the Christmas tree

[Lady Edfeil]

She had waited till the last possible moment. Mayhap the miracle would happen again. She knew it was nae truly a miracle of course. But that someone, each year made it happen. The Windstorm Christmas tree always appeared within the hall. Always at night. And each year so far, without her knowledge. Oh she had seen the tree of course. It was hard to miss. Each year it seemed larger. And each year there had been joy in decorating it weeks ahead.
And thus.. she had waited. Mayhap.. things had changed. She was a married woman now, mayhap the duty of seeing that the Christmas tree appeared this year fell to her.
And thus without telling anyone, she had taken Ulf aside, and whispered the request. He, and five of his comrades. They would be well paid of course.
She knew that come the morning the tree would be there. And the boxes taken down from the drying attic. Within it they would find the wood ornaments, carved by Caius himself. The glass balls given to them by Lady Jasmine. Memories were woven into these. And new ones would be added with dried berries and painted nuts and cones.

[Dieter]

And so it was, in the small hours of the morning, under cover of darkness, six men toiled. Pausing in their labors as another made his presence known, black-shrouded figure stepping out of the darkness, nae a surprise to any of them. Indeed, they would have been surprised not to see either him or the other dark one that served Her Majesty, since it was all but impossible to hide what they were doing, given the size of their 'package'. Dieter moving forward to lend a hand here and there before stepping back once they had the greater part of the work done, drawing Ulf aside with him to speak quietly.

A few quiet words exchanged between the two big men as Dieter pointed here and there, leading the Guardsman up to the Gallery as they surveyed the 'package' from the upper vantage points as well before returning to the Hall. Letting him get back to his nocturnal 'duty' as Dieter went to draw himself a tankard at the sideboard, his words to the man having more than one purpose, though he hadn't shared their deeper meaning with the big Guardsman.

Something he had thought upon in his duty to Her Majesty and seeing to Her protection was those others who shared such a duty with him, high amongst them the good Master Sergeant. The mans loyalty beyond question, and his skill and eye honed by years of experience, but it was those years that would eventually catch up with him, and Ulf was looking to be the best candidate to take his place when the older soldier finally settled to his well-deserved retirement. And thus it was Dieter had started quietly doing as he had done this night, adding his own teaching and training to Ulfs duties, like their words earlier. Not only looking at the arrangement of the tree from an artistic standpoint...But with the eye of one who must be aware how it affected the security within the Hall and of Her Majesty.

Moving to stand at the window, looking out into the darkness as the men finish up and finally seek their beds, lost in quiet contemplation of his own dark thoughts and what was to come.

[Dream Loxley]

Dream stood in the quiet peace at the top of the stairs, there were no words needed......no words spoken as she gazed upon the great tree. It was perfect in every way. There was a magic about the Hall as if the tree itself had given such to all who would look to it.......would decorate it and tend it throughout the season of merriment. Oh how had always adored this special time.

Never would she know who had actually carried the tree, nor did she truly have a care, for they would have been filled with the magic too and no doubt a smile upon their lips would radiate to their hearts as they had placed it and secured it.

She sighed softly as memories invaded.....coming from so many years, she almost allowed a tear to fall.....one of joy and hope for the future.

Whispering as she turned her gaze away....... "Merry Christmas to all.....and to all a good night."