Prompt: Red Scarf
From: Madam'zell G.
Aunt Cassiopeia handed both Watson and me a small gift, wrapped in brown paper, our names written in her loopy, feminine font. The contents were soft, which indicated an item of clothing. I deduced a scarf, as I could feel the texture of the wool underneath the paper.
Besides, I heard that Mycroft had received a white scarf from her earlier today.
I saw Watson give me a confused glance, but nonetheless smiled at my aunt with a warm gratitude that is so natural of a man such as he.
"Thank you, gracious lady," he said politely, bowing to her.
"You're welcome, my dears," replied Aunt Cassiopeia with a smile. She watched as the two of us unwrapped our gifts. Inside were scarves, as my deduction confirmed - mine was blue, and Watson's was red. They looked near identical, save for the colour; they both had fringed ends, and were the same length; and had both been knitted with Aran wool (I quickly felt Watson's scarf as well as my own.)
"These are for your cases during the coldest and darkest of winters." She said, her eyes twinkling with warmth. "May they keep you warm for many a case, over many a year,"
I smiled at the phrase; it had become an unofficial blessing, of sorts, within members of my family to wish me many a case over many years. Mycroft had been to blame for such a sentimental phrase, but, at the same time, I found it a more fitting familial blessing than the more 'conventional' ones of longevity and good fortune.
"Thank you, Aunt Cassiopeia," I said, "These are most exquisite."
They did indeed come in handy for many cases, especially for stakeouts with Lestrade, who admired them so much that I let slip to my aunt about his lack of scarf. Naturally, the good woman was always yearning to knit when she wasn't tending to her horses, painting, playing her harp (which she named Clarice, and treated like a confidant. I do not know why.) or playing cards (I feared telling Watson about my aunt's gambling habits, lest he attempt to challenge her to a couple of games. No good ever came of gambling with a Holmes, after all.)
So, she was happy to knit Lestrade a scarf too, and he got a rich, purple scarf. He was very pleased with it, and like Watson and I, wore it for a long time with pride.