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Korva's Keep

At midday the sun was at it's highest. The rays that streamed from the great ball of fire warmed Elwen's pale face as he and his companion's cantered at a slow pace over the grassy hills before them. The Keep was merely an hour away, no longer just a smudge on the horizon. The watchtower visible always, even when they had descended to the lowest part of a grass dune. 

With the warm sun beaming down on him Elwen stored his cloak neatly upon the saddle and he could now be seen wearing a traditional piece of fine elven armour. A black iron chest plate, with carvings of tree's and animals protected his torso. Black leather chaps and boots protecting his legs and feet respectively. And a helm of extraordinary craftsmanship, similar to that of Hubyr's, rested under his armpit. Fainor, Varya and Hubyr wore armour akin to this. The elves had always worn attire suitable for battle during the ferrying of the eggs and were always prepared if ever an unexpected attack occurred. 

"...built by our ancestors, with a small contribution of the humans, over three centuries ago.", said Hubyr from his horse beside Elwen, indicating to the Keep. Elwen was barely listening, almost all of his attention upon the huge structure in front of him. He could recognise the decoration and detail of the building and could tell that his race had some involvement even if Hubyr had not just enlightened him. Like the Ullenori Forest before it, Elwen had only read about Korva's Keep from the scrolls stored in the High Castle's library. 

The four of them continued through the hills until they hit a stoney path. This path would lead them to the bridge and finally to the Keep. Along the way Fainor had made sure to tell them that when they arrived and contact with the humans is made, he would be the one to converse with them. Elwen had no problem with Fainor being in charge. He had been ferrying the eggs for a number of years now and he had experience in dealing with the humans. Besides, Elwen's father, Ryheagan, the High Elf, had made it abundantly clear that he was to obey Fainor's every command. 

They left the path and reached the bridge. It was only then that Elwen had noticed a group of soldiers blocking their entrance. This did not worry Elwen as he knew that it would have been inevitable that the humans would have travelled with security on their way to the Keep. They wore heavy looking armour and each of them bore a weapon. The four elves halted their steeds and allowed the soldiers to approach. 

"Remember, allow me to enlighten our round-eared compatriots.", said Fainor. The other three elves chuckled amongst themselves. 

With their heavy armour clattering, the group of soldiers, which Elwen counted as six, eventually grounded to halt a few yards in front of the four elves. "Who goes there?", shouted the soldier at the front, his helmet slightly too big for his head and pointing his spear at Fainor.

"Forgive me friends," said Fainor. I believe we are those you are expecting. We are the elves of Ullenor and we have come-"

"Prove it!", interrupted the soldier. 

Elwen wondered if all humans were as stupid as the one stood in front of him. [i]Aren't our ears proof enough?[/i] thought Elwen. He wanted to say what he was thinking but thought better of it. The last thing he wanted to do was to cause hostility. Or be scolded from Fainor for disobeying his orders.

"The egg! Where's the egg? Show me the egg!", demanded the soldier, his voice getting louder and very aggitated. 

Fainor, however, remained as calm and collected as usual. With a swish of his long white hair he turned to Elwen. "The egg, brother Elwen."

The soldier's attention turned to Elwen as the elf hooked his helmet on to the saddle and reached in to the leather bag. With both hands he pulled out the black egg and held it in front of him so that the soldiers could get a good view of it.

"Is this proof enough, my friend?", asked Fainor.