The next few days passed and a fair number of villagers joined the ranks of the warriors. Some came with their own weapons and for others Dryid made loans of swords and axes, while Cheina found all the bows she could. Some of these new humans were scared about facing such deadly enemies but had been persuaded by Artemis that it was better to go down fighting than hiding in a hut.
The base camp was becoming more busy and crowded as Lorenz sat around a stump with Liya, Artemis, Clackamas and Arin making plans for what they hopped would be the final battle.
“We have added thirty villagers,” Artemis reported, “Six are already fair archers with their own bows. Fourteen have agreed to fight with sword or axe face to face with The Twelve. That leaves ten who can fight either with sword or bow. What are your plans Lorenz?”
The eldest elf looked thoughtful, “That would bring us to twenty-two on the battle field and eight archers if my calculations are correct. If we were to have at least two warriors to one of The Twelve then we require two more willing to fight on the field. We secure those two and then the others shall have the choice. Arin if you could go report that to Dryid and Cheina and then report back here…” the youngest elf rushed off and Lorenz continued, “I think it would be best if we could make them think that our ranks were smaller. They will not be concerned with twenty-four warriors; that they could take very easily. Our advantage will be the archers. I don’t want them to fire until we have The Twelve engaged in battle enough that it will not make it easy for them to continue fighting on the ground and also shoot up at the archers….”
Arin returned, “ Cheina and Dryid have decided that three shall go to the field and the remaining seven shall fight from the trees. Sir,” he addressed Lorenz, “ I  know that I may be interrupting something but I think I have a theory that could be vital to battle if you don’t mind me stating it?”
The elder elf wore a bemused look, “Let’s hear it then.”
Arin took a deep breath, “I don’t think you can kill any member of The Twelve singly. I think that they have somehow joined their lives so that one can receive a fatal wound and it will not die. I think that they all have to be killed at once.”
Liya looked skeptical, “What makes you think that?” she asked
“During the last battle I shot one in a way that should have been fatal but it only roared and pressed on. And when does Meria only wound after she has disarmed?” Arin said, his eyes intense.
“He may be right,” Lorenz said, “What would you say Clackamas?”
“It is either that or they have all bestowed their lives upon on of their numbers and so none of them will perish until that one does. He would be the strongest and most protected of their number so he would be the hardest to kill,” Clackamas agreed.
“Then we must take these theories into account when we plan our battle,” Lorenz continued.
The planning went late into the night, however when the leaders retired to their tents they all felt slightly more confident then they had before the previous battle. They knew that they would have to strike in two days. The Twelve’s pattern of travel and attack predicted that they would all go to take down the capital of Elanova and claim it for themselves, and to get there they would have to pass through the Great Valley where Lorenz would have his forces waiting.