Let it Snow

By Donna and Ev

The visitors from Edan woke up the morning after they had arrived at Camelot to find they were indeed in a winter wonderland.  It had snowed almost all night long, and there was now almost a foot of untouched snow covering everything as far as the eye could see.

Marie woke with the sun and at first felt lost.  This wasn't her room!  Then she remembered where she was and broke into a smile.  It  was chilly in the room and it seemed so bright outside.  She looked out and smiled even brighter.  It was like a postcard!  So beautiful with all the snow!  "Ev!  Wake up!  You have to see this!"

Ev yawned and blinked.  "It's morning already?"  She saw Marie looking out the window.   She slid out of bed and joined her.  "I really wish I had a camera for this.  It's beautiful!"  They both hurried to wash and dress and went to find the guys. 

They found that most of the guys were out in the main courtyard with the King and his knights.  A handmaiden met Carol and Marie, telling them that the Queen would like for all the ladies visiting from Edan to join her in her private sitting room.

Ev found herself suddenly nervous and worried about whether she was dressed nicely enough.  "Do you think this is all right?  Last night they gave us the proper clothes to wear at that fancy dinner, but I have no idea what to wear for a casual visit with a queen!"

Marie giggled, a little nervous herself.  "I was going to ask you the same question.  I guess we'll find out pretty soon.  I made this sweater myself, so I hope it'll work.  Some of the first of our own wool!"

Ev forgot to be nervous any more. "Really?  I love to knit!  We'll have to work out a trade of some sort when we get back."  They followed after the handmaiden, marveling at the lovely castle and chatting as they walked.  

They found the sitting room full of women, all enjoying a wonderful assortment of food laid out on several sideboards.  The Queen smiled at the two newcomers and told them to help themselves to breakfast.   Katherine, who was nursing her baby, teased them about sleeping in.  "We are going to all bundle up and go play in the snow in a little bit.  Her Majesty has a private court yard that we can have fun in.  When was the last time you made snow angels?"

"Snow angels?"  Ev grinned.  This was much better than she thought it would be.  "It's been a long time!  Sounds like fun!"

Marie giggled.  "I do them every winter.  I get teased about things like that.  Your Majesty, do you like snow angels too?"  She couldn't help asking.

The Queen smiled and winked at Marie. "Of course!" she told her.  "Though mayhap I will be needing assistance getting to my feet," she said as she rubbed her expanded tummy.

"Maybe I could make a couple of extra ones for you?"  Marie smiled. "There are a lot of women who couldn't come this year because they're in the same condition."

"The King is sure I am carrying a boy child," Guinevere said with a soft smile as the servants came in with arms full of heavy coats, fur lined boots, hats and mittens for them all.

"We'll be nice and warm!"  Ev smiled.  "These are wonderful!  And it's so beautiful here!  I've never been anywhere like this.  Thank you so much for inviting us."

Marie couldn't help looking very closely at the mittens and hats.  She was thinking of things she might make to keep the guys around the farm warm while they worked.  Soon all the ladies were bundled up and giggling.  All set to go play in the snow.

The snow in the Queen's private courtyard was over knee deep, and showed no sign of anyone having been there at all until the ladies stepped out into it.  Laughing and giggling like children, they made snow angels and then built snow people.  Faith, her cheeks rosy from the cold, wandered over to the edge and looked down on the main courtyard below.  All the men were standing there, looking over something that the King was showing them.  A look of mischief crossed the young Scotswoman's face as she started to shape a snowball. Several of the others saw what she was doing and copied what she was doing, and in a few moments, a small arsenal had been accumulated.

Ev giggled in anticipation.  Rayden was there with the rest of the men.  He would make a great target.  If she had a million bucks, she would bet he'd never been in a snowball fight before.  This would be fun! 

They all lined up with weapons in hand. "On the count of three," the Queen said.  The next thing the men knew, they were being barraged from above by a storm of snow balls!  Faith got Alec right on top of his head!

Ev managed to get Rayden right in the face with a snowball that seemed to explode on impact and start melting cold water down his neck.  The look of shock on his face made her laugh out loud and stick out her tongue at him. Beside her, Marie was laughing as she scored a direct hit on Mac. 

As the men scrambled to make their own snow balls, the women continued to bombard them from above.  Even the knights got involved, and soon, even though they had the advantage of height, they were getting hit with almost as many as they were sending down.

The fight was so much fun, it took some time before they noticed how cold and wet they were getting.  Ev was glad of the warm clothes.  This was more fun than she'd had in a long time!   She couldn't help noticing that at least one of Danziger's snowballs "accidentally" hit Rayden, who didn't seem to mind.  He was having a great time.

Eventually a truce was called, and the combatants all gathered in the great hall to warm up in front of the blazing fireplaces.  Hot drinks were served to all and all the wet coats, mittens and hats taken away to be dried.     Ev grinned as she made her way through the laughing crowd to Rayden, who was smiling hugely and shivering at the same time.  "Was that your first snowball fight?"  She took one of his hands in hers.  "You're like ice!  Come closer to the fire!" 

He took her hands in his, and upped his body temperature just enough to make sure her hands were warm too.  Across the room, Father Alec approached Faith, chuckling as she looked up at him briefly, then looked down at her feet again. "You, my child, have a little streak of the devil in you after all," he teased, making her blush.  "Have you seen the chapel yet?"

When she told him no, he took her small hand in his, and pulled her to her feet.  "I'll take you there," he said, his eyes sparkling as she stood up next to him.

Marie happened to look in their direction just as she stood up next to him and elbowed Mac in the ribs.  "Look. Aren't they the sweetest couple?"

He looked over and grinned.  "I've never seen anyone so shy.  It's almost a miracle they ever got together at all, isn't it?"   He slid an arm around her and they found a less crowded corner to talk in.

In the meantime, Father Alec continued to lead Faith through the halls of the castle.  He thought that he knew the way, but after several wrong turns, it was soon apparent that they were lost.  They did find a small sitting room that had a nice warm fire going in it.  "Maybe someone will come and rescue us," he chuckled as he guided her to a loveseat that was near the fire.  As they sat down, he kept her hand in his, squeezing it gently.

Ev and Rayden found places to stand closer to the fire.  "So what did you think of your very first snowball fight?"

"It's very cold when it starts melting and going down inside the clothes."  He chuckled.  "I liked it!"  He glanced around and saw Danziger watching them.  "Why was he throwing snowballs at me too?" 

Ev laughed, wondering how to explain human jealousy to Rayden.  Katherine grinned at her as she left the room along with her men so she could go feed her baby.  Several other couples were also starting to wander back to their rooms as well, including the royal couple.  Arthur was concerned that his now very pregnant wife had over done it, and he wanted her to rest.

Ev gave Danziger a grin and a shake of the head, then got a little closer to Rayden to give him a kiss on the cheek.  "Would you like to find a quiet place somewhere, so we can talk?"

"I'd like that.  Where should we go?"  He took her hand and they wandered off in search of a quiet nook.

Marie saw her roomie leaving and turned to Mac.  "Would you like to come back to the room with me for a while?  I'm betting they'll be off together for quite some time."  She exchanged a smile with him as they slipped out of the room together. 

In the meantime, Faith and Alec were having a nice conversation in front of the fire.  Somehow, Alec had managed to get his free arm around her shoulders, and he had pulled her closer to him.  "Faith," he stammered. "I've been wanting to ask you something for awhile now." 

She looked up at him with her big blue eyes, waiting for him to continue.

He ducked his head, blushing as he tried to get the words out.  "I was just wondering...if it would be all right with you...," he paused, then shrugged. "I've never kissed a girl before.  Someone asked me to one time, but I told her that I wasn't that strong."

She blushed even redder. "I've never been kissed," she admitted.  Alec hesitated for a moment, then let go of her hand to tip her chin up.  Ever so slowly, he leaned in and kissed her.

Ev and Rayden found a quiet corner with a bench in a small room not far from the main hall.  He increased his body temperature and wrapped his arms around her to keep her from being cold.  "Are you warm enough?"  He kissed her cheek.

"Mmmmm......  That feels good.  You're handy to have around, you know that?"  She chuckled softly and squirmed happily against him. 

In her private quarters, the Queen was snuggling with Arthur. "It's going to be a very special Christmas, is it not, my Lord Husband?"

"Aye, wife, verily so!"