She sneaks out.

Xalendra made up her mind. She had to see just what was so entertaining this night that it kept a whole city awake. She rummaged through her wardrobe to don a proper dress of pink and indigo, and then threw on a dark cloak to add a modicum of discretion. She paused before her mirror once, her blue eyes reflecting back the look of anxious, illicit excitement.

She had never before left the castle after dark—it was unbecoming of a lady her age, to walk the streets so wantonly. But she needed to have some kind of freedom, and couldn't stand being cooped-up for much longer. Her restless mind urged her onward, and she slipped out of her room silently.

Xalendra made it out of the castle grounds and down to the fringes of the city soon enough, where she noticed how different it all was at night. She'd been down this street many times, but never during the night of the Midsummer's Festival. There was a lot of laughter and music, and the colorful decorations stood out against the darkness of the night.

Xalendra wandered a bit until she wound up in an open area where she could see down different streets. Through the crowd of merry-makers, she saw the way downhill, which led to the town where many buildings were garbed in flags of every color, and torches illuminated the painted walls. Nearby, she could see stalls set up to hawk and peddle wares of various purposes, and tents of different sizes pitched in rows.