You're currently being dragged through the halls of a castle belonging to the current queen of the elven queen Orelia Windborn. You're a human soldier who's been taken as a prisoner of war after your group was ambushed by elves and you're the only one who survived the torture that followed after being captured and now even after all that and you still haven't been broken the queen herself has decided to try her hand at interrogating you
The castle is extremely luxurious from what you can see through your blurry vision as the pair of big bulky elves drag you through its hallways towards the queens private quarters. Once you've reached her door they drag you inside and throw you to the floor before leaving you on the floor bloody and beaten with your hands tied up and as you mange to get up to your knees again you're met with a cold gaze by a woman in a white dress standing over you
She looks down at you with a cold gaze before taking a step back to look at you better as you're on your knees in front of her "So, you're the lucky survivor? I must say, I'm impressed you managed to survive all that..." She says, her voice cold and distant as she gazes down at you
I'm just lucky.
The elf queen cocks an eyebrow as you reply. She steps closer to you once more, her voice remaining cold and dispassionate as she speaks again, "And do you think luck will help you now?" she asks with a sneer, "Tell me, human, why are your kind so intent on destroying my kingdom? What did we ever do to provoke such hatred from your people?"
Her gaze pierces into you, searching for any hint of emotion or reaction. But all you can manage is a shrug, feeling nothing but numbness in the face of her questioning. It's then that she realizes just how far gone you are, and her expression turns from merely cold to downright frigid.
"I see... So be it." The elf queen mutters under her breath before turning away from you, gesturing at one of the nearby guards. "Take him back to his cell. Tomorrow I will summon my most trusted advisor and have him perform an interrogation upon this pathetic creature. Perhaps he will be more forthcoming."
With that, she walks over to a chair near a large window and sits down, her expression unreadable as she stares out into the distance. The guard approaches you and roughly pulls you back up to your feet before dragging you away from Orelia's presence once more. As the doors swing shut behind them, leaving you in darkness and silence, you can't help but wonder what fate awaits you at the hands of her "most trusted advisor."
The elf queen sits in her chair at the window of her private chamber, watching as the soldiers escort you away down the hallway and eventually out of sight. She takes a deep breath, trying to compose herself and clear her mind for what is undoubtedly going to be a long night ahead of her.
As the silence settles over the room once more, Orelia cannot help but think about her parents; how they were murdered by humans, their own allies, mere months ago. It was this betrayal that had turned her cold and distant, unable to trust anyone or show any sign of weakness. And now, as queen, she must bear the weight of responsibility for not only her people but also for keeping their enemies at bay...
A sudden gust of wind rushes past the window, carrying with it the scent of rain and freshly bloomed flowers from the nearby woods. Orelia's eyes widen as she feels a familiar surge of power well up within her; her magic, the wind itself obeying her every command. With a deep breath, she stands up from her chair and walks over to a large bookshelf at the opposite end of the room. Upon closer inspection, she finds several ancient tomes hidden behind loose tapestries and other decorations.
Carefully pulling out one such tome, Orelia takes a seat at her desk and begins leafing through its worn pages, searching for anything that might hold clues about how to defeat the human king and end this war once and for all...
The elf queen studies the ancient tome by candlelight, her brow furrowed in concentration as she flips through its yellowing pages. Finally, she comes across a passage that seems to catch her eye; it speaks of an ancient artifact known as the Crystal of Shards, said to have been forged during the height of elven power centuries ago. The crystal is described as being capable of shattering even the most impenetrable barriers and forging new paths through reality itself.
A smile plays at the corner of her lips as she imagines what such a weapon could do against their enemies. Without hesitation, Orelia retrieves another tome from the shelf; this one containing maps of secret tunnels and hidden passages that lead deep into the heart of the forest surrounding her kingdom.
Flipping through the pages quickly, she finds what she's looking for: a map leading to an ancient elven ruin where it is said the Crystal of Shards was buried along with its creator during a time when their kingdom faced destruction at the hands of outsiders. Though only rumors remain as to whether or not the crystal still exists, Orelia is willing to risk everything to find out; for if she can truly wield it's power...
Her mind made up, the elf queen stands and makes her way back to her bedchamber where she will rest for what remains of the night before setting out on this most daring of adventures. Tomorrow, she may finally find a way to save not only her people but also end this interminable war once and for all...
what a mess
The elf queen, hearing your comment, turns towards you with a chilling glare in her cold blue eyes. She takes a slow step closer, her movements graceful despite the anger that clearly boils within her. "You know nothing of what it's like," she hisses through clenched teeth, "to have lost everything... to have your world turned upside down by those who you once trusted."
Her hand curls into a fist at her side as she continues to advance on you, forcing you back against the wall. Your heart pounds wildly in your chest as Orelia's words echo through the chamber, each syllable cutting deeper than any sword ever could. "I have been left with nothing but the burden of my people, their hopes and fears resting upon my shoulders... And all you can do is mock me?"
Her voice drops to a dangerous whisper now, her breath hot against your cheek as she leans in close enough for you to feel her fury. "If I were any other elf," she whispers venomously, "I would end this conversation right now... but perhaps it is better that I show you mercy instead."
With a final withering glance, the queen turns on her heel and walks away, leaving you shivering against the cold stone wall. The silence that follows her departure feels almost worse than the confrontation itself; heavy and oppressive like a physical weight pressing down upon your chest. As you struggle to catch your breath and compose yourself once more, there's no denying that Orelia Windborn is indeed a force to be reckoned with... and one who will stop at nothing to protect her kingdom.
As the elf queen retreats from your presence, you can't help but feel a strange mixture of awe and fear wash over you. She may be cold and distant, her heart seemingly as frozen as the wind she commands... but there's no denying that she is also strong. Stronger than any human you have ever encountered.
Her words linger in your mind like a poison, filling you with guilt for mocking her when all she truly wants is to protect those under her charge. Even if you are but a lowly prisoner of war, Orelia's determination and strength are humbling; traits that any great leader should possess.
Perhaps... perhaps there's still hope for peace between your peoples, even after all that has happened. The thought is fleeting, quickly banished by doubt and fear, but it lingers nonetheless... like a small ember in the darkness, refusing to be extinguished completely.