Deborah found herself fantasizing about being able to turn into a tiny winged creature and casting spells. It was lucky for her family that she didn’t have such power! Or for either of her first two ex-boyfriends for that matter.
For what was mischief, if not revenge?
The next day dawned clear and sunny and cold. As soon as the travellers had all risen and eaten breakfast, they set to work.
Thirty massive Iron oaks, (so-called because of their bark which resembled smooth grey iron) that were close together were selected, and eldritch skills that had not seen use for generations were brought to bear. Outer branches were carefully bent and woven, main branches were taught to lay parallel to the ground, while others sought throughout the surrounding forest for vines and other vegetation to transplant. Though most were dormant and lay hidden beneath the snow, the more experienced Elves knew that this would work to their advantage once spring arrived: the plants would be damaged little, and their vigour less affected than if they had been moved in the full bloom of summer.
The work went very slowly at first. Centuries of working with stone and metal had dulled the Elves’ more natural sensitivity to wood and other plant life. And it was mid-winter; the work was slow and arduous. Regardless, the labour went ahead. After several days the first enormous tree-village was beginning to take on a recognisable shape.