Midsummer Nights Feast

A Midsummer Night's Feast

1251 words

She watches him from the deep shade near the tall maples at the edge of the forest.

The sun beats down on his head as it has all day. He wipes his brow with a wet handkerchief as he peers through his digital planimeter. He shakes his head, and looks up at the sky, hours to go before dusk.

He is tall and has broad shoulders, she says to herself. I hope he has a comely appearance. She spreads her blanket on the ground awaiting his arrival.

He lifts his arms, stretching shoulders that have been hunched over his engineering instrument for many hours. He turns to his right and looks longingly at a nearby forest. Taking a deep breath, his long steps to take him to shaded protection of the trees. He sits down and drains the last of his canteen.

"Hello," she says in a soft, clear voice.

Startled, he turns in her direction. "I didn't realize anyone was here."

"I'm having a picnic," she says. "Would you care to join me?"

His eyes are fixed on her lustrous raven tresses.

"Why don't you sit next to me?" She pats the blanket near her.

When he sits down, his eyes travel the path of her finely boned face. "I'm Henry. What's your name?"

"I am Titania."

"As in Midsummer night's dream?"

"We share that name. An old and honored name."

"You are the loveliest woman I have ever seen." 

"You are kind to say so." She lowers her eyes and then raises them to meet his. "Can I offer you some refreshment?" She fills a cup with liquid from an old crock.

Taking the cup in his hand, he takes a long sip. "It is cool and refreshing. Like beer, but sweeter."

"You are drinking mead from a recipe that is hundreds of years old. Would you like some more?"

To his surprise, he drank all she gave him. "Yes, I would." The second cupful is gone in half a swallow. He blinks several times, then shakes his head. "This is stronger than beer or even liquor."

"It is a potion of love," Titania says with a twinkling laugh.

Henry smiles. "Love. I have been working on this road through the forest for many weeks. There hasn't been much opportunity for love."

"Life should be filled with love," she says, looking at him with her lustrous green eyes. "Today is a very special day."

He closes his eyes, apparently thinking about what day it is. At last he opens them. "It's June twenty first, the summer solstice."

"Yes," she says. "But it is an even more special day for me."

"What would that be?"

"It is my birthday." Her smile invites him closer. "Would you celebrate it with me?"

"It would be my pleasure. I'm sorry but I have brought you no gifts."

"You have brought me the greatest gift possible."

"What would that be?" Henry raises his eyebrows.

"The pleasure of your company." Titania smiles demurely at him.

He finally takes in her silken dress adorned with butterflies. "It must be my imagination, but the butterflies appear to be moving."

"A skill I learned from my mother. Do you like them?"

Henry leans forward, his eyes track the subtle movements of the multi-colored adornments on her dress. Suddenly, he pulls back, his face and neck reddening.

"What's the matter?" She asks.

"Your dress. It's almost translucent and I can see your body."

"Does my body offend you?" 

"Far from it. It's petite and lovely."

Your eyes were on my breasts, she thinks. "Can I offer you some more mead?"

"I shouldn't have any more. I'm already half drunk."

She ignores his protestation and fills his cup. "Drink the sweet nectar. It will ease your troubles and make you think of better times."

Once more Henry brings the cup to his mouth. In two large swallows all the mead is gone. 

By now the sun is nearing the end of its daily journey.

"Would you like to visit my home?" Titania asks.

"Now? It's getting late. It will be dark soon. How will we see."

"The best part of the day has begun." She coyly looks into his eyes and says, "Come."

Titania rises, takes his hand, and pulls him with her.

Henry follows Titania into the dark forest.

"Look," she says as hundreds of fireflies appear, lighting the way. Titania points to the ground. "This is a path few men have ever seen."

The fireflies move ahead of them, lighting the way.

"Here it is," she says as they enter a small glen in the forest. The fireflies form a canopy of magical light. In the middle, long grasses weaved together create a soft green mattress.

When Henry looks above them, small creatures with rapidly fluttering wings circle their heads.

"Are those hummingbirds?" he asks.

"No, dearest. They are pixies who have come to celebrate our night together. Aren't they lovely?"

He squints at them, but their rapid movement makes it impossible for any mortal to discern their shape.

"Would you like something to eat?" she asks.

Henry's stomach rumbles. "I didn't realize I was so hungry. What do you have."

"Delicious wild berry pies." She traces the outline of his jaw with her finger and smiles as she gazes into his eyes. 

"I'm eager to taste them." He sighs as he stares at her face.

Titania reaches into a basket woven from twigs and pulls out two small pies. She hands one to him and holds the other.

Henry nibbles at the pie, then eats more of it. "Oh my, this is delicious." With another bite, his pie is gone.

"Have another," she says, placing the other one in his hand.

In a moment, the second one is eaten.

Titania reaches up and kisses him, licking the remnants of pie from his mouth.

When he tries to wrap his arms around her, she spins out of his grasp and moves to the middle of the glen.

She takes off her dress and lies on the grassy bed. Her perfect, dainty body revealed before him. "Join me." She holds her hand out to him.

Henry blinks as he looks at her, then lies by her side.

"Love me," she says.

He leans forward and kisses her, parting her lips with his tongue.

Her fingers deftly undo his shirt and pants, revealing his manly passion.

"Take me," she urges.

As he glides into her, he groans with pleasure.

She wraps her legs around his back, urging him on.

He plunges into her, again and again.

"Yes, yes, she cries, until he spills his seed. Now we are done.

"Titania, you have exhausted me. It' s been long, hot day, and the mead was so intoxicating"  Henry rolls on his back, soon snoring.

Titania leans over him, caressing his forehead. "Sleep deeply, my dear. I am sorry for what is about to happen, but it is the ancient way, thousands of years old.

Dozens of pixies float closely above them. Their short, sharp fangs revealed by the light of the fireflies.

You are now immortal, my love. Your daughter will be born a year from now and live for a thousand years. And her daughter will repeat the cycle.

"He is yours, my lovelies." She rises, walks away, and disappears behind a tree.

The pixies descend on Henry's body to begin their Midsummer night's feast.

"Aaagh,' screams Henry breaking the silence in the forest.