"You know as well as I do it's not about what you look like, or your status in life, or how successful you are. It's about having people in your life that you love and who love you... that's all that matters." - Sarah O'Rourke
It was a magical day. The snow continued to come down in perfect flakes, and they walked the cobbled streets, taking in the sight of the snow dusting the thatched or slate roofs, the brightly lit windows, and though it was only afternoon, the street lamps were on as the sky was a steel grey.
They passed humans, elves, dwarves, and goblins on the streets and in the shops, all thrilled to see them outside the castle and in the village. Sarah, in particular, was incredibly popular. Jareth had no doubt that the rise in support of his monarchy had much to do with her, and her warm and loving nature toward all citizens. She always went out of her way to make it clear that she saw them as equals. He certainly knew that she was changing him for the better. And he had never been happier. This was a King unfamiliar to those in the Goblin Kingdom, and while they were doubtful at first, they had come to honor and respect this new King fondly.
They seemed to be continually running into children, who had met Sarah through her work in improving the schools. One little girl shyly handed her a small holly bouquet, the branches wrapped in green ribbon. Although it was no longer easy for her, Sarah knelt down to the child's eye level to say thank you and offer a hug. Jareth felt a surge of pride for his gracious wife. Queen Sarah was most certainly a beloved and respected monarch.
They merrily entered different shops. The first was a quaint little book shop, of which Jareth was enamored. He happily went from aisle to aisle, collecting arms full of books. Luckily, the shop owner agreed to deliver them all to the castle. Sarah had a difficult time pulling him out of that shop.
There was a Sweet Shop next-door. Sarah was absolutely enchanted. The confectionary boasted chocolates of every variety, beautiful marzipan fruit that had been hand decorated, toffees, peppermints, Turkish Delight, liquor-filled chocolates, candyfloss, wine gums, and liquorice allsorts. Jareth pointed out some of these, as she had never seen them, and there others - far too many for her to remember. She ordered a good deal of these to be delivered to the castle, and promised herself that she would be serving most of them to guests, as her sweet tooth had grown during her pregnancy, and she did not want to overdo things. Finn purchased a good deal of chocolate and began eating some before he had even left the shop. Ixonia looked at him and just shook her head.
They visited toy shops, which had Sarah thinking of all of the different things she wanted to buy for her little girl once she was older. She couldn't wait to return. She found a teddy bear in one that looked so much like the Lancelot she had had as a child. She bought him right away. She spied Eimile talking to the shopkeeper about a wooden rocking horse. Knowing Eimile's affection for horses and riding, this made some sense. When she overheard her quietly asking the shopkeeper to have it wrapped and sent to the castle, Sarah smiled and figured that this must be a gift for her baby.
They entered a shop that sold nothing but music boxes. People were winding them up and myriads of tunes spun through the shop. Some of them Sarah recognized, others must have been exclusive to the Otherworld.
They wandered through shop after shop, each seeming more magical than the last. They were approached by a group of wassailers, who were more than happy to offer some to the King and Queen and their comrades. Sarah took hers to be polite, but then asked Jareth if he would like hers, as wassail contains alcohol. He smiled at her, touched her cup, and said, "try it." She skipped the sweet drink, and discovered that Jareth had been able to remove the alcohol. How wonderful!
The aroma of evergreens filled the air. People were decorating shops and light posts with the boughs. Sarah knew that Jareth's people saw Yule as the time of Midwinter, and evergreens represented new life after the cold silence of winter.
A little, wizened, elderly woman was selling birdseed in small bags from a cart in the street. Jareth bought some for everyone, and they walked to the park next to the river to feed the birds.
In spite of the warming wassail, they were beginning to become chilled, so Jareth led them to the pub he had in mind for lunch.
It was called the Drunken Duck, and had an entrance so small one could easily miss it. However, once they entered through the black lacquered door, they found a large room with stone walls and floors. Enormous wooden timbers held up the ceiling. A huge fireplace took up an entire wall, and in front of it was a large oaken table, set with pewter mugs, dinnerware and plates. The entire interior was lit only with candles, and the effect was not only romantic, but warm and inviting.
Sarah was enchanted. She looked to Jareth to ask him if he had planned this, when a serving girl met them.
"Your highnesses," she addressed them, and curtsied. "Your table is ready and waiting."
They followed her to the large table in front of the fireplace, and seated themselves, grateful for the warmth. Jareth ordered more wassail for everyone and the girl returned quickly with a large bowl and ladle. Finn proceeded to fill everyone's mug, and Jareth made sure to remove the alcohol from Sarah's.
Finn rose and offered a toast. "To Yule, and the love of friends and family!" Everyone clinked mugs.
Jareth rose, addressing Sarah."I have known many, liked not a few, loved only one, I drink to you!" Everyone cheered as Sarah blushed.
Ixonia toasted to the health of Sarah's baby, the future heir of the kingdom, and Eimile's was: "Oh, womens' faults are many, yet men have only two:
Every single thing they say, and everything they do." All the women laughed, and both Jareth and Finn groaned.
Finn hopped up, mug in hand, and said, "I have one more!" But everyone at the table was talking and laughing; no one heard him.
"Pardon! Cried Finn, a bit louder. "I have…" again, no one heard him.
This time, he nimbly jumped to the top of the table and yelled, "OY!"
This time, he not only had the attention of everyone at the table, but of the entire pub as well. He looked around, a bit embarrassed, but cleared his throat and continued:
"'Tis glad I am,
And glad I'll be,
Knowing you like,
The likes of me.
Ixonia, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"
This was unexpected, from everyone but Finn. Jareth watched Ixonia carefully. For his cousin, a notorious womanizer, to lay out a proposal was no small feat. Here he was, offering his heart out in front of many.
She sat there, silently, staring at Finn for a while. Then her eyes welled up with tears, her hands flew to her throat, and she began nodding her head, rapidly. "Yes! Yes I will!" The entire pub burst into cheers. Jareth approached Ixonia from behind, gently lifting her so that she too was standing on the table. She and Finn shared a long kiss.
Several hours later, after a wonderful meal, the group left the pub to head back to the castle. As they stepped outside, the beautiful snow was still falling, and it was thicker on the ground and on the rooftops. Sara looked up and down the street, with its festive evergreens and lights, and looked at Jareth and the others. Jareth and Finn with their long waistcoats and top hats. All of the women with lovely hooped skirts. She wondered that she hadn't noticed before.
"You know," she said to the group, "This entire day has been like something out of Dickens!"
Finn, Ixonia, and Eimile looked at her blankly.
"Who's Dickens?" Asked Finn.
"Charles Dickens," Sarah said. Not quite believing this. Who doesn't know of Dickens and a Christmas Carol?
Jareth said to Finn, "Didn't you pay attention at all at Cambridge? Dickens was one of the finest writers of his era! A Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, Great Expectations….?" He rattled them off, shocked that his cousin had managed to graduate from University and not know Dickens' works. He himself was a voracious reader, and even knew the story of a Christmas Carol when he was a child. He looked helplessly at Sarah.
"I know that most of you do not celebrate Christmas here, but Yule. Above, where I'm from, both holidays are celebrated, often by different people. Charles Dickens lived several hundred years ago and was a fine writer. One of my favorite books of his is a Christmas Carol, a story not so much about Christmas as about redemption. The story takes place in London, during a time when most villages looked like this," and she swept her arm to indicate down the street, "and most people dressed as we are."
Jareth put his arm around Sarah's shoulders. "Once again, my beautiful and perceptive wife has picked up on something wonderful that we can all share. I own this book. It's not terribly long, and I think it would be great fun to read it to you all back at the castle, if you wish."
Sarah was thrilled, and the others, not wanting the day to end, were willing as well.
Once back at the castle, everyone had collected in Sarah's cozy sitting room, with a roaring fire. Sarah had made mulled cider, and there were blankets for people to put on their laps.
Sarah and Jareth decided it would be Jareth who read the story, because of his melodious speaking voice. Sarah was also becoming a bit tired.
Jareth had fetched his book, and was sitting in one of the wing back chairs.
"Did I mention that this is also a ghost story?"
Ixonia pretended to shudder, Finn protectively put an arm around her and said, "Ooooooh. Ghosties and things that go bump in the night…"
Jareth began. "Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner…."
~~~Ó~~~
Wassail - Wassail is a hot, mulled punch often associated with Yuletide, drunk from a 'wassailing bowl'. The earliest versions were warmed mead into which roasted crab apples were dropped and burst to create a drink called 'lambswool'. Later, the drink evolved to become a mulled cider made with sugar, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, topped with slices of toast as sops and drunk from a large communal bowl.
WassailIng refers to a traditional ceremony that involves singing and drinking to the health of trees on Twelfth Night in the hopes that they might better thrive. The purpose of wassailing is to awaken the cider apple trees and to scare away evil spirits to ensure a good harvest of fruit in the Autumn.
Did you notice my little bird woman? She is actually from the movie Mary Poppins and sells crumbs to people, urging them to "feed the birds." It's a lovely song, and a lovely image, and I thought it would be fun to insert it here.
Thank you for following me this far! The next few chapters are going to become a bit more exciting and faster moving!