'Alarielle!' The White Lions and Grail Knights roared, emptying the mugs of ale.
They can get along, Teclis noted. The mourning has turned into chaos a long time ago, but there was nothing he could do about it, as well as Repanse. The men needed some rest before the upcoming storm. The storm that could see the majority of the people gathering in the Great Hall dead. Perhaps even dooming the Ulthuan. The Hag is too dangerous. She might be encaged and immobilized, but her mind is capable of interfering with the Knights of Lileath. He took a sip from the glass with a spiced wine and stood up. He approached Vanya and looked right into her emerald eyes. 'Forgive me. I doomed us.'
'What?' she wondered. 'No, you didn't. You did the right thing and soon the Phoenix Court will recognize your talents.'
'I should have killed her and be executed for treason so that you could live.' He sensed tears in the corners of his eyes. He grabbed a letter out of his mantle and gave it to her.
'He is coming. Here. Right now. He is coming,' Teclis walked back and forth.
'When.. when did this arrive?'
'Two hours ago.'
He tapped his right foot against the floor as Vanya was reading through the letter, her eyes opening wider and wider.
'The sails of Black Arks will blot out the Sun-'
'-of thousands of fleeing sparing no one,' she picked up the lines.
'So sharpen your swords and polish thine shields,
Lest your rotting bodies will cover the fields.'
They looked each other in the eyes, his grayish blue against her bright green. Vanya dropped the letter and leaned towards Teclis. Sensing her fear, he tangled his fingers with hers and allowed her to put her head on his shoulder. He felt her tears running down the chest under his cloth. 'I doomed us.'
They stood like that for some moments, seen by everyone who was willing to glance at that far corner of the great Hall. He didn't tell them. The only people knowing were Talarian, Rahmad, and now, Vanya. No letter was sent to Ulthuan or the armada. Teclis made sure to hurry up and send the messages to every Kingdom, but by the time it arrives too much wind would blow the Black Arks' gargantuan sails, allowing them to travel unprecedented distances. The letter was written by the merchant ship in a hurry and sent to the first major port the scribe could think of.
Teclis did not care now what would his officers think, or how much Loremaster Talarian would preach him about the absurdity of his love, or how Tyrion would stand up for him. They were all doomed, for Malekith is coming. All his hopes that Morathi did not let him know have shattered. He thought Talarian and him kept her busy with their incantations, but the Hag did not let them know. How could the Witch King be so close so fast? Perhaps, arcane magic fueled the Arks in times of dire need. It now mattered not. He did not know how to communicate Tyrion quickly and tell him to flee to Ulthuan and prepare the defenses.
Almost sensing Teclis' thoughts, Vanya told him, 'your brother has the spirit of a great warrior. He will reveal his full potential and we will knock them off back to the wasteland they call their home.' She finally looked up, possibly not having any more tears to cry. 'Tyrion is not the only one who will come.'
'Let us not talk of that now, Vanya,' he decided to throw away the thoughts of her buried the city ruins. 'If we really do have a few days left, let us make the most out of them.' He pulled her hands towards the crowd of drunk nobles, officers, and merchants, dancing at the center of the hall. They swarmed their way to the center, where on the barrows a band of musicians played some Bretonnian folk songs.
The alcohol seemed to have swept away the sorrow of Bretonnians and arrogance of the Elves. Teclis saw Handmaiden dance with a bloated Arabic merchant, Cedric with a White Lion, Repanse with Rahmad, and Gilles with an Arabic guardsman in a thick armor. The sheer simplicity of the situation made him forget about the grim future and believe that kindness and love could overcome the bane of Malekith. Teclis was deeply impressed with how much Master Rahmad cheered to Repanse knowing how dire the situation was. And especially Teclis was happy he came to the same conclusion as the wise old man did.
The people were clapping, stomping their feet, changing the partners and emptying the mugs and cups. The laughter ringed in the Great Hall of Al-Haikk, especially the roar of drunk Sir Cedric, and it seemed the old fears have faded into nothingness. Teclis got to Dance with Rahmad, Gilles, three of his officers, a musician, and Repanse.
'Where is our friend Loremaster Talarian?' she asked through the laughter.
'He seems a bit grumpy these days,' Teclis noted.
'Then tell him I invite him to dance!' She easily controlled the pace of the dance and could jump around with greater ease than Teclis could afford himself. They laughed at Repanse's proposal and followed the rhythm. Teclis' eye accidently slided towards Sir Cedric, who was enjoying the Elven beauty perhaps too much for a mourning ceremony. 'What is he doing?' he asked. Repanse turned her head and laughed at Cedric clumsily kissing with the White Lion. 'Oh, he likes boys. Perhaps too much. And pretty boys he likes the most. You Elves are pretty,' she chuckled.
'It looks like he is trying to drink the insides of Arweil.'
'He loves drinking, as you can see,' Repanse nodded.
When only the most enduring of the dancers were able to stand, Teclis and Vanya found one another and slowly spun around the barrels with drunk musicians. For the first time, he was comfortable being themselves in the center of attention of their kin. All that mattered was her wide smile and cheerful eyes. The concepts of time and tiredness no longer bore any meaning to him. His world shrunk to a pair of emerald eyes, thrusting his soul deeper than ever before. He was happy for the trust and affection they expressed, and he was happy to make her smile and laugh. When they finally shared a kiss, a roar of applause from the last standing soldiers surrounded them. Teclis looked at the balcony on top and noticed Talarian, gently clapping along with the crowd below. He always was his friend, even in hard times, and no small conflict over a person they do not know would ruin their friendship. Talarian swiftly came down the stairs and told, 'they will be here in an hour, not with the sunrise. The winds seem to favor their course.' Teclis smiled at the thought of meeting his brother. 'We can hurry up and meet them in harbor, if you don't mind,' Loremaster continued. The couple smiled in return. Talarian crossed hands behind his back and approached the former suspect. 'Lady Repanse, I apologize for my stubbornness and a degree of suspicion I showcased lately. Might I expect your forgiveness?'
She gladly smiled and told, 'In the face of great danger we must fight for what we hold dear. And so did you.'
A company of five departed the Great Hall and the inner walls, led by Master Rahmad. They went through narrow alleys, bazars, and gardens, before arriving to the Harbor. Teclis could see white ships stretching from one corner of the eye to another. In the front, the fast Hawkships were putting away the sails. Two of those led the armada, so Teclis knew someone else was coming. He also knew that his brother would make a show out of it.
Impatient, he took a step forth. The ships have anchored. From the front ship appeared a tall figure in the long helmet. He was holding a staff. Teclis recognized who came to aid him when the figure turned towards his face. Not believing in what is happening, Teclis smiled from ear to ear and bowed, standing on his knees. He heard Belannaer the Wise approached him. 'Prince Teclis,' he felt his right arm on his shoulder. Teclis looked up at his idol. 'Your courage and mind have helped the Asur to seize our mortal enemy. Stand.' Teclis obeyed. 'It seems that you are not the one to bend the knee.' Archmage took a step back and bowed, smiling at Teclis.
He saw the departed soldiers and people in the harbor follow Belannaer, Talarian, Rahmad, Repanse, Vanya, and … Tyrion. 'Tyrion!' Teclis called. His brother was the first to rise up. He rushed to Teclis and hugged him, chanting, 'My brother! This is my brother!' This hug was less gentle that the few ones Tyrion usually gave him, but not chest crushing, as Teclis have feared it would be. 'Asur, look! This is my brother!'
In the back Teclis heard Vanya and Repanse laughing. 'Yes, that's him,' Repanse giggled.
'So long, brother,' Tyrion whispered. Teclis laid his arms on Tyrion's shoulders and told, 'I am so happy you are here now. We are in dire need. The situation is much more dangerous then we have imagined.'
'How much dangerous?' he heard Belannaer approach them.
'I did not know how to inform you, but the messages to Ulthuan are on the way. The Black Arks have been seen by our merchants a couple of hundred of leagues. They are coming.' He felt the chilling wind blow under his mantle. 'And the Witch King.'
'By Hoeth,' Belannaer whispered. 'How many warriors do you have in the city?
