Kay peoples, I'm still stuck, but here's a short interlude.

Thanks to Elfsheen for beta reading.

***************

A city made mostly of

crystal and white marble

***************

A winded messenger ran into what looked like a family dinner. He bowed to the pair sitting at the head of the table and waited to be acknowledged.

'What has brought you here in such haste?' asked the man at the head of the table.

'Majesties, you have my sincerest apologies for interrupting your meal. Your brother, King Thaladrial of Mirkwood sent word that he believed the forbidden evil has begun to awaken.'

'Thank you, you may go,' the King said.

The eldest boy among the eleven children present spoke up as soon as the doors closed behind the messenger. 'Mother, Father, they are surely going to go after the twins to use them as leverage against us.'

'I know. We will send for them immediately,' the king said.