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Written by: Elric the Bard
Posted on: September 9th, 2002
Moriquendi Tears
Chapter IX: Lord of Noot
"Father," cried out Morion, as he rushed to the falled Lord Vah-Imar, "You cannot leave us, not now! Kala khewif akh..."
"Kala?" spluttered Elric in amazement, almost dropping the prone form of Eruwen that he was carrying. "You people pray to Kala?
"Mormeshah, perhaps you will listen where your ancestors would not," began Morion as he left the body of his father to see to Eruwen, "When the elves of Grans Island began to worship Kala, all did this. However, while your ancestors slept, our's would leave offerings to Lómion in fear and respect for her destructive powers."
"But you are still followers of Kala," completed Elric thoughtfully.
"Indeed: now you see the truth."
At that moment, Eruwen came to, and looking at Morion she asked: "What was that?"
Unsure himself, Morion looked to Elric for an explanation.
"That, my new friends, was one of the Moriquendi: the dark elves. Where they have been the past few millenia, and why they have now decided to attack us, I do not yet know. I have sent more knights from Azuron, such as these behind me, to find Serache: only he would know."
"Then I shall join you," stated Morion as he quickly rose, "As the new Lord of Noot, I shall represent my people in Fortula. It took us fighting together to defeat even one: surely to fight them all we would need to unite as one people."
"Morion," whispered Eruwen with much concern, "You would deliver yourself into their hands? How could you trust the champion?" The last word was drawled with as much disrespect as she could muster.
"That is simple, my love," he replied with a grin, "The Champion is sworn to protect the Elves of Grans Island, and the Ranger-Master cannot kill a fellow-elf: even if King Ell'dril wanted to, he could not have anyone harm me without due cause."
"I still do not trust him: if you go, I go!" She stated in no uncertain terms.
__________
After the village elders were brought into the room to see the carnage, and the knights removed the bodies to where the villagers wanted them, Morion Isilme was officially recognised as Lord of Noot, under the Light of Kala, though there was little anyone could distinguish as a real ceremony. Elric and the knights turned in after darkness fell, but the villagers all followed Lord Morion for further rituals that he could be recognised as Lord under the Darkness of Lómion. When morning came, Elric rose to find the knights already suited up and ready to move. As they approached the city gates, the people parted and revealed the two others who would accompany them to Fortula: dressed entirely in black, with a purple cape, stood Morion, a longsword hanging by each side, and beside him, wearing shades of brown and a thin silver circlet, stood Eruwen, with a longbow in hand, quiver by her side, and a dagger strapped to her bow-arm.
"Well Mormeshah," laughed Morion, "I'm glad to see you could make it! Shall you take me to Fortula? I so wish to see our ancesteral home with my own eyes, just once."
"Nebibetut," replied Elric with a grin, "Today you shall return home, though doubt not that you can enter again whenever you wish."
The people of Noot were in stunned silence, not only for the Ranger-Champion's promise, but also that he addressed Lord Morion with his proper title. After an eternity, clearly uncomfortable for the knights, the croud cheared, asking Kala to watch over Nebibetut and Mormeshah, and Lómion stay her destructive hand.
__________
The journey from Noot to Fortula is by no means a long one, and before the day was out they had arrived at the edge of the Great Forest of Nefer. From the trees emerged the forms of four rangers, who immediately addressed Elric.
"Iuw meh hotep, Im'chey," greeted the commander of the squad.
"Iuwen meh hotep," replied Elric.
"Your return brings us great joy: we have lost many to these strange attackers, but with you near I feel safe once more. Your friends are waiting for you here too, though I am sure you need to speak to Serache and His highness, King Ell'dril, first."
With that, the rangers quickly lead the small party to Fortula. Leaving them at the city gates, Elric turned to those with him and spoke.
"My knights, I need you to find Councilor Aular and Krowe: as foriegners, they would be the talk of the city, so should be easy to find if you ask about. When you find them, bring them to the palace: tell the guards I have summoned you all. You may go now." Once the knights had left, he then addressed the elves, "Nebibetut, when I introduce you, I am sure there shall be much anger, but if you do not reach for your weapons, we shall have a better chance of explaining the situation calmly.
"As you say, Mormeshah," replied Morion, "And that goes for you too, Eruwen."
Eruwen glared at Elric, then nodded to her Lord and slung her bow over her shoulder.
The three elves made haste to the palace in Fortula, and were immediately granted an audience with King Ell'dril of Grans. Seated upon his throne dressed like a ranger, in emerald green, though with a scarlet cape hanging off his left shoulder; clearly expecting an attack at any moment, he has a page by his side holding his sheathed sword. To his other side stood Serache, in snowy white robes, who simply offered a kind grin to his old student.
"Welcome home, Elric," began Ell'dril, "You could not have returned to us any sooner: Grans appears to be under a threat only you and Serache know about. Now you are here, I hope someone call fill me in on the details."
With a bow, Elric tried to explain, "Thank you, my king. I am afraid at the moment I do not know too much myself, but we are being attacked by the Moriquendi: our distant cousins who stepped into the darkness as our ancestors moved away from the lands occupied by the new race of man. We have not heard from them again until recent times: I have been attacked by several, and now they seem to want all elves on Grans Island dead. I do not know their reason, but I do know that only through the elves of Grans Island reuniting can we hope to combat this."
"You mean, the elves of Noot working with us?" laughed Ell'dril, spitting as he said 'Noot'. More seriously he continues, "if we even tried to send someone to speak with them, those savages would sacrifice them to Lómion. How do you propose to bring the dark elves back to the light?"
"My king, they are not dark elves: that is truly what the Moriquendi are. The elves of Noot are misunderstood: indeed, they worship Lómion, but they are followers of Kala just as we are! They are prepared to end the centuries of conflict, but only if we are too - if we do not, does that not make us the darker people?"
"Tepi," spoke Serache in a quiet voice, "The elves of Noot truly worship Kala too? Are you sure of this? Yes, the ancient documents never said they did not: only that they worshiped Lómion! Could they possably worship both?"
"They do, and to prove their friendship, I have been accompanied by two of them: Lord Morion of Noot, and Lady Eruwen."
The two elves bowed as they were introduced, though immediately King Ell'dril stood and took a step forward.
"Foolish child," he burst out, "You would bring the enemy here? They have filled your head with lies about Moriquendi and good intentions, and have tricked you into earning them safe passage that they may..."
"Tep," interupted a clearly aggistated Serache, "You know Elric better than that: I believe him about the elves of Noot, and trust Lord Morion - after all, could they have not already killed you and made their escape? As for the Moriquendi, I know Elric speaks the truth here: that is why I summoned him."
Returning to his throne as he cast a glare at the ancient elf, King Ell'dril spoke to him: "Very well, old man, then what do you suggest we do?"
"My king, you must give Elric and I access to the most ancient manuscripts you keep locked away: there we can learn more about our enemy. While we do this, I suggest you speak to Lord Morion here and learn about his people, their army, and what they are capable of."
"Very well: you may both study what you need. Morion," Ell'dril muttered, making sure it was noted he ignored the elf's title, "you and I shall meet with the Captain of the Rangers to discuss numbers and tactics: the guards at the door shall take you to where you need to go. Your - Eruwen was it? - may accompany you if she must."
At this, all in the room bowed. Elric and Morion quickly exchanged nods before the former was lead off under the arms of Serache, and the latter was lead away by two armed rangers. Ell'dril looked up to the ceiling and offered a prayer to Kala, that Elric knew what he was doing.
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