"Let's have a nice cold glass of cider before we get stuck into the party preparations, shall we?" said Kanook after a few steps.
"I knew there was a reason we've been friends so long," laughed Shamir.
There were six members in Charlie's crew, including Ayou, her brother Lantor and three of their friends, Malik, Ingue and Playa. They made their way along the path that wound through the forest to the northern end of the valley, where the steep escarpment created the best conditions for the game.
"We're nearly at my favourite place in our world," said Ayou, pulling Charlie towards the waterfall that was fifty metres up ahead of them. It was a beautiful part of the elfin world, where the river was at its strongest, having plunged over the valley's great stone boundary. The massive tree ferns that dominated the understorey beneath the karri trees flourished in the moist air. The waterfall itself was about a hundred-metres high, created by the great torrent of water that crashed down the steep side of the valley's wall. The main flow was much too powerful to stand underneath, but various offshoots of water made for refreshing, powerful showers.
"Are you game?" said Lantor, standing at the side of the river with the waterfall gushing down a little way ahead of them.
"Game for what?" asked Charlie.
"A nice cold shower, of course, and let me tell you, at this time of the year it is very cold," giggled Lantor.
"Sure, I'm game," said Charlie, raising his eyebrow in the direction of Ayou in an attempt to strengthen his resolve.
"Don't worry, it'll be beautiful," said Ayou.
With that, she started to quickly pull off her outfit, right down to her under-clothes, and all the others hurriedly followed, giggly and laughing as they did so. Charlie didn't normally mind stripping off his clothes, as his body was reasonably shapely and muscular, but as he gazed at the beauty of the elves, he felt suddenly embarrassed. Their bodies were identical to his own, apart from two wings that folded together down the centre of their spine. What staggered him more than this was the sculptural perfection of each of them. They looked like the gorgeous young models that you'd find in a Calvin Klein advertisement. After a few moments of indecision, he quickly stripped off his own outfit in an attempt to cover his embarrassment, but nearly tripped over in the rush. None of them seemed to notice, so he bundled his clothes together with theirs and turned to follow the group up the side of the river, to the place where they were planning to shower. As he turned around though, Ayou appeared right in front of him.
"You're gorgeous," she whispered, before kissing him openly on the lips. "Now come on, I'll show you the best way up to the waterfall. It can be tricky if you don't know where to tread," she said, holding his hand and heading up the tiny pathway that led along the side of the raging water. There was part of his brain that kept reminding him of just how cold this mountain water was going to be. However, the excitement of the moment and a healthy dose of bravado stopped such messages from ever really taking hold. He couldn't even scream as he plunged under the torrent of icy water. The breath had been forced from his body in a single deathly gasp well before his mouth had been given a chance to express itself. Gradually, though, the cold became bearable and by the time he scrambled onto a rock shelf, a huge Tarzan-like bellow of male power charged through his frame.
"AYARR.YARRHH," he screamed, standing and looking down from his granite mantle that overlooked the great river below.
"Let's show Charlie the view from the top of the valley, we should almost be able to see the sea today," said Ingue.
The climb to the lookout was steep but not treacherous and as Charlie got further up, the view behind him began to emerge from the valley's grasp. The expanse of enormous trees seemed to stretch on forever, but, as he focussed closely, the distant grasslands were just visible and sitting above them sat a shimmering strip of sparkling brightness that had to be the sea. By the time they reached the top, they were puffing like old racehorses, and for quite a while, they all sat wheezing on the grass. Charlie looked around at his companions and smiled at the sight of them sitting amongst the wildflowers that littered the grass in great clumps, all dressed in their underwear. He hoped this memory would never be lost wherever he ended up.
By the time the sun's golden light was slanting across the treetops in its final hour of service for the day, they were all feeling like getting home. It was a long walk back, so they wearily began to climb down from their lofty perch while they still had enough light to see by. They eventually made it back to the main path after picking up their clothes from where they'd left them beside the river and headed in the direction of the Great Fig. No one said very much along the way, but instead, they listened to the soft song that Ayou sang to them as they went. Charlie didn't understand many of the words, but he lost himself in the gentle harmony it brought them all. It was almost dark by the time they approached the tree and they could hear noise coming from the direction of the village. Their pace increased along the path as the possibility of dinner grew in their minds and their stomachs ached with hunger.
The main area for parties and festivities was in the wide space beneath the Great Fig tree's massive arms and that was now a place of frantic activity. Some of the older elves had built a large fire which crackled excitedly in its early stages of life and others had assembled luxurious quantities of delicious-looking food on the long, oak table that was the centre of the communal eating area. Shamir was stringing up some party lights, which were fuelled by some concoction he had developed himself and Kanook was directing the assembly of a large sleeping tent for anyone who wanted it later. Charlie was amazed at the speed with which the area had been transformed and his heart skipped at the thought that he was the centre of such attention. Ayou had not left his side all afternoon and she beamed happily as they approached Shamir, still holding Charlie's hand tightly.
"Hello there," said Shamir, from half way up a ladder.
"It looks like you're preparing for a party," said Charlie.
"If there's one thing you can rely on, it's that elves will always look for an excuse to celebrate and your arrival here is an opportunity not to be missed. Has Ayou been taking good care of you?" he asked, somewhat cheekily.
"Yes, yes, she has," said Charlie suddenly stuttering a little.
"Good," said Shamir simply. "Now, could you both help me by running to the cottage and getting me an extra canister of lighting fluid from the shed. Ayou, you know where it is, don't you?" he said diplomatically. Ayou just nodded and immediately charged off in the direction of the cottage, with Charlie in hot pursuit.
"He'll have to be quick to catch that one," he muttered, as they disappeared from view.
"Not if she wants him to catch her," said a voice quietly from the shadows beside him. It was Elugine, Ayou's mother and she was now standing at the foot of the ladder. Shamir looked down at her and laughed.
"Now that would make things interesting," he said, shaking his head slightly.
"One thing is for sure, I haven't got any say in the matter," said Elugine with a giggle.
By the time Charlie and Ayou returned from their mission to the cottage, the area beneath the fig tree looked like a setting for a carnival and the whole village was in attendance. A big cheer went up as soon as they entered the clearing that caught them both by surprise. If Charlie and his friends were hungry before, when the dancing finished an hour or so later, they were all starving and they descended on the banquet like locusts. It wasn't until he had a full stomach that Charlie realised that he was completely exhausted from the day's excitement. Ayou had gone off to help her mother make a batch of dandelion coffee for everyone and he could feel the tiredness rising up through his legs.
"Shamir, I'm so tired I don't think I can even make it back to the cottage. Is there somewhere I can lie down for a while?" he whispered in the wizard's ear.
"Of course, I'm surprised you've lasted this long to be quite honest. I've been in awe of your stamina," he replied.
"Well, my batteries are totally drained now. Is it okay if we go right now, because I've just hit a wall of tiredness that I cannot go round?"
"That's fine, let's go right away," said Shamir, reacting immediately by standing up from his seat. "I'll tell Ayou where you are," he said, before Charlie could ask. Charlie just nodded, he was far too beat to really argue, so he followed Shamir to the sleeping tent. The floor in the huge marquee was covered with numerous doonas and pillows, which seemed like heaven to Charlie right now. He crawled under the comfiest one he could find and was asleep before the doona had even warmed up around him.
When Charlie woke up the following morning, it was very early and the first light was emerging from the shadows between the trees. The air was cold in the tent and twenty or thirty elves of various ages were dotted around the place. What made him feel wonderful was the feeling of having a beautiful warm body nestled into his. It was Ayou, and she was breathing gently as she lay in the calmness of dawn sleep. No one else was awake and Charlie lay quietly for a while, enjoying the blissful contrast between the warmth of his body and the chill of the cold morning air on his face. A few minutes passed like this, until he was brought out of his reverie by the movement of the body next to him. As he focused on what was happening, Ayou turned over so that she was now facing him, with her nose just about touching his. She smiled contentedly and Charlie lay there for a second without being able to draw breath. In some way, she sensed his need and gently reached out her hand to touch his face, before kissing him on the lips. She tasted divine, like honey, and the only coherent thought Charlie had was that his tongue must taste awful to her by comparison. Such thoughts passed quickly as she offered her mouth without reservation and when they finally took breath, it was most reluctantly on her part. For what seemed like an age, they lay with their heads facing each other on one pillow and, when they weren't smiling, they were kissing.
"You make me feel so special," whispered Ayou, when they took a break.
"I can't believe this is happening to me, you're so beautiful," he replied.
"Have you ever made love to someone?" asked Ayou timidly.
"No, I haven't, not yet."
"Would you like to now," she whispered cheekily.
"Yes, but do you think it's okay?" he asked.
"Yes, it's okay and don't worry, I know what to do," she said, smiling and sliding her petite body on top of him.
For a brief moment, Charlie felt doubt surface in him, and it made him shudder, but then it was blown away like a cloud by the rising passion in him. The sense of being inside her totally overwhelmed Charlie, and as they rocked gently backwards and forwards in rhythm with each other, he thought he would faint with enjoyment. Ayou had her eyes closed for some of the time, but Charlie watched her face as she let the energy of their union flood through her body and it was clear that she was in a blissful state. He had been dying to lose his virginity and he was pleased that, even as their passion grew, he hadn't lost control too quickly. It felt amazing to hold her bum in his hands and feel her tremble as he pushed himself into her. Then, gradually, he felt his orgasm rising and he wanted to scream out as it soared through his body, bringing its wild sense of tension and relief with it. But he couldn't say anything, through fear of waking anyone, so he pressed his face into her breasts as the feeling washed over him. Ayou rode its wave as well and collapsed in a heap on top of him as the feeling released them and subsided. She lay there, totally still for a while, as they both melded in the blissful descent from such a lovely high.
"Let's get out of here and go for a walk," whispered Ayou.
"Okay, I'd love that," said Charlie simply.
It was still very early as they slipped out of the makeshift camping ground. The air was cold and they could see their breath quite clearly as they scampered passed the Great Fig and onto one of the paths that led away through the forest. For quite a while, they stumbled along the path, sharing the large warm doona that they'd brought with them from the tent. They whispered and chatted about nothing very much as they went, lost in the world of young lovers that nothing can seemingly touch. They made love again by the side of the stream as the desire grew in them both. This time, Charlie was more confident and the intensity of feeling that was upon him while they touched each other was almost painful it was so good. Afterwards, they lay panting under the doona and giggling at the glistening sweat that covered both of their bodies and which made them stick together like a couple of melted biscuits. Moments later, Charlie began to feel strange, as he lay on his back by the side of the stream with Ayou in his arms. A dark feeling of disquiet began to grip him and images of Marie surged through his brain. His body was sweating, but he was suddenly cold through to his bones and the blackest fear imaginable was beginning to envelop him. In a matter of seconds, it felt like he might die.
"Help me, Ayou," was all he could utter, as he fell into the terror that now beckoned him.
"What's the matter, Charlie?" pleaded Ayou, nursing him in her arms and feeling the coldness gripping his body. Her words were lost on him, as his body became engulfed by some maniacal spasm. His eyes were open, but they stared madly away from something within and didn't register her presence at all.
"HELP ME," she shouted, "WILL SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME," she bellowed, so hard that her own body started shaking. "AYAAARRRGHHH," she screamed, with every ounce of her strength. Tears poured down her cheeks as she rocked backwards and forwards trying to comfort Charlie who was now contorted by the darkness of some deathly dream.
"What have we done, Charlie, what have we done?" she whispered.
Shamir was working in the garden when he heard the scream. He wished for wings, as he charged along the path in the direction of the cry. Suddenly, from nowhere, a young elf called Spira appeared breathless and shaken.