True to her word, the queen of summer dances one dance with me. With her its like I already expected of the prince of spring though, she dances with me until the first rays of the sun begin to lighten the night sky. She literally dances the night away with me.

  Only when the sun crests the horizon she dissipates into a cloud of embers after gallantly kissing my hand. And with her, her court disappears too, one fey after the other they either fade away, fly off or leave to slip back into the twilight forest.

  Before long only the mortal festival goers are left. And of those most have long since passed out after enjoying the night to the fullest in every possible way. Only very few are left standing like me. And I have to admit, that I'm only barely standing at that. My legs ache, my feet hurt a little too and my lungs burn. Without my enchanted gear my body probably would have betrayed me an hour ago or maybe two. I'm exhausted but at the same time excited and happy too. I guess that is a good thing after a festival like this.

  I look around in the light of the dawning day, when all of a sudden a divine whisper distracts me.

  [You have fulfilled your vow to dance at the midsummer night festivities above and beyond what was expected! The Summer Queen is your witness and gifts you 7 points for the Wheel of Fortune Arcana as a reward.]

  I blink in surprise. I have to admit that is quite a handsome reward. And it is a reward on top of a summer of sun, warm rain and gentle breezes as the queen promised, which already is quite a reward all on its own.

  There is only one spot of trouble remaining. And it's a rather hard to miss spot of trouble too. The bull is beginning to stir.

  Thankfully I'm not the only one who takes note. Danuta, among some others does too. She, together with a few of the other adventurers, is quick to clear a path of the clearing, while I move to kneel besides the magnificent animal to gently stroke the fur atop its head. I make reassuring soothing sounds too, as it begins to wake.

  Thankfully the mindless anger I saw in its eyes at the beginning of our dance is still absent. That is a great relief. I'm not sure I could have done another jump in my current state. I lean in a little closer to whisper in its ear.

  “Time to get up and return into the forest.”

  It's like the bull can understand me. Maybe he really can? Many creatures of the twilight forest, even those that might seem mundane at a first glance, are anything but that. This often makes them especially dangerous. Right now it's to my advantage though.

  The bull calmly follows me to the edge of the clearing as I lead it there, one hand still resting on its neck, while I marvel at the powerful muscles I can feel on one hand while whispering more quiet reassurances on the other.

  As we reach the edge of the clearing, I pat its neck one last time.

  “Off you go. Maybe we'll meet again next year, for the shortest but also most exciting night of the year.”

  I take care not to phrase it as a promise this time around, but not because I'm opposed to the idea on principle or anything like that. I just don't want to bind either of us with oaths.

  The bull casts one last look my way, barely paying any attention to the other people still present, then he is off into the forest. He isn't barreling into the underbrush mindlessly though. No, he surprises me with one last feat of strength and grace, as he makes his way into the dense growth, leaving barely a trail behind in the process.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Well, as far as I'm concerned anyway. I'm sure Elzbieta would have no trouble spotting the trail. That reminds me though, I need to get back home! I really want to be there to welcome her and little Ulryk when Elzbieta returns home after her stay at the temple.

  It quickly becomes apparent that I won't be heading back home alone, as begin to cross the clearing in the direction of Clear Brook. Danuta is the first to fall in alongside me. And only moments later I find Tamara on my other side.

  I can't miss the fact that the night has taken its toll on the two. I almost miss a step, as this thought leads to another. I probably don't look much better. In fact some of my hair is already escaping the neat braids and I'm quite sweaty. At least I'm pretty certain that my dress has not suffered any grass stains though. Overall we need a bath though, all three of us. I decide to voice the suggestion.

  “To the bathhouse?”

  Tamara just shrugs. She doesn't seem to care one way or the other for some reason. Danuta readily agrees with my suggestion though.

  “To the bathhouse! Preferably before the rest gets the same idea.”

  I haven't even thought about that. She is, in all likelihood, not wrong though. Plenty of those still asleep or downright passed out all around the festival ground, will probably want to start the day with a bath. We better stop wasting time and get going.

  I'm at a disadvantage compared to Danuta and Tamara though. The two have thought ahead where I haven't. They already left bath supplies at the bath house before heading off to the big dance. I on the other hand have to make a quick stop at m place first, to get my things.

  Thankfully it isn't far and there is still enough energy left in me for one last mad dash. That way I'm back at the bathhouse before the other two can even finish washing up before their soak.

  Thus we sit in the bath together before long, relaxing as the rest of the world awakens around us. For a while we just sit there in silence, enjoying the warm water. Tamara is the one toe speak up eventually.

  “Well, that was something else. Wouldn't wonder it stories of this night start to make the rounds eventually.”

  Danuta the witch chuckles in response.

  “Oh yes. It's not every day that a fair maiden gets to dance with the rulers of two courts of the fey in one night. And if the summer turns out as the queen promised … and I have little doubt it will, this is the kind of event that is retold in stories far and wide. Bet you a bronze Crown that well hear songs about it at the inn before the next midsummer night!”

  The thought should probably scare me, but for some reason it doesn't. And a bronze Crown isn't much, it's more of a symbolic wager, thus I take the bait.

  “Fine you are on! This is something I have to see and hear.”

  Tamara joins in too. Thus the three of us end up shaking hands, before we get back out to head our separate ways. Well, we don't part ways right away. First Tamara helps Danuta and me out in a surprising way. She uses that magic trick she knows to clean our dresses. Apparently it works on more than just potion bottles.

  And even afterwards our way leads us all in the same direction. In fact I'm the first one to say her goodbyes as we reach my place, while the other two continue on, down the road, to the inn.

  There is someone waiting for me on the wooden bench besides the backdoor already. Thankfully it's not Elzbieta and Ulryk yet. No, it's Sour Cream. She gets up, stretches and yawns, exposing some mighty fine teeth in the process, almost as if he was the one out dancing all night.

  I match that yawn. I just can't help myself. Then I run my hand along her back, from her head to the tip of her tail and she leans into it too, as I prepare her some of her favorite treat.

  “Ready to welcome Elzbieta back home? And little Ulryk too? Please watch out for him too, yes?”