Chapter 14: Party in Frostvale PART TWO
Author's Note: WHOA! Stop right here. If the last thing you read in this fic was Serenity talking with Warlic and Ash in Falconreach, then you are reading the WRONG chapter! This chapter is a two-parter. Go back one! The part you should be reading first starts with Serenity and Warlic actually ARRIVING outside the front gate of Frostvale village.
If you DID see Part One, great! Here's Part Two. =D
Previously, in Part One:
A shadow suddenly fell across Serenity from behind; a long, ominous shadow with pointed, curved horns and a dangerous look to it. Turning around, she took a step back in alarm. She was looking right at three people who would probably be recognized and feared on sight by most of Lore's people: a tall, rust-red-armored and masked Doom Knight, an intensely determined-looking young exiled prince in bandit's armor, and a baby dracolich - the living skeleton of a dragon hatchling.
Sepulchure, Drakath, and Fluffy had arrived.
Artix put a hand on his sword. "Hang on! Are you guys here to ruin Frostval?"
"Not this year," Sepulchure said in a measured but startlingly civil tone of voice. "You see, we got a letter from Jaania inviting us to attend the Frostval party as guests, not villains. Jaania said even bad guys need a vacation. She's a remarkable diplomat... I decided we should accept the invitation."
Artix looked like he was considering that for a moment. "Okay," he said after a thoughtful pause. Taking his hand off the sword, he held it out in welcome and briefly clasped Sepulchure's armored hand, then Drakath's half-gloved one. Finally he knelt down and offered the back of his hand to Fluffy. The baby interestedly sniffed, then shook out its wings and gave Artix an approving look. Chuckling at the little creature's cuteness, Artix stood up.
"Hey, I'm glad you guys showed up!" Xan said cheerfully. "And hang on - I have presents for you!" He started to rummage around in his enormous bag of gifts.
Of course, Serenity thought. Frostval is for everyone! She felt surprisingly calm and happy, considering that she was standing right in front of one of Lore's scariest villains. But then, Xan was one of Lore's scariest villains several months ago!
The first present Xan got out was for Fluffy. It was a big, round package wrapped in crinkly brown paper. He set it down in front of the baby dracolich, who cheerfully started tearing the paper apart with its teeth and claws. Rolling right over, it held up the package above its upside-down body and continued to tear at it. Soon, Serenity saw a huge, red bouncy-ball appearing from inside the shredded wrapping paper. Fluffy delightedly stood back up and butted the ball hard with two white, bony horns, making it roll away across the snow. Immediately the little dragon chased after it, skidding and scampering along like any young creature.
"It's puncture-proof," Jaania said to Sepulchure, and the Doom Knight turned back from watching his dragon pet to look at her through the eye-slits of his mask.
"Fluffy will enjoy that," Sepulchure said coolly. "Thank you. Baby dragons need to be kept busy, I've found, or they go crazy... and drive you crazy."
"I think a lot of Adventurers would agree with you!" Serenity said, remembering the rambunctiousness of many young dragons she'd met along with their human companions.
"And here," Xan said, handing Sepulchure a red and green ribbon with a white holly leaf design printed on it. "Your dragon ran off a little fast, so I'll just give this to you. It's a Frostval ribbon for Fluffy to wear around his neck... or is it a her?"
"We're not sure," Drakath spoke up. "Fluffy doesn't seem to care if it's a boy or a girl. It just likes running in circles and destroying things."
Serenity couldn't help giggling at that description. That sounded so much like any baby! Sepulchure and Drakath might be villains, she thought, but I get the idea they're treating Fluffy well. I'm glad of that.
"Oh, Drakath," Xan said, "I have a present for you too, but it's sort of a two-person present. This is for you and Ash Dragonblade." He looked around. "Ash?"
Ash stepped forward. "Me?" he asked. Looking at the youthful prince who was only a few years older than Ash himself, he grinned and put a hand behind his head. "Um, hi, Drakath! I guess we're usually enemies but, well, hi anyway!"
"Hi there!" Drakath answered, seeming a little bit taken aback himself but also friendly.
Xan held out an odd-shaped, flat box about the size of one of the serving trays Serenity used at her Inn. Visibly curious, Ash and Drakath both reached out and took hold of it by opposite edges. They tore off the paper, then looked at each other in surprise over the top of the two flat, lightweight rackets and the small brown bag that obviously contained several tennis balls.
"It's a tennis set," Xan said. "You guys need a chance to play and be kids. Being serious and responsible all the time is a good way to wear yourselves out!"
Drakath and Ash, still holding the tennis equipment between them, nodded to each other at the same second.
"You're on!" Ash said.
"Sounds great!" Drakath replied.
They both looked at Xan. "Thanks, Xanta!" they said together.
"You're welcome," he said. "Have fun with it!"
Stepping up next to Xan, Jaania handed Sepulchure a long, rectangular box. "We both thought hard about what to give you," she said. "I hope you like this."
Sepulchure's mask inclined downward to look at the box in his hands. Without a word, he slowly and deliberately undid the green ribbon and unwrapped the bright sky-blue paper. Serenity was amazed to see anyone so composed while opening a Frostval gift. I suppose that Sepulchure has many, many years of stern self-discipline stretching behind him... Somehow she was sure that, in spite of his calm outward attitude, he was really as excited and curious about his present as everyone else had been.
As he lifted the lid off the box, Sepulchure suddenly paused and didn't move at all for a second. Then he lifted out a beautiful, glossy brown violin with silvery strings and shiny brass accents. Lying along the front of the instrument was the bow for playing it, made of the same warm, deep-brown wood.
"What? I haven't had one of these since I was a little boy."
"I remember you mentioned that once," Xan said. "It seemed to be a memory that meant something to you." Indicating the violin with one hand, he added, "This one was made by sneevil artisans. They have very clever little fingers!"
"Indeed they do," Sepulchure said, in a tone of appreciation for the instrument's workmanship. Tucking the violin into the corner of his arm, he pulled off his red gauntlets one after the other and reached around to put them into his backpack. His hands were lean and strong-looking, and just a little bit wrinkled. "Ordinarily I'd put this against my chin," he said with a slight shrug, "but Doom Knights who wear big masks all the time have to improvise." He took a careful grip on the violin with his left hand, tucking it into place against the shoulder of his armor, and held the bow in his right hand.
"Wait a moment... I think I remember how." Sepulchure walked off to the side and quickly vanished beyond a clump of Frostval pines.
An assortment of truly terrifying sounds came from the direction of Sepulchure and his violin. A moment later, they gradually started resolving themselves into an elegant strain of slightly old-fashioned music. Serenity smiled, catching Xan's eye, and saw him give her a triumphant thumbs-up.
Several seconds after that, Sepulchure came striding back into view, the grand, almost mysterious music swirling in the air ahead of him and all around as he played his instrument. His imposing red mask covered most of his face as usual, but Serenity caught a glimpse of a relaxed and somehow very sweet-looking smile behind it. She wondered if she should feel surprised, but found that she couldn't. He's a person too, she thought.
"Thank you, Xan," the archvillain said, in a voice that, just for the moment, held none of his usual cruelty and cold arrogance - but still just as much pride and dignity as always. "And you, Jaania. It was good of you to invite us. I guess everyone needs to find a little peace, at least once in a while."
"We certainly do," Xan replied.
A voice from a little distance away drew Serenity's attention. "Wow, these are neat!"
"I'll say!" a second, higher-pitched voice agreed from somewhat closer to the ground.
Serenity knew those voices very well. She looked in their direction and saw, as she had expected, Lim the experimental scientist and his assistant Lime, a lime-green Moglin. Their shop was right across from her Inn; she remembered being scared by Lime's interest in explosions and dangerous science when the little Moglin had joined up with Lim, but now the Innkeeper and both of the scientists were friends. Like Cysero, the two enthusiastic researchers had only good intentions and were only an accidental danger to the people of Falconreach. And they had proved that they were always willing to put right any disasters they did cause.
"Hi, Lim and Lime!" Serenity said, waving to them. "What did you get?"
Lim waved back, beaming from behind his round glasses. "It says here that these are fireproof and explosion proof Scientist Outfits," he said, holding up a folded bundle of fabric covered with all kinds of buckles and doodads.
"They were made by Xan and Professor Ellinie of Swordhaven Magic Academy," Lime put in brightly. The little Moglin was holding up a Moglin-sized cloth-and-gadgets bundle that looked very similar to Lim's. "She's the Explosion teacher! Now we can wear these when we do our REALLY dangerous experiments and we won't get hurt."
"Sounds good!" Serenity said honestly. "I worry about you guys sometimes, you know."
"The sneevils are distributing the rest of the regular presents now," Xan said, speaking loud and clear enough to be easily heard by everyone in the area. "Bonus time!" Reaching into the bag again, he pulled out armload after armload of red Xanta Hats and green Xanta's Elf Hats and started passing them around to everyone who wanted one. Soon the crowd of Frostval guests was dotted with a scattered assortment of bright, colorful hats.
"Those are great... very festive!" a new voice said, as a man in royal-blue mage robes with silver trim stepped into view near the east edge of the Frostvale town square. He had short, soft-looking blond hair and bright brown eyes, and he looked ever so slightly familiar to Serenity. But she couldn't place him.
Xan looked over at the newcomer and smiled in welcome. "Ah, Zachary, my fellow Frostval conspirator! It's good to see you. I hope you brought lots of candles!"
"I did," Zachary answered. His face was serious for a moment, then broke into a wide grin. "Plus I brought these!" He pulled a rather large sack out of his backpack and opened it. "Happy Frostval, everyone! I've brought holiday Dreidels for all!"
"This is Zachary the Candlemancer," Warlic said, looking at Serenity. "He's as much a part of Frostval as Xanta Claus is. I remember when he was in school with the rest of us at Swordhaven... Zachary was always very good with light spells. Now he's decided to specialize in the magic of candles. And he's also quite a craftsman - he makes all these dreidels himself! He carves them out of wood from fallen trees by hand."
Circulating around through the crowd on quick, nimble feet, Zachary began to give out heaps of dreidels. Serenity remembered these clever spinning toys from other Frostvals - these were handheld ones that you could play with safely, though, not the large and rather scary monster variety that she'd seen once or twice in years when the winter holiday had gotten out of hand. Taking one herself, she examined the symbols and pictures that were printed on the various sides.
"Thanks, Zachary!" she called after him, as he started to disappear from sight among the other guests, still handing out the simple yet beautiful toys. She looked around at the sea of happy, celebrating people, recognizing quite a few of them. It's great to see so many of my friends having such a good time!
Then Serenity caught sight of an old friend, someone she had given up for lost long ago. Almost unable to breathe for a moment, she stared at him. Then her voice started working again. "Konnan!"
The young man had been the apprentice of Yulgar the Smith until a year and a half ago. Then, after a terrible attack by the dragon Akriloth had claimed his village, he had left his friends behind and gone to seek revenge for the family he'd lost, finally becoming a villain in his grief and fury. Serenity and the rest of Falconreach's people had believed he was dead - But here he is! Serenity thought in disbelief.
Konnan stood just a little bit hesitantly at one edge of the crowd, near the spot where Zachary the Candlemancer had appeared. He was wearing a spectacular yellow-and-red outfit, very similar to Xan's shirt-and-pants style except that Konnan had chosen deep, brilliant yellow for the main color, with bright red trim. He looked up when Serenity called his name, and met her eyes across the distance between them.
"Hi, Serenity!" he called back, and the sound of his familiar voice that she hadn't heard in so long almost made her start crying. At the same time, several other people seemed to hear and recognize his voice, turning towards him with amazed expressions.
Reens ran right over and grabbed Konnan into a tight hug. "You know, we all love you," she said with heartfelt sincerity.
"Yeah, I guess I do know that," Konnan answered, his strong arms wrapped around the alchemist and squeezing her tightly in return. He closed his eyes for a second, and when he opened them, Serenity could see tears sparkling all across them. "And I can't lie to myself any more," Konnan finished, looking around at everyone. "I love all of you too."
"And I thought this Frostval was perfect already," Serenity whispered in awe, as she and Warlic hurried over to join the growing cluster of people who were gathering around him in loving, joyful welcome. "Konnan, you can't imagine how wonderful it is to see you alive and safe! But where were you?"
"I was held prisoner for a while." Konnan looked down at his wrists, and a look of vivid and very recent pain and anger flashed through his eyes for a second. "...It's a long story. But one thing's for sure. I'll never put chains on another being again the way I did to those young dragons, now that I know what it feels like to wear them."
"You were chained?" Serenity asked, appalled. "That's terrible!"
"I know," Konnan answered steadily. "That's part of why I realized I can't hurt other people anymore. It isn't fair."
Yulgar, in his sturdy clothes and leather work apron, came hurrying up to meet Konnan. His kind, craggy face was creased with guilt. "Please forgive me for not having had the faith to think you might be still alive," he said to his old apprentice. "I would have taken on the world with my fists or a toothpick to rescue you, if I'd known."
"Of course you would have." Konnan spoke with complete conviction.
"What will you do now?" Serenity asked her young friend. "Will you go back to work at the forge, or find something else to do...?"
Konnan shook his head. "No, I'm definitely a Pyromancer now. I'm going to continue studying my magic. Xan taught me a lot when I was his apprentice, and I've been learning from the Candlemancer too. I've been staying with him for close to a year. He's a very wise man." The young fire mage smiled at Serenity. "One thing I've learned from Zachary is that fire is a source of light... and my power should be a source of good things."
"So you're not going to be a villain anymore?" the young Moglin named Chilly asked, looking up at Konnan with his round eyes even bigger than usual. "I'm glad. My dad Blizzy told me the story, and it was really sad how you got all hurt and mean!"
"No," Konnan said, kneeling down for a second to pick up the little Moglin and then standing up with Chilly on his shoulder. "I'll be raising a family of my own one day. And when I have kids, they won't need a villain for a daddy."
Circling back through the crowd, Candlemancer Zachary stopped next to Konnan and put a friendly hand on his back. He looked at Xan and Jaania and Warlic, and a warm smile lit up his already happy face. Suddenly Serenity recognized him: Zachary had been the young man who'd cast the light spell in Professor Berith's class, right after Xan's wildly extravagant display with his fire magic and the classroom window.
Zachary looked around at all the partygoers and spoke to everyone. "Sometimes things can be really scary," he said. "Xan and Warlic and Jaania were hurt so badly and stayed that way for years, and Konnan had just been through a terrible time when I met him... But now look at how things are!" He spread his hands in a gesture of joy. "My friends from school are all right, after all this time! And so is my new friend Konnan. We should all be ready to believe and hope for anything."
Konnan looked to the side, and his eyes focused sharply on one of the people who stood nearby. "YOU!" he said forcefully. "I have to talk to you."
Serenity looked to see who he was talking to. With a deep and respectful feeling of appreciation, she recognized the great hero of the Fire War. That's the person who tried so hard to save Konnan's family and couldn't, she remembered. The one who basically saved Lore, but was so devastated by not being able to protect that village - and by Konnan falling into evil because of it.
The Adventurer came over, looking very unhappy. "Konnan, I am so, so sorry!"
"No," Konnan said with conviction, taking the Adventurer's hand and squeezing it in a firm and reassuring grip of friendship. "You did what you could."
"Thank you, Konnan." The hero's face brightened into a relieved smile, and the brave eyes that had been so sad now clearly showed that a crushing weight had been lifted from the soul behind them. "And I'm glad you're all right."
"I couldn't be if not for you. You reminded me who I am."
Just then, Galanoth the Dragonslayer stepped forward. Konnan turned towards the armored man, and now it was the young Pyromancer's turn to look guilty and ashamed.
"Galanoth..." Konnan said. "If there is anyone here who truly has reason to hate me, it's you. I..." He stopped for a few painfully silent seconds, as if the words were almost impossible for him to say. "I killed your brother."
Serenity looked down, remembering the day she had gotten that terrible news. Konnan, completely caught up in his hatred as the vengeful Drakonnan during the Fire War, had deliberately killed Galanoth's blood brother Demento.
When Serenity looked up again a second later, Galanoth was shaking his head. Holding out a hand in the direction of the Fire War's hero, he turned his head directly towards Konnan.
Galanoth's face was concealed, of course, by the silver helm he always wore, but the expression in his voice was clear. "If you can forgive... so can I."
Konnan stared at him for a moment, silent. "Thank you," he said finally. "But I still wish I hadn't done it."
"Now hang on a second," Xan said, stepping quickly forward and staring hard at Konnan. "Sepulchure told me he had killed you. But you're definitely alive. To think I believed him! I must have been crazy! ...Well, I guess I was."
"I heard him say it," Konnan said gravely. He put a hand on Xan's shoulder in a reassuring, friendly gesture. "It's not your fault you believed him. I almost believed some of the things he told me, too."
Xan stared at him in dismay. "You were there?" he asked. "Right there? And I didn't know?"
"I was there," Konnan confirmed grimly. Then with an effort of will that Serenity could almost see, he banished the pain of whatever he was remembering from his eyes. His voice was bright and strong as he continued speaking. "But that's more than enough about these kinds of things! This is Frostval!"
"It sure is!" Xan said. "And that reminds me - I didn't know you were coming, and I didn't bring you a present! Hang on, I'll be right back." With that, he teleported right out of Frostvale and left Serenity, Konnan, and pretty much everyone else blinking in surprise.
Appearing on the open lawn at Aeris Battlespire, Xan looked around. The party here was smaller and less extravagantly decorated than the one in Frostvale, but definitely just as happy. Soon, he spotted the person he was looking for. The young man was wearing a bold blue suit of armor, and a dragon-head mask of the same color. Xan had dueled against him many times in the past, and he was a strong and confident opponent in spite of being very young.
Xan walked right up to him. "Come on, we're going to Frostvale right now!"
The Aeris duelist looked at him with a puzzled air. "What? But we're already having our own party here!"
"Trust me, okay?" Xan asked. He wasn't about to give away the surprise of his reason for asking, or say anything that would hurt his young friend by making him wonder if it was true before he saw for himself.
"Sure...?" the fighter said agreeably, if confusedly. He reached out and took Xan's hand.
Without another word, Xan teleported them both right back to Frostvale.
Serenity watched, not sure what was going on, as Xan reappeared less than a minute after he had left. Now he was accompanied by a person in blue armor and a mask. In fact, Serenity thought, surprised, that mask looks an awful lot like the one Konnan was wearing when he'd decided to be Drakonnan...
The newcomer, staring at Konnan, suddenly removed his mask and hung it on his belt with an air of barely noticing what he was doing. To Serenity's surprise, his face looked almost like Konnan's! The young man appeared to be in his mid-teens, only a year or two younger than Konnan had been when he disappeared and then became Drakonnan.
"My little brother!" Konnan exclaimed, running forward to catch him up in a crushing hug.
"What? Konnan?" The newcomer hugged Konnan back, crying. "Yeah, it's me. But you! I was sure you were dead!"
"I thought I knew you were!" The outright astonishment in Konnan's voice was very close to the way Serenity herself felt. She'd been as certain as everyone else than Konnan's entire family had been killed when the dragon Akriloth burned down his village.
"Konnas, how did you survive?" Konnan asked.
"I found a way through the fires," his brother answered. "I thought our parents and sisters were with me, but they disappeared..." He shook his head. "By the time I found out where you were, you had already gone off on your quest for revenge. That's why I went to the Aeris Battlespire. I was going to find you and talk to you, try to convince you to give up the evil, but I knew you might not listen to me. So I needed to be strong enough that I could fight you if I had to. And then - then I got the news that you were dead. I kept training... I was determined to become strong enough to defend anyplace that's ever threatened in the future the way our village was. And I'm still going to do that! I'm just so glad you really didn't die."
"I thought I'd lost all of you," Konnan said. "I thought I could live with it, but now - Konnas, you're back! You're safe!"
"They call me Drakonnas now, not just Konnas." At Konnan's puzzled and somewhat alarmed look, Drakonnas answered, "No, I'm not a villain. I've just named myself for a dragon's strength... because that's what I decided I was going to need." His face took on a proud look. "I'm an Electromancer. I found out I have a talent for energy spells, and it's very powerful magic."
"And you've been keeping secret who you are all this time? Serenity asked.
"Mostly," Drakonnas said. "Keelia up at Aeris Battlespire knows, but she agreed not to tell anyone who I am. And Xan obviously recognized me."
"The side of your face looks like his," Xan said, nodding first at Drakonnas and then at Konnan. "Behind the masks."
"This is the best Frostval present you could have given either of us," Konnan said. "Letting us know each other are alive."
Xan looked straight at Konnan. "I knew perfectly well what you would want more than anything else."
"You were right. Thank you so much!" Konnan smiled. "I didn't always realize it, but you've always been a friend." He looked up at the sky suddenly. "If only the rest of our family..." Serenity's heart ached at the grief in his voice.
"I don't believe they're dead," Drakonnas said earnestly, his eyes shining. "I just have this feeling they're alive somewhere. I mean, you're okay, Konnan! So why should I think they might not be, too?"
Konnan looked down and stared into his little brother's face in shock. "Could it be?" He seemed to be considering whether or not to let himself feel hope. Then he nodded once, and that hope awoke like a bright light in his eyes. "We'll look for them together."
"Well, I guess that's it for the presents," Xan said at last.
"Not quite," Loremaster Maya declared cheerfully. "Now we have a surprise for you!"
"What?" the Pyromancer said. To Serenity's delight, he did sound utterly and totally surprised. Beside him, Jaania looked just as surprised as he did.
"You never suspected!" Valencia said brightly, with a victorious look in her eyes. "It's for all of you - the Raindeer and the sneevils and Rudolph too!" Turning to Cysero, she beckoned excitedly. "Cysero's got it - come on, give them the box!" The Rare Item Hunter was clearly unable to contain her excitement. Serenity herself was having a hard time keeping her calm, now that Xan and Jaania and their friends were about to get their surprise. Everyone else looked about to bounce out of their shoes, too. Only Warlic was standing reasonably still and composed, and when Serenity looked at his face, she saw that the corners of his lips were twitching pretty hard.
With a beaming grin on his face, Cysero zipped forward and held out a box to Xan. "Go ahead, open it!" he said, handing it to the very startled and now very curious-looking Pyromancer.
"What could it be?" Jaania wondered aloud, as she and Xan pulled the bright magenta ribbon from the box. One of their helpers, a young lady sneevil, ran over and grabbed the ribbon and tied it into her long, shaggy black hair. Delighted, she ran off again to join the other sneevils who were now looking very busy with their enormous pile of boxes.
Meanwhile, Serenity watched as Xan and Jaania opened the lid of their own box. The two of them shared a puzzled glance, then tipped the box forward to show everyone what it contained. Inside, Serenity could see a tightly folded mass of... something. Curious, she looked closer. She was in on the surprise, of course, but hadn't yet seen what it looked like when packed away in its box. The material was mostly white, with splashes of red and green and small bits of other bright colors as well.
"Why don't you set it up outside of town?" Cysero suggested. "This is going to take a bit of room."
"All right," Xan said, still sounding mystified.
Blizzy the sky-blue Moglin stepped forward. "This way! If we go through the north gate, there's a great big open field. It'll be perfect!"
"Lead the way!" Jaania said, and Blizzy led a big crowd of people out through the gate. Rudolph, his team of Raindeer, and the little sneevil Elves all streamed toward the group and excitedly accompanied their human friends.
Serenity heard a series of jubilant squeaks off to her left. Turning, she saw her laundry golem scampering and tumbling towards her, covered with haphazard patches of snow and grinning all over its winter-hat face.
"You must have been having a good time!" she greeted it, scooping it up into her arms as it reached her. "Come on, let's go see Xan and his friends get their present!"
In the middle of the snow-covered field just north of Frostvale, Xan and Jaania tipped the contents of their gift box out onto the snow. They both stepped back in surprise as it started to expand. The compressed material quickly unfolded itself and filled out into a large squarish shape. In seconds, it revealed itself to be a medium-sized white brick building like a cottage with a pointed roof of cozy-looking tan shingles. A second section was attached to the side of the building, with a long, sloping blue roof and wood-shuttered windows.
Serenity watched in delight as Xanta and all his helpers moved forward to examine the structure. She already knew what was written on the little gold plaque by the door.
Xanta's Workshop
A gift from the people of Lore to the Frostval heroes who bring us all presents because they LOVE to! This portable workshop has everything - there's even a stable where the Raindeer can stay when they choose! (This item is a Cysero's House Shop original: no other like it in all of Lore!)
Xan and Jaania turned around, framed in front of the brightly-accented workshop. They both looked surprised and completely thrilled with their gift. Meanwhile, the sneevils were crowding around the workshop and admiring its walls and colorful trim. Several of the Raindeer were already poking their noses - alongside Rudolph's bright red one - into the open doorway at the far end of the building's annex, which Serenity knew was their stable.
"Cysero?" Xan said. "You gave us a workshop we can keep in a box? That's amazing. I didn't know your house magic had gotten that good!"
Cysero shrugged. "It's a special occasion. I tried out a few new ideas... once I added the applesauce, it really worked!"
"Applesauce?" Xan asked in disbelief. "...Never mind. It's turned out wonderful! This will be very handy!"
"Look around," Serenity said. "We've all added something to make this an extra special gift for you guys."
A little distance in front of the workshop's door, a striped red-and-white pole with a curved top stood firmly planted in the snow. Jaania stepped over to examine it; it was about her same height, and big enough around that she could just barely close her two hands around it. Then she knelt down to look at the base. "Look, there's an inscription!"
Candy Cane North Pole
There could only be one totally authentic, original peppermint candy North Pole in the world, and this is it! What a rare find! Valencia and her dashing father Trey Surehunter had to quest all over the Peppermint Realm to find this, but it was worth it. Happy Holidays to Xan and Jaania and the sneevils and the Raindeer and Rudolph... (Daddy, do you think this item description is getting too long?) (No, Valencia, it's perfect! They'll love it! *grin*)
Rarity: 100
"You guys were right!" Jaania said, standing up with snow-powder all over the knees of her leggings. She gave Valencia and Trey an appreciative thumbs-up. "This really is unique! And nifty, too. It's the perfect landmark for Xanta's Workshop!"
"Yeah," Xan put in. "Now no matter where we set this place up, it'll always be at the North Pole."
"What this?" The curious, interested voice belonged to a sneevil who was checking out something several paces away, in front of the workshop on the side opposite from the Raindeer's stable. Suddenly the sneevil's voice turned ecstatic. "Box on a stick!"
"You found the mailbox!" Cysero said, walking over to stand by the sneevil. To Xan and Jaania, he added, "This is a really great piece of magic. Check it out!"
Xan came running over to take a look himself, with Jaania close at his side. "Let's see this," he said. Looking at it, he nodded. "Yep, the item description's right here on the side." He moved a bit to one side to make room for some of the others to read it too. Serenity didn't need to look, though; she knew what this was and who had brought it. She was still amazed by the magic he had used to create it.
Xanta's Mailbox
When a letter addressed to Xanta Claus is dropped into any mailbox on Lore, it will magically appear in this one. The spell uses a combination of teleportation and name magic. Now Xanta's friends can write to him anytime! There is a small signature at the lower edge of the mailbox that reads "Warlic, the Blue Mage."
"Hey, this is awesome!" Xan said, looking at his friend. "Thanks, Warlic."
"You're welcome," Warlic answered simply.
Sticking his antlered head out through the door of the stable, Rudolph gestured with a quick jerk of his nose back toward the inside. "You guys have got to come see what's in here!" he declared.
Serenity, Warlic, and the others followed Xan and Jaania around to look inside the stable. It was a roomy, comfortable-looking place, with straw-lined open stalls along the edges of a broad central hallway. As with many of Cysero's houses and buildings, it seemed much larger on the inside than the outside. Scattered throughout the open area, the twelve Raindeer were already checking out and starting to play with a collection of Raindeer Games which seemed to have come from a big wooden chest standing against the back wall.
"They're from Grams and Aria," Yulgar said. "It looks like your friends really like them, Rudolph!"
"Oh, me too!" Rudolph answered with a brief frolic. "I can't wait to try some out! But first I want to show you guys this. It looks, if I don't miss my guess, like Lim and Cysero made it."
Rudolph stepped up to a curious knee-high contraption. Serenity hadn't seen this one before: it was a somewhat mechanical-looking device with glowing lights, multicolored spinning parts that circled freely in the air around it, and an assortment of tubes and gadgets. On the side was an important-looking label that read:
Magiscientific Xanta's Sleigh Acceleratifier
This mechanical artifact uses the magic of SCIENCE! to help Xanta's Sleigh get around the entire face of Lore in just one night!
"So you guys did start working together!" an Adventurer said, giving Cysero and Lim an appreciative look. "Way to go! Magiscience rocks!"
"Yeah, we've discovered that," Cysero said.
Lim nodded. "It definitely took both ways of thinking to make THIS invention."
By now Xan, Jaania, and several of the sneevils were busily examining the Acceleratifier.
"This is just what the sleigh needed," Jaania was saying.
"I'll say," Xan agreed. "Now we can bring presents to everyone next year, whether they come to the Frostvale party or not. It'll be exciting, zooming around Lore that fast!"
"Yeah," Rudolph said. "That'll be one wild run for me and my team!" A few excited sparks snapped in the air around his nose. "Well, you go check out whatever's inside the workshop. My friends are waiting for me!" With a flip of his tail, he turned and scampered over to join in the Raindeer Games, much to all the Raindeer's delight.
Inside, it turned out that the main part of the workshop was also much bigger than it appeared from the outside, just like the stable. There was a large central room, an open archway leading into a kitchen area off to the left, and several other doors leading to more rooms at various places along the walls.
Blizzy and Chilly looked at each other and grinned. Jumping down from Konnan's shoulder, the younger pale-blue Moglin ran to join his father. They both scurried over to a fancy sort of table next to the kitchen archway, about waist-high to the humans and topped with two slim posts that held up a fluffy white awning a little above even Sepulchure's or Rolith's height. Standing on the table were an assortment of silver pots like coffeepots, round glass jars of various spices and things, and other festive and delicious-looking stuff.
"On behalf of the Frostvale Moglins -" Blizzy started proudly.
"- We'd like to present this Cocoaberry Juice Stand!" Chilly finished.
"Wow, really?" Xan said. "Cocoaberry juice is the best!"
Serenity smiled, watching her friends running delightedly from one surprise to the next. A moment later, Jaania picked up a bright, decorated tome from one of the shelves in the kitchen.
"That's my present to you all," Maya said, stepping forward with the singular dignity of the ancient deity she really was.
As Jaania turned to face the rest of the group, holding the big book in front of herself, Serenity saw what was printed on the cover in bold, fancy gold and silver letters.
Cookienomnomnomicon
An original, signed copy of the most amazing book of cookie recipes in Lore. Some magical, some ordinary, and all delicious! This tome has been passed down from ancient times, with recipes being added by many people along the way. Legend has it that this book was really first written by a MONSTER!
"Sweet! I get to bake cookies!" Jaania exclaimed, her face wreathed in smiles. Opening the book, she started flipping through the pages with great interest.
Moving swiftly forward to stand beside her, Xan looked down at the cookbook tome with just as much delight. He gave Jaania a mischievous grin. "Not so fast! Me too!"
"And us! And us!" a sneevil said, bouncing up and down. Xan turned to the little goblin and reached down to give it a high-five of agreement, and Jaania nodded decisively at her fellow Frostval Elf. Then she looked back at the Cookienomnomnomicon.
"It's signed 'Cookie Monster'," Jaania said, looking at the inside cover of the book. "I wonder what kind of creature that might be?" she mused aloud.
"Blue and furry?" Aria suggested at random. "That could be cute."
"Could be," Loremaster Maya said with a shrug. "I'm as much at a loss as the rest of you. In any case, some of these recipes are great. I've tried them!" A cute smile lit up her face. "I love cookies!" she added, for once sounding at least as young as she looked.
Finally setting down the tome, Xan and Jaania looked at another of the shelves and focused on a small wooden barrel with a red-and-gold three-pointed leaf painted on it.
"A leaf?" Xan asked.
Robina the Hood stepped forward with a look of interest on her face. "That's a maple leaf," the forest Ranger said.
"Sweet maple syrup from the trees near the farm where I grew up," Galanoth explained. "You can pour it on the snow, and it freezes into candy. It's not as fancy as that wonderful stuff the Cauldron Sisters make, but it's good!" He turned over the cask to show them the small white tag on the base.
Maple Syrup Cask
Sweet and delicious - the perfect taste of home!
"CANDY!" at least six of the sneevils said at once. Their eager delight made Serenity remember that the sneevils had started out as human children, before Nythera the Purple Mage had changed them into this form in her own early childhood. Clearly, even though most of the sneevils were grown up now, they had all kept a child's sense of fun.
Back in the main room, Artix called the sneevils over to see something. "I brought a present just for all of you," he told them. Eagerly, the sneevils swarmed over and tore the paper off of a big, cylindrical package that stood at least a foot taller than most of them. Inside was a big wooden barrel with a white paper label on the front. Bold black letters on the label proclaimed:
Barrel of Fun
Not only is this a CONTAINER, but it's full of all kinds of sneevil-themed and box-themed puns, games, and activities! Happy Frostval to all the sneevils from Lore's most pun-loving Paladin!
Without a second's delay, the sneevils all turned towards Artix and jumped all over him in a huge, exuberant group hug. Serenity thought it was a good thing Artix was so very strong, or he might have lost his footing. As it was, he almost disappeared for a moment under the swarm of happy sneevils.
As she happened to look up toward the ceiling, Serenity gasped at the beautiful sight that met her eyes. "Look!" she said, pointing up.
Warlic followed her gaze and smiled. "That has to be Zachary's gift," he said. "See, there is a description along one of the chandelier's lower arms." Indeed, the letters engraved into the glittering silver were so clear and sharp that Serenity could read them easily, even though they were small and a few feet above her head. Around her, everyone else was looking up to read it too.
Glowing Chandelier
Wrought silver with bright blue candles! This elegant chandelier burns bright with love, joy, and Frostval spirit all year long.
Xan and Jaania looked down from the chandelier and smiled at Candlemancer Zachary. "It's a truly beautiful gift," Jaania said.
"Yes, it is," Xan agreed.
For the next half-hour or so, Xan and Jaania and the sneevils ran around like children all over their new workshop, discovering present after present. Their excited happiness was beautiful to watch, and Serenity felt that it was exactly what they deserved.
Then they came to the present that Serenity herself had brought. It was a big, heavy iron cauldron, with colorful pictures of Frostval decorations and different-colored popcorn all over the rounded black surface. "It's a Popcorn Kettle," Serenity explained. "I trained for weeks with Yulgar and Cysero to make it. And I put a spell on it so you can make all different kinds of popcorn, too. It was fun!"
"Great work, Serenity!" Konnan said with a big grin of proud approval. The young Innkeeper blushed; her friend's praise meant a great deal to her. She was especially flattered because she knew Konnan was skilled at both smithcraft and magic.
"And you have to see this!" Serenity said, pointing out a thick, square pile of heavy fabric that was folded up on the sofa against one wall.
Xan and Jaania picked it up. It was so big that it took both of them to hold it up, and the lower part of it still trailed on the floor and pooled in a soft heap of bright colors.
"This one's from me and Ash," Icemaster Yeti said, sounding a bit bashful. "It's a Friendship Rug, made with a ribbon or piece of cloth from just about EVERYBODY." He waved a big white hand at the valiant boy. "Ash traveled around all over Lore asking for the ribbons and things, and I wove them all together."
"You did a wonderful job," Ash said. "It's so bright!" Indeed, the big, oval braided rug was a riot of colors, unmistakably made from hundreds of different pieces.
"I'll fireproof it, and then we can lay it out in the middle of the floor and set the popcorn cauldron right on top of it!" Xan said delightedly.
"You know, if you run it with the lid off, the popcorn will fly EVERYWHERE!" Cysero suggested exuberantly. "I bet the sneevils would love that."
A roaring chorus of enthusiasm came from the sneevils, and also from the soft blue laundry golem who jumped right down from Serenity's shoulder to dance and bounce among them.
Xan and Jaania looked at each other and grinned. "We'll have to try that!" Xan said decisively. "Serenity, you and your laundry golem are invited to come visit for the occasion."
"We accept," Serenity said, formally inclining her head. "Thanks, Xan! It'll be fun!"
As he and Jaania set down the bright carpet, Xan looked at a small end table next to the sofa and picked up a small, brown-wrapped rectangular package that was lying on it. The present was about the size of a small book, and Serenity didn't recognize it.
"Who brought this?" Xan asked, looking around.
"I did." The voice was Konnan's. Giving the older Pyromancer a serious look, he said, "You were right all those months ago when you were training me... that rock music was just what I needed to get inspired and fight my hardest." Suddenly he grinned. "So I brought you this! Go on, open it."
Xan unwrapped the paper, and a small stack of clear, flat cases appeared from inside it. Each of them, Serenity saw, held a shiny round disk with a small hole in the middle. On the top case was a label that read:
Frostval Rock CDs
For anyone who loves outrageous rock music, this one-of-a-kind holiday collection will delight you! Includes totally rockin' versions of old Frostval favorites, plus an assortment of great new hits. Featuring titles like "Rockin' Around The Time Machine" and "Cocoaberry Juice Picnic"!
"This is great!" Xan said. Then he started looking around. "Is there a boombox in this place?"
"Yup!" Cysero answered happily. "It's right over here." He reached out and opened an elegant gold-and-brown panel in the wall, to reveal a built-in boombox behind it.
"Nice!" Jaania said appreciatively. Xan grinned, giving Cysero a thumbs-up.
Cysero beamed in agreement. "Actually, Ikea's the one who brought it and installed it." He indicated a woman with short dust-brown hair pulled back in two soft, thick braids, who was standing rather quietly in a group of other people. "She's a fellow house-items merchant, hailing from far-off Dragesvard! Her taste in home decor is impeccable."
At Cysero's words, Ikea's composed face brightened into a sudden smile. "Hi, guys!" she said to everyone. "Xan, Jaania, I'm glad you like the boom box!" She looked around at the other Frostval guests. "It's been so much fun for all of us, setting up this Xanta's Workshop for you guys and your friends."
One of the sneevils came over, looking at the musical device with round eyes. "It's a BOX?" he asked, sounding awed and delighted. "I love it already."
"And wait until you hear what it does!" Xan put one of the CDs into the boom box and turned it on. Immediately, a rollicking tune burst forth from the speakers.
Rockin' around the time machine, it's a quantum paradox
Frostval bells jingle merrily as the fun knocks off your socks!
All the sneevils promptly started dancing along to the music. Xan and Jaania, hand in hand with big grins on their faces, continued their exploration of the workshop.
In one of the adjoining rooms, they found Yulgar's present. One entire wall of the room was set up as a weaponsmith's forge, similar to the one in Yulgar's own smithy but a little differently arranged. Stamped into the front of the big, heavy anvil were the words:
Xanta's Forge
A sturdy, practical forge with just a touch of magic. You supply the fire.
The Pyromancer turned to Yulgar and gave him a high-five. "This will be great for some of our projects!" he said.
Suddenly, Serenity noticed the Linken family from the lumber mill in Surewould Forest standing quietly off to one side. She thought they were looking a little shy about the idea of bringing attention to the gift they'd made. But she knew they had put a lot of work into making something really great.
Smiling, the Innkeeper walked over to them. "Why not show Xan your gift?" she said quietly. "It's awesome!"
The three Linkens looked at each other. Then Oakley, the eldest, stepped forward.
"Okay," he said. A half-step behind him on either side, his younger brother Lief and their pretty sister Willow smiled and waved.
Oakley Linken gestured at the rows of tall, smoothly sanded and polished wooden shelves that lined the part of the room away from the forge. "Well, we thought that with all the presents you all keep making for everybody, you'd need some shelves to put them on! So we made these. They're all hardwood and they should be very durable." In spite of his self-consciousness, there was a definite sense of pride in Oakley's voice at the work that he and his brother and sister had done. Serenity knew that all three of them put that same pride and care into everything they made. It wasn't for nothing that the Linken Lumber Mill was the best place to go for anything made of wood!
Xan put an admiring hand on one of the shelves. "This is marvelous workmanship. And exactly what we'll need! Now to find the description... Ah, here it is." A small brass plate was smoothly attached to the front of one of the center shelves.
Xanta's Shelves
Just what Xanta and his helpers need for their busy workshop! These sturdy and durable wooden shelves have lots of room for storing items that you can then equip to your X, Y, or Z buttons... Wait, wrong game.
Soon after that, the cheerful group finished checking out Xanta's Workshop and went back out to rejoin the rest of the Frostval celebration. Outside, the young blue troll named Oishii was singing in her sweet, high voice.
Troll the ancient Frostval carol...
Oishii broke off, giggling. "Troll! Haha, get it? Like me! I'm a troll!"
By now, the sun was starting to sink and turn the west half of the sky to a rosy pink-and-gold display. The same colors were reflected on the snowy field and landscape of Frostvale. Taking Warlic's hand, Serenity just stood with him for a moment enjoying the sight. Then they followed the others back into the Moglins' town.
All at once, Serenity saw what the sneevils had been doing with their boxes. As one of them had proclaimed earlier, riding off with Cysero on his new Magic Carpet, they had now constructed a truly spectacular Sneevil SnowBox Fort. It had big, sturdy boxes spaced all along the walls, with packed sections of snow between them. Smaller boxes and more snow made up the battlements at the top, with bright-eyed sneevil faces peeking between them. Catching sight of a flash of green robes, Serenity saw one wacky, grinning mage face peeking through a snowy arched window too for an instant, before Cysero whisked out of sight.
"Hey! Wait for us!" Artix called, hurrying forward with the Purple Mage right beside him. The Paladin and Nythera bounced into the Sneevil SnowBox Fort feet first to play all around in it.
A moment later Nythera popped up from the middle of the fort, with a hat-sized box upside-down on her head. "Raaarr! I'm the Dragon of the Fortress!" It was almost scary, Serenity reflected, to see Nythera being so bright and cheerful all day long. But she was glad her new friend was having fun.
"A dragon?" Cysero said, popping up next to Nythera. "Cool! You make a scary dragon you know... seeing as you ARE half-dragon!" Cysero got out a magic marker and magically wrote an item description along one edge of the box for Nythera.
Nythera's Box Hat
A Frostval memento for the person responsible for the sneevils and their love of boxes! This stylish hat is a great reminder of the importance of always having fun and acting like a kid!
Bonuses: CHA +5, INT +2
There was a quiet rustle of wings, and Lady Vayle the good Necromantress stepped forward from the crowd outside the fort. She was a stunningly beautiful sight, with her short purple hair and the old-fashioned black-and-burgundy dress that just matched the color of her soft batlike wings. A childhood friend of the Paladin Artix, she had only recently found her way back from the many years she had spent under the influence of evil. Now, Serenity thought, she's finally getting the chance to live the way she should.
"Artix?" Vayle asked hesitantly. "Is that... fun?"
"You bet!" Artix told her with a big grin. "Come on in, Vayle! You deserve some fun."
Vayle stared at him uncertainly for just a few seconds. Suddenly her lovely face broke into an astonishing grin of her own. Scrambling up and across the low front wall of the SnowBox Fort, she flapped her small dark wings very hard to help lift herself over the wall. "Haha!" she said in an almost surprised tone as she perched for a moment on top of the snowy battlement. Then she bounced down into the fort and grabbed up a snowball. "Watch out, Artix!" With that, she lobbed it right at him.
The harmless, cold projectile smacked right into Artix's breastplate. Laughing, with his eyes crinkling up with happiness, he bent down and scooped up a whole armful of snowballs himself. "You watch out, Vayle! I've got the dragon on my side!"
A strong, youthful voice spoke up from several paces to Serenity's right. "Yes, be careful, Lady Vayle!" a young man in desert clothing said, completely straight-faced. "Dragons are formidable opponents!"
Robina, standing next to Serenity and Warlic, waved the Sandsea native over to join them. With a nod, he walked smoothly and confidently up to greet them.
"This is my teacher, Zhoom," Robina introduced him. "He taught me everything I know about being a Ranger."
"Zhoom?" Serenity asked, smiling at the muscular young man with the innocent bright green eyes. "I've heard of you! It's nice to meet you in person. I'm Serenity, the Innkeeper at Falconreach."
The desert Ranger looked Serenity up and down appraisingly, then smiled. "I am honored to meet you as well," he said seriously. A second later, he seemed to let go of the formality and just looked young and carefree. "Have you tried the cocoaberry juice?" he inquired. "Blizzy has the best recipe! It's so festive! But I must remember to bring some desert Orange Cider next year. I think you might all really like it!"
"I can't wait to try it," Serenity answered. "Do you put cinnamon in it?"
"No, ginger," Zhoom replied. "And a few other desert spices." Then he and Robina looked at each other, exchanged a nearly matching pair of nods and grins, and suddenly sprang forward to join the full-blown snowball fight that was now going on in the sneevils' fort.
"Let's go get some cocoaberry juice," Warlic suggested, and Serenity nodded her agreement. Turning to the east, they headed off in search of the Moglins who were serving refreshments.
"Hey there, punks!" an Inferno Elemental greeted them. Its bright green eyes and the emerald jewel in its forehead were sparkling. Surprised, Serenity recognized the elemental as the one who had first challenged her and Warlic and Cysero during their quest through Xan's fortress. Now, though, it was obviously just here for the party. It was burning deep red for the occasion, and wearing festive clouds of white steam around its back and shoulders to complete a truly Frostval color scheme.
"We never introduced ourselves when we met before," it said. "I'm Torchblaze. I know who you guys are, of course - Warlic and Serenity."
"How are you doing?" Warlic asked, as Serenity smiled in greeting to it.
"Fantastic!" the elemental answered cheerily. Then it gave them a serious look for a moment. "My friends and I really appreciate what you guys and Cysero did for our boss," it said. "You know, we like being on fire, but that spell was pretty rough on him. But hey, he's okay now!"
With a contented snapping sound, Torchblaze turned and zoomed away over the snow before the two startled mages could say a word.
Walking beside Serenity on the way back from the east part of town with their mugs of hot cocoaberry juice, Warlic saw a dozen or more of the Pactogonal Knights of Oaklore doing the Moglin Hop. Sepulchure was playing the tune on his violin, as the knights cheerfully sang along.
"Do-do-do-do-doooo-dooo! Do-da-da-do! DO-da-do-da-dooooo-do-do-do -" Even the knights' armor added to the music with a deep, metallic "Clank-clank-clank!"
"Hello, Sir Ching!" Warlic said, recognizing one of the knights. The slender young man specialized in finding anyone or anything that might be lost - hence his name. But right now he was off-duty along with his fellow knights and their captain.
"Hi, Warlic!" Sir Ching replied, and Rolith waved to Warlic and Serenity too from where he was dancing along with his men. True to his word to Cysero not to let his life get boring, the tall blond Captain was clearly having a good time and enjoying himself at the party.
"Hello," a musical voice said from a little distance away. Warlic turned to look, but the speaker was not talking to him or Serenity. It was Queen Mynxitta of the Minx Fairies, hovering eye-to-eye with a grayish-orange and very dignified Moglin elder.
Twilly's grandfather reached out with his furry right paw to touch the Fairy Queen's tiny hand. "You must be the Queen of Minx Forest," he said in a tone of formal greeting, but his face was shining with friendly appreciation. "I've been told it was your tear that healed Xan from the fire spell he was trapped in. On behalf of all of the Moglins, I'd like to thank you."
"It was partly for you that I shed that tear," Queen Mynxitta answered. "I know that you and your people tried very hard to help young Xan when he was first hurt."
Warlic smiled, closing his eyes and tilting his head down toward the ground. He remembered that himself, and he had always been very grateful to the Moglin healers for their determined effort.
"And now everybody's safe," Serenity said beside him in her gentle, compassionate voice. "You too, Warlic."
Still smiling, Warlic looked at her and briefly touched her hand. "Yes, we are." Side by side, they walked along again, enjoying the beautiful Frostval celebration and each other's company.
Even the normally somber SoulWeaver Tomix appeared to be relaxing and unwinding a little for the occasion. Standing against a brightly decorated pine tree with his arms folded, it almost looked like he hadn't changed from his usual coolly serious pose; but there was a bright twinkle in his eyes, and his stern mouth looked like he might break out grinning at any second. And most telling of all, his magically color-changing SoulWeaver outfit had lightened from its usual deep gray and black to a sunny shade of purple.
Beside him, the gentle spirit called Aspar who was Tomix's closest friend was looking downright merry. His slender, deep-and-glowy purple form was poised like a dancer ready for flight, and on top of his floating, curling purple hair he wore a bright red-and-white Xanta Claus hat. As the bright spirit made some quiet comment to his human friend, Tomix suddenly did grin.
Warlic smiled to himself at the sight, and waved a cheerful Frostval greeting to the two of them as he and Serenity walked along. It seems that everyone is happy this Frostval, he thought.
Movement on the round thatched roof of one of the Moglin houses caught Warlic's and Serenity's attention. Perched on top of the straw were Cysero and the little yellow Moglin called Twig, happily chatting away over two heaping bowls of - what else? - fish and ice cream. Warlic shook his head in quiet amusement. He knew very well how much his roommate loved fish, and if Twig was ever going to find a human to share his enjoyment of 'Fish and Ice Cweam,' it WOULD be Cysero.
"There you are!" It was Jaania's voice. Warlic looked in that direction and saw her running lightly over the snow toward him and Serenity.
He could not get over the joy of seeing her free and out in the world again. "Jaania!" he called back in a friendly greeting. "Hello!"
"Warlic!" Jaania grabbed his hand, her eyes dancing with joy. "Come on! Xan and I have something great to show you both." Laughing in sheer happiness, she turned and led the other two mages a little distance to where Xan was standing.
"Hi, guys!" Xan said. "It looks like Jaania found you pretty fast! We have to tell you something really wonderful."
"Next year, I'll be Mrs. Xanta Claus!" Jaania said excitedly. She leaned her head against Xan's shoulder, and he put his arm around her. They both looked so happy that Warlic's heart soared with joy at the sight. He just couldn't be sad anymore that Jaania had chosen Xan. The two of them were so much in love with each other!
"Congratulations!" the Blue Mage said, completely meaning it.
"Yes," Serenity agreed. Warlic could tell from her voice that she was as happy for their two friends as he was. Then she looked curiously at Jaania. "You said you have something to show us, too?" she asked.
Jaania nodded. "We asked Feanor of Lymcrest to make these rings for us," she said.
"He finished them several days ago," Xan added.
"They're our engagement rings now," Jaania said. "And when we get married, they'll be our wedding rings." She and Xan each held up a hand to show off the rings they were wearing.
Xan's ring was a plain, solid, rounded gold circle that looked as if nothing could ever break it. The rich, deep-yellow metal seemed to glow from inside with power and strength. Tiny letters engraved right into the gold proclaimed:
Indomitable Spirit Ring
Xan, you fight through everything and you never give up. I'll love you forever. -Jaania.
The ring Jaania wore was shaped like a coil of very beautiful, slim and elegant flames, running one after another all around her finger. It was made of dazzling reddish gold, the color that regular gold would have looked in the light from a glowing fire. Something about the magic that Feanor had used in creating it made the light and colors in the ring actually move and shift, so that it almost seemed to be made of real fire.
Flashfire Ring
Jaania, your heart is as quick and bright as a dancing flame. I'll love you forever. -Xan.
What would I say about Serenity? Warlic wondered, startling himself with the thought. Taking her hand, he smiled. I may just have to decide that one day. And I wonder what she might say about me?
"May I have everyone's attention, please?" Maya was saying. Warlic and Serenity, hand in hand, turned to look at the cheerful, smiling Loremaster as she spoke. "What better way to conclude a wonderful Frostval celebration than with a lot of beautiful carols? And one of our guests of honor, Xan here, has offered to sing the first one."
She gestured to Xan, and he nodded in acknowledgement. Stepping forward with his boots crunching almost musically through the snow, he stood boldly in front of the blazing campfire and faced everyone.
"Jaania, I sang this song for you the last time I was here in Frostvale." Xan looked directly at her, and his fiery green eyes blazed with absolute happiness. "But it's even better this year... just like this is the most wonderful Frostval I've ever known."
Ultimately confident, as much of a natural showman as Warlic knew he had always been, Xan launched right into his merry Frostval song.
"Oh, the weather outside's delightful
And the fire is also delightful
As long as you love me so
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!"
Author's Note: Xan's lyrics for "Let it Snow!" are my reprise of Artix Entertainment's reprise that they included in the "Xanta Claus" quests. I wonder if they noticed, when they were writing that quest, that the carol Xan was singing is actually a love song? =D
The knight called Sir Ching was my son Artix Fanboy's idea. (Thanks!)
I really hope you enjoyed this story! And now that it's finished, Razzle and I are getting ready to launch into a project of making a complete audio recording of it. And you're invited! The audio-fic, when it's finished, will go on our website called the Audio Fanfiction Library. (There's a link to that site at the top of my author profile, so you can easily go check it out!) Some of the character roles are already taken but a lot aren't. We need LOTS of people to play characters for this, and you don't have to "prove you're good enough" or anything un-fun like that. None of us are professionals - those people are in studios getting paid for their time! =D So just send me a PM if you'd like to play someone, and I'll let you know if you can!