All Good Things
III: Merriment
Follow me in merry measure. Fa la la, la la la, la la la…
"Merry," says your brother, hints of a secret dancing around his lips and eyes as he tucks you into bed. "There's a question I want to ask you, and none of us will sleep tonight until you've answered it."
Riff is standing in the doorway, outlined in the light from the hall. You can see the mirth dancing in his face, too, and it's that of all things that makes you certain as to what this question is. You're also more than certain about how you're going to answer it.
"Mm-hmm?"
"If you could have one wish," Cain inquires, tucking the quilt around you and pulling it up to your chin, "what would you wish for?"
You can't help but laugh a little. Your hand snakes out from under the covers and bats him playfully on the shoulder. "I asked you that a few hours ago. You said wishes were expensive."
"Well, they are," he replies matter-of-factly. "But let's say this one isn't. Let's say this one comes free."
"A free wish, huh?" You examine his palm like you can still read the meaning of the lines there, like the answer's written somewhere on the skin of his hand. Everyone with half an ounce of sense knows, of course, that you don't need to look that deep. But you're a child who enjoys being a child, and playing pretend is part of that.
"That's easy," you say at last, more matter-of-factly. You don't hesitate for a moment. "Happiness."
"Happiness, eh?"
"Yes," you tell him, sleepily, and you're careful to also direct your words at the man by the door who's more than just a servant. For all his unwillingness to bend, Riff's become a second brother. And you can never have too many friends. "That's the only thing I want. It's what everyone really wants anyway. I don't need prodding to be able to figure that out, unlike some people."
Cain's fingers close around yours; his hands are so long, it's difficult to imagine a day when yours will match them closer for size than they do now. It stings a little to think of the years when he and Riff will be the ones lagging behind, when their smiles will melt into coughing, when they can no longer lift you up like you weigh nothing at all. But you bite back the sting and wish for happiness, and you don't think of going back on it. Ever.
It just stands to reason, after all. If the three of you, all three, are happy and whole in the years to come, then that's all you need to know. That's all that really matters, anyway. More than the names of poisons and knowing how to build a proper fire. More than a house and a past and a future. You wanted so, so desperately for these two beloved idiots of yours to see that.
Now that they've started to see it, you can congratulate yourself on the beginning of a job well done.
"Apologies, Merry. We've been foolish." Cain squeezes your hand a little before letting it go, stoops to kiss you good night. "Sleep now. You've made the right choice."
Ah, but there's one thing. One last thing. You catch his sleeve as he moves to stand. Your whisper rings in the silence.
"Riff! Big brother Cain! Was it a good choice?"
Your brother smiles, the smile you see only one time in a million, but says nothing. His eyes dart again to the doorway. Riff speaks for them both—and for you, too.
"It's the very best choice, Miss Merry."
You can sleep until well into Christmas day.
While I tell of Yuletide treasure. Fa la la la la, la la la la…
Fin
A really early "Happy Holidays!" to everyone. Here's hoping you guys get all your wishes.