Welcome to Flottenheim

Life, Relocation

Fenneck introduces Natalya to the wonders of Flottenheim during the Winter's Eve Ceremonial Festival. She see's the magical crops and the wonders that Glitterfjell is known for. Fenneck also explains the thiramin connection they feel for each other and it's significance in Elvish culture.

The next morning Natalya opened her eyes to a knock on the door. She looked around, remembering where she was and she slowly tried to stand, but her legs were weak and tired. Luckily the door opened and Natalya saw Fenneck in the doorway. She felt her heart glow when she saw him and couldn't help herself from noticing his beautiful features in the light of the new day. He was tall and muscular for an elf. His hair was perfectly straight and pulled away from his face with some elegantly complicated braids. His face was soft and his green eyes had a weight about them. Not as extreme as the sad, dullness that Dimitri had; but wise, strong and defensive. He was wearing a shiny blue tunic with a fur lined half cape. He looked very formal. His skin was very pale and his hair was white as snow. His lips were a perfect shade of pink and Natalya found herself wondering what they might feel like on her own. Natalya noticed he seemed nervous as he walked into the room.   "Good morning," he greeted her, awkwardly rubbing his hands together. She gave him a confused look. "Good morning," she responded hesitantly. She shook her head at him and decided to put this to an end. "You... you can stop this okay? I... I'm not interested," she told him plainly, not wanting him to assume his spell was working. He gave her a conflicted look. "I... I don't understand-" "This spell," she accused him. "Please stop. I don't want this magic bullshit. It's starting to freak me out okay?" Fenneck looked startled by this. "I... it's not a spell," he told her. "Surely you've heard of thiramin?" he asked her.   She squinted at him in disgust and anger. How dare he try to lie to her about such a stupid myth. These Glitterfjellians were crazier than she thought they were. "That's just some story they tell children. It doesn't actually exist. Now stop. I'm not interested," she told him firmly. Fenneck stuck his nose up at her in frustration. "It is real," he argued back. "It's not nearly as wonderful as I'd hoped it be but... that's what this is," he told her sadly. "I'm not trying to trick you!" he promised her. Natalya glared at him distrustfully and he threw his hands up in annoyance. "My parents felt it!" he explained, trying to convince her. "As well as many other couples here! Look, you're from Lenisily," he pointed out. "I forget that they don't exactly like the idea there." She shrugged in annoyance. "I'm still not interested. I don't know you and I want it to go away!" she told him. Fenneck started laughing and he threw his hands up in exasperation. "Take it up with Corellon then. I doubt it will get you anywhere though, trust me, I've tried!" he said in annoyance.   He shook his head as he started pacing the room. "Look, I just came down here to check on you and to try and get to know you a little bit but clearly that's an awful idea and you want to be left alone in your prison cell to mope! So I'll just leave. I would ask your name but you'll probably accuse me of being a devil in disguise trying to trick you into giving up your voice or some stupid dragonshit like that!" he exclaimed in frustration. "This is a prison cell?!" she asked in confusion. Fenneck looked at her as if she was stupid. "Yeah, you think we're going to just let the best KAV soldier to ever walk this godforsaken tundra to just roam about freely in the palace?!" She look around in confusion and a new sense of fear. "Well... why is this room so nice?" she asked him. "I've seen prisons before and trust me, they don't look like this." He scoffed at her in frustration that this was what she was taking away from their argument. "You're in Glitterfjell, not Lenisily. What do you think we are, animals?" he asked her in annoyance. Natalya shrugged. "I don't know. I know you guys use a lot of magic here and that Pufuktin is scared of you and Baegla but-" Fenneck his hands cutting her off. "Pufuktin is scared of me?!" he asked her, clearly thrilled by the idea. Natalya rolled his eyes. Men and their goddamn egos. "You're ridiculous!" she accused him. "You're just like him aren't you?! All you care about is power and tricking people. I bet this room is all an illusion of some sort for me to trust you lunatics and spill all the KAV's secrets!" she said accusingly.   Fenneck burst out laughing at her. "Oh dear Corellon!" he swore. "You have no idea what's going on, do you?" he asked her. She glared at him for his condescension. "All I've learned since the moment you walked in here is that your a grade a asshole with a superiority complex," she said aggressively. "I don't care if you are my soulmate, I want nothing to do with you," she decided. Fenneck stopped and straightened himself out, clearly taken off guard by this. "I'm... sorry I gave you that impression," he told her. "I'm personally, a bit... frustrated by this situation as well," he admitted. "I'm just trying to get to know you," he told her, rather pathetically. Natalya sighed in annoyance. "What do you want to know?" she asked him reluctantly. "Well..." he started nervously. "What is your name?" he asked her. "Natalya," she told him. "Lieutenant Natalya Ivanhoff." He swallowed nervously. "Do you prefer to be addressed as Lieutenant?" he asked her, clearly reluctant to call her that. She rolled her eyes at him. "No, I'm not a soldier anymore anyway. I'm a prisoner in a foreign country," she said, passive-aggressively. Fenneck pursed his lips. "Are you mad I brought you in?" he asked her. She raised her brow at him. "I tried to kill myself because I knew I'd get arrested and tortured and you shot me through my wrist!" She held up he wrist to show him the scar. Fenneck shrugged and looked down, avoiding her eyes. "At least it wasn't because you thought I was too ugly to marry when you found out I was your thiramin," he poorly attempted a joke, clearly having taken her suicide attempt personally. Natalya softened her demeanor toward him as she realize how serious he was about this soulmate business. "That's why it felt like you were in here last night? Isn't it?" she asked him. Fenneck looked up and nodded nervously. "It... took me off guard as well," he admitted. "It... it was kind of... nice though," he told her, looking desperately into her eyes for some kind of comfort. Natalya shook her head, trying to understand this. "What... what is it?" she asked him. He cocked his head at her. "Thiramin?" he asked. She nodded.   Fenneck hesitantly walked toward her and sat down on the end of the bed. "Its... its when..." he swallowed, trying to collect his thoughts. Natalya noticed his ears were starting to flush red and she couldn't help herself from smiling at him, finding him rather adorable. "My parents told me that your thiramin is your... person. The person you marry. The person who becomes your best friend. Your... partner," he explained. "You feel it when you meet them and you know that they're the person you're meant to be with." He looked up and met Natalya's eyes and she felt her heart start to pound at the idea. "It's... confusing," Fenneck admitted. "I... I've waited for it for so long... I must admit it... it's not what I expected it to be like at all, so I... I understand if you're disappointed." He gave her a small, empathetic frown. Natalya felt confused and frustrated as she felt a swarm of strong emotions come over her. Fenneck seemed to share this and he looked away nervously. "I'm not really sure what's going to happen," Fenneck told her. "I know Baegla isn't done with you here and... I just wanted to see you in case she decided that you were... too dangerous to let go," he told her honestly. Natalya gave Fenneck a worried look. "Like... she'll kill me?" she asked him. Fenneck shrugged. "I have no idea," he admitted. "I'm not in charge. She rarely gives out such penalties but... your case is rather... particular." He saw her concern and he scooted closer to her and slowly reached out his hand to take her own. As their hands touched they looked into each others eyes as they felt the excited chemistry between themselves. They instinctively moved closer to each other and Fenneck slowly leaned in to kiss her. As their noses gently touched the door suddenly opened and Baegla walked in with Feliks, prompting Fenneck to leap away from Natalya in fear.   Baegla gave Fenneck a concerning look before clearing her throat disapprovingly. "Fenneck darling," she addressed him. "Would you please excuse us?" Fenneck nodded guiltily and looked at Natalya longingly. "I um... Thank you for... meeting me," he told her sweetly. She nodded shyly to him. Fenneck awkwardly bowed to the room before quickly leaving the room. Natalya turned to Baegla and Feliks who once again pulled chairs up to her bed. "Sorry to interrupt," Baegla said as she sat down. "I didn't ask him to come here," Natalya assured her. Baegla nodded. "I know dear," she said. "You're thiramin, right? I assume it's only natural, especially with Fenneck. However I still am not certain I want you alone with any of my citizens," she explained bluntly. "You did kill his... well." She swallowed as if she wasn't quite sure what to call Erikur and Fenneck's relationship. "Fair enough," Natalya agreed. "So... thiramin is a real thing?" she asked Baegla. Baegla cocked her head at Natalya. "Of course dear," she said. "For elves at least. Many couples here in Flottenheim are thiramin matches," she explained. Feliks nodded. "My wife and I are thiramin," he told her. "I know they don't encourage the belief of it in the KAV and soldier programs in Lenisily. It surprised me too when it happened." Baegla gave Natalya a comforting look. "I know it probably makes this all the more confusing," she said. "Hopefully we can get through the rest of this relatively easily," she told Natalya. "It is a busy day and I do need to be quick. I have a lot to attend to," she explained.   "Now, first things first," she said, pulling out a ledger to take notes in. "You have admitted to killing the Emperor Staladin, Lord Arrallath and Erikur Oblonsky. Of those three, one would consider you a hero in Thymryu, one would consider you an extremist in Lenisily and the other, frankly, makes you a murderer in Glitterfjell. Erikur was a very prominent, important citizen here. He helped pave the way for the revolution and civil rights and many other wonderful acts of service to our small kingdom. I'm not trying to guilt you," she assured Natalya. "I am just saying the facts. Your presence here is not going to easily fall under the radar and I need you to be aware of what I am responsible for holding you accountable for." Feliks cleared his throat. "One could argue though that his death was not her fault," he countered. "You have been known to pardon and forgive others for their past mistakes. Especially if they were following orders," he pointed out, clearly talking about himself.   Baegla nodded. "I have and I'm not ruling such a thing out. Killing Staladin was no small thing. If anything that should be the main thing I base my judgement on. Staladin has been our greatest enemy for ages and we were quite grateful to learn of his demise. I do believe your intentions are good. You clearly care about your people. Perhaps I allow Fenneck to accompany you to the festival tonight and show you around the city. You will not be allowed to carry any weapons and the guards will be alerted to your presence but I trust that you will be on your best behavior?" she asked Natalya. Natalya shrugged. "Okay," she said. "I don't have anything else to do it would seem." Baegla frowned. "Look," she said. "I want to believe that the gods sent you here for a reason. Especially if you're Fenneck's soulmate. I have to be cautious though and not allow us to let our guards down too much. After tonight you might have a different opinion of our little city. Perhaps we can offer you a purpose. I know you have a strong desire to face Pufuktin and to save your friend but it is a very dangerous endeavor. You can clearly handle yourself well in the mountains. Fenneck and I have talked about trying to map out the area up there. Perhaps you and him could do it together." She stood up to leave. "I will go and inform Fenneck of our plan for the evening. I'll have the guards bring you a wash basin so you can clean up and eat something before he arrives." Feliks stood up and nodded politely to Natalya as they left.   After a few moments the guards brought a meal and a basin in and left Natalya to bath. She tried not to think about everything that had just happened as she slipped into the water. It was all so much and she wasn't quite sure what to make of it. As she lowered her frostbitten skin into the water she winced a bit but pushed through the pain to scrub the grime and dried blood from her skin. She realized all of her wounds had healed over and her toes were almost black they were so damaged from the cold. She took her time and by the time she was done she felt worlds better as she got out of the bath and wrapped the robe they had left her around her skinny, frail body. She brushed out her hair and pulled half of it back into a braid. As she was tying it off she heard a knock at the door. "Come in!" she called out.   Fenneck hesitantly walked in and smiled nervously when he saw her. Natalya felt confused by the onset of emotions she felt as she saw him again after their rather intimate moment together. "Hi," he said. "I uh, I brought you something to wear tonight," he told her, holding up a bundle of red and green fabric. "If you'd like to go that is. To the festival!" he explain shaking his head at himself for his nerves. "Like I told Baegla, there's not much else to do," she said as she walked toward him. Fenneck nodded and shrugged awkwardly as she took the clothes from him. "I have to escort you," he explained. "And we can't be alone. Unless we're in here I guess," he said, gesturing around the room. "Why would we need to be alone?" she asked him, making it clear that she still wasn't down for whatever this soulmate business was and that she definitely did not want him thinking he was going to get lucky with her. He stuttered and blushed a bit. "No-no reason," he assured her. "I uh... I'll let you get dressed," he told her before quickly turning and walking back out of her room.   Natalya sighed and looked down at the clothes. It was a green gown with ornate red and white patters on it and lined with a soft, warm rabbit fur. There was also a matching fur shawl. She put the dress on finding it surprisingly comfortable and went to the vanity. Her hair looked shinier than it had in weeks after being washed and it stuck out nicely against the green fabric of the dress. She braided her hair and found herself trying to look pretty for her date. As she realized this she felt annoyed with herself. She didn't want to want to impress Fenneck but somehow she did. This magical bubbly feeling inside her wanted everything to be perfect, much to her displeasure. She slipped the matching moccasin shoes on that were lined with more fuzzy fur and were surprisingly comfortable on her blistered, frostbitten feet. She nervously walked over to the door and tried to open it before remembering that she was still indeed a prisoner, locked inside a box. She knocked on the door and stepped back as the guards let Fenneck back in.   He looked at her and couldn't help himself from smiling at her in the pretty gown. "You look lovely," he told her politely. She nodded awkwardly. "Thanks." "Would you like me to show you around Flottenheim?" he asked her, his bright green eyes begged her to trust him. She shrugged. "Sure," she said, trying to appear as if she didn't care. Fenneck nodded and beckoned for her to follow him.   He led her out of the cell and down a long hallway of similar looking doors to her own. The entire space seemed to be carved from stone. The guards eyed Natalya cautiously as they made their way into an odd box-like contraption. There was a guard inside and Fenneck leaved over and messed with a level of some sort before a gate shut them into the box and they started floating upwards. Natalya stumbled in surprise and Fenneck instinctively reached out and steadied her by wrapping his arm around her. She quickly moved away from him and he stumbled back, embarrassed. "Sorry," he told her, avoiding her eyes. Natalya clutched her hands together awkwardly and the guard looked away, clearly uncomfortable by their weird behavior. The continued moving up in the awkward silence until the contraption finally stopped moving and Fenneck sighed with relief when the gate opened and he waved Natalya out in front of him and bumped into her as they both nervously tried to exit the box.   Fenneck cleared his throat and moved away from her and gave her a worried look before turning and leading her down the hall. As they entered the hall Natalya felt a weird sense of deja vu as she looked around the beautiful ornate hallway. "This is the palace," Fenneck explained. All around them people were dragging decorations or food and wine carts around somewhat frantically toward the box contraption they had just exited. Natalya noticed there was three boxes total in the room that people were using to go up or down in. There was also a large spiral staircase. Everyone was dressed in fancy clothes and the air seemed a buzz with excitement that Natalya was due to whatever this festival was.   Fenneck led her down the hall and they passed an open spaced throne room to their right that was currently empty. Across from it was a huge set of wooden doors that Natalya assumed was the entrance to the palace. Fenneck opened a door to reveal a library and led her inside. "This is our public library," he told her. "There are books on all sorts of subjects and all sorts of languages." He walked through and out a door on the opposite side of the room. They came back into a similar hallway as the one before. This one was full of foot traffic from another large entrance and even more hurried guests and tourists heading toward the lifts. "This entrances opens onto the Great Skyway," Fenneck explained. "That is the traditional way we travel to Thymryu or Lenisily, except we don't actually go there."   They join the crowd of people moving toward the lifts and Fenneck led her to the staircase. They went up and stopped on the next floor. Fenneck motioned to the big doors to their left. "That's the dining hall and here is the kitchen. Baegla keeps them pretty busy." As they continued walking they passed more rooms with beautiful carved doorways and Natalya had an odd feeling that she'd been there before, even though the only time she had been to Flottenheim she hadn't even made it as far as the Vallee, let alone the palace. They turned and saw a grand staircase to the right. Across rom the stairs Natalya saw a door across the way that she felt drawn to somehow, but Fenneck started going up the stairs.   As they crested the stairs they entered a giant, beautiful ballroom which was decked out for the festivities. She saw some bards warming up and rehearsing on the bandstands and felt a strong sense of magic in the room surrounding the musicians. Fenneck led her to the right and up another smaller staircase and into a hallway that had giant portraits and murals depicting war scenes or important looking people.   "This is Revolutionary Hall," Fenneck explained. "A memorial and collection of history related to the revolution. I was an archer and helped lead the army from the Vallee when we took the palace," he told her nervously motioning to a painting of himself looking regal and impressive on a magical icy blue giant elk. Next to him was Erikur on a lavender elk and they were both leading a ragtag group of farmers into batter and summoning magic around them. "The revolution took longer to plan than it did to execute," Fenneck continued. "When we finally took the palace, Malenthot, the Grand Duke, ran away into the mountains. He was a spineless coward," he said with disdain. "After we took Flottenheim, Staladin sent his armies to quell our revolution. Luckily, he could only send his troops down the Skyway. We only had to meet them on one front, but the battle was fierce there." Fenneck led her past more murals and plaques describing the events, gesturing to each as he recounted fighting that day. "Ultimately, he was forced to retreat because of the weather and our sheer relentlessness."   Natalya studied the room curiously. She had only ever seen the Flottenheim Rebellion in a bad light. It was one of the great failures of Emperor Staladin and Lenisily and many KAV soldiers remember it with anger and disdain. Natalya also watched Fenneck carefully, trying to figure out his angle in giving her this history lesson. She wanted to assume he was trying to persuade her to join their cause and give up any secrets she might have but he seemed to be trying to impress her by pointing out plaques and paintings with himself in them. He was also sweating and seemed quite nervous and Natalya couldn't help but think he was a bit adorable. He didn't bring her here to interrogate her. He brought her here to show off.   When they had finished their history lesson, he lead her out onto the balcony overlooking Flottenheim. There were still guards around but they were rather easy to ignore. She leaned against the railing and looked out over the pretty city below them. Flottenheim was a city, not unlike Leniscow in that it was build up the side of a mountain. Everything was covered in a beautiful white blanket of snow except for the trees and farms below them which seemed to glow bright green with bright fruits and vegetables on them, despite the harsh cold. It was snowing lightly on them but Natalya didn't mind, she was used to it and she could help but find it odd that the air here felt warmer somehow than it did in the mountains.   "I thought for the longest time that I was fighting the right fight," she told him hesitantly. "That the country I loved and respected had good intentions," she told him, looking out over the bustling streets of the city. "I truly believed they cared about their people. I was proud to be in the KAV. I feel stupid for not realizing it sooner, especially considering how awful my life had been growing up. I thought it was my dutiful sacrifice. It was my part of the load to share." She looked out into the snow for a moment before turning and facing him. "I'm glad you were successful. I'm glad it worked," she told him. "Me too," Fenneck said, smiling with relief. "It was not an easy price to pay. Our freedom cost us dearly but every day we try and make sure those sacrifices were worth it," he said sadly, before turning away from her. Natalya wondered if he knew about Erikur and she took a deep breath to prepare herself but he spoke first. "I want to apologize for... everything," he said, turning to her and dropping his formal air. "I'm just... trying to figure this out. I didn't want to hurt you when I found you," he told her with a remorseful look on his face. She sighed and shook her head. "You did the smart thing. You're a good shot," she complimented him, genuinely impressed by his skills with a bow. He smiled hesitantly at her words. "I know it's a lot," he told her. "I'm also not really sure what's going to happen to you after today. Baegla wants to trust you she's just..." "Being intelligent," Natalya finished for him. He gave he a sympathetic frown. She squinted at him. "I'm a KAV soldier, Fen. I've done a lot of bad things. Things that would easily get me the death sentence in most situations." Fenneck shook his head. "You were following orders and defending your country," he told her understandingly.   "I was raised with a wonderful family who loved me very much and I lived in the second level of the mountain when I was born," he told her. "I was a blond, bright-eyed high-elf male with every privilege in the world who got to be a tailor for the royal family here and even moved up a level at one point. It took me a very long time to realize just how tyrannical our country really was. You did what you thought was right," he told her, looking deep into her eyes. Natalya was surprised by this reaction. She'd hurt someone so close and dear to him and he was so willing to forgive her? "I'm sorry about thiramin," he told her. "I understand that it... I understand if you don't want to do this. I think I've put too much hope in it to save my life and I'm not surprised that this is how it's turned out," he said, leaning on the railing in frustration. Natalya felt her heart start to break for him and she hesitantly took a step closer to him and gently put a hand on his hunched over shoulder. He flinched in surprise at her touch but didn't move away from her. "I'm sorry too," she told him genuinely. "I... It's just very weird," she told him.   He slowly straightened himself up and looked at her curiously and gently caressed the arm she'd reached out to him. They once again instinctively moved toward one another as they stared into each others eyes. He gently reached out and caressed her cold cheek as he studied her face intensely. He leaned down and Natalya felt the thiramin feeling inside her start begging her body to kiss him and love him and felt herself growing nauseous. She quickly pulled away from him and threw up onto the ground before stumbling and coughing in pain. "Oh my gods!" Fenneck exclaimed. "Are... are you okay?!" he asked her, reaching out to comfort her. She pulled away though and waved him away. "I'm fine!" she exclaimed. "Don't touch me!" Fenneck stared at her in horror and let her collect herself. The guards watching them had run forward with their spears aimed at her as if this was some trick she was trying to pull. She felt tears start to well up in her eyes as she realized how trapped she was. "She's fine!" Fenneck told the guards angrily. "We're okay," he assured them. They slowly backed down and Fenneck crouched down across from Natalya. "Let's get inside, out of the cold," he suggested, careful not to touch her. She nodded and shakily got to her feet and Fenneck led her inside.   When they were inside Fenneck led her over to a bench and she sat down for a moment, trying to gain control over herself again. He sat down a couple feet away from her on the bench and studied her nervously. "Does my breath smell that bad?" he asked her, with a playful look in his eyes. She looked up at him and couldn't help herself from giggling at him. "No," she told him shamefully. "These feelings are just..." She bit her lip, realizing she didn't want to tell him about Pufuktin and his charms. "It just makes me feel nauseas," she told him. He nodded. "Is that why you through up when you saw me for the first time?" he asked her, clearly saddened that this was her response to him. She shrugged guiltily. "It's nothing against you," she assured him. "I just don't like being manipulated." He nodded understandingly. "I'm really sorry it feels that way," he told her genuinely. She smiled softly at him.   "Look, you're really sweet and... and very handsome," she told him, offering him a bashful smile. "I... I just don't really know how to feel about this. I wasn't planning on meeting my soulmate... frankly ever. I didn't know this was a thing and I'm really sorry if my reaction has ruined something you've clearly been dreaming about for forever. I am not great with relationships in general and I never... intended to hurt you." Fenneck cocked his head at her sympathetically. "I know," he assure her. "I mean, thank you. About me being handsome. I'm not trying to sound like an ass but... I know I have a tendency to say the wrong thing sometimes." He cleared his throat awkwardly and shook his head. "Thank you," he told her, regaining his composure. "Thank you for saying that. I know this is the last thing you probably want to be worrying about in being here. I..." he trailed off and looked off into the distance before shrugging sadly. "I used to think that it would be so wonderful to meet someone and instantly know that you were meant to be together but... it's fucking weird!" he exclaimed with a laugh, prompting Natalya to giggle in agreement. "I mean, it kinda sucks in a way!" he said. "It would have been so much more interesting to just kill each other in the mountains, you know," he teased her. She smiled at him and nodded. "I'm much better at killing people than making them fall in love with me," she morbidly joked. He laughed at her though and met her eyes with a friendly gaze. "Tell you what," he told her. "How about we just... throw thiramin out the door for today and just try to get to know each other the old fashioned way. Can I buy you a drink? Take you out to a bar?" he asked her playfully. "No expectations, and if I'm a total ass, which my friends will probably tell you there's a pretty good chance of, you can throw a drink in my face and never see me again." He raised his brow to her and motioned back toward the ballroom.   Natalya took a deep breath and decided to roll with it. He was charming and funny and it reminded her of Dimitri. He stood up and offered her a hand and she slowly stood up and took it. He smiled sweetly at her and gently pulled her toward the door. "You haven't been here before, right?" he asked her as the made their way through the ballroom. She shook her head but as she looked around the beautiful ballroom she felt the same weird feeling of deja vu come over her. She shrugged it away though and followed Fenneck down to the moving boxes. He walked her into one and showed her the lever system. "These are called lifts," he explained. "See," he said as he set the lever and the box started to move down this time. Natalya only stumbled a little this time and Fenneck's hand grazed her lower back but she didn't pull away from him. He noticed this and gave her a small smile. She smiled back to him, unable to hide the fact that she did enjoy his touch.   As the lift rolled to a stop, Fenneck reached his hands around her face like a blindfold. "Don't look yet!" he giggled as she leaned back against him. Natalya felt him push his pelvis into her a little too excitedly but she was grateful they were past the awkwardness. "Is this where you kill me by an archery squad?" she asked him teasingly. He chuckled nervously at her dark joke. "We don't do that here," he assured her as he pushed her gently out of the lift.   After a few moments he removed his hands to reveal a sight unlike any Natalya had ever seen. She was in a giant enclosed space in what she understood was a section of the mountain where a beautiful ball of magical sunlight shone from the rocky ceiling illuminating on a magnificent garden that filled the entirety of the center of the huge space. On the edge of the walls were what looked like house fronts. She watched Fenneck walk over to one of the apple trees and pluck a fruit from its branch. He proudly held it out for her to observe. She walked over and took it and admired it for a moment before biting into it. "It tastes wonderful! I've never had one before," she told him, studying the fruit some more. Fenneck beamed excitedly. "I love apples," he told her, looking like a child showing her his favorite play toy. "My parents would save up so they could buy a few to make a pie for my birthday and special occasions when I was a child." He smiled and gestured to the beautiful gardens. "Anyone can take what they wish from the crops here," he explained. "As a society we all tend to the fields and we each harvest what we need. Everyone here has access to apples, wheat, corn, carrots, anything you could think of," he told her excitedly. "What about meat?" she asked, looking around and not seeing any animals. "We have animals in the floors below," he told her. "There are many layers to the mountain and each one has crops or animals or various other purposes, like the prisons or the theatre," he told her.   Fenneck led her down into the other layers each one slightly more magnificent than the one before it. He explained their economic system, the political field, how they had implemented these new socialistic ways of life based on old Elvish societies. He told her how they still struggle with some of their people who embraced the ways of Lenisily: the hate, racism and religious control that comes with it. Natalya felt herself falling in love. Not necessarily with Fenneck, but this world. The people they passed were happy and healthy looking. It was so much more diverse than the world she grew up in. She was glad a place like this existed. Somewhere that little girls can grow up without feeling dominated by men. A world where you can love freely and openly. A world where no one went to sleep hungry or without a roof over their heads. A world where you don't need to fear for your life because you aren't a high-elf.   Fenneck finally led her back to the stairs. "The next level is the theatre," he explained. "We'll probably be there for the rest of the evening for the festival. Are you ready?" She nodded, not knowing how this place could get more wonderful. They went down a longer staircase than before. This time, instead of the room opening up before them they were met with some doors. Fenneck opened one for Natalya and she walked into a giant domed room with a beautifully ornate ceiling that was painted like the heavens on a beautiful night sky. Spots of magic and animation glowed among it. Music filled the room and she saw a giant stage in the center of the room with a number of bards performing around a giant dormant tree whose naked branches stretched up close to the ceiling and spreading out above the performers. A lot of people were seen sitting on the ground directly around the stage and then the room turned into stadium seating and some boxed seating with tables and chairs raked slightly upwards toward the walls. Along the walls were lots of concessions and food stands. The room was pretty full already and Fenneck led Natalya inside.   "How about that drink?" he asked her, motioning to a stand with alcohol. Natalya smiled and nodded and let him lead the way. He led her to a couple stands where he got them some food and drink before taking her into a box with a table and chairs. They sat and chatted as they watched the performers. Natalya enjoyed the music and dancing. She had never really seen performances like this Lenisily and she only saw an occasional street bard passing through Ringstadt. Natalya also found herself enjoying Fenneck's company. He was sweet and occasionally quite funny. He was constantly greeting or being greeted by passersby.   When it got closer to time, Fenneck led her down closer to where some of his friends were milling about. Natalya saw a pretty high-elf approach them, causing her to do a double take. She had sandy blonde hair and green eyes and she looked oddly familiar to Natalya. Next to her was an older looking halfling with brown wavy hair and a large beard and a large hat on his head. Next to him was a weird looking bird that was almost as tall as he was. The bird gawked excitedly as they approached. "Fenneck!" the halfling said, tipping his hat to him dramatically before stopping in fear at the sight of Natalya. The high-elf looked Natalya over cautiously. Fenneck nodded to them and gestured to Natalya. "This is Natalya," he introduced them. "Natalya, this is Vyndius, his penguin, Gwynsickle and Catherine. They were pretty instrumental in the revolution as well," he informed her. "Nice to meet you," Natalya greeted them. "The pleasure is all ours," Vyndius said, getting past his apprehension about her as he and Gwynsickle bowed in perfect unison. She nodded shyly back to them, sensing their distrust. "Welcome to Flottenheim," Catherine greeted her a bit coldly. The high-elf exchanged a glance with Fenneck. "It's very good to meet you, Natalya," she said, giving her a curt nod. "I'm sure we'll see you around later." She started steering Vyndius away and Natalya swallowed nervously.    "Let's go sit," Fenneck suggested. Natalya sat down next to him and huddled close as she sensed the group of Fenneck's acquaintances and friends starting to erupt with whispers about her. Natalya walked a wood-elf walk over and sit down on the opposite side of Fenneck. The elf had straight jet black hair and olive skin and warm eyes. He leaned over and whispered something into Fenneck ear that landed him a playful jab into his side. "Hi!" the wood-elf leaned over him and reach a hand out to her. "I'm Alexei," he said. "You are my new favorite person," he told her with a welcoming smile. Fenneck scoffed at him and rolled his eyes as Natalya shook his hand. "Natalya," she told him her name, giving him a curious look. "This is my best friend," Fenneck explained. "Sorry if he's a bit rude," he told her, giving Alexei a playful glare. Alexei rolled his eyes and shook his head at Fenneck. "He's the rude one," he assured Natalya. "Trust me. If he starts bothering you just let me know," he told her with a playful wink. Natalya smiled at him. "Will do," she assured him. Alexei smiled proudly and leaned back and whispered something to Fenneck before Fenneck leaned over to Natalya. "Just go along with what everyone else is doing," he told her, gesturing to the stage and crowd around them. "It will make more sense when it starts." She gave him a hesitant look and he gently rubbed her back comfortingly.    Natalya noticed that the amphitheater was packed full of people at this point and the music suddenly got louder and the lights dimmed so that only the domed sky and performers around the tree were lit. The crowds quieted instantly and all sat down cross legged on the floor. The music filled every inch of the space and Natalya felt transfixed on the beauty of it all. Fenneck smiled at her briefly before turning his attention to the stage. Natalya felt a sense of peace and joy come over her and she sensed a heavy amount of magic in the air as the bards performed the beautiful ballads. After a few songs the room grew very quiet. When the next song started everyone in the theatre started to sing along and Natalya some how felt the words roll off her tongue along with everyone else, even though she had never heard the song before. Fenneck smiled when he saw she was singing. This continued for a couple of songs. As they sang the magical animations on the ceiling and swirling around them grew stronger. When one song finished there was a shift as Jasna started singing a verse acapella and the other bards slowly joined in building the harmonies. When it got to the chorus everyone started singing and slowing everyone stood and took the hand of the person next to them. Natalya felt magic surge through her veins and she saw the tree in the center of the stage started to to bloom and turn green. As the song grew stronger the tree started to glow a bright green and the stars in the ceiling also grew in size. It was such a magnificent sight. Natalya had never seen such beauty in her entire life. As the song finished Natalya notices the air looked hazy and greenish blue around her. Nobody spoke but people slowly started to filter out of the theatre, some sat down to meditate. Some just stood staring up at the tree now ripe with life. The bards started a slow song that resembled an elvish lullaby.    Natalya felt more alive and alert that she ever had. Her body felt rejuvenated, as if she was invincible. She slowly realized Fenneck's hand was still in her own and she felt her heart glowing. He looked at her and smiled. He slowly led her out the exit and up the stairs. The air was still hazy Natalya noticed. Fenneck held her hand the entire time. When they got to floor that there rooms were on they got off. Fenneck kept leading her to the end of the hall down to where he had said his room was. He opened a door and they went up a smaller, private staircase. Natalya followed him up into his chambers. He lead her across the room to a private balcony and opened the glass doors and Natalya realized where the haze was coming from. The sky around Flottenheim was glowing. It looked as if the Northern Lights had come down to kiss the mountains during the ceremony. She realized they were at one of the highest points of the castle. She looked down and saw the people from the festival in the streets, admiring this strange magic.    She felt Fenneck's hand on her waist and she allowed herself to lean into his embrace. She had never felt anything like this before. As much as a part of her wanted to make love to him, it almost felt like a different desire entirely. She felt close to him, it felt as if they were sharing thoughts and emotions at certain moments. She felt his face nuzzle against her own and hoped that this wasn't some weird, lucid dream she was having while starving to death in the mountains. They stood there for hours watching the beauty of Flottenheim before Fenneck fetched some furs from his room. He laid them out on the balcony and pulled Natalya down into his lap. He leaned against the wall as she laid against him. He wrapped the blankets around them and interlaced his fingers with hers. Fenneck kissed Natalya's neck lovingly and she squirmed from the intensity of his touch and leaned into him. He didn't kiss her lips though. He continued to hold her until they both closed their eyes to meditate.