It has been more than some years since the last time I found myself in a battle of words and wits against an elf. The small number of elves in Draugmir respect me as their head-guardsman, and I respect them for their aid and skill. When I was young, things were different, and like most of my kin I was quick to start the battle whenever an elf crossed paths with me. Those days are far behind me... now, I have learned to fight with them as a stronger force against the growing darkness. To put our differences and past history aside. To respect them, if they do like-wise… but such was not the case with the black-clad warrior…
He came at dawn, making it almost to the foot of the stairs before he stopped. I looked down at him from atop, with the tall, hard doors of Draugmir behind me. Two other guards appeared suddenly... a fellow dwarf from behind the tower far to my left, and an elf from the trees to my right. After a moment I began my decent down the stairs towards him... all the while he stood still, peering at me from beneath his dark hood. I came up to him, and asked who he was... and immediately, the exchange of insults began – beginning with him of course. It slowly grew fiercer... and then, suddenly, I found myself silenced as he unleashed his sword with an almost uncanny speed, its point up against the base of my chin. An instant later, the thin-leather sheath on his back fell to the ground, cut open in nearly two halves. I stood there a moment, almost more amazed than I was angry. Amazed at not just the speed, but the pure precision and control of his movement…
I slowly moved away from the sword, staring up at the towering elf who was now demanding me to move out of his way… and if it was not for his claim of being Draugmir’s old master, I would have stayed there like an unmovable rock, his sword being the only way of sweeping me off my feet. And yet, even so, I stayed there for nearly a minute before turning around and heading back toward the doors. He followed, and once I reached the doors, I stopped, warning him to never bring out his sword against me again, or else I would not stand for it. Against this, the elf replied with a pathetic “Indeed, stand you shall not.” I did not answer, but continued into the stronghold, leading him to the acting master, Alestair, with whom he had to speak with.
Though he be an ally, this elf called Galgardor (as I learned later) is not welcome here to me. I can only hope his business here is short, and that he leaves soon, taking his old hatred along with him.
