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"Martina?" Lynette called and gently knocked at the halfway-opened door of one house.

"Oh, come in!" smiling Martina, in the same dress as in the morning, appeared in the doorway and let them enter the veranda lit with candles. Her eyes twinkled as she noticed that Iven looked at her in admiration.

A small low table between two sofas, white flowers in big wicker baskets standing on the floor, climbing ivy growing from flowerpots, the interior had elements of a garden or a wild nature landscape.

"I want to pay for the dress," Lynette took a sapphire out of the pocket and put it onto the table.

"My work is not so expensive!" Martina protested sincerely.

"I'm recompensing your keeping it for me," Lynette sighed, "I don't know when I can take it home…"

"But you can try it on, it's in my workshop upstairs. The white shoes are yours in addition!" the Dryad picked up the sapphire, viewed it without any great interest and put it back nonchalantly, then she pointed at the high-boots of Andreas with a clement care: "Tonight let your feet rest, put on the footwear for guests! Meanwhile, I'll bring tea."

The girls went out. The men took their bags, jackets and weapon off, hung the things onto small polished wooden coat-hooks near the door. The guest footwear turned out to be very flexible and soft brown leather shoes, easily stretching and assuming the necessary size. The Elf remained in his own which were actually of the same kind.

They washed their hands at a miniature decorative waterfall in the veranda corner, clear water lapping in a basin laid out with grey stones.

Martina brought a silver tray with porcelain cups and a tea-pot on it, the Elf assisted her in laying the table.

Then Lynette returned, and Andreas couldn't help looking at her. The new long bluish-white frock fitted her straight figure perfectly, and she had arranged her fair hair nicely, flower-topped hairpins holding golden curls. Tucking up the loose skirt, she gracefully sat down, took a cup from his hands and, being manifestly pleased with his attention, gave him a charming effulgent smile.

Meanwhile beautiful voices sang a simple but merry song somewhere in the town:

"Touch the petals, touch the leaves

With the gentle midnight breeze,

Let the springtime dream away

In the starlight of this May!

When enchanting minutes flow,

Take a rest before you go,

Let your weary heart forget

All your sorrow and regret!

Still together, all as one,

We are feeling fresh and young,

Like the petals and the leaves,

Like this gentle midnight breeze!"

"Let's go to the night party!" the Dryad exclaimed when the delicate euphonical music became heard.

They drank the tea up and hurried outdoors.

People were going along streets and lanes towards the square, gathering there, where several Elves playing violins and singing a melodious fairy ballad near the fountain. Lynette began to dance with Andreas, Iven invited Martina, and they joined other fluidly whirling pairs. Merry laugh and light-hearted joy in the air, sparklets in kind eyes. Happy enchanting minutes.

After the dancing the violins played a tender lullaby, and the four of them walked back to the house of Martina, the men arm-in-arm with their ladies.

"Iven?!" some Elf wondered encountering them in the lane, "haven't you gone to the South?"

"Sammie?" Iven and his friends stopped, "what's wrong?"

"From the coast we saw the yacht sailing to the Southern Cape, and a part of the troll horde followed it," Sammie told them, "our archers reported this news to queen Veronica…"

"Now Jim is with Dwarfs, they can defend him, but how shall he return to us alone?" Iven got worried, "I must see the queen!"

"Actually our Elvish Kingdom is close at hand, I'll show you the way," Sammie offered.

"Well, wait for me here, it's a safe place," Iven said to Lynette and Andreas, warmth gleamed in his eyes when he turned to Martina: "See you!"

"Good luck!" Martina smiled to him and, as the two Elves went away, led Lynette and Andreas to the house, "will you chatter with me before going to bed, Lynette? Tell me about your adventures!"

Chapter Three

Their clothes had been washed and cleaned, no more dust from mines, the Dwarfs looked rested and full of energy. They were peering into the distance where grey sails appeared catching up with them quickly.

"What do those contemptible monsters want from you?" Huges inquired carelessly.

"Helping my friends I quarrelled with trolls terrifically," Jim replied in a similar phlegmatic way, "but I have no regrets at all, you know…"

"Well, boys," Huges cheerfully turned to the other Dwarfs, "let's make a surprise for the filthy hooligans!"

The first boat approached to the yacht, six or seven leering brutes could see only Jim standing at the steering-wheel. He gave them an ironic smile and raised his hat in a derisive greeting.

The trolls howled in rage at that mock. This time they didn't jump as they had been doing during the attack near the Ariadna City. Instead of that, having sailed closely, the monsters thrust out make-shift ladders, wooden cross-beams were crudely bound to long stakes having iron grapnels at ends. They grappled the yacht with those awkward constructions to make bridges between the two vessels and started climbing up frantically.

But the Dwarfs who had been hiding squatting behind the board parapet suddenly sprung up, their battle-axes began to deal heavy blows to the enemies, cleaving helmets with loud clashing, knocking the assailants down one by one.

Shrill screaming of the brutes, splashes in the water, cracking of the unreliable ladders.

The fight was momentary but impetuous, no brute had a real chance of getting over the board railing to set foot onto the deck, and the victorious Dwarfs had quite contented expressions on their faces. They leisurely hewed the remaining ladders off, and a gust of the wind overturned the empty hostile boat flapping with its tangled sail.

The rest of the flotilla slowed and almost stopped, apparently not daring to attack any more. Huges menacingly shook his fist at them.