"Legend of Morenlon", for lack of a better title.
Author: Xaja Silversheen
Series: Spin-off of "Sword of the Gaelin"
Genre: Fantasy, tragedy
Rating: K+
Warning: I wrote this years ago, so it's heavy on the prose. But I kinda think it fits with the general attitude of Morenlon. Oh, and if you haven't read the two chapters I've posted from "Sword of the Gaelin on here, this will make very little sense.
Reviews: Go here.

The Elves, as it is widely known, were they who built the great city of Maelorta and founded the nation of Morenlon. They were the ones who set up the enchanted palace, with impenetrable dungeons, magical gates and the strongest walls. When the Mortal Men arrived in Morenlon years later, the Elves welcomed them into the city and granted them power to rule. The Men it was who initiated trade with the Dwarves of the Anukion and Cikio Mountains, and for an age peace reigned over Morenlon, and its neighbors Suradi to the North and Quistar in the South. The only race that did not have peace with the Elves and Men were the Dragons of the Cikio Mountains, who were notorious for attacking settlements, killing civilians and often raiding the Dwarves of their mountains riches.

It came to pass on a winter excursion in the Cikio Mountains that an Elf soldier known as Vaerent happened upon a wounded Sky Dragon in a high mountains pass. He knew all the laws dictating that he kill the dragon on sight, but an unseen force stayed his hand from going to his sword. Instead, he crept close and began tending to the dragon’s wounds.

The dragon soon awoke, but perceiving that Vaerent would not kill him, did not attack. Instead he gave his name as Ystello, one of the great Lords of the Sky Dragons. For there were many forms of dragons in the world, from the small thorny dragons hidden in the rose bushes to the great worms feared by men and Elves alike. The Sky Dragons were the ones who controlled the weather, and so were respected by the other dragon types who relied on the weather for their survival.

It so happened that a sudden blizzard trapped both Elf and Dragon in the high pass for several days and nights, and during that time they sorted out the untruths each had about the other’s race, and they swore a pact to spread these truths to their peoples. When they escaped the pass, they came to the nearest Elven village as ambassadors of peace. It is said that Vaerent rode on Ystello’s back as the Dragon flew, the first ever to have the honor of being carried by a Dragon.

The Elves, in their wisdom, accepted the peace of Vaerent and Ystello, and consented to have the Dragons speak with them. And when Ystello flew to the sacred homes of the Dragons with Vaerent on his back, the Dragons agreed to make peace with the Elves. For unlike the stories have painted them, the dragons were noble, majestic creatures, with as much wisdom as the Elven race and the strength of the mountains in which they lived. It did not take long for the Elves and Dragons to make peace, for which they had longed for, being weary of the constant war. The Dwarves required much convincing, but they in the end made peace with the Dragons, who even returned a number of their stolen articles.

The Men of Morenlon, however, were incensed at this development. For since the time of their coming to Maelorta, they had become very proud and now spurned the counsel of the Elves. So when Vaerent, who had been esteemed by Elf and Man alike, arrived in Maelorta with Ystello, the mortal ruler Hordeno branded him a traitor and an outlaw, and in the night secretly sent a force to kill him. But Ystello was warned by the Elven ruler Ercagion and escaped with Vaerent on his back.

In his rage, Hordeno cursed all Elves, accusing them of treason. The Ercagion tried to reason with him, saying “The peace of the Dragons has been desired by many for ages, yet you loathe my people for seeking an alliance that would benefit us! Has the race of Men stooped so low that they would endanger themselves and their allies for their own prejudices?”

Furious, Hordeno slew Ercagion in the Great Hall of Maelorta, the first blood shed in the city. Then in fear, the remaining Elves fled the city they had built and went south, coming to North Morenlon and the Cikio Mountains. There were the men of Suradi, for they had been warned by the Dragons who had allied with them of the events in Maelorta and were waiting to help the Elves. But Hordeno was in close pursuit, with his army, and they were killing the Elven stragglers they caught up to.

Then came Vaerent upon the back of Ystello from the last mountain in the Cikio range, and he raised his hand and cried out, “Cursed be the land you stand on, Hordeno, you and all your men! For the death of an Elf shall you die; for the grief of the Dragons shall none but their allies come here again. Be gone!”

The Hordeno grabbed a bow and arrow from a passing archer, and taking aim he loosed the arrow, and it struck Ystello in the neck, causing the dragon to fall with Vaerent still on his back. But with his last breath, even as he fell, the dragon spouted an ocean of flame, and Vaerent gave a loud curse, and as Dragon and Elf plunged into the earth the fire consumed the body of Hordeno. And when the flames died the men of Morenlon went to retrieve their ruler’s body, but there was nothing besides a fine powder inside the molten metal that had been his armor.

So died Vaerent and Ystello, renowned for the peace between the Elves and Dragons. The Elves who had survived the attack of Morenlon fled either into the Cikio Mountains with the Dragons or into Suradi, where they would be safe from their former allies. The Curse of Vaerent still stands to this day, and men who harbour hostility to the Elves or the Dragons fear to enter North Morenlon, for the border of Morenlon and Suradi poses death to all who enter, save the allies of the Elves. The men of Morenlon call that area of land the Traitor’s Belt and will not enter it.

The Elves have never restored peace with Morenlon, and to this day are reduced to fairy tales whispered to children at night. For indeed, Halsco son of Hordeno forbid mention of the Elves or the Dragons, or even of the Dwarves, whom he exterminated in the first year of his reign. So the wisdom of the first days of Morenlon has passed into history, and has not been restored.