“Here we have the wardrobe. I already made a little room for you. When you need more, let me know. Over here we have the bathroom and there is the bed.” While Felicitas explained the details of her quarters she nervously paced back and forth, feeling a bit like a flight attendant, who explained to her guest, where the emergency exits where.

Of course an explanation wasn't necessary. Except for some small details all the quarters had been built the same. A big room with a bed, big enough to easily fit two persons, a cupboard and a desk with a computer screen, that was connected to the main computer. A door lead to a private bathroom. What distinguished this quarters from the others, was that big picture of a huntress with bow and arrow, fighting a giant bird, Felicitas had hung it over the bed and ...

“You have real windows?” Sarah put down the big bag with her belongings in the middle of the room, went over to the windows and looked outside.

“You had none?”

“No. I only had a couple of screens you could see a picture from outside on. How does it come that you have windows? After all I am higher rank than you.”

Felicitas shrugged smiling. “No idea, I probably just had luck when they assigned the quarters.”

“You have said something about a bathroom? A hot shower would really be nice right now. Do you mind, if I go first?”

“No, go ahead. I still have some paperwork to finish.”

“Thanks.” Sarah went to her bag, procured pyjamas, underwear and a couple of shower things and disappeared into the bathroom.

Felicitas placed herself in front of her desk, activated the computer screen and started typing.

It didn't take long, until Sarah came back into the room with a cloud that smelled of shampoo. She wore a long, dark blue pyjamas and now looked much more relaxed.

“Ah, that felt great.” Sarah saw that Felicitas was still in front of her computer screen. “What are you writing there? You have already turned in your report.”

“Yes, that is something else.”

“And what?” Smiling Sarah came closer and tried to have a look at the text over Felicitas' shoulder. But she quickly closed the window, logged out and turned the screen off.

“Oh, it's nothing.” Felicitas turned around and saw, that Sarah wasn't satisfied with that excuse. Felicitas sighed. “Oh well. It is a story. Nothing special. I just write it for fun.”

“You're still writing?”

“Yes.”

“That's nice. I always liked the stories, you have told in the past. Every one of them. Tell me about this one.” Sarah pointed at the black screen.

“What?”

“Yes, I would like to hear it.”

Felicitas hesitated. It was a while already since she had last told anyone about her stories or even let someone read it. She wrote just for herself. In the past it was different. When Felicitas and Sarah were kids, they used to sit together for long after dark and then Felicitas told stories, that she had made up on the spot. Those had been nice evenings, where both of them had a lot to laugh.

Felicitas gave in, maybe it won't end up being a total disaster. “Ok, but first I go to take a shower.” Sarah radiated happily.

Felicitas grabbed her pyjamas, the one with the big red hearts on it and went to the bathroom.

When she returned, the big bag on the floor was nearly empty. Sarah had used the time to put some things into the cupboard. She already lay in bed, at the side of the windows and read something on a small computer.

“Reports?”

“The privilege of an officer, more reports than you want to read.”

“Anything good?”

“No, nothing new. Just reports about the general mess we are currently in.” She put the computer aside. “We will deal with that again tomorrow. Now it is time for the story!” She grinned in anticipation.

“Ah, the story is terrible, you definitely don't want to hear it.”

“No excuses!” Sarah happily patted the blanket. “Come on. Get into bed and then go! The story is definitely all wonderful.”

Felicitas sighed, but gave in to Sarah’s wish and went into bed and under the blanket. Sarah looked at her in anticipation.

“It is a ridiculous story”, Felicitas tried to chicken out of telling the story.

“Good.”

“And I have told you, that I have only written it for fun!”

“All the better.”

“So you are not allowed to make fun of me. I have warned you!”

Sarah tried very hard not to grin. “I will not!”

Felicitas smiled, took a deep breath and started:

Once upon a time, in a land far far away. There lived a princess named Laura. She ruled over her land with kindness and wisdom. It wasn't a particularly big land, but it was pretty and her people liked it there a lot.

Today was a special day. The day of the spring festival. A glittering feast, that lasted deep into the night. That's why, at this morning, there already was a lot going on in and around the castle. Except for one bedroom where yet nothing moved at all.

Marissa, the room lady, knocked tentatively at the door. “Princess, are you awake?” As an answer she got something, that strongly sounded like the growling of a bear.

The room lady opened cautiously the door and peaked inside. The princess was somewhere within the depths of her bed and looked like to be sleeping still. No trace of a bear.

“Princess you have to get up, today is the spring festival after all and there is still so much to do. The whole castle is already on their feet!”

“The spring festival!” Princess Laura laboriously raised herself up and looked like a swaying zombie while doing so. Her hair stood out in all directions. A lion would have turned pale with envy looking at this mane.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us princess.”

The princess fell back onto her bed.

Marissa sighed. With effort, encouragement and some serious words, she finally managed to put the princess on the chair in front of the dressing commode and started with her work.

Shortly after, there was another knocking at the door. “Princess, are you presentable?”

Princess Laura looked at her room lady, who vigorously shook her head.

“Ehm, no!”

“Princess, we need a decision regarding the flower ornaments.”

“I will have a look in ...”, she turned to Marissa, who currently tried to fight the mane with a brush and whispered: “How long will it take?”

“An hour”, she whispered. “At least!”

“That long?”

The room lady nodded.

Laura sighed and answered to the man behind the door: “I will have a look at it in about an hour.”

As Laura left her bedroom, an hour and twenty minutes later, she was finally recognizable as the princess again. The room lady had achieved a small miracle. The mane gave way to nice, even, long hair, that was held together by a violet bow, fitting her simple yet wonderful, long dress.

The festivities took place behind the castle, where, at the moment, it didn't look very festive at all. It was more of a work in progress. Everywhere diligent hands were busy putting up tables, taking care of the decorations or generally bringing things to order. Princess Laura strode through the crowd and gave orders and helped where she could.

It wasn't the first time, the festival was happening, so there wasn't much, that she had to decide. Most of the servants knew, what had to be done.

The spring festival started late in the afternoon, then there was dining, dancing and laughing until the morning dawned. Princess Laura had invitations be send out across the country and nobody would be missing out on it. The festivities, the princess held, were famous all over the country. The food alone, the kitchen started very early in the morning to cook, was reason enough to come.

After a short midday snack the fairground already looked much better. Most of the tables stood at the right spot and had been decorated with a tablecloth and some flowers. The stage for the musicians was built and the dance floor was placed. Now the cutlery and the glasses were distributed across the many tables.

As Laura watched the gardeners, hiding some lamps inside the trees and bushes, Joris, the chef stormed onto the castle terrace. He was a small man with a lot of belly and a high hat, as it was accustomed for a cook. He looked stressed and desperate.

“Princess, princess!”, he cried, while snaking through the servants.

“What happened?”, asked the princess.

Wheezing he came to a halt in front of the princess.

“It is a disaster!”, Joris wailed, as he was able to catch his breath again. “We have to cancel the festival! What a disaster!”

Princess Laura knew, that Joris liked it very much to complain about a lot of things. Most of the time it was about the food, that he had cooked and never was as good as he wanted it to be. But, until now, he never wanted to cancel a festival because of it.

“What happened?”, repeated the princess her question.

“The cake! It was taken hostage!”

“What?” The cake was one of the highlights of the festival. A ten level high chocolate cake, intricately decorated with flowers made from chocolate, marzipan and several real ones, that you could eat.

“We just wanted to add some last things to the cake, but when we looked after it in the cooling, it was gone! Only that note was lying on the floor.” Joris, who was close to tears, gave it to her.

“But who would take a cake hostage?” asked Laura and took the note.

“Barbarians! That's for sure!”

“Dear Princess”, stood on the note in fine, clean handwriting. “If you want to see your cake again, come alone to the forest north of your castle.”

Laura turned the note, but that was all, there was nothing more on it. Angrily she crumbled up the note and threw it away. One of the servants picked it up and got rid of it. How could they dare to steal the cake! Laura had been eagerly looking forward to it!

“Joris, get back into the kitchen”, she said calmly. “I will take care of this.” Grimly she added: “Don't worry, if anything should happen to the cake, they will get to know me!”

Worried, Joris went back towards the kitchen.

Laura stopped one of the servants and sent him to the stables. They should saddle her horse and hold it ready, she would be there soon. The forest to the north was only a short ride from the castle away. She wanted to get this thing done as soon as possible. There was still so much to do before the festival, she didn't had time for such nonsense. She needed a weapon.

Laura returned into the castle. In the throne room she found, what she was looking for. Behind the throne there where two swords attached to the wall. The sword of her father and her own.

Lauras father was a big and strong man and he had a corresponding sword. Laura wouldn't have been able to fight with it, it was too big and to heavy. She had one made for her own. As she had ordered the sword at the blacksmith, she was very clear, that she wanted a weapon and not a toy. And the weapon she got: The sword had minimal ornaments and a long, slender blade made out of the strongest steal you could find in her kingdom. An elegant and deadly weapon at the same time.

Princess Laura gently brushed over the sword of her father, before she took hers off the wall. She bound it tightly onto her back and with determined steps she went towards the stables.

The way flew past under the thundering hooves of her horse. In the stables she had been running into Robin, the leader of the royal guards. How he had found out about her excursion again, was a mystery to her. But she couldn't blame him, after all he was responsible for her safety and she made this job for him not always easy.

He would send someone after her, even though she had reassured him, that she just needed to take care of something and would be back soon. Laura sighed, that was the price you had to pay as a princess, it was impossible to go anywhere alone. At least Robin would take care, that her shadow wouldn't immediately be recognizable as her guard.

She had the lead and her horse was fast, perhaps she could bring this annoyance to an end, before the guard caught up. Just who came up with this crazy idea to take a cake hostage? And for what purpose?

The forest came into view. It wasn’t near any any important streets and only rarely a lumberjack found his way here. The many big rocks, that were littered all over the forest, made the work difficult and there were enough forests in the area, that were more pleasant to work in.

As Laura reached the forest, she dismounted, petted the neck of her horse and then left it at the edge of the forest. It would wait here for her. She had to walk the small path, that lead into the forest, alone. There was no getting through, for a horse.

She had barely walked past the first row of trees as it got noticeably colder and darker. You was apparent, that nobody looked after this forest. Bushes and plants grew everywhere. They even grew over the path, where the twigs caught and pulled at Lauras nice dress, as she tried to make her way through.

There was no trace of the evil doers yet. The princess knew, that the path would eventually lead to a clearing. She wanted to wait there.

Laura heard a twig breaking and was just able to see a grey shadow, that quickly disappeared again. Through the thicket she wasn't able to see what it was. Perhaps an animal? Cautiously she continued onward.

She didn't get far. After only a couple of steps she heard twigs breaking again and a rustling in the bushes, that came closer very fast. She barely had time to prepare herself as suddenly a grey wolf lunged at her. Laura let herself fall to the ground, so that the wolf jumped over her. She was just able to get up and pull her sword, before the wolf went snarling for a second attack.

A wolf, the last thing she needed right now.

The animal jumped forward. Laura dodged to the side and aimed with the flat side of her sword at the head of the wolf. She didn't want to kill the animal, if she couldn't help it. She hit.

The wolf landed clumsily and numbly shook his head. He recovered quickly and didn't had enough yet. Growling he turned towards Laura. She slightly twisted her sword, so that the sharp blade was pointing forwards now.

“If you really insist.” The princess assumed a combat position and was ready.

Suddenly a second wolf broke out of the bushes. He was twice the size of the first one and had long scraggy fur. Laura already tried to defend herself, but the attack of the big wolf wasn't aimed at her. He jumped at the younger wolf, grabbed him and flung him, without much trouble or care, into the next bush. Out of sight. Then he turned towards the princess.

Compared to the small wolf, this one didn't snarl or looked like he would attack the princess. This monster of an animal probably wouldn't have much trouble with Laura, but it just stood there, watching her. The wolf looked ... worried?

Slowly Laura sheathed her sword again. Whatever happened here, she didn't believe, the big wolf would harm her.

It looked like it was the right decision. The big wolf turned and trudged, on the small path, deeper into the forest. After a few steps he stopped and looked back, looking like he wanted the princess to follow. Laura hesitated only shortly, nodded then, but left a safe distance between her and the wolf. Perhaps there were answers at the end of the way.

While they walked deeper into the forest together, Laura attentively searched the bushes around her and listened for suspicious sounds, but everything stayed silent. They seemed to be alone, but a feeling told the princess, that this wasn't true.

They reached the clearing. The big wolf headed towards a tree, where clothes lay scattered around underneath. They weren't much more than a couple of old rags, but it slowly dawned on the princes, what all this meant. Her assumption was confirmed, as the wolf reached the clothes and started to transform. It was a werewolf.

Laura shielded her eyes with her hand, as it was respectable, to give that creature, that just turned into a naked man, time to put on the scattered clothing. Laura wasn't sure what was better, a wolf or a werewolf. She never had met a werewolf before, but what you heard about them wasn't really uplifting.

“You can look again”, it was a deep, calm voice.

Laura took her hand down and saw a big, muscly older man, that very much resembled the wolf he just was. The hair was a long, felted mane, turned grey from age. He wore a rugged jacket over a shirt and some old trousers. His feet stayed barefoot.

The man fell to his knees and bowed.

“My name is Lu. Forgive, princess, that we lured you here. It was a mistake and I am sorry.”

Confused Laura looked at the man, that knelled before her in the grass and still was nearly as tall as herself. She had heard about Lu the werewolf, he was something like the leader of the werewolves. If you could believe the stories, he was the worst of them. Someone who came at night to drag children out of their beds to eat them in the forest.

That just didn’t fit the man, that knelled here in front of her. Yes, he looked a little wild and intimidating, but Laura didn’t perceive him as a killer and should he really be as bloodthirsty as the stories told, then why should he take a cake hostage? That made no sense at all.

“Stand up”, said Laura. She waited until he was standing again, then she asked: “Why did you want me to be here?”

Embarrassed the man shifted from one foot to the other. “It is about the spring festival.”

“The spring festival?”

“Yes.”

“What about it?”

Lu struggled a while, till he was able to make himself say it. “It is ... well”, he kneaded nervously his hands. “You arrange all those lovely festivities and .. well ... we once would like to be part of it too.” Sadly he added: “After the incident with Crispo I would understand, if you refuse.”

“I thought, you wouldn’t care for such things”, said Laura, slowly sorting her thoughts again. “Don’t werewolves normally prefer to stay with their own?”

“It is easier to be with one’s own kind, when everyone else just sees the monster in you.”

“The people don’t fear you without a reason, or do they?”, Laura was annoyed with herself, that she knew so little about werewolves. She only knew the stories and in them the werewolves never got away good. When someone was attacked by an animal, always the werewolves got blamed. If it actually was a wolf or not. That’s why there was already a lot of blood spilled, on both sides.

Lu sighed. “When full moon approaches, most of us withdraw to the mountains or somewhere where we can’t hurt anyone. But sadly there are those few, that believe, that you have to retaliate. To fight violence with violence. Blood with more blood. They don’t even notice that they make everything so much worse in the process. We try to hunt them down, before they can do anything, but we are not always quick enough.”

“Like ... you called him Crispo?”

Lu shook his mighty mane. “Crispo is young and a hot headed fool, who still has a lot to learn. I am grateful, that you didn’t kill him.”

Laura thought about it. What should she do? Lu seemed honest. Could she deny the plea, to show the people, that not all werewolves were bad? But what if Lu lied, and hid his real intentions?

“Why the cake?”

Lu smiled. “A cake is always only a cake, no matter how delicious it is. A human is a human.”

“I understand.”

“Don’t worry, you will get it back unharmed. Even if you should say no.”

“Can you guarantee that what happened with Crispo doesn’t happen again?” She could order Robin to have an eye on the new guests. He would do it discretely enough, to not alarm the other guests.

“I will make sure of it! I promise!”

Laura took a deep breath. “Well okay. I will give you the chance. You are allowed to come to the festival.” She smiled uncertainly. Looking at Lu's worn down clothing she added. “It is quite an elegant festival. Do you have fitting clothing for that?”

Lu smiled relieved, facing the good news. “Naturally, fitting clothing won’t be a problem. We will be exemplary guests. You won’t regret your decision!”

“I hope so.” Laura didn’t want to think about, what would happen, if she was wrong. “About the cake. Please bring it back soon, my head cook is already very worried. He is really attached to it.”

“Consider it done!”, said Lu with a friendly smile.

Lu accompanied her back through the forest. They met no one along the way, even though Laura was sure, that more wolves lurked in the underwood. She just hoped, to not have made a big mistake. But sometimes you had to take a risk, if you wanted to give someone a chance.

“Well ...”, said Laura unsure, what else to say, as they reached the edge of the forest, “then we will meet again at the festival.” Her horse grazed only a couple of meters away from the spot, where she had left it. Right beside was Robin, sitting relaxed on his horse. The commander of the royal guards himself had come to look that she was safe. He wore simple, civil clothing and looked like he was unarmed. What, as Laura knew, was the completely wrong impression.

“It will definitely be wonderful”, said Lu. He nodded friendly towards Robin, who returned the greeting.

She mounted and turned one last time towards Lu: “For next time, please just ask for an audience. Normally I listen to everyone who comes to me with a request.”

Lu smiled. “I will remember that.”

She turned her horse and rode with Robin back to the castle.

In the meantime the preparations in the castle had made quite good progress while the princess was gone. The tables had been laid, most of the decoration was distributed and the orchestra was on the small stage busy with the last rehearsal before the festival. Now, that most of the things had been done, the mood became much more relaxed as well and there was more laughing and giggling.

“What have you done to that dress?” the princess was greeted by the shocked Marissa. “Have you forgotten yourself again while playing with the kids?” Her room lady was always very worried about the princess. Especially that she was always recognizable as one. Running around with kids wasn’t part of that, even though Laura always had a lot of fun doing so.

The princess decided not to contradict her. Marissa could be strict sometimes, but she always meant good. She did became some kind of second mother for her and Laura preferred to not unsettle her with the truth. So she let herself being lead to her room without much resistance, where the long, beautiful, white dress, embroidered with many colorful flowers, was already waiting.

It was time. Dusk came and the festival lamps were ignited. Laura stood at the entrance to the garden and greeted the guests, that arrived from all over the country.

Beneath the many guests Laura recognized some of the guards as well. They wore evening attire, but Laura knew that they were armed. A precaution, that she had discussed with Robin. Hopefully they wouldn’t need them.

“A good and wonderful evening”, she got greeted by a deep voice. Being absorbed in thoughts Laura hasn’t noticed that Lu stood in front of her. He was barely recognizable. No trace of the rags from before. Now he wore an elegant, black suit with a whit shirt and a black bow tie. The only thing left reminding you of the wolf, was his long scrubby hair. He just had bound it together into a tail with a leather band.

He wasn’t alone. Lu was accompanied by ten flawlessly dressed men and women. They definitely wouldn’t stand out to another guest. Only if you looked very closely, you noticed their fluent movements and the wilderness in their eyes.

“Good evening”, said the princess and bowed politely. “Welcome to the spring festival.”

“My thanks, that we were allowed to come”, said Lu.

“You are just in time, the festival will be opened soon. Someone in the garden will look after you and show you to your seats.”

Lu nodded friendly. As he wanted to disappear with his entourage towards the garden, Laura called after him: “Lu! Can you dance?” She wasn’t sure if it was a good idea, but maybe it was the first small step that lead to a better understanding between werewolves and humans.

Lu was briefly irritated by the question, but then he answered: “Yes, I can dance, princess.”

“First cake, but then I’ll expect you on the dance floor!”

“I will be there.” Lu bowed respectfully and amused he went towards the garden with his folk.

All guests had been accounted for, the garden was colorfully lit and the giant chocolate cake, that resided in the middle of the buffet, looked very tempting. The festival just had to be opened and that task belonged to the princess.

As Laura climbed the stage the guests fell silent. The princess took a deep breath. She didn’t like to talk in front of many people, but it was one of those tasks that you just couldn’t get around being the princess. She smiled bravely.

“Hello everyone. It is nice, that you were able to come. Don’t worry, I won’t lose a lot of words, as you didn’t come here to hear me talk.” The guests smiled. “We are here to celebrate, to eat good food and to dance until dawn. That’s why there are only two things for me to wish for: Have a lot of fun and don’t do anything that you have to be ashamed of tomorrow. May the festival begin!”

The guests cheered, the orchestra started to play and Laura finally had time to get a piece of the cake.

With the first bite, all the trouble she had had because of the cake was forgotten. She would have loved to immediately get another piece, but there was an additional task, this evening, she had to take care of. The dance with the werewolf.

The werewolves had a table not far from the middle of the garden. There they sat and didn’t know how to conduct themselves. This all seemed to be unfamiliar for them. Several swayed in the soothing tunes of the orchestra, but most of the time they restricted themselves to observe the other guests and to learn from them. Lu just sat there and waited.

The princess got up and went over to them. “You really should try the cake, it is delicious!” The werewolves looked to Lu for advice. He nodded. Only after that they hesitantly got up to make their way towards the cake. Lu got up as well, but he didn’t go with the others.

“Did you come to claim your dance?” he asked smiling.

Laura nodded. “Is the music to your liking, or should we ask the orchestra to play something else?” They currently played a slow song.

“No, that is all right.”

Together they went over to the dance floor. Even though there were already several dancers moving to the slow rhythm of the melody, it got noticed, as the princess lead an older, unknown man onto the dance floor. Of course they would stare a lot more, if they knew who he was, Laura thought, but this wasn’t important right now.

They looked for a free spot, put their arms around each other and started to move back and forth to the music. Laura noticed, that Lu moved very confidently across the dance floor, as if he had often done this before. Even as the next song was a bit faster, Lu could easily keep up. Only after the fourth song Lu asked for a break, that Laura gladly granted.

Meanwhile more and more werewolves mixed with the dancing folk. As it turned out they were all very polite and excellent dancers. The other guests seemed to enjoy themselves very well too and together they laughed and danced through the night.

So it became a wonderful, joyful and successful festival.

As the princess fell tiredly into bed, the next morning, she was glad, that she had taken the risk and given the werewolves that chance. Who knew, what one day could evolve out of this.

Exhausted and with a smile on her lips she fell asleep.