Chapter 22 - Twenty-One (1/2)
And breathtaking it was. We weren't inside of it yet, only in a stone path that went up to it. From here we could see an enormous construction right on top of a waterfall, and behind it, curving in arcs, gigantic trees with other contractions on them.
As we start to walk again up the path I see wooden stairs leading up the trees, as well as many bridges above intertwine them, making the ground very inter-ligated with the sky up constructions, so much that you could turn a wrong street and end upstairs.
But, even more, what surprise me the most were the quantity of magical creatures roaming around, and not only deer, but lioness, griffin, owls, unicorns, etc, in less number than the deer, of course, but there nonetheless.
”They are not… contracted beasts are they?”
The one leading the group laughed, getting off his mount and taking off the reins, letting the deer simply walk away, since it was without a cell from the very beginning.
”Is not… in the way you may think it is.” He answers, standing beside me, but he is not the one who completes it.
”Every elf may have a companion in a.d.u.l.thood, some search for their entire lives without finding it, but don't mistake it, it's a companionship, both parts want and chose the bound. We do not force any magical creature to stay here, as we are the Guardians of the Forest, and it would be against everything we believe in to do such a thing.”
The person in question had white hair and deep blue sea eyes, his long ears had three pair of earrings, and his face was filled with tattoos, one cupping his chin and others going up his neck.
”Elder” The one beside me bowed, smiling at him and going away, leaving us with this elf. He walks the last steps down, staying in front of us, giving my brother a small smile and a nod for me, to which I give one back.
”My son talked about you two, and how a pup went against an entire camp of humans only to save his brother. I was impressed, even if it didn't work.”
”You are Aeglos father them?”
”Yes. Please, follow me, let us meet up with him.”
As we walk I could notice more tattoos going up his fingers to his hands. ”It goes all over our body?” My brother asks, of course his curiosity winning against his good sense.
”Is the mark of an Elder, given to us by the title. It's an honor and a gift given to few.”
We walk farther and farther in, passing through white marble buildings that took full advantage of the moon light with many windows and crystals, and had few fire light sources, mostly inside rooms were people were reading or writing.
At some point we went a little downwards, passing through more and more elves as we arrive at another marble building, mostly square, but with many details on the edges and entryways to compensate that. At the front, two big horse-sea statues were with their hooves up, curving their backs and standing on their fishtail, their snouts pointing to the sky and their mane made as if staying underwater.
Cool.
There were arcs upon arcs, framing beautifully the passageways, the layers giving a wave motion to the marble. A lot of crystals shaped like a drop were hanging around the celling, receiving the light of the moonlight and passing to the rest of the room, reflecting like platinum waves.
At the main room we went left as the women went right, though there was a third straight option for mix.
”A bathhouse?”
Are you calling us dirty? Where is Aeglos?
Wait.
”Yes, sorry for this, we weren't expecting your company, but he should be inside. Now, if you excuse me, I'm going to prepare the place for you two.”
He gave another little smile, and with the fl.u.s.tering of his clothes turned around and left us in front of the bathhouse.
My brother, of course, without thinking twice went straight ahead. Wait, you little shit- I thought as I followed him. And…
Wow.
Where should I start describing first?
The bathhouse was like a lake, full of natural rocks and spring trees forming an arc on top and covering the water with their petals, letting the silver crystal liquid look even more celestial. There was a part of the room to leave the clothes on, other to take a quick shower or to clean ourselves before going in the bath.
And the… well, the many elven n.a.k.e.d torsos showing all around us, some talking and smiling, others relaxing and drinking something by the end of the bath. That much n.a.k.e.d skin was blinding me and turning my brain to puddle.
Have I mentioned that I haven't see one-single-ugly-elf this entire time?
Oh gosh.
One might think; but they are male, and so are you, so don't worry about it, but the point is not if it's a male, human or not, is just that beautiful things are beautiful, and gorgeous elves are much more than that.
Is just appreciation for the handsome, ok?
My brother goes trotting as if in his natural habitat, and when he find Aeglos he goes barking:
”Aeglooos~~~~ Remember us?? I missed you~~~”
Aeglos was inside the bath, wearing a high bun so not to wet his white hair and was talking to someone, but the moment he hears my brother's voice he turns with a smile that reach his green eyes. He opened his arms and my brother jumped straight at him. ”Hunthor! Thilgon! What have you two been up to?”
I tried to ignore all the n.a.k.e.dness around me and went closer to him, sitting beside the bath while my brother was sitting on his lap inside the water and passing his snout on the curve of his neck.
”Brother, you will dirty the water” And don't sit on the lap of someone who is na-
”Why you two don't wash yourselves too?” Says Aeglos as he starts passing his nails on the back of my brother, taking the mud off.
Hey, we are clean!... most of the time, is just that we have been travelling a lot to get here, and now that I mention it, my legs are tired from all the walking, soaking on a bath could do me good… but not all this n.a.k.e.d bodies around me.
Though it would give me a good excuse to stay longer to appreciate the view- I mean, the beautiful moonlight and trees, yes.
My brother has fun in the bath, using as a pool and swimming back and forth from Aeglos, even warming the water with his tail for him.