A White Surprise
Part 2
"What do you want now?"
"Just keep walking."
"Yeah right, it's cold out."
"Why were you so quiet back in?"
"What do you mean?"
"You didn't say what you did?"
"Oh you want to what's Christmas is like to me? Fine then. I used to be so happy when I saw the snow out of my room in my village. I'd have snowball fight with my friends, make snowman with Pa, Ma's cakes; everything was so special to me. But then suddenly I became a slave and it ended. After that, Christmas meant cold days locked in a room to me. I didn't have anything to wear or eat or do anything I did. I could only stare at kids by my window. I felt so lost and lonely because of-"
"Me?"
"I…" Rhen stared at him.
"It's okay, you can say it. let it out. It'll be good."
"Lars, I-"
"Well, we're here."
Rhen looked at the tall building before them. "We go in?"
"No, we go up."
Saying so Lars teleported them on the roof.
"Ahh, you could've at least warned me. Don't just suddenly poof us anywhere."
"Sorry," Lars chuckled.
"So, what do we do now?"
"Sit, there's something I want you to see."
"Huh? Ok."
"Rhen, when I apologized to you, I did it sincerely. Do you believe that."
"umm… I do."
"You should. I was, I am serious. I know I hurt you a lot of times that I can't change. But I do want to mend what we have.
"Lars?"
"So, here." He pushed an object in her hand.
"What's this? A gift? For me?"
"It is Christmas, after all."
Being curious she unwrapped it to find a beautiful silver mirror.
"A mirror? And what am I supposed to do with it?"
"Did you actually think I'd give you an ordinary mirror?"
"Then what does it do?"
"Close your eyes and think of the person you want to see."
She did as was told.
"Now open them."
Upon opening her eyes, she saw her parents in the mirror. "What?"
"It's a mirror that lets you see the person you want to no matter wherever they are. Of course that person has to be someone you interacted with."
She wasn't paying attention to him as she was busy watching her beloved parents with eyes full of emotions.
"Careful, you wouldn't want to let an idiotic snob to see you cry."
"I'm not crying, you idiot. What's that?" Rhen pointed to the sky where colorful patterns started to appear. "Fireworks? But they are not coming from the ground. Wait, are you?"
"hey, I wanted to see the fireworks but it got cancelled. How stupid. So, I made my own. They should be thankful to me."
"Yeah right," she rolled her eyes. "It's beautiful."
"Was that a compliment?"
"I guess it is." She smiled looking at the colorful night sky. "oh look, its snowing."
"…its getting cold. Lets go back. I'm going to teleport us just so you know."
"Yeah…" Rhen replied.
They were back on the ground, walking towards he mansion.
"Lars?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for the gift."
"You do know that it means you owe me one."
"I guess I do then."
"Well, then you're allowed to serve me tomorrow as well, consider it a bonus."
"Lars," Rhen came in front him from his side. "Is that really what you want?" she spoke leaning closer to him.
"What are-" Lars started but got caught up by those amethyst pools, coming closer and closer. He was breathing in her breath. A mix of mauves and oranges fooled his vision. A soft warmth brushing against his lips.
"You really think I'm that dense?" Rhen whispered in his ear and placed another soft kiss on his cheek. She twirled and walked away. Looking over her shoulder, she watched as Lars slowly touched the recently wounded area, still dazed. She smiled with a blush and hurried back.
"Crumpet, I've brought a gift for you." Te'ijal said to Galahad in a singsong voice.
"I will not fall for your evil schemes, demon spawn!"
"Trust me, it's something you always wanted. Look," she swayed the soul pendant in front of him.
"You are giving it to me?" He took it, still confused. "You are returning my soul to me?! The gods have finally lighted your senses."
"Who said anything about returning your soul? I'm just giving you the pendant you wanted me to give you back."
"What games are you playing at?"
"I just happened to stroll around the market where I found a witch selling some quite interesting collection of spells. Among which caught my attention was a 'soul binding spell'. Now, our souls are eternally binded together and I don't need a pendant. So, I thought of giving it to you."
As soon as Te'ijal finished, Galahad landed on the couch, unconscious.
"It seems he couldn't contain the joy, how amusing."
" 'joy', huh. He sure did." Elini commented. "Where are you headed at this time, Sun Priest?"
"Don't you think they're taking too long? I'm going to look for them." As he touched the door handle, he was pulled backward by a force.
"Sorry, Priest. But unfortunately for you, I'm going to have them they're time." Saying so she finished her remaining job.
"You are one particular amusing human." Te'ijal grinned watching her.
"I know, right?"
Just then, Rhen entered the house.
"Well well, back from your small trip, eh?"
"What is that on your head, human?"
"Huh?"
"Let me see," Elini got it out from her hair. "You might not recognize this. It's mistletoe. These have special attraction here on this occasion, specially among young people. Am I not right swordsinger?"
"Ah well…."
"But the question is how did it end up on you. Have you been experimenting the little tales, I presume."
"You look quite strange, human. Your face is going red."
Realizing Elini's indications, Rhen went up to her room, abashed.
"Ah, young love," John mused.
"You sound like an old man."
"Well I-" he was interrupted by Lars' arrival, more like slopping.
"How did things go?" Elini inquired, being the only one to know about Lars' plan.
"… I need something from the storage room," ignoring Elini's question, Lars opened the door.
"Human, wait!"
What the!" and it was too late. He slammed the door as soon as he saw, "Elini, care to explain, why a red demon has gagged Dameon and holding him?"
"To avoid unnecessary interruptions." She shrugged. "You should be thankful to me, boy."
Lars stared at her for a few seconds and sighed, a smirk crept upon his face. "well, it was one heck of a Christmas."
