The elf listened intently to Rose, seeming to focus on every word like a drunk paying attention to his every footfall to avoid tripping, and she nodded slowly. "Oh...oh! ....um, thank you, ladies Rose and Aria," she tested the names on her lips. "I am Ashalianael, my cousin here is Amalianael."<br/><br/>Her just-stirring sister, whose slender hands slid down the forearms of the freeing-her-of-bindings Rose before their owner seemed really aware of it, turned on the bed and groaned softly, "Come second-sister, what nonelf has ever called us more than Ama and Asha..."<br/><br/>'Asha' interjected back, "Bad things? Ahh...he<em>was</em>neglecting us of late, more absorbed in his research than ever we'd seen before. In moments of lust he hissed something about capturing divine daughters and godsons, I had thought he was growing tired of us and ready to snatch other lasses and lads comelier or at least 'newer' to he than we, but perhaps 'twas all one. Well, we've little to thank you with..."<br/><br/>Ama giggled, "But if you're like all the adventurers I've heard tales of, you've like snatches all about not bolted down."<br/><br/>Aria smiled, good-naturedly but toothily. "As it happens I'm a fair hand at unfastening bolts and nails." Her hand slid up the back of Rose's nearer thigh, and cupped a buttock for a moment. "And there is little my lover here cannot lift."<em>Such as myself!</em>she thought with a few erotic memories of being hoisted onto a couch, dining- or billiards- table flashing through her mind.<br/><br/>Asha's eyes shifted knowingly between the two. "A few thoughts of means and thanks do spring to mind suddenly..."<br/><br/>Her cousin rejoined, "'Tis not safe<em>here</em>though - the centaurs we see go by outside our balcony sometimes; I overheard they were spider-things in sooth. Beware also the statues in the hall..."<br/><br/>"Oh, Aria smiled, "We bewared them. We'll beware our step, though - lots of stones underfoot going out by the hall, you may now find."<br/><br/>The elves' emerald eyes bulged, and they seemed for a fleeting moment intimidated by Rose and Aria before relaxing again. After noticing the way Aria's eyes studied the things of the room, Ama explained, "He first found us when we were out...frolicking, and we came here with none of our things. And I don't suppose I wish to take anything from here; I would care not for such reminders." She spoke to her cousin, "I suppose there's little for it then but to traipse home and mind our surroundings on the way. Perhaps you'd let us take at least one of the local maps from the study in the next room, to be sure we go the right way."