A/N It took longer, than I expected, but finally this story is finished. I would never succeed without the help from my wonderful beta, FictionalNutter, so once again, huge 'thank you' to her *hugs*.

I'd like to thank everybody who commented/liked/followed this story. Keep it coming, I can't wait to read your opinions, both positive and negative.

And to those who still like my work, there's a completely new story coming. The first chapter in English should be posted in October or November, but you know, I'm terrible at keeping such promises ;)

Epilogue

The next day the brothers woke up to heavy knocking on their door. Sam was the first to get up. He opened the door, yawning, and Ed burst into the room with a wide smile on his face.

"Guys, I've got her!" he exclaimed.

Dean, who had just covered his head with the quilt, now almost jumped out of the bed. He didn't say a word, though, just fixed his gaze on their friend.

"It's an old legend told by my people." The young man dropped into a chair, still panting slightly, and began his story. "It says that one of the bravest warriors of the tribe went once on a lonely journey and came back home with a beautiful white girl. What was exceptional about her was that she came of her own will and with her heart wide open. She loved this warrior deeply and wanted to stay with him, but she gave him one condition. She said she wouldn't give herself to him until he adopted her faith. He loved her with all his heart too, so he agreed to learn about the God she was telling him about. As the day of his christening and their wedding was getting close, the girl went to the lake to take a bath. A storm came while she was there, and she drowned. The warrior was devastated when he found her body. Soon, however, he found consolation in the arms of another woman, and he forgot all this girl had taught him. I've known this legend for years, and I've never thought it could be true, but now..."

"Sounds like our lady of the lake all right. What are we waiting for?" Dean exclaimed, a little bit too enthusiastically for Sam's liking.

"We still need to find out where she was buried," the younger hunter reminded him.

"We know," Ed announced with pride. "My grandfather took me to her grave today at dawn. It's hidden in the forest. You really need to know about it or you'd never find it, but it's there."

"Let's go then!" Dean stood up and reached for the keys.

"Easy," their friend laughed. "I thought that after last night's adventures you wouldn't feel like wandering into the forest again so early in the morning, so I told my grandfather the whole story and we dug out the bones. I have them in the car."

"Ed, you're awesome!" Dean flashed him a wide smile.

"We definitely need to meet your grandfather!" Sam added.

"I predicted that as well." Ed grinned in response. "You're invited to dinner, and you've already slept through half of the day, so better get a move on."

"Give us five minutes." The chance of a home cooked meal could always do wonders for Dean's mood.

"Mine!" Sam shouted as he rushed towards the bathroom. He laughed out loud when, surprisingly, he managed to get there before his brother. When you have a problem, sleep on it, they say. Things often look better in the morning. It's funny how true it turns out to be, Sam thought as he pulled the shower curtain shut.

Thirty minutes later the Winchesters were back in the Impala, following Ed on a narrow, bumpy path. The dinner was delicious, Ed's grandparents extremely friendly and hospitable, and the combination of both made the brothers feel more at home than they had felt in months, if not years. The sole possibility of a discussion about the supernatural with people outside the hunters' circle, who were nevertheless convinced about its existence, was too surreal and tempting at the same time not to enjoy it. As a consequence, the exchange of stories and experiences went on and on, and, to their own surprise, the boys stayed for supper as well. When the darkness fell and the brothers finally set off to the woods with Ed and his grandfather, they were both in way better moods.

They drove through the forest in almost complete darkness, trusting Ed's grandfather to lead the way, and finally the narrow road led them to the lake, close to the place they had met the rusalka the night before. They descended to the shore, burned the bones, and accompanied by the old Native's gentle chant in a language neither of them understood, threw the ashes into the water. When the ritual was finished, Dean tried to crack a joke to break the silence that fell, but he soon gave up, and all four men just stood there, savouring the moment. The sky was cloudless, the stars reflecting in the calm waters. The owl was hooting again, but its voice seemed to Dean more cheerful than it had before. The landscape was so serene that it was hard to believe how much drama had played out there. The hunter turned around and eyed the tall larches.

"Shouldn't the spell reverse by now?" He asked, disappointed.

"Wait till morning, son. Magic is not like a computer. It needs time to work properly." The old man smiled and for a short moment rested his hand on Dean's shoulder.

"Yeah, you're probably right," the older hunter muttered, feeling slightly ashamed, but also a bit honored.

He was right, it turned out. A few hours later, when the brothers got back to the town and decided to eat breakfast, they were greeted by Mick, safe and sound, and completely confused about where he had been the past few days.

"Better go before you bump into Chad," laughed Ed, who had just joined the brothers after hearing of another victim's return. The Winchesters thanked him wholeheartedly for his help, and said their goodbyes, promising their new friend to come and visit him as soon as they were free. Then, putting to practice their well-learned skill of packing extremely fast, they gathered their meager possessions, checked out of the motel, and left the town.

Soon afterwards, the old Native standing on a hill, partially hidden behind a tall larch, smiled warmly at the sight of a black Chevrolet Impala speeding south, and the faint sound of a rock song coming from the inside.

I know she waits below

Only to rise on command

When she comes for me

She's got my life in her hands

Lady of the lake*

THE END

* Rainbow "Lady of the Lake"