In the thick fog that covered the sea, a fleet of 15 elven ships stood anchored, the crews tense with anticipation. The air was heavy with moisture, and the only sound was the gentle lapping of water against the hulls. The lead ship, larger and more ornate than the rest, positioned itself between two towering ancient pillars that rose from the depths like silent sentinels. The pillars, weathered and colossal, dwarfed even the largest of the vessels and cast an eerie shadow over the elven sailors below.
On the deck of the lead ship, the elder mage stood at the forefront, her staff adorned with intricate artifacts that hummed with latent power. Behind her, a circle of robed mages joined hands, eyes closed in deep concentration as they chanted in unison. The air around them vibrated with the energy of their incantations, and the arcane symbols etched into the elder's staff began to glow faintly.
With a deep breath, the elder mage raised her staff high, the artifacts at its tip clinking together as if alive. She chanted, her voice steady and filled with purpose, echoing across the silent sea.
"Oh, great one! I beg of thee, open the gate to another realm that we may seek help from a far-off land. Our people are in great danger, and only by your power can we reach those who may save us."
The robed mages behind her began to chant louder, their voices rising into a single resonant hum. The fog swirling around the pillars seemed drawn inward by an unseen force.
"This nation, unlike any before, must hear our plea. We seek the strength of their arms, the might of their machines, for the fate of our kingdom hangs in the balance. Grant us passage, so that we may speak with them."
A low rumble echoed through the sea as the pillars began to shimmer with a strange light. The mist grew thicker, obscuring everything except the elder mage and her circle of mages. The energy crackling in the air rose to a crescendo as the elder mage spoke the final words with fervor.
"This nation is called the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!"
At that moment, a blinding light burst between the pillars, tearing through the mist. The sea roared as the portal opened, revealing a shimmering gateway that pulsed with energy. The elder mage and her companions stood unwavering, their eyes locked on the gateway. The path was open, and beyond it lay the hope of salvation for their kingdom.
As the mists rolled in and the energy snapped with a crackle around the fleet, the elder mage and her circle of mages slowly opened their eyes, revealing a sight of deep astonishment. The portal had seemingly failed, leaving nothing but the endless fog and the uneasy murmurs of the sailors. Confusion and disappointment spread among the mages as they exchanged worried glances, questioning what might have gone wrong.
Feeling the burden of failure, the elder mage rose with a heavy heart. Suddenly, a violent tremor shook the fleet and panic fell on sailors and mages alike, drawing their weapons in case of an attacking sea monster. But the elder calmly turned her eyes toward ancient pillars.
To her amazement, the pillars began to shift and extend, opening apart as if guided by some unseen force. The once solid columns of stone seemed to unfold, creating a widening gap. A bright, blinding flash erupted between them, illuminating the surrounding mist with a fierce, otherworldly light.
As the light slowly receded, the sailors and mages blinked against the brightness, their awe increasing with each passing moment. Before them lay a majestic and unfamiliar sight: a grand gateway, pulsing with energy, leading to a realm beyond their own.
Relief and victory bloomed within the elder mage's chest. She turned to the captain, who stood beside her, equally amazed by what was seen. Wide-eyed, the captain could do little more than stammer out a stunned question.
"What. what are we seeing?"
The elder mage's smile reflected the amazement of the moment. Her voice was laced with reverence as she responded:.
"What you're seeing, sir, is the threshold that leads to the nation we've been searching for - the United States of America. It is where we've long yearned to arrive."
Before their eyes was a miraculous phenomenon, a first glance in a world of tall buildings and marvelous technological inventions. The portal had, in fact, opened; access to a mighty power capable of providing the succor desperately needed by their kingdom lay before them.
-----------------------------------------
The royal throne of Elijah.
3 days ago.
August 12th, 678 AD.
With the clamor of enlistments and the haste of the retreating townsfolk inside its walls, Queen Galadriel met her key leaders for what seemed to be a highly significant session. The anxiety in the hall was compounded with a good dose of resolve as they all dressed up in uniforms that seemed representative of various branches within their own respective militaries. Tension filled the air but with regard, and each awaited an address from his queen.
Galadriel took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping over the gathered officials. The room fell silent as she began to speak.
"My generals, high-ranking officials, and esteemed council members, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your presence at this critical juncture. Your dedication to our kingdom is more vital than ever."
A courteous round of applause followed her words, and the maidens present joined in, their clapping echoing softly. Galadriel's voice grew more resolute as she continued.
"Our kingdom teeters on the precipice. The tide of war has shifted against us, and our allies are failing in too many places. Full-scale invasion is looming. Reports reaching us say the forces coming against us now are the same ones who have just conquered Gallimard; it's only a question of when they will take their aim on us next."
The officials nodded solemnly, some shifting uneasily as they absorbed the gravity of the situation. Galadriel's eyes met theirs, reflecting the seriousness of her message.
"Despite our best efforts to support Gallimard, our assistance proved futile, and their defeat has left us in the cold. We cannot count on forces from allied kingdoms that have yet to demonstrate their dedication to our cause. Our own forces are stretched to breaking point, and we have the sad reality that invasion can occur at any time."
A murmur of agreement spread throughout the room. Galadriel stopped, letting the gravity of her words sink in before she proceeded with a note of optimism.
"Yet, hope exists. The elder mage has brought before us an opportunity to possibly solve our dilemma."
The room became even more silent, holding onto the promise of something yet to come. Galadriel gestured towards the elder mage as he stood forward, the quiet confidence written across his face.
"Tell us what you have discovered," said Galadriel.
The older mage nodded and spoke before the assembly, her words carried on a gravitas of her own.
"Your Majesty, esteemed generals, and council members, the situation is indeed dire, but we have found a glimmer of hope. The ancient texts and our recent explorations have led us to a powerful ally in a distant realm. This realm, known as the United States of America, possesses advanced technology and military might that could turn the tide of this conflict."
A stunned silence fell over the assembly as the officials digested the implications of the mage's revelation. Galadriel seized the moment to provide further details.
"The mage has contacted this nation and found that they can help us. Their technology is greater than anything we have seen, and their military strength can give us the edge we need to repel the invasion."
The room was filled with whispers of conversation as the officials digested this new news. Galadriel brought up her hand for silence.
"This is our opportunity to secure the support we so desperately need. We must move quickly and make decisions with haste if we are to form this alliance with this great power. I call upon all of you to bring your skills and your knowledge with you as we embark on this new journey."
With her call to action, the meeting changed from fear to determination. The officials started discussing strategies and preparations, ready to embrace this unexpected opportunity. As the queen watched, she felt a renewed sense of hope, knowing that this alliance could be the key to saving her kingdom from the looming threat.
As the tension in the room increased, Lillian Bell, the elder mage, stood firm. The portal she had created continued to show the bright and strange cityscape of San Francisco, with its skyscrapers shimmering in the light. The officials and generals were a mix of awe, skepticism, and frustration, the latter increasing as a particularly vocal general voiced his concerns.
"Elder! Our kingdom is at the point of invasion! We cannot waste time on fancies or illusions! Your magical display is impressive, but we need practical plans and immediate answers, not visions of far-off lands!"
The general's outburst echoed through the room, and murmurs of assent from some of the more practical officials were heard. The queen felt the weight of the room's discontent and took a deep breath before stepping forward.
"'Overall, I acknowledge the urgency of your position but refuse to dismiss possible means toward survival and victory now. I am open-minded regarding what options would assure such things. Elder Bell, proceed."
Lillian unphased by her moment of interruption, presented a resolution to the entire assemblage with refreshed will:.
"Your Majesty, esteemed officials, I understand the urgency of our situation. The nation I have shown you is indeed technologically advanced and possesses a military might that surpasses our own. Their aid could be pivotal in turning the tide of this war."
She gestured toward the portal, her staff glowing faintly as the image stabilized.
"This is not merely a spectacle; it is a tangible opportunity. The United States of America is a nation that values freedom and has developed technologies and military strategies far beyond our own. Their assistance could provide us with the strength we need to counter the impending threat."
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A young officer, previously silent, stood up and addressed the general and the room.
"General, while it is natural to be skeptical, we must consider all possible allies. Our current situation demands that we explore every option. The technology and military support from this nation could give us a significant advantage."
The general, though still visibly tense, seemed to waver slightly, his posture relaxing as he considered the officer's words. Lillian seized the moment to elaborate further.
"To reassure, we have reached out to this country and have been given signals that they are willing to help. We must, however, move quickly to formalize this partnership. The portal we opened is a doorway to their world, but it will not stay open forever."
The room was silent, lost in thought. Galadriel knew that she had to make a decision. She spoke to her council.
"We can't afford to waste time. If the elder mage's information is true, this alliance could be our last hope to survive. I call upon you all to consider the potential advantages and back this proposal."
The general, though still wary, nodded reluctantly.
"Alright, Your Majesty. If there is any truth in having a chance to obtain this nation's favor, I will oblige. However, we must have a clear plan of action to go about this."
Lillian nodded in agreement, relief and determination etched across her face.
"Rest assured, we will draft a detailed plan and coordinate with the United States to secure their assistance. I am confident that, with their support, we can turn this war around."
Galadriel paused for a moment to let the words sink in before giving a final address.
"Thank you all for being patient and understanding. Now let's move forward in renewed hope and clear direction, as the future of our kingdom depends upon how well we can respond and seize every opportunity presented."
With that, the room began to buzz with activity as officials and generals discussed the next steps. The queen, though still anxious about the impending war, felt a glimmer of hope as the plan to secure aid from the distant nation took shape.
"Quiet down general! You are shouting in front of your majesty!"
The room fell silent, the authoritative command from Queen Galadriel cutting through the noise with piercing clarity. The tension in the air was palpable as the assembled officials and generals straightened up, their previous arguments stilled by the queen's intervention.
Galadriel, taking a deep breath to steady herself, addressed the assembly with a composed and firm tone.
"Thank you for your attention. I understand that the proposal before us is unconventional and bold. However, given the gravity of our situation, we must consider every potential solution with the seriousness it deserves."
She gestured towards Lillian Bell, who stood beside her, the mage's expression one of cautious optimism.
"Elder Bell has given us an extraordinary chance to request help from a technologically advanced, powerful nation. The idea is to harness old mana pillars to open up a stable portal to the United States of America - a nation that would have the military strength we sorely need," she stated.
The queen scanned her eyes across the room as they met with several of the officials and generals in attendance.
"Let us discuss this proposal with the respect that it deserves. We stand before a desperate threat and are left with few other choices. I implore you all to seriously consider the merits of such an alliance and how they might shift the balance in this war."
The war general who had previously rebuked them now steadied himself and stood upright. He addressed the queen and the elder mage of the council.
"Your Majesty, I apologize for my earlier outburst. This situation is indeed dire, and though I still have reservations, I realize that we must consider every avenue possible to ensure our survival. If we are to carry out this plan, we must prepare our forces and execute the operation with accuracy."
A senior military strategist nodded in agreement, adding his voice to the discussion.
"I concur with the general. We should consider a detailed plan for the deployment of the expeditionary force and ensure that our defenses are not compromised while this operation is underway. We must also prepare for the possibility of failure and have contingency plans in place."
The room, now focused, began to buzz with productive discussion. Officials and military leaders broke off into smaller groups discussing logistics, strategies, and preparations. Lillian Bell and Queen Galadriel observed the scene, hoping that the council would come to a consensus.
As the discussions progressed, Galadriel looked at Lillian with a reassuring smile.
"We will move forward with your proposal, Elder Bell. I trust that your expertise will guide us through this endeavor. Let us prepare for the next steps and ensure that we make the most of this opportunity."
Lillian nodded gratefully, her staff still glowing faintly from the earlier display.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. We will ensure that everything is in place for a successful mission."
With the room now engaged in constructive planning, the atmosphere shifted from one of discord to a determination. The queen, by her intervention, had refocused the activities of the council towards discovering a way forward, especially as the hope of possibly gaining aid from the United States of America became beacons of hope in some challenging times.
Having many saying they're sorry, Galadriel could only smile from the sight with her immediately lowering her hand as a sight for all to sit down, have all been a sitten, Galadriel asked the officials for any opinions or suggestions for this operation.
"The concept of the old mage is not something that we can afford to let slide, having our nation stand at the brink of invasion we should ask for their nation's aid to have support! Having said, I request for someone to voice out this proposal."
Silent at first as she waited for some time after, amidst the busy people sitting, one rose up wearing a dark yellow uniform.
"Your majesty, for all due respect but in my humble opinion, this idea is something, not a good idea as our low manpower and this nation we haven't even contacted before could give us some problems. I get this feeling that this country your mages plan to seek could be a nation that plans to defeat our enemy while having a new territory there. Who knows what those people you call Americans would do to us!"
Scepticism would be brought, as she anticipated for the elder ones who brought the idea of Americans being a threat.
"Even so your majesty, this nation who you say had endless victories my chances that they will attend to what we asked wouldn't function. As a nation whose building reaches the sky, I get this feeling that it's not here because of us, but a new world that will soon take over!"
"Your majesty! Please reconsider this. Our nation requires the proper alliance we have, as we don't have the materials to do this expedition! Neither have the fortune for paying these americans!"
Having said that in front of Galadriel and the elder, Galadriel starts reconsidering this American expedition planned so far; she thinks through the official suggestion, as her mind soon divides her into either stopping or continuing this expedition. A quick glance at the elder and seeing her face not wanting to give up shows that she was confident that the new worlders they plan to seek would be needed in this world. Even so, the elder looked back at the crowd as she expected more. And right after one stood up to query about her ideas.
"Elder. I thank you for this intention but chances are that we are not able to pull this off. you had shown off what this nation capital looks like without giving us a bigger picture, we have no idea of what part of their capital we can land on as you haven't provided us with a map of what their landmass is, the only thing I had seen was their tall towers without any vegetation. And considering that we have only 30,000 readies for combat, I don't want to spend HALF of my men in this new world!!"
Immediately after, the general sat down looking back at the elder seeing that his point was given, having said that the elder after looking back at Galadriel replied to the general of her actual intention.
"Thank you, general. But I don't plan to do something like that as we plan to use more than 25 or 30 warships or axillary ships for this expedition, what I plan is to convince the people of the united states on a more peaceful approach as this will make us more approachable, having that said request from her majesty suggested me to bring only 50 men along from the old guard regiment as a bodyguard if things get sour."
"Are there any cons to this?"
Having her stated so, she waited for a response from the crowd awaited for some time and soon afterwards amongst in front was an elven wearing a blue naval uniform, standing up amongst his peers he was known as admiral Alhambra Mullen. A high-ranking admiral.
"But even so, we have only 120 warships within the fleet, grabbing 30 isn't necessary as the fleet plans to use them for the potential naval threat of this empire! Your majesty, do you attend to give them the ships they requested?"
Glancing towards the admiral sitting in front, she smiled towards him and gave her final answer.
"I do plan for the elder to have a small range of boats and have her get everything for this expedition, these Americans I have sawn for my very eyes, will help us!"
Leaving no options, the admiral sat down quietly seeing that her mind was made up and the plans for a new naval expedition would be soon allotted, with the request of 15 ships the naval officer saw it as not a problem as they left with only 105 ships within their current fleet. With the current plans concluding that they will seek the Americans, Galadriel before dismissing thanked everyone as she saw it being the conclusion of the conference.
"I humbly thank everyone within this room for joining this conference, despite being short, this lecture will have us bring this nation to our soil and help us on this war! As for everyone you may all be dismissed."
The dramatic scene in the throne room unfolded very quickly as Princess Murray Falledor, distraught and furious, confronted Queen Galadriel. The intensity of her accusations and the visible distress she displayed underscored the dire state of her kingdom and the personal stakes involved.
Galadriel's calm, though strained, reflected the harsh realities of her own situation. Her kingdom was facing its own threats, and the logistics of sending aid to Leilo were complex and limited by their current resources. The confrontation highlighted the stark contrast between the needs of the besieged Leilo and the strategic considerations of Galadriel's realm.
As the princess brandished her blade and expressed her desperation, the tension in the room reached a peak. The guards and officials, already on edge from the previous discussions, now faced a direct and immediate threat. The sight of the princess's tearful plea and her weapon on the floor underscored the gravity of her situation and the personal nature of the crisis she was enduring.
Even with the emotional weight of the princess's demands, Galadriel remained firm; her decision not to divert forces from the defense of her own kingdom was clear. The queen focused on the larger strategic view, understanding the limitations of her own kingdom's power and that survival of their own kind was a priority.
As the princess and her entourage left, the room was left in a confused mixture of relief at no longer being under the immediate threat but a sense of heightened urgency. The episode was a reminder of how delicate the balance had become between Galadriel's own kingdom and the plaintive appeals from her friends.
Elder Lillian Bell's expression of concern as the situation progressed reflected the greater implications attached to the diplomatic and military challenges. Her planned expedition to seek aid from the United States now held much more importance, where failure to assist Leilo added to the pressure placed on securing necessary support in the new world.
The encounter with Princess Murray highlighted the complexities of the crisis that Galadriel's kingdom was going through—a complex web of alliances, threats, and strategic decisions. The queen remained determined to continue with the expedition and believed in the Americans as potential allies, despite the situation with Leilo and the internal challenges that continued to mount.
After the event, the attention went back to the preparations for the expedition. The need to get help from the United States became more urgent, as the result of the mission to be undertaken would determine whether the war's course was going to change and the fate of everyone involved.
As Princess Murray and her entourage departed, the tension in the throne room remained thick. Galadriel's steely resolve in the face of the princess's fury highlighted her commitment to her kingdom's survival despite strained alliances. Her decision to move forward with the elder mage's plan was unwavering, despite the emotional and political cost.
The last of the officials had left, and the elder mage, Lillian Bell, stood there in silence, alone with Galadriel. The queen's instruction was straightforward: she was to obtain the help of the Americans within three days. It was not just a matter of diplomacy but survival. The pressure was immense, and the success of the expedition would be critical for the future of the realm.
The skeptical approach of the other person would also create complications for Lillian. But this urgency alone propelled her into action: settling every little detail on the expedition, assembling a good team, and ascertaining all the requirements needed to complete the venture. The golden gate shone in her thoughts- the gateway to hope and possibilities.
Galadriel, resolute, watched as the elder mage prepared to leave. Her belief in the Americans' potential to shift the balance of the war was her guiding light. She had seen their city, a beacon of power and opportunity, and hoped it would be the key to turning the tide.
As Lillian started preparing, Galadriel's eyes followed her. There was a mixture of hope and apprehension in her eyes. The next three days would set the stage for what might well be a turning point in the conflict. Everything depended on this diplomatic mission going well for Galadriel's kingdom, potentially even changing the course of the war.
