Holding the saddle in his hands and stepping from his house, Evander could see that all of the families of the small settlement had come to see him off. His heart became heavy at this sight as he had hoped that he could have been able to depart from the settlement free from farewells.

The children had been gathered around Epona but seeing him come from the house, they helped him by carrying his belongings from his house and handing them to him as he saddled his horse. Evander promised to tell them of all his travels as soon as he returned, though admittedly he had not been as confident as they that he would return. He then hurried through his farewells and upon bidding his final farewell he mounted his horse and rode toward the town.

Gotrek heard the shop door open, and the tread of several armoured feet on the wooden floorboards. He took his dagger and slid it into a pocket in his smiths apron, and went to the shop counter.

"What do you want?" he said to the men waiting. There were three of them, two unrecognised, and the one from earlier, the arrogant human who had bought that claymore.The other two were armoured in mail and plate, and the quality of arms was high,gold was enlaid on their breastplates, and silver on their tall helms. From a mile away, Gotrek could recognise the human watermarks on their blades.
The recognised human spoke, saying
"Master, my friends wish you to join us in a little venture we are on."

Gotrek looked hard at the man, and he replied "What type of venture manling, do you think would take me out of my smithy?"

"One that involves an offer of five hundred gold pieces, and twenty blood rubies for you to join it." replied the man.

Gotreks eyes widened, as a dwarfs always do when confronted with such offers of gold.
"What do you want me to do, and what is the catch?" asked Gotrek in his most suspicious voice.

"The job is simple; we want you to help us guard an artifact of significant importance on its way south. We know that you were once a palace guard to the Dwarf king,and that we will need the services of an excellent smithy. Do you accept?" asked the human smoothly
"Show me the gold first" replied Gotrek.
"Very well" replied the human. At a single gesture, two men came in , with a large sack, and another with a smaller one. Gotrek peered inside, and saw the glitter of gold in one, and the deep red of rubies in the other. He took out a coin, and bit it; definately gold he thought. And he was not disappointed with the rubies as he stared through a jewellers eyeglass, definately not a piece of coloured glass.
"Very well, you have a deal, I swear it " said Gotrek, making a slight nick in his hand to show his solemnity. The humans gave him both bags and he disappeared into his quarters. He placed the gold into his chest, as with the rubies, and put them in the secret compartment in the cellar. No one would find them there he knew.
Gotrek took down his coat of dwarf steel mail, all his arms were made by his own hand. He placed a solid steel helm with silver wings on his head, his gauntlets he snapped onto his hands and his hammer was strapped to his back. He took down the axe, and the small pot of woad he had, ready to daub swirling patterns onto his skin before battle. Finally, he took down his beloved axe, the steel shining just as bright as it had ever done, and the strong ash shaft as smooth as it had ever been.
He returned to the humans, and he said "I am ready to go." They left the shop and Gotrek locked up the iron door. and they began to wend their way through the crowds.
ON the way to their quest...

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"This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the Great. Who of all the Wise could have foreseen it? Or, if they are wise, why should they expect to know it, until the hour has struck? "

Amlis could barely countain her suprise, knowing about the alliance. the elves. allied with men and dwarves. it sounded so strange to her. she looked at Nerys face, who didn't express any feeling on her face. so the situation was worse than Amlis thought.

any chance of answering was interrupted by a Guard storming in the hall. Nerys drew her sword, and Amlis nocked quickly an arrow on her bow, pointing it to the door.

"....my....my....Queen! A Dwarf, here! He says to be a messenger from Thane Ironfist!" said the Guard.

Amlis lowered her bow, waiting for the Queen to give her orders. "Let them in" the Queen said to the Guard, who nodded and went out of the hall. "put away your weapons" she said to Nerys and Amlis "but remain here"

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Evander had been to the town on more than one occasion as he had helped to take the animals there to sell. Such an occasion had happened not too long ago and he took the opportunity to sign into the service then. He had been told to return on this day as that would be the time that his company would be departing.

The travel to the town would not be a long one as on foot one could be there by the afternoon had he departed in the early morning. As Evander is on horseback the time would be only a couple of hours. One would not have thought this as he had prepared himself for traveling much longer than this as he did not know what he would need once in the service.

Mayhap the threat about the chamber pot had something to do with it, but hie himself the Elf did, and, in just under thirty spins of a quarterstaff, the guard was returned, straightened and looking a bit more sedate. Compressed lips as thin as the blades of grass rimming the courtyard, he wrinkled his nose - though for what reason Derek couldn't imagine - and stiffly bent at his waist - that strange act the Elves called bowing. He managed a more or less polite, "Her Royal Highness will see you now."

Spinning his quarterstaff was a habit of Derek's to while away the time. A most dangerous habit, as evidenced by a particularly wide sweep that hit the second Elf smack in the abdomen. Blissfully unaware of the Elf's melodious cursing, Derek planted his quarterstaff on the ground and drew himself tall. "Well then! What in Kadrin's Trove are we waiting for? Hop to it!"

Apparently Elven vocabulary was short of the term hop, but the guard moved swiftly nonetheless, always five steps in front of Derek, quickening his pace whenever the Dwarf attempted drawing level to make conversation. By the time they'd woven through the corridors and found the ornate doors to the throne room, poor Derek found himself fifty paces behind, huffing and puffing to catch up. The Elf waited, the epitome of patience, at the doors as the Dwarf stumbled around the corner and collapsed against the doorframe, his chest heaving. The Elf waited ten more seconds for the echoing thumps of the quarterstaff to stop bouncing around the corridors, before throwing open the doors and announcing, "My queen Alanna, I present to you Derek the Slightly Never Mind That, emissary of Thane Ironfist!"

Entering the throne room, Derek was too awed to be indignant. He assimilated at one, two, three and more glances the arched windows, the vaulted ceiling, the gilded statues of Elven kings from ages past. So absorbed was he in the exotic grandeur of the place that he nearly tripped over the dais atop which sat the throne, atop again which sat...

"Gracious queen," he said gruffly, sinking to one knee and dropping his chin.

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Dara grinned at the title. "I'm sorry, i should have introduced you. This is Fianna my companion; Fianna, meet Vincent and Riana."
the big dog gave what can only be descrbed as a grin and held up her paw to be shook. Then followed Dara into th forest. Lying down at the entrance of a sheltere clearing.

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Made by Lembas

Raina followed Dara, leading Thalion by the reins. As they arrived at the shelter, Raina signaled for the animal to shield himself in the woods near the camp. " A magnificent creature." she told Dara, nodding in the direction of Fianna as she sat upon the grass.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Gotrek and the Humans had left Karak Kadrin's main gate, and they had gotten out of the range of the artillery on the walls, the humans walked towards horses. One of them unlatched a horse from the picket point, and Gotrek stared at him
"Human, I must commend you for your lack of brains. Do I look tall enough to mount this beast?"he growled
The Human who had unlatched the horse turned a dark shade of red, and the other human (whom Gotrek knew) said, smiling "Well master dwarf, we will have to let you use a box."
"Good joke Arthan" said another, between laughs.
Gotrek stared hard at the humans, and after they had stopped laughing, they gave him a boost up to his saddle.
As the day wore on, they were riding as the sun was setting. Gotrek turned towards the Human called Arthan and said "Where are we headed?" he grunted
The human smiled and responded "Towards the Elven lands..."

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"This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the Great. Who of all the Wise could have foreseen it? Or, if they are wise, why should they expect to know it, until the hour has struck? "

(Sorry for the lack posting but school is killing me!)

Biara walked to the campfire and then turned to Azura:

“Our Masters’ orders are the same-destroy the Free Kingdoms. And it seems that there’s new information that is going to be very useful for us.” said Biara with evil smile on her face. “Have you heard of the Crystal of Chaos, Azura-the most powerful magical object that keeps the forces of Chaos in balance? It has been made Ages ago, right after the Great Cataclysm. It combines the Mastership of the Dwarfs as skilful smithies and the talent of the Humans as Mages.” Biara’s face became serious. “Our master needs this artifact And we must get it for him. Once he controls the Crystal- Daenmoor is ours.”

Biara looked straight in Azura’s eyes. There was still amazement in them.

“I see that you’re still confused because of my clothing” continued Biara. “This is a part of our master’s plan. This is a diversion for our enemies. The scouts reported that the Elves, the Dwarfs and the Humans are trying to unite and they are going to move the Crystal of Chaos to another hiding place- but we don’t know it’s location. I’m going to sneak in the enemies’ lines as one of them but I’m going to need help to do it: your help, Azura. This is a mission of great importance and I’ll trust it only to a loyal servant of the Necromancer! I want you to scout for me about the task of the Elves, Men and Dwarfs- everything you can find out. I’ll need to blend in their group in the perfect moment. Will you help me?”

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Return of the Rings 2011- make it happen

sig.set:by me;
my unbiological sissy is Aerlinn

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<center>


~Thank you to Estë Undómë for the Beeeautiful Banners & Avvie <3 ~

"Get these!" said Biara. She went to her horse and took out a package from the saddlebags. Then threw them to Azura. "We'll set off to the Human's Kingdom on sunrise!"

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Return of the Rings 2011- make it happen

sig.set:by me;
my unbiological sissy is Aerlinn

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<center>


~Thank you to Estë Undómë for the Beeeautiful Banners & Avvie <3 ~

"Thankyou, Fianna has been my conpaion scine i was a child, we are partners." He looked with intrest at her horse, noting its fine build and healthy sheen of his coat. "But yourself have a fine beast, the Andestea were well respected for thier prowess and affinity with thier horses. It seems you carry on thier tradition." He both his hands in the tradtional gesture. "I shall do eveything n my power to help you avenge them." he swore to her softly.

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Made by Lembas

The early hours of the morning were approaching. The campfire burned low. A soft, but still cool breeze was blowing from the East. Chill mist was spread around and the hill, where Biara and Azura have rested during the night, looked like a green island over a shadowy sea. Slowly the sun was rising the first sunbeams touched the grass with mild warmth.
A cloaked woman was standing on the hill’s top and watched the growth of the new dawn. Though her face was lighted by the warm sunbeams, it still looked expressionless and cold. Sunlight! How disgusting! thought Biara. But soon it’ll fade-very soon. And there shall be no hope for the free races of Daenmoor.

Biara heard someone approaching behind her.
“What is it?” asked she.

“What are the plans, Biara. What must we do” said Gertin. “Do we have to return to the capital or..?”

“No.” said Biara very calm. “You and the others are coming with us...for a while”

“For a while? What do you mean?”

“You’ll see when the time comes, Gertin. For now just try to be quiet enough so not to be caught by the humans.”

“Humans?! You mean we are going in their kingdom?” answered Gertin with anger. “What are we going to do there?”

“You ask too much questions again, Gertin! You know that I do everything on purpose and when I say that we must go there, I have a reason to do it. This is all I’m going to say to you. Just only one more thing.” Biara turned to the skeleton. “Control your curiosity, Gertin-it may cost your life.” and with imperious voice she continued. “Now go and tell the others to prepare to leave and bring my horse.”

The skeleton bowed and left and Biara turned her gaze to the rising sun again.Light is life, they say…Then we need to take it from them. Evil grin illuminated Biara’s face. Her eyes where filled with satisfaction. Once we get the Crystal the fate of Daemoor is under our control! And then…the sun will not rise again! It will never rise!
Biara for last time looked at the lighted valley that lay under the hill and after that she returned to the camp, where the others already waited for her.

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Return of the Rings 2011- make it happen

sig.set:by me;
my unbiological sissy is Aerlinn

Vincent followed the riders into the clearing. He gathered some brambles and piled them in the middle. Speaking a phrase in a foreign tounge, he delved into his mind and found his magic and threw it at the brambles. A fire burst out of the center of the brambles, looking red at Vincent's cloak at first, and then dieing down to the normal colors of a fire.

Vincent sat cross legged by the fire, minding his sword as well as keeping it concealed, and laying his staff across his knees. He looked up at the stary sky, then back down to his two new found friends.
"Tonight would be a splendid night for tales and song if it weren't for it being dark times. But, weary feet have traveled far, and watching eyes have seen much since the sun rose and fell. Rest is a nessecity if one is to survive in the wild..." then he set his hands on his knees, his eyes half shut, and his breathing slowed. This was how he slept, fully aware of whats around him, yet submerged in dreams and meditation...

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(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

Raina smiled at Dara. "I...thank you..." she said softly, feeling a deep-seated gratitude to the warrior. “The Tuatha Clan has always been respected among my kin for their honor and courage. If the spirits of my companions are near, they will be grateful for your kind words.” She smiled slightly then, almost amused at the situation at hand. She had traveled the warrior’s path alone for so long-never really minding her solitude-but she had all but forgotten the pleasure of friendship. “But Vincent may have the right idea,” she added. “Rest, may be good for us all. For one can never know what may lie in wait on the road.”

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!