Delvia Silverbough And The Way Home

Chapter 2:

    There are a couple ways to enter the Tree of Nourishment. If you climb the vines and knots on the tree you can easily make it to a low, wide branch with an opening at the trunk. There is also an emergency entrance at ground level, which is only used if you are unable to make the climb to the main entrance.
    Castien, Zenara and I all easily shimmied up the trunk without hesitation.
    At the entrance, there is a good view of the main hall, where we eat. It was a grand hall, with neatly lined up tables and benches. It also had beautiful walls with art and plants dotting the inside of the trunk.
There were already many elves already there, seated in their places, sorted by family. I spotted my mother and father in our seats, patiently waiting for Castien and myself. Our family sat relatively close to the front of the hall.
The front of the hall had an elevated platform. The platform also had an elongated section that curved off to the side where the musicians would play. Their seats were roots, small trees or branches from those small trees.They were all quite comfortable and sturdy seats. The instruments were already in place at the respective seats. String and woodwind instruments. A harp, a couple violas, a cello, three flutes, a bassoon, and some others.
At the main part of the stage, there was a movable table that head elves ate at and announcements were told. That table could be moved back for special occasions that the whole stage would be needed for.
    Zenara gave my brother and I a nod before descending the steps down into the hall to join her family. Castien and I followed her example and went to meet our parents at our spot. I squeezed between my parents and Castien sat beside our mother.
My mother, Maeraddyth, has white-blond hair, always braided in a "crown" around her head. The rest of her hair hangs loose. She also has bright, merry green eyes. Even I have the same eyes as her, even though I am not related by blood.
My father, Laeroth, again has white-blond hair and green eyes. His hair is thick for elf hair, it's almost kinked which is very unusual and rare for an elf, although it is still neat and well kempt. It hangs a little past shoulder length, parted in the middle, and like Castien, only the top layer of hair was tied back.
    We all chatted a little, while everybody started to stream into the hall in large crowds. I was glad to already be sitting. Soon Chantilly's voice rang through the hall, calling for attention and silence. Instead of the dinner call which is a low whistle, Chantilly sang a short, simple, but beautiful tune. Chantilly was a beautiful, one of a kind bird that never seemed to age. It also didn't have a gender. Chantilly perched atop a low hanging branch that hung from the ceiling. It hung a couple feet above the middle of the main table. The bird perched there with regal posture, holding it's head high. It Has deep red feathers, sleek and beautiful.
    An elf with silver, shoulder length hair, grey eyes and smile wrinkles around his mouth and eyes stood on the centre of the platform. Right under Chantilly's perch. Was Elred Oakenstaf, the elven leader. He was a good leader, and highly respected.
    "Welcome, to the Tree of Nourishment" Elred began, like every dinner. "I hope you are full and satisfied with tonight's dinner. Enjoy."
    Wooden platters were passed down from the back of the hall. Soon everyone had food in front of them and began to eat.
    The musicians were in their places now, picking up their instruments. They began to play. Soft and rich music filled the hall. Elred's wife; Duiyana, was playing the harp. Her blue eyes were closed, like she was lost in the music. No one spoke in the hall, enjoying the food and music.
    The dinner was tender venison with a warm blueberry, blackberry, raspberry sauce ladled over it. There were also goblets with clean water. A refreshing, filling meal