I decided to interrupt the usual story of the current adventures of Black Mask and Pale Rider to bring you this Christmas story.
Rideau Canal, Ottawa, Ontario, December 23, 1897
The snow crunched underneath the horses hooves, sounding louder than it should have, but the air was crisp and cool and all the sounds that were made seemed that much louder. The four riders huddled together as they travelled the road, using their body heat to keep themselves warm, as the long coats weren't helping. At least there was no wind, that would have just made it worse.
"Tell me 'gain," Shani Wennemein chattered as she clutched the coat closer. "Why in the Sam Hill did we d'cide ta do this 'gain?"
"Easy, Shan," Pania Alow replied, chattering away with as much gusto. "B'cause we wanted ta show the siblings wha' this time o' year were like on Earth."
"I much preferred Old Mexico," Mandrel stated with a firm nod. "It might've been dry, bu' at least it were a lo' warmer." He snickered and looked to his left, studying the stoic rider that was Sywyn Wennemein. "Ye've been quite. Cold no' affectin' ye?"
"It affects me a great deal," Sywyn replied in an even tone. "I just choose not to complain."
"Heh," Mandrel smirked as he puffed out frosty air from between his lips. "Well then, I 'ope ye dunna mind if I choose ta complain, lad." He rubbed his hands together before taking up the reins of his horse once more, urging him forward. "Could deal with a warm cup o' cider 'bou' now."
"We may be in luck," Pania called out and pointed ahead. To their surprise and as if to answer their prayers, the warm glow of lights greeted them through the trees. "Small settlement, this way we can figger ou' where we are."
"I bet we don't gotta figger out the when," Shani huffed a puff of air and urged her mount forward. The four rode slowly but with determination. Warmth was not that far away. As the glow became definite lights, they almost seemed to let out a sigh of relief. Laughter and song could be heard from one of the buildings as they drew near. A pub, by it's appearance. And aptly names. The Red Rose. A fine name that made Shani grin despite the cold. "Any port in a storm, eh Panny?"
"True tha'," Pania grinned back. Storm it may not have been, but the sight of a tavern in the middle of such a cold night was a welcome sight. From the sounds that came from within it's walls, it appeared as though celebrations had begun. The four elves brought their horses to a stop near the pub, and found a helpful gentleman ready to tend to their needs.
"G'deve ta ye," he called out as Pania dismounted. He watched the others as they did the same before continuing. "Cold night ta see trav'llers on th' road. Wha' brings ye this way t'night?"
"Travellin'," Pania replied with a smile. "Ta experience the season in some place new."
The old man squinted his eyes as he studied the four. "No' from 'roun' these parts, are ye? Travel far?"
"Oh, y'all could say thet," Shani replied with a chuckle and a wink to Pania. The elven bard only smile slyly in response. "Need a place ta keep the horses. Fed, watered an' warm."
"Oh, I've go' jus' the place," he replied with a kind smile. "I were jus' out 'ere makin' sure the other horses were tended ta. Mind me manners, me name's Angus McGuilicuty. I own this place. Well, I set it up more 'n forty year 'go when I come 'ere from Liverpool, bu' now I jus' 'elp 'roun'. Workin' the pub's better fer the young ones."
"Sounds like a packed 'ouse," Mandrel observed as he handed over the reins of his horse to Angus.
"Oh, 'tis tha's fer certain," Angus replied with a hearty laugh. "This time o' year always bring 'bou' the good in people."
"Well, we thank you for the information," Sywyn said as he reached into his coin satchel. "And for tending to the needs of the horses." He reached out with a handful of gold that made Angus smile, but the old man waved his hand.
"Keep it, lad," he said with a grin. "'Tis the season an' all."
"Very well," Sywyn merely replied with a kind smile and a nod. As the horses were tended to, the four elves made their way into the warmth of the pub. It was packed, as patrons shared in food, wine and song. Mostly in song, it would seem, as one of the men boisterously sang songs of old. The four removed their stetsons as they stomped the snow from their boots. As they did, they received a few waves from the patrons, an inviting greeting making the warmth grow even more. "Perhaps this wasn't such a bad idea after all, Shani," Sywyn said with a smile.
"'Course it weren't," Shani replied as she seemed to lead them toward a spare table. A waitress came quickly and placed four mugs of cider on the table and took their requests. The food was different than Sywyn and Mandrel were used to, but then they'd already had a taste of different during their time in Old Mexico. "Feels almost magic jist bein' here, don't it?"
"Aye, there's a feel fer the season indeed," Pania agreed. She took a swig of her cider, stopping only as she caught sight of a small child staring intently at the four. The elven bard smiled his way and offered a greeting. "'Ello there, wee one. Ye look as though somethin' caugh' ye eye."
The small boy nodded slowly, seemingly transfixed by Pania's features. Slowly, he pointed toward her ears. The pale elf offered a grin and leaned closer. "Easy ta 'xplain, lad. We're elves."
The explanation seemed to brighten the spirits of the child ever so and he beamed with glee. "You.. you mean... like.... like Santa Claus?"
Pania nodded slightly as she smiled, but Mandrel and Sywyn gave the pale elf a look of bewilderment. Shani quickly came to enlighten them both. "Fat man, rides in a sleigh, give toys ta kids 'round this time o' year. Elves work fer 'im." Mandrel blinked in disbelief, only able to stare at Shani after she gave her explanation. Sywyn only sighed deeply and shook his head as he took another swig of his cider. "What? Ya asked," she replied to their looks with a shrug.
Meanwhile, the small boy had become more bold, and he crept forward, surprising Pania as he climbed into her lap. "Will... will you tell Santa... that it'd be nice if he brought my ... mom someone to help her. She's so tired all the time." Pania's smile faded just a bit as the boy spilled out his words so quickly. And her heart fell with those words. She looked to Shani, then her brother Mandrel. And finally Sywyn.
"It'd 'ppear tha' we've b'come the models o' Christmas in this par'," she said with a solemn voice.
Rideau Canal, Ottawa, Ontario, December 23, 1897
The snow crunched underneath the horses hooves, sounding louder than it should have, but the air was crisp and cool and all the sounds that were made seemed that much louder. The four riders huddled together as they travelled the road, using their body heat to keep themselves warm, as the long coats weren't helping. At least there was no wind, that would have just made it worse.
"Tell me 'gain," Shani Wennemein chattered as she clutched the coat closer. "Why in the Sam Hill did we d'cide ta do this 'gain?"
"Easy, Shan," Pania Alow replied, chattering away with as much gusto. "B'cause we wanted ta show the siblings wha' this time o' year were like on Earth."
"I much preferred Old Mexico," Mandrel stated with a firm nod. "It might've been dry, bu' at least it were a lo' warmer." He snickered and looked to his left, studying the stoic rider that was Sywyn Wennemein. "Ye've been quite. Cold no' affectin' ye?"
"It affects me a great deal," Sywyn replied in an even tone. "I just choose not to complain."
"Heh," Mandrel smirked as he puffed out frosty air from between his lips. "Well then, I 'ope ye dunna mind if I choose ta complain, lad." He rubbed his hands together before taking up the reins of his horse once more, urging him forward. "Could deal with a warm cup o' cider 'bou' now."
"We may be in luck," Pania called out and pointed ahead. To their surprise and as if to answer their prayers, the warm glow of lights greeted them through the trees. "Small settlement, this way we can figger ou' where we are."
"I bet we don't gotta figger out the when," Shani huffed a puff of air and urged her mount forward. The four rode slowly but with determination. Warmth was not that far away. As the glow became definite lights, they almost seemed to let out a sigh of relief. Laughter and song could be heard from one of the buildings as they drew near. A pub, by it's appearance. And aptly names. The Red Rose. A fine name that made Shani grin despite the cold. "Any port in a storm, eh Panny?"
"True tha'," Pania grinned back. Storm it may not have been, but the sight of a tavern in the middle of such a cold night was a welcome sight. From the sounds that came from within it's walls, it appeared as though celebrations had begun. The four elves brought their horses to a stop near the pub, and found a helpful gentleman ready to tend to their needs.
"G'deve ta ye," he called out as Pania dismounted. He watched the others as they did the same before continuing. "Cold night ta see trav'llers on th' road. Wha' brings ye this way t'night?"
"Travellin'," Pania replied with a smile. "Ta experience the season in some place new."
The old man squinted his eyes as he studied the four. "No' from 'roun' these parts, are ye? Travel far?"
"Oh, y'all could say thet," Shani replied with a chuckle and a wink to Pania. The elven bard only smile slyly in response. "Need a place ta keep the horses. Fed, watered an' warm."
"Oh, I've go' jus' the place," he replied with a kind smile. "I were jus' out 'ere makin' sure the other horses were tended ta. Mind me manners, me name's Angus McGuilicuty. I own this place. Well, I set it up more 'n forty year 'go when I come 'ere from Liverpool, bu' now I jus' 'elp 'roun'. Workin' the pub's better fer the young ones."
"Sounds like a packed 'ouse," Mandrel observed as he handed over the reins of his horse to Angus.
"Oh, 'tis tha's fer certain," Angus replied with a hearty laugh. "This time o' year always bring 'bou' the good in people."
"Well, we thank you for the information," Sywyn said as he reached into his coin satchel. "And for tending to the needs of the horses." He reached out with a handful of gold that made Angus smile, but the old man waved his hand.
"Keep it, lad," he said with a grin. "'Tis the season an' all."
"Very well," Sywyn merely replied with a kind smile and a nod. As the horses were tended to, the four elves made their way into the warmth of the pub. It was packed, as patrons shared in food, wine and song. Mostly in song, it would seem, as one of the men boisterously sang songs of old. The four removed their stetsons as they stomped the snow from their boots. As they did, they received a few waves from the patrons, an inviting greeting making the warmth grow even more. "Perhaps this wasn't such a bad idea after all, Shani," Sywyn said with a smile.
"'Course it weren't," Shani replied as she seemed to lead them toward a spare table. A waitress came quickly and placed four mugs of cider on the table and took their requests. The food was different than Sywyn and Mandrel were used to, but then they'd already had a taste of different during their time in Old Mexico. "Feels almost magic jist bein' here, don't it?"
"Aye, there's a feel fer the season indeed," Pania agreed. She took a swig of her cider, stopping only as she caught sight of a small child staring intently at the four. The elven bard smiled his way and offered a greeting. "'Ello there, wee one. Ye look as though somethin' caugh' ye eye."
The small boy nodded slowly, seemingly transfixed by Pania's features. Slowly, he pointed toward her ears. The pale elf offered a grin and leaned closer. "Easy ta 'xplain, lad. We're elves."
The explanation seemed to brighten the spirits of the child ever so and he beamed with glee. "You.. you mean... like.... like Santa Claus?"
Pania nodded slightly as she smiled, but Mandrel and Sywyn gave the pale elf a look of bewilderment. Shani quickly came to enlighten them both. "Fat man, rides in a sleigh, give toys ta kids 'round this time o' year. Elves work fer 'im." Mandrel blinked in disbelief, only able to stare at Shani after she gave her explanation. Sywyn only sighed deeply and shook his head as he took another swig of his cider. "What? Ya asked," she replied to their looks with a shrug.
Meanwhile, the small boy had become more bold, and he crept forward, surprising Pania as he climbed into her lap. "Will... will you tell Santa... that it'd be nice if he brought my ... mom someone to help her. She's so tired all the time." Pania's smile faded just a bit as the boy spilled out his words so quickly. And her heart fell with those words. She looked to Shani, then her brother Mandrel. And finally Sywyn.
"It'd 'ppear tha' we've b'come the models o' Christmas in this par'," she said with a solemn voice.
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