Twelve Days of Christmas: The Holly and The Oak
Characters: Elizabeth, Jack, Gibbs
Rating: G
Length: 300 words
Status: Complete
Note: Written for Day Three of the Twelve Days of Christmas Holiday Ficathon 2010 at blackpearlsails
The Holly and The Oak
Winter finds them in the icy seas of the Atlantic, for reasons Jack has yet to divulge. Foul weather in the Atlantic, waves frothed with white, stirred by a fierce chill wind. With any other crew it might be cause for mutiny, but these men trust him, and do not question his mysteries and strange secrets.
Still, it is does them good to gather like this on the deck, sipping rum for warmth and listening to the captain spin tales for them, his storyteller’s voice fey and enchanting in the dark midwinter night.
When Elizabeth joins them, he’s already told the tales she knows, of the wandering wise men and the child in the manger, bright star hanging low in the sky.
Now, those stories told, he speaks of something older and more primal, the crew listening rapt, entranced.
He speaks not of three kings, but of two, Holly and Oak, and a never-ending war. She can almost smell the sharp bite of the leaves, see the bright red of the berries as the Holly King stands triumphant over his brother, summer vanquished in the winter chill.
But Jack’s voices does not quiet, the tale not yet finished.
“Holly, King of Winter, stands a victor at the zenith of his power. A hollow victory, for he has naught left to do but wane. Though his brother lies defeated, he will rise again, and bring with him the spring.”
Gibbs takes up his mantle of storyteller, a grin on his lips as he explains Jack’s strange tale. “Aye, the two kings are one and the same, two halves of a whole, as it were…”
Yule finds them in the icy seas of the Atlantic, but with Jack and Gibbs spinning stories the night does not seem so long, or so dark.
Happy Holidays everyone :)
Rating: G
Length: 300 words
Status: Complete
Note: Written for Day Three of the Twelve Days of Christmas Holiday Ficathon 2010 at blackpearlsails
The Holly and The Oak
Winter finds them in the icy seas of the Atlantic, for reasons Jack has yet to divulge. Foul weather in the Atlantic, waves frothed with white, stirred by a fierce chill wind. With any other crew it might be cause for mutiny, but these men trust him, and do not question his mysteries and strange secrets.
Still, it is does them good to gather like this on the deck, sipping rum for warmth and listening to the captain spin tales for them, his storyteller’s voice fey and enchanting in the dark midwinter night.
When Elizabeth joins them, he’s already told the tales she knows, of the wandering wise men and the child in the manger, bright star hanging low in the sky.
Now, those stories told, he speaks of something older and more primal, the crew listening rapt, entranced.
He speaks not of three kings, but of two, Holly and Oak, and a never-ending war. She can almost smell the sharp bite of the leaves, see the bright red of the berries as the Holly King stands triumphant over his brother, summer vanquished in the winter chill.
But Jack’s voices does not quiet, the tale not yet finished.
“Holly, King of Winter, stands a victor at the zenith of his power. A hollow victory, for he has naught left to do but wane. Though his brother lies defeated, he will rise again, and bring with him the spring.”
Gibbs takes up his mantle of storyteller, a grin on his lips as he explains Jack’s strange tale. “Aye, the two kings are one and the same, two halves of a whole, as it were…”
Yule finds them in the icy seas of the Atlantic, but with Jack and Gibbs spinning stories the night does not seem so long, or so dark.
Happy Holidays everyone :)