Matthew and Peter followed the guard through the long corridor. The more they neared their destination the louder the voices became. Matthew saw the soldier come to a halt in front of a huge set of doors and touch the doorknob. He opened the doors that creaked and stepped aside to let them move inside.

Matthew beckoned her to go first and then entered the room himself. From what he could gather, the space served as a meeting room. With only ceiling-to-floor windows to let the moonlight in and a dozen of lit candles all around the room, he had to wait for his eyes to adjust to the dark.

'...without me knowing?' the king's voice resonated in the quiet.

Matthew could slowly make out figures in the gloom. The king was standing behind a desk, facing the three elves who had dared to stroll so confidently in the city. Their hands were bound by shackles behind their backs, but he doubted they posed any threat to their freeing themselves. It was more likely that the guards standing in every corner might have been serving that purpose.

'Desperate times call for desperate measures,' Matthew heard the old man say.

'We come in peace,' another elf spoke. 'We mean no disrespect.'

The king scoffed at their answer and turned to look at the two of them.

'My lord,' Peter bowed, and Matthew mimicked her action.

'I asked for evidence, not some old elves strolling into the city!'

'I thought you would want to hear what they have to say.'

The king pursed his lips in anger and directed his attention back to the elders. 'If they can prove their innocence, I will spare them.'

The elves, knowing that everything was hanging by a thread, hesitated to speak. Matthew didn't know how long they had been negotiating and worried that it would be more difficult to persuade the king after all.

'That powerful elf coming to destroy us is not a member of our people. We don't know who he is yet, but it is certain that he is not one of us,' one of them finally said. His skin was pale, and his hair covered his back in thick braids.

'Our people have banned the use of black magic. No elf knows how to use such magic. It has been forbidden for centuries,' the second elf added. She was a tall old woman with deep lines around her eyes that gave away her advanced age. She exuded power and wisdom. 'Your enemy is our enemy. After your realm, ours will be his next target. We realise this and we have decided to stand by you.'

'How generous of you. And how do you plan to do that?' the king lifted an eyebrow.

'We will fight by your side. Against him. We are willing to put our past behind us if that is what it takes to defeat him.'

'As happy as I'd be to believe you, your words do not prove anything. As far as I can tell, you could seize upon our fear of attack and take over the city.'

'He is all the evidence you need,' the old man suddenly said and pointed at Peter.

Matthew gulped in nervousness and looked at her. She stood unmoving, her face not revealing the slightest emotion, as if she wore a mask of impassiveness.

'Oh, yes. Of course!' the king said mockingly. 'Why didn't I think about this sooner?' The king shook his head. It was clear he still didn't believe them even at the slightest. 'Guards!' he thundered. 'Take them to the dungeons! I'm done hearing lies.'

The guards immediately obeyed his orders and went to seize them. Their armour rang in their ears as they carefully drew closer, their eyes alert but nervous. Matthew opened his mouth to speak, to make them see some sense at last, but couldn't find the words; his mind had gone haywire. He silently stared at the elves and was surprised to see them calm and unfazed by the danger.

'You are not fit to be their king,' the old man snarled with venom in his voice, making the guards pause midway. 'Humans will die because of your lack of sense. We will not let you lead them to their doom.'

The king let out a cold laugh but didn't have time to reply. Without a second thought the old elf signaled the others, and they nodded. With a flick of their fingers, the chains that used to bind them fell on the floor, bended and broken beyond repair.

Once he saw their hands freed from their restraints, the king's eyes widened in terror, and he screamed to the guards to arrest them before it was too late. They weren't fast enough, though. The elves were too quick for their liking.

They turned to the guards all around them with determination etched on their faces and raised up their hands. Matthew had witnessed the elves use their magic so many times in the past and he was perfectly aware that that was a time such as those.

His jaw went slack as he saw them easily bend the metal of the soldiers' armours, preventing them from moving and thwarting their advance. Matthew took a step back in fear and reached out to Peter who was too shocked to register what was happening before them. When she sensed his touch, she glanced at him and instinctively drew closer to him.

Everything was a blur. In a matter of seconds, the elves disarmed the guards, rendered them unconscious and were then facing the king. He was looking at them with pale face and trembling hands, like he feared for his own life.

The elves slowly began walking towards him, and the king backed away in terror. He stepped behind his desk and neared the windows, frantically reaching for the door handles. The elves read his mind and closed the gap between them.

The old man silently approached the king from behind, while the others neared him cautiously from the front. He knew he was trapped but couldn't do anything to escape from their grasp. In a last attempt to get away from them, he swiftly reached out for the door handles to break out of the room.

The elves snatched his arm away and whirled him around so that his back was turned to the windows. As the king was roughly pulled back in, the old man made his move. With his right hand he grabbed the back of the king's neck and with the other his waist. His eyes went white, a sign of his using his powers, which the two elves noticed and stepped back.

The king thrusted against his hold, trying to break free, but once the elf's magic seeped through his skin, his body froze in place, like he had lost control of his own body and was paralysed by the sudden invasion of his mental defenses.

The king's face became one of stone, no emotion written on his features, and his eyes turned white, reflecting the elf's. Matthew had no doubt that the old man was controlling his mind. He watched the most powerful man of their kingdom so easily surrender to their magic and paled at the thought of them being so helpless against the rogue elf's magic.

'What are you doing to him?' Peter shouted at them, interrupting his train of thought.

'What is necessary,' the woman answered indifferently.

Peter snickered but didn't speak. Matthew saw her clench her fists and attempt to call upon her magic. He hoped she would have time to stop him from whatever pain or damage the old man was trying to inflict. Before her powers had any effect on him, though, Matthew saw the elf suddenly release the king and put some distance between them.

His eyes, and the king's too, regained their colour. As the king recovered his senses and looked around him in loss, Matthew heard Peter let out a deep sigh.

'What did you do?' the king breathed.

'I shared with you my memories,' the old man simply stated.

After getting their bearings they stared at each other in skepticism. Matthew prayed they would finally end the fight and transform their hurt into hope, putting some effort in making a new start.

'Is he what you claim him to be?' the king broke the silence, looking at Peter.

'Yes.'

Matthew felt cold sweat run down his back. What does that even mean?, he wondered. Is he referring to the prophecy? He didn't have time to figure that out.

'You know, I could have you executed for this,' the king glared at the elves.

'I know. I had no choice. We need your help, as do you,' the old man glared back.

'We will discuss this after the full moon. Now, we must prepare for battle. Follow me.'

What?, Matthew blinked at them in surprise as the king walked to the door. The elves nodded in agreement and followed suit. He turned to Peter who was staring at them with eyes wide open and frowned at her. She glanced up at him and only shrugged her shoulders. She touched his hand and pulled him after them.

'And release my guards!' the king commanded before exiting the room.

The elves flicked their fingers in the air and the guards' armour returned to their previous state. The soldiers, who had already regained consciousness, fell face down on the floor and groaned in pain but refrained from complaining. Matthew didn't miss the hidden smiles on the elves' faces.

'What did you do?' Peter whispered to the old man once she drew close enough.

'That was way out of line!' Matthew hissed.

'Any better ideas?' Matthew and Peter stared at him with gaping mouths. They couldn't find a decent comeback. 'Thought so. Look, he was too inexorable for your sake. He would not have listened otherwise.' He turned around and followed the others, leaving them standing speechless in the dark corridor.

. . . . .

'What about those weapons?' Matthew said, pointing at his sword.

'I will send my people to destroy them,' the king decided.

'Alright.'

They looked again at the map they had spread over the round table. For the last couple of hours, they had gone over their options, explaining the situation to the king, and debating on a suitable course of action. They hadn't settled on anything yet.

'We know nothing. Their numbers, their strategy,' Peter sighed in defeat.

'They will be coming from the east, that is the only thing we already know,' the old man said.

'We can't work with that only,' the king countered. 'We need information. We need to know what we are facing.'

'We should send trackers,' Matthew proposed.

'Yes. That could help,' the king nodded. 'I will send my chosen soldiers.'

'Aye, my lord,' Matthew and Peter said in unison.

They stayed quiet, deep in thought, their faces grim in the shadows.

'We will meet again tomorrow, after you get us the information we need,' the kind concluded. 'To be honest with you, I still do not fully trust you and I don't think I ever will. However, if the threat of evil demands it, I will try to keep an open mind.'

'Thank you,' the elf woman said but Matthew wasn't sure if she really meant it.

'You will stay at the palace. Let my guards lead you to your courters.' He stepped aside and the elves reluctantly exited the room. The king was about to leave when Peter called him.

'My king!'

'Yes,' he frowned at her.

'If it's not too much for me to ask, I would request that you not reveal my identity.'

He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. 'Why?' 

'I fear people are not ready to handle that. It could lead to unwanted attention.'

He considered it for a few seconds. 'Alright. Now go. We are finished here,' the kind said and left. 

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A/N:  Oof I think that was the longest chapter so far. I hope you liked it. Feedback is always welcome!

Phrase of chapter:  Ὅτι πᾶν ὑπόληψις / remember that all is opinion  - Marcus Aurelius