As soon as I step into the throne room, I realize I am definitely not mentally prepared for this. Half of me never actually expected to get this far, so I never prepared myself to talk to the Royals of the country I’ve been fighting against for thirteen long years. But, despite my sudden anxiety –I really didn’t think this through– we still enter the throne room. I am unsurprised at the decor that the elves had chosen for this room- golden leaves and whatnot- I am surprised though, at the fact that there were three thrones in this room. I thought throne rooms only had one throne, for the king. But there are three thrones here, and each of them is occupied.

Briareth starts his introduction eagerly. “Your Majesties, may I introduce Balderk Ungart, a dwarf who recently took flight into elven territory with intelligence that he labels of significant importance in relation to the unfortunately ongoing enmity between our two nations.”

The oldest looking elf on one of the three thrones– who doesn’t look very old at all –has long auburn hair with a singular golden streak, a crown of course, a jolly smile, and deep blue robes that pool around his sandaled feet. “Took flight?” He asks jovially, “Seriously Briareth? Did he actually fly? Because I would have loved to see that. Watching a chubby dwarf trying to fly would be so funny. They would probably flap their stumpy little arms like a bird.” I personally don’t appreciate the mental image, but the female elf smiles and tries to disguise her chuckle with a fake cough. She has long blond hair, a silver crown, and is wearing a dress as green as the forest.

“Dad, try to stay on track, please? This might be important. Also you’re freaking the dwarf out more than a little. You too Mom.” Says the youngest elf with an obvious sigh. He isn’t wearing a crown, but he does have a strange design painted on his forehead. It looks a little like a tree, with a lot of branches. He also has long hair, which is the color of dusty gold and he wears part of it in a braid which hangs just in front of his right ear. I almost want to cringe at how girly it makes him look. But I don’t, mainly because this elf scares me, just a little bit. I’m not a coward, but this guy’s eyes are creepy. They are narrow and golden, and when he looks at me, it’s almost like he’s staring into my soul with them, and he is displeased by what he finds. Seriously. Creepy.

“Sorry Faladel, trying to lighten up the mood. These meetings are so boring. I’ve had to sit through three of them already and they lasted hours. You just got started. I’ve had to sit through the Merchants from the South, the North, and the East, and they all want something different. Also the merchants from the West are coming this evening after supper.” The eldest elf says with a sigh.

“Point conceded.” The younger elf allows, “But mom, do you have to encourage him like that?”

“Sorry dearie,” the female elf, whose probably the queen, says. “just imagining a dwarf trying to fly. Your father has a point. It would honestly be really funny. But you’re right we should get back on track. Please ignore my husband's tired joking and tell us your message, Mr. Ungart.”

I’m startled by her usage of my last name, and hesitate for half a second before diving in. “The Dwarven High Command are in the process of creating a weapon of mass destruction that they have named the Scourger. It’s an explosive that, once set off, will release a gas that is odorless, tasteless, invisible, self-replicating, and also extremely flammable. It can’t go above fifty yards in the air, so it won’t get passed the mountain range and into dwarven territories, but if you even start a spark here in elven territory, you’ll all die from the flames.

“Before they release this gas, High Command is planning to recruit more dwarves for the war and move nearly all of their forces to the northern front to make sure that all of you die. They want to drive all elves extinct.”

“Why do you tell us this?” Interrupts the younger male elf, who I think might be Prince Faladel, “Shouldn’t you rejoice at our extinction?'' He looks suspicious of me. Which is only natural. But I was prepared for this sort of question.

“Although my leaders are willing to sacrifice countless dwarven lives to eliminate a species that they have been killing for ages, I am not. I wouldn’t mind the extermination of elves. Perhaps it is a bit much, but in my mind it’s going to happen sometime. But once dwarves who are fighting for those idiots become sacrifices in a giant extermination plan, I disagree. I don’t want all those dwarves to die, not having a choice because chance put them in the wrong battalion. They have families waiting for them at home. It is cowardly to sacrifice their lives and not even try to save them.” I finish.

“So basically,” The eldest elf, probably the king, confirms “you don’t mind us dying, but you do mind your kin dying of a weapon that is meant to kill elves. So you’re coming to us to have us help stop your weapon from blowing up in both of our faces.”

“Basically yes.” I reply, and fiddle my hands. It doesn’t sound great when he says it like that, but it’s true.

“If we were to help out, how would we go about doing it? What do you have in mind?” Asks Prince Faladel curiously.

“Well I don’t really know what to do about it. If I did, I would have done it myself instead of coming here to you.” I respond.

“So that is what you really want us to do, figure out a plan to solve a problem that will harm us both otherwise and then execute it.”

“Yep.” I shift my weight a little and glance at Briareth, what am I supposed to do now? I had told my tale, asked for their help, now it was up to the elves. Will they help me? Will they figure out a plan and then kill me for trespassing? That's what dwarves would do in this sort of case. Briareth smiles at me reassuringly, and then gives me a wink. I guess that means I won’t be executed just yet. The King of elves seems to be lost in thought.

“Dad” Prince Faladel prompts, “Your decision?”

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“This requires much thought. Too much thought to give you an answer now. However, by tomorrow I should have your answer, young dwarf.” The King says solemnly “In the meantime, please rest and enjoy our hospitality. Briareth, show Balderk to one of our guest rooms please, and then escort him down to the great hall for dinner.”

“Yes Your Majesty.” Says Briareth and bows to the three figures on the thrones. “Come along Balderk, You’re falling behind.” I hurriedly bow to the royal family as well and scuttle on out behind him. The doors close behind us with a loud bam causing me to jump and Briareth to laugh.

“You looked so nervous in there!” He exclaimed, “Like you thought that you would be arrested at any minute. It was hilarious!”

“Well I did think I might be killed. And if you had been in my shoes, in the court of a kingdom you’ve fought against for thirteen years, you wouldn’t be laughing either! Well, actually you might have because you’re you. But that wouldn’t matter because you would be dead!” I exclaim as we continue down long corridors that twist and turn. On our right is a railing. Probably to stop elves from accidentally walking off the edge I suppose. On the left is a strange patterned wall. It has ridges and bumps in a curious design. I stop for a little while, staring at it, trying to figure it out. Where have I seen that pattern before?

“Why are you fascinated with the tree bark?” Briareth peers over my shoulder at it. “I mean I know you guys don’t like the forest, but this can’t be your first time seeing it up close.”

Wait, that was tree bark? I feel like an idiot. “I actually didn’t recognize it” I admit, to Briareth “I knew I had seen it somewhere but I couldn’t identify it.”

“Yeah, the trees grow really big around here. The castle clings as close to this big guy as vine would. Saves on the building costs.” Briareth explains.

“Don’t you get, oh I don’t know, hordes of woodlice infections to take care of?” I ask.

“Nope. The tree takes care of itself for us. Handy right?” Briareth starts walking again, probably bored by the bark.

“I’ll bet.” I say, hurting to catch up. “But how do you build rooms on this thing?”

“You’ll see.” Briareth says, and I get the feeling he’s trying to be mysterious. “I’m taking you to one of our guest rooms now.”

“Is a guest room a code for dungeon?” I ask guardedly.

“No, of course not!” Briareth exclaims, and turns around so he’s facing me while walking backwards. “Why would you think that?”

“Well, if someone brought the dwarven king unwelcome news, he often locked them up or even executed them if the news was of a defeat.”

“But that's wrong!” Briareth looks shocked. “It's not the messenger's fault that they lost a battle.”

“He still takes the brunt of the king’s wrath though.” I shrug. “That's why being a messenger is normally a punishment. No one knows how the king will react to a certain piece of news.”

“That is totally unfair.” Briareth claims, nearly tripping as the back of his foot hits stairs.

“Perhaps,” I say, grinning as he scrambles to right himself and turn back towards the front. “but there’s nothing we can do about it. Some people just end up getting the short end of the stick. After all, do you think I’ll be allowed to go home now that I’ve delivered my warning? I’ve been to your secret capital city, I know some of your weaknesses. I wouldn’t be too surprised if your King keeps me here locked up.”

“He’d never do that!” Briareth protests, waiting for me on a landing.

“Well he can’t just let me go either.” I explain as I arrive next to him. “What if this was all a trick? What if I go back to dwarven territory and tell my superiors all your secrets?” Briareth’s face falls, recognising my point. I reach up and pat his shoulder. “Don’t fret, elf. It’s not like I wasn’t already prepared to meet my fate.” Briareth suddenly brightens again. “You didn’t have to get over it that fast.”I mutter.

“No, no, I’ve just thought of a solution to your problem!” Excitement gleams in his eyes as he begins climbing more stairs, and it sparks my curiosity. There is no way that he’s solved this problem, but he certainly is acting like he has.

“Okay, spit it out, elf.” I say, impatient to hear his solution.

“If there is, oh I don’t know, a hidden cure for this Scourger, then the King would probably send a retrieval team, that includes you, to go get it!” Briareth exclaims. “Then you’d be under elven supervision, and wouldn’t be able to sneak away to reveal our secrets!”

“So, I might have to continue traveling. Well, I suppose that’s better than being imprisoned until this crisis ends.” I say mildly.

“Yep, and I might get to go with you!” Briareth exclaims happily.

“Yay.” I mutter sarcastically. I’m slowly growing to consider Briareth a friend, but being with him 24 hours a day, for who knows how long, sounds very tiring.

“We’re here!” Briareth announces, stopping right next to a section of the bark that looks exactly like the bark we’ve been walking past, but Briareth seems confident that this is the right place. Grabbing a small protrusion in the bark, he drags it sideways, sliding a whole section of the bark back, and suddenly it looks like an actual doorway. Beyond the newly created doorway is a small room that feels simple and yet regal at the same time. Dust motes swirl and sparkle in the air as a light flickers on overhead at our entrance. There is a wooden four poster bed carved with flower designs and covered with muted red pillows and blankets. Next to the bed, there is a simple chest of drawers, a chair, and a mirror. On the floor is a large circular rug that looks handwoven. I glance up, searching for the source of the light. The room isn’t that tall, maybe twice my height, and hanging from a small chain right over the doorway is a glowing orb.

Briareth notices my curiosity. “It’s a Rune light,” he elaborates. “They’re rather expensive to commission, especially ones like this guy that are motion sensing, but much safer than a fire would be.” He walks into the room and plops down on the bed, but I study the device a bit longer. The technology these elves have really is strange. Lights with no fire, plants that can talk to each other, elevators run by children, I wonder what other odd creations I’ll learn about while here. “All you have to do is be almost motionless for five minutes and it will turn itself off.” Briareth says, noticing my continued scrutiny of the orb dangling above my head. “Better hope you don’t toss and turn in your sleep though, or you might be waking up every thirty minutes.” He warns seriously.

“How did you know that the door was there?” I ask, finally going to sit beside him on the bedspread. The blanket is soft, and rather fuzzy beneath my fingers.

“I didn't, I just guessed.” Briareth says blandly. I turn to stare at him, shocked. He chuckles. “Kidding! It was the little door knob in the bark that clued me in to where it was exactly, but I knew roughly where the guest rooms are located. This is where I and Raegel come to stay whenever we need to check in after all.

”I would tell you to unpack your stuff,” He continues, “but you really didn’t bring much. If you need help for any reason during the night, my room is the one on your right when you walk out. Any questions?”

Just as I’m about to shake my head, a bell tolls from somewhere deeper in the castle.