The Queen of Elysium

Chapter 38 - A night under the stars

Aren sighs in contentment. He has his arms around Elissa who is snuggled back against his chest with Roth doing all the hard work, so he can relax. Far beneath them, a sea of green leaves rolls past, with accents of yellow, amber and red signalling the changing seasons. Not a bad way to travel.

I prefer to feel the wind under my own wings, the eagle huffs.

Well I like the feel of my female under my fingers, the tiger counters.

Hush! he chastises, wishing to enjoy time alone with his beloved, not listening to his animal selves bickering in his head. Well, almost alone, as Zane is a short distance in front of them and they are riding on a dragon.

Roth slows and gently descends between giant trees to land in a clearing. Aren jumps down and catches a giggling Elissa in his arms. He grins, spinning them around and feeling lighter than he has in days, nay moons.

Before them stands a multi-storey wooden structure built in and between several trees. It is a peaceful spot, completely surrounded by nature. The eagle's eyes gleam at the sight of the tree house. I Like.

Moments later Amethyst lands and Dawn and Darish disembark. The elf has a slight look of being browbeaten and Aren is not sure if that is the affect of several hours solely in Dawn's company or the prospect of being reunited with his parents.

Zane scratches behind Roth's ear. "While we are here, you and Amethyst stick together. If you catch sight of any of that dark elven filth, then burn them to a crisp."

The dragon's nostrils flare and a plume of sulphurous smoke wafts out.

Two wood elves come to greet them. At first Aren wonders if they are Darish's siblings, but that notion is waylaid when the woman hugs Darish and calls him son.

Then Darish's mother turns her attention to Elissa. "My, your aura is almost as bright as the sun!" She puts up a hand to shade her eyes. "And who is this handsome young man?"

Elissa laces her fingers with his. "This is Aren. We are courting."

The woman smiles with genuine delight before taking on a slightly glazed look. "Beware the snake and shadows in the dark."

He cannot help thinking what an odd, if not creepy thing to say.

The elf moves her attention to Zane and Dawn. "Zane," she trills, "have you finally found a lady?"

Dawn laughs heartily. "Not I, though he has taken to swimming a lot lately. I am Dawn."

"Well, welcome all. I am afraid our abode is very humble. Elissa, you can have our bedroom and Dawn can take Darish's room. We can put up hammocks for ourselves."

"You need not put yourselves out." Dawn brandishes a wooden box. While it is an attractive thing with intricate lattice-work, he cannot see how it will alleviate their accommodation pressures.

His expression must show his perplexity, for Dawn winks at him before placing the box on the ground and turning an ornate looking key. When she motions for him to stand back, Elissa gives a sly smile and he wonders why.

He almost jumps out of his skin when the lid suddenly flips open and swathes of canvas billow out, mushrooming up into a marquee.

Dawn holds back a flap and waggles her eyebrows. "Come into my boudoir."

Aren steps inside, craning his neck this way and that. The plain exterior hides a bright, verging on gaudy, interior with silks and delicate muslin in all the colours of the rainbow draping the walls. The carpet is a sea of plush crimson. There are several large beds, each adorned with a mountain of cushions. There is even a swinging sofa; something he has not encountered before.