AC 2021 - Round Two: Team Two

[Celandine]

"Greetings," she said, in a voice as clear as Aleran, artisan, crystal-cut glass. Straightening her back she brushed her hair from her eyes, took a proud stance that spoke of authority and pride, and then addressed the guards as if she belonged there and nowhere else.

"My name is Celandine van der Aart Rameses, daughter and firstborn of the Matriarch herself, Philomel van der Aart, grand matron of the Gilded Lily, high priestess of Drys and saviour of Radasanth. I come here with all the authority of her, and also Commander Raimneth Gryholt, leader of the Aleraran forces and de-facto leader of the Aleraran people during this time of strife and martial law."

Carefully she gathered her hands before her, staring with defiance at the guffaws of the guards on the battlements. More now had joined the original company, curious of the young voice declaring her presence and power, of who might just claim to hold such influence. With more of an audience now she felt herself smiling, years of training flowing through her veins.

"We have travelled far, and not without incident I might add, two of our number being injured," she spread a delicate gesture to the dark elves at her side, then went back to clasp her fingers. "We seek an audience with your leaders, and come with all the authority to form an alliance with yourselves, able to conquer this land back from the demon incursion. We came by way of ancient mines which hold significant importance for your people, and with a potential answer to the question of how to seal away the demons back into the hells they came from."

Holding out her hands now to the gates she spoke louder.

"With all these words I ask you to open these gates that in truth belong to the good elves of these lands. We come in good faith and we ask you to do the same."

There was silence. A hungry, nervous pause. She could see the tension emanating from not only her companions standing there - one awkwardly on his broken ankle, another tall and in their armour that hid everything - but also the collection of dwarven faces atop the gate and those two who were the original guards. Glances swapped between comrades, but no words were declared as they drank in the young scholar's words and made their own conclusions as to the impact and truth of them.

But eventually, the quiet was broken. A creaking resounded, and the strong wooden gates began to creak open. They parted, as did the guards, who, when they realised what precisely was happening, moved to the left and right respectively, turning inwards to see what was occuring. And as soon as they did they suddenly snapped to attention, as did all those atop the gates. Celandine remained where she was - strong backed and proud, with a smile dancing on her lips as she found herself actually recognising one of the beings now striding out.

Surrounded by a flank of their warriors, adorned in rich white pelts, walked three dwarven individuals: one a soldier by the looks of his helm and baring; another with an old, wise look and beard; and the last a handsome member of the civil service, whom Celandine recognised with a sudden shock.

It was Emry, one of the very members of the dwarven contingent at Sanctuary that she and Shinsou had come to make a fellow conversation with, even for that short half an hour or so. His flaming red hair and startlingly green eyes were unmistakable. As the realisation came to her face the dwarf's mouth within the neat confines of his ginger beard broke into a smile. He looked to his other two officers and gave a firm nod.

"That's 'er alright, and th'other," he gestured to Umbra. "They are who they say they're. Aye." He grunted and then gave a bow. "Miss Celandine."

"Master Emry," she smiled back and gave her own curtsey.

- - -

Ten minutes later they were seated within the grandest serving house in the encampment. Much of the small stronghold had been relegated for the use by the dwarves - any building with a large space turned into barracks and the squat houses left empty with belongings of those dark elven families who had taken residence there. They had passed a wide alleyway, which had been covered with a thick tarpaulin and now turned into a magnificent mess and kitchen; a barn that now housed tens of riding goats; and a series of tents that all ran into each other and connected to an administrative building to form some sort of armoury and training area. Celandine was pleased to see that at least they had left much of the drow's original design intact, and had not simply just trashed the place.

Settling down into her cushion the faun sat cross legged, opposite the three prime dwarves across an open fire. She smiled at Emry, the one in the middle and felt secure to have Vanimar to her left and Umbra to her right. The medic and the soldier with the injured foot had already been directed towards the dwarves' medical centre.

"So," Emry said, apparently taking the place of the spokesperson. "Now that we have approved your credentials, it is time to open discussions." He paused and frowned. "Did you not have another companion, Miss Celandine? Shinsou Vaan Osiris of the Brotherhood?"

Celandine felt Umbra shift uncomfortably but laid a gentle hand on their metallic leg. "Indeed, we did," she smiled grimly, "but as you might remember he went through the portal with the demons, and we have not seen or heard from him since. But we still believe he is working from within, as the illusions he left suggest." She was sure that Emry did remember that particular fact. Glaring, she made certain that the dwarf diplomat did not make any more accusations towards the man her mother admired so greatly.

Emry pursed his lips but then nodded, his great swathe of hair shaking behind him. "We'll leave th'subject then. Now, you'say yeh come with th'authority of Commander Raimneth t' create ah truce?"

"Yes," it was Vanimar who spoke now, butting in without hesitation. But Celandine smiled, knowing he was the best to speak on this. The dark elf went on. "I am Captain Vanimar Moravar, given the authority by my Commander to entreat with you. We seek a peaceful negotiation with you. To create an alliance to rid the demons from this land. My people are confined within Sanctuary, where the Commander holds authority, and in other unknown areas. As you can imagine knowledge of our peoples' whereabouts has been difficult to gather information about." He breathed and glanced along the line of dwarf leaders. "Upon that subject I would like to know the whereabouts of the Aleraran people who were stationed here."

There was a pause, before the armoured one spoke up. "They're be gone by th'time we ge' 'ere. We saw 'em going into the mountains. No idea why, bu' maybe they seen us comin'." He sniffed and shrugged. "No' gone af'er them. This be our outpos' for th'now."

Vanimar began to glare and opened his mouth to retort but it was Celandine who gently laid her hand on his knee and spoke again.

"Neither of us will get far without the other, Master Emry, and Master Warrior," she addressed them. "Now, I can provide intelligence on a route that we have just taken that will get you almost directly to Sanctuary. We have soldiers already tracking it back to say to Commander Raimneth to possibly expect you, or indeed to start filtering citizens through there to here, which is a safe place - at least for now." She moved her hand slowly from her dark elf friend's leg. He blinked a little and kept staring at the spot she had it placed.

"I discovered a route through a subterranean network that few know about. It is an ancient series of tunnels, mines and natural caves that starts close by and has a wealth of history that will certainly be of interest to you. We have cleared a path that is narrow but suitable and we believe is unknown to the demons at least for now, and that goes from here to the Jagged Mountains." She looked from one dwarf to the other deliberately. They all waited with pensive breath, and the oldest one was leaning forward with great interest, their eyes dancing. She acknowledged him, recognising the eager scholarly and historically intrigued fascination within them.

"Yes. Some ancient history that will be of definite interest to you. I am sure that in exchange for cooperation with your good selves in gaining back their country that Raimneth will be willing to exchange exploration of these tunnels. It would also be very helpful if you would be able to welcome any refugees from Sanctuary into this stronghold."

A moment of silence. Emry then turned to the older dwarf and said something in a tongue that she did not know of. The three leaders began to murmur away to each other in a dwarven dialect, keeping their tones low but also masked. Looking to Umbra, Vanimar and Celandine found that they too did not know what the words meant. And thus, they were forced to wait as the proud beings - warrior, historian and diplomat - discussed the proposition before them.

After a while it was Emry who spoke once more. "You said at the gates that you had a possible way of sealing the hells once more the demons came from?" He frowned, "Mistress Garrett here," he nodded to the historian, whom Celandine was surprised beneath the hair was apparently female, "asks what you mean."

And this was where she could get excited. Truly excited. Pulling in her breath, Celandine let her own eyes sparkle as she dug into her satchel and pulled out the pouch. "I found an ancient metal!" she said, enthusiastically. "Probably the one the mines were originally made to find! I believe, from my reading, that it is the perfect material to recreate the sword that was taken by Cazri."

Again, silence filled the distance.

"May I see?" Mistress Garrett whispered in awe.

"Of course," Celandine grinned, holding up the pouch. A guard at the side of the room stood up to take it. They peered at it intriguingly as they took it around the roaring fire to Garrett.

"I'd be honoured to have another scholar take a look," the faun went on as the wizened dwarf took the pouch and began to slowly open it. "Plus, I can show you the vein where I believe we can easily extract more ore from."

The stunned expression upon Mistress Garrett's face was more than it's worth in diamonds. It filled the room with a new glow that was brighter than the fire for all intents and purposes. An inhale of breath and everything turned to beauty.

"This is exactly what you think it is," she replied.

And a new sense of wonder was created.

- - -

Epilogue

And so it was that the three companions came to stand outside the building. Umbra looked the small faun up and down, perhaps somewhere beneath that mysterious mercenary armour a smile breaking out. Or so Celandine hoped. What she felt towards the noble warrior, she wasn't sure, but it was definitely friendship and familiarity. As they gazed at one another uncertainty as to how to say goodbye it was Vanimar who made the first move.

He struck out a hand - his good hand. "Farewell, Knight Umbra," he said stoically. "It has been a pleasure to meet you."

"And you," Umbra replied quietly, pausing before shaking the slender dark skin. "Look after her."

Vanimar saluted. "I will, sir. They need me to stay here, after all, to ensure all is well with the alliance. My other comrades, when well, will accompany the dwarf warriors soon through the tunnels."

"Mmm," Umbra nodded, and turned to look again at Celandine. "You're going to need a path to the gate," they said.

"I'll miss you," she murmured, but knowing that their lives in this whole adventure lay in different directions. Hers would be with the scholar Garrett, working with her to find a way to forge a replacement sword, to explore the history of the mines. Umbra's would lie in the fight against the demons, pushing them south with the dwarves, or coming up between the country at points in the mines - whatever path lay ahead. Celandine felt like a hole was opening up in her heart, and she flew forwards suddenly to embrace the hulk of metal.

Small faun, large Mercenary. It was an odd sight, but it was beautiful. Vanimar smiled a little, his eyes admiring her enthusiasm and passion, knowing himself that he wouldn't stray from her side soon.

"Here," she sniffed and pulled away before she dug out the map that they had used, and that she had traced an approximation of the tunnels that had been discovered so far. "Use this. You might need it. Just … you know, stay alive."

"Will try," Umbra said, curling their fingers around it. "Thank you. And you, Celandine. Stay alive too."

All bunnying in this thread approved.