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C
ourna put a great deal of effort into the demure smile she displayed upon her entrance into the glade. She had to entice this soldier, which probably wouldn't be difficult except that she was elven and he a human. The lingering gaze he gave before rising to greet her was encouraging to the success of her task.
"I thank you for coming, Lordess," Elgin said with a bow. Courna acknowledged his greeting with a slight nod, the smile remaining on her lips.
"Let me commend you on your choice of courier. You must keep company with rogues." Oh she was feeling especially devious today. This Caelythian was in for a real show. She wondered if, in the end, he would think back on this conversation and appreciate her style. Most likely not. Humans couldn't comprehend such matters.
"I know people who keep such company. Truly, it is never difficult to find … discreet businessmen in Caelyth."
"So I have heard." Courna removed a large blanket from a saddlebag and spread it over the ground. She sat and motioned for Elgin to do the same. "I visited Caelyth once."
"Truly? I do not remember when elves were welcome visitors."
"There was a time, before you were born I'm sure, when elves were, shall we say, not unwelcome in Caelyth. It is a marvelous city."
"I hope that one day I may say the same of your city. I have read of Deltherien, and the descriptions evoke inspiring images."
"One day, Elgin Durnese, I will walk with you down Tsalan View and show you beauty as you have never before seen." The Horseman was getting a look in his eye that she knew well. Men often got that look in their eye just before asking to court her. "I will sit with you on the balcony of the Winehouse and we will enjoy marvelous sunsets."
"You weave words as an enchantress. I will take up your offer, but I see no means to that end." She heaved an inner sigh. It was time for business.
"Do not despair. Of human dispositions I know little, but more than one elven House stands for peace. House Fiesse leads that charge. With but a few months and a great deal of work, proponents of peace may dissolve the elven machine of war."
"I am not privy to the minds of my leaders. I know only that there are men throughout the regiments that see little purpose to this war."
"Neither do I know the thoughts of your leaders, but I know a little of humans. History has shown that your race will fight for pride alone. If elves were the first to offer truce, I believe Caelyth would concur and the true process of peace would begin."
"I believe your reasoning is sound, Lordess. Perhaps the situation is not as desolate as I had thought."
The moment was at hand. She had enjoyed the earlier improvisations, but her next remarks were well planned and must now be well executed. "Things may be more dire than you believe. I am engaged to be married to Jenin Tirdade, Second Seat of House Chituse on the last day of Brightspawn. It is a marriage of convenience I confess."
"What convenience does it bring?"
"Convenience for Chituse mostly, but I am not without hope. The truth is that House Fiesse and its allies are currently seen as dissenters. The Circle of Houses has historically found methods to remove dissenters, and Fiesse is no exception. Though it has not been put to me in so many words, I know that my choices are to marry into Chituse and watch Fiesse absorbed, or to die in my bed." Elgin stood with a scowl and stalked away from the blanket, pacing a few yards away.
"Humans may fight for pride, but it would seem elves fight because they can."
"No, do not begin thinking ill of the elves. The Circle can be insidious, that is true, but the elven people are kind and rational. Besides, I have hope that I may influence Chituse through my marriage."
"I admit I know next to nothing about elves, but I doubt the wife of the Second Seat enacts much policy."
"If I lose that hope, I have nothing left. I would be better off dead in my sleep." She stood with as noble a posture as she could muster. "But I have a duty to fight the one true battle, may its field be more treacherous than any a soldier has encountered. I will fight that battle to the end, with or without allies, because it is just." She gathered the blanket and moved to pack it back into its saddlebag, but Elgin's hand on her shoulder stopped her.
"You have an ally. I will accompany you each step of the way, Lordess Fiesse. Consider me your oathsman."
Courna smiled, not demurely this time, but with a radiated contentment. "Rafelnin wrote, 'Gently did Life roll at the first, over soft hills and bridged currents. Man, in his flawed nature, raised the mountains and stirred the torrents. But in the end, Man will return Life to its path, over soft hills and bridged currents.' The things you and I could accomplish together, Elgin Durnese," Courna said as she mounted her mare. "How wonderful it will be." She trotted away, her eyes lingering on Elgin Durnese, Elfslayer.
R
afelnin also wrote, "Death occasions Man's second Life."
Elgin Durnese woke to a soft snow outside his personal quarters on the last day of Brightspawn. The sky was not dark with heavy snow clouds, but bright with a visible sun. He chuckled to himself. Days like this kept those who preached that the Gods alone brought snow in business. That idea was embraced by very few these days.
Realization quickly hit Elgin. The sun was out, he had slept longer than he hoped to. The past several days he had formulated his plan for today, but now he was left with little time to carry it out. He would have to readjust. Elgin didn't have enough time to convince Norton to aid him and so would have to go it alone. He dressed and buckled on armor and sword and walked to the stables to prepare his horse.
A quarter of an hour later, Elgin was riding for the edge of the Great Tsalan Forest, working over the details of his plan one last time. There wasn't a lot to work over, but that didn't worry Elgin because the best plans were often simple.
T
all cliffs overlooked a swiftly flowing river in the midst of the Great Tsalan Forest from opposite sides. Large chunks of ice floated on top of the waters, drifting south where, eventually, they would plunge over an immense waterfall into Dioloeth's Chalice. The river itself had never frozen completely, at least according to records.
Atop the eastern cliff, the area was almost completely cleared of trees. The Tsala trees grew heavily in the forest below, but did not seem to want to grow up the slope to the overlook. Instead, a pair of oak trees stood isolated guard over the region. These trees had been used in the elven wedding ceremony for centuries and such were their use on the last day of Brightspawn.
Courna Fiesse stood beneath the southern oak near the edge of the cliff absently rubbing her hands together. Jenin stood beneath the northern oak, though she could not see him through the mass of people. Her guests were forming between the great oaks into the Fellowship Circle through which she would pass in a few moments. As with all things, the elven way was superior, and the wedding ceremony was no exception. No words were necessary, no Priest to bind. Only loved ones were required to aid in sealing the hearts together, and some traditional symbolic movements.
Courna had no desire to seal her heart to Jenin Tirdade, however, and she hoped there would be no need. The greatest threat to ending the war came from House Chituse and Jenin had the High Seat's ear. Originally, the marriage was to allow her a measure of influence over Jenin and hopefully Chituse as a whole. Now she hoped he would be dead within the hour so that she could proceed without the burden of a husband.
She was rarely nervous, but today was too important to be taken lightly. So much depended on things of which she couldn't be certain. She was almost positive her words to the human had the desired impact, but she would not know until he either showed or didn't. Everyone, including the Horseman she hoped, knew of this area's historical use. He must know that all elves were married here because no secret was made of that fact. And even if he didn't, the fact was not difficult to find out. That is, if he even wanted to find out. Gods, let him show.
The Fellowship Circle had formed almost completely. Two spaces were left on opposite sides of the circle for Jenin and herself. The guests began humming the ancient melody to "On This Day" which was her cue, and Jenin's, to join the circle. She took a deep breath and looked down to the Erolai River below. It was called the Gnord by humans, probably named after some hero. She detested human naming conventions. Elves knew nature's wonders warranted names as unique as their beauty.
She broke her gaze from the river and walked slowly out from beneath the oak, her pale yellow gown brushing the snow at her feet. Likewise, Jenin approached his post in the circle, though more quickly. He was dressed in a shirt of dark blue silk and black leggings. A long white robe completed the traditional garb. Jenin made a slight breach of etiquette by wearing his family's greatsword on his back. Jenin was a skilled swordsman and a hardened veteran, something few in the upper echelon of the Houses could say. Many of the guests wore swords as well, which did not bode well for her plans. Well, whichever way this turned out, she would profit. As long as the human showed.
E
lgin had reached the northern stretch of the River Gnord and turned south. He was getting quite good at evading his own patrols, something he was not sure if he should be proud of. He rode hard along the eastern banks until he reached a small waterfall. He stopped there to wash his face in the icy cold waters and allow his horse a brief rest. Here he would have to abandon the riverbanks in order to climb the slope to the south, which led to the cliff where the Lordess would be holding her wedding unless elven customs had changed during the war. Of that he couldn't be sure, but he was positive that elves still allowed an hour after sunrise before undertaking official activities in memory of the Lost God, Keltier who legends said sheltered there race for millennia. Because of that, he would not miss this ceremony, though he might arrive in the middle.
He gazed across the river and wondered at his obsession over the Lordess. She was a woman, and certainly no woman had ever occupied his thoughts as she now did. He had loved a woman in his youth, he thought. They had grown apart as partners often do when they have differing views on the course of their life together. She was not pleased when he joined the Ranks, though she must have known it to be inevitable. His feelings now were so very different from the infatuations of his youth.
Elgin repeated to himself what he had thought countless times over the past days; this course of action was plotted not out of love, but out of a commitment to peace. With that thought and a deep breath of cool fresh air, he mounted his horse and rode slowly southeast.
C
ourna walked slowly toward the center of the Fellowship Circle where Jenin waited with outstretched hands. She placed one foot in front of the other, brought the other foot to its side, then paused before repeating the movement. This customary walk was falling out of style, but she needed to waste as much time as possible. Without the lengthy religious ramblings of which other races were so fond, elven weddings were short. As she drew closer to Jenin, Courna reached out to take his hands in hers.
"I protest this marriage and beg it would stop!"
All eyes turned north with astonishment, after which many hands descended to swords.
E
lgin dismounted from his darkly gray horse and moved as silently as he could to within viewing distance. There did not appear to be any guards, only a large circle of people with joined hands. He couldn't see the Lordess among the circle, but with the volume of the humming, he would have a relatively easy time getting closer to the group undetected. He resigned himself to his fate and began walking up the remainder of the slope. He would die here, there were too many elves for the outcome to be otherwise. But if he could end this wedding and perhaps give the Lordess a new chance to remain independent, then maybe there would be peace eventually as she had said.
Elgin reached a position which seemed appropriate enough and stopped. He whispered a quick prayer to Sythia, Goddess of death, battles, and poetry, and shouted.
"I protest this marriage and beg it would stop!" The elven group turned, almost as one, and stared at him. The few with swords made to unsheathe and approached with anger apparent on their faces. Elgin walked deliberately toward with hands raised away from his sword. "I believe this woman does not wish to marry this man and I must protest."
T
he elves were not moving forward any longer, which was good, but swords were out now and the tension palpable. Perhaps the best news for Elgin was that there were but three swords among his opponents. He might hold off the unarmed elves with his sword and avoid a mad rush. No, he decided, the whole affair was futile. His one hope was to slay Jenin before he died so the Lordess would be free to work for peace. She was intelligent enough to use the event to her advantage. A human slaying her betrothed would create a great deal of sympathy among the public, and the Circle would cause suspicion by forcing her to marry again too quickly. Of course, they might just kill her instead, but peace required a great leap, a leap he would now take.
"Why do you do this, human?" a male voice called from behind the assembled elves. The group parted allowing a middle-aged elf to pass; from his garb, Elgin made no great leap of imagination to determine that he faced Jenin Tirdade. He was taller than most elves Elgin had seen, but the only other detail that Elgin cared about was the greatsword strapped across the man's back. He had wondered if elven grooms were custom-bound not to be armed during their weddings and he was glad they were not. Slaying unarmed foes was reprehensible except in dire situations. If the sword was any indication, Tirdade must be a worthy swordsman, but Elgin knew many nobles who touted precious weapons with which they had no skill.
"I do this for the honor of Lordess Fiesse," Elgin responded. "You take this bride against her will and I will do as I must to rectify that fact." Angry mutters rose from the crowd which now included the Lordess, an unreadable look on her face. She was a warm breath on Elgin's cheek this cold day. The warmth passed quickly, however, which disturbed him. He noticed that snow was falling, now from darkly gray clouds. He shivered slightly as an irrational panic built up inside him. Something wasn't right; something besides his imminent death. He'd accepted that fact since the conception of his plan. No, there was something else … something very unsettling.
"Go now human," Jenin said with a sneer. "On my wedding day I extend the gift of mercy to you. Take it and live, though you live a fool."
Elgin didn't hear these words, instead he stared across the group of elves assembled before him, looking past them. His gaze eventually came to rest on Courna Fiesse. The look on her fact; that was the source of his disquiet. She was … expectant. She was not in the least surprised by his appearance. What did that mean.
"Human!" Jenin growled in his face. "You do great insult to me. Leave now or you'll not live long to regret it."
Elgin Durnese stared Jenin in the eyes and tried desperately to reform his resolve. Whatever his discomfort, he had no choice but to go forward. "You do great insult to the Gods who gave us the gift of marriage," he said, drawing his sword and taking a fighting stance.
"Your words baffle me," Jenin said while drawing his greatsword from his back. "It would seem my opponents are right about you humans. I will begin to rectify my misjudgment by delivering your broken sword to the Panarch herself."
Focus was not coming to Elgin. Jenin was speaking, but the words were as unnoticed as the cold. The elf's sword was out now and he was advancing on Elgin. He tried to push down his confusion and alarm with little success. He should not be here. He knew that now. Dread slowly seeped through his veins telling his extremities of the sorrow to come.
Elgin felt a jolt as he was shoved from behind. He spun around to face a line of elves, watching with murder in their eyes. He backed away from them and turned again to face Jenin. Elgin looked over his opponent and gauged strengths and weaknesses. Elgin's broadsword was smaller than Jenin's blade, meaning he would have to accommodate for the increased force. His greatest asset was in his larger build. He was a strong man and would have more leverage in his strikes. He would have to take the offensive rather than fight off blows from the greatsword.
With that Elgin lashed out with a two-handed swing to Jenin's head. The blow was met by the sharp reply of the greatsword. Elgin's hands tingled from the impact but he swung again, this time for Jenin's flank. He would concentrate his attacks to Jenin's left and pray for an opportunity to surprise to the right. Elgin's attack was met again by the greatsword, but this time a counter-strike whistled over Elgin's head as he ducked and rolled back to his feet. He leaped to catch Jenin before his return stroke, but the elf spun and slammed his sword down on Elgin's blade, forcing him almost to his knees. He was in terrible position, but Jenin's move had left him in bad position as well, given the unwieldy greatsword. As Jenin raised his sword for a blow, Elgin leapt into his midsection, sending both of them sprawling on the ground. He rolled off the elf, went to one knee and brought his blade down forcefully to the empty earth where Jenin had been a split-second before. Jenin was rolling away, almost comically. Elgin got to his feet and ran for Jenin as he began getting up. He struck a blow to the elf's left shoulder which sent the him reeling across the ground again.
Elgin was hurled to the ground by a force from behind. He rolled over, sword raised to meet whatever new threat was upon him. Another elf stood over him, a dagger in hand. Elgin made a swipe at the elf with no hope of hitting him, but the move had the desired effect as the elf moved back. He scrambled quickly to his feet giving a quick look to Jenin who was on his knees holding his shoulder. Elgin faced the new elf and circled so as to put both this threat and Jenin in the same line of vision.
The elf lashed out swiftly with his dagger, forcing Elgin backward. This elf lacked Jenin's fighting grace and prowess. Elgin swung his broadsword over his head watching the elf's reaction. The elf backed up, but not enough, and turned, obviously hoping to deflect the broadsword with his dagger. The move would have been fine, and showed a decent knowledge in the limitations of the dagger, but Elgin had been looking for it. Elgin stopped the motion of his blade and spun, bringing the blade around sideways to slice into the elf's back. The elf cried out and fell to the ground, his spine severed. Elgin ended the elf's agony with a thrust through the neck, and turned to face Jenin who was on his feet with greatsword in hand. He did not look pleased.
Elgin took the initiative, stepping quickly to meet Jenin and swinging a blow to the elf's left, continuing his earlier method. Jenin turned his blows away, somehow with more force than before despite the injured shoulder. The battled raged furiously across the ground, the surrounding circle of elves moving with them. If Elgin won, there would be no respite before the elves set upon him. Jenin took over the attack and pressed Elgin hard. Finally, an overly dramatic swing of the greatsword to Elgin's right gave the desired opening. Elgin turned quickly to deliver a killing blow to Jenin's right. Too late he realized the bait. Elgin's broadsword sailed over Jenin's head as the elf's return stroke hamstrung him. Elgin's legs were swept out from under him by the force, and a final mighty stroke took off his sword hand.
J
enin Tirdade stood over Elgin Durnese, who lay in the soft snow blanketing the ground. Blood poured from Elgin's grievous wounds, a vivid red on the freshly fallen white. The Second Seat of House Chituse uttered no words before plunging his greatsword through Elgin's heart. Two elves withdrew from the circle and hefted the dying human. They carried him to the edge of the cliff and dropped him to the river below. Elgin Durnese was swept downstream among the ice drifts on the frigid current as Jenin was escorted away, leaning on Courna for support.
------
A
nd so the story spread, an explosion of such a force which any mage would be proud to match in magnitude. A human soldier had befouled a wedding of innocents, attacked a man who stood for the cause of peace, and destroyed another who had put up defense. The Elfslayer invigorated the elven war machine to new frenzied activity. The battle-held lands were soon again sodden with blood in a war which raged for 12 more years.
Courna Fiesse saw her dreams realized as she shrewdly maneuvered Fiesse to great power in the Circle through support for the war. She endeared herself to the elven nation with a massive supply of goods and manpower, but more so through her propaganda-rich speeches to the people which history has dubbed the Tower Oratories. When Jenin died five years later, House Fiesse received half his lands in compensation, which made it the most powerful House in the elvenlands. House Fiesse is the only House from that period which has survived to this day.
The bones of Elgin Durnese lie at the bottom of Dioloeth's Chalice, his grave marked by a tremendous waterfall which will never cease its clamorous cries of injustice. May the masses listen.
Rodan Nor
Principal of Authors, Caelyth Literary Confluence
For more information on the real people presented in this story, please make use of the Caelyth Library. I also pray this story achieves enough success to convince the Panarch to put the diaries of Courna Fiesse and Jenin Tirdade on public display. Currently, they are locked in one of the 72 vaults beneath the House of the High Seats.
That said, I extend my gratitude to the Panarch for allowing me access to these priceless works, as well as to the Chief Librarian of Caelyth for aiding me in finding appropriate materials.
Copyright © 2000, Matt Ackerman