Dressed in dusty rose with silver slippers and borrowed silver bangles, I was giddy as we walked to the River's Edge. Schula had perked up since our encounter with the female on Pearl Street and she walked beside me draped in a dramatic red gown, head held high. It was good to see her smile. Not even the murmurs that trailed after me could bother me tonight.

When we rounded the last corner and the River's Edge came into view, I nearly squealed.

The tables dripped with candles and fresh white flowers, just as it had the night I arrived in Thanantholl. A few fae danced elegantly to a light and fast violin tune, their beautiful gowns and coat tails swirling around them as they went. Everything shimmered in the fading light. When we were close enough to hear the music, Schula took my hand and my back and dipped me to the music as the dancers did the same.

"I love this song," she purred. "It's been so long since I've been dancing. We should go one night, you and me. Leave the males behind."

She danced us to the front gate, where the closest diners watched us as she spun me around.

"Should we dance instead of dine tonight?" I giggled.

"Another time," she said. "I want food more than I want to dance right now, and we need to get a table. It looks like Eb and Thain aren't here yet."

Just as I stood upright again, a server appeared with a smile.

"Welcome back, Lady Schula and Miss Wren." Marila, the watery fae from last time greeted us with a bottle of wine. "Lord Eberon has already contacted us, we were informed to greet you with wine and the first course if you'd like it, as he and Lord Thain are running late."

"Oh are they?" Schula raised her eyebrow and inspected the label on the wine bottle in Marila's hands. "I suppose I can forgive them, as long as they don't dally too much longer."

Marila snorted. "I'd hope so, this is our last bottle of this vintage and it's very expensive."

"Cheeky tart," Schula laughed. "Lead me to a chair, because I am in great need of that wine!"

"As you will it, Lady." Marila grinned and with a chuckle she took us to a nice table for four at the edge of the water. I sighed as I sank into the plush cushion, watching the rising moon reflect in the rippling river.

"Ahh, that's what I needed after a long week." Schula barely let Marila finish pouring her glass before it hit her lips.

"I'll send for a treat while you wait on the others. You just sit tight and enjoy yourselves." Marila winked and glided away.

"This place never gets old." Schula smiled and glanced over the water that gently carried away fallen maple leaves. "Eb and Thain had better get here soon, or I'll start without them."

"I wonder what would keep them," I murmured.

"Court details, most likely. You don't need to worry about them and I told Eberon that I didn't want a part of them a long time ago." Schula shrugged. "They'll be here soon. He always arranges me wine when he's going to be late."

I nodded understanding, and turned back to the dancers.

My heart caught as I heard a new tune start up. The violinist was wonderful, and I was filled with a rush of movement as the notes peaked and dipped in a jolly tune.

"Ooh, I like this song too." Schula knocked the rest of her glass of wine back into her throat and set the glass down. "Come on, we're dancing."

I was pulled out of my chair and onto the open courtyard of dancers by strong white arms. Schula didn't take no for an answer as we twirled over the stone floor. Every little while a particular arch of notes seemed to signal to all the dancers to stop and twirl in place, then she would dip me and the dancing would start all over again.

I was breathless when the song was done, but soon another started and Schula continued to dance with me. I was glad for the soft new slippers I had bought with my dress, because my feet were going to be sore when I was done. Not that I cared, for once we were both enjoying each other's company without worrying about court etiquette.

We paused between songs as Marila brought Schula over a fresh glass of wine. Schula laughed and took a slow drink, closing her eyes and inhaling. She licked her lips and smiled when she was done.

A new tune was starting and she winked at me. "I think I'll sit this one out."

"Okay," I said, glad to follow her back to my chair when a warm hand rested on my shoulder. I spun, my heart still beating from the fast paced dance we had just finished when I looked into a pair of molten silver eyes.

"Thain..." I whispered.

"Wren," he said. "I'm sorry we're late."

I glanced at Schula who was retreating back to our table, wine in hand. Eberon was already there, pouring himself a drink as well.

"I think we're in the way," Thain said.

I looked around us, watching how every other pair had started dancing again and we stood still in the middle of it.

"While we're here, we may as well have a dance," Thain gave me a ghost of a smile. "That is, if you're up for it."

I grinned and took his hand. "I certainly am."

Dancing with Thain was completely different from dancing with Schula. Schula was energetic and firm in her movements, but Thain was as I had always seen him in the Wyldes; fluid and precise. He moved like a big cat, graceful on the dance floor while the violin sang us a song of wind and rain and leaves.

The usual ferocity he carried at the edges of his features were softer tonight. Several times I almost thought I caught him in a smile, and he looked absolutely regal in his black coat and pants.

I wondered what he would look like wearing other colors. To me, all that black just hid the beautiful midnight of his skin. I bit my lip, resisting the urge to pull his hair loose from it's ponytail. He never wore it tied back in the Wyldes, but since we arrived at Thanantholl I rarely saw it let down anymore.

"You look happy tonight," Thain said softly as he held me close to him in a low dip, interrupting my thoughts. "And lovely. That dress was made for you."

My breath caught, and all I could do was not.

He leaned closer and whispered, "I see you left that quartz at home. I will have to find you something more suitable to replace it."

I shivered, not certain how I felt about that. "You don't have to do that."

"I'd like to," Thain said as he raised me to my feet again and we resumed the dance.

"We didn't mean to be this late, Eberon kept me at his house going over a few last details from Baeleon," Thain said. "I hadn't meant to keep you waiting but I'm glad I caught you on the dance floor. You're light on your feet, did you dance often in the mountains?"

"Yes, with the- with my friends," I said, quickly hiding away the word that almost left my lips.

Thain frowned a bit and raised an eyebrow, until I mouthed the word 'witches' and he understood.

"Ah, that," he said. "I'm still ready to hear about that when you're ready."

"I know," I sighed. "Tomorrow, when we're training. Not here with all these ears."

"Of course." He nodded.

The music died down and the dancers stopped. I was glad to stop moving and catch my breath.

"Would you like to sit down?" Thain asked.

"Yes, please," I answered.

"Let's go see what the chef has for dinner tonight." Thain offered me an arm to take and we walked back to the table. I sank gratefully into my chair and drank whatever red substance Schula handed me with relief.

"Wren, Schula, you two look splendid tonight," Eberon said, raising his glass. "I'm so glad to be all back together again."

"Me too," Schula sighed and turned to Thain. "You wouldn't believe what a boor Eb is when you're gone."

I smiled and busied myself with my wine, trying to hide my smile as Eberon made several indignant noises.

"It's alright, Eberon. I missed you too," Thain said with a smirk. "You three are much preferred company to Aithne, Asher, and Reghan."

"I'm sure we are," Eberon drawled. "But rather than dwell on them why don't we speak of something lighter?"

"Good evening," Marila approached with a basket of fritters and a fresh pitcher of cider. "Let me tell you about what our chef has prepared tonight..."

Dinner was a whirlwind of conversation, dancing, food, and drink. Lots and lots of drink. I was more careful this time to not let it get to my head, and I had plenty of water between glasses of wine.

We didn't talk about the Spring Court, or what happened on the boarder, or even the impending trip to the Winter lands. Instead, Eberon dominated the conversation with cheap court gossip and the newest fashion trends, and we were content to listen.

The night grew late and even thought I was exhausted I was reluctant to leave. Schula finally announced that she was going to fall asleep on the table if we didn't go home, so that's what we did.

Thain stood when we left. He seemed to have something to say, but Eberon put a hand firmly on his shoulder and Thain didn't say anything after that.

Schula and I waived our farewell and left through the front gate with a smile from Marila.

The walk was hard on my feet but I was still riding a high of emotions from the night and they didn't bother me too much. I grinned like a loon as I helped Schula drag herself up the stairs to the apartment. We were welcomed home by a huge raven on the stair rail, feathers ruffled, disgruntled to have been woken up by half-drunk fae coming home.

"What're you lookin' at bird?" Schula grumbled. Puko ruffled his feathers and turned the other way.

"Come on Schula, I think you need to wash your face and go to bed." I grinned.

"Mmmm," she groaned and nodded.

Inside I managed to get Schula to wash her face while I struggled to unlace us both from our elaborate gowns. Once they were off, I draped them over the kitchen chairs and got Schula into the bed. I threw fresh logs in the wood stove and crawled under the covers myself.

"Wren," Schula mumbled, already half asleep.

"Yes?" I yawned.

"It won't hurt my feelings if you move back in with Thain," she said.

I wasn't sure what to say to that, so I said nothing.

"I'm an adult, I can take it." She yawned. "I know how he feels."

"You're drunk, Schula," I said.

"Half drunk," she corrected. "And I know what I'm talking about. It won't hurt my feelings. Not if that's what you really want. I want you to be happy."

"You do make me happy," I said. "All of you do."

"But not like Thain." She yawned again. "I shouldn't have pushed Caldon on you. I was wrong, you never needed him, you had him. But maybe he did. He needed that push."

"You're talking about too many 'he's Schula," I said. "I don't know what you're saying."

"Oh 's okay. You don't have to know, he does." She rolled over and snuggled deeper in the blankets. "G'night, Wren."

"Schula?" I nudged her lightly but her breathing had already evened out and her mouth was slightly open.

I sighed and scooted down in the warm blankets too. "Good night, Schula."

It took me a while after that, but I finally fell asleep.