Barely visible in the branches of the great oak, the house has three levels, the topmost a railed platform higher than the top of the cliff beside the tree, the other two with small odd-shaped windows sparkling here and there. The structure blends so perfectly into the tree that it seems to have grown there in beautifully-proportioned lines and curves - a work of art, almost totally hidden among the leaves and branches.

The interior is of hardwood polished to satin smoothness, the beams carved with a knotwork pattern of leafy vines; many closets and chests and cupboards built in to the odd angles, the handles of them all made of gold. Little windows are everywhere, glazed in diamond-glass that turns the sunbeams into rainbows as they flicker in through the leaves; diamond-glass candle lanterns hang in brackets about the walls to give light by night.

A hatch in the floor leads up to the first level, where there are bright-colored brocade cushions on the floors and chests for comfortable seating, an easel and a long shelf of books. A small green soapstone woodstove carved with bas-relief dragons is surrounded by a hearth and firewalls of dark-green marble; a counter of the same marble runs along one wall, with a gleaming brass sink in the middle - a large South-facing window over it looks out through the branches to the waterfall.

A door to a covered stairway leads up to a smaller room, almost triangular, most of it taken up by a big bed with a blue silk comforter built in to the wide end of the triangle, set high and with drawers underneath; a large window to either side. The apex of the triangle, where the green marble chimney runs through from below, has a tiny soapstone woodstove surrounded by a marble hearth. There are two doors side by side, one leading to a small bathroom done in brass and green marble, the other to the closet.

From the high talan in the topmost branches there is a fine view across the wilderness to the Western mountains. Looking down, one sees the copper roof-cisterns covered with fine-meshed screen that supply the water for the house. The talan is surrounded by a sturdy railing and has benches built into its sides, as well as a small table that folds out from the railing.

(By V'soul's command, the weavers have enlarged the treehouse to make room for Elen's Kinsmen and guests. The second level now consists of two storeys, the upper storey being the room of Duathir and Crist-Erui, identical in design to Elen's room below. On the first level, a door in the kitchen area opens into a passageway with three narrow doors: to the left is Thinnaluin's room, straight ahead is a small bathroom, and to the right is the guest-room, in which two small but comfortable loft-beds are set high in the inner wall, each with a chest of drawers and wardrobe built in beneath.)

This is a place of safety, and of peace.

The Morn Sigil Saga