The Eldars

56

The eagles take turns setting down and getting rid of their loads. The Eldar work quickly to take the loads off the eagles so the next eagle will be able to land.

Humans and Vacar come to help move the supplies out of the way of the eagles. "Glad that you came as you did." Leear says coming up to Montani as she watches the unloading of the items.

"Yes, it seems that there will be some slight delay before the full force of Eldar will be here, but not much longer than originally intended."

"So there was no problem?" Leear asked confused.

Teondae and Mant both start snickering at Leear's words. Montani just looks at them and waits for them to calm themselves down. Once they did she turns back to Leear. "Only a bit of treason. The one that I threatened took it upon himself to change my orders and imprison my father. He ceased all preparations for war and even refused to allow my mother entrance into the council meetings."

Leear raises one eyebrow, and allows a slight smile to show, "How many pieces?" He directs this question to the men.

"Five. She gave him a traitors death by quartering and then severing the head. The maids complained about the blood since she did it in the council hall." Leear smile satisfied. Montani didn't disappoint. Traitors at this juncture are deadly not just to one people, but to them all.

"The dwarves?" Montani demands bringing Leear from his satisfied thoughts.

"Jewel returned two days ago with a score of fighters. She requests that you ask the eagles for further help in transporting the rest of their army and provisions. She says that they also have many weapons ready that they will be bringing as their extra. She apologizes for the lack of support earlier and hopes that the weapons will help us prepare."

"It will. What are the dwarves doing that are here?"

"They are what do they call it? Engineers, I believe she called them. They are designing weapons and other defenses. They are working closely with the Vacar leaders." Leear reports and he becomes far more excited about this. "They even know how to make the explosive things that the human Jax was talking about. They brought some with them and are making more. They are showing the humans how to make it as well."

"Well for once something is going right." Montani mumbles to herself.

"About half of the remaining dwarves have committed to this fight." Leear says bringing Montani out of her thoughts. "You mean besides the women and children?" Montani had hoped that more would be willing to fight.

"Nope. Half of the remaining dwarven people. Just the very young and very old are remaining behind. The older to raise and teach the younger. All their able bodied men and women will be there unless the female is pregnant." Leear says enjoying the shocked look. The elven females fight but as archer's. The dwarves don't do archers.

"They let their women into melee combat?" It's Mant that raises the shocked voice this time.

"Yep, and from what Jewel says, the females are some of the nastiest fighters. After the great war the women informed the remaining men that they are learning combat. Someone had to protect them since not enough men remained to do everything they traditionally did. So the women threw out tradition and are now just as involved in all aspects of dwarven life as the men ever were and more since the men never learned the female portion." Leear still has his doubts about having the women fight, but it's not his say on who fights for a different race. Besides they need all the fighters they can get.

"Mant, talk to the eagles will you?" Montani says not looking at Mant but still staring at Leear.

"Done," Mant says, "They will be happy to bring the little ones over as long as they can fight the evil ones on the way over to collect them. Of course they won't once they have the little ones and their supplies to carry."

"Good. Why don't you and Teondae find out where we will be staying for the night and then inform Jewel that the eagles are willing and work out a schedule with her and the eagles." Montani says thoughtfully.

Mant nods and grabs Teondae and they head over to the village.

"What aren't you telling me, Leear?"

"The dwarven council wanted harder assurances than just a piece of paper to reassure them."

"What did they want then?" These are things Montani needs to know.

"They requested marriage either to myself or Teondae to Jewel."

"So I should warn Teondae?" Montani says unsure of what Leear's words mean.

"No, I accepted the terms. Jewel and I will be wed by the end of the week."

"So one of the earth people will be marrying one of the sky people." Montani hadn't seen that coming. "And Jewel how did she take it?"

Leear shrugs his shoulder, "She hides her emotions almost as well as I saw you do when you first became Montani."

"It sounds like I had better talk to her then. And you Leear? How do you feel about it?"

"I was shocked at first. Ever since I thought I lost you to death I hadn't thought about remarrying. I have an heir so there was no real need. Since I have an heir it won't matter if I father a few bastards. You know how the elven people are."

"Yes, you rather enjoy being with each other far more freely than the rest of us." Montani's tone doesn't quite hide her feelings about that.

Leear laughs, "Oh, the other races enjoy it just as much they just hide their doings more."

"Yeah, okay."

"Any way I thought about her proposal and tried to think of a good reason to place her with Teondae and I couldn't find one. So I asked her which she preferred. She said it didn't matter, but that my people would likely accept her better than the Vacar would." Leear is confused about that because the Vacar from reports were welcomed open armed by her people.

"The Vacar were welcomed by her people, but Teondae says that his people prefer tall people. They are far more likely to marry one of you than a dwarf."

"Ahh, so prejudices are at play here. I see."

"How have your people taken to the news of their new crown princess?" Montani is curious.

"I think they would've preferred you but aren't too upset over Jewel. They are too busy with war preparations to think too much on it."

Montani looks up and smiles, "Jewel. How did you get the other Dwarves to agree to come?"

"I told them what you said and then how you were when you were going after your adopted people because they haven't mobilized yet. They didn't wish to have you come after them. What happened anyway?" Jewel comes over to the two and asks. She's unsure of her welcome.

Montani watches with satisfaction as Leear pulls Jewel closer to him and rests his arm about her.

"I got there and the one that I threatened before I left," Jewel nods to show that she remembered. "He had taken over and imprisoned Mauntie and stopped the preparations. I took over control of the council freed my father and had the traitor killed. Then I and the others organized the mobilization of the Eldar. As you see we are using the eagles.

"Has Mant talked to you yet?"

"Yeah, the first of the Dwarven troops will be here tomorrow."

"Good." Is all Montani says as the last of the eagles is unloaded and the supplies taken to store houses in the village. "I believe it's time for dinner."

The three turn and leave the clearing. A clearing created ten years ago by the burning of a house and barn.