Her fingers danced on the piano keys. His eyes scanned the jewels. She tapped her piece of charcoal while she thought and he scratched his head in wonder. Kyra opened her mouth and sang the lyrics she came up with to test how they sounded then shook her head. No, that didn't sound entirely right. Brynjolf looked at a necklace and was taken by it's beauty only to turn his head a little and see another just as beautiful. The festival was the next night, the same night of christmas eve. The very same night Kyra would piece together her surprise for her guild and be placed on trial. She'd have to sing in front of everyone, dance in front of everyone, including her members. Would they laugh or would they applaud. Not knowing made her stomach knot with nerves.

Both had been working so hard on each other's gifts without the other knowing. The rest of the guild saw it though. They couldn't sneak it past their eyes. Kyra was constantly gone, leaving with paper that had odd notes scribbled on it and Byrnjolf was always swallowed in the shops. For nights she had stayed up in worry that she wouldn't finish in time now here she was filling in the last note.

Felix kicked the snow off his boots as he stepped into the college. With the stress of the festival he expected to find a quiet college with no one around, especially this late at night. Instead he heard the soft sounds of a piano being carried through the rooms.

He silently snuck his way to the source and saw Kyra sitting at the piano with papers sprawled about. With the moon being the only source of light she squinted slightly to read her writing but continued to play. Felix made sure to keep hidden. It wasn't often she'd play something like this.

Soon her singing stopped and but her fingers didn't. The pattern of the keys she pressed was difficult and astounding. Then she finished by singing along once more. Not a mistake was made and he knew then how many hours she had put into this song. Once the last note was hit there was silence. Kyra slowly lifted her finger off the key and her face washed over with a relieved look. Felix smiled to himself then turned to walk towards the door. She never noticed him as he walked out. Normally he would have wished that song would have been for him but he knew it just wouldn't have been the same. A cold breeze swept over him but he didn't shiver. Instead he began to sing to himself as he made his way home.

" And may all your Christmases be white."


Kyra hustled as fast as she could, carrying as much as she could. Her cheeks were bright red and her nose was frozen but she didn't once complain. Instead she focused on getting everything set up as much as she could.

" Come on guys we don't have much longer!"

Kyra turned and went to help someone near by with heaving up a tree. They gave her a thanks then quickly began to decorate. She turned and quickly froze in her tracks.
" My god Felix you scared me." She gasped. He gave her a crooked smile behind the boxes that he held in his arms.
" Sorry I can't really see." He admitted, embarrassed. Kyra quickly took two boxes and carried them over to where they needed to be. Either she had forgotten his proposal or she was simply too busy to think about it because she acted as if nothing happened. So he decided to act the same.

" You nervous?" He asked as he helped lay some garland along the tree.
" Not yet. But as long as I've got my hands busy I won't be." She answered as she focused on placing ornaments. Felix stole a glance at her. Her hands shook as she latched the hook on the branch. What a lie that was.

" Alright everyone come in! Time to get dressed, we don't have much time." Their professor called. That's when the nerves hit. Kyra became conscious of her shaking and the knots in her stomach. It all hit her like a brick wall and it showed in her face. As she made her way back she focused on getting ready.

Women awaited them back at the college. The normal classrooms were now converted to dressing rooms. Costumes thrown every which way and cosmetics sprawled apart. The woman Kyra was paired with was rather patient, which she was thankful for. It wasn't often she wore such foreign items on her face. Charcoal lined her eyes, rouge stained her cheeks and lips. Her hair was curled into tighter ringlets then she was scurried over to get dressed.

" I still have a while until I get ready." She explained to the woman.
" No darling, you're up in two songs."
" It's started!" She gasped. The woman nodded and reached for her dress.
" It did a while ago. You were too preoccupied with everything else to realize. Quickly go change."

Kyra took her costume and was ushered into a private room. She quickly tugged her clothes off and stepped into it. It wasn't until then she realized what it was. They seriously couldn't expected her to wear this could they?

The dress was a rich red velvet, trimmed in rabbit fur along the edges. It wouldn't have been bad besides the fact that it came to her thigh, leaving her legs naked and exposed. Her hand clenched on the matching hat as she marched outside.
" What is this?" She asked as her professor handed her boots as they walked towards the door.

" Don't you just love it? It's based off Old Saint Nick!"

" I don't particularly favor it." She admitted as she hopped into her boots as they walked.
" You look beautiful. It's just the nerves talking." Her professor continued as she took the hat and placed it onto Kyra's head. " Remember, smile and have fun. You're Old Saint Dovahkiin! It's Christmas Eve!"

Kyra heard her music began to play as she was pushed up the stairs.

" I don't think I want to do this anymore." She rushed.

" Don't be crazy! We can't pull you out now, you're our closing act!"

" But-"
" No, buts! Now sing!"
Kyra didn't even have a chance to disagree before she was pushed up onto the stage. She stood frozen. Only another count before she'd have to start singing.

A timid smile formed on her lips as her eyes searched the crowd. Then she found them. The guild all sat there starring at her. Then her eyes met Brynjolf's and her stomach dropped. There was no going back now.