Will I be the downfall of them?

"As Sisli is so small, she could, for example, sleep in one bed with one of us?" Caspian says thoughtfully.

"Do you want to die, human? I'm a full member of the team. I'm entitled to my own bed."

"Sisli is right!" says the slightly drunk Knox, who is lying on the table with his face.

"But we have just four beds! Lionel, then you share a bed with Aria." Caspian says smiling.

"An unmarried man and an unmarried woman in one room, let alone in one bed. That's out of the question!" says Lionel with a slightly red face.

"Oh right, you've never had anything to do with women." Caspian says smirking.

"Stop it. I agree with Lionel. That's out of the question. As Sisli and I are both women, we will take one room. You three will take the other room!" I say resolute.

"But there are just two beds? Should I sleep in the same bed as Lionel, who holds his sword in his hands while he sleeps? He can kill me while I'm sleeping! And Knox... I don't think there will be any space left in bed for me!" Caspian says nervously.

"Don't...worrrrrry, Casper! You can sleep in my bed. I will move aside a bit...." Knox says, visibly drunk. He didn't even pronounce Caspian's name correctly.

"Nice of you, but you don't have to. The floor is probably quite comfortable," Caspian tries to talk himself out of it.

"Not at alllllll... I insist, my friend," Knox says.

"Then anything is fine. Sisli and I will then go up to our room," I say while I put Sisli on my shoulder.

The other two grab Knox and lift him with great effort up the stairs. As they bring Knox into their room, I open the door of Sisli's and my room.

"Good night!" I say and close the door.

Sisli jumps from my shoulder and falls in one of the beds.

"Such a nice bed!" Sisli shouts happily.

I close the curtains and sit down on my bed too. It's really a nice room. Bright, tidy, and nicely furnished. And the bed is really comfortable. Better than sleeping on the ground or in the wagon. There are even nightgowns ready. A very practical doll's nightgown for Sisli is also included. We change into our nightgowns and head to bed.

"Aria?" Sisli asks with a gentle voice.

"Yes, Sisli!" I ask back.

"Do you think we can defeat the mage of the north? Even the dungeon boss was very difficult to defeat," she says.

"That's true. But with each fight everyone gets stronger and stronger! And besides, if things get too difficult, I'll use my witch powers and take out all the enemies," I say encouragingly.

"But then everyone would know that you are a witch..."

"When that means that you all are safe, then it's worth it! But first, we will have fun together at the festival tomorrow!"

"Then let's have fun together..." she says and falls asleep in the middle of the sentence.

It really was a tiring day. I lie down too and close my eyes. Darkness envelops me completely. Trees and bushes sprout from the ground around me, and a thick fog thickens between them. I listen into the distance, but it's silent. Only the rustling of leaves in the wind can be heard.

Suddenly I hear a voice crying quietly. So quietly that it almost falls silent. The atmosphere has vibes of a horror movie. In a horror movie the characters are stupid enough to go nearer to something unusual or creepy that appears, and I always think how stupid they are. But meanwhile I am as stupid as them. I mean, it's not like I could go anywhere else.

I walk through the forest nearer and nearer to the origin of the voice. Slowly the voice gets louder.

I don't know why. But I have the feeling that the air is getting cooler. Then in a clearing, a weeping woman crouches in the fog. But I can't see anything more clearly.

Slowly I approach the woman.

"Is everything ok...?" I ask, hesitating.

But I get no answer. As I stand before the woman, I slowly try to touch her shoulder.

She stares at her hands full of blood...

"It's all my fault..." she whispers, whining.

But as I touch her back, she suddenly looks at me. Red hair, green eyes...that's Uriel! I mean me!.

"You did this!" she shouts to me in tears.

Then in the fog around her, the lifeless bodies of Knox, Sisli, Caspian, and Lionel appear covered in blood.

"Nooooo!" I shout and wake up instantly.

I open my eyes and fall sideways out of bed.

"Ahh..." I shout as I hit the ground.

Sisli jumps out of bed in shock.

"What's wrong? I'm awake!" she shouts, irritated.

"Everything is fine. I just had a bad dream...again. Sorry that I woke you up," I say a little nervous.

"Oh...you mean one of these prophetic dreams?"

"Yes. I think so. Most dreams were about a past I forgot. But the recent dream showed me a horrible future I don't want to happen. I have the feeling that my dreams are there to torture me and to show me a horrible side of myself. As if I can't change anything. Can't change who I am."

"The future isn't set in stone. Every single decision can lead to a different future. It's unlikely, but there is also the possibility that..."

Before Sisli is able to finish her sentence, Caspian throws open the door, with Lionel and Knox behind him.

"What happened? Someone screamed!" Caspian calls out, already one foot inside the room.

At least Lionel and Knox have some decency. They didn't enter the room and both looked away, ashamed and slightly flushed, when they saw we were only in our nightgowns. But Caspian, who had willingly run ahead, had only limited decency.

"Get out!" Sisli and I shout instantly.

At the same time, Sisli summons a vine from her outstretched hands, which she uses to slam Caspian out of the room and at the hallway wall.

"Oof..." he exclaims as he hits the wall.

"We're so sorry!" Lionel and Knox say nervously, grabbing the semi-conscious Caspian and quickly closing the door.

After that we make ourselves ready and have a breakfast with a slightly tense atmosphere as Sisli and I stare at the others, still a little pissed off.

"The festival should have started by now. Why don't we explore it?" says Lionel.

He seems to be genuinely trying to lighten the mood. Unusual of him.

"Yes, Sisli! Let's go together!" Knox shouts smiling.

"Okay," Sisli says, pouting slightly.

"Fine," I say. 

There's no point in sulking about something like this. They didn't have any bad intentions. At least two of them didn't.

Then Thorin comes to our table and looks at Caspian.

"Young man, would you help an old man carrying these five heavy boxes up the stairs?" Thorin says, looking suspiciously frail.

"Of course," Caspian says instantly, as he already fears being on Thorin's bad side.

"Thank you, young man. You're really helping this fragile old man!"

"It's nothing," he says as he visibly strains to lift the first box and slowly drag it up the stairs.

Caspian looks at us searching for help to carry them.

"Isn't he doing a great job? He's carrying all the boxes all by himself. How noble of him," says Thorin, destroying Caspian's hopes of asking for help.

"Thorin, don't you want to tell us the rest of your story about the name "Drowning Cat"?" I ask interested.

"Of course, let me think about the details... It was like this. Thirty years ago in winter. A really cold winter. Nothing in contrast to the easy winters we had in the last years. What did I want to say again? Ah, yes... In this very cold winter I left the house without knowing what the day would bring me...

"I am finished," Caspian interrupts Thorin, holding his back. 

I think that we will never get to know the full story from Thorin when he is interrupted all the time.

"Thank you very much for your help! Then I have to finish my work upstairs. There is so much to do in the festival season!"

Thorin stands up and walks slowly to the stairs. Then, the moment he reaches them, he suddenly runs quickly up the stairs like a young god. As soon as he is upstairs, he walks slowly again.

What was that? Wasn't he frail and weak a few seconds ago? Apparently he just wanted to annoy Caspian a little.

We all stare after him in surprise. No one expected that.

"I feel a bit fooled..." says Caspian with a gaping mouth.

"It's your own fault," says Sisli, grinning at him. A smile immediately crosses my lips.

"Let's go then!" I say and open the door of the inn.

A blue, sunny sky, colorful flags, people happily milling around, and busy stalls are already apparent at first glance.

I'm excited to see what the festival has to offer!