AN: Thank you so much for the reviews and reading and now day 2! And the return of some familiar and unfamiliar faces.
Kirstte adjusted the pin in her hair, fixing the sprig of mistletoe over her ear until she was certain it would stay there all day. She strolled out of her room, brows arched when the Athis pointedly looked in the other direction. Her brow furrowed when a few others copied him and by the time she was upstairs she was glaring. "Vilkas." He was sitting at the table with Farkas and Ria and threw her a look that was much too innocent for her liking. She crossed her arms and raised one elegant brow at him. "There seems to be something missing for our second day of Jól." She waved her hand at the ceiling and rafters that had been covered with mistletoe the previous year and were now suspiciously clean.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he responded, grabbing a bowl on the table and holding it up. "Sugared pear?"
"What was your plan?" She prowled towards him, amused when she heard Farkas gulp and scoot back from his brother. "Take down all the mistletoe in Jorrvaskr and then keep me here until today was over?" She watched his cheeks redden and scoffed. "Unless you intend to tie me up – something I would not recommend outside the bedroom – you better get the idea out of your head that you're going to keep me from celebrating all the traditions of the holiday."
"It's not for you," he murmured and she froze, face dropping in confusion. He snorted and tipped her mouth closed before he stood and pulled her into a kiss. "Tilma agreed to keep the amount of mistletoe toned down because she knows how much I abhor the tradition. Remember last year?" She gave him a tiny smile and nodded. She did remember that he was out of the city all day. "As for everybody else, I told them I better get the first kiss. After that, you're on your own." He grinned and kissed her again.
"Oh good, I was worried you'd shoved your head back up your arse after all the trouble she went through to get it out." They both spun to find Aela standing inside the door, kicking snow off her boots.
"Aela!" Kirstte bounced across the floor first, barely beating the rest of the Companions. She hugged her. "Welcome home!"
The Huntress returned the embrace, pushing her face into Kirstte's neck and inhaling deeply. "Our trip to Solstheim was enjoyable, but there's nothing like coming home." She gave her one final squeeze before she released her and stepped up to Vilkas, repeating the move with him.
"I'm glad to see you decided to come back." Kirstte grinned at Anders, extending her arm. He gripped her forearm and held it. "I wasn't sure you would." She squeezed his arm. "I meant it for you too. Welcome home." Astonishment passed over his face and he swallowed hard as it was replaced with relief.
"Thank you. I was hoping my acceptance to the Companions was sincere, but it was so long ago and I left so abruptly, I wasn't sure." He released her arm as Farkas slapped him on the back, sending him forward a couple of steps.
"Once you're in, you're in. You'll never be rid of us now!" he declared. "Come on, you have to be hungry!" Before anybody could move Vilkas cleared his throat and gave a pointed look to the two others who had come in. Farkas blinked at them. "Oh, hey, who are they?"
Aela motioned and the taller one came forward, pushing back their hood to reveal a wave of golden hair. Kirstte blinked up at the Altmer male with a curious gaze. "This is Romularan. We met in Solstheim. He's interested in joining the Companions." She gave Kirstte a heavy look and she exhaled slowly as she realized what Aela was trying to tell her.
"Tell me, Romularan, are you a capable fighter?" She studied him. Like all Altmer he was tall and willowy, probably an archer or a magic user.
He grinned, revealing some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen and pulled an enormous two-handed warhammer from beneath his cloak, balancing it against his shoulder. "I can hold my own." He shrugged and she blinked at the weapon, not even sure she would be able to lift it.
She smirked and tilted her head towards Vilkas. "Great. Later today you and Vilkas can duel. After that I'll decide if you're in or not." He nodded and the warhammer disappeared. "For now feel free to eat, mingle, and enjoy the second day of Jól!" He glanced at Aela with a question in his eyes and she took his arm, guiding him over to the table and murmuring in his ear.
Kirstte looked at the last figure and Anders came up, kneeling down and smiling. "It's okay," he said gently, reaching out and pushing back her hood. Terrified blue eyes gazed at them. "This is Sofie," he explained. "She was in Windhelm selling flowers for money and sleeping in the gutter." He glanced at Kirstte. "Windhelm is nicer since the new Jarl has taken over, but it's still not a place for a young girl to live on the streets. I wasn't sure what to do, but I couldn't leave her there."
"Well you've come to the right place," Njada snorted, with a pointed look at a few of the newer members and then Lucia. "Apparently we're taking in all kinds of strays now." She elbowed her way back to the table and sat, ignoring everybody else.
Kirstte rolled her eyes and knelt down near Sofie, smiling gently. "How old are you Sofie?" The girl looked at Anders and shook her head, darting over to him and attempting to burrow her way into his abdomen. He wrapped an arm around her and exhaled softly. "Lucia?" She walked up slowly, smiling easily when Sofie looked at her with one eye from where she was hiding. "Sofie, this is Lucia. She lives here too and helps Tilma clean. If you want, she can take you to her room and help you get a bath and a change of clothes? Would that be okay?" Sofie nodded slowly and stepped away from Anders, eyes darting around. Lucia held her hand out and Sofie was slow to take it. Once she did Lucia began talking, explaining how she came to live at Jorrvaskr, what she did, and everything else under the sun. She did not seem to mind the fact that Sofie was silent, looking over the room with wide eyes as she trailed after her. When they were safely out of the room, Kirstte looked at Anders and tilted her head in question.
He stared after the closed door, brow furrowed with concern. "I talked to a few of the residents in Windhelm. Her mother died when she was little and her father was a Stormcloak soldier who never returned. She used to speak, but something must have happened to her, because now she won't. She does know how to write some." He rubbed his neck. "She did let me know she's thirteen," he added.
Kirstte puffed out a breath of air. "Hopefully being here and around Lucia helps. And maybe the Jól celebrations." She shrugged and clapped him on the back. "Well, you brought her here. You're in charge of her." She grinned. "I've got some shopping to do. Anybody want to go with me?" Farkas was quick to wave his hand and hop up from the table.
He pressed a kiss to her cheek and flicked the mistletoe over her ear. "Really?"
She laughed. "It'll be easier than getting caught by surprise!" He snorted and slipped her arm through his, pulling her out of the building. "Do you know what you're getting Lydia?" she asked.
He sighed and shook his head. "She's been so miserable the last few days. I don't know that she would appreciate anything except giving birth." He bumped her hip with his. "What about you? Ideas for Vilkas?"
"Maybe," she replied with a wink. "But I'm not going to tell you. He'll get the information out of you. He's tricky like that." She paused at a Fralia's stand and pressed a kiss to the older woman's hand. "Happy Jól, Fralia!"
"Happy Jól, dear! Looking for anything special?" She smiled and eyed Farkas. "Isn't that the wrong twin you've got your arm wrapped around?" she teased.
Kirstte snorted and studied some of the necklaces hanging there. "Eh, I'm sure Lydia won't mind me borrowing him for the day." She touched a pair of necklaces with flower pendants. "I'll take these." At Farkas's look she held them up for his inspection. "I thought the girls might like something pretty," she explained.
He nodded in understanding and then picked up a necklace, studying it. Kirstte nudged up next to him to look at it. It was a beautifully sculpted pendant, styled to look like a bird nest. Nestled inside were two eggs and standing the back where two birds. "I think Lydia would love that," she said grinning at him.
He sighed. "There are two eggs. Not one."
She shrugged and took it from his hand, turning it over to Fralia. "He'll take it," she declared. At his look, she smirked. "You'll just have to have a second baby then, Farkas." He frowned at her and took it from Fralia, handing her a stack of gold. "Hey, what do you want for Jól?" she asked.
"I want a healthy baby." He answered absently, wandering over to a small table set up outside Belethor's shop. A Dunmer sat behind it, absently whittling as he watched the crowd. Kirstte followed him, pausing to accept and give a few kisses before she caught up with him.
"I meant a present that I can give you," she griped. He ignored her as he browsed the children's toys on display and she stuck her tongue out at his back, blushing when the Dunmer snorted at her behavior. She selected a few toys and added them to her pack.
"I thought I saw the mighty Dragonborn!" Belethor popped out of his shop and swung around the table, kissing her soundly on the lips. "Happy Jól! Surely you won't forget to visit my shop will you?"
"Of course not," she replied. "And since Farkas is being less than helpful, I'll be right in." He continued to ignore her and she sighed, nudging him again. "Farkas? What is wrong with you? You love Jól!" He blinked, and looked at her, as if just realizing where he was.
"Sorry, Kirstte. I'm a bit distracted." He saw Belethor waiting in the open door to his shop and waved his hands. "Go on. I don't think I want to shop right now." He trudged across the square and she watched his back as he disappeared up the stairs. She frowned and headed into Belethor's shop, mind on Farkas and his strange behavior the whole time she shopped.
As she made her way to the Khajiit vendors, she was still distracted by it. "The Harbinger graces us with her presence," Ri'saad teased. "How can this one help you?" Kirstte grinned at him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. He laughed at her. "This one thinks you enjoy this tradition a little too much." His eyes were sparkling as he looked at the mistletoe pinned in her hair. "Be careful, or they may start talking about you."
She laughed and sat across from him. "They already talk, Ri'saad. I might as well give them something good to talk about!"
He chortled. "Good, good, Harbinger!" He waved his hand where Ma'randru-jo was speaking with a customer. "Do you have another special order this year?"
"Something like that," she admitted, "Can I describe what I want and see if you can help?"
"Of course."
A few hours later, satisfied that Ri'saad would be able to get what she needed, she made her way back to Jorrvaskr, meandering through the streets and sharing Jól greetings and kisses with people along the way.
"Harbinger!" She smiled at Balgruuf where he waved from near the Gildergreen. "How has this second day of Jól been for you?" he asked, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"Wonderful, my Jarl. And for you?" She returned the greeting and kissed him on the cheek. "Are the children enjoying themselves?"
He offered her his arm and started towards Jorrvaskr, frowning slightly. "Dagny and Nelkir seem to be enjoying themselves enough, but if Frothar swears that if he doesn't get a real sword this year, he's going to run away." He sighed. "I know he's old enough, but I worry about sending him to train with Irileth and the guards." At her surprised look, he grunted. "She wanted him to have a sword when he could walk. Something about the son of a Jarl needing to protect himself. I'm afraid she'll take the training too fast for him."
She hummed. "Send him to Jorrvaskr for training," she offered. "I'm not traveling as much as Harbinger. I'd be happy to train him. I'm planning on teaching the girls anyway." He arched a brow at her. "Lucia, the little orphaned girl who was haunting the space around the Gildergreen?" He nodded in recognition. "Tilma suggested taking her in to help around Jorrvaskr and recently another orphan, Sofie, arrived. If she wants to stay and help like Lucia, we'll let her. Frothar can train with them."
He patted her hand and released her outside the door to Jorrvaskr. "That may be a good idea," he admitted. "I'll think about it. Good evening, Kirstte."
"Good evening, Balgruuf."