"Mm-" He was quick to turn around, "Oh, Din. Did you sleep well?"
"I did. Thank you for asking." She smiled in a way that did nothing to hide her true feelings, "Considering the sounds I've been hearing from the wagon this past half-hour, I don't suppose you had such luck?"
"Nor did the Elves, I'm afraid."
She looked down, towards his waist, "Put that sorry thing away right this second."
"That's no way to be referring to a man's pride. It's anything but sorry."
"Ah, is that so? My apologies." She bowed, "Now, kindly put some clothes on before I cut it off."
"...Yes, ma'am."
As he went to clothe himself, an atmosphere of emptiness settled upon the camp. It was not long before the Elves from the second wagon began to emerge, although it appeared that they, too, had some trouble sleeping judging by how they were yawning and rubbing the sleep from their eyes. Din, who appeared ready to travel almost immediately, spent her time breaking the fire pits while everyone else woke up.
"Barion." When the man walked over to her again, fully-clothed this time, she sighed, "What you do at night doesn't bother me in the slightest, but try to have a little respect for the fact that these girls were slaves just a day ago."
"I have to insist that it was a moment where I was forced to take initiative." He defended himself, "I don't think I would have left that wagon alive if I hadn't prepared myself."
"...What are you talking about?"
"The Elves were… well, they were 'active', if you catch my cold."
"...You mean, their crests were glowing?"
"Is that what they're called? I'm not too familiar with the physiology of Elves." He crossed his arms behind his head, "But that was the case, yes."
"Hoh. It's a wonder you're still standing." Somehow, she sounded a tad impressed, "An Elf in heat won't let a man go until she's sure he's blessed her with a child."
"Is there a reason for that?"
"An Elven woman is only fertile once every few years." Din explained, "So, the crest pushes us to seek out mates when the time comes. It can be quite troublesome."
"So, does that mean you were lonely last night?"
"Wha- no!" She grinded her teeth at him, "The fertile periods are different for every Elf. What you experienced was a phenomenon known as 'synchronicity'."
"This is all starting to sound quite complicated. What is it?"
"When an Elven woman's crest activates in close proximity to other Elven women, the magical signal which triggers it also spreads to them." She explained thoroughly, "It accommodates the tradition of Elven men marrying several times, so the maximum number of children can be born."
"How interesting. I was never taught anything like that on my first visit to Aelf'ahlnohma."
"-Speaking of which, I'd also like to ask you some questions about that, but it's best to wait until we're on our way to the city." Din recommended, "I hope you weren't bluffing when you mentioned having a way to cross the Weald easily."
"I wasn't. You have my word."
"Excellent." She said, turning around, "Oh, and I'll be leading the first wagon today. I wouldn't want you getting distracted by anything."
"Don't make me sound like some kind of pervert… I was fighting for my life in there."
She didn't answer him, waving off his excuse as she wandered towards the wagon in question. Sighing, Barion finished buttoning up his vest before heading for the second.
"Alright, it's time to get moving, you lot!" He said, raising a hand into the air, "Next stop, Aelf'ahlnohma!"
Once all the Elves were accounted for and Din had worked out the heading for their destination, the two wagons began to move once more, passing beneath the enshrouded canopy beyond the clearing towards an overgrown pathway.
As one journeyed closer to the Aelven Weald, the monsters which were native to Branda lessened in number, but were replaced by beasts summoned magically to act as guardians, preventing humans and those who were too slow from discovering Aelf'ahlnohma. The Weald, which was known among outsiders as a forbidden forest, nevertheless was irresistible to many adventurers, who had convinced themselves that great treasures existed within its twisting passages.
Barion led his own wagon behind the first, and as the two of them progressed slowly through the woods, there was a rumbling sound from within the wagon in front of him. A few seconds later, one of the Elves meekly poked her head out from its rear, blushing as she made eye contact with Barion, "Ah… Lord Barion…"
"Oh, you're up. Be careful not to fall out."
"Um… about last night…" She muttered, and then quickly dropped her head, "I-I must offer my deepest apologies! For you to have seen us in such a depraved state, and for us to have taken advantage of you in that manner-!"
"Don't worry about it." Barion laughed, "Fun was had by all, right? It's nothing to be sorry about."
"Ah… yes~" Even though she seemed grateful, there was still a hint of lechery in her voice, "And again, thank you for troubling yourself with us. We are deeply grateful to be returning to our home."
As she said that, the forest around them seemed to darken, as if the canopy itself was absorbing the light from above. A thick, foreboding mist shortly fell upon them--a tell-tale sign that they were crossing into the Aelvan Weald.
"Keep yourself safe with Din." Barion ordered, "We'll be in Aelf'ahlnohma soon."
The Elf ducked back into the wagon, and he again reached for the enchanted pouch on his belt. Barion had gathered a multitude of useful magical items on his travels, but there was one among them all which would guarantee a safe journey through that treacherous forest. After rummaging for a moment, he procured a fine-looking amulet with a thin golden chain. The inscription upon its face was in a language he did not understand.
"How did it go again…?" He took a breath, "An'nan, exim lare numen ro Aelf."
As he spoke those words, the amulet began trembling in his palm, and once the incantation had been complete, a great translucent sphere began expanding outwards from it, growing until it enveloped a space in which both wagons could easily fit.
"What the-" Barion could just about see Din's face as she leaned over the driver's seat in front, "Barion!? Was that you!?"
He gave her a thumbs-up, "We'll be protected from any monsters now! Just put us on the fastest route to the city!"
She didn't have the energy to question him anymore, and so began ushering the horses forward once more. The miasma which descended upon the Weald did not seem to penetrate the amulet's barrier, and neither did the shadows which rustled among the undergrowth dare to approach them.
Not that such an artefact made progressing through the Weald any less uncomfortable. A defining atmosphere of dread accompanied them around every turn, such that neither Barion nor Din spoke up to try and lighten the mood.
For 3 hours they travelled like that, with the amulet's magic thankfully never fading. Barion was the first to spot it--a pure-silver spire extending past the very clouds which seemed to materialise out of thin air. A sight which humbled him even though he had seen it once before.
It was soon after that the miasma, and the oppressive atmosphere with it, dissolved away. The forest seemed to have returned to normal, and Barion was able to breathe a sigh of relief. They had crossed the hardest step on their journey to Aelf'ahlnohma, and now the city was in sight.
Aelf'ahlnohma was like a glimmering jewel when viewed from afar. It was almost sinful for a city to appear so pristine and unblemished. For Elvenkind, it was the pride of their entire race--a monument to their enduring nature. Most impressive of all was its central spire, which was said to reach as high as Heaven itself.
The two wagons approached its marble battlements with caution. Barion was a human, after all, and humans were never to know of the city's location. Since Din was leading the two, the spear-wielding guards at its gates were at first welcoming, but quickly readied their weapons when Barion's form came into view.
"A human! Halt!" One of them commanded, "What is the meaning of this!?"
Din did not speak up immediately, for she was afraid of being called a traitor by claiming Barion was accompanying her. She would have been breaking one of the city's most sacred laws. But when she finally did open her mouth to speak, Barion managed to beat her to the punch.
"I have permission to be here." He said simply.
"Do not attempt to fool us with your words, human!" The guard replied, "You will not leave this place alive! Aelf'ahlnohma shall remain obscured to humankind forever!"
"Din!" Barion shouted, "Catch!"
When she turned her head to face him, she had but a moment to catch the object which had been flung at her. While she recoiled at first, it landed squarely in her hand, and when she uncurled her fingers, there was an emblem which reflected a silver light that was almost blinding.
"T-That light…" The other guard stammered, "Is that…"
When Din lifted the emblem so that every person present could see it, the first guard finished his comrade's words, "A royal commendation!?"