Captain Lion gave the king and his sons a courtly bow and said, "Prince Birch, my ship will sail soon, and I am offering to take you and the princess back to East Port along the way to Asylum, would that please you?"

"Ye gods, Captain Lion, what an OUTSTANDING idea!" Prince Birch nearly leapt from his seat but barely kept his composure--barely, "We have travelled by sea and by land, NOW, we shall travel by air!" With a distant and wistful look in his eye, Prince Birch seemed almost as if he was speaking to himself, "Ah! My muse speaks to me with words that are on the tip of my mind. I feel a poem coming on!"

The airship captain turned to the shield maiden now, "Young lady, have you considered my offer?"

"I have, Captain Lion," Serna looked up at the airship captain, "And while I do consider your offer a generous one, I'm afraid that I must decline." Looking over at her companions, The Shield Maiden added, "These people are not just my friends, they are my family too! And whether they are here like Prince Willow or in Asylum like Neven or on the road to another part of The Realm, there is a bond of fellowship that I have with them that I am not ready to part with. I hope you understand, Captain Lion, I have a family--and they are right here with me."

"Ah, I see. Well then," He kept a straight face, "I bid you and your friends safe travels, young lady."

"I'm sorry, Captain Lion, I really am," Serna replied with a hint of disappointment on her face.

"Prince Birch, my airship is ready to sail and I shall await you there," Captain Lion gave the royal family one last courtly bow and left for his airship.

Alyson could feel the disappointment in his eyes when Serna declined his offer and sighed. ~ Maybe someday Captain Lion and his wife will find the little girl to raise..~

The Bronze Man bowed once more before ushering Alyson, Serna, and Caliaphy out of the throne room, "Lord Irzen, are you still planning on staying with the group or are you parting ways as well?"

"I'm planning on joining you," Lord Irzen replied, "But, as I recall, the king asked to speak with me alone should we emerge victorious from this war. Now that we have, I will honor the king's request. If you can wait until I return, then I will be more than happy to join the rest of you guys."

Mandur had given his full report in detail to King Sunrider and his sons regarding everything on the previous battle with the horde. He and his fellows were quietly waiting in the hallway when Lazheros, Alyson, Serna and Caliaphy came over, "Ah, Grand Cleric, taking your leave finally of this arduous event?"

"From Northaven, yes. As for the rest of the journey, we shall see where the path leads," Lazheros told him.

"How about you, Captain Mandur," Serna asked somewhat sheepishly, "What are you going to do now? And where are you going to go next?"

"Well, lass, my fellows and I will be returning to the Southern Valley to resume our mining business again," Mandur stroked his thick beard, "But I would be glad to keep your company until we part ways."

"Neat!" Serna nodded her head in agreement, "We will be happy to have your company."

The king stood up from his throne and gestured towards the Swordsman, "Lord Irzen, I wish to speak with you before your departure. Please follow me."

"As you wish, your Majesty," The Swordsman proceeded to follow The Elven King out of the throne room.

********

Sunrider walked towards the door to the left as the guards opened it to another balcony overlooking the surrounding lands. Once there, he waited quietly for Irzen to approach him, "I will be honest with you, Lord Irzen, our dark and fallen cousins of the Underdark have a long and bitter history, therefore my initial reaction was to have you imprisoned upon arrival. And yet you proved me wrong with the loyalty and friendship of my youngest son, Prince Willow. You are rare among your kin, Lord Irzen and so, I grant you free passage throughout my entire kingdom with this seal, should any of my kin question as to why a drow dares to walk these lands."

"Thank you, your Majesty!" Lord Irzen breathed a sigh of relief. The Swordsman knew that riding out of Northaven after a war could prove just as hazardous as riding into Northaven on the eve of a war. The king's signet ring all but guaranteed he would not have to fight his way out of the very same kingdom he came to save. "You are most kind!"

Sunrider, tenth of his name, produced a signet ring with his seal upon it to Irzen, "Know this, Lord Irzen, while in my kingdom, the ring shall shine true, elsewhere it is just a simple ring of no significant value. Your skills as a Warmaster have given me pause and insight. Go now, my friend as you travel the Realm, and Prince Willow may yet return to the company of his friends."

"I shall treasure it always, your Majesty, as much as I treasure my friendship with your son, Prince Willow." The Swordsman accepted the ring and slipped it onto his left index finger, "Your Majesty, my homeland lies deep within the Underdark. In the tongue of my people it is called 'Naermon Nithren'. In your tongue it is called 'Dae ed' i' linae' or 'Dae lond'. In the Common tongue, the Humans would call it "Shadows By The Lake" or "Shadow Haven". And if we are speaking truthfully, your Majesty, I know for a fact that if the shoe was on the other foot. If your son had ridden with me to save my homeland, he would have been executed upon his arrival. By not imprisoning me, you proved to me that you and your ilk are far kinder and far nobler than me and my ilk. And I thank you for your kindess, your generosity and your hospitality during my stay in your kingdom."

Lord Irzen performed a deep bow before his host, "Sunrider, Elven King, long may you reign and long may you rule!"

******

The Elven King entered the throne room once more bidding everyone safe travels wherever their journey takes them.

Mandur bowed and took his leave from the throne room, "My fellows and I shall await everyone at the stables."

"I guess that's our que," Alyson said quietly.

"Indeed." Lazheros said bowing once more to King Sunrider, "Hail and farewell, your Highness."

Caliaphy nudged Serna to follow Alyson and the Bronze Man when Irzen came back out with the king.

Before she departed, Serna performed a proper curtsy before the King and his Princes, gave Prince Willow a small smile and a wave good-bye and promptly departed.

Willow returned Serna's smile with one of his own and a brief wave good-bye as well.

As Lord Irzen was about to leave, he turned towards Prince Willow, "Well, I guess this is good-bye, my friend."

"It is not good-bye, Lord Irzen, it is merely so long--for now." Prince Willow replied evenly.

"Thanks for always being there, Willow."

The Elven Prince silently nodded in response.

The Swordsman turned and walked out of the throne room. As the doors closed behind him, Lord Irzen ran to catch up with the others.