The Witch's Destiny || Thranduil

Chapter XXXVII

"It's the most wonderful time of the year," Violet sang, along with Flufflepuff's squeaking in the same tune as he walked behind her. Walking around Thranduil's desk, she hugged him from behind around his shoulders. She kissed his cheek, smiling as his hand rubbed up and down her arm.

"And why is that?" he asked, continuing to sign his name on different papers.

"Because it's almost Christmastime!" she said.

"Is it?" he mused, "I remember you mentioning something about this holiday, but I do not believe you ever went into detail about it, unless my memory deceives me. What is it? Elves do not celebrate it. From my music books, I remember some sort of music about it."

"That's what I was just singing," she replied, moving back around his desk and turning the two chairs in front of it to face each other. Sitting down, she picked Flufflepuff up from the ground, sat him on the desk, and propped her feet up in the other chair. "If my math is correct, it's sometime in early December right now. Christmas is on the twenty-fifth of this month. We decorate trees, we sing carols, we give gifts to each other, we spend time with family. We drink hot cocoa! Oh, there's these Christmas crackers!"

She rambled on and on about the joy of Christmas and the great love she has for it, only stopping when she ran out of breath. When she focused again, she saw Thranduil watching her intently with a smile on his face. His papers and quills had been abandoned, and all of his attention was on her. She blushed.

"Does anybody celebrate here?" she asked.

Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his arms over his abdomen. "Not that I've heard of. Is there perhaps another name for it?"

"Yule. Wizards sometimes call it Yuletide."

"Ah, then, yes. The Hobbits celebrate Yule; I believe they exchange gifts and have a large feast with each other. Their celebrations last for days, if I'm not mistaken."

"Not so different from our traditions, then." She paused for a moment. "I am a little sad we don't have time to get each other gifts."

"Who says I don't have one for you?" he teased, looking at her with a smile that said he knew something she didn't.

"How did you have time?" she asked, gaping.

"I have my ways."

"Now I feel bad!"

"You've already given me the best gift I could ask for."

She smiled. "Do you think we'll be back in time?"

He smiled softly, sitting up and reaching over his desk. She met him halfway, letting him take her hand in his own and press a kiss to it. His other hand enclosed her hand entirely, so she brought her hand to rest on top of his too.

"I'll make sure we do."

He pressed another kiss to her hands, both laughing as Flufflepuff sat on top of their conjoined hands.

She grinned. "Will you decorate my tree with me?"

"We'll make it the most beautiful one you've ever seen."

-

All of the post-battle duties were finished a mere two weeks later. The families of those lost were given condolences from both Thranduil and Violet, each given a personal meeting over the span of the month they remained in the Woodland Realm. The elves Thranduil promised Dale had been sent, and Authanar was left in charge. He was given a small list of demands, mostly pertaining to keeping food sources straight. Defense was Authanar's strength—obviously, given his name meant 'battle' or 'war'.