Tender Mercies

It was during her ministrations that Nordan woke. She gasped in surprise as his hand grabbed her arm with the strength of iron. He rolled over on top of her and draw a fist back threateningly.

"Nordan, stop!" Kelnozz said, leaping to him and standing in front of him.

Nordan looked at his companion and relaxed a bit. "Well met, elf. You capture this light elf or something?"

"Or something," Kelnozz said, motioning for Nordan to let her go. Once he did, Kelnozz explained everything that had happened to them after they had ridden Elluviatel to the ground.

"We must get the key," Nordan said after he checked to make sure all of his equipment was still with him. He was missing a few items, but he still had his hammer, so he was content.

"Aye, but we don't know where he lairs, and wondering lost in the desert is not something I care to repeat!" Kelnozz said.

"I can help," Jethallin said, speaking for the first time since Nordan had risen.

"How?" Both men asked at the same time.

Jethallin looked from one to the other and saw the companionship between them. She also saw the needs that drove them. Both were destined for far more then they knew, she could see that about them. "The animals here and there know of where you seek, they can guide you."

"You won't come with us?" Kelnozz asked, surprised to find himself disappointed.

"I can not leave my grove," Jethallin said.

Kelnozz nodded. Nordan just shrugged, disappointed that the naked elf would not be sharing his bed any time soon, but glad to be away from a light elf, all the same. He respected Kelnozz's trust of her, but the elf had made bad decisions about women before. Rarely, but it had happened. Then again, all of them were mistaken about Alesha... and possibly still were.

*****

They had left the next morning, guided to the edge of the lands Jethallin granted protection by the druid herself. Kelnozz found himself expecting some sort of difficult good bye from Jethallin, but instead she merely smiled enigmatically at him and bid them both safe journeys. With refreshed packs and water skins, they followed the coyote that would guide them on their first day.

Kelnozz felt he should keep his encounter with Jethallin to himself, but that first night around the fire he found himself telling Nordan. Nordan was surprised to hear Kelnozz speak of such things, rarely did the elf share tales of his exploits with him. Nevertheless, he listened raptly, for if Nordan could not wench and live vicariously at present, then he would get as close to it as he could!

Their guides for the next several days were varied. A fox one day, and a wolf the next. A leopard led them, then a hawk. Never the same animal twice. Kelnozz wondered if any, especially the leopard, were Jethallin changed into an animal form, but none of the creatures showed any signs of abnormal interest or intelligence to them. It was their final guide that cheered them all up, for a rabbit led them to a large grove in which rested a blue dragon.

"Luingirth!" Kelnozz cried out happily, rushing towards him. The dragon displayed what Nordan had learned was a dragon's version of a grin, though it looked fearsome to the uninitiated.

"Verily, friend," Luingirth responded, rising to sit proudly. "It doth me good to see thou both hath survived."

"What of the dragons chasing you?" Kelnozz asked.

Luingirth chuckled, another fearsome noise if not familiar enough to identify. "They do battle with thine people at Sanctuary. I led them there and escaped."

"Guess you're not getting too slow in your old age," Kelnozz quipped, climbing aboard Luingirth's back.

"Thou hath well nigh 100 years on me, rogue," The dragon chided in turn while Nordan joined Kelnozz on his back.

"Ha!" Kelnozz laughed. "To the skies, friend, we must plunder Elluviatel's lair for the key!"

With no more to say, Luingirth leapt upwards, streaking into the evening air. Unerringly, he flew them towards where they had encountered Elluviatel the first time, and from there began to search for the dragons lair.

*****

Kelnozz and Nordan had been gone for nearly a week when word reached her through the animals she protected. While sunning herself and idly rubbing her belly after a refreshing swim in a pond a songbird began chirping out a warning to her of Several men trespassed on her lands. She tried her usual tricks, trying to bend the forest and nature against them to drive them out of it. Their power was mighty, however, and they fought against it. Piercing the illusion, they began to lay waste to the lands, butchering any animal they encountered as well as setting fire to trees and uprooting smaller vegetation.

Fearing the loss of any more wildlife, Jethallin decided to face them herself. She called upon mighty majicks of nature, rending the earth under their feet, animating great trees as her allies, even bringing great storms and thunderous lightning against them. She felled many of the invaders, but the man at their center was to powerful to be defeated, and it was his wizardry that captured her. She learned of their nature soon, they were light elves, like herself.

Recaptured by her own people, Jethallin knew better then to expect mercy. She silently grieved not for herself, but for all the work that had gone undone, as well as the unborn child of Kelnozz's that she had conceived. She had to use great magic to allow a dark elf and a light elf to produce any offspring in the first place, for thousands of years ago when the light elves altered themselves, they made it all but impossible for the two races to interbreed. Such power used at its inception would surely show in the child and raise its own potential so much more. It would never grow to adulthood, never learn of its father, and never realize the potential it would have.

The wizard claimed her as his own, upon seeing her a light elf, and with powerful magic reached inside of her mind and shattered her free will. He bent her wants to those of serving him. It was Jethallin's last bit of power and free will that enabled her to hide her knowledge of her early pregnancy from him. She hoped at some point the child would be able to escape the life of a light elf.

With a newly submissive wife in tow, the armed band of light elves proceeded towards Elluviatel's lair, to offer their services as guards if he accepted, or if he had already fallen, to return word of it to Alesha.

*****

"My lady, Elluviatel has fallen," Jethallin's new husband said, speaking into the magical rift he had summoned. Alesha stood on the other side, reacting calmly to the news.

"Return to Mezarbolle, Lord Kinslayer, and join my army on the march," Alesha told him. His powers were strong enough that even Alesha had no intention of crossing him without a good reason. She knew she could defeat him if she had to, but it would not be easy and would leave her weakened.

Alesha was troubled. Nothing had happened since she and Cuivegirth had laid their trap in the ancient lair of Tiamat. Nothing until a week prior she had suddenly felt something change in her. Examining it closely, she found her bond with Kelnozz had suddenly weakened and become tenuous. That bothered her, for she knew not what the implications were. Even following that bond did her little good, for his defenses were complete against her powers, but she had hoped that she would be able to use that bond against him when the time came.

"They will try to plunder the key from mein lair next," Cuivegirth said, rousing Alesha from her reverie. Alesha nodded, knowing it would do them no good, for even if they had defeated the guardians there, they would not find it. Cuivegirth had brought it with him. "Should they outlive that, then Ancaruin will be their final foe."

"Why aren't we waiting back there then?" Alesha asked, knowing that Kelnozz and Nordan would be unable to defeat a dragon as old and powerful as Ancaruin. Ancaruin was, in fact, the one being she had met that she had absolutely no doubts as to who was the mightier.

Cuivegirth hissed out an evil chuckle at her question. "Thy companions art filled with surprises."

Alesha scowled at the poisonous gas the dragon exhaled by chuckling. She waved her hand and freshened the air in the cavern with her magic. Instead of responding she lapsed into silence, brooding over the lack of action she was forced to take. Her army was marshalling, she felt she should be leading it. Cuivegirth alone was no match for Kelnozz and Nordan, however, especially if the rumors held true that they had a blue dragon as an ally. She wondered again how that had come to pass, but had no way of knowing.

Instead she resigned herself to lapsing into meditation and sending her consciousness into the sword to speak yet again with Talifernon. She still had many things to learn from the powerful demon. She also enjoyed helping him torment the soul of Kallendel, which, though weakened closer to the brink of madness each day, still resided within the sword as well.

Chapter 13

"Why aren't we going for the fourth key?" Nordan yelled from his position on Luingirth's back to Kelnozz.

"I think we can set some of the dragons free without having all five keys," Kelnozz shouted back. Luingirth ignored them, flying over the open waters of the Swiftwater Sea in order to avoid discovery. It added 2 days of time to their flight, but that was a blessing compared to how long it would take them to travel by foot or horse.

Nordan grunted, his acceptance lost in the noise of the wind. Kelnozz heard no more arguments from him, so he shrugged off his large friend. Kelnozz found his mind wandering back to Jethallin, wondering how long it would be until he could seek her out again. He found the idea of a light elf that was not as her kin quite intriguing, and wanted to learn more about her.

Far below, the crew aboard a merchant ship spotted the dragon flying overhead and immediately went into a frenzy of fear. Terrified of what might happen to them, they were relieved to see the blue dragon ignore them and fly on. Extra watches were ordered for a few days, but it ended up being an unanswered question in the minds of the captain and crew as to why they were spared.

*****

Martin stood at the rail on the forecastle of the ship, staring at his arm instead of the magnificent view of the sunset on the ocean. The ship he was on, Mistress of the Depths, was the lead ship in a fleet of 40 ships, a full 28 of which being deep bellied galleons carrying elven troops, the other being elven cutters that protected the flanks of the elven fleet. He glanced away from the shining mithril lower arm and hand magically crafted and grafted onto his skin just in time to catch the sun dip beneath the horizon, flashing a brilliant green across the waters for just a second.

He had lain unconscious for nearly another day before the elven healers had returned his senses to him. Having lost his arm, Martin struggled to find a reason to continue. He considered himself handicapped so badly that nothing could make him continue his pursuit. A one handed archer?

The elves had learned from him of the successes Kelnozz, Nordan, Luingirth, and himself had achieved thus far. Having obtained 2 of the 5 keys, as well as slaying Tiamat, had cemented the elves belief in the group. The elven host was gathered and prepared to set out. In gratitude for his part the elven spellweavers and skilled blacksmiths had worked night and day for nearly a month. Martin was not told of their efforts, and several times it was only his obligation to his friends and his sense of duty that kept him away from the yawning black chasm of depression and madness. When he was presented with the gift, by none other then Queen Galinia, he was overcome with emotions, something dark and self serving, but almost overwhelming him with their generosity and hope for a return to normalcy.

Martin was also conscious of how this resembled his own grandfather, Carson Twoblade. After the ceremony in which it was attached to his arm and he began learning to use it, he was filled with pride. Controlling it was difficult for him, taking much concentration and still feeling phantom pains from where his original hand had been burned off by the acid.

While far from ready for action, Martin insisted on accompanying the fleet. Each day he trained against whatever elven sailor or warrior he could find, trying to increase his control and strengthen his upper arm. Several times he had dueled with Marthollin himself, the chosen warleader of the elven forces. Martin knew Kelnozz would not be thrilled to learn of that, but they would have to deal with it when it happened. For now the fleet sailed towards Trillindad, and from there would march to Silverton. Martin had already arranged for the cutter he was on at the head of the fleet to break off in another day and head towards the underwater cave where the dragon portal was concealed.

*****

Another three days saw Kelnozz, Nordan, and Luingirth within sight of the island under which the dragon portal was concealed. They were also within site of a ship approaching the island. Swooping low with the sun at their backs to conceal them, Luingirth took them closer to the ship so they could determine what it was doing so far from regular shipping lanes.

Luingirth's keen vision served them well, for he noted first the presence of dark elves throughout the ship, and moments later, he was able to identify Martin when he appeared on the deck. Lacking the superior vision of a dragon, they remained oblivious of the dragon rapidly approaching them. When the ships lookout spied the dragon, the alarm was raised and the ship quickly made ready to defend itself.

Not closing within the range of the elven longbows, they circled the ship once, hoping that Martin and the elves would see Kelnozz and Nordan on Luingirth's back, and then flew towards the shore and landed there to await the ship.

It took several more hours, but finally the Maiden of the Depths lay just offshore at anchor. A longboat was lowered and Martin, Marthollin, and several other elves rowed to shore.

"How is it you're back so soon?" Kelnozz asked Martin after they had reached the shore and Martin, Kelnozz, and Nordan had all embraced each other in greeting.

"Upon seeing proof of your deeds, I marshaled the elven host. As we speak, they should be marching towards Silverton to set up camp and await us," Marthollin said, puffing out his chest to show that he wore the crest of Warleader.

Kelnozz glanced at him in irritation, but withheld any further comments. "Why then, are you here instead of there?" Kelnozz said.

"We have come to greet the metallic dragons when they return, and until then, to aid in the procuring of the keys."

Kelnozz suspected Marthollin still believed he should be the rightful champion of the elves, and he had come to try and prove that, as much as anything. All the better if he could make Kelnozz look bad along they way.

"And you Martin, what happened to you?" Nordan spoke up, tiring of the rivalry between the two elves.

"In gratitude for our deeds, the elves crafted this magical arm for me. It is similar to the legend of my Grandfathers. I confess, I'm not very good with it yet, but I'm working on it," He said, smiling happily for the first time in a month. Martin once again felt as if, with hard work and dedication, he could see their quest through to the end. Martin felt useful again.

"I am honored to see you have come as well, Kayala," Kelnozz addressed the sorceress that stood beside Marthollin. "With your magic to aid us, we will surely prevail!"

"Magic?" Nordan asked, sneering at the thought of it.

"Kayala is one of the senior powers on Innowendyn, Nordan. She is very skilled with her magic, and like it or not, we need her to help us accomplish that which is yet ahead of us," Kelnozz said, staring at Nordan as if to challenge him to refute him.

Nordan saw Kelnozz's look and bristled for a moment. He turned to stare at Kayala, finding it odd to think of her as 'senior', since she looked to be quite young still herself. Finally he grunted, annoyed at what was being asked of him, but determined to keep an eye on her out of distrust. Kayala smiled warmly at him, but it did little to settle his contempt.

"Come. The longer we stand and talk, the less time we have to reach the cavern and place the third key," Kelnozz said, breaking the tension filled silence.

"You have the third key already?" Marthollin asked incredulously.

"Aye, Elluviatel was loathe to relinquish it, but with a little persuading we got it from him," Kelnozz said, smirking.

"Bah, perhaps I'm not needed after all. Innowendyn has some beautiful lands, methinks I should retire there instead!" Martin let the others know he was joking with a wink, but he was truly impressed with his companions abilities to be able to defeat Elluviatel with only the three of them.

Nordan continued to glower at Kayala the whole while, and she pointedly ignored doing anything to further irritate him. Luingirth lowered himself so that all of them could climb upon his spiny back, then took into the air and circled the island until he located the underwater passage in which the dragon portal resided. Kayala waved her hands in the air and mumbled a few words, casting a spell that enveloped all of them and allowed them to breathe while they were underwater. Nordan stared darkly at her, murderous intent in his eyes, but he stayed his hands while they had more important matters at hand. Luingirth then dove towards the water and within seconds they had plunged into it, moving rapidly into the tunnel once again.

*****

"Alesha! They come!" Cuivegirth said, rousing her from her meditation. She scrambled to her feet, her sword coming to her hand as the water exploded upwards and a blue dragon with riders flew out of it.

The blue dragon landed on the shore and immediately five figures leapt free from the dragon's back. Kelnozz, Nordan, and Martin she recognized instantly. The other two dark elves she was uncertain of, however. It mattered little, however, for Cuivegirth had already unleashed his most devastating attack on them, a noxious cloud of poisonous gas that served as his breath weapon.

Luingirth roared and returned fire, a bolt of lightning exploding violently into Cuivegirth's raised forelimb from his mouth. The female dark elf struggled to get a spell off but was overwhelmed by the cloud of gas, which sent her into a coughing fit so violent she was soon coughing up specks of blood. The other unknown dark elf was on the ground as well, coughing and scratching at the rashes on his arms, as well as clawing at the incredible irritation going on in his eyes. Nordan and Martin both dove back into the water the second they saw Cuivegirth begin his assault, escaping it. Kelnozz dove and ran off to the side, having already seen Alesha standing there. Holding his breath and running blindly, he cleared the cloud before it could affect him.

"Hello lover," Alesha said when Kelnozz had slowed to a walk only 15 feet away from her. "Is it time for us to dance?"

Kelnozz was saddened to see the changes that had overtaken Alesha. Standing there resplendent in her silver dragon armor, the look on her face told him that her redemption was beyond any possibility. He was surprised to find that he was not more disturbed by it, and wondered for the briefest of moments if he had Jethallin to thank for that.

"If you'll not give up this course of action, then yes, Alesha, it is time."

Alesha sent her magic snaking towards him, testing his defenses. She found them all in place. Grinding her teeth she said, "Very well, Kelnozz, let's see how well your teaching was."

Kelnozz drew his blades as Alesha came at him. He parried her first lunge, then ignored an opening in her defense as to easy and continued to parry her attacks. He knew she was better then she was pretending to be, something was obviously amiss.