Winter celebration

Bright stars twinkle in the dark night. The full moon shines contentedly over the village, brightly lit by paper lanterns and ornate candlesticks. Some flames travel to the sky accompanied by the merry tunes of the orchestra. The overwhelming sound of loud laughter and young men cheering the ladies threatens to drown out the musicians. The smell of roast pork and freshly brewed mead plays on everyone's nostrils. A duo of men engages in arm wrestling, instigated by their comrades, while a duo of women braids the hair of two young girls. When the musicians finish their song, the ladies stop dancing and cheer enthusiastically. However, the musicians do not give the people applauding a moment to breathe. They immediately begin an even happier tune. "Oh" Katinka says enthusiastically and turns around. Her long dark green dress with long sleeves blows up with this movement. A silver-colored long belt rests around her waist. Her long red curls hang loosely over her body and are adorned by a woven crown of nightcap flowers. She smiles and grabs Alana's hand. Alana smiles and brushes her honey blonde hair back from her face. Like Katinka, Alana wears a woven fringe flower crown. Alana's long chestnut brown dress with leather belt waves gently in the wind as she runs after Katinka. "It was so worth it" laughs Katinka. Alana nods eagerly. Katinka rushes to grab her sister, and she starts dancing. Alana laughs and dances happily with her sister. And so, because of her sister's enthusiasm, she forgot that terrible dream. The strangeness of that day had completely escaped Alana. In the end. There was nothing to worry about! Katinka and Alana stop dancing and enthusiastically applaud the musicians. "Come on" Katinka laughs and drags Alana through the crowd. "Where are we going?" Alana laughs. Katinka laughs. "You'll see" she mocks and leads her to the drink stall. "Oh no" Alana jokes. Katinka chuckles. Before Alana can protest, Katinka has two large pints of mead in her hands. "Come on, what's a party without mead" laughs Katinka. Alana shrugs and takes Katinka's pint. The hours are slowly ticking by, Alana can barely feel her legs thanks to Katinka. And also, thanks to her enthusiastic sister, her head feels a bit heavy. But Katinka doesn't seem to be bothered by this. She sneaks up to Alana, who sits still for a moment on a wooden stool and tickles her. Alana jumps up screaming. "Haven't you found him yet?" Katinka whispers. Alana protests and then laughs. "No, I'm afraid he won't come," she replies disappointed. The ladies look up to the obese barmaid and her customers shouting "Ooh" loudly when a young man falls off a stool drunk. Some warriors have a knife-throwing competition, and then they laugh out loud. A pitcher falls to the floor with a loud crack in a thousand pieces. Typical behavior for a party in this village, Alana thinks, grinning. "Well, I found him" laughs Katinka and points to a young boy sitting alone around the campfire on a bench. "And now I'm going to find my future husband," she says and disappears into the crowd. "Katinka" Alana yells, but Katinka is already gone. She sighs and looks at the young man again. The muscular boy, dressed in a leather tube with matching trousers and boots, seems slightly bored. Lost in thought, he stares at the flames. The warm light reflects gently on his pale skin. His ocher brown curls slightly reveal his pointy ears. Alana smiles as his light gray eyes focus on her. A smile appears on his narrow lips. She quietly walks over to him. "Rodehanthe" she greets. Rodehanthe stands up in front of her and takes her hand. He waits patiently for her to sit on the wooden bench next to him before he places himself again. "Alana" he greets. "You look fantastic." Alana smiles. "Katinka" she groans. Rodehanthe grins. "I don't mind," he says, placing a hair behind her pointy ear. "I'm happy to see you again." "Me too" Alana smiles. "To be honest, I wanted to go home because I thought you weren't here." Alana laughs. "Me too" she jokes. Rodehanthe chuckles. "Do you want to?" he asks, holding his hand open. Alana smiles and grabs his strong hand. The blacksmith's son was the only reason Alana wanted to come today. She barely saw him, but he was always so sweet, so kind. Every girl begged for his attention thanks to his handsome face, but he only seemed to be interested in Alana. Not that she minded. She wouldn't mind marrying Rodehanthe. Everything was better than Muriel in the end.

Rodehanthe move inconspicuously closer and look into her eyes. Alana smiles. For a moment it seems as if she and him are alone in this world... The music plays softly in her ears, and it seems as if it has been completely swept away. "Oh wait, it is!" She looks up in surprise. The musicians have stopped and everyone runs away in panic. "Soldiers" roars a villager and pushes them to the ground. "Alana" growls Rodehanthe and turns to Alana. "Rodehanthe soldiers! Come on! Hide" his father roars and drags Rodehanthe away. "Rodehanthe" Alana grumbles and curls up. "Alana" he yells, but his father pushes him away. Rodehanthe was seventeen years old... He had already been hiding from the soldiers for a year... He was old enough to be recruited. "Alana" Katinka shouts and drags Alana along. "Come on!" she roars, pulling her away from the festivities. Pouting, Alana follows and watches a group of soldiers holds some boys. Fortunately, Rodehanthe was not among them. "Come on" Katinka laughs and hurries home with Alana. Alana looks back again and swallows. "Terrible timing," she grumbles. Katinka chuckles. "Why, did you kiss" she mocks. "Katinka, I'm seventeen. Not seven" Alana laughs. "But yes, almost". Katinka and Alana laugh. "Sst" says Alana and looks to the light in the stables. " Grandma" asks Katinka on Alana. Alana lifts her shoulders. "Probably still feeding the pigs or chickens." Katinka grins. Laughing, they climb the tall blackberry branch into their room. "Shh" whispers. Katinka and closes the window behind Alana.

"Katinka" Alana says softly. "Hm" echoes hazy from her bed. "Thank you" Katinka chuckles and they both fall asleep.