Come Winter's End: Fairy Fire Book #1

~ 𝑪𝒉. 5: 𝑨𝒏 𝑼𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑮𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕~

Place: Miri's Room,
Emberfrost Castle
Date : Nollaig 3, 1617
Around 3 pm

Miri's mind was full of questions as she made her way up the long spiral staircase.

"Afternoon Lady Miri," one of the guards said to her as she turned down the long hallway.

"Good afternoon Captain," she replied.

Usually, she stopped to talk to Captain Cornelius but today she was pressed for time. From the way the sunlight was coming through the tall stain glass window at the end of the hall she knew, it was getting late.

She would be expected for tea at 6 o'clock. It was a bit after 2 PM when she checked the clock at the shop. By the time she got to her room and changed it would be a quarter till 3 at the earliest she thought.

Turning a corner again she saw the seating area, the fireplace was crackling loudly. The workers had put up a pretty yule tree, all decorated in red and green, close to the sofas. Several fairies were seated around the fire, below the twinkling garland, laughing and sharing holiday pleasantries as a kitchen fairy poured them up glasses of Cinnamon cider. It smelled divine. No time for that right now she said to herself.

Then she noticed what was on the table by the fire where the cider kettle was.

Spice cookies! Miri made a small u-turn wrapped a few of them and a couple of cheese biscuits in a checkered napkin grabbed a mug of cider and continued her journey.

"Lady Miri would you like some peppermint in that" she recognized the kitchen fairy it was Elspeth the castle housekeeping manager. She was a kind woman. Short with blond braids.

"No thank you, Elspeth, I will be back around later though," she smiled. She smiled knowing Miri well enough to know she must be on one of her adventures.

Turning again, she got her key ready for the door. The guards standing outside greeted her as she went inside her apartment they reminded her that tea is at 6 and Aunt Nan won't like her to be late.

"I know, I know" she sighed as she closed the door. Miri set the napkin and drink down on the table by the door.

Immediately she noticed a harsh chill in the air. The fireplace was going strong it was crackling, so why in the world was it so cold in here.

Suddenly a brisk wintery wind blew in the through the window rustling the light blue brocade curtains, bringing in snow and leaves with it. Miri rushed to the open windows pulling them closed, she latched the lock and drew the curtains.

"How in the king's kitchen did that get open" she fussed to herself.

Using her ice magic, she picks up the snow and leaves dropping the foliage in the fire and the snow she put in the sink as she walked towards her room.

Taking her gloves off she sat them and her key on the table behind the couch in her room. Next, she took her wrap and draped it on the back of the sofa. Going to the end of the sofa by the fire she leaned on the back of it to take off her shoes and stockings.

Finally, my toes are free she wiggled them wildly. She slid down the back of the blue satin couch landing on its soft warm cushions.

Well, that's what she expected to happen but it didn't. Instead of landing on warm cushions, she landed on a warm someone.

"I love it when a beautiful woman lands in my arms. It's my favorite way to wake up from a nap." a man's voice whispered as he wrapped his arms around her waist hugging her.