At the end of August, when Sergei Harald, as he had promised, returned from his trip.
The first time, he arrived late in the afternoon, when we weren't expecting him at all. We were on the porch; we had sat together having tea. The garden was already all verdant, and in the overgrown beds the nightingales had already settled for all the Fasting Ceremonies of fairies and wizards during the festivals.
In that week there was the carnival of the fairy court, between the ceremonies between the parades of troops of the order of the society of Um-Mu, jumping and feasting around the city and among the leafy trees and the lilac bushes seemed to be speckled and covered of snow, here and there, with something white and lilac, and they were flowers ready to bloom with the magic of the fairies that surrounded that eternal winter of the city of shadows.
Since the foliage of the reserves and the birch alley was all transparent with the power of the clouds and the winter snows, in which it was shown with the colours of gold and white, I placed them around the porch, there was a cool shade, in that followed through the strong evening dew must fall towards the winter hills where there was grass, which it did not show to anyone.
When I got outside, beyond the snow-covered garden, the last sounds of the day could be heard, the sound of sheep from afar, being collected.
The satyr and clowns of the faerie court, called Felix, drove down the lane in front of the porch in a wagon with a barrel, and the stream of freezing water he squirted blackened in circles the churned earth near the dahlias and the stakes.
Even if there was a party in the city, where everyone celebrated the winter, some wizards, Lichs around them, songs between parades and city parades.
He was one of the satyrs among the nymphs who lived in the woods and around the reservations between the caves.
By the time I got to our porch, on the white tablecloth, the polished, gleaming samovar was gleaming and boiling, the cream, the braids, the cookies were already served, so Astrid, with her plump hands, was washing her hands again. cups with the promptness of a stay-at-home spouse.
Without waiting for tea and hungry after a bath, I ate bread with plenty of cream, in which I was wearing a thick linen blouse with short sleeves and my head wrapped in a scarf, when I was going to put on my robes so that everyone would go out in the morning. amidst the parades and festivities of the winter city, all of it, between the ornaments and decorations of the cities and my tiara over my wet hair, Astrid being the first to see it, still through the window.
- How are you, Sergei Harald! – She exclaimed. - We just talked about you...
Lie, but he didn't need to know.
I got up and wanted to go out to change clothes, but he caught up with me when I was already at the door, calling the girls, as we prepared to participate in the kiosks with the sales of potions.
- Why is there a carnival in the woods and a ceremony here in the countryside? - He questioned, smiling, and looking at my head wrapped in a scarf. — After all, the witch does not shy away from Heinrich and I, in fact, for the witch, I am like Heinrich.
- Even though at that moment it seemed to me that he was looking at me in a hugely separate way than Heinrich could look at me, and I felt embarrassed, I only dressed for work and not for the party.
- Wait a minute, I'll be right back. - Then I walked away into the house, running away from him, between the corridors.
- What happened, what was the problem? – He yelled right behind me.
"You are a perfect servant of the winter wood, ready for the work of the witches. - He said.
- He looks in a strange way. - She said, while changing her clothes in a hurry on the first floor.
Even so, she couldn't appear like that to him, so thank the Gods of the Dragon Pantheon he came from, let's have more joy!
Sometime after looking at myself in the mirror, I happily went down the stairs and, without disguising that I had hurried, walked breathlessly onto the porch.
At that time, when she came back, he was sitting at the table and explaining to Astrid how our business was going.
Then, casting a glance at me, he smiled and continued talking.
As for our business, according to him, it was in an excellent situation, at that moment we only needed to spend the summer in the country and then go either to Munich, in order to take care of Sonia's education, or abroad.
- The wizard could go with us, otherwise it would be the same as staying here in this forest. – Astrid asked.
- That would be genuinely nice, dears, to meet and travel with sorcerers around the world. - He said, halfway between joking and being serious.
- Then we could all travel around the world together. - She said, when he smiled and shook his head.
- Honey, it's my dream, but I already realized it, now, I have to take care of my mother and I have her business, I can't. - He said.
- We can make a deal later. - He said. - Now, let's change the subject, tell how the witch spent that time.
- Again, were you depressed?
During that time when I kept myself busy, when I used the festivals so that I didn't feel melancholy, meanwhile Astrid confirmed my words, he praised me with those words and looks, in which he showed affection, I imagined myself a child who needed adult approval as well as praise, as if he had a right to it, she thought.
It seemed to me responsible to communicate to him, minutely and especially sincerely, all that I had done good, and to admit, as in a confession, everything that he might disapprove of, even though, in my opinion, he was arranging the affairs of the family.
When dusk arrived, it was so pleasant that, even after tea had been brought, we continued on the porch, and the conversation was so interesting to me that I didn't even notice how the noise of the people around us was gradually silenced.
For all the moments when everyone smelled the scent of the flowers grew stronger, the abundant dew poured over the grass over the snow, hearing a nightingale trilled nearby, inside a bush of lilacs, and fell silent at the sound of our voices.; the starry sky seemed to descend on us.
I only noticed that it was already getting dark because, suddenly, and without making a sound, a bat flew under the porch awning and fluttered its wings near my white scarf.
When I chose the one next to the wall, I was about to scream, but the bat, just as silent and swift, came out from under the awning and hid in the shadows of the garden.
"How lovely is the city of Lodbrok," he said, interrupting their conversation.
- You know, I could spend my whole life sitting here, on this porch. - He said.
- Well, it would be an innovative idea for you to stay. – Astrid said.