For the peoplespalace 12 Prompts of Rahlmas
Title: Holly
Prompt: Holly
Rahl liked holly.
He had large bunches of it brought into the castle during winter, woven into elaborate table centrepieces, hung from chandeliers, and added to vases that held other winter flowering plants along with small branches from fir trees.
He especially loved the red berries for he loved red best of all, the colour of passion and power. He loved that most species had prickly leaves that looked beautiful but inflicted pain on any who mishandled them, drawing blood as red as the berries the plant bore.
Moreover, holly was at its finest when the weather was bleak; it triumphed when other, more delicate plants had succumbed to the first frosts. It had always seemed to Rahl to be a potent symbol of endurance and strength, and that alone was enough to endear it to him.