Sianna was hormonal, overwrought and in denial. There were too many subjects she refused to think about. Too many corners of her mind that would only barb her heart and wound it a bit deeper. Instead, she kept a stubborn choke hold on hope and kept putting one step in front of the other, as if taking them would bring on the string of tomorrows a little faster.
The events of the past weeks combined with the visits of friends and family, not to mention the return of Juliane and Peredhil from Elessar had been the catalyst to the frenzy of activity. Holiday cheer, if not internal, was going to be found one way or the other. So clearly, her only option was to fling herself, wily nily, into a wild feat of decorating the house from absolute top to bottom with every possible bauble or tradition she could orchestrate.
A cauldron, for really what else could you call a five gallon pot, simmered on the hearth full to the brim with cider, cinnamon sticks and orange peels. A large ladle swam through the amber liquid twice for good measure before Sianna served herself a massive mug full and went to stand by the back door. Cracking it slightly, she stood on the threshold, neither within or without.
The sky was dull gray, heavily mottled with thick, ripe clouds. As if in defiance of the agitation within her, a gentle veil of snow fell slowly, as if all the world were trapped inside a snow globe. The temperature was dropping, and the flakes clung to the ground like a dusting of powdered sugar. The cider, now appropriately cooled, was sipped impatiently as she waited.
Branan and Caoimhe perked up at something inaudible and padded into the kitchen before taking off into the expanse of the yard, dark noses rooting around in the snow. Another sip was ended with a chuckle, just as the faint jingle of bells echoed. Ruadh turned the corner, Henderson at the reins of the sledge that appeared to contain enough evergreens for ten houses and a tree large enough to stand in the center of the Marketplace.
She turned into the house to set her mug on the counter before stepping fully into the snow shower. Waving an arm over her head, she called out down the lane. "Come along, Henderson! There's much tae be done!"
The events of the past weeks combined with the visits of friends and family, not to mention the return of Juliane and Peredhil from Elessar had been the catalyst to the frenzy of activity. Holiday cheer, if not internal, was going to be found one way or the other. So clearly, her only option was to fling herself, wily nily, into a wild feat of decorating the house from absolute top to bottom with every possible bauble or tradition she could orchestrate.
A cauldron, for really what else could you call a five gallon pot, simmered on the hearth full to the brim with cider, cinnamon sticks and orange peels. A large ladle swam through the amber liquid twice for good measure before Sianna served herself a massive mug full and went to stand by the back door. Cracking it slightly, she stood on the threshold, neither within or without.
The sky was dull gray, heavily mottled with thick, ripe clouds. As if in defiance of the agitation within her, a gentle veil of snow fell slowly, as if all the world were trapped inside a snow globe. The temperature was dropping, and the flakes clung to the ground like a dusting of powdered sugar. The cider, now appropriately cooled, was sipped impatiently as she waited.
Branan and Caoimhe perked up at something inaudible and padded into the kitchen before taking off into the expanse of the yard, dark noses rooting around in the snow. Another sip was ended with a chuckle, just as the faint jingle of bells echoed. Ruadh turned the corner, Henderson at the reins of the sledge that appeared to contain enough evergreens for ten houses and a tree large enough to stand in the center of the Marketplace.
She turned into the house to set her mug on the counter before stepping fully into the snow shower. Waving an arm over her head, she called out down the lane. "Come along, Henderson! There's much tae be done!"