Post by Shari'Adune Forestsong on Dec 18, 2009 12:13:40 GMT -5
She couldn't believe her eyes. But there it was. In the corner of their home stood a five foot tall evergreen tree growing out of the floor. But the fact it was growing out of the floor wasn't what had shocked her, since most of their furniture was just shaped directly out of the earth by twisting roots and the like (the proper druid way), but it was the fact it was covered in softly twinkling lights.
Approaching it tentatively, she sunk to her knees before it, poking a finger at one of the little glass balls.
"Do you like it?" a deep voice rumbled from behind her.
Clutching a small hand at her collar bones she whirled around started to come nose to nose with a large black panther. The animal was grinning, his ears perked forward as he studied her.
"Krae'sharel!" she exclaimed turning back to look at the tree as he sat beside her, "I don't understand the meaning of this?"
He laughed and swiped a rough tongue along her cheek making her squeak and shoulder his side playfully. "It is Winterviel time."
"Winterviel?"
"Yes," his amber eyes washed over the tree thoughtfully, perhaps thinking about how he had managed to get everyone out of the house long enough for A'rion to come in and have this prepared for when they returned, "Winterviel is a week long holiday around this time of year."
"I have never heard of this holiday." Her eyes were dancing with a childish light as she continued to stare in fascination at the tree.
He nodded, "It is more a custom of The Eastern Kingdoms, the Dwarves in particular. The term "Winter Veil" is said to stem from a supernatural being referred in many cultures to as Great father Winter.
As he would walk the land late in the seasons, winter itself would be his billowing cloak. In his wake was the blanketing of the land in snow, and thus it is said that Great father Winter would cast his wintry veil over the land. Though parts of Azeroth may lie in snow, it gives the land time for rebirth and renewal." He fixed his glowing eyes upon her face with a look of utter adoration and amusement at her reaction, "It is a time for celebration and gift exchange. I was thinking now that we have been blessed with a gift from Elune, we should recognize this holiday in kind."
"It's such a cute little tree! And such a lovely idea! Oh my love you are so thoughtful!" she squealed and threw her arms about his thick furry neck hugging him tightly. His sounds of choked wheezing made her blink and relax her grip to his soft chuckle.
"I'm glad it pleases you dear mate. I had very much hoped it would. We will do this each year, and dedicate a feast in Elune's name in this house. "
"May we give each other gifts too? Special ones?" Her eyes were as large as saucers regarding him hopefully.
Krae'sharel bunted his head against her sending her almost toppling over with a delighted laugh. "Yes of course. Though you need not get anything for me. You are my gift."
From another room not far away the sound of a baby starting to cry picked up from sleepy agitation to full out wanting attention immediately.
Both turned their heads to the sound with a smile on their lips. "My other gift is crying. Go tend to her, Shari. I will go find us a fine meal."
She nodded and licked his nose before standing and trotting in to fetch the baby. When she came out Krae'sharel was gone leaving just the silent splendor of the tree to admire once again.
Stepping up to it, baby cradled against her hip she poked at one of the ornaments and bounced her child, "Look what Papa brought you, Jewel'rhea'nae, isn't it beautiful?"
Approaching it tentatively, she sunk to her knees before it, poking a finger at one of the little glass balls.
"Do you like it?" a deep voice rumbled from behind her.
Clutching a small hand at her collar bones she whirled around started to come nose to nose with a large black panther. The animal was grinning, his ears perked forward as he studied her.
"Krae'sharel!" she exclaimed turning back to look at the tree as he sat beside her, "I don't understand the meaning of this?"
He laughed and swiped a rough tongue along her cheek making her squeak and shoulder his side playfully. "It is Winterviel time."
"Winterviel?"
"Yes," his amber eyes washed over the tree thoughtfully, perhaps thinking about how he had managed to get everyone out of the house long enough for A'rion to come in and have this prepared for when they returned, "Winterviel is a week long holiday around this time of year."
"I have never heard of this holiday." Her eyes were dancing with a childish light as she continued to stare in fascination at the tree.
He nodded, "It is more a custom of The Eastern Kingdoms, the Dwarves in particular. The term "Winter Veil" is said to stem from a supernatural being referred in many cultures to as Great father Winter.
As he would walk the land late in the seasons, winter itself would be his billowing cloak. In his wake was the blanketing of the land in snow, and thus it is said that Great father Winter would cast his wintry veil over the land. Though parts of Azeroth may lie in snow, it gives the land time for rebirth and renewal." He fixed his glowing eyes upon her face with a look of utter adoration and amusement at her reaction, "It is a time for celebration and gift exchange. I was thinking now that we have been blessed with a gift from Elune, we should recognize this holiday in kind."
"It's such a cute little tree! And such a lovely idea! Oh my love you are so thoughtful!" she squealed and threw her arms about his thick furry neck hugging him tightly. His sounds of choked wheezing made her blink and relax her grip to his soft chuckle.
"I'm glad it pleases you dear mate. I had very much hoped it would. We will do this each year, and dedicate a feast in Elune's name in this house. "
"May we give each other gifts too? Special ones?" Her eyes were as large as saucers regarding him hopefully.
Krae'sharel bunted his head against her sending her almost toppling over with a delighted laugh. "Yes of course. Though you need not get anything for me. You are my gift."
From another room not far away the sound of a baby starting to cry picked up from sleepy agitation to full out wanting attention immediately.
Both turned their heads to the sound with a smile on their lips. "My other gift is crying. Go tend to her, Shari. I will go find us a fine meal."
She nodded and licked his nose before standing and trotting in to fetch the baby. When she came out Krae'sharel was gone leaving just the silent splendor of the tree to admire once again.
Stepping up to it, baby cradled against her hip she poked at one of the ornaments and bounced her child, "Look what Papa brought you, Jewel'rhea'nae, isn't it beautiful?"
Founded April 26, 2005