A/N: So sorry! I can't believe how long it took me to write this chapter. I kept getting stuck.
I did a little research for this chapter, I was trying to find an OLD christmas carol from around the time Jack was human. I have two verses written and here is the link to he version i liked if you want to hear the full song. Just go to YouTube ( watch?v=rpUAZso3Gck).
I went and saw RotG in theatres again, and guess what! It started snowing after we got out of the movie! To perfect. I guess it gave me enough of an inspiration boost to get this chapter up. Please read and review, I could use some ideas right about now.
Chapter 3, Christmas Spirit
It had been two months since Jack had risen from the lake. Two months of playing with children and mastering his powers. He had discovered that he could control the weather, to a point. He could make it snow whenever he wanted, and he could make it colder too. He learned how to control that quickly, be cause when it was too cold the children never came outside to play.
He was better at flying now too; a little unsteady still, but at least he never came crashing out of the sky anymore. He was learning how the talk to the wind too, and understand its answers. So far the wind was the only one who saw him, and Jack wasn't even sure if that counted.
Jack was reclined on his customary branch overlooking a colonial Burgess. The town looked different recently. The people had decorated it with wreaths on every door and a tree was placed in the center of the square. Jack was fascinated as he watched all the townspeople pitch in to decorate it. The children had taken to going door to door singing instead of coming to the lake to play. Jack could hear their song carried to him by the wind, he could barely make out the words.
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the morning.
Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
The adults had gathered around to listen and Jack wished he could have been standing there too. The playful sounding song cheered him up and he badly wanted to be down there with them singing along. The song didn't last long though, parents soon called their kids in for the night. Surprisingly, the children were eager to be off to bed.
But why? Jack wondered. He could almost see the excitement in the air. What is so special about tonight?
When the kids were put to bed and the parents blew out the candles, Jack crept into town.
Jack had been avoiding the town since the first night when he rose from the ice. Too many people around him made him nervous.
Nothing was different about the town, except for the decorations. Jack flourished his staff and let the wind carry him up to one of the roofs. He looked up at the moon seeing if it would provide any answers, but it was silent as always. Jack could almost make out a smirk on the moon's face though.
The silent night was interrupted by the jingle of sleigh bells. Jack turned and looked at the road going into the village, but it was empty. A shadow passed overhead and Jack gasped as he saw a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer come gliding into the small town. A man bigger than anyone else he had seen climbed out of the sleigh. He wore a red coat that matched his sleigh and a black fur hat. A red, bulging bag was slung casually over his shoulder as he made his way toward the first house. The man, more nimble than he appeared, climbed up easily to the roof of the first house, and much to Jack's astonishment, jumped down the narrow chimney.
With the help of the wind, Jack glided over to the roof the man had been on, only to see him jump out of the chimney the next house over. Bemused, Jack watched the man go in one chimney and out the next as he moved from house to house. The man visited each of the houses in turn, and when he was finished he jumped back down to the snow covered ground and made his way back to the sleigh. He passed by the house Jack was perched on, and to Jack's surprise, the man looked up and saw him.
That can't be. He actually looked at me?
The man waved to Jack to get him to come down. Cautiously, Jack slid of the roof and landed lightly in the snow.
"Children should be in bed by now," the man chided in his Russian accent. "Not trying to get a glimpse of Santa. You should hurry home. It's almost Christmas and you don't want to miss out on your gifts."
"Home?" Jack said quietly. He wasn't sure what the man meant. "You mean my lake?" The man looked closer at Jack, taking in his staff with the faint blue glow, his bare feet and white hair.
"I see," the man said gently. "Come with me." He reached his hand out to place it on Jack's shoulder, but Jack flinched away. Startled, Jack started to back away toward the forest. The man tried to approach him again, and Jack fled.
Safely back at his lake Jack peered through the trees to make sure he hadn't been followed. Why had that man been able to see him? Jack almost wanted to go back, but then he heard the sleigh bells and saw the sleigh fly on. To late now. Why did he run? Maybe that man had the answers, answers that the moon wouldn't give him. The wind twirled around Jack, tousling his hair.
Someone comes, the wind whispered.
Jack looked up in time to see a girl about nine yeas old stand next to lake. Her shoulder length brown hair was a little messy from sleep. She had put on boots and a coat over her nightgown. Jack edged closer to her. He had seen her in the village before, but she never came to the lake to play. She carried a candle, which she now set next to the lake.
Jack was close enough now to see that her eyes were red and swollen from crying. She crouched down next to the candle and looked over the ice covered lake. Tears started to well up in her eyes as her eyes drifted over the very spot Jack had risen from.
"Merry Christmas Jack," she whispered, before breaking down into sobs.