Disclaimer:
I don't own Deltora Quest.
Merry Christmas everybody!
And Merry Christmas, Jasminehoran, my awesome PM Budy, this is my gift to you!
The Day of Giving:
Lief looked out over the people of Del. They had gathered in the square and were enjoying themselves, giving each other gifts and having a good time. All around the peaceful kingdom others would be doing the same. Why? It was the day of giving.
Every year, on the day of giving people would come together, sharing food and exchanging gifts with complete strangers, celebrating the togetherness they had experienced when Adin, then Lief, united the seven tribes. When the shadow of darkness lay thick over Deltora, when trust and generosity was scarce, it was forbidden to celebrate the day of giving by the Chief Advisor. That had been among the first of the many rules Lief had lifted when he was crowned.
It began to snow outside and the people huddled around a roaring bonfire, singing traditional songs including the Jalis tribe anthem, which Gers had insisted on.
Far below he saw a streak of black in the trees. It was jasmine, scattering festive streamers in the branches. His heart fluttered when he saw her, and without thinking he soon found himself outside in the snow, searching for her, carefully clutching her gift.
In the end Jasmine found him though, crashing into Lief as she swung down from a tree.
"Oh! Hi Lief, I am so, so sorry!" She said, trying not to laugh as she helped him out of a snow drift.
Lief Smiled "It's fine. Here, I came to give you this." He passed her a box
"For me?" She blushed
"Go on, open it." He nudged
She pulled the lid of the box and her surprised expression melted into delight
"A Siskis!? I thought they were almost extinct!" Jasmine squealed, lifting up the timid animal "Look Filli! You aren't the only one!"
Filli, who was nibbling a chestnut on her shoulder chattered excitedly, his tiny ears perked in interest
"This is amazing! Thank you so much!"
Lief nodded and explained how one of the guards on patrol had found it in the Mid Wood.
Jasmine watched the two Siskis curl up in her shirt pocket before turning back to Lief.
"I have a present for you too!" She dug around in her bag before pressing a delicately folded piece of paper into his cold hands.
Lief stared at it in confusion
"Uh, what is it? He asked dumbly
"My heart." Jasmine whispered, Quickly pressing her lips against his before disappearing into the snow.
He tried to call out to her but the trees and snow had already swallowed her up. She was gone.
Lief looked down, the paper was green, the exact shade as her emerald eyes and he could see where it had been tucked and folded to make the shape of a love heart, Jasmine's heart.
He carried it with him for as long as he lived.
Thanks for reading everybody, I hope you enjoyed!
For anyone that didn't know, Filli is a Siskis, it says so in Secrets of Deltora
If you want to give me something for Christmas, reviews are always appreciated!
Merry Christmas indeed.
Akronite
