Disclaimer: I don't own the Elder Scrolls. Otherwise, I would be blind and would be babbling about prophercies.

A/N: Yeah, yeah, this is WAY past Christmas, but at least it's the thought that counts right? Very sorry for the delay but finally I found some free time not dedicated to playing Skyrim :P (finally got around to beating the main storyline, man those side quests are DISTRACTING). And much thanks to the reviews, I really appreciate them!

Festivities

The Dragonborn was not having a good day. For him, Thane of Whiterun, rumored dragon-slayer, and the newest member of the Companions, was about to be unceremoniously crushed by a giant's club. Previously before, the day was supposed to be an uneventful hunting trip, a good time to train on one's archery skills and get some food in before the harvest was over and the annual holidays started. Of course, the hunting trip quickly turned into one of exploration and reconnaissance when the fellow spotted some oddly painted boulders. The boulders turned out to mark a large camp, featuring an even larger, albeit sleeping giant, with remains of a (to scaled) campfire right next to it.

Unfortunately, the Dragonborn in particular had an odd habit of taking valuable objects that happen to be out in the wilderness whenever he was low on funds. Especially if the said objects already belonged to someone else. Which in this case, was a golden circlet encrusted with flawless jewels, that happened to be in the possession of said sleeping giant. What was worse was that the New Life holidays were coming, a time when everyone would give and share gifts to one another. Having spent most of his fortune on buying and renovating Breezehome, he was hard press to purchase anything of value, resorting to running around the town, asking and doing favors for the people. Although it wasn't that much big of a deal, it would just make him look and feel bad, to having to accept gifts but not give something in return, but not as a Thane, but as a person overall.

But if the fancy tiara was not tempting enough, the pile of mammoth bones was what did him in. Speaking of the odd jobs from before, the lad had promised Ysolda to help start her merchant business by finding and retrieving a tusk in exchange for (much needed) haggling lessons.

Nabbing the circlet was easy enough, the jeweled crown being little more than a small ring in a pile of junk, next to the giant that slept by. The tusks were a different story entirely, being a good meter long. Frowning on how in Oblivion he was going to lug them back quietly, his eyes scanned the camp, finally settling on a tarp of leather. Wrapping the tusks up, he couldn't help but smile at the idea on how this all managed to go off without a hitch.

He smiled too soon.

As soon as he took the first step out in the direction of the town, his boot struck a stray bone, buried and forgotten long ago by the camp's occupant and overlooked by the unfortunate adventurer. Time seemed to slow as the tusks flew from his hands, landing on the ground with a (wincing) clatter.

The giant stood upright, immediately staring down at the ill-gotten wanderer (that had recently face planted into the dirt) with enough fury to make a flame atronach blush. Said adventurer stared back, eyes bugged out in fear, for he knew what was coming next. The giant gave out a fierce roar, one accompanied by a club swinging over and over his head. Pushing himself off the ground, the Dovahkiin took off, stopping only to scoop up a stray tusk, barely missing the over-sized bludgeon aimed at his (comparatively tiny) head.

He ran as fast as he could, putting out extra bursts of speed every time he heard the thundering footfalls of his pursuer get closer. Even though he was in good shape, his lungs and thighs screamed in protest, causing him to slow down.

Feeling his adrenaline dissipate to prevent internal damage to his body, even at sign of danger, he felt his body collapse. He had taxed himself too heavy, running nonstop, leaping and weaving through the rocks in an attempt to lose or at least slow the giant, until Whiterun was in sight. The giant didn't even let up, however, looking like he was speeding up instead.

Searching his pockets and pouches frantically for anything he could use while mentally cursing himself for not buying a horse, he gave himself a mental smack to the forehead. Why the Nine Divines did he not Shout? It had only been a few weeks since his journey to High Hrothgar and his tasking to find some old horn artifact to prove his worth. Then againhe doubted his Unrelenting Force shout was strong enough to deal with something as big as a giant. Whirlwind Sprint wouldn't have matter, for he was only able to go a few yards worth with it at the moment.

Salvation came as his fingers wrapped around a small bottle, filled with a green, virulent looking liquid. He grimaced, for this particular stamina potion was made by him, when he visited a local alchemist store. He was by no right a professional when it came to making potions, for this one wasn't as effective nor did it taste good compared to the ones Arcadia brewed, but at least they gotten the job done. Somewhat.

The giant drew closer, adding to the anxiety, as he tried to uncork the bottle with shaking hands. Growling in frustration, he brought the bottle up to his mouth, uncorking and spitting out the stopper with his teeth. He almost hesitated at the stinky fume that assaulted his nose, but at the sight of the giant's club, he quickly downed the liquid as a thirsty Nord would drink mead.

Feeling the burn in his legs recede and his lungs now restored with air, he felt a new wave of adrenaline overrode his body, rolling it out of the way just in time to miss the over-sized piece of wood by several inches. Fortunately the club had dug deep into the ground, digging in from the combined force and impact of the weapon, forcing the giant to stop and try to pull it out, sparing the thieving rogue enough time to get away…

Lydia, (with more irony than at Warmaiden's) was bored. Of course, life of a Housecarl to the Thane of Whiterun was always mundane whenever she didn't come along with her charge. But it was not usually on a day like this. It was just the eve before the first of Morning Star, just hours away from midnight, the official beginning of the New Life Festival. Usually during her earlier years, Lydia would always feel a tad giddy or at least lighter, a result of anticipation to the celebration. After all what other holiday involved the passing of gifts…and free drinks at the bars and inns. She may be a Nord through and through, didn't mean she didn't act like a woman from time to time.

Lydia couldn't help but smile a bit at the warmer memories when she was a child, so anticipating at the presents she would receive, the way the decorations around town would always dazzle her, the way her family and friends would react when she would give them their gifts, or all those grand stories and ancient legends that would be passed around the fireplace.

Signing as past caught up to present, she could only grimace at the acknowledgement that she would be unable to have any more cozy memories to look back on or share with anyone. Her family was all but dead, with exception to the odd cousin or two. Her friends had moved on, spread out far that contact with one another was nigh impossible. She was all grown up now, the only present she would probably ever receive this time was a free cup of ale to herself. Sighing as she got up from the dinner table, she made her way to her room. Changing into her night clothes and slipping into the bed, Lydia then remembered the way her younger self would be wide awake, too excited for the morning when she would tear down to the main room, hyped up at the very idea of presents.

Lydia, despite of her role as a fighter, secretly took in the fond memories, for they were a better sleep aid than any potion in Nirn. She couldn't blame herself, for even with her natural affinity to the cold, she always felt freezing whenever on nights like this. Nights when she could never sleep, not because of anticipation, but rather on nights when she was by herself. Alone.

Going through her memories like a scholar would study a tome before an exam, she finally felt the tug of sleep at the edge of her consciousness. But before she could drift away, her ears perked up at the slight creaking of the wooden floorboards, her hand automatically going for the dagger she kept at her bedside. She relaxed, as the heavy footfalls followed by the clanging of weapons and arms being discarded to the ground was a signal that the Thane had finally returned, no doubt exhausted, as evidenced by his lack of effort to move quietly up the stairs. However, she held her breath when she heard the door to HER room open.

"What in Oblivion? He either must be that tired or had a little too much to drink!" she thought quietly, quite unsure what to do with a possibly, intoxicated Thane.

Instead her fears abated as she heard her charge shuffle more quietly over to her nightstand, actually being more careful to not wake the supposedly sleeping Housecarl. She couldn't only guess what purpose her master was doing in her room, for her back was facing him, until she heard a subtle clink of something small but heavy landing on her dresser table. And as quickly and quietly as he entered, he left, shutting close the door behind him.

Lydia, now tired at the clenching and nervousness, felt the pull of sleep return, albeit confused on how her last memory before drifting to slumber was that of a myth, on how a certain Saint or Priest would travel the around the world in one night, secretly placing gifts to all those that deserved them…

The next morning, Lydia felt more energized than usual mixed an odd feeling she had not felt for some time. Recounting the night's events, her eyes quickly looked over to the bed stand, eyebrows shooting up. Sitting on top of the table was a golden circlet, inlaid with a flawless diamond in the center with two rubies flanking it. Gently picking it up, Lydia felt the warmth and flow of energy that flowed through her body, an obvious sign of an enchantment of sort. Looking closely, she noticed that the jewelry was recently polished giving it an eye catching shine.

Smiling in what would have been the first in years, she finally came to realize that odd feeling she had when she woke up. Joy.

A/N: Not really sure about this one-shot, since I finished it late night, so I could be drabbling for all I know. But then again, I could always update later. Untill then!