The Curse of Silver Blood

Prologue

An explosion of dragon fire caused her to veer off course in the air.

Flexing her powerful wings the silver dragon steered wide of the oncoming red dragon male whose jaws were seeking to clamp around her throat.

Out of the way from danger at the moment the female silver dragon flew as fast as she could to the cave opening that was off to her north.

She had to reach the cave even if it meant it would cost her life.

With the female silver being more maneuverable and quick in the air then the cumbersome male red dragon, she made it to the entrance of the cave and landed with little trouble. Once she had her footing on the edge of the opening she hurriedly went inside and continued to maneuver through the twists and turns of the darkened tunnel, using her sharp infra red vision to see.

She could hear the enraged male red dragon outside of the cave entrance no doubt frustrated that his enormous bulk could not fit into it.

The female silver dragon had only small relief at the thought that the male could not make it in here. She, on the other hand, had to get out with her precious cargo that was inside the cave and since she could not make it through the front entrance without the male red getting her, she would have to go through the secret entrance instead.

The thought of going into the Under Ground did not make her at all comfortable.

She had little choice however, for the red dragon was simply too powerful and she could not bring him down on her own for it would take the male red only a matter of time before he would find a way in and get her. Once a red dragon makes an attack on someone or something they do not stop until they kill them or they get what they want.

She would have to abandon her lair and take her treasure into the Under Ground.

As the female came to the end of the tunnel it opened up into a large cavern that had a small pool of fresh water off to her right.

Next to the pool of water was a steep mound that was delved out into the ground. Within this mound was her precious treasure.

The female silver came upon the nest and looked down at the single lone egg that was resting within it.

The outer shell of the egg sparkled and glimmered with a bright silver sheen and as she laid her violet eyes upon it she smiled despite how much worry and grief was on her mind and heart.

It is time to move little one. She said with a whisper.

Closing her eyes the female silver dragon concentrated and within moments her huge silver scaled dragon body morphed and changed into that of a gorgeous elf maid with long and lush silvery hair, violet almond shaped eyes, and a slender but curvy body. Her former silver scales were now smooth milky skin and over her body was a pure white robe.

Kneeling down she carefully picked up the large egg that was the size of a watermelon with both arms and held it close to her bosom.

Just as she had possession of her lone egg she felt the cavern shake and she knew that the male red dragon was slamming his massive tail up against the very mountain trying to get her to come out.

You are out of luck on this day, she thought to herself as she turned and headed to the very back of the cavern.

Once she was where she needed to be she spoke a single lone word at the ground in front of her.

"Savinas..."

Upon speaking that word the very ground suddenly began to shift before her eyes. Within moments that section of cave was now completely gone and a large black hole that lead downward into the Under Ground was in its place.

Looking back one last time she then turned and jumped into the hole.

Using her magic the elf maiden made herself float gently down into the darkened depths.

A sudden feeling of foreboding and fear rushed through her body for she knew full well the terrors she would face in the dreaded Under Ground. Even for an adult silver dragon she was going to be hard pressed and would need to fight for her life.

It was going to take all of her resources and senses to be able to maneuver through the Under Ground and find an exit back up to the surface.

Fortunately for her she had many allies above ground that would be more than willing to aid her…it was just getting to those allies however that was going to be the problem.

*******************

His little legs ran as fast as they possibly could.

As he came to the end of one tunnel he just barely managed to turn the bend to the next one before three black arrows were fired in his direction and splintered in half from hitting the tunnel’s wall instead of him.

Panting, and practically out of breath, the gnome continued his fevered run down the tunnel that he had just entered saying prayers to Thane God of Invention as he did in the hopes that the god would hear his calls and see him to safety.

How do I always get into these messes? He thought to himself as he held one small hand onto his floppy hat so that it wouldn’t fall off while he ran.

The gnome had only gone another few yards before there was a bright flash that lit up the completely darkened tunnel behind him.

Knowing what that light was from the gnome stopped running and dove off to his right hugging the tunnel wall as much as he possibly could.

He did so just in the nick of time for the magic missile flew past where he had just been standing to streak down the tunnel and eventually fizzled out into nothingness.

With that danger now past the gnome broke off from the tunnel wall and began to run once more trying not to trip over his own little feet as he did.

Why do all dark elves seem to take things so personally? He thought to himself. I was only trying to get rid of those silver bars for them for surely they didn’t need them…

Just as the gnome was about to finish his thought he suddenly slammed into something…or someone.

Falling onto his plump rump the gnome shook his head and looked up.

There standing before him and very much out of place in the Under Ground was a beautiful silver haired and violet eyed elf maiden.

She looked down at the gnome in confusion and a bit of concern showed through her fair features. Upon seeing a large sparkling silver egg clutched to her chest however made the gnome’s eyes widen with wonder.

I am sorry! The elf maiden said to him. Are you hurt?

The gnome still had his gaze locked onto the egg and he did not even hear her words. He was so fascinated by it that he completely forgot why he was running in the first place…

Sir Gnome you must get up there are dark elves coming this way! The elf suddenly shouted.

Finally coming out of his stupor over the egg the gnome shook his head and turned around from his seated position only to see the five dark elf guards that were chasing him now a mere one hundred yards away down the tunnel and closing in fast on them.

Using his hands for support the gnome got back to his feet and looked to the elf maiden saying, I umm…wouldn’t suggest sticking around madam! With that the gnome broke back off into a run.

The elf maiden looked to the gnome then back to the dark elves in utter confusion before turning around and running after him.

******************

As she ran away from the still approaching dark elves the elf maiden was trying to figure out what the gnome had done.

She had to go the way she was going before running into the small humanoid for it was the only way she knew that led to the surface in this section of the Under Ground.

Holding her precious egg as tight as she could without cracking it she finally caught up to the frantic gnome with her much longer legs.

The little fellow was only three feet tall compared to her four foot seven inch frame.

Wait! She shouted at the gnome in between panting breaths. Why are the dark elves chasing you?

The gnome however was not listening or he chose not to answer for he continued to run.

A black arrow flew past her just inches from her right ear and she knew that the dark elves were not about to give up their chase.

There were no other races or creatures that were feared in the Under Ground more so than dark elves. The obsidian skinned and white haired race of elves lived only within the darkened depths of the Under Ground and they were nothing like their lighter skinned surface dwelling cousins.

Cruel, malicious, cunning, and devious were all traits of dark elves. Many of them practiced necromancy, chaos, and even arcane magic giving the dark elves all the more reason to be feared.

The elf maiden knew she was going to have to stop the dark elves not only for her own safety and that of the gnome but for her unborn hatchling as well.

And that to her was all the initiative she needed.

Mr. Gnome can you please stop and look after this egg for me? I’m going to see what I can do to stop our pursuers! She had to shout in order to be heard over the loud huffing and puffing of the gnome.

Finally stopping the gnome turned around and had his eyes fixated on the silvery sparkling egg.

If you think you can stop them there dark skins then I would be more than happy to! The gnome said taking off his floppy hat and giving a dramatic bow to the elf maiden.

She knelt down and placed the egg in front of the gnome which was just as big as him practically and said, Please ensure nothing happens to it…this egg means more to me than anything.

The gnome looked from the egg to her a few times and placed his fingers through his unkempt and sweaty white hair replying, Of course! I will do my best I will!

The elf maiden nodded and said, Thank you Mr. Gnome…

It’s Chubbers! The gnome said proudly puffing out his chest and placing his hands on his hips dramatically. The motion looked more comical than anything with the gnome’s portly belly clearly sticking out much further than his chest.

The elf maiden’s lips upturned into a slight smile and she said, Pleasure Chubbers…if anything happens to me can you please see that the egg makes it to Solaria?

The gnome’s eyes grew really wide and he replied, Solaria…You mean the city of the sun elves?

The elf maiden nodded quickly and as another black arrow whistled past them both she stood up and said, Yes Solaria…please Chubbers if I do not make it through this battle you HAVE to get this egg to them. It is the only thing I have left of my life.

With those last words the elf maiden blew a kiss at the egg and then turned around to meet the advancing dark elves.

********************

The elf maiden knew full well she was going to be hard pressed to battle five dark elf guards on her own. She was also more than aware that the gnome was not going to be of much assistance in battle and with her asking him to guard her egg this made him even more indisposed.

Dark elves are extremely resilient to most forms of magic and even though she was confident that her spell capabilities were enough to possibly distract the dark elves long enough for an escape, they would not stop pursuing them unless her and the gnome were either caught or killed.

And sometimes it would be better to die by the dark elves then to be captured.

The dark elves all stopped when they saw that the elf woman was standing alone to confront them. There was one dark elf that was in front of the other four wearing a chain mail vest with black leather leggings. He sported a gold head band around his forehead and from that she knew that he was the leader of this group. He held a longbow in one hand and had the other hand reaching for one of the trademark black arrows that they had been using to shoot at their quarry.

Thinking fast the elf maiden raised her hand towards the lead dark elf and barked out a single lone magic word.

As soon as the word left her mouth five blue sparkling bolts left her finger tips and streaked towards the dark elf.

The small magic missiles wouldn’t kill him but they would incapacitate him enough to be stunned. The magic bolts however never got the chance to strike for one of the dark elves that was off to the leaders left suddenly barked out a command word and waved his hand at the magic missiles that were streaking within inches of the lead dark elf’s chest.

All five of the bolts fizzled and died out to nothingness just before they could reach their target.

Now with the upper hand the head dark elf knocked a black arrow into his bow and fired.

As the arrow streaked towards the elf maiden she spoke another single word and she suddenly became incorporeal like a ghost and the arrow passed through her harmlessly.

Once she returned to her solid form again she turned around and saw that Chubbers was holding onto her egg and staring with wide eyes at her.

Go! She shouted at him. Run Chubbers….get yourself and the egg to Solaria!

The gnome looked at her then back to the egg incredulously. The elf maiden knew that the gnome was thinking it was going to be all but impossible to carry an egg as big as him the entire distance out of the Under Ground and then all the way to Solaria once he reached the surface.

She quickly pointed at the egg and spoke the words to another spell. Before the gnome’s eyes the silver egg suddenly began to get lighter and it rose up from his arms to hover a clear ten inches above the ground in front of him.

That will help you…it should last the entire distance to Solaria…now please go! The elf maiden pleaded to the gnome.

Chubbers looked to her and then the floating egg again but he nodded quickly and he turned the opposite way down the tunnel and took off the floating egg following close behind him like a lost puppy.

With the gnome and egg now taken care of, the elf maiden turned back to the dark elves only to see that another black arrow was speeding right for her chest.

She had no choice….she had to change her form.

Closing her eyes the elf maiden concentrated and the white robe she was wearing began to melt like butter against her skin which was now turning and changing into rock hard silvery scales. Her neck expanded and lengthened and her head broadened with a huge fan like crest appearing on the upper portion of her neck behind her head. Her long and slender tail appeared as well as her enormous wings and once those wings were fully formed an entire length of 170 feet from wing tip to wing tip, she flared them out wide and opened up her fanged maw in a roar that shook the entire cavern.

The arrow that was heading for her once mortal chest smashed into her thick lower neck scale plates and harmlessly cracked in half not leaving even a scratch.

The dark elves could only stare with wide eyes as the dragon fear washed over and paralyzed them completely….

**************

Chubbers ran once again as fast as he could with the silver egg tagging along behind him.

The gnome wasn’t even sure why he was helping the elf maiden, but there was something about this egg that fascinated him like nothing else he has ever seen in his life.

He would do as the elf maiden bid him to do for he knew once he reached Solaria he may just find out what this egg was and why it intrigued him so.

He was making good progress until a deafening roar shook the cavern and he suddenly tripped over his feet and crashed face first into the ground.

As he spat dirt out of his mouth Chubbers placed his pudgy hands on the ground and pushed himself up.

Turning onto his rump he faced the direction where he had just come from and where the roar had originated.

By Thane’s anvil and hammer what was that? He thought to himself as he slowly got back up to his feet.

The egg was hovering right beside him and as he looked at it its sparkling silver surface it began to draw him into a trance once again.

What was it about this egg?

There was another tremor that shook the cavern only this one was due to what seemed like something smashing up against the very cavern walls and it snapped Chubbers out of his stupor with the egg.

I don’t know what all is going on down there but I am not going to stick around to find out, the gnome thought as he turned back the way he had originally been going and began to sped off once more.

The egg followed closely behind him a silent but now attached friend.

******************

Chubbers finally made it to the surface by finding a long lost route up from the Under Ground. It was a way that he knew wasn’t traveled by denizens of the Under Ground for there was fallen rock and stone all around the path that led straight up into a deep cave like tunnel which then led outside to the world of light.

The gnome had just left the cave and as he stepped outside into the bright sun lit land around him he couldn’t help but squint in pain. He didn’t even remember the last time he had made it up to the surface as his eyes were completely used to total darkness.

After several painful moments the gnome finally began to get his vision adjusted to the light. When the blurriness cleared and he was able to keep his eyes fully open he looked around and realized he was standing on an open prairie.

Green lush grass was all around him with many different brightly colored flowers in clusters sprouting up from the ground.

Some five hundred yards away in front of him was a forest line and he knew from experience those woods would lead him to Solaria.

Looking behind him Chubbers saw the small cave entrance from which he had just exited. It was more like a large mound of earth cut into the ground with an opening then it was an actual cave. The gnome knew that this entrance into the Under Ground had been made by someone or something for it did not look part of the landscape.

Either way Chubbers was relieved he had made it out to the surface alive. Looking to his right he saw the silver egg still hovering right beside him no doubt awaiting for him to move once more.

Taking his red floppy hat off the gnome placed a chubby hand over his brow and wiped some of the sweat away. It did feel good to have the soft wind blow up against him and even though he was not used to it he welcomed its gentle caress.

Placing his hat back on the gnome turned to the egg once more and said, Well…time to go off to Solaria.

Just as Chubbers started moving he suddenly realized that he hadn’t heard a single bird chirp or any other animal noises that were common for the surface in such an area.

It was dead silent all around him and his gut suddenly began to tingle in alarm.

Something was wrong.

Looking up the gnome suddenly saw the reason why there were no animals or any form of wildlife around.

As he gazed in wide fearful eyes above him he watched as a gigantic red dragon swooped down from the skies above him to land only a mere one hundred yards away.

As the dragon landed the ground around the beast shook with a small tremor.

The red dragon had to be over 200 hundred feet long with a thick and long muscled neck holding a gigantic head with two large horns that jutted up from the top of its skull and swept backwards. Its eyes were a blazing yellow orange with no pupil and its scales were a deep crimson red in coloration.

The beast folded its enormous wings along either side of its body and it looked down at the little gnome with a sneer on its lips revealing wickedly sharp dagger like teeth.

Where do you think you are going mammal? The red dragon growled at Chubbers.

The gnome was so petrified from the dragon fear that had washed over him he couldn’t even speak…all he could do was just stare at the dragon in a fear induced stupor.

That egg you have there… I want it…hand it over and I may kill you quickly. If you don’t I will ensure you will suffer a slow and painful death.

Chubbers heard the dragon’s words but he could not formulate any words of his own to talk. He was completely helpless and if the dragon showed any understanding that the beast was the one causing him to be this way it did not show it…or seem to care.

The dragon narrowed its eyes at Chubbers and leered. Very well then…I see that you are going to be uncooperative. I haven’t had gnome meat in quite some time…I am going to enjoy eating your charred flesh.

With those words the red dragon opened its huge maw and Chubbers could see the beginning of its dragon fire beginning to rise up from the blackened depths of its throat.

The gnome couldn’t even close his eyes for the doom that was heading his way….

Before the dragon could even breathe forth its fire however, Chubbers saw someone out of the corner of his eye step completely in front of him.

Now with his view of the dragon blocked the gnome snapped out of the dragon fear paralysis and looked upon his rescuer.

It was the silver haired elf maiden.

She was standing in front of the gnome with her arms held out wide in a protective gesture.

You are NOT going to take the life of this gnome Victorialus…nor will you take the egg. If you want either one you will have to go through me first. The elf maiden said to the dragon boldly.

The gnome couldn’t believe her bravery…for she seemed to be completely unaffected by the dragon fear that had paralyzed him so easily.

And how by the gods did she know this dragon by name?

What a nice little bonus this is! The red dragon said in excitement. Not only do I get to have gnome for supper but I can finally do away with you as well.

The elf maiden continued to hold her posture but she turned her head and looked down to Chubbers whispering, Run Chubbers…take the egg and run as fast as you possibly can towards Solaria.

The gnome looked up at the elf maiden with wide eyes. He did not want to just leave her here…he wasn’t even sure how she managed to get past the dark elves and up to the surface…but he knew he stood no chance against the red dragon.

The elf maiden saw his hesitation and she said, Go…please Chubbers you have to run and do NOT look back…I will keep him distracted long enough for you to enter the woods ahead.

Chubbers didn’t have much of a choice. He had made a promise to the elf maiden he would take the egg to Solaria. And even though the gnome wasn’t much of anything…he never broke his word to anyone.

The gnome hastily nodded and he turned off to his left and began to sprint as fast as he could, hoping to go wide of the dragon and towards the forest. The silver egg followed right after him.

The red dragon let out a bellowing roar when he saw Chubbers making a break for it and he turned his massive neck towards his direction and opened his mouth leaning his neck down towards the gnome in an attempt to snag Chubbers with his jaws.

Just before Victorialus got to be within twenty feet of him however, the red dragon’s neck and head suddenly got snapped upwards and even though the elf maiden had said not too look back Chubbers had to see what happened.

Turning around just before he got to the edge of the woods he suddenly saw a silver dragon smack its tail up against the red dragons head. The force of the blow was so great it caused Victorialus’s head and neck to go flying.

Chubbers could not believe what he was seeing. Where was the elf maiden? Did she summon the silver dragon for aid? He did know that silver dragons and elves had a remarkable bond with each other and they aided one another whenever they were in dire need.

No…there was no way that silver got here so quickly. Realizing the elf maiden was nowhere in sight it suddenly hit the gnome like a brick to the skull that the elf maiden WAS the silver dragon that was now battling the red dragon tooth and claw.

Looking over to the egg it all suddenly made sense to the gnome now.

This egg was the maiden’s egg all along and she was actually a silver dragon in the form of an elf woman.

But why was she so insistent on getting the egg to Solaria? And why did this red dragon want the egg for?

All these questions whirled through the gnome’s mind and he watched helplessly as the silver dragon female was beginning to be completely dominated by the much larger red dragon male.

He had to carry out this mission…he had to go to Solaria.

Turning back towards the woods the gnome began to enter them when he suddenly heard a loud deafening roar…and this roar sounded like a roar of pain.

Turning back towards the battle of the dragons the gnome suddenly saw that Victorialus had his jaws clamped down completely around the female silver dragon’s neck.

Her silver scale plates were no protection for the jaw pressure and the huge teeth of the red dragon and her violet colored eyes looked to be glazing over as she began to suffocate from the red dragon’s death grip.

Chubbers could not watch any longer…he wiped a tear that had suddenly formed from his eye and turned back towards the way he had been heading towards the woods.

He would make it to Solaria with the egg even if it cost him his life.

*****************

As the red dragon bit down with his jaws around her throat she could feel his teeth puncturing through her neck plate scales like a hot knife through butter.

The force of the bite was so great that she felt a few of her neck vertebrae snap instantly. She knew that he was not going to let go until she was dead.

She thought she was going to be lucky this day…for she had managed to use her dragon fear to paralyze the dark elves long enough for her to freeze them with her fog of cold breath weapon. With the dark elves indisposed she was able to easily make it up to the surface.

Unfortunately as soon as she had left the Under Ground she had seen the sight of Victorialus before the gnome and she knew that her fate was sealed.

The red dragon must have somehow tracked her all the way over here…how he had she did not know…but not that it mattered now anyway.

Her life was slipping away and as the blackness began to set in over her eyes the last thought she had was that of her precious egg.

Please make it to Solaria Chubbers…his life is now in your hands.

That was her very last thought as the last remaining life essence within her silvery body was snuffed out and she died within the red dragon’s jaws.

Chapter 1

Chubbers continued to move through the dense forest with the silver egg floating closely behind him. The gnome was panting heavily and he had stopped many times in his journey to catch his breath. The thought of what he had just witnessed hours ago however made him quickly pick up his pace.

He did not want to confront that red dragon again.

His face now as a red as his floppy hat, and his long white beard wet with sweat, Chubbers had never before endured this much of a test on his stamina before.

He was used to the simple life back in his home town of Gnomeagean the main city of the gnomes in the Under Ground. He was nothing more than a baker most his life and the most excitement he ever got was when he left his bread in the ovens too long and they would sometimes explode.

That all changed however when his shop was seized by the Gnomeagean government. They had stated to him that they needed to turn every single working establishment in that sector of the city into training facilities for the guard.

Chubbers had little choice in the matter. He could not battle the entire government to keep his business and if he did not comply with their wishes he would have been thrown into prison as a traitor to the Gnomeagean government. With no other options he reluctantly gave up his shop and then was forced to become a thief just to get some money and food. He had tried to get work elsewhere but he had little to no other skills besides baking and no one wanted an old worn out baker. When he had no income coming in he lost his home, all his possessions, literally everything he had worked so hard for in his life.

Why the government had turned so many businesses in that sector of the city into training facilities was a complete mystery even to this day. The gnome government was keeping a tight lid on those reasons but the increase in rock gnomes that had moved into the city not too long after he lost his business was not at all encouraging to Chubbers.

Rock gnomes were cousins to the gnomeageans. A more rugged and warrior like race of gnomes compared to gnomeageans the rock gnomes often lived as nomads going from place to place in the Under Ground looking for work as mercenaries, guards, bouncers, and other physically demanding jobs. Even though they were tough and rugged their personalities often matched their name. Many gnomeageans called them rock heads because of their pig headed and stubborn like ways.

After almost being caught stealing a coin purse from a passerby on the street, Chubbers was chased by several rock gnome guards. The only way to escape was to completely leave Gnomeagean and try to survive out in the wilds of the Under Ground.

How he managed to stay alive for so long was a complete mystery to him but he had managed by using stealth and his short stature to his advantage. His only mistake was winding up in a portion of the dark elf city Ebon Spire. He wasn’t sure where he was until he had seen a pile of silver bars just resting on the ground near a warehouse like building and once he took a few he then saw the dark elf guards charging in on him from seemingly out of nowhere.

If it wasn’t for that elf maiden he would have been dead for sure.

Turning to the egg Chubbers said Don’t worry little fella…we will get ya to-

Chubber’s statement was suddenly cut short when a long shafted arrow thudded into the ground in front of him.

Widening his eyes and freezing the gnome recognized the shaft immediately. It belonged to…

Do not move gnome. A soft sounding but firm voice sounded from behind him.

Slowly turning around the first thing Chubbers saw was a broad arrow head pointing directly at his face.

Behind that arrow and the bow that was holding it was a slender and golden haired sun elf.

Standing roughly 5’ 5" the sun elf had very long blonde hair that seemed to shine brightly in the sun. Even though not much sunlight penetrated this deep into the forest it still made the elf’s hair sparkle like shimmering gold.

His eyes were an ice blue in color and his face was long and oval in shape with the customary almond shaped elven eyes and pointed ears.

The sun elf wore a green cloak with a matching green padded vest. Underneath the vest was a lighter green colored silk shirt. Black leather trousers and matching leather boots that came up to his knees finished off the ensemble.

Hello my sun elf friend! My name is Chubbers and I am here to bring-

I did not give you permission to speak gnome. The sun elf said forcefully interrupting Chubbers.

The gnome shut his mouth and placed his small arms and hands up in the air to show the elf that he did not mean him any harm.

Out of the corner of his eye Chubbers began to see more elves that resembled the one standing in front of him.

He was completely surrounded by Solarian sun elves all with arrows pointed directly at him.

The sun elf in front of him apparently this groups leader looked from the gnome to the egg and then back to the gnome again. His almond eyes were narrowed with suspicion at Chubbers.

Where did you get that egg? And what are you doing traveling through our forests with it? Don’t you know the penalty that comes with possessing a silver dragon egg?

The gnome slowly nodded. Indeed my good sir I know the penalty that comes with possessing a silver dragon egg. But you see it was PLACED in my possession by a silver dragon herself.

The sun elf still had his eyes narrowed but after a moment his eyes loosened and he looked up from Chubbers and glanced around at his fellow elves.

Chubbers began to relax a bit and almost breathed a sigh of relief when suddenly the elf leader began to chuckle. This was followed by an outburst of laughter that was accompanied by all of the elf leader’s associates.

Chubbers bristled a bit at the humiliation.

Turning back to the gnome the sun elf leader said, Do you honestly expect me to believe that? Why would such a magnificent and powerful being such as a silver dragon place the life of its unborn child within the protection of a chubby and short of stature creature such as you?

She wanted to ensure that this egg reached Solaria. Why I do not know. But what I do know is that she saved my life from a red dragon that wanted this egg. Chubbers said.

The sun elf leader now had a more serious look on his face and he lowered his bow and arrow very slightly.

Did you say red dragon?

Chubbers nodded. Yes…before I entered these woods the red beast confronted me demanding I give it the egg. The silver dragon was then disguised as an elf maiden and stepped in front of me bravely telling the dragon it was not going to get to me or the egg without going through her first. She told me to run and to reach Solaria…and I did…I ran as fast as my legs would carry me. But before I came through here I witnessed as she turned into a silver dragon and attempted to battle the red monster. The last thing I saw before I moved again was the red dragon with its jaws around her throat.

The sun elf leader now had a very somber look on his face. Looking at Chubbers for a moment he pulled the arrow out of his bow and placed it in a quiver on his back. He looked around at the other elves and nodded at them and they too disarmed their own bows.

Looking back to Chubbers he said, Did this red dragon have a name?

Chubbers nodded. Yes…she called him Victorialus.

The sun elf’s face turned a deathly pale white which was easily noticeable despite his fair and already light complexion.

This is indeed grave news you bring to us gnome. You will reach Solaria this day and we will accompany you and the egg to ensure you make it safely.

Chubbers now breathed his sigh of relief and lowered his arms.

That was the best news he had heard in a long time.

********************

Chubbers and his escort of Solarian sun elves broke through the remainder of woods and out into a large clearing. The gnome couldn’t help but stop and gaze in wide eye wonder at the magnificent city of Solaria that loomed before him.

Spanning as far as his faded blue eyes could see the main city of the sun elves seemed to glow brightly under the suns mid afternoon rays. The first thing Chubbers noticed was the huge gates that sealed in and protected the city’s main entrance. Made from a combination of ivory and steel the gates were some twenty feet tall and well over eighty feet wide that peaked at the top with spear like tips.

Thick gold wire wrapped around each individual post within the gates and Chubbers had heard rumors that those golden wires were actually enchanted with powerful magic that ensured the gates remained tightly shut unless they were open from the inside. It was said that the Solaria front gates could withstand an army of battering rams without even moving an inch.

The gates nestled beside enormous white stone walls that ringed themselves around the entire perimeter of the city. These walls were over fifty feet high and had to be half that thick. In the 2,000 year life span of Solaria not a single breach had ever been made through its walls.

Beyond those impressive gates and walls the gnome could make out the beginning of the city itself. Dotted and lined with large white stone towers, massive dome shaped roof buildings, and beautifully built homes Solaria was a marvel of architecture that would make any dwarf take pause in wonder at its construction.

So preoccupied with awe and amazement at the entrance of the city Chubbers didn’t even notice at first when one of the sun elves tapped on his shoulder with a slender finger.

When Chubbers still did not move the sun elf firmly pushed Chubbers forward in the upper back.

Coming out of his initial bewilderment the gnome looked up at the elf sheepishly with an apologetic look and began to walk forward towards the gates the silver egg slowly floating behind him.

The sun elf group leader the one that spoke with Chubbers back in the woods was in the lead and as the gnome caught up to him he noticed that there were four sun elf guards standing shoulder to shoulder on either side of each gate.

Each of the sun elf guards wore silver chain mail vests over their upper bodies and had long bows all strung over their shoulders with full quiver of arrows. They had short swords sheathed at their hips and wore black leather trousers with matching knee high boots.

One of the guards wore a light blue cape and Chubbers had no doubt that had to be the commander of the gates guards for he began to step forward as the sun elf group leader approached them.

The commander held up a hand at them meaning for them to halt their advance and he looked from the group leader to Chubbers. As the commander's gaze went to the gnome he raised a slender golden brow in curiosity. His expression was further intrigued as he peered over their shoulders and saw a floating silver egg.

Cerik Strongbow I see you have returned from your patrol and you have brought a…guest?

The commander looked at Cerik with a questioning look unsure if Chubbers was indeed a guest…or a prisoner.

Cerik made a fist and slapped it into his palm in the elven form of a salute and replied, Yes Captain, this gnome is under our protection as well as the egg he has with him. We would ask that you allow us inside as we need to speak to Elder Teannis immediately. It is of grave importance.

The Captain looked over Cerik, Chubbers, and the egg with a long questioning stare. After several moments of tense silence the Captain said, "Elder Teannis is in meditations for the afternoon and was not to be disturbed. I’m afraid you are going to have to take your guest to a holding cell until I can have my men question him fully. I am sorry Cerik but you know full well we do not just allow strangers to come into our city without a full background screening beforehand."

Chubbers looked at the Captain incredulously and then turned to Cerik with the intentions of saying something but the elf beat him to it.

I understand that fully Captain and I would never ask that Elder Teannis be disturbed during meditations but this has to be an exception to the rule. Please you must allow us to come inside for an audience.

The Captain could see the seriousness behind Cerik’s words but he still had a look of doubt and distrust on his face.

Very well then Cerik…I can see that this is a matter of importance to you and that is the only reason why I am going to allow these gates to open for I trust you on your word.

Cerik bowed his head and replied, Thank you Captain you are too kind.

Before the Captain turned around to his men he looked at Cerik with a warning. Do not mistake my kindness for weakness…and if ANYTHING happens with this gnome then it will be your own ears that take the blame…you understand?

Cerik saluted the Captain once again with a half bow and replied, Of course Captain. I will take full responsibility of the gnome.

The Captain nodded and then finished turning to his men. Send the signal to open the gates.

The other three guards all un-shouldered their bows and each grabbed an arrow from their quiver. As soon as they knocked the arrows back into the bow string the steel tipped heads came ablaze with a magical blue light that shined so brightly Chubbers couldn’t help but wince.

All as one the guards fired the arrows straight up into the air and after only a matter of seconds as if on cue the front gates unlocked and began to slowly push inwards towards the city.

Chubbers was completely amazed not only at how the elves opened the gate but also because the gates did not make a single sound as they moved.

Once the gates had fully opened the guards and the Captain each moved so that they were standing shoulder to shoulder on either side of the entrance.

Cerik Strongbow started walking through the entrance followed by his group of elves. Chubbers followed suit with the silver egg lazily floating behind him.

The gnome could not believe that he was finally in Solaria. After nearly 300 hundred years of being alive he finally felt like he was someone of importance.

********************

As Chubbers was escorted down the streets of Solaria by Cerik Strongbow and his group of elven scouts the gnome was overwhelmed by the sheer size, feel, and beauty of the city.

They were making their way through the main city proper the central hub of the city. This was the location where all the important elven nobles and central government was located.

Solaria is ruled by patriarch Darian Windwalker and his council of elder advisors who were actually a group of powerful nobles. The Solarian government is complex in their rules, regulations, and semblance of laws but Darian Windwalker has been known to be a fair and just ruler. His reign over Solaria has been felt even to the far reaches of the Under Ground where Chubbers has spent his whole life. The Gnomeagean government and Darian Windwalker have had relations in the past and are still on civil terms but Chubbers have heard rumors and stories about how pompous and arrogant the elder council that ruled under the patriarch could be. The elven nobles have been known to be power hungry and even though corruption wasn’t known within the Solaria government Chubbers wouldn’t be surprised if some not so legal dealings were being handled by the council without Darian Windwalker’s knowledge.

Chubbers was walking on a white cobblestone street that was bustling with activity as the sun elves went about their various tasks and duties. On either side of the street spaced out every six feet were eight foot tall metal lamps that had porcelain glass orbs on their top. Chubbers had heard of such devices and apparently they were called street lamps and once night fell over the city the lamps automatically began to glow with a bright blue light. It was said that the lamps are magical in nature and that the light that fills the inside of the glass orbs was of arcane origin.

Impressively built buildings were also on either side of the street and were spaced out roughly ten feet apart from each other with alley ways that ran in-between each of them. Chubbers could see the various wooden signs hanging from these establishments and concluded they were not homes but rather offices and other council working facilities.

As Cerik led Chubbers deeper into the council district the gnome began to draw a lot of attention as many of the sun elf citizens stopped and stared at him with curiosity or even suspicion. Despite Chubbers drawing a lot of attention upon him that was nothing compared to the floating silver egg. Many of the sun elves would look over at the egg and begin to point and whisper among themselves.

You have become quite the celebrity already gnome. Cerik said to Chubbers with some amusement.

Chubbers smiled sheepishly at the elf but said nothing as he was too intent on warily looking back and forth on either side of the street at all the elves that were gawking at him.

Haven’t they ever seen a gnome before…or a floating silver egg for that matter?

After another few minutes Cerik made a left hand turn down the main street and began to approach a huge white marbled temple that was right in the middle of this section of the city.

The temple was three stories tall with a massive center tower that came to a sharp point. Four smaller spires surrounded the main tower with identical pointed tops which also had beautiful stained glass windows that sparkled and caught the sun’s rays like large sun catchers. The temple had flower beds filled with all manner of color plant life inside them on either side of the walk way that led up to the main doors, and several lush green bushes were also located along side the path way as well.

As they came closer to the temple Chubbers saw a large symbol made from platinum that was hanging just above the enormous ten foot tall double oak doors. The symbol was that of an eight pointed star with the bottom point hanging much longer then all the others. Chubbers recognized this symbol as Soularis God of Light.

Cerik Strongbow approached the double doors of the temple and stopped when he was within arm’s length. He turned to the others