AN: And now Day 10, and Vilkas finally pulling his head out of his arse. Enjoy!
Somebody was pounding on an anvil inside her head, Kirstte was sure of it. Too loud noises jabbed at her ears and brain and she groaned, pulling a pillow over her head. The pounding continued and she pushed up, turning to yell at whoever was making the noise. When she found the room was empty she glared at the ceiling.
It took a few attempts but soon she was dressed and dragging herself up the stairs and to the main hall. She fell into a chair, folded her arms on the table and dropped her head on them. "What is that awful noise?" she rasped.
"Farkas let you try some of his special reserve last night didn't he?" Vilkas sounded amused.
"I have no idea. He kept putting bottles in front of me and I kept drinking them." She pushed her hands over her ears and lifted her head, glaring around with one eye. "I will never do that again."
"Famous last words," he chuckled and then handed her something. "Here. I figured you had used up your stash on us. It's the least I can do."
The health potion tasted bitter on her tongue, but the immediate relief was wonderful. "Mmmm, thank you." She blinked, grinning at him. He looked much happier this morning than he had the last couple of days. "You seem to be in a better mood." She refused to let hope blossom that maybe he had come to his senses.
He looked away from her, gaze finding Farkas where he was across the room working with Torvar and Athis on some kind of elaborate sleigh. That was the pounding noise she had been hearing. He sighed and drew her attention back to him. "I'm not sure about that. Just trying not to ruin the holiday," he answered and she barely resisted groaning.
"What's all this then?" She waved her hand towards the sleigh and then helped herself to breakfast.
"Farkas!" he bellowed. Farkas bounded over, grinning widely.
"Morning Kirstte! Today is my favorite day. Today is the day Grandfather Frost visits!" She leaned on the table and waited for him to continue. "A male family member gets dressed up as Grandfather Frost and rides in a sleigh, then you invite him in for dinner and we eat and drink and he gives gifts to everybody!"
"That sounds fun." She nodded to the sleigh. "So Kodlak will dress up then?" She had a hard time imagining the Harbinger dressed in anything but his armor.
"That is a surprise!" Farkas declared before he hurried back over to the sleigh.
"Grandfather Frost is typically a tradition for households with children," Vilkas explained. "We have not celebrated this part of Jól for many years, but Farkas insisted you should experience every tradition, including this one." He paused and fiddled with a fork. "When we were young, before he left, Jergen was the one to dress the part. I remember waiting outside, watching as the sleigh pulled up and he would climb out wearing the robe and his beard powdered with flour to make it white. He always had a huge pack filled with presents for everybody and he would spend the night telling us stories and we always got to stay up much later than normal." He smiled softly and she felt her heart lurch. She could picture them, the young boys roughhousing around the main hall, sitting and listening to stories. She smiled at the thought.
Vilkas shook his head, his face dropping. "After he left, Kodlak started doing it, but it wasn't the same. After our thirteenth name day, he stopped all together."
"Still, it sounds fun." He blinked and looked at her like he'd forgotten she was there. "What did you do on this night if Grandfather Frost didn't visit?"
He shrugged. "Most of us would go down to the Mare. Last year Mikael dressed up and tried to see how many women he could get to sit on his lap." She wrinkled her nose and he chuckled.
"Good morning Vilkas, Kirstte." Kodlak sat down next to her and she smiled.
"Hello, Harbinger. Are you excited that Grandfather Frost is coming tonight?" She heard Vilkas snort and ignored him.
Kodlak chuckled. "I believe I am. Are you?"
"Of course! This has been so much fun. Holidays when I was young were stilted, formal affairs, and we certainly didn't celebrate Jól. Only Imperial holidays were acceptable." She sighed, absently stacking a few more pastries on her plate. "I miss my parents, truly, but the more time I spend here, the more I realized what I missed out on. They were more like, older acquaintances, not loving parents."
"Many people don't have loving families," Kodlak answered. "Be happy you found a place where you belong, and with people who are willing to take you in." He tilted his head towards Farkas. "Almost like the little sister he never had."
Vilkas snorted. "Sister. Right," he muttered. Kirstte glared at him.
"What was that, Vilkas?" Kodlak asked. She was certain he had heard what Vilkas said.
"Nothing. Excuse me Harbinger, Dragonborn." He nodded to them both and left, disappearing downstairs.
"I hate when he calls me that," she grumbled. "He knows how much I don't like that title."
"At least it's not 'Master'," Kodlak said. "It took me years to break him of that habit once he started calling me that. He still slips on occasion." She snickered and nodded. She had heard Vilkas call Kodlak Master a few of times. Kodlak was staring at her, she could feel it. She looked up from the pastry she had been dissecting. "His heart's in the right place, but I think he's misunderstood some things," he said and she glowered. He chuckled and shook his head, his gaze shifting to Farkas and the sleigh. "I'm sure after tonight, things will be better." He stood, patting her on the shoulder. "Good day, Kirstte."
She hummed a reply and kept assaulting the pastry, watching as Kodlak said something to Farkas, who responded enthusiastically.
"Come on, Thane." Lydia appeared at her elbow, startling her. "The pastry is dead. Let's go wander through the market and see if we can find anything we can't live without." She was dressed in her winter gear and holding Kirstte's cloak, boots, and gloves. She shrugged and then accepted the items, pulling them on and following Lydia outside.
Kirstte was in a much better mood when they returned to Jorrvaskr just after sundown. They had spent the day in the market, visiting with other residents and chatting with the merchants. Elrindir had returned her evergreen crown, muttering something about all that mistletoe being a curse. She had convinced Jon to do another rendition of his Ysgramor impression, much to the amusement of the crowd outside of Belethor's shop. Lydia had conned her into buying taffy treats and warmed cider or hot chocolate for almost everybody they ran into, which delighted the sweets vendor. He had given them each a few bars of chocolate and explained how to prepare it. They were now tucked in her pouch along with the crown and a few small trinkets she had picked up.
Most of the Companions were standing outside the front door and she joined the crowd, pushing in next to Farkas. Lydia snuggled up against him, squeezing his hand with hers. "What are we doing?" Kirstte asked.
"Waiting for Grandfather Frost." He pointed and she could see the sleigh coming up the path through the Cloud District, being pulled by what looked like her horse.
"Is that?" She glanced at him and he flushed.
"Well, we needed something to pull the sleigh," he muttered and she laughed. The sleigh came to a stop at the bottom of the steps and out climbed a man wearing a dark blue robe that was decorated with designs of evergreen branches and holly. He had a white beard that she was pretty sure was wool, and his hair was tucked up under a hat that matched the robe. He pulled a pack from the sleigh that was stuffed with presents.
"Happy Jól!" he bellowed, climbing up the stairs. Kirstte's jaw dropped when she realized who it was.
"Happy Jól, Grandfather Frost!" Farkas responded. "Would you join us for dinner?"
"I'd be delighted young man! Lead the way." Everybody started crowding through the doors towards what smelled like an amazing dinner. Kirstte hung back until it was just her and Grandfather Frost. "Well young lady?" He arched a brow at her.
"You look amazing," she said. "Truly."
"Shut up and get inside," he muttered and she laughed, but followed his instructions. The only seats open were next to Kodlak and she took one, while Grandfather Frost stood by the other. He cleared his throat and all eyes turned to him. "I thank you, for inviting me to join you in this amazing dinner. Let's feast and celebrate this joyous time of year."
He sat down and Kirstte tucked into her meal, enjoying the stories that were swapped back and forth between them. She had never been in a place where she felt more comfortable and accepted.
After the meal Grandfather Frost rose and went to his pack, tugging it open. "And now, as a thank you, gifts for everybody!" He began pulling packages out, glancing at the names before handing them out. Kirstte held onto hers, watching as the others began opening them. There was a sharp gasp from Farkas and all eyes turned to him. He was staring at his gift.
"Farkas?" Lydia asked, putting hers down on the table and turning to face him. "What is it?" she leaned forward to look and he curled his hand around it, pulling it up to his chest. He glanced around the room, and then seemed to steel himself. He opened his hand and showed it to Lydia, whose eyes widened and she covered her mouth. "Farkas, is that… are you?"
"I wasn't planning on doing it this early, but it feels right. What do you say, Love?" He looked terrified.
"Yes! Yes, of course!" She launched herself into his arms and kissed him and the room broke out into applause.
"What just happened?" Kirstte was clapping and cheering with the rest of them, but she had no clue what was going on.
"I believe Farkas just received an Amulet of Mara." Kodlak smiled and realization dawned on her. She pushed back from her seat and hurried around the room, throwing her arms around Lydia.
"Congratulations!" she cheered. "I'm so happy for you!" She hugged Farkas also. "And you!"
"Wait a minute," Vilkas interrupted. He looked completely bewildered as he stared at the three of them. "But I thought…" he trailed off and shook his head, before adopting his Grandfather Frost voice. "I mean, Congratulations you two! And Happy Jól to all of you!"
"Happy Jól!" they called back and he walked out, still throwing confused glances behind him. Kirstte made to follow but Farkas caught her arm.
"He's just going to take the sleigh back to the stable, then he'll be back. I have a feeling he needs some time to think." She frowned and he sighed and fiddled with the amulet. "I think he was under the impression I would want to wear this for you."
She straightened, mouth gaping as everything Vilkas had been saying and doing the last few days made sense to her. "That stupid, stubborn man," she muttered. "Is this a normal gift from Grandfather Frost?" she asked, picking up the amulet to study it.
"No, usually the gifts are candy or small toys." Lydia waved around the mint chews that were in hers. Everybody else had similar candies and Kirstte returned to her place, plucking up her gift. She pulled back the wrapping and stifled a gasp when she saw it. Instead of candies there was a small wooden figurine. She lifted it out, smiling a little as she studied it. It was exactly like the dog she had owned when she was young, and carved hunkered down, like it was getting ready to play. She stroked her fingers over it, tears springing to her eyes.
She stayed at the table for a long time, long after the others were in bed and Tilma had banked the fire for the evening. Eventually she fell asleep with her head on her arms, the dog still cradled in her hand. She woke briefly when somebody lifted her and curled against the warm body carrying her. Bleary eyes blinked open and she spotted dark hair and a silver gaze. "Vilkas?" she murmured. "Was waiting for you."
"Go back to sleep, Kirstte," he responded, gently placing her on her bed and tugging the blankets around her. "We'll talk tomorrow."
"Mmkay," she sighed, already drifting off, but certain she felt him press a kiss to her forehead.