Chapter 49

Part 5

“Exactly the one I was thinking of!” Mark grinned, and turned back to Talia. “All right, we start with our feet together, take one step with each foot, and bring them back together on the third beat. I’ll start with my left foot. Then we do the same again, starting with the other foot, and repeat the six-beat pattern. I’ll hold you almost at your arm’s length so you have room for some footwork, and just follow my lead. Ready? And… Go.”

They began dancing like they’d done it a thousand times, and they had, if not with each other, for the elves enjoyed the dances of the other races as much as those they originated themselves, and Talia had known this one since she was a child.

Talia’s spell worked perfectly, and as long as Mark didn’t look at her feet, it was as easy to dance with her as it would have been if she were only twenty centimeters shorter than he.

“This is great!” he enthused as he whirled her along over the moss, and everyone gave them a round of applause before joining in the dance.

They danced well together, yet Mark soon realized that Yazadril and Nemia were far more skilled, and moved with a sure grace that spoke of decades dancing together. Some of the other long-married couples around were just as impressive.

“Look at them!” Talia smiled and nodded to Mark’s left.

Mark saw that her nod indicated Alilia and Gorsh, who were incredible, and obviously the most skilled pair there. Mark had wondered at dinner whether their relationship was failing, yet their moods blossomed on the dancing ground, and they grinned like children, obviously delighted in each other’s company and deeply in love. They executed amazing double and triple spins together, and their footwork sometimes included two steps on each beat, and occasionally three, instead of one.

“Wow!” Mark grinned, and looked away to avoid being so distracted that he missed his own steps.

“Don’t worry,” she giggled, “We’ll be as good as that when we’ve been at it as long as those two have.”

“And how long is that?”

“About four thousand years.”

“Wow. It still seems impossible that I could expect to live so long!”

“You will.” she nodded. “How much do you recall of what happened to you after you swore your vows?”

“Every single second.” Mark said, and became serious as he thought about it. Then he smiled again. “Not a lot of fun, really, but all’s well that ends well!”

“So you realize that the curse brought you back to life, though you were not sounding the tines at the time?”

“They were ringing a little, from Hilsith hitting my chest. But I’m not sure if that had anything to do with it.”

“I think not. I think we are immortal.”

“That’s too strange a thought to even think about right now. I think I’ll kiss you instead!” he laughed, and did so without missing a step.

They danced the better part of an hour without stopping before he called for a break.

“Let’s go back to the table for a bit, and then maybe stroll around the valley, as Pimall suggested.” he proposed.

“All right.”

“But keep this spell on, please Love? It’s nice to be able to look you in the eye without having to look down so far.”

“I’d rather you carried me.” she giggled. “I can make myself lighter if I get too heavy.”

“That won’t be a problem, and I would prefer to carry you as well.” he grinned.

She settled into his arms and they shared another kiss, and this one fired their ardor and left them breathless.

“Ah! Hold, my love!” Talia giggled as she broke the kiss. “I’m afraid that if we do that any longer, I’ll have to drag you back to our bed for satisfaction! And there is still much fun to be had here tonight!”

“Uh, yeah.” Mark agreed, and blushed.

As they left the dancing circle, Mark noticed that everyone from their table, as well as those from all the tables around theirs, also chose that moment to end their dance. They all walked around the newlyweds in a loose group. A loose crowd of perhaps a thousand followed around those, the curious and interested drawn both to the honored couple, and to the amazing concentration of the most powerful individuals in the elven nations.

Yazadril and Nemia were to their right, and Yazadril inquired; “So what would you two like to do now, my fine young son-in-law?”

Mark stopped and turned to them. “You know, I just now fully realize that you’re now my father-in-law and my mother-in-law.” he stated emotionally. “That you’re the only parents I have, and you and Talia are my only close family.”

There was an emotional moment, then Talia said; “I think this calls for a hug.”

“I think it does.” he smiled as he went to one knee and crouched low, and the three elves gave him a warm group hug, while his arms went around all three of them, and many of those watching gave a sentimental sigh to see it.

“And as for what we’re doing, we thought we’d stop by the table for a refreshment, and then stroll around the valley.” Mark said when he again stood with Talia in his arms. “Though with three million out there, we won’t have time to see much.”

“Actually, the first ‘visitors’ to arrive were of Alilia’s people, and they gathered just to the east of the chapel.” Theramin remarked. “The first to arrive from another people were Warm People who stationed themselves to the north, then a group from The Sea People who chose a place to the west, tropical elves to the south, and so on, until groups from every nation formed a ring around the chapel, and that is where their pavilions were erected when their attendance was officially recognized. So all you need to do to see the entire elven world represented is walk beyond the third surrounding ring of trees, then circumnavigate them!”

“Ah! Well that’s good to know!” Mark chuckled.

“And extremely convenient!” Talia agreed.

They stopped at their table for beverages.

“You must try this snow-flower elixir!” Talia suggested as she poured his huge glass full of a clear, ice-cold liquid. “It’s a rare and delectable drink made by The Warm People.”

“And a potent liquor as well!” Yazadril cautioned, chuckling.

“As for touring the nations’ temporary consulates, for want of a better term, I suggest you start with the more familiar, and work toward the more fantastic.” Dilimon chuckled. “For that, I suggest you depart the chapel in a north-easterly direction, then proceed to your right. Yalla and I skipped a few dances and made a quick tour by air. What began as hasty camps have become amazing showcases for proud nations, and I know you’ll be astounded at some of them!”

“Lead on, then!” Mark laughed.

As they cleared the third ring, one of the Princes that Mark had yet to be introduced to made his way close, his wife affectionately holding his hand.

“Mark and Talia, may I present Prince Simenir of The People of Clouds, another nation of mountain elves whose lands lie some five hundred and twenty kilometers to the south. This is his wife Fevia.

“We’re pleased to meet you.” Talia smiled as Mark made a polite bow in answer to Simenir and Fevia’s.

“We are pleased to meet you as well, and congratulations!” Fevia answered for the pair. “These are our people. We’re a small nation who numbers only a few more than The High People, and our lifestyles and lands are very similar to theirs as well. We therefore didn’t make such a big effort to display our uniqueness.”

The area was full of merrymaking elves milling about, talking and visiting, telling stories, playing games, displaying showy magic spells, and reciting poetry, and there were groups of musicians surrounded by crowds of dancers, interspersed among tables and booths bearing food, drink, artwork, and merchandise of every sort. The area was lit by amazing displays of dancing light and cold fire that floated fifteen meters overhead. They visited there for twenty minutes, then moved to the next nation’s area.

That nation and the next one were mountain elves from other continents, and they had cast illusions on their areas that made the trees and plants look like those of their homelands, all of which were strange varieties that Mark had never seen.