubbed and made to be orderly again. Then, Mrs. Kegger stoked the fire and sat down by the hearth to rest her weary bones.

"I'm getting too old for this."

Sparkl chose that moment to appear from the hearth. "Mrs. Kegger, I'm soooooo glad to see you made it back safely. I was worried when I couldn't find your lanterns on the glacier anymore. ... Guess what! I saw a dragon today, and your daughter is almost to the Icy River now. She's fine. Gotta go! Bye bye!" and she was gone.

Mrs. Kegger smiled, stood up (with a little groan), and wandered off to bed. Night had descended on the Abbey, moonless and starless. A dark thick blanket of fog rolled over the snowy fields as soon as the snow stopped falling.

"A good night for staying indoors." Sparkl commented, as she emerged from the Abbey's chimney, then flitted off to who-knows-where.