Chapter 6.. An unlikely joining

As soon as he was off Thileas' back Eol headed straight to the command tent that had been set up to talk with his commanders. He scrambled out of it's armor and put it on it's rack so he was armed only with his swordbelt. "You all know the numbers that mountain was supposed to hold..the question is where were the rest of the beasts?" Eol asked his commanders. Among incoherrent mumbling one of the elven commanders from Revenwil spoke up. "Perhaps they had left the mountain and that is why Therwalt saw such an increase in activity from the mountain maybe they simply moved somewhere else?" More discussion and debating before Eol called for silence. "If they left their home in the mountain it means they had a new home and since they can't move as well during the day it means some other power gave speed to these beasts for some purpose"  And so went the discussions long into the night until Eol dismissed his weary commanders. Strangely Lord Bruiven stayed behind in the command tent with Eol. "Lord Bruiven you are free to go if you wish" Eol told him absentmindedly. Lord Bruiven simply titlted his head as he looked at the weary King among men. "Upon the dismissal of the armies I would very much appreciate it if you would be my guest in the village for a time." He informed Eol before bowing and leaving for his own tent. Eol's mind was too hazy from sleep to process the request and he went straight to his own tent where Elpina was laying on his bed that had been made for him directly beside Eol's Eol took off his sword set it close at hand to his bed and he collapsed beside Elpina sleep quickly taking him as he dreamed of far off lands with maiden's dancing and music playing. He slept on late into the afteernoon of the next day. He was awoken by one of Lord Bruiven's soldiers. "Sir?" The soldier asked. "Lord Bruiven awaits you in his tent" He continued. Eol groaned as he changed into some dark purple robes and strapped on his sword belt. He went around the camp first to check on his soldiers before going to the elf lord's tent. "Ah Eol so glad you came so quickly..I have someone here that you should have met in your visit to the village" Lord Bruiven greeted gesturing towards a white clad elf in the corner.  The elf stepped forward and immedietly her shining brown hair and warm brown eyes came into view aside her fair face (beautiful even among elf standards). "This is my daughter Keldri she was rather dissapointed she could not meet you in your visit" Lord Bruiven explained. Eol bowed to the elf maiden who returned the bow. "Greetings Eol king of the men commander of the legions as my father has said I am Keldri" Greeted the maiden. Eol was still fascinated with her beauty and when he realized what she was saying he sort of mumbled "uh huh mm" When he realized what he was doing he hastily apologized. "So sorry for that momentary mind lapse..Im Eol King of Applewyn" Keldri chuckled at how tongue tied this fierce fighter among men was. Eol's cheeks and ears turned red. She chuckled again. "Uh this camp isn't exactly suited for maiden's it is a war camp...Perhaps you would perfer my hospitality in my own city of Applewyn? Or perhaps my new city of Bridgebarrow?" Eol offered only slightly stuttering. Keldri looked to her father and they spoke rapidly in elvish before turning back to Eol. "I'd be delighted." She smiled. Eol excussed himself as he gave the order for everyone to break camp. He gave Instruction that the third legion a detachment of skirmishers and two units of cavalry would return to Bridgebarrow to garrison it. The elves would be returning home and the rest of the army would return to Applewyn. The process took several hours but eventually it could be seen with Eol riding beside Keldri with the cavalry forming a box formation around them and the legions bringing up the rear. Keldri and Eol chatted back and forth along the ride before they all had to make camp. Eol gave Keldri his tent and all the other comforts he could while he and his horse Elpina shared one of the soldier's tents. In the morning they continued the journey with Keldri riding beside Eol again surrounded by cavalry. Again they conversed back and forth along the ride. At the end of the day they had arrived in Applewyn and the legions were allowed to return to their homes. Eol gave his personal chambers to Keldri and took on of the lesser yet still grand rooms. Keldri admitted to one of the elven servants who had accompanied her that she was flattered that Eol was so gracious but wouldn't have minded a lesser room. Finally on Keldri's third day in Applewyn Eol went to the door of her chambers and knocked thrice on the door. The servant let him in and he found Keldri laying on the rail to the deck in a bright green dress. Eol went over to her and cleared his throat to get her attention. She turned to him with a smile on her face. "I know you are due to return home today...but I don't ever want you to leave Applewyn...I want you to stay as my queen and my bride." Eol explained to her nervously. At once she flung herself into his arms. "Of course I will marry you Eol I had hoped you would ask" She answered overjoyed. He swung her around the room in his arms as they shared their first kiss. "I shall arrange the greatest wedding in the history of Applewyn!" Eol exclaimed excitedly and he dashed off to send off couriers to all of his allies. He even called for Thileas so he could go personally to the Obsidian Mountains both to collect the armor he had ordered and to bring the dwarven king Pojark to Applewyn to attend his wedding. He also sent specifically for Therwalt and his other friends who had taken up residence as the Lords of Bridgebarrow excluding the dwarves who remained in their caves until Eol's summons came. Thileas waited in the courtyard outfitted with a new set of harnesses where two members of the King's Legions were strapped in and the supplies for the trip were strapped into giant saddlebags on the dragon's back. Eol scrambled up the tail and into the saddle where he strapped himself into the saddle and clung to the saddle pommel. The great dragon hurled himself into the air and the two legionaires clung desperately to their harnesses as the dragon swung his way towards the Obsidian mountain. As the hours passed the dragon and his passengers chatted back and forth. The couriers drew nearer to the city or village they were assigned to go to and more wedding plans were drawn up by the bride herself and her servant. At night the dragon mounted company would camp and the very next morning they would continue. In this stop and go journey they made the usual three week long journey in three days. The dwarves were alarmed at the landing of the dragon within their realm but once they saw Eol they relaxed and invited him and his men inside the mountain. Obviously Thileas waited outside. The three humans followed after their heavily armed dwarven escort to the throne room of dwarf king Pojark who sat quite proudly on his black marble throne. He was tall by dwarf standards. His eyes were a lighter shade of blue and both they and his face showed great wisdom. His beard and hair were long and snow white. His hair was ponytailed up into his golden jeweled crown, his beard tucked into his belt. He wore dark blue robes and across his lap lay a great warhammer. He greeted Eol kindly. "Welcome toe the mountain King Eol, I trust that you have come for your order?" Eol bowed his head to the proud dwarf before answering. "Among other things yes King Pojark" The dwarf stroked his beard thoughtfully before sending off a platoon of servants to fetch the dragon armor. "What else do you wish of my people or myself King Eol?" The king asked curiously. Eol chose his words with care before he answered. "I have come to personally invite you and transport you to the wedding of myself and the elf maiden Keldri all the lords, ladies, kings and queens of the land are invited" The dwarf stiffled a chuckle. This man was young and seemingly forgot the dwarves long standing mutual hatred with the dwarves. "Rather foolish to even do we dwarves have no wish to associate with elves so my answer is no and I will tolerate no pleading or arguements, take your order and leave King Eol" The dwarf king answered angrily. Eol wanted to argue but knew it was pointless. With help from some of the dwarven servants Eol and his men strapped Thileas' armor on for him then restrapped the harnesses and saddlebags into metal rings which the dwarves had worked into the armor for just this purpose. The humans were rushed back onto the dragon by the dwarf guards and Thileas immedietly threw himself into the air as soon as they were strapped into place. The soldiers now had handholds because they had been built into the armor along with slots for at least another four soldiers to hook into. The company flew on throughout the night that night since Thileas could easily see in the dark and they took an entire day off their journey in doing so. They stopped in a clearing in the afternoon of that next day so the humans could eat, Thileas could hunt and also so Thileas could rest his wings. An hour later they were back in the air and closing in on Applewyn. Most of the guests had arrived by this time only the elves of the west had yet to arrive since they had the farthest to travel. That night Eol had returned to Applewyn when he was shocked to see Therwalt standing there. Thileas let out a great cry. "Orpheus!" Thileas yelled. Eol was confused the dragon had just called Therwalt Orpheus. "No that is Therwalt the ranger and acting lord of Bridgebarrow." Eol explained. The dragon shook his great head. "No this is Orpheus my old friend, my former companion, hge has returned to his city!" The dragon exclaimed excitedly. Eol's face turned white with shock and Therwalt's face changed to a look of horror directed at the dragon. Eol's mind rapidly connected the dots. If Therwalt was this Orpheus and he was Thileas' former companion then that meant...... "No it can't be! You have the wrong person!" Eol exclaimed at the dragon but the dragon remained unshaken and kept repeating that Therwalt was indeed Orpheus. Therwalt finally stepped in to explain. "Eol what Thileas says is correct I am Orpheus not Therwalt... I am the former king of Applewyn..I am Thileas' former companion..And I am also your father" Eol was in absolute total shock. The man he had embraced as his friend and closest adviser was actually his father. His mind went completely blank and he stood dumbfounded as the gread dragon kept nuzzling his head into Orpheus as he was now known to be as if he was a dog returned to his master. "I suppose you have much to ask me and you have the right to know everything, so let's go into the castle and talk there" Orpheus directed the still dumbfounded Eol who numbly followed after his newly returned father who led him up to Eol's own chambers. Luckily Keldri was busy in the kitchens talking with the castle's chefs. "I apologize for not telling you the truth about me but I had to assume a new identity after the fall of Applewyn else certain enemies would find and kill me. You have never met me as your father your mother gave you to the villagers near the woods when you were born so you could grow up strong and wise. The original inhabitants of Applewyn you, I, even the people who you led here who were originally from Applewyn all have elvish blood extending their lifespan nearly indefinitely." Orpheus began to explain as Eol just soaked in all this information. And so on went the conversation long into the night as Orpheus answered all Eol's questions before Eol even thought them. When Keldri came in she immedietly knew who exactly Orpheus was so she just snuggled up to her fiancee. Then the talk switched to the wedding which was brought up of course by Keldri. She was explaining how the ceremony would work to Orpheus and also explained that Orpheus was meant to be Eol's best man. Her father would of course giver her away and her servant Eleanor would be her matron of honor. Eol rather amusingly fell asleep almost as soon as she started talking. Finally Orpheus retired to his own chambers and allowed the couple some sleep. Eol slept through most of the following day where Keldri was up and scampering around the castle finalizing the plans. When Eol did awake he slipped into his grey ribes and slipped on his sword belt and went off to his generals to attend to the matter of pay for the army. If Eol had known about what was gathering far off to the south in the Shadow Hills he would be scurrying off to gather the army.. But that comes later in the tale. Finally the elves of the west arrived with Lord Bruiven and the wedding would take place in two days hence. The day did finally come as those last two days passed by Eol as if he was in a dream world. The high ranking officials, lords and ladies of the land stood in rows in the center of town. There were rows of soldiers from the two King's Legions. The elven lord from Revenwil Lord Arsion stood in the center of the courtyard since he was to be the priest. The music started up as Eol waited for his bride Orpheus by his side. Eol looked rather splendid in the gold trimmed red robes he wore. Lord Bruiven in his usual whoite robes led Keldri arm and arm up to Eol. She wore a brilliant grassy green gown and a white veil upon her head. Lord Bruiven placed Keldri's hands into Eol's and clapped him on the back as he went to stand among the crowd. Lord Arsion spoke in a voice unnaturally loud for an elf. "Ladies and gentleman, elves,men and dwarves. We are gathered here today to witness the joining of Keldri of the western wood elves and King Eol of Applewyn" He called out. The crowd silenced. Lord Arsion turned to Eol. "Eol do you take Keldri as your lawfully wedded wife and promise to love and protect her until your dieing day?" Eol smiled as he answered. "Ido" Lord Arsion turned to Keldri. "Do you Lady Keldri of the wood elves take King Eol as your lawfully wedded husband to love and support for the rest of your elven life?" Keldri smiled underneath the vei. "I do" Lord Arsion then looked at Eleanor and Orpheus respectively. "Bring forth the rings" He instructed. Orpheus handed Eol his ring for Keldri and clapped him on the back will Eleanor handed Keldri her ring for Eol. The couple slipped eachother's rings on saying "with these rings I bind myself to you" Lord Arsion smiled as he got to the end of the service. "Then by the power invested in me by the elves of Revenwil I now pronounce you husband and wife. Eol you may now kiss your bride" Lord Arsion announced. Eol lifted the veil off Keldri's face and quite happily kissed her. There was a roar of congratulations from the crowd as the happy couple kissed. There was much feasting and dancing that night to celebrate the unlikely joining.