Christmas Fic
Title: Christmas Night
Word Count: 985
Rating: G
Spoilers: None
Characters: Will/Djaq
Written for: Hoodland Christmas Round-Challenge 6-A Merry Christmas to All...
Disclaimer: I own nothing, Tiger Aspect, BBC do.
"Djaq." She heard the whisper from a great distance. It drifted on a breeze over the desert of her dream. She was home again, and it was her brother calling her name across a broad expanse of sand.
"Djaq." This time a hand accompanied the whisper, shaking her gently. The dream fragmented, blew away in a curtain of hot sand. Slowly her dark eyes opened. It was still dark and she could barely make out Will above her in the moonlight, a smile on his face. She smiled back, just before she had to clap her hand over her mouth to cover a yawn.
It took a moment to come back to herself. Most of her mind was still in Acre, in her dream, her body warm from the sun and her eyes dazzled by it. But it took no time at all for Djaq to realize the warmth she felt was an illusion. Her nose was cold, and Will's breath was little puffs of smoke in the air.
Fully awake now and feeling the chill, she huddled down further under her blanket. A small stab of irritation pierced her. What on earth was Will doing, waking her in the middle of the night like this? She tugged the blanket up to her chin.
Will chuckled. "Oh no you don't," he said, plucking the blanket from her grasp. When she opened her mouth to protest the sudden lack of warmth, Will shushed her. He had something he wanted to show her, and he wasn't about to let her get out of it.
"Come on, Djaq," he whispered. "It's Christmas. I have something to show you."
"Will, I don't celebrate Christmas. It is a Christian holiday," Djaq whispered back sternly.
He smiled again, all of his boyish charm let loose on her. "Doesn't matter. I still want to show you. And we have to go now, before it's gone." He tossed the blanket aside and dropped her cloak on top of her instead.
"Now come on."
Curiosity piqued, Djaq reached below her bunk for her boots, clutching the cloak tightly around herself and shivering. In another minute she was out of bed and dressed. She could just make out the others, sound asleep in their bunks, bodies folded up tightly against the cold.
Will was at the entrance to the camp, pulling the lever that opened the gate. As Djaq peered outside, she saw a million twinkles as a bright moon shone down on newly fallen snow. It reminded her of the desert at night, and she was entranced in spite of the cold.
Will led the way outside, then pulled the outside lever to shut the camp back up. There was no need for a lantern or torch, the moon was so very bright. Djaq fell into step with him as they wound through the trees. Now and again he peeked over at her, wondering as he always did how this woman had worked her way into his heart so quickly. He wondered, too, if she knew how he felt. He thought he kept his feelings well hidden, but Djaq was a perceptive woman. She saw things most people overlooked.
Djaq moved through the forest beside Will in silence. She couldn't guess what he had in mind, getting her out here in the frigid dark. Her feet were cold and her nose was running.
Suddenly Will stopped. They had reached a clearing with a perfect view of the now-clear night sky. Djaq had never been to this part of the forest before, at least not that she remembered. But things looked different by night and in the silvery glow of the moon above.
"Look." Will stood beside her, his arm raised, pointing at a spot to the east. The brightest star Djaq had ever seen burned there, a long tail casting a glow over the sky below it.
"The Christmas star," Will said, his voiced hushed. He turned to look at her, his eyes taking in every curve of her face. She didn't see him do it; her gaze was still fixed on the light in the sky. Reaching out, he took her hand gently in his. Her chilled fingers wrapped around his, accepting the warmth his rough hand offered.
For long moments they only stood, hand in hand, ankle-deep in snow, staring up at the blazing star in the sky. Djaq didn't know if it was the Christmas star, as Will said, but it was the most amazing thing she had ever seen. The sight of that star rivaled anything she had ever seen in the desert, and she had thought that the most beautiful place in the world.
She turned to tell Will so, only to find he was staring at her intently. He pressed a small package into her free hand. A shy smile lit his face.
"I know you don't celebrate Christmas, but I do. And I thought you deserved a gift."
Surprised, Djaq looked down at the package in her hand. Her eyes lifted to meet his again. "But I have nothing for you!"
"It's alright," he said quietly. "Open it."
With shaking fingers, Djaq untied the string that held the package closed. Inside was a small wooden star, intricately carved, on a leather string. Tears prickled at the backs of her eyes. It was exquisite, this gift he gave her. He must have been working on it for ages.
Words failed her as Will slipped the necklace over her head. The star pendant came to rest next to the tag he had made for her as a member of the gang. The tears that had started now spilled freely down her cold cheeks.
Her arms went around his neck and she held him tightly as she whispered, "Thank you, Will." She pulled away to look into his eyes, shining in the moonlight.
"Merry Christmas, Djaq."
"Merry Christmas, Will Scarlett."