Chapter 19: Presents

Midwinter morning dawned bright and cold. After countless altercations with her Evil Personal Shang about staying in bed for as long as possible – she always lost, as Flick would steal her blankets – Adalia delighted in at long last being able to stay sung and cosy beneath her blankets.

As she heard the breakfast bell, she was in conflict with herself over if she would rather stay in bed or eat. Eating won out, and she opened her eyes to gaze out the window, getting a surprise at seeing that even more snow was falling from the heavens, settling over the previous sheets of snow on the ground.

Her resolution almost altered, but at that moment her stomach let out a loud growl, and she cursed before she dragged herself out of bed, staying wrapped in her blankets while escaping into a warm bath.

She was dressed and washed by the time she emerged from the washroom, and it was then that she noticed a pile of presents on the desk near her door.

Adalia couldn't help grinning in delight as she opened the gifts.

Kula had sent her a sharpening kit for blades, Charlie had given her a large note that listed tips for jousting, (as well as a long list of injuries that he had suffered at the hands of his knight master) and it seemed that Daniel, Nathan, Kaden and Dameon had joined together to buy her a number of small and extremely flat daggers, complete with leg sheaths, that she could hide under her clothing.

She savoured every present, hoping that they would like their gifts as much as she appreciated theirs. She stared in awe as she held Rye's present. It was an amethyst on a delicate looking silver chain. A note fell out of the package, and she picked it up and read:

Ady, I hope you like this gift. Now, don't jump to conclusions, this isn't some kind of stupid unnecessary gift; it is spelled to detect poisons or drugs in your food – I did it myself, so make sure you wear it!

Rye

After reading the note Adalia gazed reverently at the innocent looking amethyst, and put it around her neck. She was forced to wipe away some tears of appreciation that leaked out, and then tried to distract herself by turning to the last gift.

Yet again she was reduced to standing in shock, overwhelmed at this last display of affection. In her hand lay a beautiful sword. The sheath was plain black, but she recognised the stamp for Raven armoury, meaning it was the best. The hilt fit her hand perfectly, and she drew the sword quickly, marvelling at the sheen of the razor sharp double-edged blade. The hilt had some amethysts worked into it. The note said: 'To Ady, love your grandparents. Goddess Bless.'

She collapsed on her bed, gaze flicking between all of the gifts. After a few minutes, she drew in a large breath. "There is no point sitting here. I have to go thank them." She muttered.

Forcing herself to stand up, she packed away the daggers in her bag; there was no need of them in the palace. She buckled on her sword sheath and replaced the magnificent sword. Taking a last look out the window, she gathered up another coat and strode out of her room.

She decided to investigate a suspicion of hers, and was proven correct when she knocked on a particular door. "Grandpa!"

She flung herself at George, who scooped her up and twirled her around in circle. When they had both calmed down, and George had set down his granddaughter, Adalia said happily, "Happy Midwinter!"

"Ah, and such a happy one it is, my girl! Do you want to come with me to eat breakfast?"

"Sure! I guess grandma and Kula are back?"

George chuckled, "Yes, you guessed right. They arrived last night, Alanna was complaining about the cold."

Adalia grinned at him as he led her into Numair and Daine's rooms. Adalia hid her confusion, until she saw Alanna sitting hunched by the fire, and Kula next to her, looking decidedly happier.

"Kula!" Adalia almost yelled with pleasure. As Kula looked at her, Adalia couldn't help but notice that she seemed thinner than last year; it looked like she had seen a great many battles. Her emerald eyes brightened when she saw Adalia, and she leapt up to hug her in greeting.

"Hi!"

After a very loud greeting and both of them expressing enthusiastic appreciation of each other's gifts, they settled down around the fireplace and Rye handed Adalia a plate full of steaming hot food.

"Thankyou Rye, for the gift and everything, it's perfect!" She said to him, violet eyes sparkling as she indicated the amulet around her neck.

"It was nothing." Rye smiled in amusement, and deflected further comments by starting on breakfast.

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After they had all eaten, Numair said, "Why don't we all go ice skating?"

Alanna gave him a death glare, but he decidedly didn't look at her. "Come on, everyone is going to go! There is a fairly big pond that has frozen solid, and Alanna, I ought to know since I tested it myself."

Adalia had never tried ice-skating, but it was on her list of things to do, so she gave her grandmother a pleading look, and then said brightly, "I'll try it, but I won't be good."

Alanna scowled at her, "You know that I can hardly leave you to go without me, you'll probably manage to get into trouble." She seemed to consider it and her scowl deepened. "I'm going to get more clothes." George winked at Adalia, and then followed his wife, soothing her.

Once Alanna had left, Adalia realised that the others were staring at her strangely. "What?" She asked, confused. "She's probably right, you know."

Numair shook his head. "No one has been able to get her on the ice in at least twenty years. I applaud you. I think everyone is going to get a shock when she turns up!"

Adalia got up and bowed gracefully, eyes sparkling, "It is my duty to please." She made for the door, but just after exiting, she poked her head back in, "I don't seem to have skates…"

"I'll bring some for you." Numair answered.

"Well, see you. Kula do you want to come say hello to Kaden and Dameon?" Kula nodded delightedly and jumped up to follow Adalia.

As they were walking down the corridor towards the page's wing, Adalia heard Rye shout out, "We'll meet you in a bell in the entrance hall." Adalia nodded, and then the two trekked off to greet the boys.

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In a bell, Adalia, Kula, Dameon, Kaden, and Charlie (who had arrived with Raoul) joined a fairy large group of knights in the entrance hall. Adalia saw Rye approaching them, and she asked a silent question.

"There's a lot of people who insisted on seeing the momentous event of the Lioness on ice." Rye informed her, a wide grin plastered on his face.

"Ok everyone lets go!" Daine shouted, and they all trekked out into the snow towards the pond.

While she was waiting with her friends to exit the doorway, she took track of all the faces that she could recognise – there was Raoul, Buri, Neal, Yuki (Neal's wife, Kula's mother), Lady knight Keladry of Mindelan and Masbolle with her husband Dom, Prince Roald and Princess Shinkokami, as well as, much to her amazement, their Majesties (Jon and Thayet).

This is certainly some huge event, what with all these well-known knights… Adalia mused.

She was well known to most of them, and Adalia couldn't help but be suspicious that Alanna had introduced her to them with the intension of using them to keep an eye on her. She cheerfully greeted them when they noticed her, and then exited the hall, following Kel and Dom.

Watching the others struggling through the snow, Adalia couldn't help but be extremely happy. It had stopped falling from the sky, but it was quite deep, and very wet.

Rye noticed that she seemed to be smug about something, and glared at her. She had a much easier time of it, because she didn't sink much into deep snow, and she was walking easily. Wherever she placed her feet, it looked like the snow was only an inch deep. Everyone else had to plough through at least a foot of snow, leaving huge tracks.

"I hate that you can do that!" He irritably informed Adalia. His pants were freezing cold, and the snow was almost up to his knees.

She laughed delightedly, "There are definite merits to being half crow!" And then she mockingly ran toward the front of the line, lightly stepping on the snow.

She waved at all the knights she passed, earning a few exasperated looks, and then stopped to walk easily next to her grandmother, who was displaying the ability to curse in at least five separate languages.

"I'll need to remember those. Can you speak all those languages? Or can you only curse in them?" Adalia asked cheekily.

Alanna gave her granddaughter a dirty look, "Mostly just know the curses. Being around soldiers really opens up one's opportunities for learning swear words."

"I'd imagine so!" Adalia said, and then she spotted the pond, and shouted, "Pond's up ahead!" So everyone could hear. She heard many a relieved sigh, and she led the way to the ice.

Once Numair caught up, he handed her skates. "Thankyou!" Adalia said cheerfully, and then set to putting them on.

Even though she had wanted to try it, she wasn't so gung-ho about jumping on the ice when it was right in front of her. She stepped over to her grandmother, who was experiencing much the same problem.

"How bout we step out together?" Adalia asked carefully. Alanna nodded, and they carefully stepped onto the ice, sliding a bit.

Adalia watched Raoul and Buri skating easily just a few meters away, and she studied how they moved their feet. She tried to do it herself, and found that she succeeded in moving without falling over.

With considerable concentration, she carefully continued on, but she managed to fall flat on her behind.

She gazed around and saw that the knights had varying degrees of mastery of the blades. She smiled when she saw George skate up to Alanna and drag her along. Adalia tried to stand back up, but found that she couldn't. Rye spotted her on the ground, and skated up, doing a circle around her before stopping in front.

"Ady, why are you on the ground?" He asked, curious.

"Because I love how wet it is." Adalia responded sarcastically. Rye laughed and offered his hand, which Adalia took gratefully.

"Ok. Hold on to me and you won't fall." Rye reassuringly clasped her hand, and started leading her over the ice.

They skated like that for a long time, teasing the Lioness when they lapped her. After a while, Adalia said, "I think I'm ok now. But please stay close." She got a feeling that Rye was reluctant to let her go, but she decided not to comment on it.

They had been skating for most of the day, and Adalia could now rival Rye in speed, when Alanna said loudly, "I hate to be the one to point this out, but if we stay any longer we will miss dinner." This was said with minimal sarcasm, as Alanna had actually done really well that day, even managing to trip Neal.

Everyone looked disappointed, but they all skated back to the edge and removed the blades, chatting happily, pleased to be heading off for a warm meal.

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Next Chapter: Knight Master

Disclaimer: I am not Tamora Pierce.