Chapter 2:
New Life
"Emily, could you give me a hand with these garlands?" Vivienne asked, struggling with the awkward task of trying to hang one above the door whilst keeping three more that were hanging from her shoulder from falling to the floor and keeping herself from falling from the small stepladder. The garlards were made from the intertwined branches of the Cyrodilic pine which was favoured for its vibrant green needles and small notched cones. Emily hurried over to her and took the three remaining garlands from her shoulder. The shop was abuzz with activity. Angeline had spent much of the morning baking Battaglir loaves and venison chops and Emily found herself wishing that she too could partake of the coming feast. But, she reminded herself, they had also ordered in several bottles of Evette Sans' spiced wine and a fine bottle of Colovian brandy.
Emily strung the three remaining garlands along the front of the counter, tying them in place. "Do you two need any help in there?" she called through to the kitchen.
"I think we've got things under control," Serana replied, "Why don't you get the drinks from the cellar?" Emily finished tying the last garland in place and hurried down to the cellar. The bottles of spiced wine lay in a wooden crate near the bottom of the stairs and the large bottle of Colovian brandy lay just next to it. Weaving a small levitation charm on the brandy, Emily stooped to pick up the crate. The bottles clinked together as she made her way back up the stairs into the kitchen. The atmosphere was warm, a fire crackling in the grate. Finn was sitting on one of the stools, putting his paws up on the table as Emily set the crate down. He nudged one of the bottles and Emily moved the crate further onto the table, plucking the brandy bottle from the air and setting it down next to the crate.
"No, Finn," she said, "We don't want you getting drunk."
"A drunk otter?" chuckled Angeline, "Now that would be a sight." She took the iron pot from the fire and took off the lid. The rich aroma of stewing venison met their nostrils. "Are you still planning on going out tonight for the tree?" she asked Serana.
"So long as nothing unforeseen happens," she replied, "We'll head out around eight."
"Oh, that reminds me," said Angeline, "Beirand dropped by. He said we can have a lend of his axe. That old one of ours in the cellar has seen better days. I must take it up to him to get it sharpened again."
"We'll collect it before we go then," said Emily, "Do you want us to drop off ours while we're at it?"
"Yes, I think that would be a good idea," Angeline replied. She wiped her hands on the cloth that hung by the door. "I'd better get the vegetables chopped. Vivienne, Jala said she'd hold over a few carrots and apples for us. Do you think you could run over to the market and fetch them?"
"I'll head over in a couple of minutes," Vivienne replied.
Angeline, Emily and Serana took a seat by the fire.
"Have you heard anything more from Falk Firebeard?" Angeline asked.
"Nothing yet," Emily replied, "I think when the new year comes around we'll have to strike out on our own. Maybe see if any of the other holds have anything to offer."
"How about Whiterun?" Serana suggested, "Close to the centre, not too cold. A good place for growing alchemical plants." Angeline shook her head.
"Too dangerous," she said, "The Stormcloaks are rumoured to be gathering there. Preparing to mount a full scale attack by all accounts. That's where my Fura was stationed."
"Have you heard anything more from her?" Emily asked.
"She sent me a letter last month," Angeline replied, "She's been sent on a scouting patrol. Apparently a farmer living close to the Pale border saw a group of them retreating towards some old ruins. Probably holed up in there, the cowards." It was rare for Angeline's voice to take on such a prickly tone. Her daughter had left to join the legion long before Emily arrived in Skyrim and she longed for the day when the Stormcloaks were defeated and her daughter could come home. Each new day brought fear with it, fear that today would be the day she would hear the news all mothers dread to hear. "No, you'd be better trying somewhere further south," she continued, "Apparently they haven't bothered with Falkreath much. Dawnstar and Morthal haven't seen much trouble either but you won't get much growing there."
"Well, we'll see what the new year brings in any case," said Emily, taking a draft from a bottle of mead lying on the table. She looked over at the fire whose flames were diminishing. A few of the embers had spilled out of the grate and glowed red against the stone floor.
"Fire's getting a bit low," she said as she got up from the table and made for the cellar, "I'll fetch some more firewood."
The sun had set behind the mountains to the west when Serana and Emily left the Alchemists, closing the door behind them. They were dressed in furs and Emily carried the blunt old axe she'd fetched from the cellar. It had, as Angeline said, seen better days. The blade had dulled entirely and the handle was chipped in places. They carried it up the twisting slope that led towards Castle Dour and the town smithy. Beirand was still at the forge, hammering out an Imperial breastplate. He was a tall stout man whose face was ruddy from working the forge. He wore an apron spotted with burns and carried a steel mace. He looked up and smiled when he saw them.
"You girls here for the axe?" he asked.
"That's us," Emily replied.
"It's over there in the corner," said Beirand, gesturing to an axe with a carved wooden handle and a sharp-looking steel axe head.
"Would you be able to sharpen Angeline's old axe when you have the time?" Emily asked.
"If you leave it here, I'll see to it in the morning and have it round to her by lunch," Beirand replied. Emily thanked him and left the axe on the wooden table by the forge and picked up Beirand's axe, securing it at her hip.
They left the city and made their way down the cobblestone road. The horizon was a deep russet red and the first stars were beginning to peek out from the velvet blue of the night sky. The ferns whispered with a slight breeze coming up from the docks and the leaves on the trees rustled.
"So, where did you have in mind?" Emily asked.
"There are some good small pines up in the North past Kilkreath," Serana replied, "One of them should fit in the shop."
"It's all rather like Christmas, this," said Emily, "Decorating trees, feasts, wine. All we're missing is a visit from Santa Claus."
"Who?" Serana asked.
"Santa Claus," Emily replied, "Or Saint Nicholas as he was sometimes known. He brought presents to all the good children of the world and he travelled in a magic flying sleigh pulled by a team of reindeer."
"I thought magic didn't exist on earth," said Serana.
"It doesn't," Emily replied, "It was just a story parents told their kids to make the holidays more fun. And it means the kids get extra presents so they don't tend to mind. Is gift giving a New Life tradition as well?"
"It can be," said Serana, "Different cultures in Tamriel celebrate it in different ways."
They followed the road north up into the hills. Overhead towered Mount Kilkreath, its snow capped peak obscured by clouds. They spotted two mountain goats on the path ahead, nibbling on tussocks of grass poking through the snow just off the road. They looked up when Emily's boot sent a stone skittering loose and it tumbled back down the hill. They watched them for a moment, chewing on the grass stalks before bolting into the undergrowth. At this point Emily and Serana left the path and followed a game trail through the undergrowth. The long grass brushed against their legs and snow fell in small clumps from the fir branches as they pushed past them. A snowy owl hooted from one of the lofty branches overhead and in the undergrowth a dog fox gave out his piercing cry.
As they went deeper a new sound met Serana's ears. It was a slow steady sound, of water lapping against the earth of an embankment. The wind changed direction and a rippling sound drifted towards them through the dark undergrowth. It was the sound of a pond, relatively deep by the sound of it. Emily too, it seemed, was listening, her head tilted to one side.
"Is there a lake somewhere around here?" she asked.
"A pond certainly," Serana replied. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she turned to Emily. Emily smiled back as she took a step towards her.
"What are you grinning at?" she asked.
"How about I teach you a different New Life tradition?" Serana asked.
"Huh?" said Emily. She felt Serana take hold of her hand.
"Come on," she said, tugging her towards the undergrowth. Emily followed her between the bushes and trees, following a small trail thick with tree roots. Serana was laughing, a light musical sound, a sound that made her heart leap every time she heard it. She wondered what had so amused the vampiress and found herself laughing too. The trail wound, twisting and turning between the trees but this did little to slow Serana. The sound of the pond grew louder until they burst through the undergrowth and found themselves standing at its edge. It was larger than either of them had expected and looked to be several feet deep in places. Emily looked into the cold depths, at the pine needles floating on the surface and the moonlight scattered across the ripples.
She looked to Serana whose hands had moved to her cloak and were unfastening the buckle. She removed it and hung it from a branch. "You're not about to suggest what I think you're about to suggest, are you?" she asked. Serana flashed an impish smile at her.
"Yep, you are," Emily continued, "So, how does this fit in with the New Life festival?"
"It's called the Snow Bear plunge," Serana replied, "We're going to need a fire first, to dry off afterward."
"So, we jump into the freezing waters," said Emily as she helped Serana gather together branches and twigs. Serana nodded.
"Well, I suppose it wouldn't be the first time I've jumped into freezing water for you," Emily continued. Then she hesitated.
"Wait, we haven't brought any swim clothes though," she pointed out.
"You won't need them," Serana replied. At these words Emily was rather glad of being a vampire else her face would have been turning as red as a snowberry at the thought. The inability to blush, she decided, could be rather handy at times. She knelt by the pile of kindling and took a piece of flint and steel from her pack. They'd gathered the husk from an abandoned beehive and it was this that formed the nest of tinder which the first sparks landed in, twisting the fibres in on themselves as smoke started to curl up into the night air. Emily blew on the tinder until small flames appeared in the centre of the tinder and she set it down among the kindling. Before long they had a sizeable fire going. She looked over in time to see a red shirt land next to a pair of boots. Serana made her way over to a clump of reeds which grew thick around the water's edge. Here she removed her breeches, tossing them over near the fire.
Emily heard a splash and the water lapped against the shores. She looked over at the pond where the surface had been broken and a few bubbles drifted towards the surface. Then the surface broke again near the edge and Serana emerged, head and shoulders above the pond's surface. She rested her elbows against the steep bank. Her hair hung down on either side of her face, out of its usual braids. Emily sat down by the lake's edge.
"I'm surprised, you know," she said, "After all the complaining you do about the rain you find fun in jumping into a freezing pond with no clothes on." She dodged a splash of water aimed at her.
"Aren't you coming in?" Serana asked. She leant her head on her arms, looking over at the Earthling.
"Maybe," Emily replied. She looked at the water, "But only if you don't look while I'm jumping in, alright?"
"Would I do that?" said Serana with a slight chuckle. Emily got up and crossed over to the reeds.
"Is it deep?" she asked as she pulled off her boots.
"Deep enough," Serana replied, "But I wouldn't recommend diving in head first." Emily got in amongst the reeds. They tickled her bare skin and rustled in the breeze blowing in over the pond. Serana was patiently awaiting her, watching the campfire. A sudden thought struck Emily and she ducked down among the reeds. The movement caught Serana's eye and she looked over at the patch of reeds. Suddenly they burst apart and the next second a large splash erupted as though something sizeable had been thrown into the pond. But there was nothing to be seen. A trail of bubbles snaked across the pond toward her and an invisible form broke the surface before her, slowly regaining visibility and revealing the impish face of her companion, water dripping from her blonde hair.
"Alright, we're in the water, now what?" she asked. She was answered by a splash which caught her off guard and she wound up with a mouthful of pondwater. Serana was shaking with silent laughter. Emily spat out the water, blinked a few times before narrowing her eyes at her companion. Then she sent a splash of water her way. The still night air gave way to the sounds of splashing, squeaks and laughter. Emily dove down beneath the surface, swimming towards the vampiress and catching her around the waist. Serana let out a yelp and Emily resurfaced, only to be met with a small wave. She shook her head, sending water droplets cascading down.
Some time later they hauled themselves out of the pond and lay down by the fire. Serana had brought a couple of old pelts with them which they lay under, looking up at the night sky. The aurora stretched across the black velvet of the sky and stars winked out at them. Emily turned over on her side. Serana was looking up at the sky but looked over at her when she felt her gaze.
"That was the most fun I've had in months," she said.
"Most fun you can have with your clothes on?" Emily asked. Serana gave her a puzzled look.
"But we didn't have any clothes on," she replied. Emily waved her hand.
"Nah, never mind," she said, "It's an Earth-ism." She leant on her elbow, "We should do this more often. It was fun." Serana smiled. They lay on for several more minutes, enjoying the warmth of the fire and listening to the noises of the night creatures.
"So, what's the story behind the Snow Bear plunge?" Emily asked.
"No story really," Serana replied, "It's a tradition among the Nords to show they don't fear what the cold brings as at the end of a winter's journey is a warm fire, good mead and good company. I spent some time reading up on Nordic holidays when I was young."
"What do you mean, 'when you were young'?" Emily grinned, reaching for her hand, "You're still young." Serana smiled.
"I'm over a thousand years old," she replied.
"You're only as old as you feel, Sera," said Emily." Serana squeezed her fingers. "How do you feel?" asked Emily. Serana sighed, turning over to face her.
"Wet," she considered, "Maybe a bit cool from the breeze." She smiled. "And happy." Emily smiled back.
Some time later, when the fire had warmed them through, Emily sat up, holding the pelt to her chest.
"I guess we should think about getting that tree," she said. Serana sat up.
"Yeah, I suppose we should," she replied, "Could you pass me my shirt?" Emily leant over and picked up Serana's shirt from its place by the fire and handed it to her.
Once they'd dressed they left the pond and stepped through the thicket in search of a suitable tree. Some were too tall, others looked as though a bear had been at them which, Emily reminded herself, they probably had. At last they came to a clearing with a tree at its centre. It was about six feet tall, the perfect height.
"How about this one?" Emily asked, pointing to the tree.
"Looks good to me," Serana replied. Emily took up the axe and began chopping at the thick trunk. The tree shuddered, a few needles drifting down from its branches with each chop. Then at last, it fell with a crash. Emily hooked the axe back onto her belt.
"Well, let's get this back," she said, rubbing her hands together before picking up one end of the large tree. Serana hefted the other end up onto her shoulder and they began the journey back to Solitude. It took them just under two hours before they reached the road that would take them back up to the city. The smell of woodsmoke drifted up from the chimneys of the farm buildings down off the road and the fire at the top at the sentry tower had been lit to provide the guards on duty with a source of heat. The trees branches brushed against the cobblestones as they climbed the hill to the town gates and the guard opened them, allowing them to pass through.
"Happy New Life," said one of the guards as they passed.
They reached the shop and Emily hefted the tree over to her other shoulder while she reached into her pocket and pulled out the key. She unlocked the door and together they pulled the tree indoors.
Angeline was still sitting by the fire and she looked up when she saw the large tree squeezing in through the front doors. She got up and helped them drag it into the back room where she'd prepared a large pot of earth for it to sit in.
"You picked a fine tree," she said as they stood the tree upright in the pot and started to pack the dirt in around it. She wiped her hands on her apron. "I saw Irnskar and Bolgeir carrying a tree up to the Blue Palace this afternoon. I'm glad to see Jarl Elisif taking part in the festivities. It's good to smile in the face of adversity."
"The Empire will win, won't it?" Emily asked as she summoned orbs of light and guided them into place on the tree.
"I hope so," Angeline replied, "General Tullius has kept them from this hold so far and from what I hear Whiterun is still neutral. I don't know of any of the other holds though but I expect 'he' has followers in most of them." Emily knew who, 'he' was. Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak, who had ridden into town when she'd been in Skyrim less than a week and murdered the High King with the Nord power of the Thu'um. Emily initially had felt no strong compulsions towards either side in the war. Quite honestly she still wasn't sure where exactly she stood. Each side had its motives and its faults, be they a deep rooted prejudice for all non-natives or stripping their people of the right to worship as they saw fit. She and Serana had talked about it before and it did not surprise her when Serana showed little interest in the Civil War. In the end Emily found herself leaning subconsciously more towards the Empire, both because they were in charge of the city she, for the moment at least, called home and because they seemed more tolerant of outsiders than the Stormcloaks. And she, she considered, was the ultimate outsider.
Serana summoned small beads of red light, trailing them across the tree while Angeline hung small ornamental bells from the boughs.
"There," she said, taking a step back, "Done." She looked over at Emily and Serana. "Was it raining out there in the forest?" she asked, looking at their dripping wet hair.
"No, we decided to go for a swim," Emily replied.
"A swim?" Angeline repeated, "You girls must be mad. It's freezing out there."
"We were taking the snow bear plunge," Emily explained, "We're fine."
"You young'uns," said Angeline, shaking her head, "It's as well I put some fresh towels up in your room this evening."
Emily and Serana climbed the stairs to their room. The towels were lying out next to the bed and Emily took one up, toweling her hair dry. Serana sat down on the edge of the bed and took up her brush.
"So," said Emily as she flopped down next to her, "When shall we take the plunge again? How about we try the sea next time?" Serana laughed.
"I think the sea might be a little too cold," she replied, "Even for us." Emily sat behind her as she began to braid her hair, braiding it back into the plaits she always wore them in.
"Well, how about a lake then?" she asked. Serana turned her head, looking over her shoulder at the Earthling.
"Alright," she replied, "And in return, why don't you show me some Earth traditions?"
"Sounds like a fair trade to me," said Emily, "But rest first, right?"
"Right," Serana replied. Emily tied together the four braids at the back of her head and sat back on the bed. Serana took a book from her pack and leant up with her back to the wall to read. Emily lay down next to her, curling up against the pillow. Finn curled up between them, putting his tail over his nose. After all this time this was a part of vampirism that Emily still felt was strange. When the day was beginning outside and the streets became noisy with chatter unless they were helping Angeline in the shop they would retire to their room, either to sleep or to read and to talk. It was during these times that Serana would catch up on reading, be it the formula of a spell or a Breton epic she'd found in Angeline's sitting room. Emily was more given to drawing and she had procured from the general store several sheets of paper. Her sketchbook she'd brought with her from earth was long since filled and she dreaded when she ran out of pencils. Quills and ink were not easy to draw with and charcoal was harder still.
But today she favoured the idea of sleeping. Come nightfall the New Life celebrations would begin in earnest and those bottles of spiced wine would be opened and the venison steaks consumed. After that the potage le magnifique would follow. Angeline had got the recipe from a new cookbook she'd picked up at the market. Apparently it was something of a hit across Skyrim and it was reaching over into the countries of High Rock to the west and Cyrodiil to the south. Emily felt mild regret at not being able to partake of such an exotic Breton dish. But at least they would not have to hunt tonight. They still had six bottles stashed away under the bed so it would be another two nights before their next hunt. Emily yawned, nestling into the pillow as sleep overtook her.
It was early in the evening when she woke and she felt the presence of Serana next to her. She had since put down her book and was dozing peacefully against the pillow, chest rising and falling gently. Emily stretched, reveling in the peace which she was still getting used to. So many weeks in the months previous they'd spent running. The kind of peace she'd felt on earth most days of her life and now in the city walls almost seemed alien to her these days.
As she sat up she felt Serana stir.
"Is it nightfall already?" she asked, sitting up and stretching.
"Sun's just set," Emily replied. She knelt on the bed and drew back the curtains. Outside the streets were thick with snow and festoons and banners hung from every building. Wreaths hung on every door and small balls of magelight had been spirited up around the tree in the square. She rested her arms on the windowsill.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" she said.
"You used to be able to see Solitude from the Castle," Serana replied, "But never like this. You said this was like Christmas. What sorts of things did you do on Christmas?"
"Well, we'd get a turkey and have it with brussel sprouts and cranberry sauce," said Emily, "Are there turkeys in Tamriel?"
"Not that I've seen," Serana replied, "No brussel sprouts or cranberries either."
"Well, turkey is a kind of large bird, brussel sprouts look like tiny cabbages and taste kind of bitter but in a nice way and cranberries are sharp tasting red berries," Emily explained, "We'd have this traditional meal on Christmas Day along with snacks of all kinds. Often we'd be eating it as leftovers for a few days to come."
"And what else did you do?" Serana asked.
"Well, we would swap tales, drink wine, open presents and kiss under the mistletoe," Emily replied.
"Why mistletoe?" Serana asked.
"I don't know," Emily replied, "That was just how the tradition always went. If two people were under the mistletoe at the same time they would kiss." She sat up straighter. "That reminds me, I've got to get over to the store for a couple of things," she got up and hurriedly pulled on her cloak, "See you in a bit." And with that she bolted from the room and hurried down the stairs two at a time. She grabbed up her purse from behind the counter and dashed out into the street. Much of the snow had been compacted by the day's activity and was slippery underfoot. She made her way across the street to the general store.
"Oh, hello Emily," said Sayma as she glanced over her shoulder when she heard the door open. She finished putting the stack of wooden bowls up on the shelf and climbed back down off the short stepladder. "What can I do for you?" she asked.
"I'd like to get something special for my friend," Emily explained, "But I'm not really sure what to get."
"If you want to impress the lady," came a voice from behind her. She whirled around to see the well dressed man she'd spotted in the palace standing behind her, "Ye get her a staff. As it happens I have one I might be willing to part with for the right price." He had appeared to silently and suddenly that as far as Emily was concerned he might have popped up out of the ground. She noted that Sayma's reaction was similar to her own.
"That's very kind of you," she said, "But my friend's not exactly big on staffs."
"Oh, I guess that's why she has her eye on you then," said the stranger, leaning on his cane. Emily thought this a rather strange remark but knew better than to say so. And now that she thought about it, she couldn't remember mentioning that this gift was to be for a woman.
"Well, in that case, ye might as well go for jewellery," he said, "I once gave a necklace to a girl I was courting at the time, a beautiful necklace it was decorated with cat's eyes." He shifted his weight on his cane.
"She didn't like it much," he continued, "And I thought later that maybe I shouldn't have made it from actual cat's eyes." Emily looked at the strange old man, not sure what to say. It was Sayma who broke the silence, clearing her throat.
"Well, a necklace does sound like a good idea," she said, "I've got a few in the shop if you'd like to take a look." Emily waited patiently at the counter while Sayma went to the back room to retrieve the necklace display. When she returned she looked over Emily's shoulder.
"Did you see where that funny little man went?" she asked quietly. Emily looked over her shoulder and saw that the old man had vanished. She'd heard nothing of his departure and she glanced around the stone pillar in the middle of the shop but he wasn't there either.
"Looks like he's gone," she said as she returned to the counter, "I saw him up at the palace a little while back. Sera thought he might be some sort of visiting dignitary."
"Haven't seen the like of him in around before," Sayma replied, "Anyway, here's what we've got." And she set the display case down on the counter. Emily's eyes drifted across the necklaces. There was one made of gold with a pendant set with a sparkling amethyst, another made from silver and wrought into the shape of a wolf's head and one made from a shimmering bronze metal with a pendant in the shape of a bear. Her eyes fell upon one made from one made from rose gold. A ruby hung from the pendant and had been cut into the shape of a dagger, the rose gold curling about its base in an ornate pattern.
"How much is that one?" she asked, pointing to the necklace.
"I've been letting them go at five hundred a piece," Sayma replied. She picked the necklace up by its fine gold chain, "But as it's a gift I could sell it to you for four hundred."
"That sounds good to me," said Emily, handing over the gold. She then bought a couple of other presents: a new pestle and mortar for Angeline and a scarf for Vivienne. With these gifts she left the shop and made her way back across the street to the alchemists. She opened the door and slipped inside, closing it quietly behind her. The kitchen area was empty so she hurried in, depositing the presents on the table. She then fetched some paper and the animal hide glue Angeline kept behind the counter for making the paper medicine sachets. Using these she wrapped each of the presents and wrote their names on them. She then put them under the tree which stood in the corner. As she stood up she heard the stairs creak and looked over to see Serana.
"Where's Angeline?" she asked.
Emily was about to reply when the door opened and both Angeline and Vivienne came in, carrying a large bag between them.
"Just a few last minute things," Angeline said as she set the bag down on the table.
"You already have enough to feed a small army," Vivienne remarked, "Who's coming?"
"Well, I invited Jorn and Lisette from the Bard's college, Angeline replied, "And Evette and Octieve San."
"Mind if I ask Captain Sunhawk along?" Vivienne asked, "I was speaking with Corpulus this afternoon and he told me he put in anchor yesterday."
"Of course you can invite him," Angeline replied, "Hurry down to the port while I pour the wine. Emily, could you give me a hand?"
Emily helped Angeline to uncork the first bottle of spiced wine and pour it into the goblets while Serana swept out the ashes from the fireplace. Before long Evette San arrived along with her father, Octieve. It was their wine which was being provided for the festivities. Vivienne arrived a few minutes later with Captain Sunhawk who removed his tricorne hat, sitting down at the table. He was dressed in the same long flowing robes Emily had seen him wearing when he appeared at the house not long after Ulfric's escape from the town. He and Octieve were soon swapping tales whilst Evette told Vivienne about this spice merchant she met when he came up from the Imperial city to sell spices. The food was about to be served up when Jorn joined them, carrying a bottle of Daggerfall mulled wine in each hand.
"Thought I'd bring a couple of bottles to help things along," he said as he joined them at the table. The evening passed in a whirlwind of laughter, songs and drink. Jorn had them singing songs he'd learnt from the college including a few bawdy numbers he had evidently picked up elsewhere. With each tankard downed the night became more rowdy, the room warmer and the atmosphere ever more cheery. Angeline served up the food which was quickly demolished and Emily soon found that six people could eat enough to feed a small army. Emily and Serana sat by the fire while the rest of them ate and afterward helped to clean away the dishes. Another couple of bottles were opened and drained and it was gone midnight when the first of the revelers drifted out into the night. Vivienne left with Captain Sunhawk with the intent of going to the Winking Skeever for the last couple of drinks.
At last the house was empty apart from Angeline who was sweeping away the last of the fallen crumbs into the fire.
"Not a bad turn out," she smiled, leaning on the broom, "I just hope Captain Sunhawk doesn't fall off the harbour on the way back to his ship."
The house was quiet now with the only sounds being the crackle and pop of the fire. Worn out from the talking, laughing and singing, Serana and Emily decided to call it a night. They flopped down onto the bed. Emily was about to fall asleep when she felt something being pushed into her hands. Serana smiled as Emily looked down at the wrapped parcel in her hands.
"Happy New Life," she said. Emily unwrapped the parcel to see a beautiful hand carved flute nestled there.
"It's beautiful," she said, reaching over and hugging Serana tightly. Then she grinned impishly, "Is this what you kept hiding whenever I walked in?" she asked.
"Maybe," Serana replied.
"I've got something for you too," said Emily, getting up from the bed. She disappeared from the room and went downstairs to the tree, snatching up the parcel she'd left there. She hurried back up the stairs and handed it to Serana. She carefully unwrapped the paper and gazed at the necklace lying there. Unspeaking, a smile crept across her face as she lifted it up. She hung it from around her neck and touched the pendant lightly.
"Oh, Em, it's beautiful," she said, embracing the Earthling.