1 Chapter I

At first light, a white falcon disembarks from the lands of Lynlore, the reigning Elven Kingdom of the North. It screeches across the lands as its wings span across 9 ft, soaring across the lands with an urgent message caught in its talons.

With the help of Elven magic, it's directed on the path towards the Kingdom of House Lennox, the reigning Human Kingdom of the North, located in the southern region of Gaia. The light fully extends across the Elven Realms by the time the falcon reaches the realm of the Humans. Such a unique and elegant creature native to the Northern regions of Gaia is simply a messenger between the two dominant species of the lands: Humans and Elves.

For as long as the two could recall, they've always been at odds with one another. Neither of them thought highly of each other, even having spiteful nicknames for each other. They were like two siblings, eternally in a rivalry that might just do more harm than good, should it continue unchecked. The white falcon reached the House of Lennox, being called in by a memorable tune from a flute by the messenger boy who stood on the tall walls that surrounded the Castle.

It flew in, landing on the gauntlet of the boy's arm, letting out a screech, and is rewarded with a treat for braving the winds today. When the boy pulls the scroll from its talons, his eyes grow wide at the golden seal, adorning the royal symbol of Lynlore. Without hesitation, he hands the message off to another messenger, telling him to deliver without perturbation from outside forces, even if his life relied on it.

The other younger messenger went flying through the corridors of the castle, making a full sprint down the spiraling stairs, going down three more floors before finding the war room. His lungs nearly give out, he stops for a quick drink of water from the maid. The prominent, steel doors open with a rumble against the marble floors, gaining the attention of King Alistair, and the council of his most trusted advisers.

The older King, wears an expression of annoyance, turning his glare to the younger boy, "What is it, child?" His irritation was prominent in his tone of voice.

"M-message from K-King Blaric of the E-elven E-empire." The boy nearly collapses, his trembling knees about giving in as he presents the scroll to his King.

Alistair snatches the scroll from the boy's hands, causing him to jump at his cruel action. Though the human King has no time for such trivial matters, with a wave of his calloused hand he dismisses him. The child scampers away, out the doors again, for them to close with a groaning thud.

"The Elves? What do the knife ears want?" His War Commander inquires, as he strokes his long, graying beard.

Alistair spares no remark, he rips the seal off and unrolls the scroll, his pale-blue eyes read across the elegant handwriting at a fast pace. He sees the final message with the signing by Kolvar Blaric, King of Lynlore & The Elven Empire.

"Well, what does it say?" His Spymaster asks, she's nearly on the edge of her seat trying to read the scroll.

Alistair gazes up from the parchment, looks around at his council, and announces, "He wishes to amend our…disdain for one another."

"Bah! Has to be a sick joke!" His Diplomat speaks, he has an air of tact and elegance about him.

"…and to share the fruits of our labor; minerals, rare materials, magic ability, and…he goes on about how he wants to ensure the peace is kept between our realms and Gaia." Alistair, despite his opposition to the selfish Elves in the North, was making an appealing opportunity.

"I say we send back a 'present' of why we don't deal with those damn slimy, selfish pricks!" The War Commander continued, his brows furrowed, "We can't—"

"But think about the opportunity it would present us if we sent our own people in." The Spymaster interjected, arching a sculpted eyebrow.

"Enough!" Alistair shouts, making his advisers grow silent. His aged eyes, and growing tired state of always being at war. The King wanted to respond, "I will think about the circumstances of this letter, but as of now, we must quell the rumors of demons lurking on our borders. What's the report beyond the mountains?"

"Some of my people have gone missing beyond the point of it. I've been unable to receive reports from beyond the forest as well." His Spymaster reports, sitting up in the wooden chair.

"And what do the people make of these rumors?" Alistair turns his gaze to his Diplomat.

"You know how the rumor mill works; it keeps on spinning." He retorts, making a gesture of a wheel spinning.

"And the rebels?"

"Quiet, my lord. Too quiet." The War Commander spits in suspicion.

"I'll need a scribe immediately. The deal the Elf mentions a proposal." Alistair says, flicking his wrist to bring him a scribe.

"And…what sort of proposal might this be?" The voice of his first love and Wife sounds through the large room, echoing through the silence.

Alistair turns to see his wife leaning against the stone wall, "An arranged marriage between chosen heirs." He finally says.

Lynlore was a bustle of life that morning, the ports closest to the kingdom's castle were crowded from the various shipments going to and from. King Kolvar Blaric looked out his window towards the port. His people were happy and always bursting with life, yet that didn't stop him from worrying about his kingdom and the people that inhabited it.

"Kolvar my love, what ails you?" The king's first and only wife Zestarri looked at him from their bed gently lifting herself to walk and stand by his side.

"There are many threats to this kingdom besides the pleb- I mean humans, my love. I am much too old to continue fighting with the magicless children." He sighed and Zestarri placed a hand over his. He looked down at her gently and placed a kiss on her cheek before looking towards the maid in near the door of the room. "Tell the messenger to gather my advisers. quickly! and bring me parchment."

The King turned as the maid scurried out of the room. Zestarri moved from her husband and gathered her own clothes changing before moving to assist him with his. Once they were dressed she followed him to the meeting room.

The maid had run down the hall scurrying off, she whispered the request to a nearby messenger. The messenger nodded before sending a butler to each of the advisors' rooms to gather them. They were staying in the castle to discuss matters of all four corners of the Elven kingdom. By the time the King and Queen walked through the door all three advisors sat at the oval table talking matters of each area.

The King walked in his wife trailing behind him, as he did so his advisors stood and bowed politely until he reached the head of the table and they all sat. Zestarri stood patiently by his side smiling and nodding her head in acknowledgment to the officials.

"To what do we owe this honor, Your Majesty?" The advisor for the Western Elves, dressed in light armor but with a rugged look that seemed always ready for battle, asked him turning everyone's focus of Kolvar.

"I am here to propose a truce between Humans ad Elves. For far too long we have been at war, bickering and fighting uselessly. I have grown far too tired of the countless battles." His advisors looked at him.

"Make peace with those rabbits? For them to have access to our resources and bleed us dry like the leeches they are!" A dark green-haired elf that represented the eastern elves argued confidently. The rugged copper-haired elf from earlier grunted and nodded in agreement. A black-haired elf, from the southern nation, gave a curt nod before speaking.

"Sire, we don't mean to object too strongly but, humans are rather...uncooperative. We would have to offer all of our resources and propose some sort of seal to ensure peace for all time."

The King folded his hands together and nodded solemnly, "Marriage is in fact the only way to secure land. We propose marriage and then choose to suitable heirs to wed from each side." His wife laid a gentle hand on her husband's shoulder before turning to speak to the advisors.

"This could be much to our advantage, there are many threats other than the humans, and though they lack magic they have other resources we need. An equal exchange simply means more power in favor of common enemies."

The men chatter amongst themselves before looking to their king and giving a series of curt nods, having the agreement he grabbed the parchment beside him and began to write. Once they were sure that their words held meaning they sent the bird off to deliver their message. They only hoped those barbarians would agree.