Rise of Vengeance

There weren't always dragons in the Valley, Haggard thought to himself, as he continued his mountain climbing, thinking if memories to distract him from the harsh winds. He wanted to focus on when he guided a tour to go dragon watching in the south country, where the warmth never died.

Instead, he was climbing the Anarion mountains, covering Haggard in snow and ice, with the winds making everything worse. He told himself about the discovery at the end, seeing elves no one thought existed. Riches would be his reward.

"Those wicked elves, they do not want visitors, sending down snow, ice, and who knows what else," Haggard remembered hearing in his student days. He could of said no, but the travelers insisted. Who was he to deny adventure?

He took one more step, he had his wizard made shoes to keep him level, and walked slowly, with any misstep leading toward certain death. Haggard considered what would kill him first, the ground, or would he die before he hit the ground?

The wind blew, but Haggard came upon the plateau, where a walk way appeared.

"FINALLY!" Haggard screamed happily. He could see a distant entrance, the snow fogging his eyes.

Bolting up right, he sprinted before waiting for his comrades. Running as fast as his human legs could, he reached the door. Never before had the elvish door appeared before a human. The wood carved gently, to perfection, with the knob made not of steal, but of a different material.

Haggard studied the door, seeing a quote above, written in elvish. Reading it, he realized the language was from a different age, one he lacked knowledge.

"Sorry, fellow travelers, I do not understand this elvish, it is from ancient times, centuries old, translating may take some time," Haggard said worryingly, looking toward his comrades."

Do not worry Haggard, we can take it from here," said a deep voice happily.

"You can read this gibberish!?" Haggard replied, stunned, looking from one to another, wondering what he missed from the conversation in the tavern.

Haggard turned his head from the deep voice to the quiet traveler, who dropped his clothes, taking out his wand, which looked bulged from the tip.

Considering magic must open the door, Haggard did not worry, until

"LARUNX" shouted the man, his wand pointing at Haggard, who did not have a moment to defend himself. A quick slash accompanied the word, and Haggard realized his throat was open, no breathe could be contained.

"For your dying wish, the common tongue, the words mean "only blood will enter before a human," the man said, taking off his mask, showing his real face.

"Emperor Romulus, sir, your demon face shows," the deep voice said, not sure if this obvious.

"Ah, yes, we will have to keep it that way, my dear Aerith, as these elves will not take kindly too human or wizard faces," Emperor Romulus said, his mind moving forward.

He took his wand, levitating some of Haggard's blood, making motions until the blood formed a key. He inserted the blood into the key hole, which caused the door to open instantly.

"These elves might be too literal. We should start them off with caution. They do not know we can't be killed, but they will try at first," Emperor Romulus warned.

Walking slowly, Aerith ignited her wand, keeping a look for any elf. Emperor Romulus kept his wand out, ready for a fight if the meting went wrong.

"Wizards are here..." said a slow, scathing voice. Aertih did not waste any time, shouting: "Dolor!"

Blasting wind at the voice, the elf moved out of the way with such speed, Emperor Romulus did not even see the elf standing right in front of him. He looked over her, focusing on her broken jewels around her neck, and the face covered in scares.

"Leave...unless you want death....no future exists here," said the elf in the common tongue, full of malice.

"We are not here to fight! We are hear to make an offer to restore the Elves of Baratrum to glory!" shouted Emperor Romulus.

The scarred elf stood still, considering whether to attack or not. She showed a blade, ready for a right.

"Stay your blade, Elmira, these wizards murdered an innocent human to be here. We should at least hear them out," said a voice, filled with confidence and malice.

Emperor Romulus gazed upon the biggest elf he had ever seen, easily eight feet tall, and built with mountain stone.

"Master Sipuncula, they could be assassins! Tear us apart again!" Elmira shouted, screaming each syllable. Aerith felt the ear pain, but Emperor Romulus did not seem to mind the sounds.

"Common enemies make bonds, and start conversations," Emperor Romulus started quickly, not wanting anyone's mind to change.

" Ahh here to save your skin? Boring wizard, we are banished here, we do not hide, we are not to be pitied," Sipuncula responded, his voice featuring disillusionment.

"My skin has already died. I am hear to save your world," Emperor Romulus replied elegantly, his dark eyes widening. He stepped closer to Aerith's wand, where the light exposed his dark eyes and disfigured face.

Sipuncula took a step forward, while Emperor Romulus did not move but focused on him.

"Save my world? The world of the Baratrum elves were defeated long ago, destroying our world," Sipuncula replied, anger rising in his voice. Echos covered the cave, with more movement closing around Emperor Romulus and Aerith.

"Your world defeated? The how about rebuild! How about War on love!?" Emperor Romulus shouted, looking around. Interest was gathering, with Sipuncula looking around at his elf colony.

"You talk of war on love?" Sipuncula repeated, his stone face and gravely voice filled with curiosity.

"Yes, I speak of war on love. My enemies love, using it as a force. Defeat that, and I will give you vengeance," Emperor Romulus said, his wand pointing at others, not for threats, but for inspiration.

Sipcuncula, considered, his hand stroking the top of his bald head. He considered Elmira, the clothes ragged, and the scars healed over.

"Now vengeance, we can speak of," Sipcuncula responded, a smile exposing his acceptance.