Shadows over Moonnight - Part 2

The silence pressed down on the room, broken only by the faint murmurs leaking from behind the heavy door. Galen glanced at Elenor, who stood impossibly still, her hands clasped neatly in front of her, her posture radiating elegance. Meanwhile, he was pretty sure his left boot was squeaking every time he shifted weight.

He cleared his throat, deciding to break the awkward quiet. "I'd have dressed better if I'd known today was 'stand silently in a fancy hall' day."

Elenor's lips twitched faintly, but she kept her composure. "You wear your suit well enough," she said, her tone even, though a flicker of amusement danced in her green eyes.

"Well, you can tell Lady Ana that," Galen said, his dry tone earning the briefest chuckle from her. He leaned back slightly, trying to appear more at ease.

Elenor shifted, smoothing her dress almost absentmindedly as her gaze lingered on the closed door. "This hall is not usually so quiet. My father is... highly spirited when matters of importance arise."

"That sounds like a polite way of saying I should brace for whatever happens next," his tone turning serious to match hers.

"Perhaps," Elenor admitted, glancing at him with a faint smile before her face settled into a more neutral expression. "But if you are here with Lady Ana, I'm sure you're used to moments like this."

Galen let out a soft exhale, crossing his arms as he glanced toward the door. "Used to them? Sure. Enjoy them? Not so much."

The voices beyond the door grew louder, followed by the creak of approaching footsteps. Elenor straightened, her focus snapping. Galen adjusted his stance, his earlier humor fading as the tension returned to the air.

The rising tension spilled out into the hallway as muffled voices. Galen exchanged a glance with Elenor, who stood there like a statue.

When the door suddenly swung open, the sight of Lord Emory Moonnight filled the space. His presence was commanding, graying hair swept back, and a piercing gaze that lingered just long enough on Galen to unsettle him.

"Elenor," he yelled. "I require your counsel. Now."

Elenor moved without hesitation, her steps graceful but purposeful. Before entering, she cast a fleeting glance at Galen. As she disappeared into the study, Galen straightened, only to catch a subtle signal from Morrigan as Ana. Her head tilted ever so slightly toward the room. That faint gesture was a silent order for him to follow. Suppressing a sigh, Galen also entered the room.

The study was precisely what Galen had expected, a lord's sanctuary that bore the marks of both intellect and authority. Shelves of leather-bound tomes lined the walls, interrupted only by tall, narrow windows that allowed light to pool in muted patches on the dark wood floors. A massive desk dominated the room, cluttered with maps, rolled parchments and heavy inkstands.

Emory paced behind the desk, his steps deliberate, his fists occasionally clenching as though wringing unseen tension from the air. Elenor had taken a spot near the desk, her presence calm, while Morrigan stood near the window, her gaze fixed on the room's dynamics. Galen leaned casually against the doorway, arms crossed, his usual indifference turning to wariness.

"You bring dire news to my doorstep, Lady Ana," Emory began, his voice carried skepticism. "And yet, I fail to see the storm clouds you claim gather over Moonnight. What makes you so certain this... crusade is anything more than the rumors of frightened merchants?"

Morrigan turned, her measured expression betraying none of her mounting frustration. "The Iron Crusade is no mere rumor, Lord Moonnight. Richard's mercenaries have already appeared in the area. Their advance is methodical, deliberate. Your castle is soon to follow."

Emory's brows knit together, his stance firm. "You exaggerate. Moonnight Castle is of no strategic value..."

"Precisely why you've been overlooked until now," Morrigan interrupted, her tone sharp. "Richard's conquest is not driven by only reason. He is an avatar, who aims to gain power for his benefactor."

"And you suggest we prepare for war based on this assumption?" Emory countered, his voice rising. "We have neither the resources nor the manpower to withstand an assault. And as for this goddess of yours, Morrigan, where was she as our benefactor? Why would we offer ourselves to her again?"

A flicker of something crossed Morrigan's face, but it vanished before Galen could fully grasp it. "Richard's strength is unmatched," she said, her voice dropping an octave. "You underestimate the severity of what is coming. This castle and its people will burn unless you follow my advice."

Elenor stepped forward, her tone conciliatory. "Father, Lady Ana may have a point. If the threat is as great as she claims, we must consider every possibility, no matter how..."

"No," Emory countered, his tone firm. "I will not chase shadows. We will hold our ground as we always have. Let Richard waste his efforts on us if he dares."

The tension in the room thickened. Morrigan's composure began to crack, her fingers tightening at her sides. Before her frustration could spill over into something irreparable, Elenor intervened.

"My lord," she said softly but firmly. "The Heart of Moonlight may offer us a way forward."

Emory's expression hardened. "The Heart is a myth, Elenor. A fairy tale told to children. We cannot stake our survival on fantasy."

Morrigan's reaction was subtle but telling, a flicker of tremor in her otherwise impeccable demeanor. Galen, leaning against the doorframe, caught it immediately. His instincts kicked in, looking for solutions to problems. he believed he got the jist of what was going on. Whatever this Heart of Moonlight was, it must had been real if Morrigan reacted to it this way. And if it was connected to the castle's defenses, it might hold value for her as well.

Galen straightened and cleared his throat. "Look, I get that you're all big on tradition and dignity here, but let's cut to the chase," he said, his tone casual. The room's occupants turned to him, their reactions ranging from surprise to irritation. "You've got a problem. Either Richard's coming, or he's not. If he is, you're screwed without backup. If he's not, then no harm done, right?"

Emory narrowed his eyes, his posture rigid. "And what, exactly, do you propose?"

Galen shrugged. "Simple. We go looking for this Heart of Moonlight. If it's real, we bring it back, beef up the castle's defenses, and if Lady Ana is right, we might stand a chance. If it's not..." He glanced at Morrigan. "Well, then Lord Emory here can tell us he told us so, and nobody will be worse off."

Elenor looked intrigued, though her father remained unconvinced. Morrigan's gaze on Galen was icy, but she didn't interrupt. Galen pressed on.

"Think of it as insurance. Worst case, you loose nothing. Best case, you've got a shiny new relic that might just save your neck when the crusade rolls in. Seems like a no-brainer to me."

The room was silent for a moment, Emory weighing Galen's words. Morrigan's expression remained unreadable, though there was a spark of something, perhaps surprise, hidden in her eyes.

Finally, Emory exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. "You have a peculiar way of simplifying things, Sir," he muttered. "But very well. If this... endeavor costs me nothing, then I see no harm in letting you pursue it."

Galen smirked, stepping away from the door. "Glad we're all on the same page."

The weight of the discussion hung over the group as they stood outside Moonnight Castle, the wind carrying the scent of earth. Galen leaned against the wall of the castle. Elenor stood a few paces away, her gaze fixed on the horizon where the faint outlines of hills blurred into the sky. Morrigan, Ana, watched them both, her stance composed but with an edge of tension barely concealed.

"Well, that could've gone worse," Galen said finally, breaking the silence. "At least he didn't throw us out a window."

Elenor turned her head slightly, her sharp blue eyes studying him. "You underestimate my father's stubbornness. It took more restraint than you realize for him to even entertain the idea of the Heart of Moonlight. It's not a decision he'll make lightly."

Morrigan's gaze lingered on Elenor, something unspoken passing between them. "Your father may cling to his pride," she said, her tone deliberate. "But there is more at stake than his reputation. Surely, you see that."

Elenor hesitated, her fingers brushing her scarlet dress. "I do," she admitted softly, her voice dropping enough for only Morrigan to hear. "The castle is weaker than it seems." She glanced briefly at Galen, her lips pressed together. "But the people here have turned from faith. If what you say about your... goddess is true, then she must show her strength. Otherwise, my father will never accept her."

For a moment, the young woman said nothing, her gaze falling to the ground. When she looked up again, her resolve had sharpened. "I'll do what I can to help you. I believe you that the Crusade is coming."

A faint smirk tugged at Galen's lips.

Morrigan's eyes flicked toward him. Her voice like the edge of a blade. "You've made bold promises in there. Now, you must think of how to make good on them."

The wind stirred as the silence returned, carrying clang of distant metal. Galen exhaled, glancing up at Moonnight Castle. "No pressure, right?" he muttered, brushing dust from his coat.

Elenor turned back toward the castle, her steps deliberate. Morrigan's gaze lingered on her for a moment, then started moving down the stairway, away from the castle. Left alone for a brief moment, Galen sighed and muttered under his breath, "Guess I'd better figure out what this Heart of Moonlight is. And more importantly... where it is."

And with that, he followed Morrigan.