The moonlight over the Silver Spire of canopy did not warm; it poured down like liquid mercury, bathing the ancient elven capital in a pale, ethereal glow. High above the forest canopy, inside the quiet sanctuary of the royal solar, Queen Moriele stood at the floor-to-ceiling balcony archway.
Her long, moon-silver hair cascaded down her back in loose, glistening waves, contrasting sharply with the deep sapphire silk of her robes. She was breathtaking—a creature of timeless beauty and supreme grace—yet her amber eyes were heavy with a fatigue that no potion or spell could cure.
Absently, her right hand rose to her chest. Her long, delicate fingers brushed against the fabric just above her heart, where a faint, hidden mark burned softly beneath her skin—a subtle, lingering reminder of a young man whose name was never spoken aloud in the High Council chambers.
Vince.
Where was he now? Had he survived the human borderlands?
A quiet, measured knock broke the silence of the chamber.
"Enter," Moriele said, her voice like the chime of crystal glass, devoid of the emotion that had filled her thoughts a moment prior.
The heavy wooden doors glided open without a sound. Stepping into the chamber was Elder Everwood, the oldest living member of the High Elven Council. His face was a map of gentle, weathered lines, his silver robes embroidered with intricate leaf patterns, and his posture radiating the calm wisdom of a man who had guided the Moon Elves for three centuries.
"You stand alone in the dark, Your Majesty," Everwood said softly, bowing his head in deep reverence. "A queen should not carry the worries of a kingdom without her council to share the weight."
Moriele did not turn immediately. "The winds from the south smell of iron and ash, Everwood. The humans grow bolder by the day. And now, this invitation..."
She gestured toward a low glass table in the center of the room. Resting upon it was an ornate parchment sealed with the crimson-and-gold wax emblem of Emperor Marcus IV.
"The Oakhaven Peace Treaty," Everwood murmured, stepping closer. "A historic gesture, my Queen. For the first time in two centuries, the Imperial Crown seeks a formal, binding summit to establish permanent trade borders and non-aggression pacts."
Moriele turned slowly, her amber eyes locking onto the elder with sharp, royal scrutiny. "Or a trap. Emperor Marcus preaches the doctrine of human purity. His nobles view our people as nothing more than elegant relic-keepers, and the Beastkin as wild animals. Why would a predator suddenly offer a handshake to its prey?"
"Because even predators bleed, Your Majesty," Everwood reasoned smoothly, his tone warm and persuasive. "He seeks peace. A gesture his foreberears forebid...Humans are unstable creatures without a doubt and are not to be trusted, but if you learned to trust one why not be open to trust another...not all eggs hatched in a basket are the same you know."
Moriele walked over to the table, her fingers hovering over the imperial seal. "Our scouts report unusual human movements near our southern borders. Small settlements, armed woodcutters, mercenary garrisons setting up under the guise of trading outposts."
"Subtle human expansion, yes," Everwood conceded with a gentle nod. "Which is precisely why we must attend this treaty. By signing a sovereign covenant in Oakhaven—before the eyes of all major realms—we legally lock those borders. We force the Imperial Crown to dismantle those unauthorized outposts under international law. If we refuse to attend, we give Marcus the exact excuse he needs to brand us as hostile aggressors."
Moriele remained quiet for a long moment. Her instinct, honed over centuries of ruling the silver forests, screamed that the human Emperor’s words were coated in poison. Yet, Everwood’s logic was flawless. The Moon Elves could not endure a prolonged, bloody feud against the sheer numerical weight of the human empire and with the growing elf population, soon they’ll be in need of expansion of territory.
"You truly believe this summit will bring stability?" Moriele asked softly.
"I believe it is the only path that preserves elven blood peacefully, Your Majesty," Everwood replied, his expression solemn and sincere. "I have arranged for an elite honor guard of two hundred spell-swords to accompany us. Elder Vermont and Elder Caelis will join the delegation as well. We will ride to Oakhaven not as beggars seeking mercy, but as a sovereign power demanding respect."
Moriele let out a slow, quiet breath. Feeling the weight of the entire elven race resting on her shoulders.
"Very well," she said softly. "Prepare the royal caravan. We depart for Oakhaven at first light."
Everwood bowed deeply, a look of profound relief washing over his aged face. "A wise decision, my Queen. History will remember your courage."
"History remembers only those who survive, Everwood, let’s hope we can trust the emperor...I don’t like the odds." Moriele replied quietly.
The old elder bowed once more and withdrew from the chamber, the heavy doors clicking shut behind him.
Left alone once again in the silver moonlight, Queen Moriele walked back to the balcony. She looked out over the endless green canopy stretching toward the distant human territories. Her hand drifted back up to her chest, pressing firmly against the warmth beneath her skin.
Oakhaven...
It was a central hub, a grand neutral territory sitting right on the fringes of the Western Duchy. If rumors were true—if a young magicless boy was tearing through forces sent to take his head—then the ripples of his path would inevitably lead toward the summit.
A faint, bittersweet smile touched the Queen’s lips as her amber eyes glimmered in the dark.
"Will you be there, Master?" she whispered to the wind. "Or will I find only another battlefield?...I wonder what you and lyrielle are up to."
Back at the trail Vince and the girls were walking.
Vince and lyrielle sneezed at the same time
SNEEZE!!
"Weird" Vetra said looking at both of them as they continued walking.
"I wonder who is thinking about us" lyrielle said walking
"Why would you think that" Vince asked
"I mean because we sneezed... it’s comon knowledge really"
Vince and vetra stared at each other then at lyrielle
"There’s no such thing" the both dismissed together as they kept walking
"There is trusty me" lyrielle said trying to prove her point as they kept advancing to oakhaven
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