(no subject)
Title: Helen's Christmas Surprise
Author: thelasteddis
Genre: crackfic
Word Count: 959
Rating: PG, for language... otherwise I think it's G
Summary: it's yuletide in Eddis. Wacky highjinks ensue.
Author's Notes: Happy Holidays, reprobates! Since I don't think they have Christmas in Eddis, I decided for crackfic purposes that they have Yule. Which is like Christmas but more fun to say. The 'reprobatish looking girl' accompanying our favorite guard is, you guessed it, Jade. I knew she'd beat me up if I paired him with anyone else. To wind up, there is no plot to this. It's just a drabble for me to practice my dialog (which I love) and my prose (which I most emphatically do not).
The entire library was covered in greenery. Everyone in the library was covered in greenery, although the magus wasn’t entirely sure how it had happened. He was sporting a truly abominable crown of holly. So was Attolia, although she was doing her best to ignore it. She had an exquisite expression on long-suffering on her pale face. Gen was placing his crown carefully on his dark hair, intentionally leaving it lopsided, where it clashed horribly with his purple coat. The library itself resembled a forest, with evergreen branches and gold fabric draped over every shelf. There was also a rather impressive branch of mistletoe hanging over the door to a closet, which the Magus also attributed to Gen, since he had spent the last hour singing the praises of the ‘room’ beyond to Irene.
There was a knock on the door, and the Magus rose to open it. It was Eddis.
“Why is there a tree over that door?” the queen asked as she entered, and she pointed to the closet. The magus shrugged.
“You can never have too much mistletoe, Helen!”Gen called, and turned in mock astonishment to his wife. “Look, Irene! There’s a dancing bear in the closet!”He snagged her wide sash with his hook, and pulled her to the door after him.
“That’s them gone for the next hour.”Helen sighed.
“I wouldn’t have figured Gen to be so full of good cheer” the Magus commented.
Helen smiled, “contrary to popular belief, he enjoys Yule very much. Just not when there are people around. Watch at the feast later today, he rather resembles a statue. Except quieter.”
“But now he’s a king. Doesn’t he have to, you know, celebrate with the populace?”
“Are you serious?”
“Not really. I thought it was worth asking.”
Eugenides stuck his head out from behind the shelf in front of the closet, “I heard that!”
Ignoring him, Helen turned back to the Magus. “And you? I can’t see Gen inviting you to his old haunt for a party.”
“I actually wanted a book. That book,” he pointed to a small green volume balanced on a table, one of twelve supporting a crystal candelabra, “And you?”
“Attempting to retrieve our dear Attolis. Whose father is looking for him and would do well to return to the throne room before his father scares away all the guests!” She finished in a loud voice, “You can kiss Attolia anytime. But right now you are a visiting monarch and are supposed to be in the throne room!”
This time it was Attolia who appeared, looking a little embarrassed, “The entire court looks daggers at him when he tries. As opposed to here, where the entire court looks daggers at me.”
“That’s not an excuse. Gen!”
He appeared behind her, face full of mischief. Helen had expected it, and didn’t jump.
“Yes?”
Attolia rolled her eyes, and stepped past Helen to grab Eugenides by the arm. As they left, Helen could hear Attolia trying to convince him to take off the holly wreath.
Helen stepped over to the table with the candelabra. She picked it up, and removed the book from beneath it.
“Here you are,” she said, handing it to the Magus, “I should probably return as well. I think there’s going to be some sort of dance soon.”
Helen smiled, in a put-upon sort of way, and left. The Magus grinned (a very odd event, to say the least). Helen had been so very stressed in the last couple of days, he had felt obligated to assist her. Gen had been only too willing to help. He put aside the book, which he had never really needed, and looked through the door to the room that had once been Eugenides’, where Helen’s ‘gift’ was waiting.
“Is this really necessary?” A muffled voice issued from the enormous wrapped gift the Magus and Gen carried between them.
“Yes. Shut up,” Gen snapped, completely obscured by the bow on top of the box.
“I’m not sure-“
“Quiet!” the Magus whispered loudly over the top of the package, “someone’s coming!”
It was Costis. He had apparently thought the hallway was going to be empty, as there was a reprobatish-looking girl laughing beside him.
“Who is it?” Eugenides called to the Magus, “tell him to get the hell out of the way, Soph- um, this box is heavy!”
Seeing, if not hearing, his king, Costis’ eyes widened.
“Your majesty?” Costis peered around the box, and Gen glared at him.
“Did you not hear me? Get. Out. Of. The. Way.”
Costis and the girl disappeared into an adjoining room, and the Magus and Gen continued down the hall.
“What on earth is that?” Helen pointed to the huge box in the corner.
“A surprise. For you” The Magus clarified.
“It’s not another bear, is it?”
“That was for Eugenides.”
Helen glared.
“Why don’t you open it?” The Magus suggested, and Eddis warily approached the box. She tugged at the gold bow on top, and the sides fell open. Sitting in the mess of paper and ribbon, his blush putting all earlier blushes to shame, was Sophos.
“The box was their idea!” Sophos said hurriedly, “I was planning to just show up!”
Gen appeared at Helen’s elbow. “Ah, but then we’d miss this wonderful expression of,” He bent to see her face better, “shock, amazement, and horror. You should be grateful, Helen!”
“You had something to do with this?”
“Of course I did!”
Helen put a hand to her forehead. “Of course. Well, Sophos, welcome to Eddis.”
“Thank you, Hel- your majesty.”
Helen smiled. “Helen’s fine. I told you before.”
“Alright.”
Sophos and Helen excused themselves to take part in the next dance.
“Job well done. Happy holidays” Gen commented, and left.
The End
Happy Holidays!