Tonight.

That was the only thing Setiri could think of as she rode her horse down the narrow path through the forest. It was the first new moon since Midsummer, and for Setiri, it was the night she looked forward to all year long, as it was the single chance each year that she could be with the only person she would ever love.

Her horse stopped walking suddenly and she knew she was almost there. Looking up at the trees, she could see the difference. In the direction she had come from, the trees were simply trees. Some were dead, others had broken limbs or damaged bark. But where she was going, they seemed more perfect. They seemed greener and each tree was lush with growth. They provided a thicker canopy as well, giving Setiri thick shade for the rest of her journey.

She stroked her mare's mane and spoke softly to her, urging her onwards. The horse could sense that something just wasn't right about this particular part of the woods and was hesitant to enter. The bay mare finally took a step forwards and Setiri knew she wouldn't offer any more resistance. Every year, the mare didn't want to enter, but she seemed perfectly content once she was there.

The lovely scent of flowers on the wind let Setiri know just how close she was to her destination. The tree those flowers grew on could only be found one spot in the woods. She resisted the urge to push her horse into a gallop. It was too dangerous and she had plenty of time. It was only midday and Raytur wouldn't be there until sundown.

Light shone through the trees up ahead, and as she approached closer, she saw the water of the lake and a smile crossed her face. She had made it with plenty of time to spare. Every year, she worried that she would arrive late; she couldn't stand the thought of losing even one precious moment with Raytur. They had so little time together.

Not far from where she arrived on the lake's edge was the small cabin she called home. She may only have lived there for two weeks a year, but it was more her home than anywhere else. She'd give up all the luxuries of her father's home if only she could be with her true love all the time. With her father being a duke, it would be a lot to give up, but it would be worth it. She'd been prepared to throw it all away before. Before the curse.

Setiri dismounted her mare outside the cabin. After removing the bags of supplies attached to the saddle, as well as the saddle itself and the bit and reins, she left the horse to wander while she carried everything inside. The cabin was just as she had left it the previous year, just a little dustier. She removed the blankets from the bed and shook the dust off outside and then pulled the chest out and brushed that off before opening it.

The chest contained a small collection of clothes that she had stocked it with several years ago when she first started making her annual trip to the woods. She had replaced a few items over the years as things wore out, but only when necessary. It was nothing like her collection of clothes at home, which were replaced anytime the seasons changed. But life was simpler in the woods, and she didn't need so much. She pulled out the only gown in the chest – she felt silly wearing it in the middle of nowhere, but she always liked to make the first night with Raytur special and so, she dressed up for it.

She stripped off the clothes she had arrived in and carried them with her to the lake. After over a week's journey, she and her clothes needed to be cleaned. Leaving the clothes on the grassy shore, she Setiri stepped into the cool water. A shiver ran through her body, but once she submerged her entire body, it no longer felt cold. She scrubbed the dirt from her body, glad to have a clean feeling once again. Once she felt perfectly clean, she washed her clothes and then hung them to dry.

Setiri lay out in the sun for a while as well, letting her own body dry before getting dressed. She loved how much freedom she had out in the woods – she could never get away with laying naked at home. But out in the woods, there was no one to see her and no one to care, and it made for a refreshing break from all the rules she had to endure being a duke's daughter.

Finally feeling dry enough, Setiri went back inside and slipped into the deep blue gown. It was a long gown, hitting just above her ankles, with short sleeves. Black ribbon created stripes down the sleeves. The same ribbon also went along the skirt of the gown in five sections. Each one had two pieces of ribbon close together starting at her waist and travelling to the bottom. Between the ribbons were small, white beads, which could also be found around the neckline of the dress. Setiri loved the dress and after wearing it once at home, she had stowed it away to take to her cabin.

Once the dress was on, she tied it in the back, with similar black ribbon as found elsewhere on her dress. Had she been at home, she'd have had gloves and shoes to go with the dress and someone to put her auburn hair up, but she had none of that at the cabin. It didn't matter – Raytur always found her beautiful.

With nothing else to do, Setiri went outside to wait for the sun to go down, keeping an eye out for any movement nearby that would signal Raytur's approach. Being the night of the new moon, it normally would have been dark, but the plants that grew near the lake were quite strange. The coniferous plants weren't so common at the lake, unlike in the surrounding woods, and the ones that did grow had a glow. The younger needles had the brightest shine, while the older ones were dimmer and the very oldest had no light at all, but the trees always created enough light to see by and the bluish light from the trees gave the lake a magical glow.

There was still a small amount of sunlight left in the sky when Setiri saw something moving. Not too far from the cabin, a large stag walked out of the woods and stood on the lake shore, his gaze fixated on Setiri. When she saw him, she smiled and jumped to her feet, running over to him. The deer stood still, letting her approach and throw her arms around his neck, and he nuzzled her softly.

"Raytur," she breathed his name into the thick fur around his neck. "I love you."

Setiri kept her arms around him, but lifted her head away from him so she could see him better, admiring the large antlers that adorned the top of his head, but she couldn't wait for the sun to go down so she could see him as he really was. It wasn't much longer before that change started.

She felt his shoulders shifting in his body first and then saw his muzzle shorten. The reddish-brown fur began to disappear into his skin as she felt him step closer to her as his human legs developed from his cervine ones. Black eyes turned brown, arms wrapped around her and as soon as lips appeared, Setiri kissed them, attempting to get all the longing and passion she'd held for the past year out in a single moment.

By the time she pulled away from him, Raytur was almost completely human once again, the only thing setting him apart were the antlers that remained protruding from his brown hair. He reached up and gently caressed her face with a large hand before kissing her again. This second kiss was shorter and as he pulled away, he whispered, "I love you too."

Nearly a fortnight had passed since Setiri and Raytur arrived at the cabin, and they both knew that their time together would be ending soon. They were laying on the grass together, waiting for the sun to go down once again. Setiri was curled up along his side, her head resting on his chest while one hand idly stroked his fur. Once the sun was down, his transformation began and very soon, it was his skin pressed against her bare flesh instead of fur.

After making love nearly until dawn, they finally spoke of the things they wished they didn't have to. The two-week period always ended the same way. They spent the majority of their time being intimate, but when they knew their time was ending, they discussed everything they needed to say.

"My family is becoming suspicious," Setiri said from her comfortable position in Raytur's arms. "They always want to know where I disappear to every summer. And beyond that…" She didn't finish the thought, not sure how to tell Raytur.

"They want you to marry," Raytur guessed. He didn't need her to say it. He always knew the day would come when his love would be forced to marry another man, and he was surprised they had held out as long as they did. She was twenty-six years old already, yet she had never spoken of having to marry someone else.

"I can't do it," she said, hardly able to hold back tears. She couldn't stand the thought of marrying anyone other than Raytur. "I know you said it wouldn't work, but don't you think we can find a way? So that I can live here or just with you anywhere."

"My dearest Setiri," he said with a sigh. "I only wish we could. But I can't let you go through this life. It's better for you if you go back to Estolia."

"But Raytur!" She started to protest, turning around in his arms as she did so. She was unable to say anything else as he kissed her as soon as she turned around.

"As long as you're safe, I'll be happy. I can survive you marrying another man. Just as long as I don't have to worry each and every second about your wellbeing."

"But I can't be happy unless I'm with you," she said, a tear finally dropping and rolling across her cheek.

"You'll always be with me in my heart. Just as I'll always be with you in yours."

Setiri leaned against him and sighed, finding a little comfort in his words. She knew he was right – no matter what physical distance or other obstacle lay between them, they would always be together. If a curse that made him spend most of his life as a stag couldn't part them, then Setiri knew that nothing could.

"And maybe, I'll take part of you with me back to Estolia," she said, pressing a hand to her stomach.

"Oh, Setiri, if that happens, then your family will certainly make you marry."

"I want children," she said. "But only yours."

Raytur smiled, but was unable to respond as the sun was coming up and his transformation into a deer had already started.

The following night, Raytur once again made his transformation back to his human form, and they spent the majority of that night in the same manner as all the others. They tried to keep any conversation away from what they had discussed the previous night, but neither of them could get it off their minds, as they very well knew that it could be their last night together.

The night after, as the sun disappeared, Raytur maintained his stag's body, and the two lovers knew that the year's window for them to be together had closed. Setiri cried and clung to his neck, hating the thought that she might never see him again, as a human or otherwise. They spent that final night together, although not in the way either of them had hoped. They simply cuddled together with Setiri doing all the talking, as she was the only one who could.

In the morning, Setiri felt herself starting to cry all over again. If her parents did force her to marry, she was sure she would never see Raytur again. Sneaking out of her parents' large house where she was hardly noticed was one thing, but getting away from a husband who would certainly expected things from her? Setiri doubted it would work out.

"I love you, Raytur," she said. "Always and forever."

He couldn't speak, but she knew he felt the same way. He nuzzled her neck and licked her and then he took off into the woods. She hated how he suddenly left, but she knew it was the only way. If he tried to leave slowly, he'd never do it. She wiped away her tears as she headed back to the cabin to collect her things and get ready to head back home. As she did so, she could only think of one thing.

One way or another, I will make it back to him.