Lazheros waited for the rest of the elves to move into a single line along the tree line. Dwarves often traveled in a similiar fashion, or in pairs. "I will follow up behind everyone else here, Prince Willow."

"And I'll stay in the center and keep my shield at the ready to protect us all should we come under attack," Serna offered.

"Thank you, my friends, your efforts are greatly appreciated," The prince joined Elbauthin and reassured him, "Between the Swordsman and the Elementalist your daughter is in the best of hands. They will see to it that no harm shall befall her."

Irzen took up a flanking position next to Elbereth and Alyson, "Lead on, kid, we've got your back."

Elbereth moved to the other side of the elementalist instead of being in between them. Had it been Willow, she would remained there. Alyson smirked a little remembering she did something similar when she was a kid spending her first summer in Asylum.

Irzen just shrugged his shoulders as the Wood Elven girl lead the way.

"We're almost there," Elbereth said quietly.

The entire group traveled for another hour along the tree line when the elven girl stopped. She scanned the treeline and saw nothing but maybe her father knew what to do, and signaled for him to come up to them.

Elbauthin brought his fingers to his mouth and whistled loud enough for three well camouflaged wardens to step out in full view of the Elementalist, and Swordsman. "Mae ngovanne."

The lead warden stepped forward with bow drawn, "Mankoi naa lle sinome?"

"Now THIS is the welcome I was expecting," Irzen whispered over to Alyson as he raised his hands, "What the heck is he saying anyway? My Wood Elvish is rusty as hell."

"I think he's asking us who were are?" Alyson whispered back to him keeping her attention forward.

"Reminds me of the start of a bad joke," Irzen whispered back to Alyson "Two Humans, some Wood Elves, a Fairy, a Drow and a Dragon walk into a bar..."

Elbauthin held up his hands, "My family and friends were attacked by the horde. My home has been destroyed, and we were fleeing for our lives from an ogre until these people showed up. Most of them went and killed the monster, the remaining two found and healed our wounded, as well as provided us with food and water to regain our strength."

One of the wardens stepped forward his bow drawn and then lowered it upon seeing the ranger, "Prince Willow?"

"Yes! It is I. Lower your weapons," The Prince commanded his rangers as the rest of the party caught up, "All that our friend, Elbauthin, has said is true. I have returned in the hour of our peoples greatest need. Take us to your outpost. I wish to speak with your commander."

The three wardens all lowered their weapons slowly. The leader motioned all of them to follow through a well hidden trail leading to the fort. When they arrived, the party could see a fully armed and well defended fort manned by a full compliment of wardens and rangers eyeing all of them warily. The main doors were made of the English oak, a thick and dense wood capable of holding back any threat save for a battering ram, or magic. The leader of the outpost came down a spiral staircase flanked by two other wardens, "Mae govannen."

"Aaye ar' Mae govannen, kano," The Prince placed his hand over his heart as he greeted the commander, "Ya naa lle? Ar' sut uma lle fare?"

"Yo! Lazheros," The Dark Elf whispered over to the Bronze Man and Caliaphy, "Can either of you please translate for those of us who are Wood Elven impaired?"

Lazheros made his way up next to the party as the elves themselves dispersed within the fort. The ranger's kin were always welcomed but the company he kept at the moment made the elven commander wary especially with a drow in the party. He bowed before the commander out of respect and custom, "Mae govannen. Amin naa, Lazheros, ar' these naa Melloneamin Alyson, Serna, Caliaphy, and tella nan' il, Lord Irzen."

"Well that's rude for him to walk off like that," The Swordsman whispered to The Elementalist, "A simple 'no' would have sufficed."

Irzen turned towards Caliaphy, "How about a translation? What the hell did he just say?"

The Warden Commander nodded in kind acknowledging him, "Kano Ivran. So, these are your allies, Prince Willow? The hours is late, and this enemy takes what it wants when it wants. Most of the scouts I sent out have not returned and yet you return with survivors and have slain an ogre?"

"We have," The Prince mentioned openly, "How many of these Ogres have you seen in the valley? We were told that the horde control all of the roads leading into and out of the Southern Valley. Is this true? Are we completely surrounded?"