Disclaimer and notes: Obsidian owns everybody but Kayla and a few incidental characters. This story uses Always Another Morning characters and themes, but it's a separate work, since it is out of sequence, and not really necessary to the storyline of the main piece. But it is a holiday story, and appropriate for this time of year.

Yes, I know that in the OC, Sal gets the Phoenix Trail, but not in AAM, and not in this story, either.

It started out as a one-shot, but it got too long for one chapter, so there's two. Hope you don't mind. This disclaimer/notes thingy applies to both chapters.

Happy Holidays, to all at FF!


Midwinter morning dawned crisp and cold, but by midday, the clouds had rolled in, and the first flakes of snow had begun to fall. By mid-afternoon, Crossroad Keep was blanketed in white, with more snow falling by the moment.

The living quarters of the Keep itself were still unfinished, so they had simply moved in to the Phoenix Trail in the meantime. It would probably be spring before it warmed up enough for the mortar to set, and construction could not resume until it did, but Kayla was content. The workmen's barracks, and the Greycloaks', were finished long before construction on the Keep itself was begun, so the workers and the Greycloaks, at least were warm and dry this season. She had sent them each a pair of dressed and trussed pigs to roast for their holiday dinner, and barrels of good ale to wash it down.

Breakfast that morning had been a merry affair. This was Kayla's first Midwinter at Crossroad Keep, and she had observed the tradition of distributing gifts to her staff and allies. She had given Kana armor, and Master Veedle a fur-lined robe. Calindra, the trader from Port Llast whose partner's remains they had found in the cave in Duskwood, now supervised Pentin and the other miners. She had received a new wagon. Orlen and the other farmers who had made Crossroad Keep their home all got practical things, new tools, woolen tunics, or heavy blankets. Deekin had been overjoyed simply to have a roof over his head, but he had been in raptures over the slightly garish purple tunic Kayla had given him. Khelgar had helped her pick out Jacoby's present. He got a mechanical bellows for his forge. Kayla sincerely hoped that everyone who got a new tunic would not wear them all the same day, because she gave Eldario, the armorer, one too, as well as a fleece over-tunic. Kayla had no idea what to give Katriona, her first sergeant. What the ranger really wanted was Casavir, but Kayla could not very well tie a ribbon around Casavir's neck and present him as a gift. If it had been that easy, she would be giving herself a present this year. So she gave Katriona a new cloak and a longbow.

Muldoon, the innkeeper of the Phoenix Trail, had been difficult to shop for, as well. He had run the inn before Garius came, and had gone into hiding during his tenure. Once the villagers had started returning, he had reopened his doors, but his heart just was not in it. He was glad for the custom Kayla and her companions provided, and pleased enough that the villagers were coming to the inn again, but he was sick of Crossroad Keep. Kayla could not say she blamed him. The Phoenix Trail was within sight of the Keep's ruined facade, and it was a depressing view. She promised him that there would be changes, once spring came and the workmen could start making more obvious repairs, but he wanted to leave. He had already stated his intention to sell the Phoenix Trail as soon as he could find a suitable buyer and relocate, perhaps to Neverwinter, or even Waterdeep. Given that he wanted to move, Kayla was reluctant to give him something for the inn, or anything that would be difficult to move, so she gave him a new tunic and a new pair of boots.

Her companions, at least, were easier to shop for. They were not her vassals, exactly, so it was traditional to give them presents on their birthdays, which she was already doing, rather than at Midwinter, but it didn't feel right buying presents for her staff and withholding them from her friends, so she bought each a gift.

She gave Casavir a fleece-lined robe and a pair of linen nightshirts. They had not resumed their former habit of sharing a bed, but she remembered that Casavir did not have much by way of night linen. She had separate birthday presents for him, though, so she gave him his holiday presents at breakfast to avoid confusion. Neeshka got a fur-lined tunic to keep out the chill, since the tiefling preferred to wear a second tunic rather than encumber herself with a cloak. Khelgar's present had been delayed by snow in the mountains, but it had arrived just that morning: a keg of the dwarven firewhiskey he had been missing since they left Neverwinter. She hesitated to buy clothing for Grobnar, since his tastes were rather particular, and somewhat more flamboyant than just about anything that Kayla would buy, but she had risked buying him a hat to go with his lavender doublet. It was a slightly darker purple than his doublet, and had several brightly colored plumes held to one side by a jeweled pin. Sand said that it made him dizzy, but Grobnar loved it. She got Sand a book of elven verse. She would not know good from bad, there, but Casavir had helped her choose it, and Sand was pleased with it. Kayla had a difficult time finding the right gift for Elanee. She dressed simply, and seemed quite content with the gear she already had, but Kayla got lucky. She found a heavy woolen over-tunic and hood in a deep forest green that Kayla thought would be suit her, and might be welcome while exploring the countryside around Crossroad Keep. Shandra got one practical gift, a fleece-lined overtunic that would fit over her armor, and one gift that just struck Kala as pretty, a necklace of brightly colored glass beads. Kayla thought about giving Qara a book as a joke, but decided that the holidays were no time to be cruel, so in the end, she bought her a silk dressing gown and slippers. Zhjaeve was puzzled by the custom of gift-giving to commemorate specific occasions, but she had received the fur-lined cloak Kayla gave her graciously. Bishop would have been happy with the same thing she got Khelgar, but Kayla wanted to give him something he would still have a month after Midwinter, so she gave him a new waterproof quiver and a score of lightly enchanted arrows.

But breakfast was over, and everyone had gone about their solitary pursuits for the day. They would all meet for the feast later, but the morning and afternoon of Midwinter day were much like those of any other day, except that no one was expected to work. Kayla did not have much official business today, so she stayed in the common room for a while, visiting with Shandra, Neeshka, and Grobnar, and the villagers that had come up to the Keep for gossip or a pint of ale, but she got restless. Eventually, she went up to her room, and busied herself mending gear and embroidering leaves around the neck and sleeves of one of Casavir's tunics.

Kayla put her embroidery aside and looked out through a clear patch of the frost-covered windows onto the snowy courtyard of the Phoenix Trail. Casavir was just crossing the courtyard, his arms laden with firewood. Khelgar followed, bearing a similar burden. At least Kayla assumed it was Khelgar. His stack was so large she could not even see who carried it, but what other dwarf would be out splitting firewood with Casavir in a snowstorm? She waved, and watched Casavir's face light in a grin of recognition, though he could not very well wave back. She rushed downstairs to help them add what they brought to the already massive woodpile.

Their industry surprised her. It was Midwinter. No one worked today... at least that was how it was supposed to go.

"Today is your birthday, Cas!" she chided him, taking a couple pieces off the top of his stack and adding them to the woodpile.

"We needed the firewood," Casavir replied somewhat untruthfully, glancing guiltily at Khelgar.

Kayla just helped them stack the wood, then kissed Casavir's cheek when they were done. His cheek was chilly, despite his recent exertion, and the nap of his whiskers chafed her lips pleasantly. She stretched for a peck at the other side, and was brought up short at the smell of something familiar on his breath.

"Have you two been drinking?" she laughed, wrapping one arm around Casavir's waist and the other around Khelgar's shoulders.

"It was my idea, lass," Khelgar admitted, "so don't be blaming Cas. I had a flask of special firewhiskey put aside, and a lad doesn't turn... how old are you, Cas?... every day."

"Oh, I'm not going to scold you!" Kayla chuckled, steering them toward the inn. "But you didn't have to be so secretive. You could have sat in one of your rooms and drank it where it's warm."

"Nah," Khelgar waved the thought away, "you can't be drinking this stuff while you're warm, or you might do yourself an injury. Say, Cas, you feeling any better now?"

"Much, thank you," Casavir replied somewhat muzzily. "The ringing in my ears has stopped completely."

"It's a bit much for a human constitution," Khelgar whispered, "leastways, his. But I'm almost certain he'll be all right by the time you get around to... er... giving him his presents."

"How special was this firewhiskey?" Kayla asked, eying Casavir's happy, but slightly dazed expression.

"Nothing that'll do any lasting harm," Khelgar grinned. "It's pretty much the same as the normal stuff, except for the honey and the secret bits of plants my clan puts in it. Say, Cas, I think I left my cloak over by the wagon. Want to keep me company? We can pick up another load while we're there."

"I'll help," Kayla volunteered.

"You'll catch your death, my lady," Casavir protested. "You are not wearing a cloak."

"Ah, let her come," Khelgar grinned. "Another nip will take the chill off a treat, and this is the first decent snow we've had this year."

"The Keep is beautiful, all covered in white," Casavir agreed, to Kayla's surprise. It was not that he did not appreciate natural beauty. Within days of meeting him, he had proven that he did. It was more that he rarely talked about it.

"To hells with the firewood, then," Khelgar chuckled. "We've got enough to last us for tendays already, with what we split yesterday and the day before. Let's go get Neesh and just take a walk."

Kayla agreed readily to that, though Casavir insisted that she stop by her room and bundle up against the cold. If she stole a few more kisses while he wrapped her cloak around her, he did not complain, and Khelgar appeared to have taken a sudden keen interest in plaster-work.

They found Neeshka in her room, bored and eager for any excuse to get out and about a bit. She was looking forward to the party they planned for that evening, Kayla knew, but that was still half an afternoon away.

They went first to the overgrown orchards, and spent a merry little while seeing who could best rattle the branches to drop a load of snow on his fellows. After that, they made their way toward the ruined temple, and Casavir fretted over its neglected state.

"Tyr should have this place, my lady," he said. "It will take much work to restore it to its former glory, but it was untouched by Garius' evil, and there is a holiness about it still."

"I agree, dear one," Kayla said softly. He was most certainly right. The still-falling snow muffled all sound, but the silence and stillness of the place was more spiritual than physical. It had the feel of quiet anticipation about it, as if it was just sleeping, waiting for a kind of metaphorical springtime to flourish and bloom. The roof was gone, and the altar covered with snow, like everything else, but Kayla could feel that the gods had not abandoned this place, though men had long since left it to ruin. And why should Tyr not have it? The tiny chapel on the roof of the keep might also be restored, and that would be a more fitting place to worship Lathander, with its many windows and pale stone paving. If the Keep ever attracted more Lathandrites than the chapel could house, whether by migration or conversion, well, it was always best to worship Lathander out of doors, anyway.

"Hey, Cas!" Neeshka called. "Look what I found!"

Kayla watched as she passed him a cloth-wrapped parcel. He opened it gingerly, as if he feared it might sting him, but then he grinned, and held up its contents for inspection.

It was a simple thing, a crystal lens in a frame of silver, but Kayla cringed at what it must have cost Neeshka. Casavir loved to read, though for may months, he had been holding his book further and further away. She had bought him a magnifying glass.

"And you found this here, my tiny marvel?" Casavir asked her with mock severity.

"Well, maybe not," Neeshka hedged, "but I did find it... in a shop. I hope you like it. Happy birthday, Cas."

They moved to give each other the kiss of thanks, but Neeshka grimaced.

"Sorry, Cas," she laughed. "Love ya like a brother, but if you get any closer, I'll be itching for a tenday."

"Forgive me, Neeshka," Casavir smiled. "I would embrace you, but I would not wish to give you a rash for your generosity. It is a wonderful gift, and I thank you."

Kayla grinned herself as Casavir held out his hand to Neeshka, with his smallest finger extended. Neeshka locked pinkies with him, and they shook hands solemnly before Neeshka burst out laughing.

"And do you think Old Tyr will mind a bit of celebration, to mark the aging of his gofer?" Khelgar interjected irreverently. "I've got enough left for four, I reckon, and it does take the chill off."

"It might also take the paint off, if you wanted to put it to baser purposes," Casavir laughed, "but our god is not a dour god."

"Well let's pass around the cheer, and drink to serving our gods and each other for the next twelve-month!" Khelgar said expansively, and held out his flask to Casavir.

When Kayla's turn came, she took a sip, and blinked at its potency. It was no stronger than the firewhiskey she had given Khelgar for Midwinter, but it was silky sweet, and tasted of herbs that suggested enhancements normal firewhiskey did not offer. It also took away even the remembrance of cold, and left her feeling content, energized, and more than a little interested in drawing Casavir off alone.

"Ah, what do you want from humans?" Khelgar laughed, stuffing the flask back in his belt. "Why, there's enough left for two more rounds, at least, at the rate you're going, but we'll save it 'til we're good and cold again."

Without warning, Casavir seized Kayla by the hand and led her to the snow-covered altar. He thrust out both his hands, under the snow, pinning the hand he still held beneath his. She felt the cold stone beneath her palm, and felt the remnants of power lingering in the altar. For a moment, they did not stand in a half-collapsed temple, but in a whole one, surrounded by light and the serene sound of chanting.

She could feel his longing, to be surrounded once more by those who shared his faith. She had seldom known what it was like, herself. Growing up, it had just been her and Brother Merring. In Neverwinter, of course, she had worshiped with others, and even a large congregation, and she had been awed by the experience, but for the most part, she had been alone. Casavir, however, had been raised in a religious community. He must miss the feeling of unity he knew then.

"Soon, Cas," she promised. "Much will change, in the spring."

He smiled hopefully, and let go of her hand so he could put an arm around her waist. She shivered as he disturbed her cloak.

"You are cold, my lady," he observed. "Shall we go back to the inn?"

"Maybe we should get walking again," she admitted. "It is getting darker, and you might want to change before the feast tonight."

Casavir groaned.

"Oh, come on, Cas," Kayla chuckled. "We talked about this. It's Midwinter, and it's your birthday. You can't hide in your room all night."

"Damn straight!" Khelgar agreed. "If I've got to put on my good tunic and let this one steal the same three gold pieces over and over all night, you do, too!"

"Hey!" Neeshka protested. "I thought you didn't know about that!"

"Come on, Neesh," Khelgar chuckled. "How could I not know? I mean, you're practically hanging off me all night long. There's only so much a dwarf can chalk up to Ironfist charm."

"Ironfist charm?" Neeshka retorted. "You have got to be kidding!"

"I can't help it if women find me irresistible," Khelgar shrugged. "I have allure."

"A lure is something you use fishing," Neeshka said. "Must be true. You sure smell like something that's been rolling around in the bilge for days."

Kayla and Casavir started back toward the temple entrance. When Neeshka and Khelgar got to heckling each other, they could go on for quite some time. They enjoyed it, but lately, Kayla had begun to feel like she was eavesdropping when she overheard it.

This time, the cold seemed to discourage them, or at least Neeshka.

"You can stay here and talk about your manly charms all day," Neeshka's laughing voice said from the other side of the tumbled-down wall, "but I'm going back inside, where it's warm."

"Ah, all right," Khelgar grumbled. "Guess that's enough fresh air for one day."

Halfway back to the inn, Kayla remembered a conversation she and Casavir had months before, about the lack of snow in Neverwinter. She fell back a bit and scooped up a handful of snow.

Her first snowball hit Casavir squarely in the middle of his back. He spun around, just in time to catch her second snowball in his chest. He looked surprised, but Khelgar roared with laughter. Soon they were all pelting each other with snowballs, laughing hard and slipping and sliding as they tried to dodge each others' throws.

Kayla ducked wrong, and got a particularly well-packed one right in the eye, but she brushed away the water and squinted at her opponents, still giggling.

"Who threw that?" she laughed.

"I think I did," Casavir admitted apologetically. "Did I hurt you?"

"Payback is going to cost you!" she cried, and lobbed her next snowball at him hard, missing by yards. She scooped up more snow and ran after him. She knew she would never catch him, but it was fun, chasing him around the trees.

Inexplicably, he stopped and turned to face her. She was moving too fast to stop, though, and the ground was too slick, in any case. She ran into him, and knocked them both off balance. He grappled her as he fell.

They came to rest with Casavir lying on his back in the snow and Kayla lying across him. She twisted until she sat straddling him, and pinned his arms to the ground.

"You're right where I want you now!" she laughed, and planted a snowy kiss on his surprised face.

"Is that so?" he chuckled. With a twist and a lurch, their positions were reversed, and it was Kayla on her back, with Casavir lying on top of her, holding her wrists and grinning.

He kissed her lightly, at first, but, with a groan and a shudder, he abandoned his usual reserve, and threw himself into the kiss with a passion that left her gasping.

She tried to free her hands, intending to wrap her arms around his neck, but he recoiled at her struggles, and looked down on her with shock and horror on his face.

"Forgive me!" he gasped, releasing her wrists and jumping away from her. "I go too far."

"No, Cas," she sighed, sitting up herself. "That was incredible... it's only that I wanted to hold you while you were... er... sorry, Neesh... and Khelgar."

Khelgar and Neeshka were standing several yards behind Casavir, snickering and trying to look inconspicuous.

"Don't mind us!" Neeshka chortled.

Casavir glared at Neeshka reproachfully and got to his feet. He held out a hand to help Kayla to hers, then brushed the snow off her.

"I do not know whether I should apologize for playing so rough or for being so forward," he said softly.

"Don't you dare apologize for either!" Kayla replied. "But you did manage to get a nice load of snow down my smalls. I'm freezing."

Khelgar took out his flask again and passed it around.

This dose hit Kayla a lot harder than the last, though. She felt quite warm, and could not seem to stop herself from giggling at the snowflakes falling onto her face.

"Race you to the inn?" she asked Neeshka.

"Oh no," Neeshka laughed. "We'll end up in a heap, after that... not that you two need the help."

Neeshka had a point. Casavir had his arm around her, and was using his other hand to brush snow and hair out of her face. His pupils looked larger than usual, no doubt from the special properties of Khelgar's firewhiskey cordial, and from the closeness of his face and the softness of his expression, he looked perfectly willing to kiss her again. But she was not the only one who had been soaked by their roll in the snow. Casavir's cloak and tunic were both coated in caked snow, and when she put her arm around him, she could feel the melting runoff trickling down his back. He might not feel the cold now, but she did not know if his muscles would stiffen later as a result of it.

"Maybe we'd better get in where it's warm," Kayla admitted. "And get out of these wet things."

"I'm still dry," Neeshka said, but it was too late.

With a bellow of laughter, Khelgar dumped a giant fistful of snow down the back of Neeshka's tunic. Her squawk was half laughter and half fury, and now it was Neeshka's turn to chase Khelgar through the trees. Neeshka was much faster than Khelgar, however, and caught him easily. She tickled him until he was gasping, but he did not try to escape. He just stood there laughing while she tickled him until he decided he had enough, then pinned her arms in a bear-hug that lifted her off the ground.

Khelgar slung Neeshka over his shoulder and started back up the trail toward the Keep, still laughing while Neeshka squealed and pounded her fists ineffectually against his backside.

He carried her all the way back to the Keep, with Kayla and Casavir following, then set her down in the snowy courtyard of the Phoenix Trail.

"Last one to the common room has to buy the first round?" Khelgar suggested.

"Ha!" Neeshka snorted, trying to get her breath back through her laughter. "You'd better buy me all my drinks tonight, after hauling me up here like that!"

"Suits me," Khelgar grunted his agreement, "but you'll have to match me. Think you're up to it?"

"Any day!" Neeshka chuckled. "See you all back in the common room?"

"Let me change and shave," Casavir said, leaning in closer to Kayla.

She kissed his stubbly cheek and squeezed his hand.

"I'll come get you," Kayla replied, then dashed upstairs.

She changed her clothing as quickly as she could and brushed out her hair, then dug around in her clothing chest until she found Casavir's presents. She hoped that he was still in his room. She wanted to give them to him in private.

Casavir answered the door on her second knock.

"My lady," he greeted her, "I was just coming to get you."

"Wait just a moment, Cas," she said, closing the door behind her. "I haven't given you your presents yet."

"You already gave me presents," he protested, blushing.

"That was for Midwinter," she smiled. "You have to let me give you something else for your birthday. Now this one isn't really a birthday present. I should have gotten one for you before."

She handed him a fine silver chain.

"For your ring," she explained.

"Thank you, my lady," he said, blushing.

"Don't thank me yet," she grinned. "I've still got one thing left to give you."

She watched eagerly as he unwrapped the second item.

"It's beautiful," he said appreciatively. "I... my lady, this is a fine scabbard, and the belt, as well."

"I'm glad you like it," she beamed. "Your father's dagger is a beautiful weapon. It needed a prettier scabbard to show it off. I had Jacoby make it, and Sand put a charm on it, for luck. Eldario made the belt, though."

"Thank you..." Casavir said softly, stepping closer to kiss her cheek. When she kissed him back, he moved his face so that her lips met his mouth, rather than his cheek. She startled, but he simply embraced her and kept on kissing her.

She moaned softly, and wrapped her arms around his back.

He seemed to have lost himself in the moment, and stroked her, running his hands over her back and along her flanks, creeping forward until his thumbs grazed the outer edges of her breasts. He shuddered, and pulled her against his body. She could feel each ragged breath he drew, but her own was far from steady. She ached for him.

He bent and began to kiss her neck, raising his hands to places that made her tremble. Encouraged by the passion that seemed to be moving him, she guided her own hands down his back, tentatively stroking his backside.

He groaned and pulled away from her, letting his arms fall to his sides and turning his head away.

"Don't stop," she pleaded. "Please... We're so close..."

"I must," he gasped. "It's too much..."

"Please, Cas," she begged. "I want you so badly..."

"It's the firewhiskey," he said, gulping. "I should know better than to come near you when I've been drinking."

"Oh, Cas," she sighed, though she knew the moment was gone, "can't you let yourself be happy this once?"

"I am happy," he replied. "Disaster has been averted, and your honor is intact, though I wish I had exerted more control over myself earlier. I am sorry for for imposing myself upon you."

"You haven't imposed yourself upon me," she protested. "If I thought it would do any good, I'd tear off my clothing and paint arrows and runes on my body saying 'Touch here'. Haven't you noticed that the only one that objects to your caresses is you?"

He closed his eyes and shuddered violently when she got to the part about tearing off her clothing and painting runes on her skin, but whether from desire or horror, she would never know.

"I object to behaving like an animal," he reproached himself. "My lady, please... I know that your innocence precludes your understanding of base desires, but I can only warn you that the pleasant, tender feelings stirred by such caresses -"

"Oh, no, Cas," she stopped him. "Not again. If you keep going down that path, we're just going to end up arguing and today is your birthday. As much as I wish I could pound some sense into your skull, it might be better if we just pulled ourselves together and went down to dinner."

"Yes, my lady," he agreed, then glanced down. "It is well that winter clothing is so bulky... though perhaps I had better carry my cloak."

For a moment, she wondered how he could change the subject so quickly, or how he could possibly be cold, but then she laughed. He was not worried about being warm enough.

"No one can see anything, dear one," she assured him. "And believe me, I looked."

"I do not know whether to be relieved or offended," Casavir chuckled. "Will you take my arm?"

And any other part you offer, Kayla thought wickedly, but she knew better than to say it aloud. For all that Casavir still insisted on maintaining the chastity of their relationship, he appeared to be more comfortable with at least the idea of intimacy. Three months before, he would never have made a joke about whether or not his silhouette was acceptable.

Some progress was better than none. She took his arm and allowed him to lead her down to the common room.