I would like to thank all my readers, for following me so far. I promised you one Christmas chapter and here comes another, half of it still at Poland's house. From now on, I shall not try to predict my muses. They are most unpredictable.

They did not get to open the presents that night, but at five the next morning Estonia was hurried out of bed by an exuberant Latvia, and the whole family again gathered in the dining hall. Rubbing his eyes, Estonia took in the befuddled scene. Latvia was bouncing between Poland and Lithuania. Beneath the tree, Belarus was half kneeling, half thrashing trying to get her hair free from a prickly branch. Ukraine was the furthest away sitting on the dinner table with her eyes settled on an apple perched near the top of the tree, watching it bounce as her sister struggled. Estonia guessed she had already asked to help and had been denied.

"Attention! Attention!" Poland cried, wringing a small bell, "before we get to the presents, I would like to make a toast."

Lithuania pressed a glass into Estonia's hand. It shimmered with red wine.

"First I'd like to toast my breathtaking partner, Liet, whose diligence and whose prowess is battle have been completely complimentary to my way of life. (Don't blush, Liet, it makes you look silly)."

They all let out a cheer, except Liet whose cheeks were now almost as red as the holly berries, which crowned his head. They all took a sip of the wine. It tasted bitter and deep.

"Next, I'd like to make a toast to the girls, for like bettering our lives with their beauty and their sweet voices."

This time it was the girls' turn to blush. Ukraine hid her face in her hands, while Belarus chose to look away (fortunately she had gotten her hair free by then).

"And lastly, I'd like to thank you boys, for like providing us with such interesting company and amusement."

The glasses were drained and set on the table, and Poland started doling out the presents, which were wrapped in gossamer cloth. Besides the normal stack of clothes, there were also a great variety of toys: brightly colored tops, hoops, whistles, wooden swords, small drums, clay figurines, metal bells, but the most splendid of them was a doll. Estonia had no interest in dolls. They were for girls, but his eyes could not help but stray towards this doll. He noticed that Latvia's eyes were fixed on it too.

It was made from cloth—a rag doll, but not like one he had ever seen. Its body was made to stand erect with wire, and it had a lovely embroidered face and real golden hair that hung down in a braid. On its thin frame, it wore a dress of blood red velvet, with snow-white petticoats peaking out from the underneath. Poland himself looked at it with wonder and confusion.

"It's for Belarus," Lithuania whispered in his ear.

"It looks expensive, Liet," Poland whispered, but not as quietly.

Liet nodded and swallowed. "It was."

Poland searched his face, but Lithuania would not look him in the eyes. Poland shrugged and held out the doll to Belarus.

"Well, like here. This is for you."

Belarus stared at the doll and began trembling slightly. She bit her lip and her arms stretched out for it, but then they fell back and curved themselves around her chest defensively.

"No," she said, "I don't want it."

Estonia stayed very still. He wondered why she could not just accept the gift quietly. Things would be easier that way. Now there would be a quarrel.

"What do you like mean you don't want it?" Poland asked. He narrowed his eyes. "Like Liet went through a lot of trouble to get you…"

"I don't want it," Belarus said with a shake of her head, "I'll break it. I'll ruin it. I hate it already. Give it to Latvia."

Up came Latvia's head, his blue eyes bright and greedy.

"What?"

"Give to Latvia. Look at the way he stares at it. He'll love it and take care of it. I'm too old for dolls. Let him have it."

"Like are you serious?"

"Yes," Belarus said, "you have been kind to me, Mr. Poland, and I am flattered by your attentions, Mr. Lithuania, but I can't…"

She broke off then finished, but not the way she had first intended, Estonia was sure.

"I can't accept the doll."

Poland stood there in silence, while Lithuania turned his head away and devoted his attention to a slipping ornament. There was something like understanding and pity that formed in Poland's grass green eyes, before they turned away from Belarus. He gave Latvia the doll.

Suddenly, there was creak as the outer door opened. With a couple firm strides, Sweden was in the dining room doorway.

"Come for the boys," Sweden said simply.

For a moment it was quiet. Sweden shuffled uneasily in his winter boots. Estonia found his breath was stuck. Latvia was clinging to him.

"Wouldn't you like to stay for breakfast?" Ukraine asked. As if walking in a dream, she had wandered towards the doorway, one hand of her hip, her mouth slightly ajar. Estonia stared at her in astonishment. For as much as he admired Ukraine, he knew she was not entitled to ask that. She was but a servant in the home, like he. She knew it too. Her cheeks burned, and she slapped her mouth with her hand.

"'Fraid not," Sweden said gently. He did not seem at all put off by her boldness. "M' have to get back home, but nice of ya for askin'."

She nodded and curtsied, blushing harder and backing away. Sweden beckoned for the boys, and Estonia and Latvia followed him from the house, while Lithuania stuffed sweets and fruit into their hands and pockets. Outside a sledge was waiting drawn by a white horse. Finland was standing by it. He helped them in and covered everyone with furs, before climbing in himself. Sweden pulled on the reins, and they started off.


Hours later, they found themselves at Sweden's house in front of the fireplace, wrapped in other firs and drinking tea. Sweden had gone out to roast the Christmas boar outdoors, leaving Finland to keep company with Estonia and Latvia.

"That was quite a trip," Finland said, stoking the fire.

Estonia nodded, although it was usually quite a trip between the two houses, so he did not see why it was worth noting.

"It would have taken a lot less time if Mr. Sweden had allowed me to use magic," Finland continued dreamily, "we could have flown over the Baltic Sea. That would have been fun."

"Can you really perform magic?" Latvia asked.

"Well," Finland said, "I could if Sve…I mean Mr. Sweden let me. I mean I might be a little rusty from not doing it for so long, but yes, I could. I used to be able to beat Norway in it. But that was…long ago."

"Why won't Sweden let you?" Latvia asked.

"Because…" Finland began hesitantly, "he's afraid. Oh, he doesn't say so, but he says it's wrong, and he gets nervous. It's terrible when he's nervous. I am not sure why he is afraid of it. But he doesn't like when I talk to plants and animals either. He says that it makes me look crazy, wild. He doesn't like wild things." Finland paused and his mood shifted becoming now warm and calm, "Anyway, how was your Christmas?"

"It was good," Estonia said. He was glad that Finland had steadied himself. Latvia needed steadiness.

"I got this!" Latvia held up the doll in triumph.

"Ah, yes," Finland said. He had already seen it and had been puzzled by it, but he had not spoken of it yet. "She looks very pretty. Did Poland give it to you?"

Latvia nodded and cuddled it close to him.

"Does she have a name?" Finland coaxed.

Again, Latvia nodded. "Ilze."

"That's a lovely name," Finland said. He smiled.

Latvia smiled back.

"Well," Finland said, "I've been quite busy decorating and making food, and yesterday I proclaimed Christmas peace in Turku. Let's see, what else has happened…Mr. Sweden has been very quiet lately, looking at maps and things. I wouldn't be surprised if he went on a journey soon. Which would mean we would have the house for ourselves for a little while."

Finland clasped his hands together, his violet eyes glistening in excitement.

"That could be fun," Estonia managed. He thought however that being alone might no be such a good idea. What if something happened when Sweden was away?

"Oh, wait a minute!" Finland leapt up and dashed off, returning with a plate stacked with cinnamon rolls. "You have to have some of these. Mr. Sweden made them. They are like bread of heaven."

They each took one, and Finland set the rest down on a nearby table.

"Timo," Estonia said looking closely at Finland, "won't you tell us a story?"

He felt somewhat awkward using Finland's human name, after leaving it off for so long, but they were alone together now, so why shouldn't he? After all, they were brothers, or at least cousins. They had known each other since childhood, shared a culture, a language, a mythology. Lately, though it seemed like it was all slipping away from them. Their language was no longer purely the same. It was changing, and they with it. They were being pushed further apart. Estonia did not like it.

"A story?" Finland said. He took a bite from his roll.

"Yes," said Latvia, his eyes lighting up, "please do."

"What about?"

"Tell us," Estonia said, "about the old days."

Finland frowned slightly and chewed. "On Christmas day?"

"Why not?"

Finland shrugged. "Sweden might not approve." He looked thoughtful, got up again, put another log on the fire, sat back down, "I will tell the end of the story."

"How can you tell the end of a story?" Latvia asked.

"It's a story unto itself really, but it feeds off stories that have come before."

"Is it a happy ending?" Latvia asked.

"I don't know," Finland said, "I think you would be best to judge that for yourselves."

"Well," said Estonia, "then you had best tell it so we can judge."

Finland smiled and nodded, but his eyes had become somewhat moist. He rubbed them and went to his and Sweden's room. They shared a room, shared a bed. Estonia often wondered about this. Poland and Lithuania had given up sleeping in same room years ago, but Sweden kept a close watch on his "wife" at all hours of the day. A moment later, Finland returned carrying a wooden lap harp, a kantele. He sat down and ran his fingers along its strings.

"I will tell you," Finland said, "how I came to have Kantele."

And that is that for now. Have a beautiful day and please remember to review.