Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 01 Ch. 23

House Silver Ring, between me and Moon Blade, again back up until you feel the back of my sword. She complied, one of the few women in this ritual. "House Dusk Moon and Goldeagle point your blade toward House Silverbar in the middle."

He had them on the shore. Dusk Moon was a blade length from Moon Blade and Goldeagle was a sword length from Moon Bow.

"Alright, to those who are on the shore draw out your sword. Those claiming existing house blades do not pull your weapon from the sheath until I give the word. Those who are activating a NEW sword throw your current sheath for the OLD house into the middle of the crescent that has been formed. For those looking at this, it forms a couple of crescents. With the existing house trying to claim their blades forming the inner crescent.

The outer crescent is formed by Moon Blade, Moon Bow, Silver Moon and myself. Now Moon Bow and Moon Blade point your blades toward me with the hilts against the shore and totally submerged in the water. Dame Silver Moon and New Moon you are going to do the same thing but point at Silverbar. Have the tips of your swords touching; forming a wedge point at him.

There will be a lot of light during this. It is important to listen and not move until I move from my position. Each house attempting to claim an existing house blade here in the water should have it off the belt still in the sheath. One hand on the sheath and one on the hilt underwater.

Do not draw until I say draw. You will keep your swords pointed in the direction I tell you and keep them under the water. You do not need to get the sheath completely off just enough to free it when the time comes. Now for the four of us in the water, we need to get down on one knee. Keep your face above water, get down on one knee." His position in the water sat a bit higher.

"This will start when light is going to travel from one person to one blade to another until the inner crescent is lit. I will know when that is complete, then I will take us to the next step. Yell out ready if you are ready."

He heard a unison, "Ready."

He focused, "In the name of Corellon Larethian and Sehanine Moon Bow, we ask you to aid us in reclaiming our lost heritage. To prepare us for the upcoming war by activating, claiming, and cleansing of these blades." He took his sword and stuck it into the bottom of the lake right again his forward knee.

Eldar, "Karti'Ros Moon Fire."

The line of light moved toward Moon Blade and Moon Bow. Continues along the shoreline finishing the outline of the outer crescent. Dusk Moon's and Goldeagle's blades started to glow. The line crossed to the inner three. As soon as the outer 2 were hit the light extends from the now Glowing New Moon Blade toward Silverbar.

The inner moon was now outlined with extra lines in the middle. The light from the lines started filling in like slow-moving paint. Until the entire inner crescent was completely lit. He yelled, "On three draw your blades. one, two, THREE!"

The more powerful blades were unleashed. The outer Crescent filled with light as he said three. The water in the crescents explodes into the air and did not fall back in. Time stood still but everyone could see each other and the water overhead. The figure in the middle of the lake was none other than Corellon Larethian. Everyone could see but their bodies were frozen.

He walked around inside the crescent on the dry lake bottom. He smiled, "You have done well Knight Champion. There was a purpose in this ritual. It not only activated and accepted new owners, but it also cleansed those existing blades that have corrupted over the centuries. That is why only a limited number of abilities could ever be obtained.

The spirits in control of those abilities blocked access. When you look at your blade you will find the moon power it has. Every blade holder will have access to all of the abilities of the blade, as the original intelligence is all that will remain. The spirits have been released and a small remnant of the spirit holding the powers remains.

Due to some very creative thinking by my Knight Champion, I am adding another permanent divine ability to each sword. You will see the rune for this on your sword. Each one is different. That ability has to be discovered by the wielder in combat against an enemy of the elven people. Eldar is correct. Like the Blade Singer, these blades are a promise to protect the elven people.

You will also notice changes to your swords handles, wrapping on handles, all of the moonstones are covered and have your house symbols on both sides. The only one that is different is my Knight Champion who has a double crescent on the other side. He approached Eldar and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"You will find your way, the obstacles in front of you are not insurmountable but they will be challenging. Your friend and allies like your father and Jarron can aid you; use them."

He felt overwhelming power coursing through him from Corellon's touch. Corellon looked across at his wives first, "He is alright and he is not broken. Your concern for your husband is heartwarming. You both are great wives for him. To his two apprentices. Your time for this ritual will come someday. Listen to your Master and you will be ready to claim a blade as others are coming."

He turned back to his wives, "His eyes, they are even more observant than before. But not just his eyes. You will not notice it until he does something that cannot be explained. I hope all of the blade owners will live up to their potential and aid in the coming conflict. Have children, lots of children. The acorn has fallen from the tree. Only your direct descendants can try to claim the blade. No parents, brothers, or sisters.

Just YOUR PROGENY. War will be coming and your aid will shorten the conflict and save the lives of many elven people including those you love. For those blade holders in the water, brace yourselves. As all that goes up must come down."

With that, he blinked out and hundreds of gallons of water came crashing down around the outer edge.

---

Graxxor came running up the tunnel toward his office. As the screams echoed through the halls. His bodyguards trailed his superior speed as he turned and looked into the room where ogre Mages had worked to spy on the champion. The scrying device relic they used was a bubbling molten mass.

One of the Magi's bodies laid in the puddle of liquid metal. A pair of crescent moons were burned into the ceiling of the room 9 inches deep. The holes ran through the body in the middle. The others had burns from the device that exploded hot metal at all of them.

All three were alive, two were missing arms. The third who had been further away at a table was the least damaged. He had been scribbling notes into a journal. Yet all three that lived had their eyes burned from their skulls. He grabbed the one near him at the table in anger, "What the fuck did you do?!"

The Magi tapped the Journal, "Yesterday this Silvertree met with elders from both villages. Said there would be a ceremony to reactive Moon Blades at Silent Falls. We used the scrying device to watch the event. The light is all that we saw as it fried out our eyes. No sound came through. Nastuk watched it, he told the elves those who watched would have their eyes burned out. We were all curious but he used it alone. The light came through the device. Blinded me...I have no eyes and they burn!"

Graxxor pulled the journal away and killed the three that still lived, "No, it killed you all you stupid fucks." He looked at the journal. "Rambling Rock, where we lost the other unit. He wants the farmers to feed his people."

He pulled out a crystal, "Commander, Assemble and deploy the Trok strike team. Target one. Rambling Rock. Secondary target. Follow road North and engage these Gray Blades, Hit them hard! Then return and give me a status update. YOU lead it! Now do not waste my time!"

HE went down to see his father Lord Barimus. He went into the room and kneeled before him. Lord Barimus hissed out, "What was all the yelling, the giants kill another fucking annoying Gnoll for food?!"

Graxxor sighed, "The stupid Ogre Magi's used the scrying relic."

Lord Barimus hissed, "I ordered them to find this champion and monitor him even in his sleep. I wanted them to use it! I want to be informed when he is on the front lines along the border.

Don't interfere with their work! It requires two of them to activate it, one to use, another takes notes of what he is doing. There are 6 I assigned to do that task. They work in pairs. They can only monitor for 8 hours at a time. They could not monitor the royal palace as it is shielded. That is where my spies come into play. Then the next pair would do it for the next shift. What of them?"

Graxxor sighed, "They tried to monitor an event, a ceremony where they were activating Moon Blades. The warning this champion gave was that anyone attempting to observe the ceremony would lose their eyesight.

They tried to monitor it, 4 were in the room. NOT 2, because they were curious! It destroyed the relic; the metal is probably still boiling! It killed the one watching outright. It burned holes into the cave ceiling in the shape of double crescents. Burned off arms and other injuries on the other 3 including their eyes burned from their skulls. He said the light flashed through the device. One was at the journal. The last thing he wrote was the champion offered a prayer to elven gods' Then nothing else was recorded in the journal.

I went back to find where he talked about the ceremony. He told them about wanting the villagers in Rambling Rock, farmers. To help feed his people. I ordered a strike team to take out that village just a moment ago. Then to do a strike on these Gray Blades and return. Not a full out invasion. A larger force than last time to take out these pathetic farmers they failed to kill the last time. I told Commander Varktusk to lead and deploy the Trok strike team in this task. I was not aware of your orders for them to use the device but they were foolish to have so many there and to try and monitor a God's ceremony."

Lord Barimus breathed fire down the hall, burning the clothes off of his son and killing 3 of his bodyguards who did not move fast enough to get out of the way. He glared with his red pin-point eyes in the skulled face of his Draco-lich father, "Pray they are successful."

He pulled a Crystal and got a response. He did not speak until the man at the other end spoke. "I am alone and Secure Great Lord." Lord Barimus looked at the crystal. "Order your men to observe but to not engage the enemy. We have a strike force en route to Rambling Rock to destroy it. Under no circumstances are you to engage. Report back on what they see."

He ended the communication.

---

As soon as the water calmed, Eldar got back to his feet.

"Feel free to move now. For those that were not at my wedding you just had an eye-opening experience. Think of any questions you might have. The sheaths thrown in the water were destroyed. I have your new sheaths for those blades."

He got to the shore and pulled himself up. He looked over and Moon Blade sat on the edge of the water. He looked down at the water then over to Eldar. The entire bottom of the area was now covered in moonstones that responded to the light. Silver Moon looked at Eldar, "The significance of the moonstones?"

Moon Blade looked over, "That is a lot of weapons that could be enchanted."

Eldar smiled, "Moon Blade, you decide if it is something worth exploring. I have not been giving any insight one way or another on the matter."

He nodded, "It would seem to be an enchanter's paradise."

Eldar nodded, "We will need to collect them up then. Else people will be clamoring to get to this site to extract them. The Wood-elves would not be happy with that." The ladies joined him with the others. They pulled several hundreds of stones from the bottom of the pool and the glow had stopped.

Eldar looked at the other, "I think we found them all."

He got out of the water and dried them off. Everyone was in shock. He walked over and grabbed his bag of holding and pulled the four sheaths and placed the stones into his bag. All polished of various shapes and sizes the largest was the size of an apricot pit. Nothing to build a weapon from but plenty to be put into jewelry or to decorate a weapon.

"We should split them up and send back half with Moon Blade for the weapons he is building and the other half taken to our Master bow-smith and leather-smith with a few detailed pieces set to the side that I hang onto."

Moon Blade looks at Eldar, "What do you mean by a few select pieces?"

Eldar pulled out a dozen or so that were crescent-shaped.

He smiled, "Alright, I could see where you would want those for something."

Then he laughed at Eldar. Eldar shrugged, "I do not know what yet, but something. I also pulled a few perfect circles and a couple of the bigger ones for magical staves that could be made with Silver wood as well. I thought some kind of headgear in the future."

He removed his old sheath and placed the new sheath around his waist. He used a cantrip to dry himself off from the lake water. Then he put his cloak on and walked to the others. They still held their blades out but stood now. He put the new sheath into their off-hand. He got to Goldeagle last, he looked at Eldar, "You have been dealing with that since you left the Academy?"

Eldar shook his head, "More like my entire life. I have a double crescent birthmark on the back of my head. Could account for my memory being so good."

He shook his head, "I thought my life was splayed out before me. You, on the other hand, are in the same boat with less room to waver."

Eldar nodded, "I would work to not waver as it protects lives."

Moon Bow walked over to him, "This blade is way more powerful than even my grandfather knew. What is the downside?"

Eldar yelled out, "All existing blade holders come to me, please. I was asked the question of what is the downside? The answer is your spirit will not go to the blade, a fragment will remain to either lock an ability for future generations or replace one of the existing abilities. You should decide on that now. You can change it later but if a tree falls on you tomorrow that ability will be locked. Now you cannot add an ability unless you have faced or seen the ability.

Eldar, "Karti'Ros left hand Moon Fire."

His sword was in his hand. "I can tell it which hand. It can be sheathed, friendship knotted, or laying in the dirt and it will be back in my hand. I die tomorrow this is the ability I would lock into place for future generations.

Fair warning for new wielders you can list those who can pick up but not use the blade. Anyone who tries to pick up the blade or claim it will be killed in a most horrid manner. I had a family member try to claim the blade. I have no idea what became of his body."

He got a lot of stares, "That was the day I claimed head of the household for House Silvertree. They tried a coup, it failed. I am speaking from experience."

He tossed the sword on the ground, "Annette could you bring that over please."

She went over and picked up the blade and brought it to him. The Moon Fire went off. He looked at them, "Just to prove my point about the list, I would recommend your spouses and any young children. That brings us back to having children. Find love and have children, lots of children. You are now the trunk of the tree for that sword."

Moon Blade looks at me, "What is with the extra rune? What did you do?"

Eldar smiled, "I found another source besides you to try and reclaim more of these blades. That is all I can say on that but there should be another 4 blades coming back including the last of the active family blades. Two of those blades are already assigned to my two young apprentices as alluded to by our God.

That leaves one, that one will be revealed at a much later date and is destined by the Gods. We now have ten active Moon Blades, more now than 5,000 years ago."

Tranosa sighed, "What happens to the new blades, do we add abilities when we pass on?"

Eldar nodded, "Yes, and those that have abilities, mine has eleven that have to be locked or changed. Once those are set, generations from now, it will start adding new abilities again.

There is one judge in your sword, not a dozen, or eighteen. The original intelligence of the sword will determine the worthiness based on the code a Blade Singer follows. Any family member who will adhere to it could be judged worthy, but they have to have integrity. Also, fertility. One of the reasons I wanted people who were young and not corrupted by court or house politics. YES, I said that to the Queen and that is how your name came up young Goldeagle."

He nodded, "I can see that now after talking with the blade. The Queen will be pleased."

He nodded, "I hope you are all pleased with having access to the complete list of abilities of your family blade." They did a lot of head nodding. He looked over at his apprentices, "I do not know when the blades will arrive but it is your job to be ready to be judged. Keeping your anger and grief in check and looking to protect the elven people. I selected you but the Gods pointed me to you. There were reasons for you both.

Before you ask Apprentice Strong Oak, I would have selected you as soon as I heard your name. I made your father pay through the nose for his inattention, not for my own sake. His inattention to you. I will be working both your tails off." They looked at each other and then just nodded at him.

He looked at Elder Strong Oak, "Not only will your family survive but it will have a Moon Blade associated with the family name." She still looked in shock from the day's events and finally looks to me, "Had I known."

He cut her off, "Had you known my life would not be where we are standing now. I would not have become a Blade Singer. One of the questions I asked the other day was why show me visions of things I cannot change. The answer is because you cannot change them, it is destiny, do not blame yourself. Do not second guess yourself."

She nodded, "I would have asked the same question."

He sighed, "Just accept the fact that I am back now with a purpose and a mission. I cannot afford to fail. It is not my life. It is the life of our very people. Make up for lost time because like you said. 'You never know when fate will intervene.'"

She smirked, "I hate it when people use my words against me. I have a few things that belonged to your mother, I will send them to your home. Give you a chance to look at them without my interference."

He nodded and began to walk back to the village and he heard someone crying off in the woods. Eldar pointed as he spoke to one of the Elders, "Someone who chose not to heed the warning, you should get them out of the woods."

He continued walking and the elders moved to the edge of the woods, and then into them. They continue back to the house.

Apprentice Goldeagle came up beside him, "Why the bow? Between our magic and our sword, how often will we truly need a bow?"

Eldar smiled as he continued walking, "Depends on much you like to eat. If trail-rations every day works for you then you will be fine. If you enjoy a good meal then having a bow comes in handy. I like a good meal."

He smiled, "Something high-elves or gold-elves do not consider so much as we go to a market and get it, or should I say the servants do."

Eldar nodded, "Out here it is self-serve as everyone must do their part, from cooking and cleaning to gutting and skinning. Also, if you have a hundred orcs coming at ten of us, you will run out of spells quickly.

Being able to pop off a couple of arrows while they are at range. Before switching to your blade and magic. That would be something to consider."