It had been a long, long day. Unlike most of the village, Tanith had duties to attend to while the mass was in session. She went, of course, for a few hours as was proper, but then she had to leave before it was finished so she could light the candles. A few children helped her, as they were a little young to spend all day in the church, got too antsy and this gave them something to do without breaking the spirit of the day.
The candles were mostly lit now, just a few more, then she would have to hurry home like everyone else and grab the food she had prepared for the feast. She had worked extra hard this year on a few dishes and even had a small, personal pie set aside. She had found some winter berries and honey and a few spices and made what she hoped was an amazingly wonderful treat.
The Father had teased her about it, and kept threatening to eat it. He had managed to get out of Tanith it was for a man, but it wasn't like that or anything! She just wanted to thank Alexander for being so nice the other night.
Lightening the last candle, Tanith shooed her helpers back into the church to meet with their families and she entered the building after them, wanting to get the final blessing.
It was one of her favorite masses, so sad and brave and beautiful. The Father really did have a wonderful voice. As mass ended, Tanith's eyes searched for Alexander in the crowd, but there were too many people and she wanted to finish baking off the pie before she left.
Once she managed to make her way back to her room, Tanith quickly grabbed the food she had made the day before. The pie and bread went into the oven to finish baking and she shoved the rabbit back over the fire to warm it up again, carefully applying another layer of the glaze.
While it cooked, Tanith brushed out her dress again and tried to fix her long, thick blond hair. The horns made it impossible to do much with, but Tanith did her best. Not that it mattered or anything this year. It was just nice to have a reason to dress up.
Because it was the festival. Not for a person. She wasn't thinking about a person at all!
Before long, the food was pipping hot again and quickly packed into a basket and she was out the door. People were already making their way along the candle lit path toward the graveyard. She had the whole place covered in candles and there was a large area of it cleared where a bonfire was going and musicians were already starting up a song, a few people dancing.
Food was everywhere and Tanith added the bread and rabbit to the table, keeping the pie carefully wrapped in one of her pockets. She would hopefully run into him soon, but until then, there was plenty of cider and wine and things to eat.
Helping herself to a mug of honey mead, Tanith helped herself to some dinner, chatting with the brewers apprentice.
