Under cover of darkness they stole into Eryn Lasgalen's eaves. The woodspirits' paths seemed strange as mist winding between the trees.
At dawn, a young elf hailed them. "The Lord and Lady bid you come in peace." He led them deeper within.
In a hidden glade stood lord and lady elves. But their fair faces held traces of past suffering. "We fled these lands long ago, when shadow fell," the lady said. "Now you bring more tidings of storm clouds gathering."
They shared all they knew.The elves listened gravely. At last the lord spoke. "There is one who can aid you more. Faramir, our scout - he leaves at sunrise to learn what lurks in these changing times. You may accompany him, if you are willing to face what truths the road may bring."
Dark wheels were turning. But only by walking into the unknown could they hope to turn back the tide of darkness threatening to engulf the land. They had come this far by faith alone. Now their only choice was to journey on.
Faramir led them sure-footed through the forest. Soon, ruins arose - once a grand city, now decaying. "This was the capital," Faramir said. "Where the shadow first took root."
Within, a glint caught Arabella's eye - a ring, wrought with strange markings. She showed Faramir, who frowned. "I've seen these before. On one who should not have them."
That night, around the fire, Faramir shared his dark suspicions. "For years, a noble has whispered poison in the King's ear. Gained his trust with honeyed words, while pulling strings across the land."
A chill crept through the travelers. Faramir produced a parchment. "I found orders, signed in the hand of Prince Damian." It bore Damian's seal, demanding the arrest of "traitors" - including Cedric and Arabella.
The scope of betrayal stunned all. But one question remained - was Damian acting alone? Or was he a puppet in someone else's game, an unseen master weaving dusk over the realm from the shadows?
On the morrow, their course was clear. Answers could only be found by facing the snakes in their pit. They must return to the capital, and draw out the lurking evil behind this spreading night.
With care and stealth, Faramir led them into the castle under darkness. They slipped through empty halls, every sense keen for danger.
At last they reached the throne room, hearing voices within. Faramir peered through a cracked door. "It's the king and Damian," he whispered. "And another..."
Through the sliver they watched. Damian spoke in silken tones. "All proceeds as you have foreseen, my lord. Soon no scraps of rebellion will remain."
A cold laughter answered that froze their blood. From the shadows behind the throne stepped a figure robed and hooded in shadow. As it drew back its cowl, a twisted face like a venomous serpent was revealed.
"Well done, my apprentice. This kingdom is ours. But there are other lands waiting to embrace the master I will make you. For now, finish your work here..."
With horror they realized - they had stayed hidden moments too long. For behind them, a new shadow appeared...
Faramir whirled, drawing his blade to face the new threat. But it was no enemy - only Seraphina, torn from her sickbed by visions urging her to find them.
Before more could be said, the door burst open behind them. Prince Damian stood Silhouetted against the throne room's gloom, his eyes agleam with malevolent delight. "Well, well, what have we here?"
They ran, pursued by a score of Damian's men through the twisting halls. Seraphina faltered, and Cedric swept her into his arms despite his own fatigue. At last they reached the stables, threw themselves onto waiting horses and galloped into the night.
Dawn found them stopping to rest in a ruined shrine's shelter. But hard eyes watched from the forest, waiting to report the rebels' course. They were not free of shadow's grasp yet...and the true strings-puller's power was only beginning to be revealed. Darker trials awaited, before this shadow war would be won.
Exhausted, the fugitives took refuge in a thick wood. But Seraphina's visions persisted - she saw shadows closing in. They must move under cover of night.
As dusk fell, a rustling alerted Cedric. He crept toward the sound, only to find Oliver and Mei Ling emerging from the brush. "We fled the capital when Damian's treachery was revealed," Oliver explained.
Through the night more allies arrived, drawn by Seraphina's prescient call - Matthias and Edmund, Rosalind with news from her father's court. By dawn fifteen had gathered, all weary but resolute.
Arabella knew what must be done. "We've seen the shadow's reach. To stand against such power we'll need armies of our own." She proposed sending envoys to allied kings, to plead their cause and summon forces.
Not all approved leaving the shadows just yet. But the insidious evil they faced demanded great risks, and greater allies. At last the company divided tasks, to spread word while staying one step ahead of the spies on their trail. The shadow war had begun in earnest.
Two groups set off at dawn. Arabella joined Cedric, Seraphina and Oliver as they headed west, to petition King Maximus for aid. She knew his sense of honor would compel him to stand against tyranny.
The others watched them go with prayers for fortune. Matthias then led his group east, to gather forces from Ferdinand and Richard. Both were wary allies, but he hoped loyalty to the crown might sway them.
Their missions were dangerous - the land was thick with spies. But delay invited further darkness. So they rode beneath riding cloaks and changing stars, along winding forest paths instead of roads.
Two nights later, in a grove beneath a crescent moon, Arabella took Cedric's hand. "No matter the trials ahead, my oath to you and this kingdom is unchanged. We will make them answer for what they've done, and bring light back to our homes once more." Her touch renewed his resolve in darkness' deepening shadow.
The skirmish to come would test them all. But with courage and friends at their side, there was yet hope in this gathering night.
Deep in the woods, Arabella's group made camp for the night. But as they rested, a sudden arrow whizzed past Cedric's head. They were under attack!
"To arms!" cried Oliver, unsheathing his blade. Figures emerged from the shadows - it was Damian's men, lying in wait. A fierce battle erupted in the flickering firelight.
Arabella fought valiantly, blocking blows with her bow. Yet for each foe defeated, two more appeared to take their place. They were badly outnumbered. As Cedric battled three assailants at once, a dagger slid between his ribs.
"No!" screamed Arabella. With a burst of rageful strength, she cut down their attackers. But Cedric lay wounded, his life ebbing away. Seraphina's powers could not be made to work fast enough. All seemed lost...
Then a mighty battle cry rent the night. Out of the gloom charged King Maximus and fifty knights. The ambushers broke and fled before this new force. Victory was theirs - but at what cost, if Cedric perished after all they had endured?