I smoothed down the dress I had chosen for the festivities tonight, a deep red that complimented my long golden hair. My lips were covered in some red paint from crushed cranberries and I wore a threaded bracelet around my wrist.
"I can't believe that idiot would fall in love with someone outside of Arden." Esmerelda hissed and I tossed her a side glance.
"It's romantic, I think." I smiled softly and she threw me a deadpan look.
"Yes, a forbidden love that gets you cast out of the city and possibly killed. How utterly romantic."
I rolled my eyes, as Esmerelda pushed the satchels under my bed. We had to be prepared for tonight. We had a change of clothes that would allow us to move more freely, along with some human money, food and water.
Finn told us he'd take care of the rest.
Esmerelda wore a long lilac dress and her dark black curls hung down her back.
"I've never felt such excitement Aurora."
I couldn't deny the excitement running through my own veins, however it was accompanied by nerves and the guilt eating away at me that I was doing this behind my father's back.
I sighed deeply and Esme tossed me a comforting smile.
"It'll be fine Aurora."
-/-
"You two look gorgeous." My father said, as we came into the room. "Are you okay to stay at Esmerelda's tonight? I won't be home until late after the festivities." My father asked and I felt nerves crawl up my chest but I smiled softly and nodded.
We left to walk towards the main clearing where all the festivities were taking place, including the main ritual, which we were leaving straight after. Ferrah spotted us and smiled brightly, dressed in a bright orange dress, her dark curls were pulled back and enter-laced with beads of every color.
"Laken." She said tenderly as she approached my father and hugged him, next her eyes moved towards Esme and I and lit up.
"My, I still remember when you two were small children, time moves so quickly." She said softly. My father was quick to agree and after idle chit chat, she pointed us towards our table.
I saw Finn and Alice were already there, along with a few other familiar faces.
"Good evening." My father greeted as Esme and I took our seats beside Finn. He gave me a small knowing smile just as the food was beginning to be served.
I grinned widely, my eyes not leaving the trays brimming with heavenly looking food.
-/-
After the food, came the dancing. Soft music filled the space and people began to fill it.
"Would you do me the honors?" Finn asked, extending his hand towards me. I gave him a quick smile before accepting his hand and letting him lead me towards the middle of the clearing. Around us, the adults 'awed' and swooned at an apparent young love, but little did they know.
Finn wrapped his arm around my waist and smiled politely at the people around us.
"Are you two set for tonight?" He whispered, his facial expression remaining the same carefree and happy demeanor.
I nodded quickly. "Yes, and you having the masking potion?"
He nodded again, turning to swirl me out of earshot of the couple by our side. He tossed me a charming smile.
"Why of course , darling."
I grinned, catching on to the game he was playing. I saw Esmerelda dancing with another nymph in the corner, her eyes meeting mine under the Tuscan lanterns and glinting dangerously. There was an unspoken tension in the air tonight, something only we three could pick up on.
"Did you taste the chocolate ganache? You know I helped bake that?" Finn added and I let out a light laugh.
"And probably ate half of it in the process, I suppose?"
His eyes lit up like wildfire, burning feverishly under the dark sky. "My, you know me so well."
I offered a small smile, my lip quirking up. "Always."
"Attention please."
The main elder's voice cut through the night like a knife, loud and crisp. I broke apart from Finn just as the elder reached the ritual table.
"We will begin the sacred ritual now. As we do every year, we thank the gods for providing us with a home to protect us and keep us hidden. We also pray for continued protection and prosperity."
I retuned to my table, beside my father who nodded politely at Finn. The elder lit the two wicker held candles on fire and the flames rose high into the night air. He began reciting lines that I knew by heart and I subconsciously began to say them in my head along with him.
"Now. We will pray together."
The voices of the city of Arden blended into one as people began to recite the ancient words, only for a few moments before it was over.
The elder nodded, smiling. "I pray the Gods will keep showing us their kindness. That is all, you may return to the party."
I exchanged glances with Esmerelda and Finn and turned to my father.
"I don't feel to well, I think I might go back to the village and rest."
My father gave me a worried glance. "Are you okay? Would you like me to walk back with you?"
I smiled slightly, "No, that's alright. I think I'm just a little tired. I didn't sleep well last night."
He nodded in understanding. "Very well, I'll see you sometime tomorrow." I nodded hugging him before I continued away from the festivities and people towards the quiet and empty village with Esmerelda. Finn nodded on our way out, silently letting us know he'd soon follow us when he could discreetly slip away.
We hurried back to my house, to where we had tucked a change of clothes under my bed. The clothes were warmer, the warmest we could find and even at that, we added layers. As it was always Summer in the city of Arden, we'd never experienced the cold. Finn however, told us that the human world would be freezing this time of year.
I pulled the thick wool jumper over my head, pairing it with loose matching pants before I tugged on a warm coat. Finn managed to grab the clothes at the antique shop he worked at, assuring us that we'd stand out a lot less and the clothes would help to keep us warm. Finally, I tugged a maroon hat over my head, laughing slightly at the little bobble attached to the end.
"Are you ready?" Esme asked and I shrugged as the exhilaration made its comeback and I felt so buzzed that I could barely keep up.
"I still can't believe I'm doing this." I whispered and she tossed me a stark look.
"Keep all your dreaminess until we reach the human world. We have to focus now."
And just like that I had my head screwed back in my shoulder and I was ready to brave the world.
"Aurora, Esmerelda?" Finn whispered into the empty hallway.
"We're here." I called back lightly and he pushed the door to my room open and stepped in. He was dressed in similar clothing and had an old bag resting on his shoulders. Esmerelda handed me a bag and I swung it over my own shoulders as she did the same. That covered our food and money.
Finn took out a small clear bottle and gave us a grin. "It'll help with your scent, just Incase." He said as he sprayed us both before spraying himself.
"Ready?"
I him a sure nod and we exited the house. Thankfully the village was still empty and we could hear the festivities in full thrive at the clearing.
"It's over here." Finn said, as he began to walk into the heavier parts of the forest. I had only been a few steps in to collect firewood, but not I was venturing into the depth of it.
We walked for quite some time, before we came to an old wicker bridge. Beyond it lay two oak trees that stood perfectly opposite to each other. They gave us a weird energy and Finn explained.
"This is the border to the city of Arden. The weird energy you can feel it very old Magic. We step through here and then we'll be in the human world. It's exactly the same to return, you just come through where we'll pass and come through these trees again."
He grinned at us, moving to go through first. I breathed deeply before stepping through.