Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Elves of All Kinds (1x1)

After a few moments, Saelhil managed to nearly fall asleep. He quickly jerked himself awake and sat up a bit. He watched Raeliel for a moment, then quickly took his hair out of its ponytail and began to soak it in the water. The springs was hidden away in a little grove, and many of the villagers didn't know about it, and those that knew told no one, wanting to keep it a beautiful secret place.

Raeliel watched him, watching as he started to fall asleep. She took in a deep breath and let it out, then leaned back a little and closed her eyes. "It's so peaceful here, Saelhil... Thank you for inviting me..." She smiled a little bit, and opened her eyes to look up at the sky, and the trees that surrounded them. It was so nice, so beautiful. She loved it here. She felt, for just that moment, that there was nothing on her shoulders.

Saehil glanced at her, then smiled slightly. "My pleasure, Lady Raeliel. I'm glad you're enjoying it." He rubbed his forearm, then scrubbed a bit at it. He had a few cuts and bruises on his skin, but other than that he wasn't particularly "roughed up", as one might picture a natural elf. A few butterflies danced around the springs, sipping on the nectar of the flowers that surrounded it.

"You don't have spots like this in your village, do you?" Saelhil asked her, watching her quietly.

Raeliel listened to him and watched the butterflies. "No...not like this. Ours is turned into a house, and it is sectioned off, with art and paintings. It's certainly not like this at all." She looked around curiously. "It's so beautiful...you're lucky to know such a place as this." It was entrancing, really. And she didn't feel like being snarky or mad at him at all. The water had her very calm.

"You have been sectioned off from the purity of nature," Saelhil squeezed out his hair and twisted it up into a kind of loose bun. "At night, if you come here, you can hear the forest breathe." He meant by this, of course, that the sense of peace was so heavy that you felt that you could feel your heart beat and feel the air filling your lungs.

Raeliel listened to him. "...amazing." She took in a deep breath and let it out. "...I haven't been sectioned off. We just...build upon it." She sighed softly and just relaxed. It was indeed very peaceful. "Saelhil...I am sorry. For things I have said to you and about your people..." She looked at him, opening her eyes. Such petty arguments seemed stupid at this moment.

Saelhil studied her for a moment, then waved his hand dismissively. "It does not matter," he said simply. "I would rather you say them than not, to be honest. Keeping things pent up is good for no one. Just say what is on your mind, I suppose." He shrugged, then relaxed with his hands interlocked behind his head.

Raeliel chuckled softly. "See...that is not what I was taught as a child. Or even as an adult, really. I was always taught to keep my mouth shut if I was going to say anything mean, rude, or personal." She shook her head slightly. "It's rather amazing...the differences between our two people. I would expect elves to be more...connected." Even with all the bad rumors about the natural elves, she had expected at least some semblance of civilization. Which she got. But yet, not near as much as she thought should be there.

"Hm," was all Saelhil replied with. He ran his hand over the water for a moment. "Not to worry though, Lady Raeliel. I'm sure once a steady trade is established between our people, yours will come to ensure my people become more civilized," he murmured, sighing slightly. "You will eventually have what you had back in your village, no doubt."

Raeliel listened to his words, and wondered if that was what she even wanted. More civilized, yes. But to think of putting walls up around this beautiful hot springs was almost sickening to her for some reason. "Well, if your people are anything like you, Saelhil, I doubt that they will fold so easily." He was stubborn, after all, so maybe they wouldn't change all the way. She was confused now, though. She WANTED them to be civilized, didn't she? That was what she wanted. But now she was terribly confused.

"I surely hope so. But progression is inevitable, I suppose." Saelhil watched a few birds hop from tree to tree. By now, the sun had risen significantly. "I should be getting back. Do you know the way back to the village, or will you be coming with me?" He watched her, and stood up so that the water lapped around his hips.

Raeliel listened to him. "It's not that bad, really. Progress, that is." When he spoke of getting back, she nodded a bit. "I will come." She stood as well, her cheeks turning a bit pink as she got off to dry herself and then get dressed. One time there wasn't enough for her to know how to get back. Certainly not. So going with him was just logical.

Saelhil dried himself off casually, and he dressed in an loose shirt that had a plunging neckline, tucked into a pair of comfortable trousers. As always, he wore no shoes. He tied up his hair as he began walking back. "When do you want to start learning how to leaf-walk?" he questioned.

Raeliel had changed into a nice, fitting dress with a long skirt. She braided her hair to keep it out of her face and make it wavy for when she took it out later. "Well...whenever you would like to teach me, I suppose. Is there going to be leaf-walking in the wedding ceremony?" She certainly hoped not. She wanted to be able to do everything perfectly for that ceremony.

Saelhil, seeing that she wasn't at all dressed for leaf-walking, decided against teaching her immediately. "No, there will not," he answered her question. "The ceremony is rather elaborate, though. I suspect the courtyard is being prepared as we speak. Have you any knowledge of our weddings?" He drifted his hand along a low branch as he walked, glancing back at her.

Raeliel was rather relieved that there would be no leaf-walking. His question, though, proved that there was a bit of a problem. "..I do not. I certainly need to learn, so if you could start teaching me of your wedding customs, I would be very grateful." She couldn't make a fool out of herself, not here, not for the wedding.

"Well there isn't anything you have to memorize, persay." Saelhil crossed his arms, thinking. "The ceremony begins early in the morning, at dawn. The house the couple will move into is blessed by the elders, then the couple themselves are blessed, then the exchanging of vows takes place. Afterwards, the couple goes into the Sacred Place and performs the ceremonial entwining. Then the village celebrates, usually for about three days. I wonder who will do your Glow... Most likely Mirwen, seeing as she is a master at it..." He trailed off, then looked back at her.

Raeliel listened to him. At least she didn't have to memorize anything. Being blessed and taking vows was easy. But then... " 'Ceremonial entwining'?.." She wasn't quite sure she wanted to know the answer to her question of it. "What's a Glow?" She didn't understand this at all. It was a good thing she had asked now, otherwise she would probably be in for an unpleasant surprise when the ceremony happened and she didn't know what was going on.

"Not to worry." Saelhil waved his hand dismissively. "For the entwining, you just have to follow my lead. I will do everything. It is very easy." He paused a moment. "You don't have Glow in your weddings? Strange... Well, a Glow is the markings that will be painted on your skin. The ink shimmers in the morning sun, hence the name 'Glow'. We will both have similar designs of Glow, though yours might be a shade or two lighter in color."

Raeliel looked at him carefully. "What is it, Saelhil?" She wanted to know before the ceremony happened. "...no, we do not have Glow in our weddings. We have our weddings at sundown too, come to think of it." She wondered about these markings, rather curious about them. "What purpose do they serve?" Were they just to look pretty, were they symbolic?