Re: Christmas Contest - All the Presence! (I mean, Presents!
#20 by Miakoda - Dec 22 2013
There's a lot of great entries here. However, hope my proves entertaining to some of you. There are some spoilers, especially with regard to the Alice ending. It is a big long (close to 1300 words).
Queen of Misrule
Elodie smiled, nodding at the occasional well-wisher as she made her way through the throng gathered on this Solstice Night. It was a long three years since her coronation, but the events leading up to that point had instilled a confidence few others in the realm had.
Still, it is nice to take a break every now and then, she thought.
Elodie paused, as she saw her father, Joslyn, and his wife, Sirin, Countess of Miranda and Callisto, talking with the other courtiers. Elodie took a deep breath, quelling the uneasiness in the pit of her stomach as technically Sirin was not just a contemporary, but her step-mother. However, even Elodie admitted her father was in better spirits than she had ever seen.
“Good evening father, good evening duchess,” Elodie said, acknowledging Sirin’s higher status as she approached the two.
“Elodie!” Joslyn said with great affection, wrapping his arms around his daughter.
Sirin curtsied, and in an unsure tone said, “Your majesty.”
Elodie felt a sharp breath catch in her throat, and then replied, “Please, when we are not in a formal setting, say, a Solstice gathering, call me Elodie.”
Sirin shook her head, “That would not be appropriate your majes—“
Elodie’s mouth frowned, her foot tapping the floor as she said, “What did I say? Or do I need to make it a royal command?”
Sirin’s cheeks reddened, and the duchess said, “As you say your majes…as you say Elodie.”
Elodie’s smile returned, and she looped her arm through Sirin’s as she said, “May I borrow Sirin for a few minutes father?”
Joslyn cocked his head at his daughter, “What are you up to now?”
About that time, the court musician led the band in a new tune, “My…normal…dance partner is missing, and I do so love this tune.”
Joslyn shook his head, “Very well, but be gentle with her.”
With short chuckle, Elodie led Sirin onto the ballroom floor, leading her through the Sudbury Gavotte.
“You know, if you thought you were going to shock the other nobles, this is a little tame, even by your standards,” Sirin whispered.
Elodie gently dipped Sirin, “Actually, I hope I’m the first to congratulate you.”
Sirin twirled under Elodie’s hand, “Congratulate me?”
Sirin’s movement slowed, stumbling slightly, as she wondered just what Elodie planned.
Elodie smiled, her hand moving down to Sirin’s abdomen, and a small reddish light enveloped the region.
“You’re going to be a mother,” Elodie said.
Sirin stopped, jostling another couple in the process, “A mother?”
Elodie pulled Sirin in close, rubbing her cheek against the other woman’s, giving a momentary appearance of intimacy for any who looked, and whispered in the other’s ear, “Though I must insist you and father visit more often. How else are you going to know your grandchildren better.”
Sirin’s glanced down at Elodie’s midriff, “Are you certain? After all, given your…preferences…”
Elodie sighed, as she led Sirin through another twirl, “I know my duty for the throne. The matter is resolved. And no, you don’t know the father. No one will.”
Elodie bristled slightly, as she remembered the night not too long ago she made her way down to the dungeons, and selected the man who would father the next generation of Novan royalty. After a brief moment of passion, her knowledge of poisons made sure the man died quietly, while her magics ensured his shade would never speak of what transpired.
Sirin interrupted Elodie’s reminiscence with a simple question, “Grandchildren?”
Elodie bobbed slightly, “Twins. My magic can be much more useful than turning Shanjians into scrimshaw.”
The music started to die, and Elodie added, “Thank you for the dance. But there is one more matter I must attend to.”
Elodie strode to the center of the ballroom, and all assembled quieted as they awaited the words of their queen.
“Welcome everyone to this Solstice. Let us all reflect on the blessings the Good Lady, as the passing of one year presages the start of another,” Elodie said reverently, and through the stained glass she could see the sun was about to set.
“And it is with a clear heart that I have one last proclamation,” Elodie continued, her eyes glancing towards the entrance of the ballroom.
Two trumpeters on each side raised their horn, and blew a welcoming blast as both doors swung open. A young woman strode in, garbed in a black dress with silver trim. Fine filigree wire adorned her long, brown hair, while a pair of glasses couldn’t hide her fear at the assembled nobility. The woman held a box, a lavender bow on it.
“Step forward Alice Kincaid,” Elodie commanded in a clear voice.
Hesitantly, Alice strode forward, the crowd having parted way to allow her passage. Her footsteps echoed through the ballroom as she approached her queen. When the maid drew closer, Elodie beckoned for the woman to kneel.
“Let it be known,” Elodie continued, “that as the Good Lady brings on the winter, the court ennobles Alice Kincaid. Come the morrow, you shall no longer be Alice; instead, you shall be Lady Alice, Baroness of Thalia.”
Elodie placed a hand on Alice’s shoulder, helping the young woman up, “But for this eve, you are still Alice Kincaid; and the Queen of Misrule.”
And with a great flourish, Elodie removed her crown and placed it on Alice’s head. The crown drooped at a slight angle, as Elodie dropped to a knee herself.
There was a slight apprehension in the room since by tradition, only a commoner could don the role, and ruled as a royalty until the dawn of the next day. There were too many instances when a noble didn’t leave to see the dawn, slain by the rule of the Misrule Queen.
“What would you have of me, your majesty,” Elodie said demurely.
Alice looked around at the gathered nobility, clutching her box tightly, as she said, “Two matters, your maje…”
“Elodie,” interrupted the pink-haired woman, reminding Alice that by tradition the Queen of Misrule was the monarch.
“Two matters,” Alice repeated, fidgeting slightly, “One is a question for your maj…for you, Elodie. The other is a gift.”
A relieved sigh echoed through the ballroom as the nobility knew they would live to see another dawn. Then attention turned back to the kneeling monarch, and the chosen Queen of Misrule.
Elodie asked, “What would you ask of me, your majesty?”
Alice took a deep breath, touched the silver collar around her neck, and said in a voice steady from practice, “Will you grant me your hand in marriage?”
Elodie’s lips quirked, glad the days of practice, building up Alice’s confidence paid off. A single laugh rebounded in the room, and Elodie’s smile deepened as she recognized her father’s voice.
“Gladly, your majesty,” Elodie said in a pleased tone. Then she glanced at the box, for that was the one thing not covered in her rehearsal.
Silence filled the room once more, and there were a couple hesitant coughs when Elodie said, “And the other matter your majesty?”
Alice’s face flushed red, but she handed the box to Elodie. Alice whispered, “I tried to leave this in your room, but the guards refused entry.”
Elodie smiled, “That was by my orders. I didn’t want you to back out now, did I?”
With a swift motion, Elodie’s hands quickly tore the wrapping from the gift. Alice winced, as she impotently tried to stop Elodie, “Wait. Don’t open that yet…”
Alice quieted as Elodie held a black, oiled riding crop in her hand. Elodie ran an appreciative finger down the handle, and cooed, “Aren’t you the sweetest thing?”
Elodie whispered, “I can show my…appreciation…later, your majesty. But for now, would you care to dance?”
I'm curious as to whether the winner(s) will be picked at random or based on their entry.
Happy Holidays, everybody 
Also, it's so nice to read about the Xmas sales, so... everybody wins!! 