A/N: I recently discovered this adorable show and immediately fell in love! If someone reads these one-shots and enjoys them, yay! If not...*shrug* This is one of many short stories to come. I love Christmas, and since there wasn't a Christmas episode in ANY of the seasons, I decided to write my own.
CHRISTMAS CHAOS
"Happy Holidays neighbors!" Nana greeted as she held up her famous pecan pie. Dwight stood behind her, raising up some homemade cider.
"You are most welcome, Lady Na-na and Sir Dwight!" Baldric hailed, sweeping an arm in for them to enter.
"We are upholding the tradition of decorating the castle, to bring merriment throughout the year!" Chlodwig boasted as he managed two armfuls of Christmas lights.
"Need some help with that bud?" Dwight offered extending a hand.
Chlodwig gratefully handed the task over to Dwight, following Lady Na-na into the kitchen with the food.
"Don't touch that hog, Chlodwig!" Baldric called out.
"Ahh floof!" Chlodwig groaned.
"Sir Dwight, help me hang the garland." Baldric said, handing him a most obscure decoration. Dwight eyed the garland that contained human skulls in between the leafy greens.
"Explain, please?" He gulped holding it up.
Baldric fidgeted with the nail and hammer. "Oh! Protection of joy, Sir Dwight. These are the soldiers who have fallen and given their very lives to protect Christmas."
"Ew! Real human skulls?" Dwight whined. He took the hand sanitizer out of his pocket, applying generously. Once the garland was hung, he set forth working on the tangled pile of lights.
"Of course!" Hexela came through the grand archway holding a mistletoe over her head. She sashayed over to Baldric, planting a sweet kiss on his lips.
Dwight smiled at their cuteness. Speaking of cute, he glanced around. "Where's Gretta?"
"She's out back, hanging the holiday skulls on the bushes." Hexela offered.
"Oh!" Dwight said, placing the now untangled lights on the coffee table. "I'll go check on her."
"We can't stay long honey bear!" Nana said as she reentered the family room. "We're volunteering at the soup kitchen at noon, and we still have to find a Santa for the Woodside Wonderland tonight."
"Yeah, I know." Dwight said. "We also need a few more pies for the dessert carts."
"Leave the pies to me, Sir Dwight." Chlodwig offered, chewing on a suspiciously familiar piece of pork. Baldric frowned, vowing to turn him into a lump of coal later.
"Really?" Dwight asked.
"It is no trouble at all for a fellow brother of GUY CLUB!" Chlodwig assured, before taking another bite of his snack.
"Sir Dwight," Baldric spoke up. "If there is any assistance you need with your community revels, please allow the House of Moon-dragon to assist."
"Absolutely!" Hexela smiled. "It is our privilege to give back to the poor and unfortunate. It is a witch's coven upmost duty to spread seasons cheer, especially after such a Hallow's Eve Feast, uh, I mean Fest!"
"Awesome!" Dwight decided to ignore that Freudian slip, in the spirit of Christmas. "That would be a huge help!"
Glancing at the time, he headed the backyard. "I'm going to check on Gretta. Nana, I'll meet you at our house in ten."
"Okay honey bear!" Nana smiled.
-BACKYARD-
Gretta listened to the quiet of her surroundings while she made calculated steps with her footing. Steadying her breath as she centered her blade, she focused on the enemy.
A quick throw of her dagger struck the demon figured straw monster. With an impressive roll, she took out a second sword before sprinting to cut off its head.
"Gretta?"
Gretta spun again, bringing the sword down fast.
"WOAH!" Dwight did a quick defensive move, blocking her swords with his own.
Gretta immediately relaxed her position, smirking at Dwight's quick reflexes. "Well done, Sir Dwight."
"Well, you learn to expect that kind of thing back here." He shrugged. Then, he noticed the training ground had many of the faux straw men disfigured. "Uh...did I miss the bat signal?"
"Not at all." Gretta said. "But one can't be too vigilant."
"It's Christmas time." Dwight reminded her. "Everyone is inside decorating and having a great time, and you're out here... practicing?"
"Just so." She nodded, as if that explained anything.
"Fill me in, here." Dwight raised a brow, putting his hands in his layered jacket.
"I'm preparing for Krampus." Gretta swept her arm towards the decapitated demon straw figure.
Dwight chuckled. "Krampus is a myth, Gretta. Nothing more than a creepy Christmas story to scare children into being good."
"Absolutely not!" Gretta objected. "Sir Dwight, Krampus isn't like Die Hard, or those Gremling things on the magic box-"
"Television." Dwight corrected with chilled breath.
"He is an evil demonic creature that feasts on the most joyous souls of Christmas revelry." Gretta insisted, seriously. "He will devour this whole town unless a challenger of noble blood defeats him in combat."
"I thought Krampus only took naughty children?" he asked, wishing they could have this conversation indoors.
"The legends of common day are wrong." Gretta frowned. "Krampus only wants chaos and misery."
"So, he just goes around feeding on happy people?" Dwight guessed.
"Precisely." Gretta nodded. "He will choose the most joyous of victims. And around this time of year, that is children."
Dwight hooked a thumb back at the house. "It's just that no one else seems concerned."
"Baldric knows Krampus. We have all made contingencies." Gretta said, picking up a bow and arrow. "I declared that the house may be festive, but not too joyful."
"Hence the skulls, everywhere. Okay." Dwight surmised. "I'm officially dating a nutjob."
"Mock me all you want, Sir Dwight. I take my vow to protect Christmas very seriously." Gretta huffed as released the arrow into the head of the decapitated straw dummy.
"Hey, warrior princess." Dwight said, grabbing her hand. "Can we put the swords away for just a second?"
Gretta obliged him for a moment. She felt a blush creep onto her cold cheeks, as he gently wrapped his arms around her waist.
"I know Christmas is in two days, but I wanted to give you your gift now." He revealed.
"But it is unfair," Gretta protested. "I have not yet wrapped your gift." A small lie. In truth, she had no idea what she was going to give him, and was hoping to find it soon. Her earlier mall outing with Chlodwig had proven fruitless.
"That's okay." Dwight dismissed with an easy smile. "You don't have to give me anything at all."
Taking out a small box, he opened it, revealing a delicate. gold pendant necklace, with the House of Moon-dragon in the Insignia, the dragon's eye was a lone diamond.
"Dwight." Gretta whispered, running her fingers gingerly over the emblem. "It's beautiful."
Dwight took her hand, twirling her softly. Gretta didn't dare breathe as he secured the jewelry around her neck. When he finished, she gently lifted her hair to make sure it didn't get caught, before facing him again.
"I know remember how upset you were that your father's ring got incinerated along with Hammond." Dwight said quietly. "I wanted you to have something to remember him by."
"You are the most..." Words failed Gretta, as tears gathered in her throat.
"Merry Christmas, Princess." he whispered sweetly.
Gretta grabbing both sides of his cheeks, pulling him into a passionate kiss, which Dwight returned eagerly. Heat surged between them, as her gently teased his. Butterflies fluttered in the pit of her stomach as Dwight wrapped his arms around her, his hand crept into the base of her neck.
"Dwight, honey!" Lady Nana called out. "We have to go! Ms. Hyland just called and said she doesn't have enough horses for the sleigh rides!"
Dwight groaned in annoyance at the interruption. He rested his head against Gretta's as they regrettably ended the kiss, her soft giggles music to his ears.
"What's amiss now?" Gretta breathed a curious smile. She knew her champion hated when they were disrupted from their more intimate moments. Between monsters, mayhem, and community service, they weren't as frequent as either of them would've liked.
"I have to find more horses." Dwight sighed. "One more thing to add to the list."
"Leave the horses to me." Gretta declared. "I know where to retrieve some. How many should you require?"
"Well, we have 12 sleighs, decorated by the senior citizen to represent the 12 days of Christmas." Dwight said. "And so far, we have 3 horses? And I'm pretty sure one is Mr. Dexter's nativity mule."
"There are 12 days of Christmas in your time?" She asked, confused.
"No, it's a song." Dwight laughed. "I'll play it for you later. I have to go. The sleigh rides start at 7:30pm for the big finale."
Gretta nodded. "Leave it to me. I shall meet you at the mall with horses at the ready by then."
"You're the best." Dwight kissed her, before sprinting to the house. "See you at 7!" he waved his goodbye
Gretta waved, waiting till he was out of sight to continue her training. Dwight may think Krampus was just a nightmare, but he had no idea how menacing a Christmas nightmare could be.
-LATER THAT DAY, WOODSIDE MALL-
"Season's greetings, peasant children!" A Santa-dressed Baldric boasted throughout the north main entryway of the Woodside Mall, as he sat on a large embellished gold and red chair, surrounded by a mountain of wrapped presents.
Hexela was dressed as a sexy elf, assisting the children up the makeshift stairs to Santa's lap, while Jacopo and Chlodwig managed to call a cease fire to pass out the donated pies from the Swine and Slosh Tavern. Jacopo assured everyone it was only figs, and fruit pies.
Dwight was all smiles, taking in the success of this year's toy drive. The whole community had really come together to get food, clothes, and toys to the less fortunate. And he really appreciated his quirky extended family coming in clutch at the last moment. He checked his itinerary once more, glad that everything was on track.
4:00PM-6:00PM Santa's lap
6:00PM- Woodside Highschool Glee Club Caroling
6:30-7:30 Christmas Gingerbread Contest
7:30PM-Sleigh Rides around the Woodside Lighted Woods
Come in Dwight: Adam called over the mic.
Dwight touched the headset to his ear. "Go for Dwight."
"You got eyes on Charles? He's supposed to be doing a final warmup with the Glee Club."
Dwight checked his phone. "It's 5:35! The Christmas sing a-long starts in 15 minutes! He told me he was headed over there a half an hour ago!"
"No one's seen him. I can try and see if Zeke will do the Gingerbread competition now to buy us some time." Adam offered.
"Thanks man. I'll get eyes on him and send him over." Dwight huffed.
It wasn't like Charlie to miss a big performance. He headed towards the South main entrance, near the food court. He searched for at least 20 minutes, checking in with every store and volunteer on the both floors.
"Anyone got eyes on Chad?" Dwight spoke into the headset, hoping his second in command could help.
"I'm just finishing up with the Candy Cane Canned goods." Chad came in.
Dwight checked his watch. It was 5:55PM. "Great! Anyone seen Charlie yet?"
"Not in the last 40 minutes." Juliet came through from her post.
"Pat from the Chronicle showed up early so we're ago for the Gingerbread Competition." Zeke chimed in.
"Okay, please let me know if he shows up in your areas, guys." Dwight pleaded.
"You got it." Chad answered.
"Sure thing!" Juliet confirmed.
"Copy that." Zeke spoke up.
"10-4" Adam replied.
Thinking about possibilities, Dwight pulled out his cell phone which had the Mall Directory Map. He crossed off all the areas he searched, but paused, seeing he'd missed a text from Gretta.
"Huh." Dwight uttered, wondering how he missed that. "She must have been running late for the Sleigh Ride line up."
The sleigh ride was supposed to be the big finally around the lake. The woods had been decorated with Christmas lights. Gretta apparently, knew where they could rangle up some horses last minute.
He opened the text messaged to see what he feared most. A giant BAT. "Oh floof!" He cursed, immediately calling his grandma who was posted on the southside entrance, handing out hot cocoa.
"Nana, have you seen Gretta?" he asked.
"Just a little over 30 minutes ago." Nana said. "Is something wrong, honey bear?"
"J-just champion stuff." He tried to remain calm.
"I'm on my way." Nana said.
"No!" Dwight blurted. The last thing he needed was to worry about her AND Gretta being hurt.
"I can handle it. Just keep working. I promise, I got this."
"Be careful, Dwight."
"I will." Dwight ended the call, frantically checking Gretta's location.
Thankfully she was wasn't far, in the old ice-skating rink that was closed for renovations. Dwight sprinted towards the back of the mall.
When he reached the hall, he could hear screaming and growling. He didn't waste time as he ran through the double doors. As he rounded the corner, the scene playing out before him was one for the memory books.
Charles was cowering in the corner, squawking like a seabird as he watched Gretta, both swords out, decked out like some gothic avenging angel; battling an 8-foot, burley horned beast with blazing red eyes, 7-inch sharp teeth, and the skin of a reptile.
"Gretta, I'm here!" Dwight called out.
"Finally!" Gretta growled as she held up a defensive posture against the beast.
"L-let me guess," Dwight stuttered, licking his lips. "Krampus?"
"KRAMPUS!" Gretta confirmed with a strained yell.
"Charlie?" Dwight turned to the shivering Glee Club President. "I'm going to get you out of here. Can you walk?"
Charlie's panicked eyes darted to him. "W-what about G-gr-retta?"
"She can handle herself." Dwight assured him quickly. "The sooner I get you to safety, the sooner I can help her."
Just then, Gretta landed with a swift and hard thud against the penalty box, the skating rink walls rattling. Charlie gave Dwight a bewildered look, as if to ask if he was serious.
Dwight couldn't really blame him. What could he possibly do to help a gothic warrior princess fight a European folklore demon? Not a clue, but that never stopped him before.
Gretta had managed to wrap herself onto the Krampus' back, giving a warrior cry as she wrestled him around the rink. Dwight took that as his signal to make a move. "Come on. We have to go."
Charlie managed to scramble to his feet on the slippery surface. In the mist of helping him off the ice, Gretta screamed. "RUN!" The Krampus barreled towards them, determined to recapture its prey.
Dwight dodged out the way, but Charlie scampered into a panicked run, getting all of 10 feet before he bashed into the wall, knocking himself unconscious.
The Krampus' tripped over his own feet, the dry ice starting to melt from the intense heat radiating off its body, causing a hard fall to the chilled floor.
Gretta took the opportunity to plunge her sword into the center of the demon's back. "In the name of St. Nicholas, I condemn you back to HELL!" she shouted, before drove the sword deeper until it pierced the heart.
"Gretta!" Dwight reached for her, pulling her out the way in nick of time. He could see that the monster was about to combust, just as Hammond had from the inside out.
The Krampus screeched and growled, before bursting into glorious red and green flames. Gretta's sword clanked against the ice, charred and smoking, yet still intact.
"You...saved Christmas!" Dwight panted as they both sat up. "You are remarkable!"
"I merely did as any warrior would do." Gretta said reasonably, secretly relishing in Dwight's high opinion of her.
"How did you end up here?" Dwight had to know. He stood, extending a hand to assist her.
"Well..." Gretta started, accepting the help. "I had just arrived with the horses..."
-almost an hour earlier-
"Lady Nana!" Gretta greeted at she approached the hot cocoa stand.
"Oh my!" Nana laughed at the spectacle before her. Gretta had gathered 12 horses, all shades of brown, white, grey, sable, and black. The men with her were dressed in what she assumed were Robin Hood or adult elf costumes.
"Nana, I would like to present to you, My uncle Henrik, and the merry bandits of Macklyn the Fox." Gretta introduced properly. The men all took off their hats, and bowed gallantly.
"How do you do?" Nana smiled.
"Charmed, madam" Henrick smiled, taking her hand to place a delicate kiss. "And at your service."
"Great!" Nana said, then waved to one of the senior volunteers. "Mr. Faulkner will get you all set up with the sleighs!"
"Right o." Henrik said joyfully.
Gretta smiled as the Mr. Faulkner escorted her uncle and his men to the sleighs. When the men were out of earshot, she turned to Nana.
Nana saw the necklace sparkling off the remnants of sunlight. "I see Dwight gave you his Christmas present."
"I'm in peril!" She whined helplessly.
"What is it dear?" Nana frowned.
"I have been wracking the farthest regions of my brain as to what to give Sir Dwight for Christmas." Gretta confessed. "And I've come up with nothing."
"Dwight will be happy with anything you give him." Nana comforted. "We haven't had much money through the years, so he's not really materialistic."
"He's a martyr! That's even worse!" Gretta sighed. "What do you give the boy who does so much for others?"
"Well," Nana advised, stirring the hot chocolate. "The best gifts are the ones that show how much you mean to each other. How much you have in common. It's about the connection."
"Connection..." Gretta let the word roll around before an idea came to mind. "I think I've got it! Thanks Nana." she pulled the old woman into a quick hug.
"Any time honeycomb!" Nana laughed hugging her back. "Now, would you would like to help me pass out hot chocolate?"
"That would be..." Gretta started but paused, seeing something out the corner of her eye. It was a pair of feet being drug around the corner.
"I have to check something," she told Nana urgently. "I beg your leave." She didn't wait for a response as she headed into the mall.
Gretta quickened her pace, following the smell of charcoal down a darkened hallway. The sounds of people became fainter as she went through the double doors that were once blocked off.
Taking out her phone, Gretta beckoned Dwight with the bat signal, and made sure her location was on, because she didn't exactly know where she was in this maze they called the mall.
With careful steps as to not make a sound, she withdrew her sword and dagger, proceeding with caution. Suddenly, a curdled scream echoed from around the corner. Breaking out into a sprint, Gretta followed the sounds of terror to discover Charlie being held by the collar of his shirt by a giant, flaming reptilian horned demon with clawed hands.
"I knew it!" Gretta whispered.
The beast roared, attempting to suck the very soul out of Charlie. That was no surprise. Charlie had been ecstatic about the carols they'd be performing. Earlier she had spotted him humming enthusiastically as he frolicked around, placing decorations on the makeshift stage. The man even had the nerve to twirl.
"Please!" Charlie cried out. "Please, let me go!"
Gretta didn't waste any more time. Tucking her necklace deep under her armor, the princess mumbled a quick prayer. "Father be with me. Glory to the brave."
Stepping out onto the rink, she called out, "HAIL!" grabbing the beast's attention.
As the monster turned to her, she threw her dagger, aiming at the wrist. The beast howl as it dropped the frightened Glee Club president.
Charlie crawled over to Gretta; his eyes wide as saucers. "Run Gretta! I-it's a-a..."
"A Krampus." Gretta finished, not taking her eyes off the demon.
The Krampus removed the dagger, tossing it aside as it stomped towards them. Charlie sobbed, cowering behind her.
"Charlie, you need to get back and take cover." Gretta commanded. "Reinforcements will arrive shortly."
"W-hat are you going to do?" Charlie whined, frightened eyes darting to the monster who was getting closer.
Gretta spared him a smirk. "I'm going to save Christmas."
Charlie watched as Gretta walked towards the Krampus, squaring off with the beast.
"Yippie Ki-yay, you Christmas-stealing fopdoodle!" Gretta hollered, and charged towards the beast as it thundered towards her.
-presently-
"And you arrived not to long after." Gretta grunted as she and Dwight carried an unconscious Charlie back up the stairs.
Dwight had texted Hexela to meet them behind the nativity scene. They'd be away from prying eyes, long enough to come up with a plan.
When they reached their destination, Dwight propped Charlie up against the wall, resting his tired hands on his knees. "I-I really gotta work out more."
Hexela arrived, looking at the pathetic trio. "Krampus?" She questioned with a knowing brow.
"Krampus." Dwight and Gretta said in unison.
"We can't have Charlie thinking he saw a Slovak joy-stealing demon." Dwight told Hexela.
"Quite right." Gretta agreed. "Is there a way to make him forget?"
Hexela studied the knot forming on Charlie's head. She smiled. "I don't think that will be necessary."
"What do you mean?" Gretta asked.
"Well..."Hexela shrugged, "Accidents happen all the times. It's quite possible that he took a tumble off the stage, had a bad dream and just...imagined it?"
Dwight thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, I can swing that."
"But what of my garments?" Gretta said, waving at the singe spots of her armor and clothing.
"We're in a mall dear." Hexela said pointedly. "I'm sure we'll find you something."
Charlie began to stir. Dwight turned to the two women, who he was more than ever grateful for. "I got this, ladies." He got to work, wrapping a loose cord around the base of Charlie's foot.
Brava Sir Dwight Hexela thought as she ushered Gretta towards a store called Nordstrom.
Charlie groaned, touching his head. "Wha...?"
"Hey everybody, I got eyes on Charlie." Dwight announced into the headset.
"Thank God! We have 5 minutes till showtime!" Chad exclaimed through the mic
"You alright buddy?" Dwight coaxed, putting on his most disarming smile.
"What happened?" Charlie asked, frantically looking around.
"Umm..." Dwight stalled, looking around as the other glee club members made their way over. "Judging by that bump on your head, it looks like you fell off the stage."
"I... I was decorating the stage," Charlie said as he stood, looking around. "And this beast came and..."
"Charlie, are you okay?" Sophie ran up to them. Eyeing Charlie's leg, she rolled her eyes. "Did you get tangled up in the lights again? I told you I'd help as soon as I was finished judging the Ugly Sweater contest!"
"Gretta was fighting a beast! It was some horned demon!" Charlie insisted. "We have to save her!"
Dwight raised a brow, inwardly cringing at all the gaslighting he had to do. "Dude, Gretta is outside with the horses. I just texted her."
Charlie narrowed his eyes at him, before shaking his head. Sophie seemed really concerned.
"Maybe you should sit this one out, boss." She suggested softly. "No one has brought more Christmas joy than you. Take a break."
Charlie did sigh then, thinking they were probably right. The more he thought about a Krampus coming to devour him, the more ridiculous it sounded. "No, I'm fine! Just a... strange dream, is all."
"Make sure you have some hot chocolate bud." Dwight suggested, giving him an encouraging pat on the back. "Let's get you over to the nurse's station to see about that bump."
The rest of the night went off without a hitch. The Glee Club had gotten everyone up and dancing merrily to Christmas songs, all the kids got to make wishes to Santa Baldric, and even Jacopo had stopped calling Chlodwig 'Pigface Prince' for the night.
"Alright all!" Dwight announced. "Let's end the night with some sleigh rides!"
The crowd cheered as everyone lined up to take rides. Over the next hour and a half, Dwight had managed to get the crowd down to the last few rides of the night.
Chlodwig had asked the Shut your pie-hole employee to join him in the Grinchy green sleigh, while Baldric and Hexela cozied up together in a silver bell one.
Even his nana had been asked by Mr. Faulkner. "Are you sure Honey bear?" Nana asked.
"Yeah!" Dwight assured. "Go ahead. I'm going to wrap up here."
Nana gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek after Dwight assisted her up.
Macklyn appeared then, delighted when Erminguard had showed up to the festivities. "Sir Dwight! How now!"
"Hey guys!" Dwight greeted the couple. "Gonna take a ride?"
"Of course!" Macklyn said as helped his wife into the blue sleigh. "But you'd better hurry if you're going to get a ride. The horses are growing tired."
"Sir Dwight," Aunt Ermy looked around. "Where is piglet?"
"I'm not sure! She went shopping with Hexela, but after that..." Dwight trailed off, a little disappointed. There was only one sleigh ride left, then Chad was closing it down.
"Hail now, Sir Dwight."
Dwight did a double take to see a shining gloriously red sleigh being pulled by a huge black horse. Gretta was dressed in an emerald green cloak with fluffy white trim, her black leather corset showing off her amazing figure as she sported an elegant floor length velvet gown. Her hair styled in a sleek bun, adorned by crystal snowflake hair pins.
"Wow." He breathed as the sleigh pulled up.
Erminguard and Macklyn smiled, instructing the driver to pull off, giving the young couple their privacy.
"LAST RIDE" Chad announced as he closed the station. He gave Dwight a fist pound. "Happy Holidays bro."
"T-Thanks Chad." Dwight said, but his gaze never left Gretta's.
"Shall we away?" Gretta said nodding towards the beautiful steed and waiting bandit.
"Yeah." Dwight climbed into the sleigh, sliding close to her.
Gretta placed a warm blanket over their knees and gave him a thermos of hot cocoa. "Here you are. Nana told me that you hadn't the chance to partake."
Dwight gratefully took a sip, the sweet hot liquid a warm welcome from his standing outside for the past hour. "This is heaven." he sighed.
Gretta smiled, snuggling up closer. "I'm glad you like it. Christmas joy is spread all throughout Woodside, thanks to you."
"Me?!" Dwight nearly choked on his cocoa. "You're the one who single-handedly fought off Krampus! Which I have to say, is pretty bad-ass."
"Perhaps." Gretta didn't disagree. "But some victories are best kept a secret."
"Couldn't agree more." Dwight concurred, but a twinge of sadness came over him; knowing that Woodside would never give her the recognition she truly deserved.
"Speaking of which, how is Charlie?" Gretta wondered.
"Well, he was pretty shaken up at first," Dwight sighed. "But after the caroling and sleigh rides, he was back to his old self. Nurse Wendy said he'd be fine."
"That's good." Gretta was happy to know the Christmas joy had not been sucked out of him.
They rode around the lake, enjoying the many lights that illuminated the dark woods. They both laughed at inside jokes, and Dwight showed her pictures of Baldric as Santa.
"I'm so glad you made it to the sleigh ride." Dwight told her. "I thought something had happened to you after the whole Krampus thing."
"Oh!" Gretta blushed a bit. "I went home to change."
"Thank God for little miracles." He complimented, eyeing the snowflakes in her hair. "You look stunning."
"Thank you." Gretta uttered, getting lost in her Champion's dark and caring gaze. She cleared her throat, tearing her gaze away before she forgot her main purpose of going home. "I um, brought your Christmas gift."
"Oh?" Dwight grinned sheepishly. "I told you that it was okay."
"I know." Gretta said wryly. "Which is why I insist on doing so."
Reaching in her bag, she produced a small velvet red box, with a green ribbon on it. "You give so much of your time to everyone else; I figured it was time to give some back."
Curiosity got the best of Dwight as he unwrapped his gift. He opened the box to discover what appeared to be a magnifying glass, made of solid gold. The intricate engravings looked like measurements of time. It had a slightly heavy weight on it; the kind associated with something of extreme value.
"It's a beautiful magnifying glass, Gretta." Dwight smiled appreciatively, even if not exactly knowing the relevance.
Gretta smirked. "It's not a simple looking glass Sir Dwight." She took the object and turned it the right way, handing it back to him. In the glass itself, a holographic sundial could be seen as light reflected off of it.
"Cool." He remarked, seeing the image that wasn't there before.
"This particular glass allows you to look into the past." She revealed quietly, as to avoid the bandit overhearing.
"Really?" Dwight's eyes grew bigger as he studied the object closer.
"Tradition dictates that every newborn royal must receive a gift from family, dignitaries, and friends." Gretta explained. "My Uncle Arnolf bestowed this gift upon me, just days after my birth. Now, it's yours."
"How does it work?" He asked glancing at her. "It's not going to suck me back into the plague, is it?"
"Nonsense." Gretta chuckled. She then lifted his wrist with her hand, showing him how to hold it. "Just concentrate on what you most want to see. The glass will do the rest."
Dwight thought about what he wanted to see, and concentrated. For moment, he thought it wouldn't work, but the glass glowed softly, and his parents came into view. They were in the hospital with him, laughing. His father was holding him in his arms, while his mother sipped on water.
"How about Dwight?" His father suggested.
"After your grandfather?" His mom asked.
"Why not?" His dad said. "My grandfather knew you were pregnant before you did."
"That's because he was flirting with one of the charge nurses." His mother smirked.
His father handed him over to her. "You have to admit; Dwight does have a certain distinguished gallantry to it."
Mulling it over, his mother chuckled softly. "I guess it does."
With an approving nod, she snuggled him close. "Welcome to the world Dwight. We love you so much."
The mirror faded as Dwight's heart pounded loud in his chest. Did that really just happen? Did he really just see and hear his parents? Nana unfortunately hadn't had any videos of them, only tons of photos. Unshed tears filled his eyes as he turned his shocked gaze towards Gretta.
"It only lasts for a moment or two, I'm afraid." Gretta said a bit regretfully. "Nana suggested I should get you a gift that shows connection."
"Connection...?" He repeated, attempting to control his breathing.
"When I was young, I always wondered what my father looked like, the kind of man he was. So, I thought... you may be just as curious about your parents." She explained, dead sinking in. Maybe this wasn't what Lady Nana meant by common things among them.
Putting the magnifying glass back in the box, Dwight closed his eyes, attempting not to let the wave of emotions rattle him too much.
"Do you...like it, Sir Dwight?" Gretta fretted.
"Do I like it?" Dwight huffed in awe. He leaned in a bit, his hand on her cheek, his thump softly rubbing her jawline. "This is the best gift anyone's ever given me. You're amazing, Gretta."
Gretta closed the distance, kissing him boldly. Dwight pulled her close, deepening their embrace. She gently raked her hand through his thick midnight hair, as he wrapped one arm around her waist and the other around the nape of her neck.
That familiar burn of desire surged through them, their thoughts wondering towards the what ifs. What if they could convince the bandit to make another loop around the wooded lake? What if tonight they didn't stop at just kissing? What if they lived happily ever after?
"AHEM!" A voice grumbled, clearing his throat. "Stop it." Cough. Cough.
Gretta and Dwight ended their kiss, to see an amused Henrik, and disapproving Erminguard, a flustered Baldric, a whimsy-eyed Hexela, a goofy Chlodwig, and a shocked Nana.
Dwight glanced around to see the carriage had come back full circle and stopped at the entrance of the mall.
"I believe that's enough mistletoe for the evening." Aunt Ermy announced.
"I agree." Baldric eyed Gretta warily. Gretta rolled her eyes.
"Oh Baldy-boo, let them be." Hexela shushed her fiancé. "They're young."
"They're fine, sweetheart." Henrik said, giving Dwight a sly wink. "Come, let's head over to the Swine and Slosh. I could use with some wild bore's head."
"Indeed!" Chlodwig cheered.
"Piglet, you will join us." Aunt Ermy pointed a finger at Gretta. It wasn't a suggestion. "Don't doddle."
Gretta simply nodded, accepting her fate. She may be a princess of high stature, but to her Godmother she was still but a child.
"Honey bear, make sure you're being safe," Nana eyed him pointedly. "Protection is important. If you two need-"
"Alright, we're all good here!" Dwight interjected; his face tomato red from embarrassment. "We'll be right behind you guys."
Their little group dispersed. Dwight turned to help Gretta, who was still sitting in the sleigh, suspiciously quiet.
"Gretta," He looked down, grabbing her hand. She seemed to have been lost in thought.
"You alright?" He asked softly.
"No." she admitted, releasing an irritated breath. Turning to Dwight, she asked. "Is this not our time, Sir Dwight?"
"Yes, of course it is." Dwight consoled with a slight smile.
"Then it is my wish not to share our time with the others, just yet." Gretta announced stubbornly.
He glanced back towards the parking lot. "But everyone is waiting on us to-"
"Are you ready for our time to end and away to the tavern?" She asked.
"Honestly?" Dwight said hitting a fist to his open palm, thinking about all they'd gone through together. "No, I'm not."
Gretta grinned, before tapping the seat next to her. Dwight sat back down, adjusting the blankets.
"Driver," he called as he draped a protective arm around her shoulder, allowing Gretta to snuggle into his chest. "Once more around the woods, please."
"Right O!" the bandit obliged and they were off.
They sat in comfortable silence this time, admiring the light show, sneaking in a warm kiss every so often. The bandit did indeed take them through the woods, but instead of returning to the mall, he detoured around the town square, allowing them to see the shops and houses all decked out for Christmas.
"It's all so perfect." Gretta sighed happily.
"You're perfect." Dwight replied, placing a kiss against her hair.
"Merry Christmas Sir Dwight." She whispered.
Dwight glanced down at his present, knowing in the future, this would be the memory he'd look back on as the moment he knew he'd marry the amazing girl next to him. "Merry Christmas, Princess."
A/n: Hope you enjoyed it. Like and comment or don't. It's all good.