Emerald sits and chats with Grazalla till Stout shows up.  “Good evening milady Emerald,” Stout greets.  Smiling Stout kisses his beloved wife and asks, “how have you been my love?”  Giggling Grazalla reply, “fine my darling how are you? Have you finished the dream yet?”  Stout frowns slightly, “no had finals this week remember?”  Remembering she smiles and give Stout a gentle kiss, “oh yeah well I think I will work a little more on it then and send you the file for the DL (dream language) next week then.”   Grinning widely at the kiss Stout nods and looks at Emerald, “so, where is your friend?”  Finding the to dwarves charming she replies, “he should be around anytime how it seem this is the time of day he come in.”
 

     Emerald hears a whisper from Zephyr, “Emerald milady?”  Smiling Emerald whispers back, “Zephyr, I’m in the tavern with Stout and Grazalla.”

     Not long after the whisper Zephyr walks into the tavern. Stepping up beside Emerald, the young elf greets,  “Good evening milady Emerald, Grazalla and Sir Stout,” the young elf greets.  Grazalla giggles softly and Stouts says, “greeting milord Zephyr how are you on this fine day?”   Zephyr smiles at Emerald and replies, “I’m very well.  May I ask the same of you all?”  Emerald smiles back answering his inquiry, “hello milord and I’m very well thank you.” Stout answering for the Grazalla also, “we are well, I think there is some dream discussing we need to do Grazalla so I think we should be off.”  Happily Grazalla agrees and they bid their farewells to the two elves.  Zephyr and Emerald nods and says farewell the their dwarves friends.

     Emerald finishes her wine and asks what adventure do Zephyr want to take her on today.  Smiling warmly, “would you like me to take you to the House of Lords or would you rather see some more dreams?”   Intrigued she says, “House of Lords please.”  The young handsome elf smiles and offers her his hand and helps her off the barstool.  Without hesitation she takes his hand and gently slips off the stool and onto the floor.

     They stroll out the door and head north towards the road past the shops.  The cobblestone road is wide enough for two wagons to pass each other.  On both sides of the road are dense thickets and under growth to the right of the road is the wooded area to the left a marshy area.  As they progress down the road the feeling of someone following them seems to come over Emerald she stops and looks behind her but doesn’t see anything.  “ What is wrong Emerald?” Zephyr asks.  Feeling a chill, Emerald pulls her cape closely around her shoulders.  Shaking her head, “nothing just my imagination.”   Zephyr looks back down the road and then at the beautiful gray elf sliding his arm around her they proceed on down toward a ferry dock.  Not far from the dock is a small stone building with one door.  There is a sign on the door that reads TO THE LAND OF DREAM.

     The ferryman is an old hunched over human with white hair and weathered looking hands and wrinkled face.  He is wearing an old weather beaten black hooded cloak and dark clothing.  Emerald feels a chill and huddles next to Zephyr for warm.  Putting her arm around the little Gray elf he helps her onto the ferry and holds her tightly as they move across the water.  The boat glides into a mist that surrounds the island.

     Breaking through the mist reach the other side, Zephyr helps Emerald off the boat and onto the landing site. The Island is small and there is a road two wagons wide on this side with marsh swaps on either side for a ways.  Then the marsh turns into thickets and woods.  Emerald can’t shake the uneasy feeling as they proceed down the road.

     About a mile in she sees a massive stone wall with a large barred gate in the center crossing the road the gate is open.  Emerald paused a moment, looking up at her companion for reassurance, they move on into the stone enclosure.   In the center there is a large detailed fountain with statues of the four races on it. Around the fountain are benches.  The fountain area is circular with the same massive stone walls encircles it.  There are four great iron gates large enough for a wagon to enter place equally spaced within the wall.  On each gate there is a shield done in ironwork with a coat of arms on it.

     Emerald notices there are notches cut into the stone walls.  As she looks, she can see arrows sticking out of the slots. Tugging on Zephyr’s shirtsleeve she whispers, “there are arrows pointing at us.”   Whispering back slowly, Zephyr raises his head and looks at the slits in the stone fortification, “you sure.”

     Just as Emerald was about to nod, they hear a voice from the wall next to the humans gate, “what is your business here?”  Glancing at Emerald amazed that she could see that Zephyr answers politely, “Milady Emerald is new to this land and wanted to see the island.”  The sound of people moving around on the parapet is hear then the voice reply, “very well you have seen it now leave.”

     Holding the beautiful Emerald near him he escorts her back out of the circle and onto the road to the ferry dock.   Emerald glances up at Zephyr not knowing whether to laugh or be terrified.  Zephyr smiles reassuringly at her.

     They get about half way to the dock when out of the bush steps Rogue Black and one of his clan’s men.  “So we meet again?” Rogue says with a slight amusement.  Emerald turn to go back to the courtyard and see behind them two more of Rogue’s clan’s man all dressed in black with crimson red bracers.  “So magic man lets see you work your magic out of this one.”  Zephyr waves his and casts @shield around Emerald and himself.  Then summons his staff, it appears in his hand.  Emerald moves tightly against Zephyr.  Moving one hand around her back Zephyr casts @Lighting Bolt at one of the clan’s man behind them. Striking him in the shoulder knocking him backward into the brush.

     The man standing next to Rogue cast a spell breaking the shield spell-allowing Rogue to grab Emerald’s arm.  Turns and tries to pull away Zephyr striking Rogue with his staff causing him to release the little gray elf.  Rogue growls and nods at the clansman behind the two elves.  Zephyr feels a burning in his side as he looks down he see that a dagger in imbedded deep into his side.  Grabbing at the dagger, he pulls it out.  Emerald seeing the blood tries not to pass out.  Seizing his chance Rogue grabs Emerald again. This time moving her out of Zephyr’s reaches.

     Hissing and holding his side he tries casting another @Lighting Bolt spell at Rogue but the lost of blood reduces the effect of the spell and it barely stings him. The dark figure laughs at the attempt and bodily picks up Emerald and carries her to the Ferry boat while the other two clansman keep Zephyr at bay.

     Struggling with her capture she loses sight of Zephyr as the one eyed human throws her into the ferry.  The three clan’s men are quick to follow on board.  Emerald sees Zephyr staggering over the hill as the ferry is launched out into the canal.  Zephyr whispers to Emerald, “please F1 I can’t help you now.”

      Emeralds watching the land get farther away whispers back in a whimper, “you don’t understand I can’t use those commands.  Oh God . . . please help me some how please . . . ”

     Angry with himself and confused by the fact she can’t use the command sighs with irritation, he whispers in return, “I’ll do what I can.”

      With that he F1 back to start. Falling over Tholin as he starts to run back to the ferry dock, still bleeding profusely.

     Tholin looks at the elf and the name seems familiar to him remembering it is Emeralds friend.   Tholin inquire if Zephyr has seen Emerald.  Holding his side and nodding to Tholin, “yes, I took her to the island of the House of Lords and we were ambushed by Rogue Black and three of his clans men.”

     Tholin curiously asks the younger elf, “did you tell her to F1?”  Zephyr nods yes.   As he leans over and cast a heal spell to stop the bleeding.  Confused Tholin asks, “why didn’t she?”

     Angry at all these questions from this stranger Zephyr snaps, “ she said she couldn’t use those commands.  I don’t know why! I got to get to the dock and retrieve her before they can get her to the Land of Dreams transport.”

     Tholin tells Zephyr to stay there and rest he well go and get her back.  Growling Zephyr gets up and falls back over as Tholin runs to the dock.  Getting there just as Rogue carrying the frightened Emerald into the portal.

      Following them into the portal he seems to alway is one step behind them.  Whispering to Emerald Tholin tells her to F1.  She responds back, “I can’t use those commands they are not in this system.”  Race for the dream that the group disappears in he whispers to Zephyr, “she is in dream of Rogue black if I remember right it is a tough one to get into.”  Zephyr whispers that he is on his way.  Stepping through the gate into the garden, he makes his way to the cottage in the rear of the garden.

     The garden is typical of most the dream so is the cottage a small white wooden structure with black shudders on the small windows and a plain wooden door.  Tholin races into the cottage seeing it vacanant.  The room is again typical with a few pillows throw here and they’re a small table in the kitchen area.

     Going straight to the stairs manuvering down them quickly he makes it to the bottom, fling the door at the bottom open just in time to see the other door close. Rushing the door as it clicks locked.  Cursing he looks up wondering if he can fly over the wall. Tholin’s hands rise up and take off his cloak so his wings are free to move and begin to flap them.

     Just as he is about to lift off the ground Zephyr comes half tumbling down the stairs in his hurry to get to Emerald.  Breaking Tholins concentration causing him to land again. Turning quickly with some irritation Tholin informs the younger elf that he is going to fly over and unlock the door. Zephyr nods and watches that as the gray elf again takes flight over the wall landing lightly on the other side he hears Emerald screams.  Tholin quickly whispers to her that they are on their way.

     Zephyr hearing a blood-curdling scream slams his shoulder into the door as Tholin unlockes it knocking both men to the ground.  Tholin letting out a string of curses as he pushes the larger elf off him.  Untangling themselves from each other. The two elves get up.  Beyond the entry enclosure a fortress wall. There is a moat across the front and a heavy wooden drawbridge that was retracted up against the wall.  There are high battlements and with archer slits just below them.  The two elves look at each other then at the wall.  Tholin says to Zephyr, “I’ll see if I can fly over and drop the drawbridge for you.”  Zephyr nodding and doing a F4 sees that there are 7 players on the map: Emerald, Rogue Black, Mentor, Tibis, Blood Bath, Zephyr, Tholin T’equenduis.   “Looks like it is going to be two against 4 my friend,” the younger larger elf informs the smaller gray elf.

     Tholin acknowledges the information and says, “hopefully we will have brains to over ride their brawn.”  Zephyr gives the Gray elf a smile of encouragement, “good luck, my friend.”  Sighs and grins back as they hear another scream.  Both the elves look in the direction of the scream.  Tholin responds, “I’ll need it.”

     Flying up over the battlement and landing on the parapet he looks down into a courtyard.  There is a small building to one side of the drawbridge that he takes to be the gatekeeper’s station.  In the center is a jousting area. At the far side is a Keep made of large cut stone. There are four towers in the corners of the square building.  On the right of the courtyard is a stable and blacksmith on the left an armory.

     Tholin moves quickly into the gatekeeper’s station and pulls the latch holding the drawbridge up.  With a loud crash the drawbridge is dropped across the moat.  Zephyr starts across the bridge just as it starts to raise again running and looking at Tholin, he just makes it to the other side before the bridge closes.

     The two elves stop and look at each other for a moment wondering what here next move should be.  Hearing the scream that sounded like it was coming from the left front tower of the keep they both races to the stone building.

     Getting to the front door it is locked tight and there doesn’t appear to be anyway to fly into the Keep to unlock it.  Lightly pushing Tholin aside Zephyr summons his staff and cast a @ Break Lock spell on the door.  With a soft pop the door creaks open.  Tholin pushing the door the rest of the way opens the step into a larger anti- room the floors made of slate. There is a large archway to the right and another to the left ahead is a slit stairway with a small door in the middle on the walls are brass torch holders with lit torches in it.

      The pair dash throw the left arch way and are met by two of the clansmen. The room is empty of furnishing. In unison the Tholin and Zephyr demand, “where is she?”  The two clansmen just laugh one launching a @Fireball Spell at the two.

     Zephyr diving to the right and Tholin diving to the left they only get minor burns form the spell. Zephar quickly pointing his staff and cast @Fireball spell back at the Black Breech Mage.  Striking him in the midsection. Setting his clothes on fire.  The Mage falls to the floor and rolls to but the fire out as he screams in pain from the Fireballs impacted.

     Tholin takes his flute and plays some notes casting @Ice Dagger just missing the other human. Feeling out numbered he flees up a flight of stone stairs in the far-left corner of the room.  Following close behind the fleeing human the two elves follow up the winding stairs.

     Reaching the top of the stairs they find themselves on a small landing with a door directly ahead of them the door slams shut just as Tholin reaches the top step.  Standing on the landing panting the to elves look at each through.  “Looks like she has to be through that door,” Zephyr says panting as they try and catch their breath.

     Looking at each other Zephyr hit the door repeatedly with his strong shoulder.  He can hear Emerald begging Rogue to stop.  Putting all his weight into the door it finally gives way.