She Enters the Hall of Resounding Joys

"Well, that's all in the past now, so don't let my little story ruin the mood." Robin changed the subject with a laugh and a wink. "This is supposed to be a party, after all."

"Of course!" Dewtre agreed. "It was our fault for asking. What I really wanted to do was to give you the gifts we had prepared."

"Gifts?" Christian asked.

"Yes. We had prepared the latest fashion of elven clothing." Dewtre replied.

"Clothes?" Robin was surprised. Chelsea and Jasmine turned to look at Robin with a smile of anticipation. Keith watched their antics, having no intentions of stopping them. Christian wondered what sort of style the elves had in mind. Liam, on the other hand, was looking at Chelsea: well, it was pretty obvious that everyone was looking forward to the gifts.

"Well, after all, we can't have you going to the party unprepared." Dewtre smiled.

Though there was no sense of malicious intent, Robin suddenly felt that something ominous was about to happen...

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When Robin stepped into the changing room, she suddenly felt like she shouldn't have come. Before her, on the stand, was what can only be described as a wedding gown. It was built up with many gossamer layers of material as thin as a fairy's wing. The sleeves and neck were made of finely embroidered elven lace. The crown was also interwoven with layers of gossamer material, with tiny gemstones interwoven about the edges to make them sparkle. Gem-like beads gleamed. Actually no, they glowed, interspersed artfully throughout the whole gown. It was the most beautiful gown that Robin had ever seen. But...she could not wear it.

"What is the meaning of this?" Robin asked, looking to Dewtre who was next to her.

"Is it not beautiful?" Dewtre asked.

"It is. But why is it here in my changing room?" Robin pointed her thumb at it. "You don't expect me to wear this to the party, do you?"

Dewtre leaned against the doorway as she considered it with a smirk. But after a short pause, she said. "While somewhat tempting, I shall refrain. This is our gift to you. Take it as a sign of our support for you and your future partner, if you ever decide to get married."

Robin narrowed her eyes. "...In that case, I will receive it well. However, where are the clothes I am to wear to the party?"

Dewtre laughed with a merry twinkle in her eyes. Her eyes were still smiling when she reached out her open arms. A perfectly folded bundle of clothes seemed to appear out of nowhere. She offered them to Robin with an innocent expression.

"Do let me know if anything isn't fitting properly." Dewtre handed Robin the tailored elven suit, before leaving the room.

Robin was dumbfounded. She then glanced at the wedding dress and down at her own clothes... Elves were indeed skilled craftsman. After a moment of contemplation, she slowly closed the door behind her.

When she left the room, the dress was nowhere to be seen. It had been hidden away safely within her storage bracer.

The clothes worn for an elven party, while bearing more subdued, natural colors, were actually the height of luxury. They were both beautiful and comfortable at the same time. And the clothes that Robin's party wore were actually enchanted to be hard to destroy, repairable via adding magic power, and always clean. Moreover, they had a little trick to them.

Robin's clothes, while seeming to be a pale pastel green in the light, became a royal blue color in the shadows. This color changing cloth was the most expensive of exports, as it rarely emerged from the territory. And now, the entire company was bedecked in such clothes.

Sure enough, when they returned, Gerard and the two guards would probably be very jealous if they were left out. Good thing they were given a few extra outfits. even fairy Elise got a a set of pullover gossamer fairy sleeves to wear. She twirled about in delight, before she joined a passing group of fairies to brag-ahem, I mean-socialize.

Seeing that they had all gathered together, Dewtre nodded in satisfaction. She then turned her head and glanced at Tyrstle, signalling for him to speak.

"Come. Follow us to the Hall of Resounding Joys." Tyrstle invited, leading them out of the building and across the treetop city in the general direction of the mana tree.

After passing over several vine bridges, they came to a wooden staircase growing out of a massive tree.This tree, though much smaller than the mana tree, was still quite large, to the point where the center of the tree spanned about two football fields. The staircase was illuminated by softly glowing white flowering vines. climbing the tree in a spiral like a Christmas garland. Music could already be heard echoing down from above.

"So, you mentioned the Hall of Resounding Joys, " Robin talked to Dewtre as they ascended the stairs. "Are there any other such halls?"

"Certainly. There are five main halls which rest upon the five largest trees around the Mana Tree. In addition to the Hall of Resounding Joys, there is the Hall of Solemn Judgement, The Hall of Great Abundance, The Hall of Swift Sending, and the Hall of Healing Sorrows. Of these, my father, Elder, is the leader of the Hall of Solemn Judgement, which presides over all the other halls."

Robin could easily infer from the names that these halls stood in place of the city hall and courts, the Marketplace and Banks, Transportation and Messengers, and lastly, the hospital. The Hall of Resounding Joys was for celebrations and rituals.

After climbing to a height of about five stories, they reached the hall. Everyone couldn't help but stare for a minute or two to take in the sight.

This hall spanned across the center of the great tree, resting partly upon it's main branches. Many garlands were strung up made of luminescent flowers. They lit up the hall more brilliantly than chandeliers.

Harps and flutes, pipes, violas, and lutes joined together with cymbals and drums in a lively dance. The song was both invigorating and yet calm at the same time, carrying the elegance of the elves in its many layers of sounds.

While probably not as much as the hall of great abundance, there were drinks and food set on tables along the sides of the dance floor. people could freely wander in between the dance floor and the resting areas. Intricate and delicately carved benches lined the walls in small sectioned areas behind the hall pillars for those at rest.

The current dance was approaching it's grand finale. Silken sleeves and skirts waved in sinc as the whirling steps began to pick up speed. Robin's eyes widened at the flawless choreography. The steps were intricate and many.

It was indeed a sight to see. Each of the elves danced their own part, yet it was integrated into the whole in such a way as to fit completely. There was over a hundred elves dancing together. Thus, with each new part, the difficulty of the dance was raised. Only such a long-lived race could create such a dance.

When the dance ended, all the dancers stopped where they were in the dance, holding their place for a moment, before courteously bowing to each other, and leaving the dance floor. She hadn't noticed it before, but now Robin could see that elves weren't the only ones here. Birds and small animals could be seen here and there throughout the hall. Each going about their own purpose.

"Those are spiritual creatures. Animals that have gained intelligence through their proximity with the Great Tree." Dewtre explained, noticing Robin's gaze. "We elves call them the children of the forest. They do not offend those who do not offend them, so please be mindful of your words. Do not belittle the forest children."

Robin nodded, agreeing. She already knew from Skye and Boukki the Raven that the animals had a chance of gaining intelligence. Thus it wasn't as surprising. The elves were always close to nature. Aside from the normal forest dwellers, Robin even saw a few red pandas about the area.

And at the center back of the hall, there was a raised stage, upon which sat the hall master. He looked young. His bright red hair was mostly short, wavy curled, except for the hair gathered into a low ponytail behind him, which flowed straight and smooth like a river down his shoulders. He smiled, the very picture of merriment.

Currently, he was nodding in appreciation of the dance that had just ended. A drink was in his hand, the cup very delicately decorated. his Seat seamed to branch out like the antlers on a deer. But it was the seat next to his which drew Robin's attention.

Sitting next to the hall master, although his face was much more mature, and his hair was much longer, Robin could instantly see the resemblance with Dirk. It was Dirk's grandfather, Elder; the head of the Hall of Solemn Judgement.