On a warm and sunny December day Theria portaled beyond the verdant green forest of AshVale and the three Rivers near the Palace of Gilgolfin, the High King of the High Elves. Theria, as she approached the Palace, greeted the Griffin, who seemed very happy and remained upon the egg, Theria had given it. Behind her, pushed through the portal, are twenty-five Ballistae, twenty long-range catapults and twenty short-range catapults, plus crates of various enchanted ammunitions are unloaded as a gift to help defend the High Elf King's Capital, not the most usual of gifts but priceless in the event of an attack. Similar reinforcement of catapults are also being portaled out to other allied cities, except for the Sea Orc Free City, which gets specially treated underwater with ten extra Ballistae and an extra thirty long-range catapults, which all are enchanted with the help of the Sea Elves to work at a reduced range from under the water out of the sunken twin city.
A Palace attendant, she could see, approached; they were attempting to usher her down to the Old, ruined Palace. Theria walked down to it to find the overgrown nature, cut back and work going on to restore this. Theria asked the High King Gilgolfin what the significance of this was. The High Elf King replies, "When this work is done, then shall I rename the High Elf Kingdom for no longer will it be AshVale, the restoration of the Ice Elves is glorious, and this Palace a footnote compared to that, but I do like to complete what I start. I asked for the High Elf King's Aid with catching the Dark Protégé, who was at the very least a Dark Lord, if not a full Dark Lord, if he was responsible for making the Dead Continent Dead without others knowing.
Gilgolfin said, "Horace the hidden, be he Dark Protégé or Dark Lord, needs to be stopped and his damage done on the Dark Continent minimised. As the High King of the High Elves, I pledge that our swords are now against this Dark Lord, and we will not be idle until they are confronted and driven from this world one way or another."
Theria shared, "I worry that the High Marshall might go to war against the Orcs and/or the Dawn Elves judging by surface appearances. May I ask that you, High King use your influence, the Theocratic Protectorate, to help maintain the peace and maybe convince them to choose to oppose the Dark Lord in the Dark Continent as an enemy to campaign against?"
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Gilgolfin said, "I suggest you visit the surrounding nations you have not yet visited and meet with their leaders to find out their intentions and see who may aid in stopping the Dark Lord on with the Dark continent. We will certainly do all we can to bring as many reinforcements to our brothers, the Grey Elves, as we can make possible. We will also seek to ensure the Theocratic Protectorate are an ally in this war, but if it is not possible, then we will try to ensure that they are at least not an enemy."
Theria asked, "Can you request the help of the Valar to assist us? Ulmo, Lord of Waters, has granted us a favour and blessed the Sea Orc City. Perhaps others will lend their aid one way or another and more so if you ask them?" Gilgolfin said, "From your lips to their ears. May Oromë, the Huntsman of the Valar blow his horn Valaróma to rouse all who may oppose the Dark Lord."
Gilgolfin said, "We are kindred, both children of Ilúvatar, and we have a bond of kinship forged in our continued opposition to the Dark Lord, with your great Grandfather Nita “BigBear” Balrogslayer Adalbern and now with you, Regent of Fecundity, Duchess Theria Adalbern, Sceaða's Bane Elf-friend. We will march to war, but whatever intelligence you can muster will help us know where to strike first. To this end, I gift you the touch of the crystalised starlight of our people." Gilgolfin places the gem on the forehead of Theria, and a bright light shines into Theria, increasing her stature, wisdom, endurance and strength."May this boost to you Theria give you the edge you will need to disrupt and, if possible, end the works of Horace the Hidden, be he the Dark Protégé or Dark Lord."
Theria saluted the High King and took her leave, thinking she had much to do and would make every minute count, working towards the coming confrontation with the Dark Lord and readiness for the one, the likelihood that another would rise in the future. She would make preparations to foil the works of this Dark Lord and prevent, if it is possible future Dark Lords.