Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters and I am not making any profit from writing this.
I looked at the Aelfen in front of us. He seemed to be in an excitable state, which didn't change went he saw me. I took in his appearance. He appeared to be indistinguishable from Humans. He was in his youth, brown eyed, long ginger hair that was tucked neatly behind... Then I noticed what made these people visibly different from Humans. The ears, larger and more triangular.
I think May recognised him. 'Deverell. Mitunei Sec.' She said.
'Halel yns Sec.' He replied.
'Umm...' I said clueless. I was aware that he was addressing me but I had no idea as to how to reply.
'He says it's good to meet you.' May explained.
'Can you tell him it's good to meet him as well?' I asked not sure what else to say.
'Sure.' May turned to him. 'Sec ena halel yns ut.' I guessed that, Halel yns, meant good to meet you or some equivalent. May continued her conversation with him. 'Bray thilun custuil haveene.'
'Essylt stuil ene.'
'Fe Camru.'
'Vay.'
May nodded, and we went on our way back towards the main cavern. I saw the Aelfen that we met skipping down the way we had come.
'Well what are you currently thinking?' May asked.
'He didn't seem to notice that I was... so different.' Eventually finding the right words.
May laughed. I noticed she laughed a lot more lately. That was good, it meant that she was happier. 'Deverell said that Essylt was here.'
'Do you know Essylt?'
'Not completely, but I know that she speaks German, can't say how fluent, but you should be able to hold a conversation with her.'
I nodded. I had learnt most languages spoken on Earth, including all of the European ones. Or all the languages in the area that would become Europe, I reminded myself, the currently EU didn't exist. 'You mentioned Camru.'
'Aye, I wondered if she was here. She isn't.' There was disappointment in May's tone.
We entered the main cavern, where we had been less than 6 hours ago. I saw the place was a lit with torches held in stands placed against the walls. I had not seen the place lit so well before and had not noticed the Cavern's grandeur. It held a sense of modest awe in its plain and simple high ceilinged structure.
There were less than 10 Aelfen in the cavern, they were either putting up the foldable tables or placing items on them. There was a large amount of variety between the individual Aelfen, but I noticed none of them appeared particularly old. I wondered if they were one of the species that stopped growing old at a certain age. I heard them humming. A lively rhythm, i wondered what it meant.
I spotted May already among them, speaking to one of the females. I guessed that was Essylt. I went over to them. May hurriedly finished their conversation before I was within earshot.
'Right I'll leave you with her, I need to finish something.' May told me, leaving before I got the chance to ask what she meant.
'Hallo. Ich hieβe Essylt.' Said the Aelfen.
'Hallo. Ich Hieβe Sec.' I replied, though I suspected she already knew my name. I wondered what may was in such a hurry to get back to. For some reason I doubted that it was not the wire that she had made or the holographic projector that she had mentioned.
I assisted Essylt with her tasks. We didn't hold much of a conversation, only speaking instructions to one another in order to complete the tasks. I noticed Essylt's excitement as she hummed along with the rest of the Aelfen. And that both of us had an equally bad German accent. No matter, we could communicate and that was all that we needed.
A few hours passed. I was tiring. I could feel that lack of strength and energy within my body. I was slightly out of breath and maybe the room did feel like it was spinning, but that was all. I didn't mind the tasks, I could keep working. I just wished that we could have a break and get rid of these irritating sensations. I wanted to see May. Gah, stupid Human emotions, I can't understand them. I had a deep longing to see her. I think that meant that I missed her. Why was that? She hadn't been gone long.
Essylt stopped and looked me in the eye with concern. 'Wie geht es Ihnen?' She asked.
I'm fine. 'Es geht.' I replied. She didn't seem to believe me. 'Alles ist in Ordnung.' Everything is fine, I told her.
'Was ist los?' What's the matter? She asked.
I gave in. 'Ich weiβ nicht.' I don't know, I told her. She told me to wait before running off. I guessed she had gone to get May. There was no need, but she had already gone. I could keep working; I only needed a small break. There was no need. I'm strong. I can't be seen to be weak. I'm not weak.
I blinked, the spinning had increased slightly, but I could cope. Another of the Aelfen was at my side. I didn't know his name. I felt him move to support me. Before I knew it he was bearing most of my weight and helping me to sit. My vision started to blur. It would pass, it had to. I could see what the Aelfen was doing but I guessed that he was examining me. I strained my hearing, I was sure he was saying something but to who or what I didn't know. Not that it mattered I wouldn't have been able to translate it anyway. All that I could hear was that the Aelfen's humming had stopped.
'Sec, I'm here. What happened?' May's voice broke through. She was fast, I hadn't expected her to get here so fast. It was good to know that she was here.
'I'm fine.' I protested. 'I just need a moment.' There is no reason why I should be anything other than fine, therefore I am fine. That is what I am meant to be.
'You need rest.' May stated, she was concerned but not worried. 'Sleep.' I realised that was an order. May was ordering me?
'No. I need to...to...' What did I need to do?
'Go to sleep.' She told me again, this time her tone was different. I could have easily confused it with begging. Should I submit? I trusted May, I knew that. She would not offer this option unless it was in my best interest.
I tried to consider my options, but I couldn't process them. Nothing was clear in my mind. I realised I was struggling to stay awake.
I stopped fighting and let myself slip into unconsciousness.