“From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring” J. R. R. Tolkien
The Grandmaster or Iaurmenel, Alkawen, moved slowly through the great halls of the Order's main building situated deep within the Fortress of Trees. She carried a long slender silver instrument with a wick on one side and an inverted silver cup on the other, used to extinguish candle flames. Carefully, she snuffed each of the candles that had shed light during the previous night. Dawn was breaking, providing even more golden glow to the leaves of the Mallorn.
The Host of the Order had been summoned by Alkawen and by late evening, all that were able to attend the ugent meeting had assembled in the Great Hall of the Order of the Seven. Eyes darted from one to the other in anticipation of why the leader of their secret society had called them home. There had only been a few instances of such a gathering over the thousands of years since the founding of the Order. The Iaurmenel stood before the Order in full Elven armour then began speaking, with a deliberate, serious tone:
"Mae l'ovannen, le suilon, my friends, my family. I am well pleased by how many of you have assembled here considering the very short time you have had to make your way to the compound.
You have been called here because there is to be a change in the Order that will affect all of us. After lengthy conversation between myself and the Council of Seven, we believe the time has come for the Order to step out of hiding, end our secret activities.
The world has changed greatly and the good peoples of this world need another Sign of Hope. This Order has stood firmly against Evil and the Shadow over millenniums when needed, doing our part in making the advancement of the wicked and villainous difficult or impossible. But as you know, we have done so secretly, mainly because it has been one of the best ways to gather information and safeguard our members.
Times are different, more so now than most times of the past. Go forth, make yourselves known, lend aid openly to those who are or wish to resist the advancing Shadow! Draw others into the Order that are of like mind, spirit and dedication to Good. It is time we stand visible, at all costs, to show our enemies they do not go unnoticed, they do not go unchecked! We are another light from the shadows, shine brightly!"
The announcement concluded about an hour before dawn. The Grand Hall sprung alive with chatter and cheers and on a few, a concerned appearance, but the decision had been made. The Order was no longer working behind the scenes, they would stand radiant beside their allies.
