Chapter 3
Ororo entered the grand hall of Elden palace. Everywhere, intricate carvings of vines and forest creatures covered the mahogany walls. Glass panels held in place by the carvings that wove between the panes, allowed sunlight to enter, illuminating it all. The rays of light fell upon bubbling fountains and water falls that cascaded down the walls, spilling into pools that contained rare and exotic fish. Even though the walls were devoid of real life, it held a magical air that forced you to believe it was breathing with the own rise and fall of your chest, its heart thundering in time with your own.
"Your Majesty," the tall, young, blonde messenger bowed low. Rather than a normal messenger's tunic, he was dressed in nothing less than battle armor, though no weapon was present.
Ororo nodded in acknowledgement and seated herself upon her throne. "I would think it rather unsafe to travel in complete battle gear in this day- one may take you as a hostile."
"All due respect, your highness, it has become dangerous to travel unprotected- and with what little humans know of the elfin forest…"
"Your message?" Her white eyebrows arched.
The messenger cleared his throat and began his message, voice accented from his life in the southern countries. "His royal majesty, King Nathan Dayspring of Ayden, requests your presence at his castle in Ayden within the fortnight to discuss a possible alliance between Elden and Ayden, in light of En Sabah Nur's successful attack on Mera."
Ororo remained silent for a moment, mulling over the idea with the time only afforded to a queen on such a matter. "I understand that at one time our cities were sisters were they not?"
"Yes, your highness."
"Until your ancestors, bent on dominance, tried to eradicate the Elvin race. Is that correct boy?" The final sentence rang out more as a threat than a question.
"Yes." His eyes fell to the floor in shame and hers gleamed mischievously.
"Very well. It is by sword they were divided and it is by sword they shall once more be united- granted that Ayden proves itself worthy to have Elden as an ally."
"Your majesty, what are you asking?"
Ororo's eyes sparkled wildly. "I'm saying I would like to see what kind of ally Ayden would provide to us. The only way an alliance will be formed is if Ayden's best swordsman comes here, to Elden within the fortnight, spars with our best swordsman, and Ayden wins. Otherwise, Elden has no reason to submit to alliance terms- we are capable of adequately defending ourselves in case of attack- and we do not wish to be burdened with a weaker ally that cannot provide mutual support."
"As you wish, Queen. I shall take your reply to my king immediately." He bowed low to the ground.
"Good then. I am eagerly waiting his reply. And to assure you and your king that my request is not of hostility, but of testing your lands worthiness as an ally, here is a parting gift." The Queen rose, extended her arms, and summoning her magic in the weather, the pool of water that separated her throne from the messenger began to swirl radically.
He stood transfixed as the waters parted and four glass jars emerged, hovering in the air. He noticed that the Queen's eyes had turned an emotionless white, the blue irises no longer visible and her long hair whipping wildly in a cyclone of wind though none of the air reached him.
"Now what you see before you are the four elements of the earth. Fire, earth, wind, and water."
She wasn't lying. A 'phoenix bird' blazed brightly in one of the hovering jars. The water was in the form of a rain cloud that flashed light and emitted a low, barley audible rumble every few seconds. The earth, rich dark soil gave life to a miniature tree slightly smaller than his palm. A cyclone swirled madly in the air jar.
"How…"
"Never mind how, dear boy. Take the gifts and if your King accepts, I expect him here within the fortnight. I remind you that he shouldn't haste in rejecting my offer- Elden has evolved tremendously since Achmed's sovereignty. The gifts are beautiful, no?"
"Unspeakably."
She smiled. "But they are also deadly weapons. You see, I am not completely heartless and I understand his plight. If the occasion should arise, he need only to shatter the jar open and the power of the imprisoned element shall aid him- even if my people shall not."
"This gesture alone is sign enough of your honor, my lady. I shall give word to my king immediately." The blonde messenger bowed once more and departed the hall.
"Ororo, what is the meaning of this challenge?" Jean emerged from behind a curtain near the queen's throne. "You know the king has no time to waste on games like this."
"Jean, this is the perfect opportunity for me to see just what Ayden has to offer in combat and gain a view of what's occurring outside of the forest. Plus, I haven't had an outside opponent in ages- I could use the exercise. Thanks for the assist on my theatrics."
The red haired woman smiled. "I knew you didn't have that fine a control on your magic- and I didn't care to have the forces of nature devastating the palace because it's ruled by a drama queen."
"I guess we should start planning for the arrival of Dayspring."
"What makes you seem so sure he'll accept your proposal?"
"Because as far he's concerned, he only knows that Elden is full of farmers that have magical abilities- and it is guaranteed that he needs our magic to even attempt to match Nur's mages. However, this will prove that's not the only crutch we have anymore- even if it mean's Ayden's demise."