He awoke in chains Erkenak and Garl were nowhere to be seen. As his vision adjusted and the blurs faded he saw a male elf stand before him. He was dressed in a earth colored robe and now paced back and forth. �� Why are you wondering in the forest?�� asked the elf barely conscious from the blow and still drowsy Lithar answered groggily �� Is it a crime to wander in your forest?�� Lithar asked �� No�K but these are dark times do not ask me again. Answer truthfully and you shall be released. So I ask you again, why are your wandering in the forest?�� �� I am simply traveling with my companions, my sister was taken by orcs in an orc raid.��said Lithar in his saddest voice �� I see, sympathy we give you for your sister. For we hate orcs they are foul and go against everything that is right!�� said the elf forcefully. �� Since you are the enemy of the orcs, I deem you my friend�� said the elf �� Well I don��t deem you my friend what of my real companions and why did your elves fire upon us?�� Lithar felt strange speaking so forcefully when he could be executed in the time it would take for him to find a red dragon, which stood in front of him. The elf chuckled �� I am Egoras the inquisitor of the elves. You are currently in the city of Serfig��anthosmoria��legoria, or in your tongue, an elven city. I do not know the formal name to call this land. We have never had to use it before�K Anyways. You have come here at the wrong time, some trouble concerning a human was found. 3 elves lie dead in his place. He was brought to the high court and executed. We no longer have trust for humans. With the orc raids�K well we had to be sure. As for the arrows, they were blunt and meant only to pierce skin. They contained slumbergrass ,it get its name from its sleeping quality. It was only meant to knock you out not to harm you and your brethren. We had to use this in order to prevent you from finding the location of the city.��
Lithar sighed a sigh of relief he had thought these elves were hostile. It was nice to hear such things. However, he could not afford to tell them he was a Certa. Elves were in alignment with Naura. He could not find a way to disguise himself. His slightly longer legs more delicate body and smaller feet were telltale signs. He figured he would just tell them he was born human and simply had some disorders.
�� Ah yes now that I have settled your fears would you, I wonder tell me a little bit about yourself?�� said Egoras �� I will tell you all you wish to know when I am allowed to see my friends and you remove these bars from me�� Egoras laughed a little bit and then he said �� I will verify your story with your other friends. Then we shall see if you are lying.�� He said something in elvish and the bars disappeared magically. �� Until then you are allowed to wander this room�� Then Egoras left the room with Lithar standing there and locked it.
Lithar looked at everything. He had never seen and elf less an house crafted out of elven men. Everything looked alive. Everywhere things were green and brown. Some things were pastel blue . Many things in there were plants. Ahead he saw a wooden table with some food on it. A crystal cup engraved with elven dialect lie in front of him. Along with water, and fruits. He took a bite out of a fruit and found it strangely revitalizing like the stream. The ripe apple tasted extremely delicious and he then drank some water and felt the water trickle down his dry throat. There must be elven magic woven in these. However, breathing felt slightly heavier. Lithar guessed they were very high up in the trees.
Then the door swung open and Erkenak Garl and Egoras all strode in. �� You��re in luck friend there stories check out. You are free to go after tommorow, you may help help from our lord in the Kings hall. He may help with your search.Good Luck!�� said Egoras as he walked to the door. ��Wait! Said Garl resting 2 days would set us back away from the orcs. And the fact that you took our steeds does not better our condition. How would your lord help us, would he not release us right now?�� said Garl �� The lord has been generous enough�K though your two day stay is required. He will give you the speed and the force you will need to get the orcs! Farewell now! I feel that we shall meet again.�� Then Egoras strode out.
�� Don��t worry Lithar we are fine. That thing stung but non the less we are fine.�� Said Erkenak at the concerned look on his face. After resting and eating the food and restocking there sacks they decided to leave the house. So they left the house and the outside was an astonishment, as they walked outside they looked down and noticed they were not walking on anything but water. They were at least 300 feet from the ground and indeed they were at the top of the trees. The water was clear colored and it flowed magically from a crevice in a great oak tree. The houses were equally beautiful, they were made with Azurestone, a great and rare substance that was often used to cure fatal poisons. It was also noted for its deep ocean blue color and sounds of the waves when coming close to it. From the Azurestones seemed to flow the water as well.
��Wizardry! Surely this is an illusion!�� Cried Erkenak �� If it is so then I have not yet seen one so real and beautiful. I would spend my life here if I could Lithar�� said Garl �� Yes but admire them now for we go to the Kings hall. Hmm a dilemma. I have no idea where the kings hall is!�� said Lithar
�� To the northernmost section of the city.�� Said an amused voice. Erkenak swiveled around and saw an elf swirled in a dark cloak standing there. ��Thank yea kindly now tell us who are you and why did you startle us?�� said Lithar ��And how does the water flow this way�� Added Garl. �� I will address the first question now. I am Dweamyr servant of the elven lord whos name would not now be spoken. I was asked by Egoras to show you on your way the Kings hall. As for the second one, these Azurestones as you call them were a gift from our sea-faring breathern many hundreds of years ago. They taught us a method of extracting water from them. It is said that these stones are the source of all the Waters, that myth cannot be confirmed. I do know that water comes out from them and from there an elemental mage harnesses the power of wind. Thus you are walking on air right now. However the water is so evenly balanced and the wind so perfectly tuned that it gives you the feeling you��re walking on the ground. I do not know why they would do such a thing. We elves are strange indeed�� He said.
�� I find it beautiful�� Said Garl. ��I think this contraption was made for the sole purpose of scaring Dwarves!�� said Erkenak. ��Please leave us now, thank you for giving us the area of the Kings court. May we meet somewhere down the line.�� Said Lithar ��As you wish�� said Dweamyr in a spiteful voice and so he left. ��I truly hope I do not meet that character again. He felt as a bad dream and now that he left I truly feel better�� uttered Erkenak. The rest kept silent what spoke in there hearts. They too had felt the darkness of that elves soul. They kept going north until finally they reached the Kings Hall. It was not hard to miss. It was a grand structure. This was the only place that had to Azure stone. Instead the floor was covered in marble and the pillars were made of Stone as they walked down they found great men that were carved into gold.
�� The great kings, I recognize some of these. I deem these are not just elven kings��said Erkenak �� Lithar too recognized the kings some were of the old days when Certa were still a force to be reckoned with. At last they finally reached the gate. It seemed more ornamental, it was 100 feet high and it was made of various barks. On it lay vines that coiled. The doors opened for Lithar and they entered. They saw a door guard clad in armor. The guard ordered them to halt.
��you must store your weapons here�� said the guard unwavering. ��Nonsense! A dwarf takes his axe wherever he goes!��said Erkenak. �� Not here you don��t, you will put your weapons here if you wish to see the king!�� he said once again. Things would have gotten awry right there if Lithar had not calmed them down. �� Put your axe down Erkenak let us have no trouble here. You guard, you are aware that we are 3 and none your allies to be seen? I suggest you speak warmly lest you meet your peril among my friends whose tempers are not quite more as forged as mine�� said Lithar with an unpleasant smile on his face. ��Well then please leave your belongings with me you can trust me to guard it for you lords�� said the guard, his demeanor changed greatly.
They walked on pass until finally they entered what seemed to be a great new forest. However, they soon saw this was just an illusion. There were beautifully drawn ceilings that looked so real and tangible, as well as trickling streams. 2 guards sat under the throne of a figure. He could not be seen, though, the throne was merely symbolic, the lord himself lay within the chambers. They approached and the guards stood in their way. �� Speak not to the lords face but speak to him where you stand.�� Lithar thought this a strange custom but did not argue. He merely asked good-naturedly why. ��Why must we speak like this? Is the lord of this city to weak to show himself?�� asked Lithar. ��No, it is because matters of which are none of your business have complicated this city. It used to be that the king would sit on the throne and never hid himself for he was strong and wise. Now we have heard rumors of plans to assassinate him therefore you shall speak to him from beyond his chambers�� said the guard.
So they did so. ��Lord, why is thou keeping us for 2 full days. May we not leave now in search of my sibling?�� said Lithar �� And would you not help us by providing maybe some stock and men as well so that we may assault the orcs?�� asked Erkenak with interst. �� It is my will that you stay here for two more days while we draw our conclusions about you. We do not yet fully trust you. However, we will aid you with men. Too long has the elves of the GrandPlains sat silently we will march with you. I shall give you 5 score of our men. The best that I can accumulate within 2 days, so it would not be an inconvenience of you to say here because the men must still be gathered.�� Said a deep somber voice. �� Your words are nothing to me king. The orcs we are pursuing are already 3 days ahead of us. Even on horseback we could not possibly catch them unless we rode day and night for 6 days straight. You making us stay here will delay it to 5 king.�� Said Garl. �� Yes but orcs must only walk at night or shrouded by darkness if they have non of those they cannot hope to survive if they walk by day.�� Said the lord. �� My liege look outside your forest. The skies are darkened even in day. There are some evil machinations going about�� Erkenak said. �� I have no need to see the outside world my friends the forest is the best place that I could hope to live in. My decision is made. You shall stay in the city for two more days, do you have anymore questions that are burning in your heart?�� asked the shrouded figure. �� Yes I do my lord do you know someone called Dweamyr?�� asked Lithar �� Dweamyr�K that name I know it from somewhere but he is not mine. The name sends an evil chill down my spine. Should I remember I shall tell you.�� �� Then we beg your leave king for we are weary and wish to rest now. Where is the place you have so kindly appointed us�� said Erkenak in a sarcastic voice. ��Outside my court to your left you will find housing. I have made it so that you may sleep next to my court tonight dwarf�� said the king
So with that they left. �� I knew it I did the Dweamyr is bad news. Ha, Servant of the lord. Why then, would he be here? Would he be plotting something against the king? My soul