Prince Philip's army stopped at the foot of Mount Amarut, which in the Elven language meant , "Butterfly" .
The mountain had two mountain chains arranged in a shape resembling the wings of a butterfly.
-You have one hour ! -shouted Stewart, the army colonel commanding the infantry. Philip was sitting in his tent sharpening his valrum sword with a whetstone. Robert, meanwhile, was watching the horizon. The laughter of soldiers echoed in the background behind him. He had amassed about four thousand riders. Would that be enough?
-So, half human, half elf," Celeborn said from behind him, "how much more road ahead of us?
- About a day. If we are fast. Hammond is probably already defending himself against the army. Rheus was supposed to go to your father. With King Darun's army we have a chance, Celeborn.
Celeborn frowned and furrowed his brow.
-My father has had enough of war. He ordered me to take care of the prince while he sits in the Moon Gate himself. What is this battle supposed to bring? Its strength has grown over the past years.
Robert looked at the elf and nodded.
-It's all about the impulse. Rheus believes that it only takes one example of rebellion to start a fire. To get people to start climbing. For them to follow Philip and Snow White.
-And your master knows that many people will die?
-Rheus has become...radicalised.
Celeborn was about to say something however he noticed movement on the horizon. A small spot was approaching the encampment.
-We have a visitor,‖ the elf announced. Robert turned and squinted to try to see anything, but he saw nothing.
-Where?
- Elven sight- explained Celeborn. After a few minutes, the punk appeared in sight of the rest. A lone rider was speeding his horse towards them. The soldiers immediately pulled up, and Stewart, Celeborn and Robert stood on a small hill to greet the ,,stray" wanderer. The horse slowly moved to a trot and the rider held out his hand as a sign that he had no ill intentions.
-What are you looking for, man? Are you a spy for the queen? A villager ? Or a mere stranger?" howled Celeborn.
The man dismounted from his horse and nodded to them.
- I don't really know who you are, but I recognise the flags of the old king - he said.
Surely you are somehow connected to Tabor, if you recognise the symbol so carefully hidden by the Queen's usurper," commented Stewart.
- My name is Eric, I am the Hunter. I left Carmathown yesterday. I led Snow White to the Duke's castle. However, I left the castle because of...my weaknesses.
-Call His Highness- winked Celeborn to one of the soldiers.
- How can we believe you? -asked the elf sharply.
-Because I have information that may be of use to you. And I will feel that I am repaying a debt.
Philip approached with a confident step and measured the hunter with his eyes.
- Hello, I am Philip, son of King Magnus.
-Your Majesty- replied Eric and gently bowed his head.
- You are coming from Carmathown. Are we to treat you as a deserter?
- In any other situation yes, Your Majesty . I have led your sister as I promised her to Hammond. However, Ravenna's army is approaching them steadily. They are already here.
-This we know,‖ said Robert, -but nevertheless we are losing every minute with you, hunter.
-Robert is right- nodded Philip- Hunter, I have nothing against you. Go on if you want. Nice to have met you. If you are telling the truth about my sister and your protection, then know that I thank you very much. I am grateful for your help and the risk it undoubtedly took to fight Ravenna's pursuit.
- Philip, if I may, I want to help you. You may not make it to Carmathown.
Philip snorted, and several soldiers in the background laughed .
-Don't make it to Carmathown. ? I don't understand Hunter- said Philip with a wince
-Maybe I'll show you- said Eric.
Robert was clearly intrigued by the hunter's confidence. The man had not lied so far or Robert would have quickly seen through his intentions.
- 'Let's climb the slope,' Eric pointed out and began to climb quickly up the stones. Celebron, Stewart, Robert AND Philip followed him up the debris and after a while the hunter was standing at the top of it, actually crouching with one of the boulders.
-Be careful,‖ he said, -and keep your heads down. Better not to risk being spotted.
-Who isn't supposed to notice us?" asked Philip ironically as he approached Eric's hiding place. After a moment he understood. The debris and mountains hid a vast expanse of space-the Pelleneor plateau. Almost the entire route to Carmathown they would have to travel without a chance to hide, being exposed on the plateau. And it was above Pellenor that the two ships of the Ravenna fleet hovered. The Exodorian cruisers buzzed quietly, but they were clearly tasked with cutting a path for aid or escape from Carmathown.
- You would have been slaughtered like dogs- said Eric
Robert looked with horror at the cruisers.
- 'If there was one, it would be easy, but this way it will be harder,' Eric said with a smile.
The rest looked at him as if he were mad.
- But, that what you want to do , man? We need to develop a plan to attack these two machines. That means the end of our help for Carmathown. It's safer to...- said Celeborn, but Philip raised his hand.
-I will not back down, my friend- said the young prince- Eric, what do you propose? Out of our entire army, I think you're the only one who has fun seeing those ships.
-We can make a takeover of the ships- said the hunter calmly.
- Go on," urged Robert.
-I need five men. We will lure one of them up and take it over, and shoot down the other one. Elves are said to have good eyesight, aren't they? - asked Eric
Celeborn.
-Yes- replied the elf dryly.
- How many people do you see on these ships?
Celeborn leaned out of the debris and reached his gaze aboard the ships. He strained his hearing, wanting to listen in on the conversation of the machine operators. After a moment, he returned visibly pleased.
- No more than 15 per ship. They are rather small vessels.
-So five men are enough. Orcs?
-Mostly,‖ replied Celeborn patiently.
-They sent them not to catch you, but Snow White if she escaped from the castle.
- However, you must admit that we have no chance with them. Not in a clash with cannons - added Stewart.
- It is true- said Eric- However, we have more to gain than to lose. If we took them over we could move some troops to Carmathown in no time. The cavalry, meanwhile, would have an open space. I think we won't meet anyone on the way, or even if we did. We will not take down Ravenna's flag. They will think it is theirs .
- So this is what your plan looks like. It's not the worst," muttered Stewart
-What do you need from me, hunter? - asked Philip
-Take me lord into your service. And let me choose five men to accomplish this with me.
- Welcome then, Eric. Certainly Celeborn will go with you.
The elf visibly rolled his eyes, but nodded. Robert also stepped forward and touched Eric's shoulder.
-I will be of use to you. Perhaps the Force will guide us towards victory
Ravenna sat on the edge of her milk-filled pool and gazed impassively into the milky depths. She allowed herself to sit naked and supported her head with her hands. Her hair was loose and uncombed. It was the first time in a very long time that she had not been combed by a servant, but this was at the Queen's express request. She could not stop thinking about her doom, which constantly eluded her. How could this little girl, who had eaten from her hand for so many years, resist for so long her , the most powerful woman in the world, the ruler of almost the entire visible world.
She touched her hand to the surface of the milk. Her fingers soaked up the milk, and the queen brought her fingers closer to her pussy. She was in the mood for sex today, but finding a substitute husband was difficult so, as always, she had to settle for herself. She rhythmically caressed her womanhood and after a few minutes bent over the cold floor she came. She moaned loudly and her voice reverberated through the vault of the bathhouse. Jared was the ultimate lover. One who cared about her comfort, not his own complacency. She sighed another sigh for her former husband and the father of her son, then a moment later swung her arm in fury, and the stone griffin that had been filtering the milk cracked in half and shattered into many pieces .
She had no right to such thoughts. She is made for greater things than mundane sex. She quickly dressed herself in an airy robe with symbols of death sewn on it and put the crown on her head.
-You have to fix this- -she threw to one of the servants, who, panting before the queen, was almost lying on the ground in a servile pose, both terrified and delighted with the queen. Ravenna walked to the throne room and looked out of the window.
She tried again.
- Don't run away from a confrontation, Snow.
Snow White felt her mother trying to communicate with her. She let it into her head, however, kept the connection in check.
-Hello, mother
-Still greeting me by calling me mother. That's nice - Ravenna commented
- Why are you haunting me?
-I want to give you one last chance, my child. Surrender and come to our army camp. Return to Tabor and fulfil your destiny.
- You will kill me, eat my heart and become a deity. My destiny is not to incinerate the world.
-So you will sacrifice the lives of many people who will defend you from me- said Ravenna quietly touching the glass in the window- Will you watch them die in your name? And are we any different?
-Yes, Ravenna- said Snow White emphatically, tying her hair into a ponytail- I am something different from you. In fact, everything you are not. You haven't destroyed me in so many years. And you won't succeed today either.
Ravenna laughed , and her giggle carried through the throne room.
-There is no man who can defeat me. Today we will destroy this village after so many years. We will spare no one, girl. Except you. That you watch and remember this when I tear your heart out.
- You will meet resistance the likes of which you have never seen. And Finn will die today.
Ravenna was furious at the thought of such a little one threatening her.
-Dare you threaten me?
Snow White had already put on all her armour and adjusted her sword in its scabbard.
- Today you will see the first flame of the rebellion. Goodbye mother. You will always be in my heart by the stigma you have placed on me over the years. I have no intention of letting you into my head ever again.
The connection has been severed. The Empress sat down in her great throne and began nervously tapping her claw-shaped ring. For the first time in a long time, Ravenna began to feel apprehensive.
