Saria walked back into her room from the palace, through the snowstorm. The storm was beginning falter now, and the snow fell less heavily. She entered her large chamber and looked into her closet to where her weapons and gear were. There was no doubt in her mind that she would fight. Her people needed her and she was quite ready to ignore every protest from the others to keep her out of harms way. As she saw it, as long as they were in the city, they would not be safe. She was dressed in thick green clothes, and an chestplate of brown leather lames (note).
She strapped on her quiver of arrows and her two daggers; she had been given a bit of a more powerful bow now that she was becoming strong enough to use it. But her most powerful weapon was her staff. The magical weapon given to her by the prophet enabled her to exert her powers more elaboratly, and use her magic against her enemies.
When she was fully armed, and prepared for battle she stepped back into the hallway to find Legolas and Galandrim waiting there. Galandrim was wearing his usual attire. A dark blue tunic with some gold threaded adornments on top of a shirt of mail. Legolas was dressed as he always was, with a green tunic and gray cloak. Elves tended not to bulk themselves down to heavily with armor so they could maintain agaility. Kokiri in fact bear no armor on their legs, for they try to keep spped as a winning factor despite their smaller size over most opponents.
"The enemy arrived days before they were expected, let us hope the same will be the case for the Hylians", said Legolas in his normal calm, steady tone.
"And if those moblins back in Anglon came from this army, its likely they have identified you by now. That's probably why those bastards tracked us down back in that valley. Just watch your back, you're the main target", said Galandrim.
"It is a good thing that green hair is not a very distinctive feature in this city", remarked Legolas with a smirk. Saria's most distinctive feature was her emerald green hair, which among her kin was not a very uncommon hair color.
"Not to worry", said Alagbor approaching, "If all goes well, the battle should not enter the city. That is if our allies arrive in time", he said darkly. Alagbor wore a silver breastplate similar in design to that of Saria's. It bore designs of flowing golden lines that bore his insignia as a commanding warrior. In addition he wore a long emerald coat like the ones that the guards had been wearing down on the walls. This one looked thicker though, as if to serve as protection from the cold (with his cloak that he also wore) rather than to serve as merely an underlaying for his armor. He had his sword at his side passed down from his father, and his valuable drakkin dagger too. Drakkin was an ore that is said to glow silver with the anger of its bearers, and it was a near indestructable metal, like mithril. He also had a bow and quiver, it was the first time Saria had seen him with one.
"I see then... that you are armed to fight. It is likely then that by no words I can stop you", said Alagbor, looking rather dissapointed in her.
"I would not have you stop me, I could yet be greatly useful", protested Saria.
Alagbor reluctantly submitted, "Very well, though stay close to us", he said. Lossenisel, Nilalkar, Alunial and Duradar joined them now. All three of the boys were clad much like Alagbor and Alunial too except her breastplate was of leather like Saria's.
"Alagbor is right, activity on the walls will be very chaotic when the battle starts especially if the enemy finds its way up", said Galandrim.
Nilalkar spoke now, "If you should lose us, don't look for us, you'll get more lost. Head for the top of the gate, Haelyon and Elegbor will be there", he instructed.
"I can't wait to take some vengance for Konra and Haseem, my blade is thirsty for the moblins' murdurous blood", said Galandrim patting his hilt.
Alunial spoke now, quietly and sorrowfully, "Why is it that one may think they can justify death... with more killing?" Alagbor looked down at the floor aqs he wrapped an arm around his ailing wife.
"When we musat kill, we kill", began Alagbor, "And it would surprise you Galandrim, that despite our adventerous nature... and these fortresses on great mountains... and our military discipline.... it would indeed surprise you that we Kokiri are a peace-loving race. Yet at times, we must fight, and there is no honor in the field of war, only death"
"Euh Saria, Alag and I have to attend a council of the Ohta Cora before we head for the walls, as the sage you have an invite if it is in your interest", said Nilalkar. Alagbor stood straight and erect now.
Saria thought for a moment, "Yes, I will go with you" She turned to Duradar who smiled at her, "I will meet you at the bottom of the gate then", he said. It seemed that nothing could change Duradar's outgoing mood. He, like Alagbor, was very stoic though a little more relaxed.

The three of them arrived a few minutes later at the palace and entered the main halls. There were still a lot of Kokiri walking about though now most of them were armed and clad, ready to fight. Alagbor led the way back toward the same room the Arcora had met in the previous day. But as they entered there were only a few armed commanders gathered around a center table. They were dressed like Alagbor with there embroided cuiriasses but seemed very casual in attitude as they talked amongst themselves
"Good morning", Alagbor said as he approached them. A few of the commanders nodded to him and Nilalkar and bowed slightly as Saria walked toward them.
"Well Alag, what do you make of the situation? How do we approach our enemy?" Asked Haelyon who was standing among the others.
Alagbor looked at a large map of the city and valley, "Well, they are in a rather strategic location camped at the mouth of the valley. If the Hylians arrive when we need them, they will be on the far side of the valley", he explained pointing toward the enemy camp on the map.
"Our combined forces would be divided then..." said Nilalkar.
Alagbor looked up, "Yes but we would have them surrounded, and there would frontage to their lines", Alagbor said quickly looking up.
"Yet we are still assuming we will be able to get our forces out of the city", began Haelyon, "We can't now, they will attack us as soon as we attempt to bring out our lines. It will force us into a bottle-neck charge, that is suicide", he explained.
Saria stepped forward now, "Is the gate really the only way out of the city?" She asked.
"We have tunnels disguised as sewers, in case we needed a stealthy retreat. They cross half-way across the valley, but I doubt it would be any benifet, they are even narrower..." responded Nilalkar.
"Our best chance is if the enemy is distracted by the Hylians across the valley, then we could some better odds of facing them head on", concluded Alagbor looking around.
"Now, I'm placing Alunial's elite archers on top of the gate to keep any rams at bay. Along the rest of the length we'll have archers placed. For every archer there should be two melee warriors. If anyone starts getting creative about mounting the walls, we'll have Hallimacil's Alta Ohtars waiting on the wall Pavillions. Any concerns?" Asked Alagbor looking around.
"Its a sturdy wall defense", said Nilalkar.
"That's two-thousand Kokiri... maybe. What about the rest of them?" Asked Haelyon.
Alagbor shrugged, "Back up, we really might not need them until the Hylians arrive. Commanders, this is but the first battle, we must preserve, our people are frail already", he said looking around.
Just then Lossenisel came running in, "Alagbor! Al-ag-bor!!" He yelled frantically.
"What is it Los?"
Lossenisel panted for breath and it looked he had sprinted all the way up the city, "The... the.. en-emy.. host..." He panted for breath.
"Out with it my friend, breath will you!" exclaimed Alagbor.
"The-enemy-host-is-moving-this-way-they-ran-me-up-to-get-you-but-I-couldn't-find-a-horse-so-I-ran!" He said quickly slurring all his words together. Alagbor looked surprised for a moment, he expected the enemy to wait for any sign of attack from out of the city.
"Very well, to the wall", said Nilalkar and they left for the lower city.


*************


"Well sir, if ever I knew better I'd say the city is yours already", said Firth to Ganondorf. Both sat upon black horses watching their armies march across the valley towards the Kokiri fortress city. Firth was a clean cut, dark haired diplomat from Rhun, who had funded and supplied Ganon's forces, with interests of expanding territories into Termina.
"I have my doubts. The Kokiri boast a fruitful history of tactical geniouses. Its almost a pity they were cornered here in this valley, it nearly takes the honor out of it... Yet unless I am mistaken, I believe they have... large battery weapons mounted at their middle wall level", explained Ganondorf looking through a small telescope at the city.
"They could inflict considerable damage, though none that Rhun's treasury can not restore", replied Firth looking through his own telescope.
"No, no amount of riches will buy speed. This is the most strategic location we may ever have against the Kokiri, it ends today"


**************


Back in the city all was growing chaotic. Organzied though at the least, but active and loud. The archers were postitioned along the walls, Alunial's face was stern and unchanging as she looked across the wheat plains of the valley. The Melee soldiers were positioned behind the archers, Haelyon stood beside Lossenisel and Nilalkar and the others. Hallimacil adjusted the levers and winches on his Alta rocking back and forth as he walked it into position. In the higher levels of the city, Elegbor monitered the giant trebuchets as they were loaded and readied. Duradar watched as the gate was completely sealed and braced.
Most of the Kokiri who were not fighting on the walls were in quiet secluded places in the city meditating or practicing. Now was the first judgement, the swords were sharpened, arrows knocked. The armor was polished, and Shields painted.

Alagbor paced the wall now, and adressed his people, "Sons of the Mal Nor! Do you know this day? It is the last! For six-thousand years we have suffered. And for Six thousand years we have dreamt of the oppurtuninty, the one chance where we can recover all that we have lost! Today is that day! Now is our chance, and this army.... this enemy... is the one thwart that stands between us and all that is green and golden! When we meet our enemies, Tell them who we are! Tell them that we are castaways... and that we are going home!!" He yelled raising his sword. There were loud cheers and cries upon the wall, the deadlock was over and the battle was about to begin.




Notes:
1. Lame: A strip of metal that would be worked and interlaced in with other lames to form an armor chestplate. Hence Kokiri Armor looked similar to Roman Lorica Segmentata, or Roman chestplate Armor.
2. Cuirass: A metal armor chestplate