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The land sat, in perpetual twilight, the magical time, while the stars glittered overhead and white doves cooed softly in the distance as they settled for sleep. Shireen stood on a soft grassy hilltop, that swept around in the warm breeze. Her blond hair floated out around her, glittering in the starlight. She knew she was dreaming, but that didn't seem to matter right now. She walked down the hill, barely touching the ground. A pure white star overhead seemed to guide her as she walked. She was in a forest, the trees silvery white bark, and snow pure leaves, and creatures followed her, but stayed just out of her sight no matter how much she turned to see.
She seemed to travel for hours, though the time didn't really matter. Down the forest path she floated, until she came to a bridge. The bridge was carved from pure white quartz, and it glittered brilliantly in the moonlight. The moon was now up, shining beams down through the trees. Everything was silver shadows.
Her gaze was drawn to the river, it was white like liquid moonlight, flowing through the night. She looked up onto the bridge, and there sat an elf. He was slender, and almost beautiful, he had a grace to him that most human girls did not have. Elves are so beautiful she thought to herself. The Elf smiled, then stood, and beckoned to her. She glanced around, but there was no one else there. She looked back toward the elf, who spoke. "It is time. You must come!" He was urgent now, and Shireen tried to understand. "What is it time for? I am here, where must I come?" She started up the hill, but she moved sluggishly, as if she were walking through water. She started running, struggling and stumbling, but never got closer to the elf. "I'm coming, I'm trying..!" Suddenly everything disappeared into a white mist, but she kept looking, trying to find the Elf again, tring to find...

She sat up in bed gasping slightly, feeling very disconcerted. It had seemed so real... the crystal bridge, the Elf.. he had told her to come.. but where? Stop it! She told herself. Its only a dream. She lay back down in bed and sighed, then lay gazing at the ceiling until she drifted into an uneasy slumber.
The sun was just lightening the sky, and Knowing that the gathering was today she rolled out of bed, wincing as her feet hit the cold floor. That was the main problem here, at this new settlement, everything was always cold. She pulled on socks and soft leather boots that laced up her calves to her knees. She laced them tightly all the way, and then pulled on a pair of pants, a tunic, and lastly put on her coat. Almost ready to leave, she collected her music from the desk and stuffed it in her bag. Going to her bookshelf, she took down her wood flute, gave it a rub over, and placed that in her bag too. Lastly she took a pair of wooly mittens from the table, she made her way outside, and towards the main field, where people were already moving around in.

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She warmed her hands over the small fire in the musicians tent, as the others began tuning up their instruments. There was a gitar, a violin, another flute, this one longer and deeper toned, and of course, drums. The musicians talked softly among themselves, and Shireen listened absently.

Later on that day, while the sun was shining overhead, she took a walk around the stalls. She visited a bakery tent, and bought herself a warm fruit pie to munch on. Eating it slowly, as it was just out of the oven, she bumped into Simon in the slowly moving crowd. He grinned at her messy face and offered her a napkin. She took it and wiped her face, giggling, embarrassed. "What you up to? I'm just taking a break. You should come see my stall," He told her.
She nodded, and let him drag her to it, but pulled her hand away when they got there. The stall was full of beautiful woven carpets and mats, as well as a few tapestries. She looked them over, exclaiming in awe at the prettiest. She came to one, with a dark backgroud, full of stars, with a huge white dragon covering the whole of the space. She gasped. It was so beautiful. "How much is this!" She had to ask, with a sinking feeling even as she did, because she knew she wouldn't have that kind of money or goods to trade. She wanted it so bad though.
He looked at her curiously for a moment. "You can have it. As a gift." He smiled, and she almost dropped the tapestry at the offer. She tried to push it back on the stall table, hands fumbling.
"No I couldn't... It must be worth so much. I can pay for it.. maybe not all now, but.."
He pulled it gently out of her grasp, folded it, and neatly packed it with an economy of movement, as she stood there. He placed it into her still outstretched hands. "Close your mouth," He said teasingly. "It's ok, I want you to have it. I can tell you really like it... I prefer my wares to go to people who actually really like them." She was still trying to think of something to say, staring down at the package. She abruptly closed her mouth, then grinned. "Thank you! So much.. I'll do something for you in payment.. Im not sure what yet." She turned the package over wonderously, feeling the weight of it.
"You can repay me by having a dance with me tonight once they start the music!" He was pleased with this, and grinned at her. Shireen was reluctant, but with the weight of the package in her hands she couldn't say no. "Sure. I'll see you tonight then?" With a wave she melted back into the crowd, and then bolted for home.

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