“You would bow before your creators and humble yourselves because you are the created. And yet you will not bow before the leader your creators have given to you?” Cassie was surprised to hear that the voice that carried out over the crowd was three separate voices, speaking in perfect unison.

“Should we remind you of your own wicked ways? Should we outline the shortcomings of each person assembled here today? Or would you rather we forgave your insolence and loved you despite your flaws? There is an evil that is rising, a darkness that seeks to destroy anything good and pure. We have chosen Triktapic, just as we did in the beginning, to shepherd, lead, love, care for, and protect our creation—you, the Elfin race. His faults are many and his sins as numerous as the stars in the sky, but he is ours and we have humbled him and chosen to exalt him because you will need him. You will need his strength, his stubborn tenacity, and quick intelligence. You will need his queen, the woman we have given to him as his Chosen. You will need her love, her compassion, and strength of character. For before the end, you will be tested beyond what you think you can bear. Hear us now! Stand fast. Do not give in and do not let evil have a foothold. Let go of any ill will you hold in your heart and choose to move forward. Because if you do not, you will perish and your enemies will triumph.” The Forest Lords turned and faced Cassie and Trik and she felt the full force of their light. Her knees bent of their own accord and she knelt beside Trik, who also had fallen to his knees.

“Triktapic, you have done well. Continue on in your pursuit and crush your enemy before he can destroy humankind. Cassandra, be strong and know that you were created for great things. Triktapic will need you and you will need him. Do not let anything come between you. We bless your union and you will be fruitful in time and we will be with you and your offspring. We have chosen you both, two souls united at last to save two races. Hail King Triktapic and Queen Cassandra!” Their voices filled the courtyard and a roar of approval went up as the Forest Lords vanished before their eyes.

Trik pulled Cassie to her feet and looked out at the people, his people. There were so many things in their faces, but the one universal thing he saw was hope.

“I am not worthy to be your king,” he told them. “But I will strive to be. I will never again walk away from the duty given me, and I will never again tolerate darkness to reign in my heart or the heart of our race.” The crowd cheered and Trik felt his heart swell. “The Forest Lords have told you that a great evil is coming, and I’m here to tell you that it is already here knocking on our door. Lorsan, the dark-elf king, has grown so power hungry that he seeks to enslave the human race through a drug called Rapture. He is already dispensing it through the casinos he owns in the human realm and already lives are being destroyed. He has also somehow blocked the portals so that there is no way for us to get to the human realm. King Tamsin and I have been attempting to come up with a plan for how to move forward, and we agree on at least one thing—we cannot sit and wait for Lorsan to make the next move. We must attack. We must be offensive if we wish to win this war and that is exactly what it is—a war.” Trik paused and looked over to Tamsin who gave him a slight nod.

“Any of you who can fight, you are needed. Any of you who can make weapons, you are needed. Any of you who are breathing…” A soft chuckled rippled through the crowd. “You are needed.” He looked into their faces, making eye contact with many of his people, imploring them with his spirit to stand up for their rights and freedom.

“I will fight.” A tall male elf stepped forward and looked up at them. His eyes met Cassie’s and he bowed his head. “My Queen, I give you my fealty. I pledge you my loyalty.” He turned then to Trik and bowed his head and repeated the words to him. Trik nodded to him and reached down to grasp his forearm in a warrior’s handshake.

“Thank you, brother,” Trik told him and he hoped he conveyed just how much he meant it.

Cassie didn’t know how long they stood there as one after another the light elves pledged themselves to the king and queen. She was slightly overwhelmed as she reminded herself that she was the queen that they were bowing before, and that thought brought on a whole new set of worries as she considered the responsibility that she would now hold. A few months ago all I had to manage was to get to class on time, she thought as yet another person knelt before her, and I had trouble with that. Now I have to figure out a way to save two races of people and destroy an evil elf king? Piece of cake, she snorted to herself and then bit her lip when Trik looked at her from the corner of his eye.

She reached over and took his hand and wanted to sigh at the comfort the touch brought her.

“Sorry, just having a mini freak-out moment,” she told him. Her favorite smirk twitched at his lips and she suddenly wished that they weren’t standing before the light-elf race. Could she be any more inappropriate? she wondered.

“I could help you with that,” Trik’s velvet voice caressed her insides and she had to release his hand to get him out of her head. She let out a deep breath and smiled at the woman who stood up after just having pledged her loyalty. Cassie nodded to her and shook her hand and then realized that she was the last one. She wondered if it would be totally shameless of her to do a happy dance, and then decided, yes, yes it would.

“Thank you,” Trik told the crowd. “You humble me with your words and your willingness to put your lives on the line. We will begin training tomorrow morning. All those going into battle please meet here at dawn. Syndra will be in charge of the construction of weapons, so all those who will be assisting her will meet in the great hall.”