The Library, Part 39
After a long walk, arduous for some, Pleni comes to a complete stop without a word, the Witch and company stopping behind her. The reason for stopping is not readily apparent, as the path through the forest continues onward into the far distance. Everyone waits for Pleni to act or speak.
A whisper on the wind quietly rings through everyone's ears, and Pleni joins the bodiless melody, singing a song in a language no one else present speaks. The air shimmers and reality bends in waves as the path before them gives way to a grander sight.
The same serene forest through which everyone trekked becomes something more, with paths branching off the one every currently stands on, and wooden structures large and small surround the trees at their base. Fairies come and go from these buildings as the paths fill with beings not present before.
The secretary stands slack jawed and the Witch gives a gruff grunt. Bishop Clement's eyes follow some wooden structures up into the tree canopy and Ernest stands half asleep. That-Came-From-Before remains quiet and unmoved, offering no visual reaction or response.
Pleni turns around to greet the travelers behind her, "Welcome to our home away from home here in this otherworld."
Ailuros wastes no time, walking past Pleni and up one of the paths towards one of the larger trees and attendant structures. Pleni laughs, "Straight to business then. Please, follow me."
The Witch and company follow close behind Pleni, everyone observing the daily lives of Fairies on display. Far from the Humanesque wear seen on Earth, the Fairies in Sluagh na Marbh clothe themselves in more natural dress with flowing gowns and loose fitting apparel abounding.
The Witch notices all the Fairies have bright jewels and flowery adornments. Nature governs the styles on display. The Witch senses the magic emanating from all those passersby within her sight and says, "Everyone here is very powerful, an order of magnitude more than those Fey I saw on Earth."
Pleni continues her smile, "For as much as Mag Findargat tries to consume us all, we in turn feed off the Knowledge. We've adapted to this realm and it to us, to an extent."
"Adapted to this place. . ." The Witch wonders out loud as she casts a look towards Bishop Clement.
The secretary, marveling at the sights, says, "Everyone and everything here is so warm and inviting, it's different from what I've seen of the Fey . . . back on Earth."
"We dress for the task at hand," Pleni says, "and we do have a little fun with it as well."
Without looking back Ailuros enters an ornate set of doors acting as a portal into one of the more ostentatious buildings among the many present in the forest city. The heavy wooden doors are propped open, and a number of Fairies come and go in a constant exchange.
Walking in as a group, the Witch and company gather around Pleni within the busy public building. The entire structure is made of living wood, with ornate artwork carved into both tree roots and installed paneling. The floors, walls, and ceilings all sprout leaves, decorating the space further.
The entrance leads onto a landing with a grand staircase leading down to another landing with two more staircases descending from there, curved around the edge of the inside of the tree trunk. Following the stairs downward leads to a much larger space that burrows deep into the ground.
At the bottom of the grand staircase the floor the Witch and company finds themselves on is circular, going round well beyond the circumference of the still quite substantial tree growing above them, and dug into the ground in between the growing roots are paths leading away from this central space.
The floor is wide enough to allow four people to stand abreast between the outer wall of the circular room and a wooden balustrade that separates the walking space from a drop. The Witch walks over and takes hold of the banister while peering down.
Dropping down into a hazy mist far below are floor after floor. The Witch presumes each floor is roughly identical to the one on which they stand, with all having similar paths stretching away from their respective central hub.
"So, I assume this is your library." The Witch says.
"You assume correctly." Pleni responds.
The Witch catches Ernest out of the corner of her eye as he props himself against the wooden railing, and says to Pleni, "I think it would be best if we found a place to rest. A few of us haven't had a moment to breathe in quite awhile."
Pleni jumps out in front of the Witch and company, leading them to one of the paths cut into the outer wall, one flanked on either side by roots from the tree.
Pleni announces, "Follow me down this path, and I will take you to your accommodations. You are home now, with us."
The Witch pauses to consider Pleni's words, but seeing Ernest decides to lend him a hand and help bring him along, following Pleni down the passageway and to rest. The Witch and company disappear from the Fairy library down a wooden corridor.
A whisper on the wind quietly rings through everyone's ears, and Pleni joins the bodiless melody, singing a song in a language no one else present speaks. The air shimmers and reality bends in waves as the path before them gives way to a grander sight.
The same serene forest through which everyone trekked becomes something more, with paths branching off the one every currently stands on, and wooden structures large and small surround the trees at their base. Fairies come and go from these buildings as the paths fill with beings not present before.
The secretary stands slack jawed and the Witch gives a gruff grunt. Bishop Clement's eyes follow some wooden structures up into the tree canopy and Ernest stands half asleep. That-Came-From-Before remains quiet and unmoved, offering no visual reaction or response.
Pleni turns around to greet the travelers behind her, "Welcome to our home away from home here in this otherworld."
Ailuros wastes no time, walking past Pleni and up one of the paths towards one of the larger trees and attendant structures. Pleni laughs, "Straight to business then. Please, follow me."
The Witch and company follow close behind Pleni, everyone observing the daily lives of Fairies on display. Far from the Humanesque wear seen on Earth, the Fairies in Sluagh na Marbh clothe themselves in more natural dress with flowing gowns and loose fitting apparel abounding.
The Witch notices all the Fairies have bright jewels and flowery adornments. Nature governs the styles on display. The Witch senses the magic emanating from all those passersby within her sight and says, "Everyone here is very powerful, an order of magnitude more than those Fey I saw on Earth."
Pleni continues her smile, "For as much as Mag Findargat tries to consume us all, we in turn feed off the Knowledge. We've adapted to this realm and it to us, to an extent."
"Adapted to this place. . ." The Witch wonders out loud as she casts a look towards Bishop Clement.
The secretary, marveling at the sights, says, "Everyone and everything here is so warm and inviting, it's different from what I've seen of the Fey . . . back on Earth."
"We dress for the task at hand," Pleni says, "and we do have a little fun with it as well."
Without looking back Ailuros enters an ornate set of doors acting as a portal into one of the more ostentatious buildings among the many present in the forest city. The heavy wooden doors are propped open, and a number of Fairies come and go in a constant exchange.
Walking in as a group, the Witch and company gather around Pleni within the busy public building. The entire structure is made of living wood, with ornate artwork carved into both tree roots and installed paneling. The floors, walls, and ceilings all sprout leaves, decorating the space further.
The entrance leads onto a landing with a grand staircase leading down to another landing with two more staircases descending from there, curved around the edge of the inside of the tree trunk. Following the stairs downward leads to a much larger space that burrows deep into the ground.
At the bottom of the grand staircase the floor the Witch and company finds themselves on is circular, going round well beyond the circumference of the still quite substantial tree growing above them, and dug into the ground in between the growing roots are paths leading away from this central space.
The floor is wide enough to allow four people to stand abreast between the outer wall of the circular room and a wooden balustrade that separates the walking space from a drop. The Witch walks over and takes hold of the banister while peering down.
Dropping down into a hazy mist far below are floor after floor. The Witch presumes each floor is roughly identical to the one on which they stand, with all having similar paths stretching away from their respective central hub.
"So, I assume this is your library." The Witch says.
"You assume correctly." Pleni responds.
The Witch catches Ernest out of the corner of her eye as he props himself against the wooden railing, and says to Pleni, "I think it would be best if we found a place to rest. A few of us haven't had a moment to breathe in quite awhile."
Pleni jumps out in front of the Witch and company, leading them to one of the paths cut into the outer wall, one flanked on either side by roots from the tree.
Pleni announces, "Follow me down this path, and I will take you to your accommodations. You are home now, with us."
The Witch pauses to consider Pleni's words, but seeing Ernest decides to lend him a hand and help bring him along, following Pleni down the passageway and to rest. The Witch and company disappear from the Fairy library down a wooden corridor.