Post by Cass on Dec 1, 2011 22:44:33 GMT 10
To: Pandora
Message: Merry Ficmas and much love, dear. I hope you enjoy this...
From: your still secret snowflake
Title: A Partridge in a Pear Tree...or, Wherein Evin Demonstrates the Proper Spreading of Goodwill and Holiday Cheer
Rating: PG
Wishlist Item: #1 - Evin!
Summary:It’s Midwinter in Corus and the Riders have Midwinter traditions to uphold... Peace on earth, goodwill to men, and pranks for all, of course! Part one of “The Twelve Days of Mischief...or, It Came Upon a Midwinter Weird”.
Words: 1069
A Partridge in a Pear Tree...or, Wherein Evin Demonstrates the Proper Spreading of Goodwill and Holiday Cheer
By the window, fat flakes of snow drifted contentedly by, illuminated by the glow of the candles placed in every sconce along the hall. Winter greenery gleamed where it was tied with gold ribbon, and the doorways were perilous with mistletoe or couples whose lips were glued to one another, depending on one’s perspective. The sounds of festive music, exultant and brassy, drifted from open doors and brought the rich smells of pumpkin pie, cranberries, and cinnamon wafting into the hallway.
Midwinter had arrived to Corus with all of its glory and splendor, and the palace was abuzz with the first night of festivities.
Outside the main ballroom, Evin and Miri crouched in a corner, heads bent together over furious whispers.
“Are they here yet?”
Evin, crouched low to the floor, stuck his head out and peered around the corner of one door to the ballroom.
“Dom just arrived; he’s got some mulled wine already,” he hissed over his shoulder at Miri, who tugged at his arm.
“Let’s go--if he’s got a drink, he’s staying, he promised Lord Raoul--”
Evin slid backwards and out of sight of the door before clambering to his feet. “Come on!”
The Rider Mess was black and silent. Miri and Evin ran towards it through snow already several inches deep, flattening against the wall and scooting around the corner before reaching for the door. Evin knocked three times, paused, then called softly, “The Own moaned and groaned.”
The door creaked open a hair, then, “Because the Riders riffled Raoul’s ruffles,” came back to them. The door swung open, and Evin and Miri were all but dragged inside.
Sounds: someone fumbled in the dark.
Clicking, then--
A match, sputtering, lit a single candle.
Deni’s face, wearing an evil grin, glowed in the sudden light. “Ready?” she asked softly, looking around the room. Miri caught her eye and grinned back. Riders in soft shoes and dark clothing melted out of the shadows and crowded around the table. Evin dug in his pockets and pulled out a dog-eared scrap of parchment. Smoothing it down near the guttering circle of candlelight, he asked,
“Mistletoe?”
Farant snickered and put a garland on the table.
“Rope?”
Tarrus handed a neat bundle over Padrach’s head.
“Buckets?”
Elnore and Ysbel held up four, and chorused, “There’re more at the door,”
“Letter mentioning holiday cheer?”
Natan held it out with a flourish.
“...Midwinter cheer?”
Eight smiles full of sly mischief mirrored Evin’s own dangerous grin. He winked.
“I think we’re good to go.”
The yard was dark and quiet as Evin eased the door to the mess open. Behind him, Padrach blew out the lone candle, and the press of bodies against his own urged Evin out into the chill of the December air. The snow had slackened, and now only light flurries dusted the Riders’ hair.
“Go, go, go!” Miri’s voice hissed behind him, and Evin ran across the yard, crouched over. Eight shadows followed him.
Finally, he stopped and straightened. Before him, a wooden door waited, blank and unassuming. Evin rubbed his hands together.
“Do you have the letter?” Miri asked over Evin’s shoulder, and he scoffed at her.
“Have some faith,” he informed her seriously and pulled it from his sleeve. “I have taken good care of it.”
Together, they tacked it to the door, carefully arranging the mistletoe above it.
“...It’s still lacking something,” Evin rubbed his chin. “But, what?”
“Hold on!” Miri dashed off quickly, returning moments later with a handful of ribbons. “I think this will do the trick,” she said, arranging the ribbons artfully and entwining them with the mistletoe. Patting it once more, she and Evin stepped back with their arms crossed, with identical scrutinizing expressions on their faces.
Dear King’s Own,
We would like to be the very first to wish you well this Midwinter season, and hope that you enjoy all the joy and cheer that this holiday has to offer. May the gods bless you and your loved ones and bring you happiness in the new year.
Ever,
The Queen’s Riders
PS: Congratulations on making it back safely--the weather’s been awfully unpredictable lately!
Evin’s sudden grin flashed. “Yep, I think that does it.” He dusted his hands off. “It does my heart good to see the Midwinter season properly celebrated.”
Miri nodded decisively. “You know, I have to agree with you.”
As one, they turned away from the door to face the courtyard in front of the door. Tarrus tripped and yelped, water slopping all down his front. “All good?” Elnore asked softly. The other Riders straightened, then picked their way carefully across the now-wet ground.
“More than good,” Evin informed them, taking hold of one of the buckets the Riders had brought with them. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Mmmm...” Miri sighed happily at the sight of Evin approaching as he stepped onto the balcony. She relieved him of one of the glasses of spiced cider he carried. “I’m so glad we made it to the first ball of midwinter.”
He took a sip of his own drink and leaned on the balustrade. “It’s one of my favorite times of the year,” he told her seriously, his eyes dancing. “It would be highly improper to miss it.”
“Besides,” Farant pointed discreetly, “It always provides the best entertainment.”
Evin waved a hand at the rest of his squad and they crouched before looking over the rail at the expanse of Palace training yards below. Bobbing lanterns showed a squad of the Own heading back to their barracks, some of them slightly tipsier than others if their winding paths had anything to say.
“Wait for it...” Evin breathed.
One by one as they passed into their yard, the miniature figures toppled. Their legs went out from under them, sending them falling rather ungracefully in every direction across their freshly iced yard.
“You did hide the buckets, right?” Miri asked Ysbel under her breath.
“Of course,” the other girl replied, awe coloring her tone as she took in the sight of the chaos occurring several stories below them. “...It’s beautiful.”
The Riders winced collectively as one figure took a splendid dive onto his face and skidded quite a distance.
“And that, my friends,” Evin said finally, as the Own managed to scramble to their door, “is how to properly spread good cheer.”
“...remind me to never accept another Midwinter gift from you,” Tarrus quipped.
Message: Merry Ficmas and much love, dear. I hope you enjoy this...
From: your still secret snowflake
Title: A Partridge in a Pear Tree...or, Wherein Evin Demonstrates the Proper Spreading of Goodwill and Holiday Cheer
Rating: PG
Wishlist Item: #1 - Evin!
Summary:It’s Midwinter in Corus and the Riders have Midwinter traditions to uphold... Peace on earth, goodwill to men, and pranks for all, of course! Part one of “The Twelve Days of Mischief...or, It Came Upon a Midwinter Weird”.
Words: 1069
A Partridge in a Pear Tree...or, Wherein Evin Demonstrates the Proper Spreading of Goodwill and Holiday Cheer
By the window, fat flakes of snow drifted contentedly by, illuminated by the glow of the candles placed in every sconce along the hall. Winter greenery gleamed where it was tied with gold ribbon, and the doorways were perilous with mistletoe or couples whose lips were glued to one another, depending on one’s perspective. The sounds of festive music, exultant and brassy, drifted from open doors and brought the rich smells of pumpkin pie, cranberries, and cinnamon wafting into the hallway.
Midwinter had arrived to Corus with all of its glory and splendor, and the palace was abuzz with the first night of festivities.
Outside the main ballroom, Evin and Miri crouched in a corner, heads bent together over furious whispers.
“Are they here yet?”
Evin, crouched low to the floor, stuck his head out and peered around the corner of one door to the ballroom.
“Dom just arrived; he’s got some mulled wine already,” he hissed over his shoulder at Miri, who tugged at his arm.
“Let’s go--if he’s got a drink, he’s staying, he promised Lord Raoul--”
Evin slid backwards and out of sight of the door before clambering to his feet. “Come on!”
The Rider Mess was black and silent. Miri and Evin ran towards it through snow already several inches deep, flattening against the wall and scooting around the corner before reaching for the door. Evin knocked three times, paused, then called softly, “The Own moaned and groaned.”
The door creaked open a hair, then, “Because the Riders riffled Raoul’s ruffles,” came back to them. The door swung open, and Evin and Miri were all but dragged inside.
Sounds: someone fumbled in the dark.
Clicking, then--
A match, sputtering, lit a single candle.
Deni’s face, wearing an evil grin, glowed in the sudden light. “Ready?” she asked softly, looking around the room. Miri caught her eye and grinned back. Riders in soft shoes and dark clothing melted out of the shadows and crowded around the table. Evin dug in his pockets and pulled out a dog-eared scrap of parchment. Smoothing it down near the guttering circle of candlelight, he asked,
“Mistletoe?”
Farant snickered and put a garland on the table.
“Rope?”
Tarrus handed a neat bundle over Padrach’s head.
“Buckets?”
Elnore and Ysbel held up four, and chorused, “There’re more at the door,”
“Letter mentioning holiday cheer?”
Natan held it out with a flourish.
“...Midwinter cheer?”
Eight smiles full of sly mischief mirrored Evin’s own dangerous grin. He winked.
“I think we’re good to go.”
The yard was dark and quiet as Evin eased the door to the mess open. Behind him, Padrach blew out the lone candle, and the press of bodies against his own urged Evin out into the chill of the December air. The snow had slackened, and now only light flurries dusted the Riders’ hair.
“Go, go, go!” Miri’s voice hissed behind him, and Evin ran across the yard, crouched over. Eight shadows followed him.
Finally, he stopped and straightened. Before him, a wooden door waited, blank and unassuming. Evin rubbed his hands together.
“Do you have the letter?” Miri asked over Evin’s shoulder, and he scoffed at her.
“Have some faith,” he informed her seriously and pulled it from his sleeve. “I have taken good care of it.”
Together, they tacked it to the door, carefully arranging the mistletoe above it.
“...It’s still lacking something,” Evin rubbed his chin. “But, what?”
“Hold on!” Miri dashed off quickly, returning moments later with a handful of ribbons. “I think this will do the trick,” she said, arranging the ribbons artfully and entwining them with the mistletoe. Patting it once more, she and Evin stepped back with their arms crossed, with identical scrutinizing expressions on their faces.
Dear King’s Own,
We would like to be the very first to wish you well this Midwinter season, and hope that you enjoy all the joy and cheer that this holiday has to offer. May the gods bless you and your loved ones and bring you happiness in the new year.
Ever,
The Queen’s Riders
PS: Congratulations on making it back safely--the weather’s been awfully unpredictable lately!
Evin’s sudden grin flashed. “Yep, I think that does it.” He dusted his hands off. “It does my heart good to see the Midwinter season properly celebrated.”
Miri nodded decisively. “You know, I have to agree with you.”
As one, they turned away from the door to face the courtyard in front of the door. Tarrus tripped and yelped, water slopping all down his front. “All good?” Elnore asked softly. The other Riders straightened, then picked their way carefully across the now-wet ground.
“More than good,” Evin informed them, taking hold of one of the buckets the Riders had brought with them. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Mmmm...” Miri sighed happily at the sight of Evin approaching as he stepped onto the balcony. She relieved him of one of the glasses of spiced cider he carried. “I’m so glad we made it to the first ball of midwinter.”
He took a sip of his own drink and leaned on the balustrade. “It’s one of my favorite times of the year,” he told her seriously, his eyes dancing. “It would be highly improper to miss it.”
“Besides,” Farant pointed discreetly, “It always provides the best entertainment.”
Evin waved a hand at the rest of his squad and they crouched before looking over the rail at the expanse of Palace training yards below. Bobbing lanterns showed a squad of the Own heading back to their barracks, some of them slightly tipsier than others if their winding paths had anything to say.
“Wait for it...” Evin breathed.
One by one as they passed into their yard, the miniature figures toppled. Their legs went out from under them, sending them falling rather ungracefully in every direction across their freshly iced yard.
“You did hide the buckets, right?” Miri asked Ysbel under her breath.
“Of course,” the other girl replied, awe coloring her tone as she took in the sight of the chaos occurring several stories below them. “...It’s beautiful.”
The Riders winced collectively as one figure took a splendid dive onto his face and skidded quite a distance.
“And that, my friends,” Evin said finally, as the Own managed to scramble to their door, “is how to properly spread good cheer.”
“...remind me to never accept another Midwinter gift from you,” Tarrus quipped.