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Date Posted: 13:19:46 03/27/03 Thu
Author: Challerain Defense
Subject: The Everdark overtakes Challerain Keep
In reply to: The Challerain Defense 's message, "And so it begins..." on 13:14:46 03/27/03 Thu

December 22

The next morning the great Black Wall was less than ten miles distant and drawing closer. Now all could see that a wind blew wildly along the Everdark front, as if the air were being violently shoved, plowed before the moving Black Wall. Like a tempest-driven ocean breaking upon and enormous black jetty, great boiling clouds of swirling snow were lofted high into the air. As to the 'Dark itself, the blackness rose from the plains, darkest near the ground, fading as it went up; yet high into the sky it reached before it could no longer be seen, perhaps a mile or more. And though the day was bright and the Sun shone golden, its light seemed consumed as it struck the Black Wall, as if swallowed by some dark monster. Aurion, Adaron, Vidron, and others of the current War-staff came often to the rampart, yet neither did their sight penetrate the churning snow or looming black, nor did aught emerge from the ebon wall.

After she woke up that morning she had dressed and gone to the ramparts where she had remained in one place, unmoving as she watched the Dark Wall creep ever closer to the castle. Her face was placid to conceal the torrent that stormed within her. The gray cloak billowed about her legs lightly. Resting her forearms upon the stone, she almost held her breath wondering silently if she should have gone with the wagons, but she knew in her heart that it would not have been right.

An hour before noon Talar had come to where she stood. The wall was close and would blanket the Keep in blackness by noon. He was silent as he stood next to her, watching the Black Wall grow ever nearer to them.

She looked up to Talar for a moment and then back to the wall that advanced upon them. A sigh left her lips, but that was the only outward sign she gave of...anything.

The Sun stood at the zenith when at last the Everdark came upon Mont Challerain. Talar stood braced upon the rampart and watched with dread as the Black Wall rushed forward. Before it the howling wind raced, and with it came the hurling snow. The Castle-ward was buffeted and battered by the shrieking gale on the rim of the Everdark. Cloaks were pulled about shoulders and hoods over heads, but still the swirling snow was driven into Men's squinting wind-watered eyes; the Elves, amazingly, were able to peer directly into the storm without trouble.

Her head was bowed when the Wall hit them, shielding her face from the stinging winds and snow. She wanted Adaron there. Turning to face Talar, "Now that it is here...all we can do is...wait?" she asked, pulling her cloak tightly around her.

Talar stepped close to Leila, though he had felt ill towards her he knew she would need comfort and of course, Adaron was not here. He nodded once, looking down at her small form, his hand lifting the edge of his cloak to further shield her, not bothered by the snow storm nor obviously dropping temperature. "I deem so, Elendil." The Sun began to grow dim as the dark tide swept on, as if a black night were swiftly falling, though it was yet high noon. Rapidly the sunlight failed as the Everdark engulfed the Keep: through dusk into darkness the day sped in but a thrice, and night fell even though the Sun stood on high.

Leila huddled closer to Talar beginning to shiver as the temperature plummeted suddenly. The sudden depravation of light stole her sight for a moment as she blinked to regain it, though much was not restored. Green-gold eyes squinted up at the much taller elf. "I do not think the Everdark would appreciate it if I sang to it," forcing a smile though she knew she'd have to find warmer clothing, and quickly.

"Nor I." He grinned reassuringly down at her. The shriek of the howling wind faded to but a distant murmur as the Black Wall swept on, and then even the murmur stilled. The lofted snow quietly drifted back down upon the ramparts and the ground. The Keep now lay in dark Winternight, and a bone-numbing chill stole upon the land. Above, the disk of the Sun could faintly be seen, and then only by knowing exactly where to look. Yet a spectral light, a Shadowlight, shone out of the dark, as if from a bright Moon, or the stars. Ebon shadows clotted around the feet of rock outjuts and seeped among the trees and hills, and vision was hard-pressed to peer into these pools of blackness. And even out where the land was more open, sight became lost in the Shadowlight, snubbed short by the spectral dark.

Captains walked up and down the rampart, saying to their men, "Steady, men, steady..." But whether they were trying to buck up their squads or talking to themselves, even they did not know.

Turning away from her temporary elf-shelter she turned to look out over the plains. Her eyes felt strange and something about the Shadowlight seemed off. It seemed a deep violet, or deeper than that to a color no man could describe in words. In the Dark she could see for only a few miles. A soft sigh, she wondered how much farther the elves could see than she, what was she missing out there that they watched creep closer?

~*~


The awful cold crept into the very marrow of the bones, and Captains sent their squads five men at a time to their quarters to don their quilted down clothing. Time was now to be measured in candle marks and by the water clocks and sand, and though it was now reckoned to be nighttime, neither Moon nor stars shone through the Everdark from the skies above. Yet still the harsh land below could be seen in the spectral Shadowlight. High King Aurion with Lord Adaron came unto the north rampart, riding caparisoned steeds into the bastion gorge below. Now both were armed and armored, Adaron with his golden Elven armor. The King bore a great sword at his belt and a spear in his hand.

Adaron had a quiver filled with arrows on his back and a bow as well. He had a sword at his own girt, the handle long and into it were carved Elven runes. Also an Elven long-knife was to one side.

The King also wore red and gold, though because those were the colors of his Kingdom. His standard, a rampant gold Griffon on a scarlet field. Both the horses they rode were gray, the Kings, Wildwind, pranced and sidled as they came into the gorge and both stood quietly as the riders dismounted. Up the ramp strode the two to join Talarin and Leila and Aurion stared out into the spectral dark, but little did he see in the ghostly werelight.

Adaron carried something over his arm and upon closer inspection it could be seen to be similar quilted down clothing that the men were donning. Brow lifted as he spoke, and though his face was once again void of expression, to those that knew him, would be able to see the tinge of a smirk at the corners of his lips. "Bright armor is fine for birth date celebrations, but eiderdown is needed to withstand this cold Winternight." The jacket like clothing was to be slipped over the mail under her cloak.

She took the clothing from him reluctantly, mostly because it was too cold to move too much. "Diola lle, Heru en amin, Adaron." It was the best she could do. Her cloak was unfastened for a moment, the eiderdown suit donned and then the cloak replaced. It was much better, much warmer.

"How far do you see, Lord Adaron?" Asked the High King.

"To the fifth rise, no more," Answered the Elf.

"Ai, that is a far sight in this icy shadow," said King Aurion. "Mine own one eye is accounted good among Men, yet I but see to the first, nay, the second rise. Perhaps a mile or two at most." Aurion turned to the Gypsy, her orbs seemed strange. Even in the Shadowlight the young woman's eyes were bright. "How far do you see, my Lady?"

She glanced out...blinking a few times and then turning to look at Aurion and the elves with a rather distraught expression. "I see a little past the sixth..." That just did not seem right that she saw further than the elves. She glanced back towards the hills once more, quite sure now of the distance of her vision.

"A!" Cried Adaron in wonderment, actual wonderment as he turned to Leila with wide eyes. "Never before have the far-seeing Elven eyes been bested at sight. Yet here in this baffling shadow it happens. The vision of your eyes now proves to see beyond those of the First Folk in this Shadowlight." The wonderment slowly fled his features.

She was unsure if she should apologize, so she just stood there and stared at them all. "I..." she held up her hands. "My sight has never been particularly good among mankind. I do not know why now I can see in this phantom light."

Quickly Adaron turned to the King. "King Aurion, I think we must turn the far-seeing eyes of Leila to our good. We know not how distant the eyes of the enemy forces can peer through this darkness sent by Drego, yet if the Gypsy can see farther than the foe, then it will give us a great vantage: advantage to set our forces beyond their vision and watch them come into our traps. Then we may strike swiftly and with deadly force, falling up them out of the cover of their own murk."

King Aurion struck a fist into his palm, and a fierce smile broke his frown. "Hail! At last a ray of hope. If you are right, Lord Adaron, if this Wonder can see farther than the eyes of the enemy, then they will prove to be the key to our tactics, for we shall place her eyes in our forces and swoop down upon the Horde like hawks upon rabbits."

Those mystic eyes watched the ground now however. So much depending on her now, and what if she could not see farther than the enemy? What if the traps they set only served to trap themselves? Her worries were not voiced as she stood there chilled in the extreme cold. But then again, what if she was the one weapon that was more valuable than they could afford to not have?

"Hsst!" Talar, who had been standing closest to the northern wall held up a hand for silence, his head snapping up, and he listened intently.

Adaron too had lifted his head, slightly tilting it, listening. "A drum tolls." Swiftly Adaron drew the long hilted sword from its scabbard and held the weapon high, and lo! set within the blade was a rune-carved blood-red jewel, and deep within the jem pulsed a ruby light!" "My sword Bale whispers that Evil comes."

Talarin leapt to the wall and turned his head this way and that, trying to locate the drum sound. It seemed that only they could hear the sound.

Leila silenced, her ears straining for a single sound. Nothing. Her head ached until finally she gave up trying to hear the ghost-drums. She turned then to the king to see if he had heard it yet or if it was still just the elves that could hear the sound.

"From the north it comes." Said Adaron at last, Talarin nodding his agreement. Long moments fled, and all the while the faint glwo grew within the scarlet jewel. Those that looked upon it knew that they saw before them one of the 'special' Elven weapons forged long ago by the House of Aurinor. Adn the jewel-fire signaleed that Evil came near, so eyes peered through the murk and listened. Now the drums could be heard by all. The faint pulse of a distant drum: boom, boom, boom. All about them on the walls, others, too, heard the regular throb: boom, boom, boom. Slowly, ever so slowly, the leaden pulse became louder. Boom, boom, boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Leila's eyes suddenly filled with tears as her voice filled with dread. She blinked back the tears, eyes focused on the horizon. "They come from just beyond the hills..." her voice low. If any took notice of her hands they would see that they were trembling.

All others peered to the north, searching yet seeing naught. Boom! Boom! Doom! "What is it?" cried the High King, his own sight unable to pierce the murk. "What see you?" Boom! Doom! Doom! Out over the prairie vast arrays marched toward Challerain Keep, file after file emerging from the black Shadowlight, like a great flood of darkness pouring forth over the snowy plains, covering it with thousands upon thousands of Drego's ravers. Before them loped the evil black Vulgs, and within the ranks marched dark Rucks and Holks. Upon Helsteeds amongst the Horde rode the corpse-white Ghuls. And they came to the pulse of a great War drum. Doom! Doom! Doom!

She swallowed, composing herself before speaking. "Endless numbers march this way. Drego's horde..." her voice wavering. "Lines after lines. Great wolves," for lack of a better name. "And at the heart...white...they look like corpses and they bring the drums, moving with it." This was clearly not something she wanted to be seeing, especially consider she was the only one that could see it so far. Quite frankly she wanted to turn and hide herself against Adaron, but no...she was strong.

Into the foothills they came, flowing toward the Keep, and now Adaron and Talar's vision could see them, too, and their eyes glittered in the Shadowlight as they watched them pour forth. And now the ruby flame from Bale's blood-jewel flickered along the edge of the blade. Doom! Doom! Doom!

Aurion Redeye peered intently, and he struck the stone curtain in frustration. "Still I cannot see them. What are their numbers? The arrangement of their march?"

Now it was Talar who spoke. "Leila speaks true, My King. Thousands do I see. I cannot guess at their number, yet more come through the 'Dark behind. They are spread on a wide front, perhaps a mile or so. Most are what I take to be Rucha. Though among them stride the taller Loka, while one in a hundred are mounted Ghulka, and Vulgs range wide to the fore and flank."

Aurion's face turned ashen to hear such dire figures, for his forces were meager compared to the Horde. "Is that aught else?" All eyes turned to Leila who could see the furthest.

She sighed softly and shook her head. "As many countless thousands as the elven-eyes can see, I see countless of thousands more still marching from the Everdark."

Doom! Boom! Doom! Boom! The sound of drum was answered by a stirring call of Valonian horns and down below them could be seen the army of Challerain Keep, marching out to take up positions upon the hills below: pikemen to the fore with archers behind, foot soldiers with halberds and swords and axes came next, and mounted riders of Valon in back, with spears that would be couched for the charge through lanes when the enemy hove to.

Once more she spoke. "Sire...their numbers are too great...still they come. We are not a tenth, if that much of that demon swarm. If we stay here then we will die. If they overtake the Keep, then there will be no way to defend against them. To pit the forces here against the oncoming horde would sacrifice too many lives. It would be a slaughter of your soldiers and the elves sent from Tel'Oira Eldamar." Firmly said. Not because she was afraid, but because she could see the strength at which the horde came towards them.

"Pah!" grated Aurion. "Could I but see them, then would I know whether to strike hard or withdraw. Rather would I cleave into their ranks in fury then fight like a cornered badger." He turned to Adaron.

"I deem, Sire, that Captain Leila is right." Said the Elf as he sheathed burning Bale.

But Aurion said naught in return. Doom! Boom! Doom! Boom! Onward came the enemy. Vidron strode up the ramp and stood beside the King. At last the Horde hove into the range of Man-sight. Aurion Redeye blenched to see the Swarm in all its numbers. With a groan, the High King signaled to Vidron, "Sound the withdrawl. They are too many to meet upon the field."

Vidron lifted the black-oxen horn to his lips, and an imperative call split the air: Hahn, taa-roo! Hahn taa-roo! (Return! Return!) From the distance force below came a faint horn call. "Sire" rumbled Vidron, "Hagan questions the order." Doom! Boom! Doom! Doom!

"Ah, Vidron, your Captains of Valon are brave, yet bravery alone is not enough to whelm this Horde. Only numbers of mine Host can even begin to challenge such a might, and they are yet far south." King Aurion looked weary. "We have no choice but to follow the War-council's plan to defend the walls."

Hahn, taa-roo! Hahn, taa-roo! demanded Vidron's black horn. Slowly the meager army of Challerain Keep withdrew, coming at last through the first wall, and the gates clanged shut behind. Boom! Boom! Doom! Doom! Onward came the Horde, a dark flood. Now the sharp eyes of the Gypsy would be able to see that among the Hloks were those who lashed at the Rucks with whips of thongs, driving them forward if any lagged or strayed in the slightest. Boom! Doom! Boom! Still the vast Horde poured forth out of the blackness, and among the ranks were carried standards bearing Drego's sigil--a burning ring, scrawled on black, the sign of the Sun-Death. And where the standards were, there, too, rode Ghuls upon Helsteeds, pacing the Swarm forth. And they came until they were just beyond bow shot from the first wall, nor could mangonels fling missiles to reach their ranks. With a hideous, chilling howl, like that of a Vulg, a Ghul in the fore center flung up his hand, tulwar raised high, and so signaled all the Ghuls. A harsh bleat of Rucken horns sounded, discordant and grating, and the ranks of the Horde split, like a vast flood cleaving around a great rock, curving east and west and south again. Once more the chilling Ghulen howl rent the air, and as if released from a duty, the Vulgs left the Rucken Horde and raced away to the south. Swiftly they ran, as if following the wave of the Everdark engulfing the Lands afar. At last their black shapes were lost to any sight, the beasts passed beyond seeing, leaving the Horde and the Keep far behind. And still the Swarm curved 'round the mount, at last to come together on the far side, beringing the walls. And then the great drum pulsed loudly: DOOM! DOOM! DOOM! and fell silent. The Horde ground to a halt and stood facing Challerain Keep, and the only sound was that of a thin chill wind gnawing through the merlons on the ramparts of the besieged mountain city.

~*~


An hour passed, and then another, and still the Horde stood fast, facing the Keep. On the ramparts the King paced back and forth, like a caged lion, and he would stop for long moments to stare down at the silent foe and then resume his pacing. At last he called Vidron and Adaron unto him, and they spoke softly. After a moment he summoned Leila.

Leila too went to his side, standing before the two men and the Elven Emissary. "You have summoned me, my King?" The normally tight braid had been loosened enough to cover her ears to keep them warm and though her hood was still, her cheeks were flush with cold.

"Captain Leila, " He began, and though in truth there was not much that she was Captain of, he spoke her title with seriousness, for she had a gift in this murk that might be a key aid to them. "we must have your sharp sight within the ranks of my forces, for only your strange eyes have the vision to see afar through this murk. I would that I had more of your Kith. I must ask that you be at my right hand, though that would separate you from the friends that you had made." He gave a gesture to those who stood at the wall. "I would that you join my War-council, for I deem it will be only you to be our far-seeing eyes throughout the long days ahead.

A nod was given then curtly. "As you wish, my King. I am yours to command." A bow of her head was given. Already someone had been sent to take her place at the wall. She glanced out onto the plains then, her fairy-nose scrunching at all which she saw before Leila's head was once more turned to face the High King.

Thus is was that to Leila fell the honor of being the far-seeing eyes of the High King. "Come. Walk with me while I take Wildwind back to the stables; you can lead Lord Adaron’s, Arauka." And so they strode down to the horses while Adaron and Talar remained behind on the ramparts.

~*~


"Sire," a herald came breathless unto the King, "Lord Adaron sends word: something is afoot along the eastern flank." "Lady Leila!" Called the King, since she was not in the same stall as he, and probably would be brushing down the Emissary’s grey stud. "Swift, to the east wall we go."

Aurion strode rapidly out and across the courtyard. Up a ramp they went and to the mid-gorge of the east bulwark. There stood Adaron and Talarin. "There." Said Adaron, pointing. A large force of Ghulka, Loka, and Rucha could be seen to the east, marching southward. Far they were, just within the Elves' seeing, and no sound came unto the ramparts from their distant tramp. Like a sinister gliding shadow, they flowed through the werelight and across the Land.

Both Vidron and Aurion shook their heads, for they could not see such. "Describe to me what you see, my Lady." The force was beyond Man-sight.

"There is a great battery of them moving..." her skin paled under the flush of blood. "They are moving to the south, my King. And they are moving swiftly."

"Perhaps they march upon Eternal Wood as in the days of old." Offered Talar in suggestion.

"Or Stonehill." Aurion’s voice was grim.

"Mayhap they have discovered that Arden Vale is an Elven strongholt. Perhaps they will strike east for Aravan's own hidden valley. Yet I think they would assault that gorge from the Grimwall." A shallow nod. "It is Eternal Wood or Stonehill they march upon."

Yet wood, village, or valley, none knew where the force was bound: and Man, Elf, and Gypsy stood as the distant Horde silently passed once more into the ominous 'Dark. It was when Leila could no longer see it, that Aurion sent heralds to call his War-council together. But as the King turned to go down into the castle, Doom! The mighty drum of the Horde sounded. Doom! Again came the pulse, and from the walls all could see a great stir among the Rucken ranks.

As if all in one motion the arms of the Elves were drawn back and arrows set to string, Adaron and Talar doing the same, their eyes never leaving the enemy. Doom!

Once the elves took up arms she moved to do the same. Her bow drawn and an arrow nocked upon it. Drawing back the string, she held it taut until an order came to unleash the arrows upon the horde.

"Pah! They break for camp, " growled Vidron after a moment. "and do not charge the walls below." The Kingsgeneral sheathed his sword.

And for the first time, Talar noted that he, as well as Adaron and Leila had put arrow to string. But each one there upon the castle wall had readied a weapon of some sort at the boom of the great beat. Swords and poniards slid with metallic sounds back into sheaths. As Talar returned arrow to quiver he found that he actually felt foolish and wondered if any of the others did, for even had the enemy charged, the fighting would not have been up here at the fifth wall, but instead down at the first wall, nearly a thousand feet below. Doom!

The bow and arrow replaced upon her back she turned from the wall and glanced up towards the sky...nothingness. It was not so foolish, whether or not the fight would have taken place on the lower walls, they would still need marksmen on the higher walls to pick off the horde as they filed closer.

"Come," said Aurion, "let us to council." Down from the rampart he led them, and into the keep where pages went before, holding lanterns to show the way, for the pallid Shadowlight of the Everdark stole not into the castle. The king led them to a room where a great table stood in the center of the floor with massive chairs around, and maps and charts hung on the walls. This was the War-council chambers, deep within the castle--but even here the slow beat of the Rucken drum sounded, muffled and distant. Doom! Other men came: Hagan of Valon, young and strong and flaxen-haired; Medwyn of Pellar, grizzled gnarled but with bright, alert eyes; Overn of Jugo, fat he was, with a great black beard and bushy eyebrows: Young Brill of Wellen, tall and slender, and air of detached inwardness, some said he was a berserker; and Gann of Riamon, taciturn and reserved, perhaps the best tactician there. A mixed lot they were, yet warriors all, and with Vidron and Adaron they formed the High King's War-council at Challerain Keep. And into this company, at least for now, would come only Leila, the Elf Talarin to stay upon the rampart.

The hood of her cloak was tossed back then to reveal her features once more, rosy from cold, but still bright and alert. She stood with her arms crossed above her stomach and stood silently, the smallest and only female member in the council. When all those present had taken their seats, she too sat down, her place was beside the Elven Emissary.

King Aurion spoke: "Warriors, we have fallen upon dire times." Doom! "The enemy numbers ten times our strength, and they surround our position: we are besieged. Too, others of Drego's forces move south, and we are helpless to stop them. Would that I knew where mine own Host stands, or when they will come. Even now the Legion may be marching north, yet we known not, for Drego's curs waylay the messengers, and perhaps the muster has not yet begun. But no word has come from the south, and with the Horde 'round our walls, none shall come least it be borne by the Host itself. When last we met we chose two plans, each based upon the strength of the enemy: in the first we would take to the field and set our force 'gainst Drego's; in the second we would defend the walls, and hold until the Legion arrives. Well now the enemy is come, and his numbers would seem to leave us little choice but to defend the ramparts, for we are outnumbered by a mighty Horde, and, mark me, they will attack." Doom! "I have called you unto me to ask if there be aught we can do but wait for the enemy to strike. Has any seen some weakness in the Swarm we can turn to our vantage? Have we any option but to ward the walls of Challerain Keep?" Advise me now, I listen."

Sparkling green and gold eyes flitted about the table to look upon each person. No one spoke. Her fingernails drummed on the table for a minute. "Why have the horde not yet attacked us? They are at our walls, and yet they wait."

"We know not the mind of the Enemy in Gryn, nor the full disposition of his strength. Yet the Horde without surely awaits something." Doom! "I know not what, but something evil, of that you can be certain." Adaron fell silent, and he gazed at her for a moment after speaking. At the council, his face was stoic.

"How long can we last? Food and drink, I mean." Asked young Brill of Wellen.

"Perhaps six months, no more." Responded fat Overn, "if we can repulse them from the bulwarks."

"Do you not think that will be a little difficult?" she asked with a raised brow. "Our warriors will be spread so thinly along the walls." She paused then in thought before continuing. "It looks as though the horde could break through anywhere. We do not have six months, m'lord. It is not possible."

"Yes, Captain Leila, you are right." Answered Medwyn of Pellar. "It will be difficult, expecially on the lower walls. In fact, those ramparts we expect to fall." Doom!

"Then should those not be the most heavily guarded in order to fortify them?"

Medwyn shook his head. "The lower walls stretch around teh base of the mount and our numbers are too few to defend their great length against such a vast Horde. But the higher up the mount we come, the shorter it is around, and the less length we have to defend. Thus, as we fall back to successive ramparts, our strength effectively multiplies, for the perimeter of our defense grows smaller. Think of it this way: but a few sturdy soldiers are needed to hold a narrow way--such as a bridge or pass--for no matter how great is the enemey army, they can come at the defenders only a few at a time. Hence, a squad may defy a legion, just as we will defy the Horde--though we may have to fall back unto the last wall itself to do so." Doom!

Nothing else came from the young gypsy. Dark hands folded then into her lap, fingers closing together to hold them steady.

It was Vidron who spoke next. "This strategy seems sound, for without moving we stop this Horde here in a place of great strength. We hold the high ground, and our defenses are mighty. But there are these problems with the plan: First, we may not be able to hold the walls 'gainst this might. Second, if we do hold, our own Legion may not come soon enough or in enough strength to defeat this Horde. Third and last, Drego may have other Swarms raving around the Land that are the equal of or greater than that which we face: a smaller one passed to the east, as you well know. Three things I have named, and if one of these three are true, then this strategy is not best, though it may be too late to do aught else.

"Fie!" Snorted Medwyn, starting to rise.

But Aurion Redeye held up a hand, and reluctantly the Man from Pellar sank back. "Let us not stir up that particular hornet's next of plans and counter plants," said the King, "for we have been stung too many times by the barbs of argument from both sides. The balm of logic here does little good to soothe away the passion, for there are too many unknowns, and the best way is not clear. Instead, this I ask, for ye have all seen the numbers of our enemy, and they are mighty: Is there aught else we can do, now that we know what we face? Does another plan come to mind we have not already discarded?" The King slowly looked 'round the table, his eye resting upon reach one there: Adaron, Vidron, Gann, Overn, Medwyn, Young Brill, Hagan, and finally Leila. Each of the others has shaken their head no. Doom!

A soft sigh slipped passed her lips as she too was forced to shake her head. Heartbroken that she could give the king nothing to save his castle and his people.

"Then this War-council is done." Aurion stood, but before leaving he turned to the woman seated. "Lady Leila, move your belongings into the quarter connecting to mine, for I want you at my side should I need eyes to see through the Everdark. I return to the walls"

A nod was given and as the war-council closed she stood from her chair weakly, her nose wrinkling again in something akin to agitation. Her hands moved to pull the hood back over her head as she fully intended to now return to the walls also.

~*~


Before she could return to the wall however there was another matter she had to attend to. Leila struck out of the main castle and out through the snow for the walk to the barracks. The wind bit at her face as she moved through the darkness with an ease that no other human had in these times. Entering the barracks then she found her bed and began to pull her things from under it, careful not to disturb Talar's. Everything she had brought was placed upon the bed so that she could assure herself that she had missed naught before it was all put away.

The Elven squad under Talarin had finished their watch and most had retired to the mess hall or into the barracks to rest, for now that the Horde was in sight, it was plainly obvious how their strength would be needed perhaps as little as the coming hours. Talar had been laying on his bed, his eyes closed, in a restful sleep. His ears however could still hear and although she might have been quiet he still heard her gathering her things. He sat up on the mat and turned over to lay on his side, looking down the part of her that could be seen from his position. He said nothing.

Her belongings were placed into knapsacks hurriedly and once she stood, she found herself staring up at the elf, her eyes meeting his own. "I have to leave," she said in a voice hardly above a whisper and strained with an un-named emotion.

His face softened. He sat up again, legs swinging to the side of the bed. With a light push he silently dropped to the floor. "I guessed as much. Aurion King needs your eyes in this murk." Talarin understood, yet he was still saddened to hear of his friends parting. He had forever and she did not, he wished to spend all the time allowed to him with her. "I will see you upon the ramparts perhaps." He offered.

She hefted the bags upon her back so that she could drop them off by her new assignment before she returned to the ramparts. "You shall." Doing all in her power to be stoic, and it was failing. She was afraid and now was being taken away from the only real stability she knew in this place. Knowing she had to go before she began to cry she spoke once more. "I should be swift, the King may need me upon the ramparts before the night's end."

Talar simply nodded once, slowly, almost reluctantly. At least she would be closer to her beloved. A grin then set upon his lips, a fierce one, his hand lifting to rest upon her shoulder, his chin tipped up quickly as he spoke. "Quel fara, Leila." (Good hunting, Leila.)

She laughed softly, a hand resting upon his to squeeze it for a moment before hers waved in the air. "Yes, yes, I am woman, hear me roar," she teased before giving him a wink and exiting the barracks.

~*~


Into the main castle she strode, following a corridor until she found her new chamber, a soft smile upon her lips as she dropped her things. The bed would be comfortable if she ever had the chance to sleep in the coming days. Leila turned then, her cloak snapping behind her as she shut the door loudly and made her way back out the ramparts. Carefully did she maneuver booted feet up the icy ramp until she came to the top, observing as everyone crowded against the wall, their eyes straining into the distance. There was a ruckus among the spawn forces. Moving swiftly then to stand behind King Aurion, she was dwarfed by most of the men. "What is all the commotion for, my King?"

"Of that we do not know. Out to the distance, what do your Gypsy eyes see?" Responded the King.

She squeezed in between the men and crawled up upon the weapon's shelf, resting on her knees. Her hands braced herself against one of the merlons as she stared out into the darkness. Her eyes squinting and she began to respond. "I see noth--" and then she paused. "Wait." Another moment passed. "It looks like...horses. They bring with them another force, and swiftly do they move!" Another moment. "Now they disappear again...I can not find them..."

"It could as well have been Helsteeds." King Aurion, again frustrated at not being able to penetrate the dark cried, "Rach!" and struck the stone curtain with the edge of his fist. Then he mastered his ire and turned to Leila. "When you watch, still search the very limits of the darkness for this and other sign. Mayhap it will come again and you'll be able to see more than now, and then we will know whether it is for good or evil." Doom!

~*~


When it was time those that were able to crawled wearily into beds, the great Rucken drum continued its leaden toll Doom!, sounding the pulse of the waiting Horde--but what they waited for, still they could not say. Minds were awhirl with the day's events, and through exhausted, some did not see how they could sleep with the Keep surrounded by the enemy and a great drum throbbing. Yet in moments many of them were in deep slumber and did not awake when fellow comrades passed through on their own weary way to bed. And dreams were filled with fleeting glimpses of swift dark figures sliding in and out of distant shadows--as was described by the Gypsy--but whether they were Men on horses or Ghuls on Helsteeds, they could not tell. And somewhere in their dreams a great heavy bell tolled a dreadful dirge: Doom! Doom! Doom!

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