Chapter III: Advice for the Advisors

Soon, the group could see the palace of New Edoras looming above them. While not as beautiful or splendid as it may have once been, it was still rather impressive to look upon. Its peacefulness was marred by the presence of military men everywhere. Archers lined the walls, and soldiers could be seen moving about inside the city.

Celebdraug looked up at Lèofa, who was riding a horse taken from the Fellowship soldiers they had defeated. "I see that thou art already in a state of war," she said to him.

He nodded grimly, "The Fellowship continues to take our lands. They have pushed our eastern border nearly to the capitol itself." He paused, as if considering something. "Do you think..." he stopped, then, swallowed and started again. "Would it be at all possible for you to stay in our lands and defend us? At least for a while?"

Celebdraug turned to Mordae with question in her eyes.

He shrugged, "What do you think?" he asked.

"I don't know!" she responded, "Don't look at me! You know I can't make decisions!"

Mordae sighed, looked at Celebdraug, then at Lèofa. "We shall consider thy request."

Now Lèofa sighed, "I figured you would say that."

After a moment of silence, the group reached the gates of New Edoras. The guards in front of the gate crossed their spears, and then pulled them back in astonishment. They let their weapons fall to the ground and dropped to their knees, faces down.

"My liege," exclaimed the captain, "You have returned!"

Lèofa smiled, "Rise," he commanded.

He reached down and removed a silver horn shaped like the head of a horse, and brought it to his lips. As the clear note rang out, cries of "The King!" could be heard echoing throughout the city.

Mordae stopped staring at Lèofa and dropped to his knee as well, Celebdraug following suit.

"Thou did not say that thou was the king!" Mordae said in surprise.

Lèofa laughed in response.

"We mistook thee for a tribal chief, or duke at the greatest, my liege. Our deepest apologies," Celebdraug added.

Again, Lèofa laughed, "Rise, it is I who should bow to you. I would not be the king if I were in a Belgorian prison, now would I? Come, you will soon enjoy the luxury you deserve."

They made their way through the streets of the city, where people bowed to them and placed flowers in their path.

Lèofa, noting the discomfort that all the attention seemed to cause the elves, smiled. "You are not used to this?"

They shook their heads. "We are more of the unsung heroes, not the parade soldiers," Celebdraug said nervously, looking about her.

Finally, they reached the gates of the palace, where several guards and advisors to the king stood. They bowed to Lèofa, and he nodded in return, then, turned to the elves.

"I have utmost trust in you, "he said to them, "however, tradition and law says that I must ask you to disarm yourselves."

The elves sighed. "Dost thou really wish to wait that long?" Mordae asked.

"I am a patient man," Lèofa said, a twinkle in his eye.

"Very well."

The elves began to disarm with dizzying speed. A pile of various lengths of swords, daggers, and throwing knives quickly grew into a mound. Finally, the elves added their bows and several quivers to the miniature armory.

"Does that suit thee?" Celebdraug asked with a small smile.

One of the advisors had been staring at Celebdraug for quite some time, and now he stepped forward and reached for the necklace on her chest. Before the guard could even begin to speak, Mordae's hand shot out and clasped around the man's wrist. Mordae had no intention of harming the advisor, only restraining him, but fear was still evident on the man's face.

Celebdraug reached out and touched Mordae's hand, speaking to him through mindspeak, the connection the elves shared.

. Let him go, her voice echoed in his head.

Do not let him touch you! Mordae responded.

What is your problem? You're going to get us both killed!

Just trust me! Mordae's eyes blazed.

Celebdraug raised her eyebrows, but removed her hand, and Mordae released the advisor's wrist.

The man glared venomously at Mordae, then turned to Celebdraug. "What is this?" he asked, reaching again for her amulet.

She smiled sweetly as she tucked it inside her tunic. "It's nothing really. Just a necklace."

However, the advisor was not convinced, "But you both have one."

What the Udun does he want... Mordae thought to Celebdraug, his mind racing desperately.

She maintained her smile; "We were given them as gifts from southerners in our campaigns in the south."

"Ah," the advisor said. "I have heard of the mysterious warriors that defeated the Drow south of the White Mountains. We are indebted to you for that."

Celebdraug smiled even more broadly, "Thou art welcome."

The advisor nodded, but as he stepped back, the elves sensed deep hostility coming from him.

Told you. Mordae thought to Celebdraug. She turned away from him slightly and narrowed her eyes.

Lèofa hastily spoke up, "My servants will take you to your quarters now."

"Thank you," Celebdraug said as she followed the servants inside the palace.

After the servant had bowed to them and departed, Celebdraug spun and glared at Mordae.

"What in Illuvitar's name do you think you're doing?!?!"

Mordae stepped back from her, a look close to pain on his face. "Please! Celebdraug, listen..."

"Why must you always jump right to conclusions and try to solve things?"

"Listen! That man...couldn't you feel it? I swear I saw him in the south, in one of the temples we destroyed. He was one of the Drow priests. I know it."

Celebdraug sighed, "I did feel something wrong. But don't you think you overreacted?"

"If that man got hold of your amulet, both of us, no, the whole Earth, would be in serious trouble."

Celebdraug paused before answering. The amulets were far more than necklaces for looks. They were pieces of the elements bonded with part of the elves' life forces. Illúvatar, the All-God, had chosen the power of Light for Mordae, and Fire for Celebdraug. If the amulets were taken or destroyed, it would not only kill the owner, but could cause unbalance among the elements.

Celebdraug finally nodded, "Okay, you were right. I was wrong. You win."

Mordae smiled, but before he could make a sarcastic comment, she spoke up again.

"So now that this is all cleared up, what are we going to do about this priesty guy?"

"Nothing?" he answered tentatively.

"Wrong answer, hobbit," Celebdraug answered. He glared playfully at her.

"Well, we can't exactly just kill him, he's one of the King's advisors, and we have no weapons," Mordae countered.

Celebdraug's eyes burned brightly, "And why should that stop us?"

He smiled knowingly and nodded, "Let's go explore."

"Why?" she asked.

"Because I'm bored, and we have forever before we have to go and be civil."

The elves stealthily snuck past the guards placed at the entrance to their hallway and raced down the corridors of the palace, checking for hidden doors and balconies wherever they suspected anything interesting.

Finally, their efforts paid off. A bookcase they tested swung free with a squeak, revealing a dark tunnel. The two paused, allowing a moment for their eyes to adjust to the darkness and their natural night vision to kick in.

After a few seconds, the tunnel was to them nearly as bright as if the walls were lined with torches. Cautiously, Mordae entered, looking side to side for any movement as the chasm began to widen.

Suddenly, Celebdraug heard footsteps in the tunnel behind them. She tapped Mordae's shoulder and they flattened against the wall, drawing their cloaks, which acted as camouflage, around them.

A dark form walked slowly into the darkness, its hands hidden. The elves waited until the figure was directly in front of them before attacking, Mordae tackling the figure and Celebdraug pulling a dagger from the man's belt and placing it on his neck.

"Friends!" Lèofa's voice cried.

The elves quickly released him and helped him up, apologizing emphatically.

"All is well. I am unhurt," he replied. "However, you two should not be down here."

"What is it?" Mordae asked.

"An old mine shaft left over from the Third Age."

"Liar," Celebdraug responded with a smile.

"King."

"Fine."

"Come, my servants will tend to you."