Wanderer

31 - A Question of Time

"So." Erenion says, palms on the table. "It's been a year."

We're informally set up in Erenion's study; Rian, Amros, Indis, Daeron, Elrond and I. Erenion kneels before his coffee table with an assortment of papers spread before him. We are sitting, kneeling, or in Amros' case, sprawled, on the floor around Erenion.

"No sign of Valthalion," Daeron observes in his deep voice.

Erenion smiles grimly. "Don't say that yet, Dae."

Amros moves out of the path of the window save an errant weapon fall though it if Valthalion shows.

Erenion barely glances his way. "Very good. Now. There isn't an imminent threat yet. However, the Optimum branch has confirmed that the Dark Lords have indeed assembled an army and are waiting just inside the borders of the Dark Lands."

"What for?" asks Amros from his flattened postition.

"For Jade!" Dae answers. "You're not invested in Elrond, are you? Or are you playing with him?"

"You've no idea." Elrond says. "Not in the way you think, though."

The room erupts into laughter. My cheeks flame. Daeron guessed when he came to alert us of the meeting. Of course he did. 

"Anyways," Erenion says over the din. "Jade, you are a flirt. As your father would say, we're not addressing the question. We are exactly elves 20,000 short of matching the Dark Lords' army."

"30,000?" wonders Daeron aloud. "How'd he manage that?"

"Somehow," says Erenion, annoyed with the interruptions, "evidently. Now the question that lays before us is..."

"Who to recruit." The words are out before I can stop them.

Erenion looks at me with raised eyebrows. "No kidding. Yes. Do you know?"

My mind wanders, to a land of wide plains and riders with long plumes of horsehair in their helmets. And my father, of course.

"The Edain." I say. 

"How many?"

I don't know. Daeron does, though. "They have a population of about....40,000, I'd say, without the women and children."

"Will they come?"

"They'd better," Rian speaks up. "Valthalion and the Dark One won't spare them."

"Diplomatic mission to leave immediately. Let me compose a letter to take with you. Oh, wait, my shorthand is horrible. I'll dictate. Amros, show some respect and let me dictate."

Erenion quickly outlines the terms of alliance. Amros writes them down equally quickly.

"Who's going, Majesty?" Elrond questions.

"Why you, of course. And Daeron. And...they'd appreciate one good looking girl."

My heart jumps. Me. Me. Me.

No.

"Rian, you go too. Keep these boys in sight. Both of them. No individual time."

Rian makes a face at him. "Alright."

"Leave at once." Erenion orders. "The attack is coming sooner than later. Be back with the army by sunset tomorrow at the latest. If you can't, then I don't order you to come back, becasue we will be done for."

"Understood, majesty." Daeron says.

"You're the leader, Dae. Leave as soon as you possibly can. Remember that this is a time sensitive mission."

Daeron nods, then bows formally. Elrond and Amros and Rian rise, and follow him out the door. Indis and I look at each other. "Why?" I finally ask.

There seems to be a commotion in the hallway. Shouts, a scuffle, and a  deep, commanding voice rumbling though it all.

Erenion checks to see that his scouting party is gone.

Clash of metal on metal. A brutal beating on the door. Then it's ripped open.

"That's why," Erenion breathes.

Valthalion is dressed in his signature red and black silk, smiling at Erenion.  "Time's up."

"I don't have it." Erenion says calmly. He rises nonchalantly.

"The courier at the harbor was a decoy, wasn't it." Valthalion says softly. "We intercepted him, but found nothing."

He means Earendil! Oh, someone is definitely looking after us!

"Give it to me, Erenion." Valthalion is getting impatient. 

"I don't have it."

"Where is it then? I'll get it myself." The mockery is plain.

Two can play the game. "Save yourself the trouble. Ask in the morning."

Valthalion narrows his eyes. "Fine. Tomorrow."He smiles on me. I wish I wasn't on my knees. "Princess. Make sure he delivers."

"Oh, he will." I say, dead serious. "Erenion will deliver."

Valthalion has no idea.