I began to run. I ran, and ran, and ran, until I collapsed beneath the altar of The Goddess of Wisdom, Yaanaevahanda(Sanctuary of Understanding). I began to cry out into her, begging her for help, and the knowledge required to continue in the war. I cried out that she would send me my friends, because they would know what to do, or so I believed. I grabbed the dagger off of the altar, and cut my arm to give a blood sacrifice to her, but still there was no answer. Finally, I begged Yaanaevahanda, saying: "If you won't send me my friends or wisdom, at least send me one of your priestess's, please?"

Within seconds, an elderly looking elf woman was sitting beside me holding me while I wept. "What is wrong, my son? What crime have you committed to make you weep so vehemently?"

"Priestess, I am in a position where I, as General of Meneltarma, am responsible for the death of over eighty-nine thousand people. I made a mistake, and it cost our people's lives. I lost the command of over Mistaostirion, where many of our soldiers families live. I am uncertain to how to proceed. Do I still have the right to lead, with the mistake that I made? I failed in my position, and now people have died as a result." I had stopped weeping, and I looked at her for answers, but she shook her head.

"My son, I know there is good in you. The fact that you are uncertain of your qualifications to lead, shows you have the humility required to make you a good leader. You made a mistake, as all leaders do, but you did not fail. You try, and you fail, you try, and you fail, but the only true failure is when you stop trying. Even now there is hope left, Saironelloistya, but you have to decide whether or not to act upon that hope. You are a leader, sir, and a good one at that. You made a decision, but you were out tricked. Do not be ashamed of this lesson, but take it at its intended purpose, and learn from it. Think ahead, but do not think too far ahead, or you may miss the present. Oh, and one more thing." She said, standing up, and beginning to walk away.

"Yes, Priestess?" I replied, eager to return help to her in anyway I could.

She smiled mischievously, and turned back towards me. "I am not the Priestess." She turned and walked into the sunlight, disappearing into it, just as Aranellevanima and Saironellotoron ran in, showing both relief and concern upon both of their faces.

Saironellotoron said, "Saironelloistya, are you alright? We just received news of the Battle of Mistaostirion, and we began to search for you, before Aranellevanima said that you may seek out the Goddess of your blessing. Sorry it took us so long to find you."

Aranellevanima continued, but in a different light, saying, "Saironelloistya, what do you have planned?" Saironellotoron glared at her, and began to cast a transmutation spell on her, but I nodded to her grateful for the distraction, and he stopped.

I looked down, and thought for a moment, before stating: "Nimloth defeated 75,000 of our soldiers in a slaughter, all of whom were well trained, so she must have had a larger, or equal force to defeat them all. She also, by the nearest estimates, had an army of 120,000 soldiers total. In order to maintain such a slaughter, that Nardil could not stand against it, I would suspect that she sent a force of 100,000 at least, hoping to damage moral. This means that she left Elyanme guarded with no more than 20,000 men. We still have approximately 275,000 men left, so we will send 100,000 men to the Elyanme, and take over her base of operations. This will damage her moral, and she will have to attack us to strengthen the moral of her troops. Aranellevanima, please run and gather the council, then prepare your medical divisions to assault the Skybridge." She ran off to fulfill that which I ordered, and Saironellotoron smiled.

"I am glad you still believe in our cause, because I have almost lost faith in it. The betrayal of My Master, Heruevavista, was almost more than I could take. However, my master once taught me something, a phrase for when hope seems lost, that keeps me going. 'Even now, there is hope left' he would say, and I believed him, though I could not see it. Interesting isn't it? The only thing keeping me from defecting is the words of a defector." He laughed dryly, and said: "Even now, there is hope left, yet I do not see it."

I put a comforting hand on his shoulder, and said:"None of us can, Saironellotoron. However, just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there. I would rather act on a unseen hope, than remain still in certainty. All of life is a risk, but you must choose how to play your own decisions out. A risk not taken, is an opportunity wasted. Whether it is teachable moment, or a successful, and materially profitable reaction, all risks have a benefit, on both sides of the risk."

He nodded, and replied: "When did you trade in your childhood for a life of reason, and wisdom? You are truly one of the wisest beings that I know, and I am grateful for your service. I look forward to standing beside you in battle."

A page, who happened to be the same one I had been enchanted by while talking to Nimloth, ran up to me. He exclaimed: "Nimloth is outside the gate, with her entire army at her back, looking to negotiate, and waving a yellow banner." Without a word, Saironellotoron and I ran out to the top of the wall, where Aranellevanima was waiting for us.

She turned to us and said, "Do we ride out to meet her?"

Saironellotoron looked at me and asked, "Do we have a choice?"

I understood what they both meant by their questions, and I thought for a moment. Aranellevanima was trying to point out the risks involved, but Saironellotoron was correct, in that we had no choice. I turned to them and said:"I would be much obliged if the two of you would come with me." I turned and began to walk, hearing their footsteps behind me, and exhaled in relief, but none of us spoke until we reached the gate, when Aranellevanima broke the silence.

She said: "Let us agree that if anything should happen to one of us, the others will ride away. The Army of Meneltarma can not afford to lose all three of its Major Generals."

Saironellotoron objected for a moment, but I said "Yes, we must be logical. For consent purposes, if I die, Saironellotoron is to take command. Following his death, it will go to Aranellevanima, and following her's, command goes to General Nar-, General Laicaroquen. " I had forgotten about the death of General Nardil. Saironellotoron put a comforting hand on my shoulder, as Aranellevanima called for horses.

"Tonight my friend, we achieve victory for those lost, not just General Nardil, but every life ended by this war. We have been victorious, by your leadership, and by the sacrifice of the soldiers, and Generals. Please let us throw a festival tonight, to honour the brave, both living and dead?" Saironellotoron requested

I nodded and answered, "As long as I receive no more honour than any soldier, for I do not deserve anymore." He went to argue, realized it would lead no where, and conceded, as Aranellevanima walked up with the Horses, a white horse, a black horse, and a speckled grey horse. Aranellevanima mounted the white, I mounted the speckled grey horse, and Saironellotoron swung himself into the black horse. A apprentice wizard, who I didn't catch the name of, handed me a yellow banner. I thanked him, and rode towards the gate.

. . .

When we reached the tent, myself waving the yellow banner, Nimloth was already waiting. "You took your time." She said curtly, before turning and entering the tent.

As all three of us followed her, I responded, "My apologies, Councilor. It was not my intent to keep you waiting, but the work of a General is never over, I suppose, " converting to a formal prose.

Nimloth laughed and for a moment, fear filled my heart, but I sensed my friends behind me, and my emotional control returned. Nimloth noticed, and nodded, before saying, "Your friends make you strong. Interesting, it is exactly how I expected. Shall we talk? Or would you prefer my method?"

Aranellevanima must have felt curious, because despite my warning signal, because she asked: "What is your method?"

Nimloth gave her signature smile, and whispered something, before facing Saironellotoron and winking at him. I looked at Saironellotoron and gave the warning signal, but he was caught in Nimloth's enchantment snare. "No! " I shouted, before her guards restrained me. I caught a glance at Aranellevanima, and she was just muttering, with her hands splayed at the ground. I shouted at her, "Do something!" I have always trusted my friends, but the look in Aranellevanima's eyes when she looked up at me, showed little fear, and more determination. I looked away, when I had nothing to return, and saw a small brownish-white object on the ground moving, and realized what it was.

Nimloth cried out, "Stop H--" immediately before being attacked by a reanimated corpse, from the nearby graveyard. She cast "Narelanor" meaning "fire sun-star, " and a small star appeared in the tent, as Aranellevanima ran out, and I grabbed Saironellotoron before following her. Within seconds the entire tent was in flames, and Nimloth was missing.

"How did she cast that?" Saironellotoron choked out, freed from her enchantment by her usage of a different spell, and more confused and irate than he would admit.

"She must be using the Amulet, to cast spell of a different school." I responded, trying not to choke on the smoke, and failing, before noticing something strange. "Her army is gone!"

Aranellevanima, who had made it out of the fire first, replied, "It must have been an illusion, made to trap us, but how would she escape so close to Meneltarma?"

I looked around, curious to where she could be, as we were in a relatively flat area, with some hills to the north, and a river to the east and south. I looked west, and said, "i suppose she went west." I turned and walked back to the horses, and mounted my horse.

Saironellotoron and Aranellevanima followed, and mounted their horses as well. "What now? Do we continue our plans to attack The Skybridge?" Aranellevanima asked, seeing from the look in my eyes I was thinking tactically.

"I am afraid not, Aranellevanima. Nimloth would not have come this close alone, certainly not without an army at her back. I believe she has her army with her, and is planning an attack, on Meneltarma. She has already taken Mistaostirion, and now has the confidence to attack us at our home." We entered the Gate of Meneltarma, and I shouted the order, "Prepare for Battle. Bow Armory!" I turned to my companions, and said "Aranellevanima, Please to inform the council of the imminent attack. Saironellotoron, please have the guards seal the Gates, and then both of you meet me on top of the wall. General Laicaroquen will have command of our knights, and i will maintain our archers on the wall. We have just over 100,000 soldiers total, and she will have just over 110,000, but we have the high ground, and we are fortified, so we should have the advantage. With the gates sealed, she won't be able to enter through them. Go quickly, please."

As they ran off, a scout came up to me, and said,"Sir, Nimloth's army is now within view. Shall we attack?"

"No" I said, climbing off my horse, and walking to the top of the wall. "Hold your ground, and defend the walls. Attacking would spread your forces too thin, to effectively defend the city." I looked off of the wall, as Aranellevanima walked up.

She sat down on the wall and said, "The council has been informed, but Heruevahande has disappeared, and the Councilors fear another betrayal. What are you thinking?"

I smiled, and responded, "I am thinking that our forces are relatively equal in this battle, but defensive barriers and walls are our only hope. We cannot lose this Citadel, Aranellevanima. I really wish we could associate with each other during this battle, but unfortunately, I need you in the medical tent. It is a conflict of me wanting to keep you and Saironellotoron safe, and making sure you do what needs to be done."

Aranellevanima laughed, throwing back her hair and retorted, "At least you get to hang out with Saironellotoron up here on the wall, but I have to hang out with a bunch of wizard doctors. Do not feel conflicted, Saironelloistya, I am well aware of what I must do." As she stood up, and began to get down off the wall, she concluded, "I'll see you after the battle." With that she hopped away towards her position, and I lost sight of her. 

I closed my eyes and meditated for a little bit, before I felt like someone was nearby, and I opened my eyes and saw Saironellotoron looking over the Battlements.  "Saironellotoron, you are aware that you are positioned on top of the wall with me, correct? You will be in charge of Divisions 40-50, and I am in charge of Divisions 1-20, so we will be right next to each other."

"I look forward to battling alongside my brother, Saironelloistya. Together You, Aranellevanima and I are an unbeatable combination, against which no force can stand. We shall defeat Nimloth, and the traitorous councilors, and restore this land to the peace we lived in before the war commenced."

I looked down, hating this war, but strengthened by the earnest feeling in his words. "Do you really think things can go back to the way they were? Saironellotoron, so much has changed, with the councilors betraying the people of Meneltarma, regardless of their reasons, just over half of the council is gone, with Nimloth, Heruevahande, and Heruevavista being traitors, Heruellonarynen being imprisoned, and Toqohinmunta's death, five of the nine councilors are incapacitated. We are missing over half of our government, leaving only four left, which is a drastic change."

Saironellotoron put his hand on my shoulder, and answered "Saironelloistya, The world is changing, and we must be certain to move with it, but if we prepare to much for the future, we may miss our chance at redeeming the past's culture, which is not a hopeless endeavor. Do not lose faith mi mellonnolga(wise friend), Even now, there is hope left."

I smiled and said, "I believe it is time for a pre-battle speech, don't you? Call for order in the armies, the day has come."