Warning: Rated [MA] Mature Adults only. Contains strong m/m sexual scenes, violence, coarse language and adult themes.
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Merry Christmas all! Here's an answer to Jen's challenge
It's the Season.
By Minerva
"You can't ride that thing Sir!" exclaimed Patrick Harper, trying to sound outraged. "People will laugh at you!"
Richard Sharpe frowned and looked at the white unicorn again. "I can't see what the bloody problem is Harper! It's a horse with a horn! I LIKE that. I think it makes a statement." Sharpe patted the flank of the unicorn who turned to nuzzle at his trousers looking for sugar or a carrot or whatever else Sharpe kept in his trousers. "At least it will get me noticed."
Harper rolled his eyes and continued loading a matched pair of pistols. Long, smooth and deadly.
"But you don't want to be noticed if your robbing a coach! Highwaymen don't want to be noticed. You may as well dress up as a bloody elf to rob the thing."
Sharpe frowned. "Whats wrong with dressing up as an elf? Thats what Lawford will be wearing."
Patrick Harper blessed himself and said a silent pray that he might make it through Christmas without losing his mind [or anything else!]
"And for the love of God Sir, why would Mr Lawford be dressing up as an elf to rob a coach?" Harper asked in desperation.
"Bloody Hell, you told him to dress up and he said he wanted to dress up as an elf. Yer should have made it clearer Harper if you didn't want any elves!" Sharpe smoothed down his own well loved French Cavalry trousers as he thought about how much he was looking forward to seeing his Colonel in an Elf Costume. Lawford in tights should be quite an eye opener.
"I meant for Mr Lawford to dress up as highwayman!" Harper complained. "I never thought I'd say this Sir, but I wish we were back in France fighting the bloody Frogs!" Harper sighed again. "Here we are, cast ashore after being kidnapped by Pirates, trying to survive in the lawless colony of NSW by becoming highwaymen and Mr Lawford wants to dress up as if he's going to a Mari Gras."
"A what?" asked Sharpe but stopped and gasped before Harper had a chance to answer.
The sight before him was truly breathtaking. William Lawford wearing scarlet tights and a very short tunic of royal blue.
"Will this do Richard?" Lawford asked innocently batting his blue eyes and tossing his fair hair from side to side.
Harper groaned, Sharpe sighed, Lawford giggled.
"It'll have to do because here comes the coach!" Harper hissed.
Sharpe mounted the unicorn, well climed on it's back anyway and rode down the road towards the oncoming jingling of bells.
"Stand and Deliver!" he shouted out bravely, waving his cavalry sword mencingly at the approaching sleigh.
There was a braying of reindeers and a loud voice called "Ho ho ho, laddy, whats all this about."
Richard Sharpe couldn't believe his eyes. It was Santa Claus, looking rather sweaty under the fierce Australian sun.
Harper and Lawford crept out of the bushes to stare at the large portly gentleman sitting in his shiny sleigh.
"Have you been a good little boy Richard?" Santa asked.
Sharpe just stared with his mouth open, too shocked to speak for a moment.
"Oh yes," Lawford said quickly, seeing Sharpe's dilemma "Richard is always very good. Aren't you Richard." He added turning to Sharpe with a shy smile.
"Well climb up here on my lap and tell me what you'd like for Cmristmas." Santa continued. He was used to shy young boys and knew how to get around them.
Sharpe blinked, he licked his lips and he shook his head.
"I don't want anything for Christmas Santa." he said standing tall. "I've got everything that a man needs. Good friends. Thats all. Nothing else matters if you have those!"
A smile slowly spread across Santa's face and he nodded. "You're right Richard," he said quietly "I just wish more people understood that," and with a wave of his hand, Santa's sleigh took to the air.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
December 1998