Map of the Southern Kingdom [https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/928675464401281116/1090552053434155028/Harador.jpeg]

II. News of the fall of Thardys traveled the air like birds on flight, for, indeed, post-pigeons carried words telling of what had befallen the Emerald of the South. The kingdom of Mithaur was first to learn of this, for their shores were the closest to the city, and then it was known to the republic of Harlond. It took a few more days for the premise to get to the borders of the Realm of Men, from among the kingdoms whereof, Harador, also called the 'Southern Kingdom' by the men who live further north, was first informed. The city of Ceor (which in the common tongue means Heart), capital of Harador, turned the news of it into gossip, and it went from mouth to mouth, from ear to ear, until all what people spoke of was of 'Thardys'. Even in the services of the Sagrary, in the temples of the high hill, the priests used the news of the tragedy to reflect the ideas behind their sermons. The bards composed thereof many a fairy tales for the harpers to embellish with their music, and jesters of the court in Harador also jerked about the burning of the library and the fall of the torch-towers. The jokes were amusing to none. In the forum of the city, where the public basilicas in their splendour stood, the masses would gather, and the city's major and other distinguished citizens offered condolences and held laments of the memory of that mystic city. In the city markets, merchants from south and east sold tapestries, and jars with depictions of the sack of Thardys, the burning of the library, and others alike. In the temple of Neldor, the local deputation of the Order in Ceor, hundreds gathered demanding answers on the matter of Thardys, and the Order's involvement in it. The delegation of Neldor, held a public audience in the temple and announced to the folks, that the Order was not involved in any manner whatsoever with the sacking of the city of Thardys, and that their participation therein was merely a rumour; no one believed this lie.

In the Principal Palace, castle and residence of the lords of Ceor, the gossip of the citizenry was regarded as rumours and not taken as truths. In the minds of the noblemen of the Southern Kingdom, talk of the sacking of Thardys was a matter to entertain the tongues of the small folks only. And still, there were lords and gentries of distinguished rank who opted to converse of such gossip in the palace also, daring even to call the order of Neldor 'the monster-invaders', much to the dislike of the officialists, who believed Neldor's every word and narrative, and yet amused themselves with the chatter thereof behind closed doors and in the corridor and halls of the castle.

The lord Tomfrey, an old, chubby man of thin greasy brown hairs and oaken-hued eyes, readied himself in his chamber, atop the tallest tower of the castle. His pages handed him all the cloths he could wear that day, the colours were sorted out according to the season. By this time it was summer, so the lord had to wear grey, brown, yellow or orange, he chose the latter and it made him look even chubbier still. His chamberlain, lord Ord Daswell, a man of fair age and bushy brows, came into the chamber and informed him that his council had gathered and were waiting for him to 'bless' them with his presence. The lord Tomfrey, ever a proud man, assented and went down the stairs to meet with his council. On his way thither all the lords and ladys, knights, servants and maidens revered him and pleased him addressing him as 'my lord', others of higher rank called him 'my liege', these titles and honours were great, and fattened his already obese pride.

He entered the council chamber and his page announced his full title "All hail, Tomfrey of Clasthaur, lord of Ceor and prince-elector of Harador" his ministers stood from their chairs and all bowed down to him. He sat his chair by the end of the table, and greeted his lords present. . Among the personalities gathered in his council were, to his left, the distinguished sir Kenn Brund, his treasurer; sir Jenn Dellow, his steward and sir Wolt Bloud, keeper of his seal and, to his right, Lord Ord Daswell, the chamberlain and lord Brenn Corgann, his confessor. Before discussing any point in their agenda, he addressed the matter that his whole lordship had entertained,

-"What of this gossip, the small folks talk about?" asked the lord "Time and time again, I hear everyone conversing thereabout. Even our dear chaplain the Reverend Gwen has given the matter much thought. He included it in his sermon"

-"my liege," said sir Jenn Dellow, "It is not wise to mind the product of gossip. They say, the city of Thardys has been sieged, sacked and humbled by the Order of Neldor."

-"lies, my lord" said Lord Brenn Corgann, "the Order of Neldor is the realm's benefactor and sworn to protect the innocent and vulnerable. To imply that the Order indulged itself into such depravity is a calamity to say the least."

-"and still," said sir Wolt "many continue to entertain the thought, due to the testimonies of merchants and slaves from the city of the sages."

-"slaves?" said the lord tomfrey, giggling "Do you mean to say all this gospel has been spread by slaves? they will always hate their masters, and no doubt will come up with even the phoniest of theories to undermine them, if the slavers were from Thardys, then it makes sense they would speak of made up tragedies" the lord leaned back and continued, "it is absurd to suggest that the Order would do something like this. Where do the rumours first started?"

-"in the forum, my liege" said sir Kenn, "it first started as a tune from the bards singing of 'the burning of the library', and then it spread out to jesters and then to the basilicas, until it reached a certain influence over the sermon of the Reverend Gwen. It is thanks to the priest, that the lords and courtiers first discovered the gossip"

-"Well," said Tomfrey, "it is improper of us to continue boring ourselves with this matter. See to it, that no one at court talks about it anymore" Sir kenn assented and nodded. He then asked for the first matter in the agenda; the marriage prospects for his son Elreck. "how does things stand regarding this? Have we got a respond from the Sovarós?"

Sir Jenn was first to speak, "I am very sorry to report, my lord, that the house of Sovarós has declined to our intentions to marry the lord Elreck to the lady Aléndra. King Elorio III Sovarós has denied us this in grounds of unsuitability."

-"how so?" asked lord Tomfrey "We are one of the great houses. The Sovarós and the Clasthaur have been allies for over three hundred years, now. It is even customary to marry between ourselves." lord Tomfrey was not amused; he had erased his solid beam from his face upon hearing this.

-"it seems" said sir Jenn, "that the King has been persuaded by his brother, lord Jaerech of Fitz, to decline our offer. This we've been told by our agents in the capital"

-"O damn lord Jaerech" said Tomfrey, rushed by wroth "that grievous greedy man, no wonder they call him 'the King in the Shadows'. That serpent tongue whispers in the ear of the king, keeping him from all sanity. This refusal will bring shame to our house and to the whole of Harador." he turned his sight to his chamberlain, "do we have any other meaningful proposal?"

-"As a matter of fact, we do, my liege" said lord Ord, "We have received four more prospects, all of them from the house Nillöre of Colmeth"

Tomfrey was distressed to hear this, "Surely, you don't mean this, Ord?" said he "House Nillöre has been at odds with the Sovarós for many years, now. The crown has suffered many an insurrection from their hands already. If we marry my son to their sworn enemies, we shall be inviting them the next day to attack our cities from the north. Do not forget the Sovarós stand at our kingdom's doorstep."

Many other prospects and candidates were discussed some from minor houses, all dismissed, others from foreign nobility, yet too risky for them to approve. At last the lords discussed the only available prospect, the lady Aveline of Alcobos.

-"The daughter of my friend, lord Hernos of Alcobos?" said Tomfrey, "I took she had already been wed to some noblemen from Gandor."

-"Ney, my lord" said sir Jenn "the lady Aveline remains pure, and with her a bond with house Sentriary will surely follow, the Alcobos are smaller branch of that family, she is the grandniece of lord Dulcheros of Arthalyon."

-"My liege, if I may" said lord Brenn, "the Sentriary are the wealthiest family in the realm, a match with them would be a triumph, no doubt. But on what grounds would we make this offer? We have little to offer the Alcobos, other than a promise to a more than capable suitor"

-"The details of the proposal, I will leave to them to consider" said the lord Tomfrey, "still, I have friendly terms with the maiden's father. Lord Hernos and I have fought battles together in our youth. I trust he will do what he must to see our houses bound in blood."

In truth lord Hernos had little say in the matters regarding his daughter. It was his uncle the lord Dulcheros of Arthalyon, the wealthiest man in the realm that had the final say in who would marry the lady Aveline. In his eyes the house Clasthaur had little merit, and considered the prospect of Elreck of Ceor, an unwise business transaction. However, after much ear-mellowing and pleasing, the lord Hernos convinced his uncle to give his daughter's hand to Elreck. Who knows on what grounds Hernos swayed his father to submit. Some say it was the lack of better suitors, others believe it was the interest to expand the family west.

With the coming of autumn and the change of weather, the Alcobos convoy arrived at the Haradese*(1) capital, the lady Aveline's arrival at the principal palace was a momentous occasion, she stunned the courtiers with her long golden hairs and beautiful guise, she wore green and brown, which was contrary to the customary hues of the season for noblewomen, but her eyes and smile were so wondrous and enchanting that people forgot of cold of autumn and the decay of the gardens. She remarked of this occasion her impression of the principal palace; "this might be the smallest castle, I have ever lived in" this she told her companion and maid of honour, a comely maiden named Frenna Jensine. She also brought with her two slaves of Hazagodian origin; one a servant girl from the city of Marthys and the other a male-tutor from the city of Thardys. These two strange companions were frowned upon for their precedence and cultures. But to some it seemed to be just an exotic extravagance that the highborn were used to. In the court of Harador not many were accustomed to foreign speech or peoples from remote places, but this they tolerated in hopes to satisfy lady Aveline's wishes. At the gates of the castle, she was welcomed by the Lord Tomfrey ever chub and proud, and his second born son Carédock, whom was stout and shy, ugly and foul to her eyes, for a moment she feared he was her husband-to-be but was much pleased to hear, his name was not Elreck. Tomfrey kindly reminded her of his friendship to her father, whom she held in contempt for having sent her away.

In the castle, not long after her arrival, the lady Aveline met with her betrothed, Lord Elreck, a strapping man of fair complexion and wavy dark hair. He had an eye patch on the right side and the hints of terrible scar that peep out from beneath its cloth. At first, the lady Aveline was frightened of this, but his missing eye gave him airs of virility and bravery, so much so that she could not help but wonder at him. He bore the colours of his house, green and gold, and when he offered her his hand to walk through the gardens, she felt his palm, calloused and hardened. She was delighted to gaze upon him and his guise bewitched her and her maids. She was thankful to whatever power above for having the luck to be bride to such a gallant and powerful man.

-"My apologies my lady," said he "my hands are not so tender to the touch" the lady lightly simpered, “And I hope my scar does not appall you.” his voice was like hasty river but deep and manly.

-"I don't mind, my lord" she said shyly "The patch suits you, if you don’t mind my saying, it gives you airs of adventure and of a hero of old. As for your hand, you should know, we raise stallions in Ardor, the land I come from. Oftentimes our palms harden too in caring for our horses."

-"The Sentriary are surely notorious for your fair horses" said he "no wonder you have made the white steed, your heraldry. A fine banner to wage"

-"and yet" said she "little is nobler than a golden oak, I too find your emblem very awesome to gaze upon. The oaken tree is strong and noble; the white steed is pure and gallant, I hope to beget from you children with the same qualities."

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

-"Of that there is no doubt, my lady" said he, kissing her hand.

The lady Aveline was not sure if she should ask, but could not restrain herself from saying,

-“Would it bother you to tell me, how did you get your scar?” Elreck laughed and smiled,

-“I don’t mind telling you” he said, “I tell the men who ask, that I lost my eye to a great stag I chased in the woods while hunting, but between us, in truth, I lost my eye in a joust against a fearsome warrior a while ago—I don’t recall his name very well, but it seems they called him the Toothache.”

-“The Toothache?” said she giggling, “what a quaint name for a knight!”

-“O believe me, my lady, he earned it,” said he “For he aimed at my jaw as we tilted, and yet his lance did not quite hit the mark. Instead it pierced out my eye.” The talk of the missing eye was seemingly not an unpleasant one for him and still he did not wish to talk any more about it. He then looked at her slaves and maid of honour, as they watched them from afar. "Would you care to tell me more of your companions?"Aveline looked at them and then turned her eyes back to him.

-"Of course" said she, "the one of light hairs and pale skin is the lady Franne Jensine my maid of honour, the other two, are slaves of mine, my father swayed me into bringing them with me, he said I would not be cared of properly here" she giggled, and Elreck said,

-"I can promise you, you will have enough servants to not need them"

-"still," said she "I would not be honest, if I say I have not grown to enjoy their company. the girl's name is Fwindda or so she tells me, she was sold off by hazagodian coarser from Marthys, I have come to respect her story, and she can be very amusing too."

-"And what of the male-slave?" he asked "it is not wise to keep such a lowborn lad about you, it may prompt gossip in court, and that will not sit well with my father either"

-"The male-slave" said she "he is my tutor"

-"he seems to be a boy" said he "I have known no teacher so young"

-"do not let his age trick your eyes" said Aveline, "he might be young, but his mind is far too wise for his age, he was a student in the library of Thardys ere its burning. He knows quite a great deal. Some say he might be a sage, for his knowledge rivals that of the elders at our court. His name is Asadue."

"From Thardys, say you?" asked Elreck, the lady Aveline nodded, "We have heard already many a tale from that city. The gossips thereof seem to divide us in court. The Order of Neldor denies having anything to do with. I think otherwise."

-"I think likewise, my lord" said she, Elreck was pleased to hear this, "in part too for what Asadue has told me."

-"Would you confide to me that knowledge too?" asked he, a red light seemed to have flickered in his eyes, the lady Aveline found him charming, and his company was a fine one too. She was hopeful and could not wait to marry him.

-"Well, he tells me of the true tragedy behind the myths" said she, Elreck seemed attentive, so she went on, "Asadue tells me that the King of Thardys, was a weak man, probably ailing too, and his brother convinced the Order to help him usurp his brother's throne. When the city was sacked and the siege was ended. The Order left the city with half of the treasures of the city"

-"I find it hard to believe," said Elreck "the Order has little interest in gold."

-"I did not say they were after gold" said she "Asadue tells me the treasures of Thardys are of ink and paper" More than her words it was her manner of speaking and her spirit what captivated Elreck. They conversed until the last lights of the sun. And on the days to come they kept seeing each other in the gardens and the temples. Gossip tells that they even kissed before their wedding. The lady was surely charmed, and in the day of their wedding, it seemed that Elreck had eyes for no other woman than her. They married on the third day of the ninth month, of the year 1688 of the age. There are reports that claim the presence of exiled elves at their banquet; some of them divinating the coming of a Clasthaur who would defy all expectations, conquer all kingdoms and even subdue the Ennards*(2) themselves, these allegations, however, were made several years after the death of Edoran.

The ceremony was said to have rivaled that of the King in Culgarost, but chroniclers convey it might have been much simpler than thought. Regardless of the expenses, no other couple seemed to have enjoyed their match so much. Though a spectacle of love to the common folks and the court, the lady Aveline remembers of the night of their wedding a different spirit in their courting, not so blissful and kind, the lady Aveline opened herself to him, and she recalls of that night in her diaries, seeing the eyes of Elreck, lured by her guise but devoid of love. She was sad to learn that the man she had married was not vestal. But she was distraught a couple of days later, to discover him in his chambers with her maid of honour, the maid Franne Jensine. For this she shunned her husband for weeks and then months and would not open herself so willingly to him. She repeatedly denied him access to her chambers, until one night, when Elreck was lascivious and drunken. Lustfully he broke into his wife's chambers and ravished the Lady Aveline. He would do the same in days to come, until she told court she was with child.

The news of the pregnancy brought joy to the court, city and kingdom, but to Aveline, it would prove to be the loneliest months of her life. Her husband would rarely see her, her maiden had betrayed her trust and thus she shunned her, she thought she would not see the lady Franne ever again, but to her distress, her husband lord Elreck, would take a liking in her and made her his concubine. There were times, when Aveline wished her husband to rape her, if it meant he would not find her so disgusting. In those dark nine months, her only true friends were her slaves, Fwindda and Asadue.

III. Most days of the week, she would present herself and her large belly at court, to the eyes of all noblemen to see. Lord Tomfrey always gave his daughter-in-law the customary courtesies, but by no terms was there a real interest for the lord in the person of the lady other than that which her wealthy womb may produce. As for Elreck, Aveline was forced to be seen with him in numerous occasions, especially in tournaments, in the services of the Sagrary and other events, but in private, and often in the palace too, Elreck was seen in the company of the lady Franne Jensine. Elreck frequently joked that 'the Sentriary had sent him the lady Aveline as wife and the lady Franne as a mistress'. In banquet hall her husband would sit to between Franne and Aveline, and would give heed only to the former.

When the sun was gone, and the business of court had ended, the lady would retrieve to her apartments, to enjoy of the company of her only friends, Fwindda would brush her hair while Asadue would entertain her with the histories of the South, not the 'Southern Kingdom': Harador, but the 'true South', as they referred to their native land. In that time of loneliness, the lady Aveline grew to learn more of their customs and their language, and took a keen interest in their beliefs and religion. People at court regarded the faiths and religious traditions of outer lands, such as those of the Southern Continent, as witchery and sacrilege. The lady of the house would be seen in numerous cases practicing some of these 'dark arts', but testimonies convey, that even to her slaves her methods were foreign, still the blame was given all to her thralls. The nine moons of solitude came to an end, with the first days of the last month of the year (1689), Aveline was being amused in her chambers by Asadue and Fwindda as it became usual to her.

-"have you already decided on a name, milady?" asked Fwindda, as she brushed her hairs.

-"For me to do so would be improper" said she, "though I admit, my heart wishes for it to be a girl?" Asadue was confused,

-"I seem to recall you had wished for a son, milady" asked he, "was it not also that the wish of your lord husband? I am inclined to suggest that a son would rekindle the vigour between you both even"

-"that I might have wished for in another time" said the lady "but I have grown to learn that a boy of mine, will not be mine at all, nor my husbands, not even his father's. He would belong to the Kingdom, just as his father and his grandsire. Now if it were a girl, she would be all mine"

-"And still" said Asadue, "you were not your mother's, also a girl can be used as bribe for the lords to use at their will." the lady Aveline was not content to hear this.

-"let us not saddle ourselves with this talk" said she, "it bores me already, to be reminded of what little I can do with my own babe. Tell me more of the Kings of the South," said she "I am yet to know what makes them so great in your stories"

Asadue would have been pleased to tell of those tales, but soon a noise of much volatile nature, would disturb their calm. From afar a blast was heard, and the smell of smoke and ashes followed, the lady Aveline tried to stand from her chair, to a glimpse from the window, but her servant, kept her from it.

-"stay still, milady" said Fwindda, "Do not risk doing anything rush"

-"the Blast," asked she, "what was it?"

Asadue approached the Window to her back. Aveline tried to turn to her back so as to see what had happened, but Fwindda prevented her from doing that,

-"do not distress yourself," said she "in your delicate state it is not wise to distract yourself with tragedies"

-"tragedy?" said Aveline, drawn even more distraught. "Asadue! if you will not let me see with my own eyes, then tell me what it is you see!" the tutor was reluctant to agree to this, but then his mistress told him "I command you!"

-"A huge blaze, milady" said he "the likes of which I had not seen, since the burning of the library of Thardys. It seems that the fires come from the Temple of Neldor. The flames seem too wild; I fear it will spread to other buildings. Mayhap we should leave the castle."

"very well" said the lady in distress, "Help me dress, Fwindda"

The moment she stood from her chair and ordered her maid to fetch her some clothes, blood had already tainted her dress, and a painful kick from her insides brought the lady to her knees. Her fingers clenched to the wood of her chair, and her nails scratched its surface. Asadue and Fwindda helped her up back to her seat, but her pain did not lessen. Then Asadue brought his lady some blankets and tried to convince her to leave her apartments, but she replied,

-"I cannot," said she "if the castle may burn, and my babe be born among flames, then so be it, but I cannot make it down the stairs of this tower! Eeaaaaahhhh!" her pain turned from groan to yell and from outsides her chambers, in came her other servants and page, the prejudice of those people surely had them believed that the Hazagodian slaves had their lady wronged in some way, but the blood from her legs did not come from a wound, it was all from her womb.

-"My lady, we must take you to safety" said one servant, "the castle is not safe anymore, the temple's flame may still spread hither"

-"I care little for the fires' ire" said the lady, "my babe will be born in this castle, in this very tower, like his father and grand sire!" the servants, could do little else than warn her of the dangers, but her will was strong, she would not leave her chamber. The maidens and physicians were gathered and her labours began.

Elreck was sought for in his chambers, to inform him of his wife's labours, but none could find him there, it was in the rooms of the lady Franne, that they found him and still, the news of the parturition had little effect on him, upon awaking the lord Elreck only noticed the red of the sky from the window and then the fires of the temple. He dressed himself and escaped the castle, with both his child and wife left behind him. The lord Tomfrey, though proud and plump, shared little in the manners of his son. He took a robe and went up the stair of lady Aveline's tower to give comfort and support to her. To some this show of kindness from the lord of Ceor seemed sincere, other say instead it was his interest in the child and not the mother what gave him the strength and courage to stay in the castle during the delivery, in spite of the danger of burning.

The temple of Neldor burnt with its flames of red and yellow colouring the noon's sky, an almost apocalyptic sight, according to the attestations, No one knows for sure what prompted the fire, some said it was by accident, others that it was preordained from above, while a few assured it was the doing of radicals and outcast opposed to the Order's regime. Afore the temple, a huge cobber statue of Aurio I, the first Sovarós King of Men, fell to pieces on the square that day, untouched by the temple's fires, and the ashes in the cold wind prompted bolt and thunder. The second of the last month was forever remembered as "the Red Day", both for the red of the sky and the blood of Aveline in childbirth. After hours in that endeavour, by the morning of the second day of the last month, Aveline delivered a boy, the babe was immediately given to lord Tomfrey's hands and not to his mother's arms.

-"there goes the son of the kingdom" said Aveline "and here I lay left alone to bleed"

The Lord Tomfrey, took the boy with him to court, and hailed him, bestowing upon him the name of 'Elbracht'. The name appears to be Adenaic in origin, and it may mean the wrath of elves, but according to some sages and historians the name could have been borrowed from the Nólbic Tongue and have in contrast another meaning—concurrent to the manner of his birth—; that of the Red Day.

With the passing of the years, the marriage also gave birth to other children, though with less stirring arrivals; Carédock the Younger, namesake of Elreck's brother, who chose the cloth and capirote-hood of the Sagrary, followed his elder two years later; Memlafar, so fair as a maid, needed only one to follow the former; and last in the queue some three years after, was born Tulfric, whom history titled 'the clever'; all of whom would later prove essential to Elbracht's rise.

The boy grew in Ceor for the first years of his life but was quickly sent away, much to his mother's distress, to learning tours paid by Tomfrey, with money lent by his friend-in-law, the lord Hernos of Alcobos, during which he was taught a variety of subjects and their different interpretations from numerous learnt scholars in Arthalyon, then Culgarost and even in the White Tower, see of the ever-watchful Order of Neldor. It was at the young age of ten and four that he began to doubt of said Order, calling it often domineering and 'inhuman'. He criticised much about the institution yet praised and developed a keen interest in the figure of Neldor, the ancient King of the world, and all tales of the elder days.

The Burning of the Temple of Neldor. [https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/928675464401281116/1090556535454842880/Bloody_Saturday.jpeg]