EXT. THE BORDER OF FORÊT ENCHANTÉE -- DAY

Marcel rides Tonnerre to the edge of a tree line and dismounts. He enters the forest leading Tonnerre.

BEGIN SONG.

EXT. FORÊT ENCHANTÉE -- DAY

As they walk, low hanging tree branches raise and allow them to pass under, grass bends aside to avoid being trampled, and moss gathers up to expose a trail.

BEGIN MONTAGE

EXT. AN ORCHARD IN FORÊT ENCHANTÉE -- DAY

Marcel and Tonnerre step from the deeper woods bordering Forêt Enchantée and onto a dirt road running alongside an orchard In the orchard, Elves prune dead branches while Pixies flit from tree to tree with tiny buckets, pollinating them.

The elves are almost as tall as a human but very slight and have gaunt faces and long pointed ears.

The pixies are tiny people about the size of an adult human hand. They wear clothes made of leaves and have butterfly's wings. The males have wild greenish hair and the females all wear flowers turned upside down for hats.

The elves and pixies wave to Marcel and he waves back.

Marcel reaches the end of the orchard.

EXT. A LARGE ROCKY OUTCROPPING IN FORÊT ENCHANTÉE -- DAY

Marcel and Tonnerre move past a rocky outcropping into which is carved a mine shaft.

Two dwarves roll a miners cart on rails full of ore out of the mine. They, too, wave to Marcel and he waves back.

The dwarves are about three feet tall with long beards and metal shod boots. Being miners, they carry pickaxes and wear helmets with candles mounted on them.

The road runs past the outcropping onto a large grassy plain.

EXT. THE COAL PLAIN IN FORÊT ENCHANTÉE -- DAY

The road leads out onto the plain which is dotted with coal mines.

There is what appears to be a sinkhole about forty feet across conspicuous in the middle of it.

Each mine is a shack with a two story log tripod beside it which has a large pulley at the apex which is used to lower a platform into the mine.

Each mine is staffed by a band of trolls.

The trolls are a little taller than the dwarves and far more muscular. They have no facial hair but have huge wild mops of hair on their heads. Their most noticeable feature is their huge bulbous noses. They also wear helmets with mounted candles but carry shovels instead of picks.

They also wave at Marcel and he waves back.

The road reaches a lumber camp

EXT. THE LUMBER CAMP IN FORÊT ENCHANTÉE -- DAY

Gnomes are hewing timber and carpentering.

The gnomes are smaller than the dwarves and wear their beards shorter with no mustaches. They each wear a tall, pointed, red hat with no brim.

They also exchange waves with Marcel.

The road goes on into some farm fields.

EXT. THE WHEAT FIELDS IN FORÊT ENCHANTÉE -- DAY

Conspicuous in the background is a large windmill.

There is another large sinkhole in the middle of a field.

Regular human farmers work this land and are in the midst of planting.

Marcel also returns their waves.

The road leads to a grove of oaks.

EXT. THE OAK GROVE -- DAY

Within the grove there is a lovely silver-haired woman, SYLVIA, dressed in a red smock with short sleeves slit up the sides, tight doeskin breeches, a red leather pair of boots, and a doeskin belt. She is surrounded by a chorus of birds seemingly singing to her specifically. The song is now sung by the birds.

She is doing a dance composed of a series of high leaps and bounds to the music. There is a small red-haired pixie, SWEETBERRY, with a flower on her head worn as a hat that flits around the woman in time with her dance. She is wearing a pink and white Tinkerbell type outfit. Marcel stands back in the shadows until they're finished then gains their attention. The woman runs to him and warmly embraces him.

END SONG.

MARCEL
Good to see you, too Cher.

The pixie flits around the couple.

SWEETBERRY
Hi, Marcel! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi!

MARCEL
(Chuckles)
Hello Sweetberry.

Sweetberry flies over to Tonnerre and buzzes around his head several times before flying up into his face.

SWEETBERRY
Hi, Tonnerre, Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi!

Tonnerre blows right in her face. He has an annoyed look on his face.

SWEETBERRY (CON'T)
AWWWW, Tonnerre all cranky. Cranky! Cranky! Cranky!

She alights on his head between his ears. Tonnerre half-smiles.

SYLVIA
Marcel, where have you been? When you didn't come home we were all so worried!

MARCEL
I know, Sylvia, I know, but a lot more has happened far more swiftly than anyone expected. Bastien's spell has been broken.

SYLVIA
That's ...good news, isn't it?

MARCEL
Not quite. The Shadowforces may have been building off the magic which generated the spell. They may also have sown the seeds of distrust in the villages around the castle. A group of the villagers even tried to storm the castle led by a thick-witted would-be hero named Gaston. I saw him fall off the parapet, but if I know the shads, they'll find a way to save him and use him to their ends. He'd be perfect for them.

SYLVIA
Well, what did your friend say?

MARCEL
I-I-I-I haven't spoken to him yet.

SYLVIA
What? why on earth not?

MARCEL
I'm .... not ready to. We hardly parted as friends. I'm worried that if I try to confront him with all that's happened, I'll just make things worse. Who's to say that he'd even listen to me after all this time.

SYLVIA
Marcel! Since when are you afraid to speak your mind? For as long as I've known you, you've never backed down from telling the truth. 'Let 'em hear the truth even if they don't wanna listen to it' Isn't that what you always used to say? and anyway, you always used to sit down and write letters to people when you thought they didn't want to speak to you. Why didn't you do that?

Marcel turns away

MARCEL
Well...

Sylvia realizes something else is wrong and comes up beside him to take his hand.

SYLVIA
What is it? really?

MARCEL
Sylvia, Bastien and I have lived through ten years of sheer pain and misery. His spell is finally broken and now I'm about to ride into his castle and tell him that two armies of magical beings whom he's never heard of except in storybooks are about to storm his castle gates. War is about to descend on the head of my best friend and there's not a damned thing I can do about it!....

Sylvia puts her arms around him and holds him close.

MARCEL(CON'T)
... and that's not all. When I saw him on that balcony with that young peasant girl who broke the spell, I saw a look on his face that I never thought I'd see there. He's happy, darling, happier than I've ever seen him. I think he's found everything he's ever wanted in that girl as well as everything he never knew he wanted and now I'm supposed to ride in there and destroy that happiness. Maybe I just want to put it off as long as I could.

SYLVIA
You won't be destroying it, Marcel. You'll just be bearing some bad news. They'll find out one way or another, you know. You didn't create the Shadowforces nor could you prevent their creation. None of us could. I wish I could make them disappear with a wave of my hand, too, but I can't. Don't be so hard on yourself. No one can do everything.

Marcel opens his eyes and gets a look on his face that says he's realized what monumental idiocy he has just been speaking. He hugs her closely.

MARCEL
You're right, love. I feel like a complete moron.
(Smiles)

Sylvia breaks away to look into his eyes and smiles mischievously.

SYLVIA
You should.

Marcel smiles mischievously in return

MARCEL
How do you put up with me sometimes?

Sylvia places her hand on the nape of his neck.

SYLVIA
Oh, it's not as hard as it seems.

Sylvia pulls his head toward hers and kisses him. Sweetberry looks fondly at them and sighs. Tonnerre looks annoyed and disgusted.

Marcel breaks gently away.

MARCEL
I guess we should get going, eh? The council will want a complete report before I go.

SYLVIA
I suppose so. We can leave Tonnere at the taverne to rest and still make the morning session.

Sylvia takes his hand.

SYLVIA (CON'T)
You think the Enchantress will be there?

MARCEL
Probably. If only to gloat over the fine spell she cast.

He takes Tonnerre's reins and leads him along.

MARCEL(CON'T)
She ever give her name?

EXT. THE ROAD THROUGH THE WOODS IN FORÊT ENCHANTÉE -- DAY

SYLVIA
Hmp! Not since last week. Not so much as A name. Why? Were you expecting her to?

MARCEL
Guess not. Still...I wish we knew more about the woman who cast the spell over a prince of France. The woman shows up out of the blue one day, casts an incredibly powerful spell over a group of people whom she has never met, then disappears without so much as a reason why. If what I've heard is also true, she showed up here under similar circumstances and now she's one of the council's most important members. How does someone who's right out of nowhere gain so much power so quickly.

SYLVIA
I don't know Marcel. I've been trying to find out what I can like you asked me to, but I haven't really learned anything we didn't already know. I suspect that my father knows something that the other council members don't, but I've no idea what it could be. I asked him and he said that it was something I was better off not knowing. I think we both remember what happened the last time we found something out that he said we were better off not knowing.

MARCEL
We may not have the option of not knowing anymore, Sylvia. This is War that's about to break out and I'll not fight another war based on lies. I had enough of that in the musketeers.

They come to a clearing.

EXT. THE CLEARING WITH THE TAVERN -- DAY

In the center of the clearing is a medium sized, two level, building made of wood with a large sign out front with the words 'TAVERNE DANS LE BOIS' emblazoned on it. There is a very portly man, BIERE, with an apron and a big smile chatting with several travelers who have stopped there. Marcel waves to get his attention.

MARCEL
Monsieur Biere!!!

MONSIEUR BIERE
MARCEL! SYLVIA! Mes Enfants!

He runs up to them and grabs each one in one of his huge arms giving them a huge bear hug.

MONSIEUR BIERE (CON'T)
Again you have returned safely from your wanderings to see your old friend Biere.

Both Marcel and Sylvia hug him back

SYLVIA
It's good to see you too old friend.

MARCEL
Yeah. I just wish we could stay longer.

Biere releases them.

MONSIEUR BIERE
Running off again already? Haw! You two will wear your shoes out traveling like zis all ze time.

SYLVIA
No, Biere, it's not like that.

MARCEL
We have to get to the grove to attend the council meeting.

MONSIEUR BIERE
Bah, I cannot see why hue bozer wiz zose pompous windbags. Every day zey meet and every day zey cannot agree on ze color of ze sky. Ze only one wiz any sense is your fazher, cherie, and even he cannot escape ze foul stew zat ze council has become. Mark my words, eef ze councilors don't find somezing to agree upon soon, ze shadowforces will walk right in here one dark night and dicide for zem.

SYLVIA
Could they do that?

MONSIEUR BIERE
It would not be ze first time, cherie. Come, eat wiz your old friend before hue go.

MARCEL
I'm afraid we don't have time for that right now Biere. Here.

He hands Biere the reins

MARCEL(CON'T)
We need you to take care of Tonnerre while we go in and report to the council what I saw on my wanderings. We'll come back for lunch and tell you all about it, then.

MONSIEUR BIERE
I zhall look forward to eet zen, mes amis.

He tugs on Tonnerre's reins.

MONSIEUR BIERE (CON'T)
Come, mon puissant ami, I will stable and feed you after your long journey. Zen you shall be allowed to rest.

SYLVIA
See you around noon.

She waves.

MONSIEUR BIERE
Au revoir.

He waves back.

EXT. THE ROAD THROUGH THE WOODS IN FORÊT ENCHANTÉE -- DAY

Hand in hand, they head off through the woods again until they come to the base of a hill.

EXT. THE FOOT OF LE COLLINE DES GRANDS ARBRES -- DAY

At the top of the hill, towering over the rest of the trees, stand a circle of trees well over fifty feet tall. These trees are visible for miles around and of all of different kinds.

Marcel and Sylvia approach the hill and stone steps climbing the hill become visible. They begin to climb the steps toward the circle.

EXT. THE STEPS OF LE COLLINE DES GRANDS ARBRES  -- DAY

SYLVIA
Do you think the council will do anything?

MARCEL
I don't know what they're going to do but I know what I'm going to do: I'm setting out for the Chateau de la Bete as soon as we finish lunch at the taverne. It's long past time I took my place at Bastien's side.

He stops Sylvia and looks into her eyes.

MARCEL(CON'T)
Sylvia, I don't want you to feel obliged to stand with me on this. This is war that's about to break out and the course that I have chosen may well lead to my death. If I'm going down, I'd rather not take you with me---

SYLVIA
Marcel---

MARCEL
You can still walk away from all this if ---

SYLVIA
MARCEL!! Will you please stop! I'm not going to sit meekly aside and let you do this alone. As long as I've known you, you've always done what you believed in . Didn't it ever occur to you that I might believe in some of the same things you do?

There is a long pause as they look at each other.

SYLVIA (CON'T)
Now, come on, or we'll be late.

They continue climbing the hill.

EXT. THE TOP OF LE COLLINE DES GRANDS ARBRES  -- DAY

At the top of the hill sits large marble table with long runes carved into it. The seven trees stand in a perfect circle around it. Directly across from the steps, the largest tree, an oak, rises to the sky. In front of it is seated an elderly man, ARGENTE', with a long silver beard. His eyes are the same color as Sylvia's and he is dressed in a long flowing green robe. He is bareheaded and bald and has a look on his face which says that he would rather be anywhere than where he is.

To his left, in front of a mighty ironwood tree, there sits a dwarf, IRONHAND, with a long, flowing, red beard with gray streaks. He, too, is bareheaded and his red hair is as long as his beard and well groomed. He is also wearing a long flowing green robe but with metal-shod boots and a leather belt around his waist from which hangs a ceremonial hammer. He sits in a chair meant to give him enough height as to sit on an equal level with the taller members of the council. He is currently engaged in a heated discussion with the Elflord on the other side of the table.

To the left of the dwarf, beneath a huge maple tree, sits the Enchantress, dressed as she was before in a flowing green gown with a crown on her brow and her long golden hair draped upon her shoulders. She looks bored as if the matters of this council are far beneath her.

To her left, beneath a giant pine tree, sits a brown-haired, brown-eyed, balding, kindly-looking gnome, WOODWEAVER, with horn-rimmed glasses. Like all his kind, he wears a tall, pointed, red hat with no brim. Unlike his the other councilors, he is not dressed in a green robe but in a green shirt with brown trousers and suspenders. He wears a neatly trimmed beard connected via sideburns to the patches of hair around his ears. He has no mustaches. He also sits in a chair which allows him to sit as high as the taller members of the council. He listens attentively to the debate with a serious look.

To the left of the gnome is a wide marble platform meant for audiences. Marcel and Sylvia stand quietly on this platform waiting for the council to acknowledge their presence.

To their left, under a massive cypress tree, sits a gray-bearded, wizened-looking troll, STONEHAMMER. His eyes are ice-blue with a certain spark behind them and his face is very wrinkled. His most noticeable feature is his large bulbous nose. He wears a green robe which is slightly darker in color than that of the others and follows the conversation between the elflord and the dwarf with serious interest.

To his left, in a chair hung from the branches of a tall willow tree, sits an elderly pixie, ELMWOOD, with long gray hair. She is dressed in a long green dress. Her chair is specially constructed to accommodate her butterfly's wings. She wears a silver crown on her head and watches the exchange between the dwarf and the elf with consternation.

Finally, to her left, under a towering aspen tree, sits a very tall and thin elf, AGELAS, with gray blonde hair. His face is gaunt, like that of all his kind, and his ears are long and pointed. His eyes are bright blue and his fingers, which are on the table in front of him, are long and slender. He is still arguing with the dwarf.

AGELAS
You can't be serious, Master Ironhand! To declare war upon the Underlands now would surely cost us everything we have built here in Forêt Enchantée. Are you suggesting that we endanger everything that we have been building for the last two centuries simply for the sake of revenge?

IRONHAND
Vengeance has nothing to do with it, Lord Agelas. The action that needs to be taken is for the sake of our lives and our homes. Nothing more and nothing less! Every day, the Shadowforces move closer to all of our borders. We dwarves have already had several skirmishes with them as have the trolls. And then  last week... We'll not wait for another midnight strike from them before we move against them. We lost too many of our kin twenty years ago in the last shadow war. We'll not be caught napping again. It's long past time we took the fight to them.

AGELAS
You can no more engage the Shadowforces in underground combat than can anyone else. To attack the underlands is beyond foolhardy. It is Madness. To engage in such insanity would not only mean the extermination of your entire tribe, but the death of any hope of peace between our lands and theirs

IRONHAND
There is no more hope for peace now than there was twenty years ago when the last war broke out. They attacked us under the same banners then and for the same reasons. Nothing has changed.

AGELAS
I cannot believe that! The Black Council are all dead, their objects of power destroyed, the races of the Underlands have all been pacified. One of them has even joined this council. I say that everything has changed. If the Shadowforces are indeed arming for war, They can't possibly have that much backing them.

Everyone present immediately looks at him incredulously. He notices this.

AGELAS (CON'T)
I know that they have never made empty boasts, but surely if there were any great power backing them we would know of it.

ARGENTE'
(Speaking clearly in a tone that commands respect while demanding order.)
That, Ladies and Gentlemen, is precisely what we are here to discuss this morning. It is my firm belief that any course of action we decide upon must be decided upon now. We all remember the last shadow war, some, apparently more than others.

While saying this last remark, he looks straight at the Enchantress.

ARGENTE' (CON'T)
I feel that whatever happens, we must be prepared for the worst. For this reason I would wish you both to defer this conversation that we may hear from Madame Enchantress.

He addresses her directly.

ARGENTE' (CON'T)
Madame Enchantress, As an expert in all things magical, would you please inform the council as to what you have been able to gather regarding what powers the Shadowforces may have backing them at this time.

ENCHANTRESS
Certainly Monsieur Argente'. As near as I have been able to ascertain, my fellow councilors, the only truly magical power behind the Shadowforces is that of the mad sorceress Lisette. Thus far, however, she has yet to exhibit any sort of power capable of challenging this council. The shadow commanders fear her however, in the same way they used to fear the Black Council. It follows, therefore, that she must have considerably more power than she has thus far demonstrated. If she truly does have the power necessary to carry the Shadowforces to victory, she uses it sparingly and because of this, I have yet to discern its source.

ARGENTE'
You have no idea what the source of her power might be?

ENCHANTRESS
I have some.. theories but nothing conclusive. Every source of magic I know of that would be strong enough for their purposes is far too powerful for any one person to control. I know of nothing that any sane magician would consider or that any insane one could control.

AGELAS
And yet you believe that this woman poses some threat.

ENCHANTRESS
In the past, sir, I have found it very unwise to underestimate the Lady Lisette.

AGELAS
Ah yes, your past, Madame. The one you still refuse to tell us about. You know this Lady Lisette and yet you refuse to tell us how. You say there are no mystical powers capable of challenging the council and yet the Shadowforces continue to mass at our borders. You claim to be an expert on all things magical and yet the solution to this particular problem eludes you...

ENCHANTRESS
Is there a point to this, Lord Agelas?

AGELAS
Merely that young Master Marcel is not the only citizen of this kingdom who distrusts you.

ENCHANTRESS
If the sorcerers among your people or any in the land can in fact bring evidence of either my duplicity or my incompetence, let them come before the council and make their case. Otherwise, I would thank you to keep your pathetic insinuations to yourself!

Argente' raps his open hand on the table soundly, the ring on his finger cracking sharply against the marble silencing the grove.

ARGENTE'
That will be quite enough of that! We are here to solve our problems, not add to them with childish bickering. Young Master Marcel wishes to address the council. It is time that he was allowed to do so. Step forward, Master Marcel, Do you wish to address this council?

MARCEL
I do.

ARGENTE'
With regards to what, young man?

MARCEL
With regards to the gathering clouds of war beyond the borders of Forêt Enchantée and the dissolution of the spell which imprisoned my friend Bastien.

ARGENTE'
Speak then, Youth.

MARCEL

Thank you, Sire. On my latest sojourn beyond the borders of the forest, I found myself in the lands of my childhood. I find myself drawn back there every once in a while just to see how the people there are bearing up under the spell. Upon my arrival I found the village very much the same as it had been ten years ago. I furthermore found the spell still firmly in place with no sign of weakening. I was riding back through the woods when I happened upon an old man besieged by a pack of Shadowforce Darkwolves. My horse and I leapt to his defense and between the two of us, we managed to drive off the pack. The man told me then that he was on his way to rescue his daughter who had been imprisoned in the Chateau de la Bete'. We had barely caught our breath, however, before we were set upon by the mad sorceress Lisette, herself. The old man managed to find cover whilst we battled her. We managed to keep her at bay until she dropped a large snowbank on the old man who apparently had been her target all along. She left laughing whilst I dug the old man out of the snow. I left him with one of the fires Lisette had caused with her spellcasting and attempted to pursue her on horseback. Failing to pick up her trail, I returned to the site to find that the fire had doused itself by melting the snow in the bough of the tree above it and that the man had pushed on down the trail until he was found by a girl on a horse. This girl, whoever she was, was not Lisette for she was wearing simple peasant shoes where Lisette had been wearing full leather boots. The man was taken back to the village by this girl whom I later learned was his daughter. I followed to make certain that the man was well only to run quite literally into him not three yards within town limits. He was terribly upset, stammering something about his daughter and a mob. I offered him a ride to wherever he was going if he would tell me what he was going on about. He accepted. and as we set off once more for the Chateau, he told me that his daughter had indeed befriended the Beast but had unfortunately told a group of villagers who'd set out to kill the Beast simply because of his vicious appearance. I immediately drove Tonnerre on to the old east road which had been forgotten and overgrown during the past ten years. I pushed him as hard as I could in hopes that we would arrive at the chateau ahead of the mob. We did manage to arrive ahead of the man's daughter but were cut off within sight of the castle by another pack of Darkwolves. We managed to fight them off again but not before the girl caught up with us. As I was not able to approach the castle due to the spell, I sent them on ahead hoping they could do whatever it was they needed to do. From my vantage point I was able to watch all the events at the castle as they unfolded. The mob was driven away and the Beast was attacked by the mob's leader. The young lady, Belle was her name, arrived and this seemed to invigorate the Beast so that what had looked like a sure victory for the villager became a long and harsh duel between the two. The Beast defeated the villager and held him over the gorge beneath the castle. The villager begged for his life and the Beast spared it only to be stabbed in his back as soon as he had turned it. They both almost fell into the gorge but the young lady managed to save the Beast. The villager, however, fell to his presumed death. I have no idea what exactly happened between the girl and the Beast at that time but whatever it was was enough to break the spell. I watched as the entire castle was transfigured and all the people within it restored to humanity. It was the most wonderful sight I have ever beheld. I...

He is overcome for a moment.

MARCEL(CON'T)
Please excuse me.

ARGENTE'
Quite all right young man.

The entire council nods sympathetically.

MARCEL
Anyway, I returned here directly to inform the council of the broken spell and the Shadowforces apparent interest in it.

AGELAS
What could possibly interest them in that part of the country?

IRONHAND
There's precious little metals in those hills and the earth is soft- better for farming than for tunneling.

ARGENTE'
Madame Enchantress, are there any sources of magical power in that area which they could be interested in?

The Enchantress seems preoccupied.

ARGENTE' (CON'T)
Madame Enchantress?

ENCHANTRESS
Hmm? What? What?

ARGENTE'
Did you hear my question, Madame?

ENCHANTRESS
Oh.. Yes. I know of no other source of magic in that area besides the enchantment which is, of course, no more.

ARGENTE'
You seem preoccupied, Madame Enchantress. Have you any idea as to what the underlanders would seek in that vicinity?

ENCHANTRESS
No. I am merely amazed that the spell has been broken. I never would have expected the folk under it to demonstrate the necessary strength of character.

ARGENTE'
Yes well, be that as it may, I would thank you Madame to focus your mind on the task at hand. The Shadowforces are far too close for us to do otherwise.

WOODWEAVER
Might I make a suggestion , Ser?

ARGENTE'
Of course, Master Woodweaver.

WOODWEAVER
Why don't we ask the lad 'ere-

He nods at Marcel

WOODWEAVER (CON'T)
-what 'e thinks they're up to? 'e's always had a certain insight int' these things. Let's hear what 'e 'as to say.

STONEHAMMER
Jah, der boy iss very clefer in desse matters.

ARGENTE'
Very well, Master Woodweaver, Master Stonehammer. We will consult young Master Marcel. Marcel, have you any idea what the Shadowforces might seek in that area.

MARCEL
You know I hadn't really given much thought to that 'til now, but I have just thought of something: Suppose the Shadowforces, upon learning of the spell, decided to use it to build their own version of Forêt Enchantée'. They could use the fact that nobody remembers the place to shield themselves and lay more enchantments over the area to make it more hospitable to their kind. They could grow the forests in that area into defenses just like the ones we have here. There's really no end to what they could do.

This draws fearful looks from the entire assembly. The Enchantress is openly horrified.

ARGENTE'
These are grave statements, Young Marcel. If the underlanders did indeed manage to annex any part of the surface lands, it would mean certain disaster for any neighboring lands as well as those annexed.

ELMWOOD
Why is that, Lord Argente'?

The Enchantress looks at her gravely.

ENCHANTRESS
Because, Madame Elmwood, the spells they would be required to cast would spill over into any surrounding lands and twist weather and plant life until the only ones capable of living with them would be the underlanders.

ELMWOOD
Ooooh.

ARGENTE'
It would appear, fellow councilors, that we have vastly underestimated the Shadowforces yet again. This is a mistake which we can afford less and less. We must not, under any circumstances, do so again. This meeting will adjourn until this afternoon at which time all council members shall return here to develop a plan of action against the them.

ENCHANTRESS
But Monsieur Argente', Why should we? Young Marcel has already informed us that the spell has been broken. What action need this council take?

ARGENTE'
As I said before, we cannot afford to underestimate the Shadowforces again. If I were planning to build off a spell such as the one in question, the first thing I would do would be to make sure that even after its dissolution, any memories of the spellbound would not return to anyone outside the spell. We must assume, until proven otherwise, that the Prince and his retainers stand completely alone against the Shadowforces and that we are the only help they can expect. I'm sure Young Master Marcel will be able to advise us on our course of action at this afternoon's meeting.

MARCEL
I must apologize, respected councilors, but immediately following this council's adjournment I will be departing for the Chateau de la Bete'. I cannot stay in Forêt Enchantée any longer.

This draws gasps and exclamations from all assembled.

ARGENTE'
But Marcel, you will be needed here.

MARCEL
Not nearly as much as I will be needed at the chateau. The people there don't even know of the Shadowforces or of us. I'll not spend another night wondering if my friends there are being murdered in their beds. They must be warned of what is about to happen and as I am the only one they know who's involved in all of this, I must be the one who tells them.

AGELAS
Do you think they'll believe you?

MARCEL
I'll have to make them believe.

ARGENTE'
Actually this may work better for us. We have ways of contacting Marcel at the chateau and ways he can use to contact us. He can send us reports to let us know exactly what is happening.

MARCEL
Sounds like a plan to me.

STONEHAMMER
Jah! Und a goot vun at dhat.

ARGENTE'
Very well then. Tomorrow at noon we will contact you at the castle Marcel. You will then give us a status report and if, at that time, you need any help convincing your friend of the seriousness of the situation, we will take steps to aid you.

MARCEL
Thank you Milord.

ARGENTE'
Does anyone have anything else to add?

Silence

ARGENTE' (CON'T)
All right then, Meeting adjourned. I'll see you all this afternoon. Marcel, Safe journey to you.

MARCEL
Thank you again.

The Councilors all stand and stretch. Marcel and Sylvia turn around and head down the steps.