Episode One Hundred and Forty-Nine: Stockings
“Gifts?” I asked, as I sat on the same couch as Lord Bennit but nearer the tree.
“Yes, for the solstice exchange,” added Alas, glancing around but keeping pace with Liluth as she walked into the room.
“Your bag looks to be under the tree,” said Lady Twilight. “I should add my contributions as well.”
She marched over to the tree, and a few small boxes appeared under it.
I only had stockings for folks and not any gifts, except for the Cat and Indigo. I pushed the panic away and decided to not worry. Even the Fates had told the Cat to enjoy the day.
“Oh, I didn’t realize the shop had a Cat…” said Liluth.
I froze.
The Cat froze.
Indigo looked confused and tried to say something, but nothing came out of her snout.
“Little one, sometimes we can’t discuss things, even if we are dragons,” whispered Lord Bennit.
Indigo glared at him, then turned toward me. “Why can’t talk about Cat?”
“That’s not my call. If it was, we would.”
This time both dragons turned to look at me with shocked looks on their faces. Even Alas and Liluth seemed surprised.
“What?”
“You spoke in the dragon language,” said the Cat, with something that almost looked like a smirk on his face. “Even with the dragon stone and the magic, it's a language that most cannot learn. Understand, yes, but speak like you just did?”
The Cat shook his head.
I had done nothing differently, I had just spoken like I normally did. Yet, apparently it came out in another language. That could happen?
Indigo left the coffee table and cookies to sit in my lap.
“You spoke!” She glanced at Lord Bennit, then back at me. “Like us! How?”
“Probably magic,” I answered with a chuckle and a shrug. “Plus, today's the solstice. It’s a magical day!”
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“Magic day?” asked the little dragon.
“Yes, the solstice is when the Oak King starts his rule, and he slowly ushers in spring. The days start to get longer after tonight. At the shop, it’s usually nice weather whenever we are on the roof, unless we want snow, but back on my home world, everything is covered in snow right now.”
Indigo nodded slowly as I spoke, listening to each word.
“But, magic?”
“My father always said today was one of the most magical days, right up there with the Summer solstice and All Hallows Eve.” I didn’t know if I was still speaking in the dragon language or my own, but either way I tried to remember exactly what my father said about this holiday. I kept coming up with nothing, just this feeling that it was a magical evening.
“I know this tale,” said Alas as he sat across from us on the other couch. Liluth stuck near him with a bright smile on her face. Yet, she kept glancing at the Cat, who still sat on the back of the couch behind me.
Alas’s voice took on a musical lilt as he spoke.
“Long, long ago, even before the oldest trees were tiny saplings, there were two brothers: the Oak King and the Holly King. The Oak King was bright, like the warm summer sun. He wore a crown of oak leaves and acorns, and when he walked, the flowers bloomed, and the trees grew tall. He loved the long days and the busy buzz of life.”
The feeling of the hot summer sun washed over me, followed by the scent of flowers and the buzz of bees. For a moment, I felt like I stood in the middle of a field during the summer months back home.
“The Holly King was quiet, like the deep winter night. He wore a crown of prickly holly leaves and bright red berries, and when he walked, the world grew hushed and peaceful, ready for rest. He loved the long nights and the quiet magic of slumber.”
Then my moment in the field shifted, night taking over with a cool breeze and fireflies filling the air. The smell of fall leaves and crisp winter mornings washed over me.
“Every year, these two brothers would take turns caring for the world.”
Images of my brothers flashed through my mind. Each of them was doing what they were best at. Cyan painting on a canvas, Cerulean hiking through the mountains, Umber growing crops in his field, and Onyx sitting next to a fire, quietly writing in his journal.
“At the longest day, the Summer Solstice, the Oak King was at his strongest. But then, the Holly King would gently remind him it was time for the world to rest. Slowly, the days would grow shorter, and the nights would grow longer, as the Holly King's magic filled the air.”
Summer solstice passed in my mind, with all of us wearing flower crowns, and the bonfires lit within the town square came to mind.
“Then, at the longest night, the Winter Solstice, the Holly King was at his strongest. But the Oak King was waiting, for even in the darkest night, the promise of light remained. Slowly, the days would grow longer, and the nights shorter, as the Oak King's magic stirred the world awake.”
The snow falling outside the window drew my attention as it slowly covered more of the dark green trees.
“And so, the Oak King and the Holly King danced their yearly dance, a dance of light and dark, of growth and rest. They taught the world that everything has its time, and that even in the deepest winter, the warmth of summer is waiting to return.”
For a second, everyone stayed quiet as the strange magic drifted in the air from Alas’ tale. Then finally, it dissipated.
Indigo hummed in awe. “So, your magic is stirring because of the solstice?”