Aspholessaria

At first they passed through the forest Asphodel knew. she had not been far away from Quantissarillishon, but had played in the forest around as she grew up. She knew the little streams and the tall trees. She could tell Vass which ones were the best to climb and which were almost impossible. She laughed as she pointed out one where Liss had got stuck when he climbed up too high. He was there for several hours until his father came and helped him down.

They held hands as they walked, and did not stop even to eat. Asphodel took out some food she had pilfered from her mother's pantry and they ate as they walked. Vass said they needed to get as far away as possible. Although Asphodel's parents were away for a few days, Vass was unsure how long Liss's parents would wait before becoming anxious. Certaily they would not worry until after nightfall, but would they be anxious then when he did not return for the night. He suspected they would. After all, he was their responsibility while staying with them.

The darkness began to creep in and Asphodel shivered.

'Are you cold?' asked Vass.

Asphodel shook her head. 'No, not really,' she told him. 'It's just that the forest seems different at night.'

'Haven't you been out in the forest at night before?'

'My parents are very protective. I'm a girl, after all, and not expected to go adventuring in the forest.'

Vass stopped in a clearing through which a little stream ran.

'We can stay here for the night,' he said. 'We'll need a fire, though. You get water from the stream while I gather wood.'

When Asphodel got back from the stream, she found Vass cutting the turf in the little clearing to make a circle.

'What are you doing?' she asked him.

'Preparing a hearth for our fire. We can't risk setting fire to the forest.'

Asphodel sat down and watched with interest. After cutting the turf and setting it aside to replace after they had finished with the fire, Vass picked up a stone from a pile he had collected. They were fairly large and he built a ring around the hearth.

He picked up some dry leaves and placed them in the centre of the hearth before laying some small twigs over the top or them. Once he had everything prepared, he took a small metal box from his pack. When he opened it, he removed, a piece of steel. and a small sharpened piece of flint which he struck against the steel. Inside the box was some tinder and when the sparks from the steel fell onto it, it began to smoulder. Vass then blew gently and, taking a wooden splint, he lit it and applied it to the dry leaves.

'Asphodel, can you blow gently on the leaves to get them burning while I put out the tinder in the tinderbox and pack it away?'

Asphodel was only too pleased to comply, and as the small twigs caught fire, she fed some slightly larger ones onto the fire. Vass took over then, gradually adding larger pieces of wood until he had a hearty blaze going.

'There, that should keep us safe tonight,' he said, sitting back on his heels. 'Wild animals won't come near fire.'

Asphodel looked around the clearing, fear showing in her eyes. She had not thought of wild animals, but of course, there would be bears, wolves and wild boar at the least. She realised how unprepared she was for t his adventure.

Vass smiled at her. 'They won't come near the fire, I promise you,' he repeated.

'What if the fire goes out while we're sleeping?'

'We must take it in turns to watch it. It's not like having a full night's sleep, and we'll be more tired tomorrow, but it's necessary. I'd let you sleep, but I need some too.'

He reached over and pulled her to him, kissing her passionately. Asphodel pulled away.

'What's wrong? Don't you want me?'

Asphodel looked at him. 'I'm here, aren't I? Would I be here if I didn't want you?'

'Well, why are you pulling away?'

'Firstly, I'm a bit afraid. I've never...you know. Then, what if I become pregnant?'

Vass frowned. 'Surely you knew what would happen if you came away with me? I want us to be married, but there's no need to wait. We're not in Quantisarillishon now.'

'Oh, Vass, I'm worried about the pregnancy thing. I know elves expect youngsters to experiment, and it's not really frowned on, but illegitimacy is. We're expected to make sure we don't get pregnant.'

Vass lay down on his blankets and turned over. 'Take the first watch,' he snapped. 'I'll relieve you in a bit, and don't let the fire go out.'

Asphodel's eyes filled with tears that she quickly brushed away. She was not going to let Vass's anger upset her. This was their first quarrel, and undoubtedly they would have many more over their long lifetimes. She would get used to it, she determined, and not let it get to her.

After a while, she felt her eyes closing. She stood up and walked around the clearing, gathering some more wood to put on the fire as it seemed to her to be getting low. The walking cleared her head a little, and as she sat down again, Ullin, the silver moon, broke through the clouds above the clearing turning everything silvery. Asphodel smiled. Ullin was full, and seemed to be smiling.

He seems to approve of my running away with Vass, she thought.

Just then, Vass woke and told her to get some sleep. He would tend the fire now.

The next morning, when Asphodel woke, Vass was putting the fire out. He removed the stones by kicking them out of the way. They were still hot. Then Asphodel watched as he replaced the turf he had cut away. Soon it would be difficult to see anyone had lit a fire here.

Vass said little as they ate some stale bread and cheese, not as they walked hand in hand towards what they hoped was the Erian border.

'Vass, what's wrong?' Asphodel asked him after an hour of silent walking.

'I told you last night. I'm going mad being this near you all night and not being able to make love to you.'

Asphodel sighed. So he was still angry at that. She stopped walking and looked at him.

'You can wait, Vass, surely. We'll have all our lives to make love as much as we want once I can get herbs to stop pregnancy.'

Vass looked at her through narrowed eyes. 'Are you regretting coming away with me?'

Was she? She could turn back now. Perhaps her parents had not come home from Daisy's yet. and would not know of her escapade If they did know they would be angry, yes. Very angry. She would undoubtedly be punished severely, but they would forgive her. Frishillondor was not too bad. He was quite good looking for a man her father's age, and he seemed kind. She might get to love him, eventually.

'Well?' Vass spoke sharply.

Asphodel looked at him and her stomach did a somersault. This was the man she loved. She had every right to be with him.

'I left my home and family because I love you, Vass. I would go anywhere to be with you. I regret nothing.'

'Then why wait for us to make love? You know elves have few babies. We're not a very fertile species, unlike humans. It would be very unlikely you would become pregnant before we could get married.'

Her grey eyes took on a steely glint.

'Unlikely isn't impossible, Vass. My mother had two babies whereas most elves only have one. We are of House Royal, and you know there are twins in the Royal line. We are more fertile than most elves. I'm not risking it.'

Vass relapsed into silence and they continued walking. Then he suddenly turned to her and said,
'You are a most stubborn girl, Aspholessaria.' He softened his words with a smile and bent to kiss her gently.

Three days passed as they walked through the forest. There had been no sign of pursuit, nor any dangers from the denizens of the forest, either. Vass had been right about the fire keeping wild beasts away. After these three days, the trees thinned and then they met a track leading westwards. They followed it and soon saw smoke rising from chimneys in a small human village.

'We must be in Erian,' exclaimed Vass. 'At last. Now you can go and seek out those herbs you were talking about.'

'One track mind,' laughed Asphodel and she ran ahead into the village.

Aspholessaria Part 3

Asphodel left the house, tears streaming down her face. She would go to Vass. He would have a solution to this. She could not, would not marry this man. He was old, in spite of what her father said. It was wrong to force someone to marry against their will. It was one thing if the two people both agreed to the arrangement, but she did not agree. She loved Vass. If she married Frishillondor she would never be able to see Vass again. she could not bear that thought.

She ran down the path leading to where he was staying with his cousin, Liss. It so happened that the two young men were just leaving the house. Vass ran to Asphodel and took her in his arms.

'Oh, my darling, what's the matter?' he said, stroking her long black hair.

Asphodel stopped sobbing now she was in Vass's arms and leaned her head against his chest.

'Vass, it's terrible. Father has arranged a marriage for me with a man who himself is old enough to be my father. I told father I won't marry him and ran out of the house. He'll be so angry. He'll make me marry Frishillondor, I just know it.'

Vass pushed the girl away from him, holding her by her shoulders and looked down into her grey eyes, no longer clear as the usually were. He smiled at her.

'Asphodel, I swear I won't let this marriage go ahead. I love you and you love me. It's right we should be together, and this marriage is all wrong.'

'But what are we going to do? I know we should be together, Vass, and somehow I'll make sure we will be. I don't know how, just yet, but whatever happens, I won't marry this man.'

Asphodel's tears had stopped. She clenched her fists pressed her lips together and looked up at Vass. She saw his smile and her heart beat faster. Yes, this was the right man for her, not Frishillondor.

'You don't much like being told what to do, do you?' Vass said.

'It's not that,' replied the girl. 'What I don't like is being told to do something I know is wrong, and I won't do it.'

Vass turned to Liss.

'Do you think your parents will let Asphodel stay here for tonight?' he asked his cousin.

Liss shrugged. 'It might not be easy to persuade them. After all, they would be likely to agree with Asphodel's parents, that it's her duty to marry the man they choose for her.'

The three walked through Quantissarillishon thinking and occasionally putting forward ideas. Eventually they decided they would have to lie about why Asphodel wanted to stay with them overnight.

As it began to get dark, the trio made their way back to Liss's parent's home. Liss's mother was preparing the evening meal as they entered.

'Ah, there you are,' she greeted them. 'Did you have a nice walk?' she turned to Liss.
'Your father will be home soon, so go and get washed. And you, too, Vass.' Then she looked at Asphodel.

'Would you like to stay for the evening meal, Asphodel? If you're sure your parents won't mind.'
Asphodel looked at Vass who smiled at his aunt.

'No, they won't mind. In fact they won't even know until Asphodel tells them. They've gone away to stay with her sister for a few days.'

'That's settled then. You'll stay to eat with us.'

She returned to chopping up vegetables when she suddenly stopped and, brushing her hair from her eyes, she said, 'I've just had an idea. How long are your parents going to be away for?'

This took Asphodel by surprise. She had not thought this question might be asked.

'O-Oh, er. I don't know. Daisy, that's Dassirrola, my sister, is expecting a baby any day and I think they'll stay until she's had it.'

Vass looked at her and raised his eyebrows. Asphodel looked back at him and gave a little nod to say that it was the truth she told about her sister.

'Oh, I understand that,' said Liss's mother. 'Your mother is so lucky having two of you. That's rare in elvenkind. Most of us have to make do with one child.'

She picked up her knife again and resumed her chopping before continuing.
'What I was going to say was; would you like to stay here while your parents are away? It'll be lonely for you at home by yourself.

Vass almost broke out laughing, and Liss's jaw nearly dropped to the floor. How easy it had turned out to be after all. No arguing a case for Asphodel to stay after all. His kind-hearted mother had done it for them.

The next morning, Vass took Asphodel out to walk in the forest outside the city.

Once there, he took her hand and said, 'I hardly slept last night, darling. I was thinking and thinking how we can be together and I came to the conclusion there is only one way. We must run away.'
Asphodel stopped and looked at him. 'Run away? Run to where? Wherever we go in Rindissillaron they'll find us.'

'Not to anywhere in Rindissillaron. This is a big continent. We could go to Erian. They'd not find us there. But we must go quickly. Your parents will be already looking for you. First they'll think you stayed with Sissi and not worry, but this evening they'll begin asking. It won't take them long before they think of looking here. We should go tonight, or at the latest, tomorrow morning.'

Asphodel walked to the edge of a small brook that ran through the forest.

'Leave Rindissillaron?'

'Yes.'

'I've never lived anywhere but here in Quantissarillishon.'

'Then it'll be an exciting adventure for you. It's the only way I can think of that we can be together.'
Asphodel turned to face Vass.

'Then we'll go. I have a few jewels and a little money. If I can get them without my parents seeing me, then I will. We'll need money.'

'I've a little money too. Not much, but I can work, and you can read and write so you can get a job as a scribe, I expect. We'll get along just fine.'

'I don't speak Erian, do you?'

Vass laughed. 'No, but we're both intelligent people and we learned Elvish, didn't we? How hard can it be to learn Erian?'

Asphodel laughed and Vass picked her up and spun her round.

'Here's to our new life in a new country,' he said

Aspholessaria Part 2

Asphodel spent the next few days in confusion. Her mother reprimanded her several times for forgetting little things.

'Really, Aspholessaria,' she said, 'Anyone would think you were in love. What's wrong with you?'

Her father laughed.

'Perhaps she is in love,' he joked. 'She's at that age.'

Her mother turned to her husband.

'She's of House Royal. She can't be allowed to fall in love.'

Asphodel thought, 'Am I in love?'

She wandered out into the city. She had an errand to do for her mother anyway, but she found her steps taking her towards where Linn lived. As she passed his house, the two young men came out.

'Asphodel,' called Vass. 'I'm so glad we've seen you. Are you and Sissi going to Allimissoro's tonight? Liss and I are, and I'd very much like it if you were there too.'

'I don't know,' replied the girl. 'I've not seen Sissi for a couple of days. I'll go and ask her later, when I've done the jobs mother wants me to do.'

Later, Sissi agreed to go to Allimissoro's that evening to meet the two young men. Asphodel was still in confusion. Vass had said he would like it if they were there, but did he mean her, Sissi or both of them?

Later that evening, it became apparent that Vass's interest was in Asphodel. He danced with her all evening and hardly took his eyes from her when he was not dancing. That evening he walked her home without the accompaniment of Sissi and Liss, who walked home separately.

Half-way to Asphodel's home, their hands touched. Asphodel's stomach turned over again as Vass took her hand in his. They walked along in silence, each happy in the other's company. The world around them had vanished. There was only Vass in the world as far as Asphodel was concerned.

All too soon the walk ended and they stood outside Asphodel's home. Vass put a fnger under Asphodel's chin and lifted her face, then he bent his head to kiss her. When his lips met hers she thought she would faint with pleasure.

The kiss seemed to go on for ever, but finished all too soon as far as Asphodel was concerned. She leaned against Vass's chest and he held her close.

'You're the most beautiful girl I've ever met,' he told her. 'I wish we could stay like this for always.'
Asphodel sighed and her practical side came to the fore.

'So do I, Vass,' she told him, 'but my mother will be wondering where I am soon. I'm afraid I must go in.'

Vass bent his head once more and delivered a passionate kiss on Asphodel's mouth, then stood and watched as she walked up the ramp leading to her home in the trees.

Asphodel and Sissi's visits to Allimissoro's became more frequent over the next few months. She did not deliberately keep her relationship with Vass secret from her parents, but she just never bothered to tell them. It didn't seem important they should know.

She was engrossed in her growing relationship with Vass. That was all that seemed important to the girl. He was kind and attentive and always complemented her on how she looked. Soon the pair took to meeting other than at Allimissoro's and took frequent walks in the land outside the city. If her mother thought anything, she assumed her daughter was out with Sissi somewhere.

One day, after Asphodel and Varr had been seeing one another for almost a year, Asphodel's father called her into his study.

'I have something to tell you,' he said. 'You remember Frishillondor? He came here not long ago, to eat with us as I had business with him and wanted to help it along. Well, it seems he was quite taken with you and he's asked me for your hand in marriage.'

Asphodel gasped.

'Yes, it's quite a surprise, isn't it? And quite an honour too. Your mother is thrilled. He's nearer in blood to the Elflord than even we are. His sister is the Elflord's mother. Fancy that! So of course I agreed immediately.'

'No,' Asphodel cried. 'I can't marry him. He's old. I won't marry him.'

'Now, now, child,' her father replied gently. 'He's not so old. He's younger than me. Anyway, I insist on this marriage. It'll be a big boost to our family. All our businesses will benefit greatly with him as a sponsor.'

Asphodel stamped her foot.

'I said I won't marry him, and I meant it,' she said as she ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her.


Will Asphodel have to marry Frishillondor? What will happen to her love for Vass? Look out for the next part on the first Tuesday of November.

Aspholessaria

Today I am going to start telling you the story of Asphodel, whom you can find in The Wolf Pack. Book 1 of The Wolves of Vimar Series. You will have noticed I use her name a lot. I like her and the way she stands up for what she believes in, regardless of authority. This gets her into trouble quite a lot.

'Aspholessaria!' called the young elf's mother. 'Are you going out?'

'I'm meeting Syssillina, mother,' she replied. 'There's a new place opened across the other side of Quantisarillishon. It's called Allimissoro's and it's supposed to be good. We're going there to suss it out.'

'I wish you'd refrain from using those slang words, dear. So common. Don't forget we're related to the Elf Lord.'

'Only distantly, mother,' called Aspholessaria as she skipped out through the door to meet her friend. 'I don't expect he'll hear about it so don't worry.'

A few minutes later the two girls were running towards where they had heard of the new bar and dance hall especially opened for young folk. The youngsters had little to do in Quantisarillishon and some of them became a little unruly from time to time.

'My cousin, Gerralishirondo, went last night. He says it's really good,' said Syssillina as they trotted across the capital city of Rindissarillishan, the land of the elves. 'He says there were some elves there playing music, and everyone was up and dancing.'

'It sounds fantastic,' Aspholessaria replied. 'Did he say how far it is?'

'Oh, Asphodel,' said her friend, using the elf's diminutive name, 'I told you it's only a few trees over. Wee, perhaps a bit more than that, but only about half a mile.'

The elves built their city of Quantisarillishon deep in the forest. Many who visited it for the first time did not think they had arrived. The elves built so the buildings looked part of the forest. Some of the buildings were even built into the trees themselves with knot holes as windows. Most of the walkways stretched from tree to tree and so to anyone not looking up it would seem there was nothing but forest.

The girls trotted along these walkways passing residences and workshops until they arrived at a building that stretched over the branches of several large oaks. Music and laughter came from out of the open doors. The girls stopped and looked at each other.

Asphodel took a breath and said,' Well, we've come here, so we might as well go in.'
She matched her actions to her words and Syssillina followed.

Lanterns wreathed the room and gave a festive air to the surroundings. Seats surrounded small tables, most of which had young elves sitting and chattering. In the centre of the room was a dance floor with a number of young folk dancing to the music.

The girls looked around. Where could they sit? Then Syssillina noticed an empty table close to the band. the girls made their way across to it and sat down to listen to the music. Syssillina went and got them fruit juice from the bar and they sat sipping their drinks.

'Isn't that LLinisharrovno over there?' whispered Asphodel, naming a young man who had been at school with them. 'Who's that with him? I've not seen him before.'

Syssillina looked over to where Asphodel pointed.

'Yes. I've not seen him for a long time,' she replied. 'His friend's fit, don't you think?'

The girls started to giggle, but stopped quickly as Asphodel noticed the pair looking at them. The two young men started walking across the room towards them.

'Are they coming to us?' Asphodel asked, looking at her drink.

'I don't know. there's that group of girls at the next table. Iexpect they're going to them.'

But they weren't. They came and stood in front of Asphodel and Syssillina.

'I've not seen you two since we left school,' said Llinsharrovno. 'Where've you been hiding yourselves?'

'If I remember rightly, you live at the opposite side of the city from us. We've not been hiding, we just don't get over there very much.'

Llinsharrovno sat down in an empty seat.

'This is my cousin, Vassinamorro.' he said. 'Vass, this is Aspholessaria, known as Asphodel, and Syssillina, known as Syssi.'

The other young man took another spare seat and smiled a handsome smile that made Asphodel's stomach turn over. He had blue eyes and blonde hair. He was tall for an elf, being five foot ten and had the build of one who looked after his body and exercised regularly.

'Pleased to meet you.' he said. 'I'm new to Quantisarillishon. LLin has been showing me round. It's a beautiful city, but it pales into insignificance next to the beauty of it's girls.'

Both girls blushed and muttered their thanks for the complement.

'Can I get you a drink?' asked LLin, standing.

The girls accepted and as he walked away, Vass asked Asphodel if she would like to dance. She accepted and the pair went away onto the dance floor.

Vass was a wonderful dancer and Asphodel felt she had wings on her feet, he was so easy to dance with. When his hand touched hers, the butterflies began to dance in her stomach again, and she thought she would melt into his blue eyes. Her black hair flew round her head as he twisted and turned her in the dance. He lifted her up and swung her round and she gasped in surprise, which made him laugh.

Then the dance ended and the pair returned to their seats.
LLin danced with Syssi, then with Asphodel as Vass danced with Syssi. Asphodel watched them as they danced, treading on Llin's feet a few times, but he laughed.

'My cousin has that effect on women,' he whispered in her ear the fifth time she missed a beat and trod on his toes. 'I wish I had his looks and charm.'

The girls danced with Vass and Llin all evening, the two young men taking it in turns to dance with each of them.

Then came the time to leave. It was dark and the few lamps on the walkways gave only a little light.

'I don't like the idea of you walking alone in the dark,' said Vass. 'May we walk the two of you home?'

The girls agreed and the four young people slowly wended their way through the treetop walkways to the girls' homes.

'Will you be going to Allimissoro's again?' Vass asked them as they stood outside Asphodel's home.

The girls looked at each other. Asphodel had to restrain herself from replying too quickly. She would certainly go again if Vass was going to be there.

'What do you think, Syssi?' she said. 'Should we go again?'

'I think I'll probably give it another go,' answered her friend. 'I enjoyed myself tonight. The music was excellent and the drinks. They've done wonders with the decor too.'

Vass looked at both girls in turn and said, 'Perhaps we'll see you there another time, then.'

The two young men left the girls, walked a few paces and turned to wave.

Asphodel entered her home and crept up the stairs to her bedroom. She threw herself on her bed, smiling, then she turned on her stomach and groaned.

Does he like me? Does he like Syssi better than he likes me? Oh, I can't tell who he likes better.

She thought of the way he had looked into her grey eyes when they danced and her stomach turned again. She thought one minute he liked her best, then the next she thought of how he had looked at Syssi and decided he liked Syssi best. With her thoughts in turmoil, Asphodel fell asleep.Aspholessaria

'Aspholessaria!' called the young elf's mother. 'Are you going out?'

'I'm meeting Syssillina, mother,' she replied. 'There's a new place opened across the other side of Quantisarillishon. It's called Allimissoro's and it's supposed to be good. We're going there to suss it out.'

'I wish you'd refrain from using those slang words, dear. So common. Don't forget we're related to the Elf Lord.'

'Only distantly, mother,' called Aspholessaria as she skipped out through the door to meet her friend. 'I don't expect he'll hear about it so don't worry.'

A few minutes later the two girls were running towards where they had heard of the new bar and dance hall especially opened for young folk. The youngsters had little to do in Quantisarillishon and some of them became a little unruly from time to time.

'My cousin, Gerralishirondo, went last night. He says it's really good,' said Syssillina as they trotted across the capital city of Rindissarillishan, the land of the elves. 'He says there were some elves there playing music, and everyone was up and dancing.'

'It sounds fantastic,' Aspholessaria replied. 'Did he say how far it is?'

'Oh, Asphodel,' said her friend, using the elf's diminutive name, 'I told you it's only a few trees over. Wee, perhaps a bit more than that, but only about half a mile.'

The elves built their city of Quantisarillishon deep in the forest. Many who visited it for the first time did not think they had arrived. The elves built so the buildings looked part of the forest. Some of the buildings were even built into the trees themselves with knot holes as windows. Most of the walkways stretched from tree to tree and so to anyone not looking up it would seem there was nothing but forest.

The girls trotted along these walkways passing residences and workshops until they arrived at a building that stretched over the branches of several large oaks. Music and laughter came from out of the open doors. The girls stopped and looked at each other.

Asphodel took a breath and said,' Well, we've come here, so we might as well go in.'
She matched her actions to her words and Syssillina followed.

Lanterns wreathed the room and gave a festive air to the surroundings. Seats surrounded small tables, most of which had young elves sitting and chattering. In the centre of the room was a dance floor with a number of young folk dancing to the music.

The girls looked around. Where could they sit? Then Syssillina noticed an empty table close to the band. the girls made their way across to it and sat down to listen to the music. Syssillina went and got them fruit juice from the bar and they sat sipping their drinks.

'Isn't that LLinisharrovno over there?' whispered Asphodel, naming a young man who had been at school with them. 'Who's that with him? I've not seen him before.'

Syssillina looked over to where Asphodel pointed.

'Yes. I've not seen him for a long time,' she replied. 'His friend's fit, don't you think?'

The girls started to giggle, but stopped quickly as Asphodel noticed the pair looking at them. The two young men started walking across the room towards them.

'Are they coming to us?' Asphodel asked, looking at her drink.

'I don't know. there's that group of girls at the next table. Iexpect they're going to them.'

But they weren't. They came and stood in front of Asphodel and Syssillina.

'I've not seen you two since we left school,' said Llinsharrovno. 'Where've you been hiding yourselves?'

'If I remember rightly, you live at the opposite side of the city from us. We've not been hiding, we just don't get over there very much.'

Llinsharrovno sat down in an empty seat.

'This is my cousin, Vassinamorro.' he said. 'Vass, this is Aspholessaria, known as Asphodel, and Syssillina, known as Syssi.'

The other young man took another spare seat and smiled a handsome smile that made Asphodel's stomach turn over. He had blue eyes and blonde hair. He was tall for an elf, being five foot ten and had the build of one who looked after his body and exercised regularly.

'Pleased to meet you.' he said. 'I'm new to Quantisarillishon. LLin has been showing me round. It's a beautiful city, but it pales into insignificance next to the beauty of it's girls.'

Both girls blushed and muttered their thanks for the complement.

'Can I get you a drink?' asked LLin, standing.

The girls accepted and as he walked away, Vass asked Asphodel if she would like to dance. She accepted and the pair went away onto the dance floor.

Vass was a wonderful dancer and Asphodel felt she had wings on her feet, he was so easy to dance with. When his hand touched hers, the butterflies began to dance in her stomach again, and she thought she would melt into his blue eyes. Her black hair flew round her head as he twisted and turned her in the dance. He lifted her up and swung her round and she gasped in surprise, which made him laugh.

Then the dance ended and the pair returned to their seats.
LLin danced with Syssi, then with Asphodel as Vass danced with Syssi. Asphodel watched them as they danced, treading on Llin's feet a few times, but he laughed.

'My cousin has that effect on women,' he whispered in her ear the fifth time she missed a beat and trod on his toes. 'I wish I had his looks and charm.'

The girls danced with Vass and Llin all evening, the two young men taking it in turns to dance with each of them.

Then came the time to leave. It was dark and the few lamps on the walkways gave only a little light.

'I don't like the idea of you walking alone in the dark,' said Vass. 'May we walk the two of you home?'

The girls agreed and the four young people slowly wended their way through the treetop walkways to the girls' homes.

'Will you be going to Allimissoro's again?' Vass asked them as they stood outside Asphodel's home.

The girls looked at each other. Asphodel had to restrain herself from replying too quickly. She would certainly go again if Vass was going to be there.

'What do you think, Syssi?' she said. 'Should we go again?'

'I think I'll probably give it another go,' answered her friend. 'I enjoyed myself tonight. The music was excellent and the drinks. They've done wonders with the decor too.'

Vass looked at both girls in turn and said, 'Perhaps we'll see you there another time, then.'

The two young men left the girls, walked a few paces and turned to wave.

Asphodel entered her home and crept up the stairs to her bedroom. She threw herself on her bed, smiling, then she turned on her stomach and groaned.

Does he like me? Does he like Syssi better than he likes me? Oh, I can't tell who he likes better.

She thought of the way he had looked into her grey eyes when they danced and her stomach turned again. She thought one minute he liked her best, then the next she thought of how he had looked at Syssi and decided he liked Syssi best. With her thoughts in turmoil, Asphodel fell asleep.Aspholessaria

'Aspholessaria!' called the young elf's mother. 'Are you going out?'

'I'm meeting Syssillina, mother,' she replied. 'There's a new place opened across the other side of Quantisarillishon. It's called Allimissoro's and it's supposed to be good. We're going there to suss it out.'

'I wish you'd refrain from using those slang words, dear. So common. Don't forget we're related to the Elf Lord.'

'Only distantly, mother,' called Aspholessaria as she skipped out through the door to meet her friend. 'I don't expect he'll hear about it so don't worry.'

A few minutes later the two girls were running towards where they had heard of the new bar and dance hall especially opened for young folk. The youngsters had little to do in Quantisarillishon and some of them became a little unruly from time to time.

'My cousin, Gerralishirondo, went last night. He says it's really good,' said Syssillina as they trotted across the capital city of Rindissarillishan, the land of the elves. 'He says there were some elves there playing music, and everyone was up and dancing.'

'It sounds fantastic,' Aspholessaria replied. 'Did he say how far it is?'

'Oh, Asphodel,' said her friend, using the elf's diminutive name, 'I told you it's only a few trees over. Wee, perhaps a bit more than that, but only about half a mile.'

The elves built their city of Quantisarillishon deep in the forest. Many who visited it for the first time did not think they had arrived. The elves built so the buildings looked part of the forest. Some of the buildings were even built into the trees themselves with knot holes as windows. Most of the walkways stretched from tree to tree and so to anyone not looking up it would seem there was nothing but forest.

The girls trotted along these walkways passing residences and workshops until they arrived at a building that stretched over the branches of several large oaks. Music and laughter came from out of the open doors. The girls stopped and looked at each other.

Asphodel took a breath and said,' Well, we've come here, so we might as well go in.'
She matched her actions to her words and Syssillina followed.

Lanterns wreathed the room and gave a festive air to the surroundings. Seats surrounded small tables, most of which had young elves sitting and chattering. In the centre of the room was a dance floor with a number of young folk dancing to the music.

The girls looked around. Where could they sit? Then Syssillina noticed an empty table close to the band. the girls made their way across to it and sat down to listen to the music. Syssillina went and got them fruit juice from the bar and they sat sipping their drinks.

'Isn't that LLinisharrovno over there?' whispered Asphodel, naming a young man who had been at school with them. 'Who's that with him? I've not seen him before.'

Syssillina looked over to where Asphodel pointed.

'Yes. I've not seen him for a long time,' she replied. 'His friend's fit, don't you think?'

The girls started to giggle, but stopped quickly as Asphodel noticed the pair looking at them. The two young men started walking across the room towards them.

'Are they coming to us?' Asphodel asked, looking at her drink.

'I don't know. there's that group of girls at the next table. Iexpect they're going to them.'

But they weren't. They came and stood in front of Asphodel and Syssillina.

'I've not seen you two since we left school,' said Llinsharrovno. 'Where've you been hiding yourselves?'

'If I remember rightly, you live at the opposite side of the city from us. We've not been hiding, we just don't get over there very much.'

Llinsharrovno sat down in an empty seat.

'This is my cousin, Vassinamorro.' he said. 'Vass, this is Aspholessaria, known as Asphodel, and Syssillina, known as Syssi.'

The other young man took another spare seat and smiled a handsome smile that made Asphodel's stomach turn over. He had blue eyes and blonde hair. He was tall for an elf, being five foot ten and had the build of one who looked after his body and exercised regularly.

'Pleased to meet you.' he said. 'I'm new to Quantisarillishon. LLin has been showing me round. It's a beautiful city, but it pales into insignificance next to the beauty of it's girls.'

Both girls blushed and muttered their thanks for the complement.

'Can I get you a drink?' asked LLin, standing.

The girls accepted and as he walked away, Vass asked Asphodel if she would like to dance. She accepted and the pair went away onto the dance floor.

Vass was a wonderful dancer and Asphodel felt she had wings on her feet, he was so easy to dance with. When his hand touched hers, the butterflies began to dance in her stomach again, and she thought she would melt into his blue eyes. Her black hair flew round her head as he twisted and turned her in the dance. He lifted her up and swung her round and she gasped in surprise, which made him laugh.

Then the dance ended and the pair returned to their seats.
LLin danced with Syssi, then with Asphodel as Vass danced with Syssi. Asphodel watched them as they danced, treading on Llin's feet a few times, but he laughed.

'My cousin has that effect on women,' he whispered in her ear the fifth time she missed a beat and trod on his toes. 'I wish I had his looks and charm.'

The girls danced with Vass and Llin all evening, the two young men taking it in turns to dance with each of them.

Then came the time to leave. It was dark and the few lamps on the walkways gave only a little light.

'I don't like the idea of you walking alone in the dark,' said Vass. 'May we walk the two of you home?'

The girls agreed and the four young people slowly wended their way through the treetop walkways to the girls' homes.

'Will you be going to Allimissoro's again?' Vass asked them as they stood outside Asphodel's home.

The girls looked at each other. Asphodel had to restrain herself from replying too quickly. She would certainly go again if Vass was going to be there.

'What do you think, Syssi?' she said. 'Should we go again?'

'I think I'll probably give it another go,' answered her friend. 'I enjoyed myself tonight. The music was excellent and the drinks. They've done wonders with the decor too.'

Vass looked at both girls in turn and said, 'Perhaps we'll see you there another time, then.'

The two young men left the girls, walked a few paces and turned to wave.

Asphodel entered her home and crept up the stairs to her bedroom. She threw herself on her bed, smiling, then she turned on her stomach and groaned.

Does he like me? Does he like Syssi better than he likes me? Oh, I can't tell who he likes better.

She thought of the way he had looked into her grey eyes when they danced and her stomach turned again. She thought one minute he liked her best, then the next she thought of how he had looked at Syssi and decided he liked Syssi best. With her thoughts in turmoil, Asphodel fell asleep.

Does Vass prefer Asphodel or Syssi? Find out in the next installment at the beginning of October.

Jovinda and Noli Part 3

I apologise for missing last week but I was away. I usually try to let you know if I won't be posting, or I schedule a post, but I'm afraid I didn't get round to it.

Here is part 3 of the story of Jovinda and Noni, Carthinal's parents. Since I missed last week's post entirely in the end, I am continuing with my normal schedule with the third week of the month.

Jovinda went about her chores humming to herself. That afternoon she was going to see Noni again. It had been a week since she had last seen him. It was not always easy for them to arrange their meetings. Noni had his work to do and also they had to keep their meetings secret from their parents.
Salor helped the lovers. She thought it was exciting and romantic. She gave Jovinda alibis whenever the pair were to meet, and if the girls seemed to be meeting more frequently than previously, Jovinda's parents did not seem to notice.

Noni could not get away as often as he would have liked, but every time he had any time to himself he and Jovinda would meet. Usually they went to the woods out of town. It was quite there and there were many places they could be totally alone with little fear of discovery. The summer passed and the trees began to put on their autumn colours.

'What are we going to do when winter is here?' Jovinda asked one day. 'It'll be cold and wet. We won't be able to sit on the ground then.'

Noni looked at her and stroked her auburn hair. 'Something will turn up, darling,' he said. 'We're meant to be together. I feel it deep inside my soul. Nothing will part us, not even winter.'

He was right, of course. As the last leaves fell from the trees and the summer warmth left the land, Jovinda came to a terrible realisation. She had missed her monthly bleeding. It was now time for the next one but still nothing happened. She had been in such ecstasy that she had not thought about anything other than Noni. Now she realised she was pregnant.

How could she tell her parents? What would they do? Would they disown her? How would Noni react? Would he stand by her or would he abandon her? Oh why had she been so foolish. She had not thought about possible consequences when they had made love in their glade in the wood. Now she was suffering the results of that lack of forethought.

'I'm going to see Salor,' she told her mother after she had finished her chores. She left the house and hurried to her friend's home. Salor had become engaged to a young man during the months that had passed and was due to be married in the spring. He was the son of a friend of theirs and they were delighted with the engagment. They had been going to suggest the pair get married when the young people themselves said they wanted to get married.

It was so different from Jovinda and Noli's experience that Jovinda was a little jealous. She would not change Noli in any way, though, even for approval by her parents.

She arrived at Salor's house and was admitted. Salor took her to her room where she burst into tears.
'Jovinda, what's wrong? It's not a problem with Noli, is it?'

Jovinda dried her eyes and sighed.

'Well, it is and it isn't. Oh, Salor, I'm in so much trouble. I've missed two monthly bleedings.'

Salor put her hand to her mouth.'That means...'

'Yes. I'm pregnant.'

Salor looked at her friend with eyes opened wide. 'I didn't think you'd be so foolish, Jo,' she said. 'How did you not think this might happen?'

Jovinda's eyes began to leak tears again as she tried to push them back. 'I didn't think. Oh, Salor, it seemed so right. We love one another and soon kisses weren't enough to show our love. What am I to do?'

'Does he know?'

Jovinda shook her head. 'I've not seen him since I realised.'

'Will he marry you? Or do you want to go to a witch woman and get rid of it?'

'I don't know,' wailed Jovinda, crying again.

Eventually the girls decided that Jovinda must tell Noli. He was as much to blame as Jovinda for the predicament she was in. Salor privately hoped that Noli was not one of those men who ran away from responsibility. She had seen young women left with an unwanted baby when the father decided he did not want a wife and child. He had his fun then ran. The girl concerned never regained her reputation. It was different if the man married the girl. Oh, there was scandal at first, but later people either forgot the child was born rather early or deliberately forgot when the wedding had been.

Salor helped Jovinda get a message to Noli and the pair met at their usual place the next day.
It was cold. The fallen leaves made a multicoloured carpet on the ground in the glade where Noli waited. He pulled his cloak round him as he wondered what Jovinda wanted to see him bout so urgently. He heard a crackle in the leaves and turned to see Jovinda crossing the glade. He opened his arms and she ran into them. They kissed passionately before saying a word.

He looked into his lover's eyes and saw they were red. She had been crying. Had her parents found out about them? He held her close and waited for her to speak.

'Noli,' she said through her tears, ' I'm pregnant. I am thinking of going to a witch woman to get rid of it though.'

For the first time since they met, Noli became angry.

'You will not kill this child,' he said, and he stalked to the opposite side of the glade.

'It is a new life beginning. Who knows what great deeds it could do, or how important its decendants could be. We elves will never destroy a life, even an unborn one.'

'But, Noli, what are we to do?'

He came back to her side and put his arms round her again. 'We'll get married, sweetheart. It's what I would like and I hope you would like it too.'

'Of course I would like that. We can have this baby and then lots more.'

Noli laughed. 'I hope so. Elves aren't very fertile as a rule. I suppose it's because we live so long. If we had too many children we'd soon overrun the world. But an elf and a human...who knows?'

They parted after discussing whether Noli should go with Jovinda when she told her parents. He wanted to be there to support her, but she said she thought it would be better if she told them alone.
Jovinda walked slowly back home having resolved to tell her parents the very next day.


How will Jovinda's parents react to her news? The next installment will be on the third Tuesday of April.

Why not follow me and get notifications of all my posts?