"But even in my darkest of nights, Heaven has descended to embrace me."
December 25, 1908
Christmas
HollyDale
Pressing the satin fabric of her long and beautiful gown, Merry looked up to see her reflection looking delightfully serene, with the velvet bodice and longish, maroon and scarlet silks that adorned her. Shifting her gaze to the reflection of Christian standing behind her, fastening the cuffs of his sleeve, hair swept back neatly, the thoughts of how fresh he always was seemed to make her cheeks flush.
He walked close behind and wrapped his arms around her waist, smiling down. When the masculine scent filled her senses, with the burning sensations brewing within, Merry blushed, feeling like melting, and looked up, arms placed over his. "You look wonderful", she whispered and he chuckled soft before eyeing her, saying, "As do you."
Planting a gentle kiss on her head, he slowly withdrew his arms and extended a hand. Placing her palm into his, she looked up to reflect his smile and the couple walked outside to join the rest of the family to go to church.
Merry looked forward to seeing her siblings and mother there at the Christmas morning service. It was always so delightful to see them dressed in regal wear, assembled like grand feathers in Charity's wings.
~
Christian leaned back, Allen and Aaron beside him, as had been for the past couple of Sundays. Sir Gabriel and Davies were seated a few rows before them, leaving the son of the family with the bride's brothers. Jesse had a palm rested on the dark-haired man's lap while he rested a hand over the child's shoulder.
The elderly Pastor of their church delivered a message about the beautiful reason for the season, when Heaven descended to touch Earth.
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6
Taking the scripture in and committing them to memory, the men observed the Word delivered to them, listening to the message of having to give time to God and to merely take time to recount every gift from above.
After the refreshing sermon, the townsfolk sang hymns and carols, spirit and cheer fresh in their voices. Christian smiled as he turned to see Merry singing, Claire on her lap.
She possessed everything he would possibly look for in a wife and seeing her: scarlet hair and olive eyes, filled him with the sort of warmth he could neither comprehend nor describe. The way she blushed or grew shy, thought a mile longer than she needed to, had a flair for caressing children and her simple giggles had always made his heart beat faster by thrice.
Watching her from where he was, a lacy scarf over her burgundy hair, while she placed a kiss on her little sister's cheek, made him wonder how he could deserve someone as beautiful inside and out. Old souls had always interested him, for it takes someone wise of hardship to understand, and her deep soul had drawn his very being into the chasms of her kindness.
As the congregation chimed the last 'Amen', Christian rose to his feet and took Jesse's hand secure. Giving his palm a little squeeze, he smiled down at the child, receiving one in return, before looking around. Allen and Aaron talked for a while and the man added to conversation, before his eyes darted, again, to check on his wife.
Seeing the Merritts approach her, he was agitated, for they always seemed to have a way with disquieting her peace and the man desperately needed to protect his lady. Excusing himself from the company, he walked across the hall, hands in pocket to avoid seeming ruffled, till he reached Merry's side.
He placed a hand at her back to assure her that he was there, before turning to the Man of the Merritts' family, who was cordially congratulating her on her marriage. Accepting the wishes, Christian's gaze shifted to see Lady Myrtle and Bianca Meritt looking beneath pleased at the events or felicitations.
After Christian stepped in to handle any conversation from their end, he led his wife away. Looking down at her, he smiled, asking "What's bothering you?"
She looked up, a pleasant smile blossoming across her lips, "I couldn't help remembering my 'lack of past' they'd mentioned earlier."
Christian nodded, pondering over how deeply it seemed to have affected her. "Our births are reckoned to be what we are told", he began, "There isn't a soul upon this earth, knowing of their exact birth, save the Creator. Bianca Merritt is hailed to be the daughter of the Merritts' and it is only by the resemblance she bears to her kin that we know. Had none been said, we barely know how many parent children they never gave birth to. Every 'past' and 'origin' we bear is what we blindly believe of things told, hardly knowing the truth of it. It scarcely matters what your past truly was, as far as you have Love in what you have become."
He looked down to see Merry gazing at him, like she was dazed. Wrapping her arms closer around his, she smiled, looking down. "It sweeps me to know that you made a part of my Past, though. I'd like to keep it", she said, cheeks turned pink.
Christian chuckled at how naive she seemed to be and nodded, "With your gift completely gone, I can safely assure you that you were faced with your real past."
Feeling her head rest against his arm, he smiled. She was a thing he would dearly protect.
~
The whole town had gathered at the Quinns' manor for Christmas, a grand amount of chattering and excitement rising into the cold air. It was finally time for the gifts to be unwrapped and each was elated to see what form of love they had received from their beloved.
All of Charity's children gathered around to see their presents. Happiness swelled Merry's heart, looking at each gift or card she had received from her family. She would treasure them, for having souvenirs of her loved ones would be necessary when she left to Frostshire.
Merry, however, was much more eager to see what they thought of what she had made for each member of her family. Claire opened hers to see a wooden mug with the patterns of cell-walls against the body thereof, the figures of two children eating at the bottom of the cup. She did not understand what it meant, but she seemed to love the way one of the dolls looked like her, and happy.
"By and by", whispered Merry, giving her little sister a hug.
John and Andrew had received identical mugs that had been whittled to have shapes of flames protruding therefrom, but a woman's arms open. With no insight to the depth of its indication, the boys ran close to give their sister embraces before running along to play in their blissful innocence.
Merry turned around to see Jesse stare at her, like he could not understand what she seemed to know. She rose to her feet and smiled, opening her arms, as her little brother walked into her embrace, tears collecting at the edges of his eyes. The figures whittled upon his wooden mug had resembled his own face lying on the lap of a countenance that seemed to bear a great resemblance to the face of his beloved mother, bringing back memories of when he had a home where his mother had sung him to sleep night after night, having him laid on her lap until that one morning when he had turned six, but woke up to find her asleep, her heart beating no more.
Jesse hugged his sister tighter, memories resurfacing. Good times that were gone seemed to hurt more.
Giving him a reassuring pat, Merry held her brother's hand and smiled. "Love is everywhere around you though", she whispered and her brother nodded. There were sweet times he missed, but there were people he had found, that he would never let go of.
"I pray we won't be as far apart", said Jesse, and Merry smiled. "I'm sure I will return to HollyDale, somehow."
As she brushed her brother's hair, she looked over to see Allen, staring intently at the mug she had chiseled for him, eyes glazed. The cup was fashioned to bear a woman reaching a hand of bread to a young lad of six that looked like Allen, but much younger.
Merry watched him touch a finger to the corner of his eye, memories of the first evening when stealing cake for a living had been repaid with kindness and not anger or punishment, when a kindly lady in a bakery had given him more bread.
Allen turned to see Merry and Jesse, a single tear running down his face as he opened his arms and the three leaned in for a warm hug.
"Why would you make us cry on a day Muriel is painting us?" he chuckled, through imbalanced emotion and the sibling laughed before breaking away to see Lady Muriel Aislynn painting the beautiful gathering of HollyDale, slapping shades across her grand canvas, as she did, every special occasion, to have her painting hung in their main display.
~
After spending a wonderful day with the family and townsfolk, it was finally time for Merry, Allen and the Lockwoods to leave for Frostshire. They had all gathered at the HollyDale church to pray for their journey and life ahead, with blessings from their Pastor.
There was the grand voice of the church bells, singing ding-dong, as they advances towards the sleighs that awaited them.
Just as Merry took a step, she felt a tug at her sleeve and turned to see Jesse looking deep into her eyes, saying: "How does it feel to belong to your own family now?"
Merry smiled, before leaning down and cupping a hand over her brother's cheek, to say:
"You tell me, Jesse, mustn't this have been asked me twenty years ago?"
~~~