King Aquilan of Kahshara was in the throne room of his castle, meeting with his wife, Queen Felaenya. They were discussing what do now that Argothrond had fallen. Aquilan was convinced, as were most of the elven kingdoms, that the orcs were attacking Senadorei next. Though the orcs had launched small skirmishes into Kahshara, it was now massing troops at the border between Argothrond and Senadorei. Senadorei was geographically smaller kingdom than Kahshara, but much more populated, and it was clear the orcs main objective was to capture slaves. Much of Kahshara was plains and farmland. Senadorei seemed the more attractive target for the orcs, and it made sense they were amassing troops at its border.
But Felaenya was not convinced. "Are you willing to risk our son's life that the orcs will not attack us next? Are you willing to risk the lives and freedom of all the elves of our kingdom? You must plead that the other kingdoms send their armies here," Felaenya said.
"Do you not think I have been pleading for support, since the orcs first starting raiding our kingdom?" Aquilan responded. "We have sent repeated communiques pleading for aid. Until recently, none of the other kingdoms wanted to risk entering the fray. Now they have but they are amassing their armies in Senadorei. I will continue sending requests that they also send forces to our kingdom, but there is nothing beyond that I can do."
Felaenya frowned and nodded. She knew there was nothing much more that they could do. But she was also not convinced at all that the orcs would focus their ire on Senadorei and not attack Kahshara next.
Suddenly, they heard crying in the other room. Aquilan rolled his eyes. They knew it was their son, Prince Taladiir. He was a young man but still acted like a child in many respects. Felaenya rose to her feet and headed to the next room.
In the adjoining room, Prince Taladiir was with his young wife, Princess Nylalaea, and her younger sister, Enyssia who had been allowed to take refuge in the castle with the royal family after the orcs had started their raids on the kingdom.
"The orcs are going to kill us all," Taladiir whimpered in between his sobs. Felaenya hugged her son, trying to comfort him. She saw Nylalaea rolling her eyes, clearly thoroughly unimpressed with the bravery of her husband. Their marriage had been one of political convenience, not love. And Felaenya could not blame her for reacting negatively to this outburst from her son.
"Sshh, we needn't worry. The orcs are amassing their horde on the other side of Argothrond, not at our border. They are attacking Senadorei and the combined elven forces will defeat them," she told Taladiir. She did not believe what she had just said but was trying to soothe her son. And as she looked down at him, as he still sobbed, she felt guilty for hoping that most of the sons of Alyoshara were braver than her own son. They would need to be, if they were to stand any chance against the orcs.
King Aquilan of Kahshara was in the throne room of his castle, meeting with his wife, Queen Felaenya. They were discussing what do now that Argothrond had fallen. Aquilan was convinced, as were most of the elven kingdoms, that the orcs were attacking Senadorei next. Though the orcs had launched small skirmishes into Kahshara, it was now massing troops at the border between Argothrond and Senadorei. Senadorei was geographically smaller kingdom than Kahshara, but much more populated, and it was clear the orcs main objective was to capture slaves. Much of Kahshara was plains and farmland. Senadorei seemed the more attractive target for the orcs, and it made sense they were amassing troops at its border.
But Felaenya was not convinced. "Are you willing to risk our son's life that the orcs will not attack us next? Are you willing to risk the lives and freedom of all the elves of our kingdom? You must plead that the other kingdoms send their armies here," Felaenya said.
"Do you not think I have been pleading for support, since the orcs first starting raiding our kingdom?" Aquilan responded. "We have sent repeated communiques pleading for aid. Until recently, none of the other kingdoms wanted to risk entering the fray. Now they have but they are amassing their armies in Senadorei. I will continue sending requests that they also send forces to our kingdom, but there is nothing beyond that I can do."
Felaenya frowned and nodded. She knew there was nothing much more that they could do. But she was also not convinced at all that the orcs would focus their ire on Senadorei and not attack Kahshara next.
Suddenly, they heard crying in the other room. Aquilan rolled his eyes. They knew it was their son, Prince Taladiir. He was a young man but still acted like a child in many respects. Felaenya rose to her feet and headed to the next room.
In the adjoining room, Prince Taladiir was with his young wife, Princess Nylalaea, and her younger sister, Enyssia who had been allowed to take refuge in the castle with the royal family after the orcs had started their raids on the kingdom.
"The orcs are going to kill us all," Taladiir whimpered in between his sobs. Felaenya hugged her son, trying to comfort him. She saw Nylalaea rolling her eyes, clearly thoroughly unimpressed with the bravery of her husband. Their marriage had been one of political convenience, not love. And Felaenya could not blame her for reacting negatively to this outburst from her son.
"Sshh, we needn't worry. The orcs are amassing their horde on the other side of Argothrond, not at our border. They are attacking Senadorei and the combined elven forces will defeat them," she told Taladiir. She did not believe what she had just said but was trying to soothe her son. And as she looked down at him, as he still sobbed, she felt guilty for hoping that most of the sons of Alyoshara were braver than her own son. They would need to be, if they were to stand any chance against the orcs.
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