The Older Earth

A duel, a message, a prophecy

"Dear me! What a repulsion! I see we don't only have Mystic magic here?"

"You!", shrieked Madam Hestia so loud that even Lord Seval raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, me! Or have I a face change spell put on me?"

It was then that Lord Seval finally realised who was standing on that blessed threshold. He warmly spread his hands and said,

"Oh Sir Midrir! Glad to see you after so long? Have a seat-"

"Seat? I will not even give this Elvish vermin a square unit of my floor! I've extended my capacity for guests just to you Lord Seval, I haven't allowed you to extend it further!"

"Not a problem!" , he said merrily and levitated himself a few feet off the ground. "You were saying Lord Seval?"

"Lord Seval won't be saying anything until I allow him to. This ball is over. All visitors and invitees, thank you for coming," she said crossly and forcefully shaped herself into a half hearted bow.

Everyone left in a scared scurry except a few, who Madam Hestia had to urge them out, physically and magically.

"I believe I had a message to deliver regarding your safety. But Madam Hestia, can we take just a few minutes to settle our differences and parley over this matter?", asked Sir Midrir.

"There will be no parleying or settling!"

"I'll need to forcefully do it then!", replied Sir Midrir also becoming cross.

When an elf is becoming cross with you, one would usually take a cautious step back, reason being they aren't easily provoked and moreover such a powerful one as the king himself is not to be taken lightly. But this step wasn't taken by Madam Hestia and they engaged into a duel fierce.

Madam Hestia took out her pearl wand and shot a jet of burning fire towards Sir Midrir. He was not taken aback however and flashed his disc reeling towards Madam Hestia that in the last moment turned into a shower of water and engulfed her into a bubble of water. Sir Midrir used his hands and directed this bubble all around the hall. Madam Hestia suddenly let herself free the water splashing all around the earthen floor and ignited the tip of her wand. She then recited an ancient spell that shot creepers out of thin air and directed them to entangle Sir Midrir in their unbreakable grasp. He struggled but the least he managed was surrounding a small ring of fire around her.

"Freezcus Loosus Drius Healus!!" , incanted Lord Seval banging his stick on the ground. His sparkling eyes had vanished replaced my disappointed and angry ones. The two were thrown to the sides. The vines and creepers dissapeared, the fire extinguished and the water splashed rid of.

"I thought you had a message to deliver, Sir Midrir?! A duel, bless me! You really saw the need of this? Madam Hestia? If your house was so precious to you then wouldn't you take a step ahead in not trying to burn it?" , he indicated towards a burnt table and chair due to her spell. " I really would have expected more! And you Sir Midrir, you do know the vast amounts of forests here? A fire here would burn it all down! You too! Madam Hestia if he was ready to settle differences why weren't you?

They both looked guilty but were fuming.

Lord Seval looked expectantly at Sir Midrir. "Yes?"

"Oh yes, my message..", he said, hastily pulling out a jar of navy liquid and resting it on a table. He then dipped an arrow into it and shot it in the air aimlessly. It reached a few inches below the chandelier and vanished into a puff of smoke that reached the floor. The smoke dissapeared leaving behind a few hundred small creatures.