Turning to the rest of the group, Prince Willow addressed them all, "My people are in danger and I will answer the call to return home. But I take heart in the fact that I will not return to Northaven alone. I will have friends and allies by my side. And together we will defeat this horde that threatens my people and bring peace to my lands. Thank you all for your aid in this endeavor. Now, let us be off."

"Wow!" Serna whispered to Caliaphy, "Those are the most words I've ever heard Willow say at one time."

Caliaphy smirked, "Elves are by nature quiet in the company of others outside their homeland. You should hear them when they are at home, they're quite the opposite."

"Really?!" Serna whispered in shock, "This I have to see. I can't wait until we get to Willow's kingdom."

"Meh," The fairy flew up and sat on the shield maiden's head, "probably not a beautiful as my homeland. Let's go on adventure to a far off land!"

Serna looked up towards the fairy, "I don't know, Caliaphy, I hear Elven kingdoms can be quite beautiful. Although, I must confess, this will the first one that I have ever seen. How many Elven kingdoms have you visited?"

"My homeland is ancient. Very ancient, Serna. You would have to get special permission to visit there, or if you stumbled into the Fey wild." Caliaphy grabbed a strand of her hair and whipped
as though she was riding a pony, "Giddie up!"

Emissary Orym bowed his head to his prince, "Vanya sulie Quel fara!"

Irzen replied solemnly, "Namaarie ar' Quel marth."

"Are you not accompanying them, Emissary Orym?" Armendes watched as the party to started to leave the suite.

"No. I must remain here. I feel, that there may be more allies to aid my people of North Haven. Unlike my king, who prefers tradition in seeking aid from our kind, I have found it is better not to judge others just because they are not like us. Rather to seek the skills of those who are good at what they do because of what they are."

"That's good to know," Irzen replied sarcastically as he followed Prince Willow, "I'll take great comfort in that fact."

"Irzen," Prince Willow looked over his shoulder to the Drow.

"Yes, Willow."

"Cut it out and go easy on him. I will do my best to warm the reception that you will receive from my people. But I do ask that you give them time and room to accept you."

"Alright, Prince Willow," The Swordsman sighed, "Consider it done."

"Thank you."

Willow led the others out of the embassy at a hurried pace. He was eager to get to the ancient tree and even more eager to return to his homeland and give them aid.

******

The elementalist walked out into the hallway of the embassy concentrating on the next piece of the Crimson Dragon armor. She could see it clearly as clearly as she watched the rest of the party come out of the suite. The spirit of the gauntlets was urging her to go now but she knew she'd be walking into a land where war had come to Willow's people. And like most elves, they did not take kindly to interlopers.

Lazheros came out after bidding Armendes and the Emissary luck with finding more aid and came over to Alyson without saying a word. ~ The swordsman wants a swift end to the conflict with the hopes that I will be the one to do it. The truth of the matter is that he is far from seeing the WHOLE picture.~

"I know." Was all she said to him.

Lazheros waited for the rest to join them in the lobby with Alyson. "Is everyone ready to leave for the Ancient Oak? Caliaphy, I am going to need your assistance on this one if you don't mind."

The kurori made herself visible and let go of Serna's hair, "Awww! I was having fun pretending the shield maiden was my noble steed." Caliaphy floated down and assumed her true self. "Okay,
hold hands everyone. Ready whenever you're ready
bronze man."

Alyson was already holding hands with the bronze man and Caliaphy. In turn, the kurori held onto
Serna's hand.