By the time Ean and his entourage had arrived, the festival was in full swing. There were food carts left and right, fiddlers and flutists playing away. And the fireworks! They were purple, green, orange, every color imaginable. Going every which way, they lit up the night sky, leaving Ean in absolute awe.
"Wow, Shaenlir has really changed since the last time we were here." Ean said, as he wandered through the festive streets. The once cold and uninviting city had been transformed into a bright and welcoming city.
"So, uh, what exactly is happening here?" Emma asked, rather bored.
"They are all celebrating the end of the Snow Queens rule!" Iya announced, as cheerful and exuberant as ever.
"That's great, but why do we have to be here?"
"Oh, Emma! You are so silly!" Iya giggled. "We were the ones who defeated the Snow Queen!"
"Right… we are so amazing." Emma said, slowly wandering off to go sulk in a corner.
"Hey, Iya, have you seen Ava or Gavin?" Rye asked, appearing out of nowhere.
"Er, I think the wandered off somewhere."
"Oh. Okay." Rye said, as he meandered his way back into the crowd. He suddenly reappeared with three sticks full of meat.
"Rye, what is this?" Ean asked, suspiciously nibbling at the meat.
"There venison kabobs, you don't have them in the Vale?" Rye asked.
"No… But these are REALLY good!" Iya exclaimed, her usual self heightened by the festival's atmosphere.
The music slowed to slow pace and the dance floor was filled with women and men doing exotic twists and turns. Ean and Iya watched, too embarrassed to dance together. That is, until Ean felt the gentle nudge from Rye.
"What?" Ean asked, aggravated by Rye's ever confusing gestures.
"Dance with her, you idiot!" Rye said, waving his hand at Iya.
"Fine." Ean slowly walked towards Iya, unsure of what would happen. "Um, Iya, will you, er, dance with me?"
"Oh, Ean… Of course I'll dance with you!"
With Ean's wish granted, the two shone on the dance floor, gathering everyone's eyes upon them. The night had been spectacular, well, for most.
Grimm's Cottage was full of mixed feeling that night, with Iya pleading to do it again, and Emma never wanting to go to another festival again.
A/N I wrote this for a prompt on Amaranthia a looooooooooong time ago...