[she'll take the other side of it, falling on the couch in a sort of graceful lounge. it's a bit of a long story, so she wants to be comfortable.]

And this one has a lot of truth in it. I'll only skip over the boring parts.

Now, it actually doesn't begin at quite the beginning you'd think it would. There was a battle some time back -- if you ever hear about something called a Silmaril, that's what I'm referring to. That was....tragic business. [Celegorm.] Anyway! Before that battle, Her Majesty gave me two things, which were the sword I carry and a letter asking me to help eliminate our enemy at Redgate.

Redgate, if you don't know, is a city and fortress both in the western lands. An extraordinary place, beautiful and severe, and constructed with a very special property in its very walls...blood granite.