oh yes it is me writing a Christmas fic in April
The wards were once again sitting next to the fireplace, trying to warm themselves up after an eventful day of playing in the snow. They had all been freezing when they came back into the ward building for lunch. The snowball fight was longer than expected, with Horace always trying to attack Will and stick a handful of snow behind his collar.
But, right now, they all had a mug of hot tea, wrapped in blankets. It had been two days since Alyss came back home after the curfew, and the wards couldn't believe that something like that would happen to her.
The girl in question was sitting next to Will, her oldest friend, and smelled the cinnamon in her tea. She had been planning to tell the others what she and Lady Pauline decided, but before that happened, she needed to warm up.
The children drank their teas slowly until they finally felt warmth spreading through their limbs up to the very tips of their fingers.
Finally, Alyss set her mug on the table, still wrapped in her blanket. She didn't intend to take it off. For one, she was comfortable like this and for the second, it was a lovely shade of blue - exactly the shade of blue the Couriers wore in their uniforms, and Alyss, wanting to become a Courier one day, could already feel like one when she was wrapped in this blanket.
"Alright," she started, noticing how the attention of the other ward mates turned to her. Jenny already knew what this would be about, as the girls shared a room and Alyss had already told her yesterday, but the boys didn't know, and therefore it would be a surprise for them.
"I've consulted Lady Pauline on what we should do to make the surprise," she threw a glance at the boys, not wanting to spoil what they were planning since their caretakers had been in the room with them. Will, Horace, and George nodded, knowing what she meant.
"I have a list of things we should do," Alyss continued. She had the list memorized, so she was able to count it off on her fingers.
"We need to practice some carols, make some holly wreaths, get a tree and decorate it and we need to prepare a feast," she counted everything, lifting a finger each time she listed a thing. The remaining children looked at each other and blinked in surprise.
"We can't ever pull that off!" Will said, his eyes wide as he tried to take in everything that needed to be done.
Horace smirked.
"Are you… scared?" he asked in a challenging tone. He knew that Will would never refuse a challenge, especially one coming from him.
Will puffed out his cheeks.
"Only in your dreams!" he retorted, his curious brown eyes shining with mischief. Horace took in a sharp breath, preparing to answer him, definitely something clever , but George interrupted.
"Technically, Will is right, we can't ever make this, we're just children! We can practice carols, but we barely know two, and badly at that, we're not strong enough to get a tree, not to mention that we're not allowed off the castle grounds, and none of us can cook," he presented logical arguments that definitely didn't work out in their favour.
Jenny took a breath.
"I can cook," she argued. "I can make a pretty good porridge," she held her chin up proudly. The children were rarely allowed to make food. Once, they could help to make dinner, and Jenny enjoyed it the most out of all the wards.
George shook his head.
"I suppose that you don't know how to roast a whole boar's head?" Jenny looked at him, frowning. The kids have only gotten fish to eat on Christmas Day and a whole boar?
George finished his tea, surely cold by now.
"Well, wealthy people like Barons have a roasted boar for dinner," he explained, finding all the information he had once read useful.
Will looked at Alyss confusedly. The girl didn't look much wiser than he did, and apparently, even she hadn't thought of that.
"A boar? Where are we going to get a boar?" he asked incredulously, not believing that they could ever obtain a head out of such a prestigious and dangerous animal.
Horace let out a short laugh that was aimed at Will.
"Maybe you should go ask the Ranger then, he could cook up a boar with dark magic," Horace offered mockingly, despite hesitating a bit before saying "Ranger".
Will stuck out his tongue at him.
"Maybe you could do it if you have a solution for everything," he shot back in an equally mocking tone, and the two boys would continue in their bickering if it wasn't for Alyss raising her voice and interrupting them.
"Guys! I'm sure we can do it somehow," she said, offering a weak smile. She also wasn't sure how it'd go. Next to her, Jenny shrugged, her blond hair falling off her shoulders.
"Maybe we could settle for a fish then?" she offered. Fish was generally much easier to obtain and maybe their caretakers would help them with preparing it.
George shook his head, mumbling something under his breath. Maybe something about how unbelievable the whole scheme was.
"We can't offer Baron Arald anything less than a boar," he said. "It's thanks to him we're here today, we should show him some proper gratitude," he stated. The others nodded.
Baron Arald had shown kindness to each and one of them when he allowed them to live in the ward. They got the basics of education there, got a roof over their heads, they were allowed to live together and play outside of their lesson and, when they reached 15, they would be offered a unique life path. The Choosing Day was an opportunity for every one of them, and the kids knew that they were provided this generous chance by the Baron. Otherwise, they would be sent to work on local farms, providing necessary food and crops to the village and castle for the rest of their lives.
Alyss nodded.
"Maybe we can ask in the kitchens to at least help us borrow the head?" she asked, feeling that the plan was crumbling underneath her fingers as they spoke on. Will's head moved as the boy stared intently at her, a wide grin spreading on his face.
"Leave that to me!" he said enthusiastically, pointing at himself. Jenny raised her eyebrow at him. It was notoriously known that Will tended to get himself into trouble every other day, but the goal of this little plan wasn't to do just that. However, since they had no other alternative, Alyss hesitantly nodded, not wanting to sadden her oldest friend.
"Alright, Will, you'll ask the kitchen about the head, Jenny, you and I will make some wreaths and decorations," Alyss said, already planning to go to the candle maker and ask for some tallow candles. She planned to use up all her lousy allowance and money that she got by doing small jobs here and there. She knew that she didn't have money for the finest, beeswax candles, but she could buy the tallow ones. It wasn't exactly Baron-worthy, but it was the only plan she had.
"You, George," she continued, looking at the smartest member of their group. "I want you to get some carols so we can practice singing. And Horace, you'll get and decorate the tree. Will can help you if he wants." Alyss smiled, looking pretty pleased with herself. However, she was met with the two boys looking at each other with narrowed eyes.
"Never!" Will yelled, eyes fixed on Horace.
"Like I'd want your help! I can do it myself!" the big boy retorted. Alyss massaged the bridge of her nose. It was a never-ending story with those two.
"Alright, Will will ask the kitchen and Horace can get the tree," she decided and watched as both boys simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.
Everything was decided. Alyss buried herself deep in her blanket, feeling cold nibbling at her feet, and sighed.
"I guess that's all for now," she said before she perked up one last time. "And George, if you could start working on getting those carols first, please. We will need some time practicing them," she explained, nodding to the boy.
George smiled. He had an important task that included one of his favourite pastimes: going to the library.
"Of course, Alyss," he replied, gathering his faithful book that he always tried to have with him, and stood up. The meeting was over, and he couldn't wait to spend some hours by himself, recharging his energy depleted by social interactions.
George left the meeting while the other kids stayed and chatted about the snowball fight.
The next day after morning classes, George made his way to the library. Everyone else except Alyss headed inside to listen to stories and play.
He knew that Alyss has asked Miss Madeleine, one of their caretakers if she could take her to the candle maker. If there were things to be done, Alyss never hesitated, she was always straightforward and precise. She had gathered all her money and, together with Miss Madeleine, she left the castle to go buy some of the candles.
George, meanwhile, made his way to the library.
Castle Redmont's library was a large hall filled with books of all kinds, and George loved it there. There were several tables with chairs, and the whole space was filled with quiet, welcoming silence. Honestly, he loved it. There were no quarrels between Will and Horace, or the overexcited chatter of Jenny and Alyss. George could see himself becoming the Head Librarian in the future. He already knew every corner of the library.
And the current Head Librarian, Esmond, also knew the boy pretty well. He shared his passion for knowledge and often allowed George in after lessons.
Technically speaking, the wards were supposed to keep to their own quarters after their morning lessons and not enter the castle, but Esmond liked George well enough and he knew that the boy would still try to spend time in the library, so he allowed him inside. He knew that he could behave, and didn't mind his quiet presence.
Today, George came up to him. He had always been a bit shy speaking to the adult, be it out of fear or admiration, but today, he held a notebook provided by the Baron (that all the wards got for Christmas last year) and a quill.
George came to Esmond who was just ranging books into bookshelves. There were a lot of books on the floor, waiting to be put in. The boy tried to turn his head sideways so he could read the titles, but the librarian gave a short scoff. The boy almost jumped out of his skin, poor thing, before he shyly looked at him.
"E-excuse me, d-do you know some Christmas c-carols?" the boy stuttered, obviously uncomfortable at speaking to an unfamiliar adult. He also didn't look him in the eye but set his gaze on something that was behind him.
Esmond studied him, then he nodded.
"There should be some songbook in the next row," he said, pointing at the row on the left side.
"Be careful, there are also a lot of books on the floor, ready to be ranged," he warned him. The boy muffled a quick thanks, audible enough that he knew he was polite and thanked him, low enough that no one else would've heard it, and the boy turned around and went to the other row.
George set his notebook and quill on the table, his heart beating fast. Even though he knew the librarian by sight, he had interacted with him only rarely, and every time proved to be a challenge. But he had managed to ask for directions, and now he stood on tiptoes and looked for the book he was looking for. His eyes scanned the rows of books until finally, he saw it.
It was a thin book not much different from others, and the boy reached for it, wrapping his fingers on the spine and tugged gently to pull it out.
However, the book was stuck.
George frowned, tugging on it more forcefully, but the book didn't budge. The boy let out a frustrated sigh.
Finally, on the third try, several things happened. The book came loose, but as George pulled it from the bookshelf, he lost his footing and stumbled back, sending piles of books flying in all directions. The boy painfully collided with the opposite bookshelf.
"Ow," George muttered, tears forming in his eyes. What had he done? He looked around, noticing the mess around him. He started crying; he'd never be allowed back in the library, for sure! Once the librarian knew what had happened, he would forbid him to come ever again, and George could never become the Head Librarian or even a Scribe!
True enough, the noise attracted the librarian.
"What happened here!?" he came running, his tone angry. It was until he noticed the boy's small body swarmed with books and the soft sniffles that came from him. Esmond's expression softened and he crouched next to the child.
"Are you alright?" he asked, moving his hand to look for injuries. In response, George cried even more than before.
"I-it was s-stuck!" he cried, pointing to the book he held in his hand. "I t-tried to p-pull it o-out, but I c-couldn't, and then I f-fell," he wailed, wiping his tears with the sleeve of his tunic. The librarian offered him his hand.
"You should've called me," he scolded him lightly. "I would've gotten it."
George nodded sadly, his cheeks all red from crying. He sniffed.
"You're g-going to b-ban me from h-here, aren't you?" he asked, his voice trembling. The poor child was terrified, Esmond realized. He was so scared that he wouldn't be allowed in the library ever again because of a small accident.
The corners of his mouth tugged upwards in a small smile.
"I won't ever tell that you got in trouble, and you're not banned from the library if you help me put the books back onto piles," he said gently and allowed George to wipe the last of his tears.
Then, he added: "And then I might help you with whatever you came for."
George's eyes lit up. He knew how to read and write, but, just like the other kids, he was still quite slow in both, and having an adult help him would be a wonderful help.
"I will help!" he beamed, all traces of crying (or stuttering, for that matter) gone.
As it came, he helped put all the books back where they belonged, tasting the librarian's job for the first time in his life, and that evening, he returned back to the Ward with several Christmas carols written down in his notebook. Alyss hid all the candles she had bought in her and Jenny's room, but they were slowly but surely progressing with their plan.
Of course, he also never told anyone what really transpired in the library, but that didn't matter. From that day on, he knew that he wanted to be a part of the Scribesmaster school.