While the incident with Fendros was worrying, the awkwardness wore off after a short while. Janius dismissed the vendor, noting that it really wasn't his fault anyway, and the pack sat to observe the rest of the competition. It was slow, and some of them found it boring, but when it was too boring, they had a quick wander to find something to eat. It's not like there was a shortage of food.

Even though Fendros really didn't want to be an inconvenience, he had a feeling that Ahnasha wasn't going to be convinced to go back to the festival until he was at least safely in their room. Not lifting his foot quite high enough for the first step of the staircase made him grateful that she was there to steady him. Soon enough, they found their way to a bed and Fendros laid himself down. "Ahna, my skin was crawling so much back in the square. I felt like I was being accosted by insects." Fendros said tiredly, his eyes drooping, but still looking at Ahnasha, "You remember that time I told you that I tried skooma? It was like that, except with the skooma it lasted for the entire night. I was terrified that it would be the same with the moon sugar once I found out." He turned his head to face Ahnasha properly and put his hand on her arm, "The insects won't return again, will they?" By Fendros' tone, he was still slightly delirious, but at least he seemed to be past the worst of it. His eyes then started to droop shut as if he were about to fall asleep, but before he succumbed, he opened his eyes slightly and took another look at Ahnasha. "I love you, Ahna," he said.

Back at the square, the winners had been selected by the judges, and Rukeewei came in with a well earned second that was a nose away from first. "That Rukeewei may make a sadistic cocktail, but sure knows his way around wine as well." Janius remarked, crossing his arms, "I say he should have come in first place."

"The Altmers' wine [i]was[/i] a fine one as well." Ariel added, "Did you get a chance to taste any, Sabine?"

Sabine kept looking at the stage and shook her head.

"Did you want to? I think there are some samples left." Ariel asked.

Sabine looked back at Ariel, her pause implied consideration, but she shook her head again.

"Which did you think would be the winner, Meesei?" Ariel turned to Meesei.