“What are you to say?”
“That Lyam is now Heir, and peace has been restored. He invites the elves and the dwarves to the valley in three weeks’ time, for there will they seal the peace.”
The man nodded. “I see. I am on my way to see the Elf Queen. I will carry word. You must have better things you can do with your time.”
Laurie started to protest, but stopped. Why should he travel to Elvandar when this man was bound there anyway? It was a waste of time.
Laurie nodded. The man chuckled. “Why don’t you rest here for the night? The sound of water is soothing, and there is little chance of rain. Tomorrow return to the Prince and tell him that you carried the message to Elvandar. You spoke with the Queen and Tomas, and they were agreed to the Prince’s wishes. The dwarves of Stone Mountain will hear also. Then tell Lyam that the elves and the dwarves will come. He may rest assured, they will come.”
Laurie nodded. What the man was saying made a great deal of sense. The stranger turned to leave, then said, “By the way, I think you’d best not mention our meeting.”
Laurie said nothing, but accepted what the stranger said without question. After the man was gone, he felt a great sense of relief that he was on his way back from Elvandar and that his message had been received.
The ceremony took place in a quiet glade, with Aglaranna and Tomas exchanging vows before Tathar. No one else was there, as was the elven way, while they pledged their love. Tathar invoked the blessings of the gods and instructed them on their duty, one to the other.
When the ceremony was complete, Tathar said, “Now return to Elvandar, for it is time for feasting and celebration. You have brought joy to your people, my Queen and my Prince.”
They rose from their kneeling positions and embraced. Tomas stepped back and said, “I would have this day remembered, beloved.” He turned and cupped his hands around his mouth. In the ancient language of the elves he cried, “Belegroch! Belegroch! Attend us.”
The sound of hooves pounding the earth could be heard. Then a small band of white horses raced into the glade, ran toward them, and reared in salute to the Elf Queen and her consort Tomas leaped upon the back of one. The elf steed stood quietly, and Tathar said, “By no other way could you have shown so well that you are now one with us.”
Aglaranna and Tathar mounted, and they rode back to Elvandar. When they came into sight of the tree-city, a great shout went up from the assembled elves. The sight of the Queen and her Prince Consort riding the elf steeds was, as Tathar said, a confirmation of Tomas’s place in Elvandar.
The feasting went on for hours, and Tomas observed that the joy he felt was shared by everyone. Aglaranna sat next to him, for a second throne had been placed in the council hall, acknowledging Tomas’s rank. Every elf who was not keeping watch over the outworlders came to stand before them, pledging loyalty and offering blessings on the union. The dwarves also offered their congratulations and joined in the festivities wholeheartedly, filling the glades of Elvandar with their boisterous singing.
Long into the night the celebration wore on Suddenly Tomas stiffened. A chilled wind seemed to pass through him. Aglaranna gripped his arm, sensing something amiss “Husband, what is it?”
Tomas stared into space “Something . . . strange . . . like the other night: hopeful, but sad.”
Abruptly there was a shout from the edge of the clearing below Elvandar. It cut through the sound of the celebration, but what was being said was unclear. Tomas rose, with Aglaranna at his side, and crossed to the edge of the huge platform. Looking down, he could see an elven scout below, clearly out of breath. “What is afoot?” Tomas shouted.
“My lord,” came the reply, “the outworlders—they withdraw.”
Tomas was rooted in place. Those simple words struck him like a blow. His mind couldn’t comprehend the Tsurani’s leaving after all these years of fighting. He shook off the feeling. “To what ends? Do they marshal?”
The scout shook his head. “No, my lord, they are not staging. They move slowly, without alarm. Their soldiers look dispirited. They break camp along every mile of the Crydee and turn east.” The guard’s upturned face showed an expression of stunned but joyful understanding. He looked at those nearby, then with a smile said simply, “They are leaving.”
A shout of incredible joy went up, and many openly wept, for it seemed that at last the war was ended. Tomas turned and saw tears on the face of his wife. She embraced him, and they stood quietly for a moment. After a time the new Prince Consort of Elvandar said to Calin, who stood nearby, “Send runners to follow, for it may be a trick.”
Aglaranna said, “Do you truly think so, Tomas?”