5 Chapter V

Archie came storming into the Castle, the double-doors slamming into the stone with a hard thud. This was only the surface of his brewing anger. "Where is my father?!" He demanded from the servants. Few ever saw his anger and at this moment he cared not what they thought of him.

"This way, young Lord." The Butler spoke softly.

With the slaps of his boots against the marbled floors, he followed after the butler towards the gardens in the back. The Butler asked if he wanted refreshments, which was met with a silent glare and then a nod before catching glimpse of his parents. They were walking through the roses of various colors, talking with one another. Archie yelled, "Old Man!"

It caught Alistair's attention, who stopped in his tracks, letting his hand slip from his Wife's own. He let Calliope walk away, probably further into the gardens to let her boys speak. The King of Lennox offered a smile that didn't reach his eyes as his son stormed over, long strides to reach where he was.

The first thing his son did was ask, "Why?"

"You know why, my son." Alistair retorts, looking a peculiar yellow rose.

He clenched his fists, his puffing anger had deflated in the presence of his King. Archie ran a hair through his chin-length, platinum locks. "I wish you told me, not Mother. I prefer this to be man-to-man, but you couldn't even respect that."

"I'm here now. Speak your mind, boy." Alistair retorts.

"I knew I was to wed a noble sometime in my lifetime. I just didn't think it would an…Elf. Of all people on this plane of existence, I'd rather marry my boot."

"Well, your good intentions say otherwise, yeah?" Alistair points to the yellow rose, plucks it out and brandishes it to his son. Alongside the photo of his bride-to-be. "Her name's Elora Blaric. She's the youngest of four to the King of Lynlore. She already accepted the proposal, who wishes to see her Kingdom at peace as well. I think if the Divine were destining you towards an equal partner, she'd be the one. What do you think?"

"She's quite beautiful, but when are the elves not? They've been blessed with attractive features since the dawn of their kind. I will make my own opinion once I am to formally meet her. If she is like you say, I don't oppose to the marriage. I'd put my own people above my own happiness. You can write that in your next letter to the Elven King. But I must return to training." Archie's tucked the photo into his pocket with the rose. He's already out of the Castle before the Butler has a chance to prepare the Prince's favorites.

The King returns to his study to write a letter of acceptance;

To King Blaric of Lynlore & All of Elven Kin,

I've no comment of the latter, but I remain the same in this treaty. It has come to my recent findings, the King Azu of an era long gone, had a temporary alliance with your people at one point. I've found his personal accounting of the incidents that were occurring in all lands across Gaia – and for the sake of safety of my and your people at the time, the expressed temporary alliance lasted until this darkness was sealed away. Unfortunately, the history of this time was struck from our official records. I will find what else I can of this darkness. I propose you do the same on your end, I'm positive you'll find more on this "shadows" in detail in your own history. And in regards of sending scouts to the Haunted Forest, I accept. The Black Lake (We renamed it recently) is allocated in the heart of it. The Heir of Beaumont came across it in his own findings and as of his result, he has become poisoned with an unknown black liquid which is evident across his forearm. I can only inquire, if you have such a cure for this poison? I would like to know in advance. The Heir of Beaumont is to wed the daughter of the Kingdom of Delafontaine. I hope it's not too selfish to ask if your medicines are more advance than ours.

I accept your offer to build the infrastructure. I only hope this includes the border on my end, as well. I've no qualms against your people constantly destroying our side of the border, but surly this can be accepted in part of the recent war on the borders. Which might I add, what shall we call this event? I was thinking, "The Summit of Gaia." Though, I seek your opinion on this matter - do you oppose to such a title? Do you have a better one?

There will only be I, my council of advisers, and the King of Delafontaine with his personal Adviser attending. The other nobles would rather be represented by either of us as they still hold resentment towards your kind, which I can apologize for in person.

I've no personal comment on your daughter's beauty, but my son thinks she's beautiful. Though it was met with anger, he ultimately accepted the proposal without further opposition. Whether they meet officially, will be of their own doing. I've no hand in puppeteering, I will let it play out naturally. But I do agree they should grow familiar with one another as well. I feel our children might be cut from the same fabric of good will, my son puts his own happiness under his people. In my findings of trying to find a most recent photo of him, I was only able to find one of him from his youth – around age 20 or younger. The photo doesn't reflect what he looks like today, but he has a large scar across his face as the result of a civil war that happened several years prior. I do not know if you consider scars to be an unattractive feature, but over here we were them as badges of honor. I hope Archie is of somewhat appeasing to the Elves' eyes or scale of what beauty is.

Do let me know when the construction is finished. For now, I will continue with exchanging letters.

Regards met with equal peace and prosperity,

King Alistair of Lennox & Human Nations.

"Elora I must say, for a bowl eared pleb, he is rather handsome is he not?" Naexi jested at her sister as she braided her own silver-colored hair. "Father even said he has a nice scar right alongside his face, isn't that dashing?"

Elora scoffed and rolled her eyes at her sister, "Handsome as he may be. You only jest like this because you don't have to wed a brute."

"Aye Elora. I don't, I am to wed my darling Strolvac. Father said Lord Uluc has already agreed...Besides that little sister, you agreed to this. did you not?" Naexi turned in her chair to eye her sister with a teasing look before standing and moving beside Elora to push her in the chair she had been sitting in.

Elora frowned in the mirror placed in front of her, "I did agree, though I can say it wasn't much of a choice to make." She scoffed again crossing her arms, "I love this kingdom and its people with my entire heart. Though I did not think I'd have to wed to secure their safety."

"You did the right thing, Elora. Plus this prince, he is handsome and looks rather strong doesn't he?" Naexi shoved her sister playfully before continuing to brush her hair.

Elora flushed at her sister's word and held the picture, "Aye. I just hope for my sake we hold the same values."

~

"My lord the ages stationed on the southern border of the forest have claimed they felt a strange surge of dark power recently." Grykail's acting commander in their military spoke a little nervously as he watched his lord.

Grykail lifted his cup of dark liquor and took a small sip. King Kolvar had sent him writing of what the humans claimed to be the return of darkness, which led him to drink since mid-noon. Swallowing the warm liquid he sighed and looked at his acting commander. "King Blaric has said it may be the darkness returning. I would advise you to keep it silent until we can scout the human territory ourselves. Simply tell the mages to increase the safety of the barrier."

"Yes, M'lord." The soldier walked off with urgency and left his lord to his thoughts. Though he knew it would take time, he only hoped Uluc worked fast.

~

Prince Strolvac was overseeing the building of the commonplace, his father had left him in charge of the duty, as amends for the northern kingdom having to wed their youngest daughter. Thanks to their ability to manipulate earth the building was going rather smooth. Building a place that had preferences of both humans and elves was the difficult part. Strolvac, like most of the elves, had no concern or care for the humans. But, due to his father and the King's command her would do his best. He was, after all, doing this for his lovely Naexi.

They had managed to finish the base of the building and had started on the outer works, for now, he would only place a simple table and chairs for the meeting. He saw no need to stress the little details as of yet. The building was to be a type of lodging house, where elves and humans alike could stay in between travels for both kingdoms. Once Strolvac was sure that the building process was going well he moved on to the men overseeing the restructuring of the human's wall. This action itself was a lot less enjoyable for his comrades. They all felt no need to rebuild a wall they had so carelessly destroyed in a means of war.

"Prince Strolvac, I still don't see the need to rebuild this wall. The humans have done far worse in times." The man was sighing as he looked at his prince. Strolvac placed a hand on his shoulder and gave a small smile.

"Yes. But, we must let these things go in order to move forward. Now think, you're children can live in a time of peace. A not fear whether they will lose you in the next battle." The man nodded firmly at this hoisting his supplies over his shoulder feeling a sense of urgency rush over him.