Arilee had just finished eating when she saw Idril walking towards them.

She waved as he approached. “Welcome back Idril.”

“Thank you, I see you all got yourself food and refreshment. That’s good,” he smiled.

“Sorry we didn’t get you anything,” said Leela.

“It is okay, I ate with Elder Elwathir, thank you.”

“How did the meeting with the Elder go? Can we stay?” asked Arilee.

“I told him some of what you told me, and he wants to meet you all,” said Idril. His face said there was more to it.

“And?” said Chip.

“And I also think its best if he hears the story from you.”

“Can we trussst him?” asked Slicks.

Idril looked down and ran his hand through his hair. He sighed, “I think so.” He changed his face back to a smile. “Walk with me, I will guide you there. Did you learn anything in the Caravan while you waited?”

As the group followed Idril through the Caravan, Arilee responded, “We met a gnome who runs a Scroll and Armor Repair shop with a dwarf.”

Idril looked at her interested. "A gnome? There aren't too many of them around anymore. What's he doing in a caravan of dwarves?"

"He told us about there being a new Dwarven King. These dwarves here are fleeing the kingdom."

"A new Dwarven King? I had not heard about this. Did he say anymore?"

"No, that's all. There were,” Arilee paused, deciding not to mention Slicks trying to fight the dwarf,” other things going on at the time.”

“Very interesting. I will see if I can find out more while you speak with the Elder.”

Idril led the group to a large green pavilion tent with gold streamers set up towards the back of the Caravan.

“Just be respectful and tell him what you told me. He’s a little slower than he used to be, so be patient.” Idril turned to leave before remembering, “I will meet you back here when you are finished.”

Arilee pushed back the tent flap and walked into the large pavilion. Sunlight came in from the sides illuminating the inside. An old fading elf sat a wooden desk in the middle. He looked tired as he looked over a stack of papers, making marks with a quill. Dotting it in ink every so often.

“Excuse us, Elder Elwathir?”

The old elf looked up. He brushed back a white lock of hair from his face. It was long and thin, but one could make out the faint trace of blonde that it used to be. His eyes were sunken and his skin cracked.

“Hello, yes come in. Arilee, right? And Leela, Chip, and Slicks. Yes, please do come in.” His voice was light yet refined. Slow but determined. He wore elegant green robes with large green leaves on the shoulder pads. He had a purple flower tucked behind his right ear.

Arilee walked closer to the desk, the rest of the group inching closer behind her, nervous. Arilee didn’t know if she should bow, or how she should proceed. She decided to briefly lower her head in respect before continuing.

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“Idril the Bard said you wanted to meet with us.”

“Yes, I did.” The old elf stood up from the desk and walked over to Arilee and the group. He was a full hand taller than Arilee, almost as tall as Slicks. She could now see the regality of an older High Elf as he straightened his shoulders and strode across the pavilion. He looked the group up and down before continuing.

“He tells me you have…” He paused for effect, “quite the story.”

“It has been quite the adventure getting here,” admitted Arilee.

“Dark elves yes?” he said bending down to her eye level.

“Yes. They said they are returning. A Wood Elf on the island told us to find the Elder Caravan and tell them what we saw. He said they will know what to do.”

“But surely you don’t really believe that the Dark Elves are really returning, do you? They’ve been dead for 200 years since the flood.”

Arilee stumbled, caught by surprise that he didn’t believe her. She responded defiantly. “We met one, sir.”

“Do you have any proof?” The Elder responded skeptically.

Arilee looked at her companions for an answer or support. “We had his spellbook.”

“And where is that now? Is it with you?”

Arilee looked down at her feet, embarrassed. “No, we don’t know where it is. We were supposed to give it to the Overlord.”

“So, the humans have it?”

“Yes, sir. We think so.” Arilee said sadly, starting to feel like they messed everything up.

Elder Elwathir didn’t relent. “So we have nothing, and you want me to believe our oldest and worst enemy has returned. Did you know, I was there when the rain began to fall? I watched as the Flood drowned the land and swept away the world.”

“I did not know that,” said Arilee.

Elwathir continued, “I saw the Dark Elves defeated on that day, but I also saw at what great cost. We lost everything. How could they be back?"

Leela stepped up for Arilee, angry. “So, you don’t believe us? We’ve risked so much to come here, and we still have so far to go. Will you not help us?”

“Even if what you say is true, it would endanger the Caravan to let you in. We have suffered so much and there are so few of us left. We would not be able to protect you and you would only put us in more danger.”

“Sssscared Elf,” hissed Slicks.

Elder Elwathir’s eyes narrowed. “Silence creature.”

He looked at Arilee. “Yes, I am afraid. And if what you say is true, then you should be too.” Elwathir’s gaze softened and he walked back to his desk and slumped to his chair. He looked old again. His sunken eyes drew in deeper.

“I am dying. The Elves are dying. No. The sad truth is, I do believe you. I've sensed something is wrong. I have seen the Corruption spreading. There are entire dead forests to the East. I have seen the Wasting Sickness take my friends and fellow Elders. And now you’ve confirmed our worst fears. It really is them. The Dark Elves are back. And they’ve already struck the first blow.”

And then something happened that Arilee didn’t expect. The Elder began to weep.

“I have lived an uncountable number of years. Timeless eons during the first summers of the world. And I am ashamed to say I miss it. Time slid off my body like a droplet on a leaf. But now, I feel seconds like the ground feels raindrops. It is everywhere, all around me. Unrelenting. And slowly those raindrops have built up. The floodwaters have consumed all that I am. You look at me and see only the erosion left by the waters of time.”

Tension hung heavy in the air.

“Then let us help, Elder,” said Arilee.

“And what do you think you could do?”

Arilee stumbled. She didn’t know. She looked at him searching for words, but she genuinely didn’t know. They weren't great warriors. They had no army.

“That’s what I thought. You and your friends are but young pups in this world.”

“We have to try. We can’t just let them win,” said Arilee in a desperate bid.

“Do you know what the Elders did in the Old World when they heard of the news of a new dark enemy coming? They left. They got in their boats, and they left. Where they went, we may never know. But I stayed and fought. Look where we are now.” The Elder coughed and breathed in a slow wheezing breath.

“We are here, aren’t we? They didn’t win. We have another chance. Don’t make the same mistake your Elders did. We can't waste everything that was sacrificed.”

Elder Elwathir sat and considered her words. He sighed heavily.

“I am tired, Arilee. I do not have the strength to go through another Dark War, and worse, it seems I have no choice. I will not live to see happier days." He looked at each of them. "But there is a hope you and your friends might.

Elder Elwathir paused, considering them.

Arilee, Leela, Chip, and Slicks looked back in hope.

Elder Elwathir continued, with determination in his voice. “You are right. I will not. Can not. Make the mistakes of the past. We will escort you to the Caravan of Elders to the East. You have my support. I will ask Idril to go to the south with a message to summon the other caravans for a Great Gathering. May the Light guide us.”