Moonlight began to flood the passageways of Fretans palace as Elsie and Henrick followed the stream of wounded into the ward. After Elsie’s discovery, both had stayed close with the mysterious visitor, but they were soon pushed away from him after they entered the room, doctors, and nurses taking priority over their interest. 

“Who do you think he is?” Elsie pondered as she and Henrick wandered around the edge of the room. 

“Couldn't say, elves rarely leave their territory in Esalta, they prefer to limit contact with humans.” 

“Do they only come in emergencies?” Elsie asked, noticing a few other beings with similar greenish tones like the elf they were staring at. 

“Not usually,” Henrick said, a calm but still unsettled look on his face. “The last time that they were here was a few years ago, when they drafted a treaty with us in peace, acting like they wanted nothing to do with us the entire time.” Henrick became lost in thought as he remembered that day, Elsie listening in interest. “Vira had just been crowned Queen, and I remember her being terrified of having to host dignitaries, and in the middle of a war at that. She fussed around for days, making sure that uniforms were ready, and food was made perfectly. There was one time…” he chuckled, remembering a funny moment. “There was one time, she got so stressed out because she wanted to greet the elves in their native tongue, and when she was practicing, she accidentally called me a punting tuba cat!” 

The pair giggled for a minute as they made their way, through the ward, coming up on Max’s bed. Elsie smiled lightly as they paused for a minute to grain their composure. “Sounds like you guys have had some fun times.” She said, earning a sad smile back from Henrick. 

“Yeah, we have…” Henrick’s expression darkened again. “But, that was a long time ago. I can’t remember the last time we had a moment like that.” The brief moment of lightheartedness was again replaced by gloom, as they took one last look over by the young elf before he was covered by ward staff. 

“Hey you two, what’s this all about?” A voice called out through the ward. Elsie and Henrick turned to see Max walking towards them. A bandage covered his shoulder where he had been hit, but otherwise, he seemed quite happy carrying a small cluster of bottled liquids in his uninjured arm. 

“Max, what are you doing out of bed,” Elsie said, a little worried to see her brother up and about. “Shouldn't you be resting?”

“Oh, I'm fine now!” Max replied cheerfully. “The nurses gave me some medicine and before you know it, the wound is closing! I mean, technology like this is decades away from discovery in our world, but they use it like it was aspirin! This opens up so many experiments…” Elsie felt herself smile slightly as her brother muttered away. It was nice to see him happy after everything he had gone through in the course of a single day, and while she was still apprehensive about everything, seeing Max happy was enough for the moment. 

“So what are you up to then?” Henrick asked, eying the various liquids sloshing around in their containers.

“Oh, this? Well, after I started moving around, I felt bad taking up space, so I asked if I could help, and so here I am.” Henrick gave a small smile. 

“That's very kind of you Max, thank you.” 

“It's not a bother, I just thought it would be best to help. Do something I'm good at.” Henrick smiled sadly, guilt washing over him as he stared at the brother and sister. By now, the ward had calmed down, new patients settled in, and doctors helping to ease ailments and injuries. Henrick took a moment to survey the wounded, listening to the faint groans that came from the ward. He looked back to the siblings in front of him; the two that he had dragged from their home, now smiling together as if nothing was wrong.

“Um, Elsie, can I talk to you, for a minute? Outside?” Henrick asked, clearly uncomfortable. Not waiting for a response, Henrick dragged Elsie out into the corridor, leaving Max to potter on with what he was doing. 

Henrick led Elsie down the hall a good distance, before stopping at a small alcove nestled into the stonework. “Look, Elsie,” Henrick said, nestling into the small but cozy space. “I’ve been thinking, and… Well, I believe it would be unwise of me to continue to hold you to our agreement. Elsie was quiet, as anger and confusion washed over her. “Elsie are you alright?” Henrick asked, watching the girl shake in front of him.

“You’ve got to be kidding me right?”

“Excuse me?” Henrick asked, hesitant of the question. Elsie raised her head enough that Henrick could see the anger once again bubbling inside of her. 

“Henrick, I have spent the afternoon dealing with you telling me that I have to fight. And after seeing everything that mordal has done first hand, I want to! But now everything is fine and I just have to go home?!” Henrick was stunned by Elsie’s confession. 

“You want to help now?”

“Yeah! Is there a problem with that!?”

“No no! Well… kind of, yes. I mean, why now? Why after hours of refusing, saying you have no part in this, do you finally change your mind to help?!” Elsie sat and pondered the question for a minute before silently getting up and heading towards the balcony of the passage. With the sun now gone, moonlight and stars flooded the sky, a swath of pale light illuminated Elsie as she gave her answer. 

“As I said, I spent all day, seeing the true power of destruction that a mordal could do. In the hospital, in the courtyard, the number of people I saw, near-death and fearing for their lives was more than I've ever seen. It was scary, and I was ready to go home. But Max said something before I came down to help you with the wounded. He said, “The least we can do is help in some way.” Well. This is how I want to help, I want to help you take down Mordal.

“Elsie are you sure?” Henrick said, joining her at the ledge. “Because I don't know if I can ensure your or Max’s safety at all times. Aron and I will do our best. But there is only so much we can do.” 

Henrick looked over at Elsie, seeing only determination in her eyes. He had felt what she was feeling so many times before, and now, it was time for that determination to succeed. After a moment he let out a reluctant sigh, before extending his hand, which Elsie received excitedly. “Alright, let's get started.”

The two rushed down the corridor, towards the direction of Viras chambers. “She will most definitely be in her chambers at this time of night!” Henrick explained bolting down the halls with a feverish pitch. “If we want to do this, then we need her to sign off. She can give us men, supplies, everything we need!” 

The pair reached Viras room, not bothering to knock before entering. The apartment was tastefully decorated, adorned with tapestries detaining the pasty of the kingdom. In the middle of the room, stood Vira and Aron speaking in hushed and worried voices. At the sound of the door, they bolted upright. 

“Vira!” Henrick proclaimed, raising Elsie's hand high in the air. “The young princess had agreed to help fulfill the prophecy! It is now time that we plan! We will gather the legions, prepare for battle! The end of Mordal’s reign is at hand!” After his proclamation, the room fell silent again, as the elder teens stared at the two ambitious children in front of them.  Vira was the first to break the silence. 

“What in the god’s names are you talking about?”