Alagbor stepped out into the large crier in front of the palace and began walking down to the academy with the intent of catching the others that morning. Though as he walked through one of the busier streets he ran into Lossenisel, who had been looking for him.
"There you are Alag, I was looking for you. You look troubled, is something wrong?" He asked as they walked.
"Your not going to believe this Los", he said handing him a report that Fado had written on the status of Rhun's prisoner. As Lossenisel read it his eyes widened.
"So they are still alive... and Still led by Rune what's more", he said raising an eyebrow. They were walking down through the city now.
"If the battle here is one, and our enemies destroyed... we will have to head west, and summon more allies", Alagbor said. They were looking out over a wall down upon the rest of the city.
"The only way into those kingdoms is by the North road... through the Kingdom of Rhun", Alagbor said looking out across the horizon.
"How do we march an army through there?" Asked Lossenisel looking at his his old friend. Alagbor just stared strsight out into the empty plain, deep in thought.
"I'm not sure"


Saria, Duradar, Legolas and Galandrim walked down to the very bottom of the city and stepped onto the Fortified granite walls. Standing over sixty feet tall and being thicker than twenty feet, they were massive. Maybe the largest in the world at the time.
"I pity the enemy who would have to climb this barrier", said Galandrim as they walked along the top. There were some guards upon the walls clad in armor. Their breastplates were made of about six lames (note) that intertwined and folded into a single cuirass (note) of an elegant shape. Their helms too, were decorative. Open and yet protective, they bore sharp metal crests that were likely more decorative than used for any purpose. Beneath that they wore long emerald coats that were used as underlining for the armor. Some bore shields that were engraved in brass the bouble eagle crest that represented both Firimar Tal and of old, Rond Tal, the ancient Great City. All bore either a Sword, or bow or spear.
"I did not know that Kokiri females were warriors as the males are", remarked Legolas watching an archer walk by.
"Kokiri females have better sight and are more rythmic and steady than males", said Duradar.
"Therefore, they are superior archers. We deem no differences between genders, even marriage is usually just a mutual partnership, particularly in these days", he explained. Saria flashed a dark look at him.
"Your people don't love?" Asked Galandrim.
"Yes we do, but marriage does not relate to love. In our elvish it is not even called marriage", Duradar responded. Saria relaxed a bit now 'partnership, an understatement of our friendship' she thought.
"Duradar, Alagbor and Alunial are together, was that merely a partnership?" Asked Saria with a smirk.
Duradar did not smile, "Well, yes it is. You see, they are two very different people. Alunial is a popular, social snob and Alagbor is a tough, warrior general. Now their marriage was set as a political thing, so they together could control the two senates, and hold it in the power of the heroes of old. Its a damn good thing Alagbor was able to end Alunial's habit of being the center of attention, or else she would have given up that partnership, and we would probably be in small tribes now getting wiped out one by one in this war", Duradar explained.
He was looking up at the city now, with his back to a terrible sight across the plain. Upon the wall, every guard, every pair of eyes was fixed upon it. Saria stared curiously for a moment then squinted for a moment, and saw exactly what it was. Elegbor was standing next to Nilalkar on another part of the wall when they saw it. Nilalkar versed now, quietly, in a forboding tone:

It came thundering into the last valley
And we looked upon it, an army of sin
Now come the crashes of an evil rally
Now it is true, our future is dim

"Much blood will be spilt upon the walls of the last city", he said looking down. War-cries and and chants of a black tongue carried across the valley for an unnatural long distance. The enemy host had arrived, long before excpected.



Still unaware of the treachery down in the valley, Alunial walked through one of the corridors of the palace at a leisurly pace. She was in no hurry to meet with some nobles for more "discussion" on the meeting from earlier. As she ascended a flight of stairs she became aware of rushed footsteps from behind her. As she turned around a hooded and cloaked figure brushed by her pushing her hard into a railing.
"Hey watch it!" She called after him. She looked at the sleeve of her shirt to find a stain of green blood, kokiri blood. Suddenly Haelyon and a few guards ran up the stairs.
"Alanial! Oi! Alunial! Ebreth is dead! He killed another noble!" Haelyon called up to her. Alunial motioned him to follow.
"Come! He went this way!" She called. They ran through a maze of narrow halls and just when they thought they had lost track of the culperate they came out upon a wide balcony looking over a courtyard. There below they saw the assasin rushing through the garden. The guards readied their bows, Haelyon stood beside them and readied to make the call to release the volley.
"Fire! Kill the traitor!" Ordered Alunial. The guards held steady, the order had to be made by Haelyon.
"Alunial, we should identify him..." He began.
"Hael, as long he is alive he is a threat, kill him! I WANT YOU TO KILL HIM!!!" She demanded.
Haelyon knew that Alunial outranked him, he had to obey his orders. He raised his sword into the air... "Loose!" And arrows flew.
At the last moment Alunial's heart filled with terror, as the Assassin turned and threw down his hood she realized to her horror that it was her own son whom she had just sentenced to death. Everything seemed to slow down before her eyes, the arrows stopped in mid-air, everything was perfectly still. The terrified expression on Alanol's face that would forever be imprinted in her mind. Every nourishing feminine instinct in her mind seemed to be wailing out in alarm and pain. And then it all stopped, the arrows reached their target with lethal accuracy. The terrified boy fell limp to the ground, dead before he reached it. Alunial staggered backward, dazed and delarious. Everything was spinning, and sorrow building up in her heart clashed with shame and distress welling in her consious.
Haelyon approached her looking closely at her, "Alunial... Alunial", He called softly. But she could not hear him, still staggering, tears began rolling down her cheeks, and then everything went black.
She was falling, all was dark around her but she felt it. Falling into nothing, and she heard voices, familiar ones talking above her.
"There is no mistaking, he was the assassin. I saw him do it", said Haelyon. There voices seemed distant and soft.
"And by the looks of it the shock was too much for her", said Nilalkar, his voice seemed to hover close above her.
"I still don't understand, what would drive him to commit to kinslaying?" Asked Alagbor quietly.
"Aganhim has cunning power. Likely as not he would corrupt and brainwash untrained minds to kill influental figures. I suppose Alanol was perfect as he was always among the nobles, what with being a pupil of you and Elegbor. He could do this to any student, there has to be an alternative to killing them", said Saria.
"With that army camped across the plain I think our leaders would be in that danger anyhow, the whole city is being called to arms", explained Haelyon.
Alagbor sighed, "When Alunial awakes, I think it best that we overlook some details. The truth will be hard for her to accept", he said looking at the other Kokiri. Lossenisel looked around and shivered, it was becoming increasingly cold in the room. It in itself was little more than a small workshop near the courtyard Alanol had been killed in. It was the first place they had gotten to with a cot where Alunial now stirred after fainting in shock back up on the balcony. Slowly Alunial came to, her eyesight went from blackness to a dim orange light. There were forms moving around her, whom, as her vision re-focused, became clear to her. Alagbor stood over her, and as she opened her eyes, she saw him smile.
"You have awakened, are you alright?" He asked. Alunial nodded a bit and sat up slowly.
Alagbor rested his hand on hers, "Well done Lun. You bravely faced the truth... and saved the lives of many good Kokiri", said Alagbor with a smile.
"Alag, our son was innocent, he could not control himself... you said it yourself", she said quickly. Alagbor looked down and shook his head.
"That is what we thought. Saria is more powerful than Aganhim, she is the Sage, and she says that no elf's mind can be corrupt through conjoury. Alanol lost his mind", Alagbor explained.
Haelyon spoke now, "Its true, Elegbor and I should have said something. We noticed he seemed to be losing his senses months ago. He would say absurd things and... and", suddenly the room plummeted again in temperature.
Saria walked slowly toward the wooden door in one end of the room and flipped the latch. The metal gadget was freezing to the touch. She held the door shut for a moment, and turned around. Everyone stared at her curiously. At last she through open the door and everyone looked through the threshold into a blinding swirl of ice and snow. The frozen winds torrented into the room nearly knocking Saria and a nearby Nilalkar off their feet. The sub-zero gusts mixed with frigid snow chilled the Kokiri to the bone. Nilalkar rushed over with Saria slammed the door back shut.
"Gracious! Whenever did that storm start!" Asked a startled Lossenisel.
Alagbor stood up looking through a glass window in the ceiling, "It never snows in this region", he stated openly.
"It has to be an omen of some sort, it may freeze an unprepared enemy in the freezing mud, but it wont freeze us in our palaces", said Nilalkar.
"I sense no evil intent in this storm, maybe it is an omen of the goddesses", said Saria knowingly.
"I think in any case it means it is time to fight, not mourn for those we have lost. Much blood will yet be spilled", said Alunial shakily.