Aspholessaria part 1

'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.