Silverlake: Sonnet looks over George's accented speech and tickles it up where necessary as I can be a bit odd with accents, so part of that credit must go to her. Thank you for the comment about the ending. I'm going to get lots of practice with endings writing this sequence! Dark Unicorn Lurking: Thank you! I think Thom has the potential to be an interesting character. Dolphindreamer: Thank you. This chapter will have to do you till Saturday, as I'm at a 21st tomorrow night so want be online. However, I now have a week off (yippee!) so will guarantee a chapter a day next week! Lime 63: I'm writing as fast as I can! I like to get a chapter a day up, but I won't be tomorrow as I'm out. Keep reviewing. Reviews are motivational! Mirtle Riddle: He is definitely taking over. Thank you – I've never had perfect as a compliment before! Sonnet Lacewing: Thank you. I'm still dazed over the excerpt from chp 11. Jess: Cause I'm trying to stick to cannon, Daine and Numair won't get engaged. I may have the final festival – Mabon – set after the birth of Sarralyn, otherwise it'll be too samey to that chapter in Stepping State. Thank you for the stone info! Sarralyn Numairsri: I have already done three! After this I'm going to write one more long one, then concentrate on my own stuff, as long as the elf has told me how it's going to end by then… Neal's Chick: Thank you! Bitterosemary: Thank you. I'm glad that came across. Imbolc is the next after this, so expect mothering emails! Aravilui: The kids are what makes it interesting. They would hopefully be the centre of their parents' lives so they would be involved. Thank you. Celuna Cirrus: I really like little Aly. I quite like naughty children really. You may see more of her! Thank you! Imakeladrygirl: That was the one thing I knew was going to happen in that chapter. Thank you! Aikia Riyen: Ooohh, Medieval society. Sounds interesting… Goldeneyedwildmage: I'm glad it had that effect! I was worried that it might be a little kitsch. I will give that film ago! NB44: I love cheese. Especially brie! Daine's Daughter: Thank you! I hope you love this Midwinter! Twilight Shades: Thank you! Sorry the update's been slow.

A/N: If you haven't read A Stepping State then you mightn't know that Onua and Sarge are an item. Just to warn you so you don't think its appeared from nowhere.

The usual disclaimer applies!

Chapter 1 – Preparations

Numair Salmalin woke as the sun began to blare in through the large window that opened up onto one of the palace courtyards, rudely awakening him from his peaceful slumber. He automatically reached out an arm, hoping to find Daine lying next to him but much to his disappointment there was only an empty space, with the sheets still slightly warm and crinkled from her body.

He had become accustomed to her being there with remarkable rapidity, especially considering that he had lived alone for many years previously, and had never welcomed the long term presence of anyone else before, dismissing other lovers before they had had time enough to even consider leaving a hairbrush from one night to the next. Yet with Daine it had been different from the start; their relationship having grown from a seed of friendship into something that he now considered to be as vital as the air that he breathed.

He turned over; wondering what could have torn her away so early in the morning, and felt her pillow to see if she had left a note. Daine would not bother to wake him, unless it was something important, and nothing short of a hurricane could usually cause him to open his eyes much before nine bells. His hand discovered a piece of paper, hurriedly torn from a notebook he kept on the dresser in their bedchamber. He read it with eyes that did not want to open yet. Daine had left a message informing him that she was going into Corus early, to avoid the rush that would surely become hectic as the day ran on. Today was Midwinter's eve; everywhere preparations were being made, Yule logs were being arranged and decorations were being hung in every house in the city and further a field than that.

Numair remembered Daine mentioning the previous night that she was going to go shopping with Onua for Midwinter gifts - they had been too busy with trainees, mounts, riders and what had seemed like an endless list of things to do to have gone any earlier. He lay back and closed his eyes, enjoying the pleasure of being able to have a few extra minutes of lying in bed. He had no particular thing to do today; the rooms where he practiced his spell work had been cleared of any pressing jobs, the students at the university had either gone home for a Midwinter break or had settled down to enjoying their own affairs if they weren't, and he had done all of his gift shopping several weeks ago, in a small, insane moment of unprecedented organised behaviour, which had allowed him to gloat mercilessly over Daine and Onua at dinner the night before, when they had bemoaned the fact that they would have to face the crowds of desperate shoppers.

He was just about to return to his slumber when he heard a rather sharp rap at the door. Their bed chamber was two rooms away from the door that led onto the corridor, after his large private study and a sitting room, but Numair had found it child's play to spell the door so that any knock on it was amplified throughout his living quarters, and equally importantly had also proofed it so that the knocks of only specified people would wake them between certain hours. Those hours ended at nine bells, which had just been chimed, their distinct noise reverberating through Numair's brain like a hammer. He did not like getting up.

Sighing, he levered himself out of bed and threw on warm, thick trousers and a woollen pullover and made his way to the door. Daine had thoughtfully lit a fire in the living room, as the thick snows had made this winter bitterly cold, and that chill had not been entirely relieved in the palace either. He opened the door tentatively; half knowing who it was going to be.

Thayet stood there, a wicked gleam in her eye and a sweet smile curling at her lips. Numair raised his eyebrows, not smiling.

"We need help setting some things up in the palace for tomorrow's festivities," she announced.

"What can I possibly do that half a dozen other mages can't? Find Harailt or Jareth, they'll be more than happy to assist in any way they can," he grumbled moodily.

"They are already in the hall and have been for nearly an hour. We let you sleep in!" Thayet answered, enjoying the look of discomfort on Numair's face.

"Thayet, don't you have people called servants who you pay to do this?" He moaned, desperate to get back in the warm bed and huddle back under the covers until at least midday, by which time he hoped that Daine was back and that she would be tired from pushing though the crowds and would want to join him, keeping him company in various ways in their bed until the evening when they would be celebrating the lighting of the Yule log.

"And those that I have not given the time off to spend Midwinter with their own families are also busily engaged with the decorations. Come on, Numair. This is part of the fun. Harailt didn't argue like this," Thayet spoke to him as if she was trying to persuade one of her children to eat their vegetables.

Numair sighed, realising that he had no possible way of getting out of this alive. Once Thayet was determined to have something done, it was best to mildly agree with as little fuss as possible. "Give me an hour to have a warm bath and get ready and I will come and assist. But please remember I am doing this under protestation."

Thayet smiled back, as sweetly as before. "That's fine. I'll see you in the hall in an hour, or earlier."

Numair laughed ironically at her parting words. She'd be lucky if he was ready in hour, let alone earlier, the water took so long to heat up, even with his gift, seeing that the air around it was so bitterly cold.

He prepared a deep, hot bath, undressed and dived into it, feeling his body start to warm up in the heat of the water. He relaxed until the water began to cool, which wasn't a long enough soak for Numair, then stood up, pulling a giant towel around him to sponge off the drips of water.

He readied himself quickly, the chilly air making himself hurry and omit one or two of the preening routines he would indulge himself in when Daine wasn't there to tease him. Onua had once passed comment to Daine early on in their acquaintance about the length of time Numair took to get ready. He'd felt that he hadn't really deserved the comment completely, although he did occasionally spend longer than Daine in getting dressed.

He wandered down to the hall where a collection of the most unlikely people were preparing the room for the forthcoming celebrations. Midwinter was one of the lesser festivals, but was still one of the liveliest, with much merriment and revelry. Numair wandered around the huge room, adorned with portraits of monarchs of the past and present. A new portrait, skilfully painted by Volney Rain, the court artist, hung near the grand staircase that led into the ballroom at one side. It was of the current royal family, Jon, Thayet and their five children, all of whom except Jon were currently helping – or in the case of Liam, hindering – in the preparations.

The room was already dressed, with holly and ivy hanging from the walls and draping the tapestries and portraits. Large wreaths of it had been attached to the banister of the staircase, the red berries clustered in the middle of the green leaves, synchronising with the other red decorations. Mistletoe had been hung from the chandeliers and under doorways; one bunch had been placed over the door to the kitchens, Numair suspected by Rizon, one of the king's man servants whom Numair believed had a crush on the head cook, Elara, a large, busty woman whose bellow announcing that she had made potato cakes was the only thing known to rouse Numair before sunrise on an ordinary day.

Around the room, on various tables and hanging from large, decorative hooks, were large baskets, bedded with springs of evergreen and ivy, then filled with oranges and apples and wheat stalks sprinkled with flour. The fruit represented the sun, which would begin to grow strong after the morrow, the evergreen illustrated the immortality of the Goddess and the wheat stalks the harvest. The flour showed the victory of light and life, and briefly Numair sent up his thanks to the Goddess as her spotted it, thinking of the summer's events.

"Uncle Numy! Uncle Numy!" A small girl ran up to him, her hands filled with nuts and berries, dropping them as she lifted up her arms up to be picked up.

Numair laughed, bending down and bringing her up so that her face was level with his. Lianne was the youngest daughter of Thayet and Jon and although Numair would deny it until he popped, she was his favourite out of all the small children that rampaged around the palace. She pulled at his horse tail, neatly tied back at the base of his neck and grabbed exuberantly at his winter shirt, passing a sticky hand print onto the material.

"Where's your mama?" He asked her as he carried her through the halls into the adjoining room where the banquets were usually served. He was a little surprised that Thayet had not already accosted him to take charge of something, particularly as he had notice that the Yule log had not been brought in from the forest yet.

"S'e's in there," Lianne lisped and pointed towards a cupboard that was usually hidden behind a large, rather ornate tapestry that had been in the Conté family for centuries. He opened it with his free hand, holding on to the small girl with his other hand. He saw Thayet, her hair escaping from its tie, head buried into a box that Numair didn't think he'd seen before.

"Mama!" Lianne called as Numair laughed at the rather comical sight. Thayet could be the grandest of monarchs when she wished, but in her own home when there were no particularly important guests to entertain she was as different from any royal that Numair could remember meeting.

Thayet lifted her head and looked at Numair, a puzzled look on her face. "There's some odd stuff here," she muttered, standing away from the box.

"Where has that come from?" Numair asked, Lianne hanging onto his neck.

"It was stuffed right at the back. I was looking for some old wall hangings of the Oak King and the Holly King, depicting the battle, as I could have sworn that I saw them here last year and I just came across this box," she said, her brow wrinkled with curiosity and what Numair thought looked like worry.

"What's in there?" The mage inquired. Obviously whatever it was, it was concerning the queen.

"Lianne, go and get Mama and Uncle Numy a drink of juice," she said to her daughter as Numair gently placed her down on the floor.

Lianne scampered out of the door, leaving the two adults looking at the box as if it was about to grow legs and walk. Numair used his gift to create a ball of light, brightening up the small room instantly.

"What have you found?" He asked, going to the box himself. It had obviously been put there fairly recently, having no dust covering it. He put his hand in and pulled out a bundle of letters, noticing straight away that they were addressed to Onua. For a second he simply held them in his hand, unsure what to do with them. He made eye contact with Thayet who was also holding several of the envelopes.

"What do we do?" She asked. "I came across them accidentally. It looks like someone, and I assume its Onua, has hidden these here in a hurry. I have to say something to her about finding them, but…"

"You have that feeling that something's not as it should be?" Numair finished.

"Hmmm," Thayet agreed. A piece of parchment dropped from her hand, floating to the floor. The queen bent down to retrieve it, and then gasped as her eyes glanced at the sender's name.

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Daine had woken early, before the sun had begun to peep weakly through the window. She snuggled closer in to Numair as the room they shared was cold with the winter weather. She could make out thick flakes of snow drifting past the window and sticking momentarily to the window pane. The snow had begun the previous day after a relatively mild build up. Then the temperature had suddenly dropped, and the snow had started, beginning to build up rapidly.

Daine and Onua had had a busy few weeks, having had a spate of illness with some of the mounts and a bunch of new pages who didn't appear to have a clue about horse care. One thing after another had occurred, leading virtually no time for either of them to have been able to go into the city to shop for Midwinter.

It was now Midwinter's eve; the following day, gifts would be exchanged in celebration of the longest night and the birth of the Sun God, when the Dark Goddess again became the Great Mother Goddess and the Oak King was victorious over the Holly King. Daine smiled, her mouth slightly covered by the mound of blankets, knowing that some of her afternoon would be spent with some of the younger children, retelling the tales of myth and legend that gave the reasons behind the festivals.

Midwinter was one of her favourite times of year; the days would become longer and life would begin to grow again. In a few weeks the snowdrops would sprout from the ground, their heads popping up through the thawing snow. Before that, she got to huddle up to the man she was madly in love with and make him keep her warm. She felt his arm move round her in his sleep and heard him mutter some unintelligible words under his breath. She rested like that for awhile, awake now, but unwilling to move and get up properly, and blissfully happy next to him, their bodies entwined comfortably.

She mused over what gifts to get him for Midwinter. He had shopped several weeks ago and hadn't failed to be smug and annoying about it since. She knew he would have probably bought her jewellery and other trinkets as she had spotted one or two bags that he hadn't hidden quickly enough for her not to spy them. She had a vague idea of what to get him, but decided to cease dwelling on it, knowing that if she set her heart on buying him a particular item she would end up being disappointed if she couldn't find it.

Eventually, she gently wriggled free of Numair's embrace, bracing herself as she got out of the bed and felt the cold air chill her body. She quickly dressed in winter breeches and shirt, pulling on warm, fur-lined boots and a cosy coat. She scrawled Numair a note, reminding him of where she was going, and lit the fire in the sitting room, knowing that he detested the cold having grown up in such a warm country and later studied in one just as hot.

She left to meet Onua in the breakfast hall, where they had arranged to meet at dinner the night before. She spotted the older woman sat alone at a table, the room almost empty as most of the people that usually occupied it had been either been there earlier or had the day to actually rest and were spending it in bed, or at least a good portion of the morning under their covers, fighting the cold. She selected food from what was available and went to sit next to the horse mistress, who was wrapped as warmly as she.

"All set?" Onua asked her, looking up from her own breakfast.

Daine nodded, demolishing a piece of fried bread. "I just hope we can get it over and done with a quickly as possible," she answered.

"At least we won't be on Thayet's most wanted list to help out with the setting up," Onua said cheerily. Shopping was not one of her favourite pastimes. She generally attempted to buy bits of things throughout the year to save the pain of battling with the crowds at Midwinter; however, this year she simply hadn't had the time to do that.

"Do you think Numair will be asked to help?" Daine inquired, a playfully vicious look crossing her face.

"Maybe not," Onua replied, "Thayet generally avoids him on days like today. He works hard, and she knows that Jon likes him to rest occasionally. Why?"

"He's been fair annoying about having done all that he needs for Midwinter, and will probably spend the rest of the day in bed if he can," Daine's eyes glowed. "I might ask her if she'll keep him entertained."

Onua laughed as the girl left her breakfast momentarily to arrange for Numair to be aggravated, then her own eyes clouded as she became immersed in her own problems.

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The shops on the main street of Corus were decorated with the traditional ivy and holly. Some doorways had wreaths adorning them, others had lit bayberry candles over the doorways to bring good health to people who visited the shop. The snow had been cleared from the main streets by the already heavy volume of people walking about the town, doing last minute shopping. Daine was half enchanted by the sight and half bemused. The queues from some of the more popular shops were spilling out of the doorway, and Daine could see the rather perturbed expressions of some of the patrons as they waited for their turn to pay.

As a young boy ran through the streets, chased by an older man, armed with a long, heavy looking stick. Daine narrowly managed to miss being knocked over by them as they both jolted past her, the boy obviously being pursued by someone he had stolen something from.

Onua laughed, watching the scene. "Even the weather doesn't change some things," she muttered, grabbing hold of Daine's sleeve and pulling her into a nearby shop.

Daine glanced round at the store's wares, full of soaps and scents, hair lotions and creams, but for men.

Onua beamed at Daine. "Numair's not the only one who likes to indulge in a little pampering from time to time!"

"Sarge!" Daine shrieked, a little too loudly and caused some shoppers to look round and glare at her. "I would've thought he'd have bathed in mud!"

Onua laughed and shook her head. "No, he's been quite partial to borrowing some of my own skin creams since we moved in together."

Daine smiled. Onua had begun living with Sarge shortly after Daine had moved into Numair's rooms, although there had been much less fuss, given that their blossoming relationship had been hidden in the shadow of Daine's, something which they were most glad about. The tall, booming sergeant had changed Onua from being a woman who had become satisfied with what she had, and not expected any thing else from life, into a person who would now laugh at anything, her eyes continuously filled with a happiness that Daine hadn't seen before.

They perused the shops, Daine quickly purchasing gifts for Numair and other people at the palace. It felt a little different that this year some of the gifts would be sent from both her and the tall mage. For this reason Numair had persuaded her to accept some money toward the gifts, something she had originally been reluctant to do, not liking any "handouts" from her lover. But eventually she had listened to reason, and now found that she could spend a little more on each of their friends, and have a greater selection of gifts to choose from.

By midday, they were both over-laden with bags flowing with presents and heading back to where they had left their mounts and Mangle, who would now be entrusted to carry back their goods. Even through the mounting snow, it did not take them too long to reach the palace. Everywhere looked almost as of it was from a fairy tale that Daine's grandda had told her when she was a small girl; bare branches were piled high with snow, and they ground twinkled under the winter sun. The sky was a heavy grey colour and Daine could tell that more snow was promised before the day was through, the clouds looking as if they were about to burst. Everywhere was still and calm, very few people were venturing outside of the city, given the pledge of the weather.

They stabled the horses and Onua used her gift to warm the place; the cold was predicted to become an extreme that she had not experienced before and she worried that the mounts would find it uncomfortable. Daine noticed the look in Cloud's eyes as Onua weaved her magic.

What's the matter? She asked her pony, hoping that Cloud was not spoiling for a row.

Some of us are more tolerant of nature's extremes and don't need any extra heat, Cloud responded, making a noise to show her disdain.

And some of you are not used to Gallan winters and do need it, Daine replied. If it is too warm, I can move you nearer the door. You will find a fair pleasant draught coming from there!

As Daine expected, Cloud harrumphed and backed away, not wishing to give up her prime spot.

The two women headed into the palace, leaving their boots that were frozen with the snow by the side door and dressed their feet into thick socks that would warm their feet and keep the floors of the hallways dry and safe from anyone slipping on wet floors. Onua headed immediately back to the rooms she and Sarge had moved into, neither of their previous residences being large enough for two people, and both had been in separate parts of the Rider barracks. Sarge wouldn't really have been allowed in Onua's part anyhow.

Daine made her way to the great hall, wanting to know how Thayet had managed to occupy Numair and if she had actually succeeded in getting him out of bed before noon. She gasped when she entered the large room, immediately overawed by the decorations, which this year included an evergreen tree, an abies with its beautiful purple cones dressing it, which had been decorated with holly, ivy and mistletoe, as well as gold candles that had been spelled to balance on the branches without setting fire. Red and gold material that had been shaped into ribbons and bows had been placed strategically on the branches, lending an almighty presence of celebration to the room.

Over the doorway to a rarely used large cupboard hung a tapestry of the Oak King and the Holly King, portraying the Oak King's victory, showing the waxing sun overcoming the waning sun. Daine sat down to look at the tapestry. She had never seen it before although she had often heard Thayet speak of it; it hadn't been displayed while she had been in Tortall until now.

She felt the presence of someone behind her. Turning round she saw the king, who stood with a smile upon his face as he regarded her gazing at the wall display. He sat down beside her before she could stand up, once again shocking the former common girl from Snowsdale and causing her to wonder what place this was when kings would just sit on the floor with you like they were ordinary people.

"Thayet, Numair and the children have gone to the forest to find a suitable log for Yule," he explained the empty room. "I see you are captivated by the tapestry."

She looked at Jonathan, with his deep blue eyes and black hair that had once made her go shaky at the knees. Now that accolade belonged to Numair, but she still felt fondly about her king.

"Who made it?" She asked simply.

"It was made by my mother before she was married to occupy her during an extremely cold autumn, when they couldn't escape from the house for the snow. Her father suggested she educated herself with a book, and she happened to chose one that was about the battles between the Oak King and the Holly King. She had never understood before then why it was tradition to put holly up in honour of the Holly King, when it was he who symbolised the darkness and death. She learnt that the Holly and Oak kings were two halves of a whole and that both are good as they help to maintain the balance. We needed the winter and the dark Goddess to allow us time for reflection and for the earth to renew itself and rest. The Oak King then wins in battle, and the favour of the Goddess, the sun begins to grow again, and the days lengthen – we also understand this as the Sun God being born to the Great Mother Goddess. At Midsummer the two kings battle again and this time the Holly King is victorious," Jonathan looked at the Wildmage, removing his eyes from his mother's tapestry. "Of course, you already know all the stories, don't you?"

Daine smiled. She did know them, but still enjoyed listening to them, and, as she would do later, she liked telling the tales too. "I didn't know about your mother, though. That tapestry must have taken her ages. How come she didn't know the lore before?"

Jonathan laughed. "Her parents were both busy, so she was left to the care of her teachers and ladies-in-waiting. None ever saw fit to educate her with information like that, which was rather a pity as she enjoyed such stories."

"That's a fair shame. I always loved hearing the stories when I was little," she said, her eyes far away as she recalled the times when she had sat on her grandda's knee and listened to him as he told of the lives of Oak and Holly. "I loved the idea of the defeated king not being dead, merely going back to the Wheel of Stars, and waiting there until he is reborn. It helped to explain why the Oak King and the Holly King could both come back to battle with the other."

They both sat in the peaceful atmosphere looking at the elaborate picture that Queen Lianne had intricately designed. Daine noticed the eight reindeer that accompanied the Holly King, who had been depicted with a crown of his namesake and the Oak King adorned with mistletoe. The vision of the Goddess Arianrhod stood in the background, silver light pouring from her as she waited to take the Holly King back with her to the Wheel of Stars.

Jonathan at last stood up, sighing deeply. Offering Daine a courteous hand he helped her to stand, the sound of voices now approaching the doors that opened up from the great hall to the courtyard. Daine recognised Numair's tones among the rabble, and smiled without realising it as she thought of her lover and his close proximity.

"I imagine he'll still be making you smile like that in forty years time," she heard Jonathan mutter softly, a look of amusement on his face.

Daine laughed, managing not to blush. "It looks like the peace and quiet has gone for the rest of the day," she said, watching as Thayet opened the doors and Numair lifted the Yule log into the room with his magic.

Jonathan nodded his agreement, looking at the cluster of children who Numair was patiently stepping around as he attempted to place the large log down where Thayet wanted it – a position that kept altering – without dropping it on a child's toe. "Thank you for that peaceful moment, Daine," he said, again with a large sigh. "I will treasure the memory of it throughout this celebration, especially when I am woken at some woeful hour in the morning to open gifts."

"And that, my dear husband, will probably be me, checking you have absorbed all the hints I have been dropping with regards to my Midwinter present," Thayet interrupted and Jonathan rolled his eyes.

Daine looked towards Numair, managing to catch his eye as he gave into to the demands of Lianne to be given a ride on his shoulders. Something in his expression worried her and she resolved to seek out its cause.

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Now review. I'm am off work all next week. The more reviews, the more chapters you will receive... bribery, a wonderful thing!