Hours had passed since Jerick and Rachel had begun talking. The festival had died down with the majority of the village folk passed out on the tables surrounding the fire. Mugs lay scattered across the floor with small puddles of ale surrounding a few, not quite finished mugs. The small man that had tried to get Rachel to dance with him, lay next to the fire, his hands resting on his gut, moving up and down with his breath. While Jerick never laid a hand on the small man, his right eye was a shiny black and purple hue, swollen shut from the debauchery of the evening.
Jerick and Rachel had been staring at the dancing flames for the last few minutes, sitting in the silent comfort of each others company. Jerick broke the silence by standing up, and extending his hand out to Rachel. She grabbed hold of his hand, helping herself up to her feet.
"Allow me tuh walk you home", said Jerick, cocking his mouth up in a half smile.
"I would like that." Rachel had her hands folded across her waist, one on top of the other. Jerick led her out to the road leading towards her house. Each step they took on the road was accented by light of the trillions of stars above. They walked in majestic silence, only the quiet chirps of crickets could be heard off in the distance. A soft breeze brushed against the faces of both, sending shivers down their spines, swelling their skin into a plethora of goosebumps.
"Did you enjoy the evening?" Jerick asked.
"Very much so." Rachel said excited about the subject. "The festive dancing and music was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. We didn't have anything like it back in Sydnathia."
"Oh, I had forgotten this was yar first festival. 'Twas a shame you had arrived mere days after last year's."
"Yes, when my father and I arrived, everyone in the village was still going on about last year's festival."
They had arrived at Rachel's home, Jerick walking beside her to the door. A candle was lit in the upper window of the house, its light shining down on the doorstep they were standing upon. They stood staring at each other for several moments, the light emanating off both their faces. Finally, Jerick bent down towards Rachel's face as if he was going to kiss her. Just as his lips were about to meet her's, he tilted his head to the side of Rachel's face. In her ear he whispered "Have sweet dreams," then pecked her on the cheek.
Rachel blushed as she smiled with more warmth than the festival fire up at Jerick, who stood, smiling back at her. "Goodnight," Rachel said warmly, tucking her head through the door, closing the door behind her.
Jerick left Rachel's house, making his way back to his own. After he was out of view from Rachel's house, he rushed home as fast as he could. Thoughts of the evening buzzed around in his head more excited than an angry hornet. As he got to his house, he opened the door and dashed up the stairs. He ignored the moaning sounds coming from his brother's room and went straight for his own. Once inside, Jerick plopped onto his bed, pulling his sheets over himself as he closed his eyes. He drifted off to sleep, grinning from ear to ear.
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