The Fire Inside

Amoret

They quickly walked down the steep hill, the cabin at the bottom covered in snow but the chimney already had smoke piling out of it.

"Here we are." Margareth opened the door. The cabin was much bigger up close, and even larger inside. Servants finished folding blankets and fluffing pillows, and the scent of food from the kitchen filled the air.

Mor entered when her mother led her inside, and the fire burning in the fireplace shone a light on her face. When everyone piled into the room, it quickly became hot and Camille helped her take off her hat and scarf before Mor took off her own gloves and coat. "Here, love. Can I take those?" She nodded and handed them to her.

Three couches were surrounding a coffee table in front of the fire. Everyone began putting their things on the coat rack and sitting down. Mor watched them all do so and waited, but as they all sat Camille called her. "Honey, do you want to sit down?" She nodded and sat on the couch facing the fireplace, next to her mother. "There we are. Are you warm enough?"

"Mhm." Mor tucked her knees to her chest.

Thomas bounced from his seat next to his brothers on the side. "Oh, Mom, can we watch Christmas movies?"

"Of course, buddy." Camille pulled Kova to her and snuggled next to her daughter. "How're you doing?" she whispered.

Mor shrugged. "I'm okay, ma'am."

When everyone settled into their seats, Mor ended up sitting in between her mother and maternal grandmother. "You comfortable?" Her grandmother nudged her on the side, earning a smile.

"I'm alright, ma'am."

Margareth rubbed Kova's arm up and down. "Good."

Thomas grabbed the remote from Bran and turned on the flatscreen. He got a movie to come up and sat with everyone else.

A servant came out with small bags of popcorn, a plate of candy canes, a few bowls of chocolate-covered pretzels, and peppermint bark. "Here, do you want anything?" Camille grabbed herself a bag of popcorn.

Mor watched people grab things from the tray. "You all can get yours first."

"Don't worry about that, honey. Do you want me to grab something?"

"What is there?" Mor listened to her mother explain. "I...I don't know. I've never tried any of them."

"You've never tried peppermint bark?" Thomas called from the other couch. "How have you never tried it?"

Kova just looked down with an uncomfortable face. Camille rubbed her daughter's arm. "Thomas, not everyone grew up with the chance to...try sweet things like that."

Amidst the awkward silence, Margareth picked out one of everything on the tray and handed them to Kova. "Here, if you want to try these."

Mor took the small plate of food from her grandmother, nodding. "Thank you, ma'am."

People began talking to themselves quietly once more as Margareth said "Of course, honey." She kissed her on the top of her head.

Kova tried a bite of the peppermint bark her brother had suggested. "It's good, right?" Thomas asked. She nodded. "It's my favorite."

The previews ended and everyone snuggled together. Camille wrapped an arm around Mor as she ate a chocolate pretzel in one go. She turned her eyes to the screen with the rest of her family, focusing on the cheesy hallmark movie in front of them. Her mother pulled a blanket out of the basket next to her and wrapped it around herself and her daughter.

A few minutes into the movie, after the intro and as the beginning credits started, a servant came out again with a tray full of cups of hot chocolate. As people grabbed them, Mor just watched. She wasn't going to just grab one. It's not her place.