A grin formed on the face of the elementalist at first, then a giggle slipped out when she looked over at the bronze man, who raised an eye brow at her. Alyson could no longer keep her laughter at bay and let it out, "Hahahahahahaha!"

Serna then took Alyson by the hand and marched out of the room with the Elementalist while she said over her shoulder, "Alyson and I had our differences and we worked things out. Now its your turn!"

The elementalist listened in on the conversation between the swordsman and the bronze man for a bit and shook her head, "I'm impressed they haven't started trying to kill each other yet."

"They just need to understand each other, Alyson, just like you and I did, "Serna giggled, "Once they understand each other, then they'll get along a lot better. You'll see."

"Yep."

*****

Lazheros just watched the two of them exit the room in disbelief.

When Lazheros and Irzen were alone together, the Swordsman said after an awkward minute of silence, "Gotta love that kid. She's smarter than she looks and she's more mature than she knows."

"She should enjoy her childhood as much as she can and enjoy it. There's no need to rush one such as her into becoming an adult." The bronze man said quietly.

"Too late," Irzen replied, "In some ways, she's still a little kid. In other ways, she's wise beyond her years. I suspect growing up in Stormhaven probably did that to her--between the orphanage and Baroness Meleranti's palace."

"You meant to say to Deeping Dale, not Stormhaven Lord Irzen." The bronze man corrected him again.

"I stand corrected!" The Drow sighed as he extended his hand to Lazheros, "Anyway, I want to thank you for healing my leg back at that village. You didn't have to do it, but I'm glad you did. So, thanks!"

"I do not like to see people hurt or suffer especially with the impending threat of the horde invading the ranger's homeland." Lazheros walked out to the balcony looking across the vastness of the magnificent Mallorn Palace. Then turned back to the swordsman, "How would you have dealt with such a threat had the horde decided to invade your home?"

Irzen looked at his open hand and shook his head, "Easily, as the First Lord of my house, I would have called an emergency meeting of our ruling Council of Houses in Shadow Haven. Once we met and I explained the situation to the rest of my peers, we would have put forth a plan of action that would have allowed us to defend ourselves by utilizing our environment to deadly effect by causing cave-ins, re-routing underground rivers and herding some of the Underdark's most deadliest, largest and nastiest monsters into the path of the horde."

"I confess when I traveled with Madeous and his friends, we did not venture deep enough into the Underdark to warrant any encounters with the denizens there, friend or foe alike." Lazheros said to Irzen.

The Swordsman joined the Dragon on the balcony, "We Drow do not fight as the Surface Elves do. They tend to fight two-dimensionally attacking from the front, rear and flanks while we fight three dimensionally striking at our enemy literally from all sides at once--front, rear, flanks, above them and beneath them. We would hit the horde in a series of hit-and-run attacks so hard and so often that they would have to abandon any attempt to invade us because we will have wittled down their numbers so drastically. Though we don't like fighting them, we Drow believe in wars by attrition."

"Guerrilla tactics? Sounds interesting in that environment." The bronze man inquired.

"Look," Irzen sighed, "I don't like you and you don't like me. I'm here to help Willow and you're here to help Willow and Alyson with whatever she's got going on." The Swordsman cut The Bronze Man off before he could say anything, "And don't deny it! I see the look of concern you have in your eyes for her. And that concern is more than just puppy-love."

"Ah," Lazheros's eyes gleam with satisfaction, "You apologized at the lighthouse when you arrived with Madeous and the ranger, Lord Irzen, once is enough with me. Be thankful, I'm a Bronze and not a Gold. They hold grudges and demand apologies for many life times. There it is, a confession. Was that so hard?"

The Swordsman looked the Bronze Man in the eye, "You know, in the hundred years of service that I had to the Dark Lord, I learned one thing if nothing else: Even enemies can have respect for each other. So, for all of our sakes, I'm going to apologize for disrespecting you in your home and among your people and in Alyson's company. I know what she means to you. I was married once, a long time ago. And I loved my wife as much as you love Alyson now. So let's take a little sage advice from a little girl and mend our fences here and now."

"And why haven't you moved on, or forward? Is there no one else who has your heart?" The bronze man glanced about the room for a moment.

Irzen extended his hand in friendship to Lazheros, "What do you say? Truce?"

"Very well, swordsman," Lazheros extended his hand, "I accept."


+++

Willow did not immediately follow the others. He hung back and waved them onward until they disappeared from view. Then he turned towards the Princess as he took her hand into his own, "We are alone now. Is there anything more I need to know? Is there anything you can tell me now that you could not tell me in front of my friends?"

"I have concerns about Eilionwy, Princess of House Fern, your bethroed, I fear some fell magic has gripped her so tightly that its nearly impossible to reason with her. Prince Yew did not see what I had seen when she came for a visit some three weeks ago, there was a loathing and guile that lay beneath her eyes especially when I saw her new tiara. I've known many ancient artifacts, studied them, or have read of them in all my years of study but this artifact was not meant for her to bear. During one of our state dinners, her voice changed and the manner of how she spoke was not her own. I believe the tiara is cursed and it has claimed her mind and soul, however, I did take notice of a similar artifact piece, your friend the elementalist was wearing. I believe the two pieces are connected but it still doesn't explain why the horde is here. Why, would they come and invade, we have been at peace for many generations. Is it true, that this vile horde leader once served Venger?" Liliandra explained her side of the story to Willow with great concern.

"It is true," Willow added, "Grummasht once served the Dark Lord as did my Drow companion, Lord Irzen. The bad news is that Grummasht is a battle-hardened commander. The good news is that Lord Irzen is as well. He has provided me with great insight into the nature of our enemy. With his knowledge and our resolve, we can defeat this horde, though I fear it will not be easy."

The Prince sighed, "As it relates to Princess Eilionwy, much of what you have said was told to me by Captain Andaerean. She clearly is not herself and your words have only confirmed my worst fears. I confess though this cursed artifact is something new to my ears and the elementalist has worn hers for quite some time with no ill effects to be seen. Still, I will tell Alyson what you have told me. She might be able to shed some light on this matter."

Princess Liliandra's eyes brightened a little at the mention of Alyson's gauntlets.

"Is there anything else I should know before I go?" Willow stared into the eyes of his sister-in-law.

"Trust your family but do not trust those whom you believe to be friends in this dark hour. The traitor walks these halls of that I am sure, be cautious." Liliandra leaned forward in said in a hushed tone.

"I will keep your words close to my heart," Willow drew close, "But whom do you suspect treason, Lili?"

"I can not say now, there are eyes and ears always listening, Willow. Be mindful of your surroundings as you always have." Liliandra smiled to keep up appearances.

"I will," Willow acknowledged, "And I will retrieve Alyson and bring her back here for you to meet and so you can study her gauntlets. Unless of course there is somewhere else you would like to talk to her?"

The princess turned slightly, "Perhaps later, my lord. I am sure you and your companions are hungry from the journey here. You may stay here or follow my guardsman to your quarters if you wish."

"I will see to my friends," Willow began to depart before shook his head at the princess, "You need not be formal with me. I am your brother-in-law after all. You can still call me Wil if it pleases you."

Liliandra nodded slightly before turning to one of her hand maidens, "I shall await you in the dining quarters, Wil."