I walked to the doorway of Achilles' room. He was sitting at his desk, a feather pen in hand and parchment in front of him. I paused and gently tapped my knuckles against the wood frame. The elderly man looked up at me.

"What is it, Faith?"

I took a couple tentative steps forward and stood by the desk with my hands in my back pockets. I watched him for a moment. I noticed a crease in his brow at my silence.

"I wanted to ask you something," I said.

Achilles put his pen down and gave me his attention. "Do you require permission or were you only stating your intentions?"

I let out a nervous laugh. "I guess I'm just stalling. I don't want to overstep my bounds or offend you in any way. But...in three days it'll be Christmas."

Achilles looked distant for a moment, perhaps calculating the date. "So it will," he said.

"Do you plan to do anything special that day?" I asked.

Achilles gave me a wry grin. "I haven't had a reason to celebrate the holidays in many years."

"Oh," I said. I hadn't really expected a different response, but I was still crestfallen. I'm not sure why.

Achilles watched me for a moment. "Is Christmas important to you?"

I shrugged. "I dunno. Most of the people I've stayed with over the years have taken it to extremes one way or the other. It was either not important at all and we did nothing or I was forced to participate religious customs I didn't really believe. I guess I just want something in between."

Achilles sighed and smiled at me. "I understand. You are welcome to celebrate in whatever way you choose. I've never been one for merrymaking, but I suppose I can muster up some joy for your sake." He frowned for a second. "Connor, on the other hand...his people don't celebrate Christmas, so I'm not sure how he would react."

I smiled. "I think I can get him to go along with it."

The old man raised his brow at me. "Really? And how do you plan to do that?"

I shrugged. "I'll fix a big meal. Surly he'll like that."

Achilles laughed. "I'm sure he will."

I left the room and decided to start on my preparation for the best day of the year. I approached Connor just as he was taking a break from whatever it was he'd been doing in the basement. He was standing in the kitchen, drinking water from the ladle. He was sweaty and breathing rapidly. He looked at me when I called his name in a loud whisper. His brow arched.

"Can we talk for a minute?" I asked him.

He looked at me questioningly and nodded. "Of course. Is something wrong?"

I shook my head and started to tell him what I had planned. Then I remembered that Achilles was in the room across the hall and beckoned for him to follow me upstairs to the library. He did, but looked confused.

"Why such secrecy?" he asked.

"I don't want Achilles to hear," I told him.

Connor nodded. "Then perhaps we should speak outside."

I stared at him. "It's snowing," I said. "I doubt he can hear us from here."

He shrugged, unconvinced but with resignation. "What is it you want to discuss, Faith?"

"I'm making plans for Christmas and I need your help," I told him.

"Christmas?" he repeated. "The religious holiday that the Colonists celebrate?"

The way he spoke of it was weird. I was accustomed to everyone knowing what Christmas was, even if they didn't acknowledge it. It was socially acceptable to say Happy Holidays in an attempt to include all beliefs, but people still knew about Christmas. To Connor, though, it was a novel idea. I doubted he knew anything about it at all. I reminded myself that he was a pure native, not even sure what that meant.

"Yeah," I told him.

"I am not sure of how much I can be," he said. "I do not understand such ways."

"That's okay," I said. "You don't have to understand it. I just want you to help get the decorations."

Connor nodded. "I suppose I can do that. What do you need?"

"The first thing we need to get is a tree."

He stared at me. "A tree?"

"A small tree," I told him. "An evergreen or pine tree. I guess a four foot one will be okay. Can you help me cut one down and set it up in the study?"

Connor thought for a moment. "What is the significance of the tree?"

I shrugged. I know there was a long history of why trees were used during the holiday season, but I didn't want to explain it right now. "It's just a tradition," I said. "Will you help me get one?"

He nodded. "I know a place to find one."

"Great. Now, do you know where to find mistletoe?"

"What is mistletoe?"

I sighed. "It's a plant that usually grows on the bark of trees. It sometimes has white or green buds on it. It's like a vine."

Connor watched me. "That does not help much," he said.

I didn't know how to explain it any other way. I wished I had a picture to show him, but I wasn't sure it would help. I wasn't even sure if mistletoe grew wild around this area.

"Never mind," I said. "The tree will be fine for now."

"Okay," he said.

"There's one more thing I need," I said. "Gift giving is also a Christmas tradition. And I wanna get a gift for Achilles. Sort of as a thank you for all he's done for me."

Connor looked at me for a second. "That would be nice. What would you like to get him?"

"I don't know. That's why I need your help."

"That is something I cannot help you with."

"Why?" I asked.

"This gift is from you, Faith. It would have more value if you decided on it alone."

"But you've known him longer," I stated. "I don't know what he likes or wants or needs. Besides, I don't have any way of buying him anything."

There was moments thoughtful silence from Connor then he looked at me. "Perhaps you should make him a gift instead."

It was a good idea. A homemade gift would be more practical and sentimental. The only problem with that idea was I had only two days and still no idea what to give the old man. I looked at Connor.

"I don't know what to make," I said. "What does Achilles like?"

Connor's silence seemed to last forever. At the end of it, he shrugged. "I do not know."

The amount of truth in his words made me wonder more about their relationship. Did it consist of anything other than the Brotherhood?

"How long have you know him?" I asked.

"Three years," he said. "Yet, I know very little of him as a person. He is my teacher. He has related only some of his past to me. As much as he has to you. In most ways, you know him as well as I do." He noticed my frown. "You do not have to give him a gift, Faith. The work you do here is enough."

I shook my head. "He deserves something."

"I will do what I can to help," Connor said. "But the gift should come from your heart."

I began to reevaluate my plans. Maybe getting a gift wasn't such a great idea. Maybe the food I prepared would be enough for Achilles.

"Where can we get the tree?" I asked.

"Get your coat and I will take you there," Connor said.

Connor led me down a snow-covered path south of the house. The land was mostly overgrown and unused. I hadn't known how extensive the forest was until I could no longer see the house. The snow was about two feet deep and it was a work out just to move in it. Connor didn't seem to have as limited mobility as I did. But he was quite a bit bigger than I was. I guessed him at least six feet tall already and probably about two hundred pounds. It was all muscle, though. He was very bulky. He'd wait for me to catch up every so often, which I thought was nice of him.

"It is not far now," he told me.

By the time we got to where we were going, I was frozen. The sun was shinning through the clouds, but it provided little warmth. My fingers were like ice, even with my hands in my pockets. I wished I had gloves. My boots were good for this travel though. Of that I was thankful. My feet were warm, but my pants were wet up to my knees.

"Hey," I said to Connor. "That one looks good."

I spotted a nice looking small fir tree nearby and pointed to it.

"It is young," Connor said.

"Is that bad?" I asked.

Connor shrugged. "Is it what you want?"

I nodded. As far as a tree goes, it was perfect. But what I really wanted was to get back to the house and thaw out. My face was numb from the cold. I followed Connor over to the tree and he readied the axe he had brought with him.

"You want me to do that?" I asked.

Connor shook his head. "I will cut it down. You can help me drag it back to the house."

I nodded and stood back, hugging myself as Connor chopped the narrow tree trunk quickly and easily. Within moments it fell to the ground in a cloud of damp white. Connor looked at me. I wasn't looking forward to removing my hands from my pockets, but I did.

"I can carry it myself," he said.

I shook my head and grabbed one of the lower branches on one side as he did the same on the opposite side. It wasn't that difficult to drag, but attempting to do it while navigating the mounds of snow was precarious. I almost fell a couple times and cursed. Connor glanced at me when he heard the profanity, but said nothing. I wondered if he'd ever heard bad words before. Surly he had. I wasn't sure how much women swore in this time period, but I was certain the crew of his ship did. That made me wonder what else he'd heard from the sailors of the Aquila.

Tugging the tree got easier as we neared a cleared path. Connor led the way as I was unsure of where exactly we were. We'd cut through the forest on our way to get the tree. The way we were taking back was different. As we moved along, I heard a voice call out to Connor. He stopped and turned toward the speaker. It was an older, heavy set man with a full beard. Connor put the tree down as he came over to us.

"Lance," he greet. "How are you?"

"As well as can be expected in such poor weather," the man said. He looked at me. "Who's your friend, Connor?"

"This is Faith," Connor told him. The other man reached out a hand to me. "She is working for Achilles for the time."

"How do you do?" the man asked as I shook his hand quickly before putting them in my pockets. "I'm Lance. I live and work close by."

"Oh," I said. "What kind of work do you do?"

"Wood work," Lance told me. "It's not that exciting, but it makes a living."

"Really?" I said. "Do you only make furniture? Or can you make other things?"

"Mostly furniture," Lance said. "But I have experience with all forms of wood craft. I've been commissioned to create all sort of things, from dolls to sheds."

An idea struck me as he was speaking. I remembered that Achilles' cane was quite worn and splintered in spots. He didn't use it much, but I thought a new one might benefit him.

"Do you make canes?" I asked Lance.

"Canes?" he repeated. "I've made a few."

"Would it be possible for you to make an elegant, but simple cane in two days?"

Connor gazed at me. I could tell by his expression that he knew what I had in mind. He almost grinned at me.

"I'm sure I could whip up something decent in that time frame," Lance told me. "It wouldn't happen to be a gift would it?"

I nodded. "How much would you charge for such an order?"

Lance thought for a moment. "For you? Hmm...five shillings."

"That seems a low price," Connor stated. I took his word for it. I didn't understand shillings and pounds. "I do not want you to be inconvenienced."

Lance laughed. It was a hearty, sincere sound. "It's no inconvenience at all. If not for you, I'd still be hanging by my ankles off the cliff. You and Achilles have helped me in many ways, and I'm obliged to return the favor."

"That is very kind of you," Connor said. "You have our thanks."

"Don't mention it." Lance looked at me. "It'll be ready for pick up Christmas eve."

"Thank you," I told him.

He left and I smiled at the fortune. I then looked at Connor. He gave me a smile as he lifted the tree. "That was a good idea for a gift," he said.

"Yeah," I stated. "Now I just gotta figure out how to pay for it."

"Do not worry," Connor returned. "Lance may have stated a price, but I doubt very much that he will take your money."

We got the tree back home and I stood in front of the fire for a hour before doing anything else. I was cold, but happy. Very happy.