Elves were a pretty peaceful nation. Their traditions and customs, which had been established for thousands of years of evolution, demanded complete harmonic existence with nature, respecting every single particle of its fragile system, ranging from a tiny grass blade to a large beorn. In any place they settled down, elves did everything in their power to help nature and save its colorful variety. But despite all peaceful representations of their breed, these peace-lovers of Uniearth could stand for themselves pretty decently. Elves were famous with their accurate archers, who could nail a butterfly to a tree from the distance of a couple of kilometers, leaving it alive. The discipline in the elvish army was unquestionable, more to say the toughest among all armies of Uniearth: every loophole in it could be the reason for exile or dismissal. That's why their platoons were capable of competing with the most powerful warbands of Uniearth. The heart of the elvish art of war was battle tactics. The way high command gave orders and planned every battle with the meticulous care was the object of envy among all other armies and made elvish one a powerful opponent to battle. For example, during the furious combat at the Kulmitras mountain range, where a huge amount of minerals was located, a little army of elvish prince Saltren ambushed army of Nerpanten the II in the narrow canyon, where the Nerpanten's cavalry was useless. Having dammed the passages, Saltren ordered his archers to fire. The battle was a disaster for human king...
The dragon's next point of destination was the capital of the elvish realm — Loriel. The throne was under the straight descendant of the great Ulian's dynasty — Luminel the Fairest. Loriel was hidden deep in the woods, making it nearly impossible to find. However, our hero was determined to find this city in any event in order to talk to the prince. It was clear that he was our hero's last hope to find an ally.
His searches lasted for hours; he examined every lake, every bush, every swamp he came across, but all his attempts were fruitless — Loriel seemed to stubbornly hide from his sight. Being exhausted and sad after endless searches, the dragon decided to take a short break. The day was going to fade as the glorious red disk of the sun slowly sank in the horizon, freeing the throne for the marvelous queen of the night — brightly-shining Moon. The dragon was looking for a place of rest for a very long time until he suddenly came across a tiny hut of branches.
"I guess, it'll be a perfect place for a nap,—the dragon thought.—I haven't slept for hours! No! What the hell do you think you're doing? Eldoras is waiting for me! Every minute counts! But still... It won't be critical to have a short shut-eye, will it?" After thinking over his further actions, the dragon laid on the soft moss, curled up, covered himself with a wing and was ready to sleep, when suddenly he remembered something important: "Oh my! I've almost forgotten about my human disguise. It won't be odd to wear it for a while". Having turned into his human form, the dragon laid his head on a small mossy hill and, having shut his eyes, drifted into sleep.
***
Our hero was awakened of the peculiar noise, which was familiar to the sound of bow drawing. Having opened his sleepy eyes, the dragon got startled out of his wits: an elf, dressed in light mithril armor was standing right before him, pointing an arrow straight at his nose bridge. The disguised scaly messenger was petrified and couldn't utter a single word. He realized that any moment in this tense situation could become the last one any second; his life depended on the patience of the archer. They stared at each other for very long, seldom looking around and blinking. Only birds broke the silence of their dead-silent talk. It seemed that this process would last forever until the elvish soldier wondered:
—Who are you, stranger? What has brought you to our lands? Humans are not welcomed here!
The dragon overcame the shock and tried to get up, but his attempt was interrupted by the sharp arrowhead, aimed at his forehead. Having pushed back, he calmly replied, trying not to make elf nervous and clear the air: —Lay down your bow, brave warrior. I've come here to obey the king's will and ask for help.
—Help?—elf laid down his bow.—Since when humans started asking for help? As far as I'm concerned, there's the fortress called Stormwind which makes all your problems quickly fade. I've heard it is impregnable. Moreover, our prince tells that even Pendragon cannot be trusted. Then why, tell me, I should make an exception?
—Tempestwind no longer exists!—the dragon replied irritably. It was sleepless nights and exhaustion that made him behave in such way.—It was ravaged by the enemy our nations have never faced before. He won't stop until he enslaves us all. It's not just the matter of a gang of robbers or marauders, who attack caravans. They have catapults, siege towers, battering rams and Zeus-damn well-trained soldiers. I beg you to lead me to your prince or just let me go. There's no time to waste our breath right now. —Sounds persuading enough,—elf, realizing the importance of the dragon's words, admitted.—I will lead you to the prince. He must know that immediately!
—Thank you,—the dragon, having stood from the ground, replied.—You're the first in my way who evaluated the situation soberly.
After a short tense conversation, elf and the dragon headed for the capital, which was hidden in the dense Loriel's forest. The dragon had never been to the elvish lands before, so every single object, ranging from a colourful butterfly to an ent, slowly wandering somewhere in the dense foliage, seemed very peculiar to him. It seemed that elves lived in their own, abstract world, filled with bright colors and unique happiness and serenity, meanwhile, others suffered their existence in boring and unjoyful time-mass. After a long journey through the foliage and marsh, the dragon and his temporary companion reached the capital of elvish princedom — Loriel.
This city was truly marvelous. Well-ornamented towers and walls, which were crowded with soldiers armed with shields and long spears, ready to defend their prince, radiated the sense of might and sincere respect. And how beautiful the buildings were! All houses, ranging from ordinary stables of horses and deer to mansions of wealthy noblemen, had slight and soft architecture style, only could be belonged to famous elvish craftsmen. It was the glorious temple of Three gods that caught the dragon's eye: this magnificent wooden building stood on a small hill, surrounded by high stone statues, which represented three main gods. These statues were meticulously festooned with a slight, careful layer of the orchidaceous ornament. The dragon was overwhelmed by the desire to stay in this natural paradise for a little bit longer, but he understood that the duty was in the first place. At last, after a long journey through the city, our hero and his elfcompanion reached the last stronghold of Eldorase's survival — the prince's residence. Hardly had the foot of our hero touched the soft moss before prince's house, he was stopped by the loud voice of one of the royal guardsmen, who pointed his arrow at the stranger.
—Who are you?—the warrior asked, having stared at the petrified dragon.— Rithair,—the bowman addressed to the elf-companion,—why have you brought this human-hostile to our holy lands?
—He came in peace, my friend Kenlethar,—the elf-companion answered.— He was sent by Pendragon with an important message for the prince.
—We are allowed to let the strangers in only by the will of His Holiness,—the bowman replied.—He's the only one who has the power to solve political problems.
—I plead you to let me speak to him,—the dragon asked for a favour.—We don't have much time.
—What is all that noise?—the prince suddenly appeared at the doorstep of his residence. Having given the dragon a sideways look, he frowned and asked with a big of disgust:—Who is he? What in the name of Zeus human is doing here?
—Your Highness, he's Pendragon's ambassador,—Rithair, having kneeled before the prince, explained. Dragon instantly followed him.—He has come to ask for your help in the upcoming war with the enemy.
—A sort of?—the elvish prince said with noticeable excitement. The dragon was amused by those instant sparkles of disturbance and hatred towards the enemy he noticed in the prince's shining eyes. He realized that hope was still on his side.—Who dared to intrude in the domain of my glorious ally? No matter how powerful he is, he will answer for his actions with his head, nailed on the wall!
—Glorious Zeus! Our prays have been heard at last!—the dragon asked with a sincere hope of prince's awareness.—Will you help us?
—What? No, of course, not!—the prince replied indignantly. At that moment the dragon's heart sank: all his great tower of hope instantly collapsed by the barrage of regret and desperation.—We can't help you. We have more important things to do than some political problems of our ally. My people and I express our concern about the desperate situation in your kingdom, but this is not our business. Pendragon must be capable of solving his problems on his own. We have more important things to do: we're going on a crusade against fire dragons because they have been guiltlessly attacking our caravans recently. The allying policy is not the primary one for us right now.
Oh, I've just forgotten to inform you that Pendragon hasn't paid the debt for our river fish supply, which our mighty fleet has been delivering for the past three years in your harbors. You must be aware, that it's not the easiest time our economy is facing right now...
—Prince Luminel, believe me, the war and the threat it carries is far more important than your crusade and trading affairs,—the dragon desperately tried to bring the prince to his senses.—If we lose this war, there won't be any agreements and trading unions ever. There won't be anything left, we have accustomed to: everything will perish forever! We must give them decisive rebuff! I plead for your wisdom... You are our last hope.
—I will not enter the war! That's it!—the prince, having frowned fiercely, angrily replied. His green eyes were full of hatred and overwhelming disgust towards Pendragon's ambassador.
—Why do you express only your selfish desire?!—the dragon exclaimed.— What about your people? Don't you think they want to defend themselves? It is not in your power to decide for them!
—My people do not want any war! That's it!—the prince replied even more angrily.—I am the law in here and only I decide what is good or bad for my kingdom! My people adore me and every peasant knows, that only I can save them from bloodbaths, they are afraid to drown in! You have no power here, pathetic human slug!
—It is not in my power to force you anymore,—the dragon griefly replied, going to leave. He finally realized that all the attempts and time he wasted on persuading monarchs were useless.—But maybe there is still hope that you have the smallest in your disposal to help us? The tiniest one?
—Get out of my sight, Pendragon's slave!—Luminel shouted with all the fierce, accumulated during the conversation with the dragon.—How dare you to plead for my mercy, filthy human being! Forget the road here forever! No human foot shall ever dare to step on these holy lands of my domain!
—Your wish is a law, prince,—the dragon sighed, slowly stepping back.—But remember my request, when your beloved wife, the irreplaceable heirloom you value most, will be raped by uneducated and brainless barbarian right before you.
With these words, our hero turned around and headed towards the gates, but suddenly stopped.
—Before I leave,—the dragon said,—I must tell you that there is still remorse and generosity under the thick layer falsehood and arrogance. I can feel it,— the prince suddenly straightened his back and attentively looked at the dragon.—So, if you still have any light of morality in your corrupted soul, lead your troops to Eldoras. We will be waiting for you, till our last soldier falls.
Having ended the conversation with the prince, he silently nodded and headed back to the edge of the forest. Now, when all hope to establish the union with monarchs of Uniearth had faded, there was the only thing to worry about left: Eldorase's defense. He knew that it was madness to resist the enemy, who had an enormous well-trained army with battering rams, ladders and siege towers. The dragon didn't know what to do: what to say to people, how to look in their eyes. Thinking over the plan of upcoming defense and imagining the bitter meeting with Esrael and Gilroy, he suddenly for himself exited the forest. Having taken his natural shape, he zoomed into the azure sky and headed towards Eldoras, which was going to face the strike of the most powerful army that the world had ever seen on his own.