Christmas Party! Millitimed Vaguely to "Sometime Around Christmas"

[kitchen_maid]

Anne and Amy have been very very busy over the last week or so, transforming their usually simple white room into the perfect place for a Christmas party.

There are garlands of holly and balsam strung around the room, leading away from the wreath between the windows (and there's a grumpy looking crow, perched in the middle of the wreath, trying to figure out how to get the red ribbon from around his neck). A Christmas tree, candles ablaze, stands in one corner, with presents tucked under its branches.

Welcome, dear friend, to Anne and Amy's Christmas party.

Comments

[kitchen_maid]

Let's just assume a hug then.

"I'm so glad you both could come."

[the_seafarer]

"Wouldn't have missed it for the world," he says, smiling broadly.

"And here, this is for you. It is, I'm afraid, a placeholder for now, but your actual present is forthcoming."

The gaily wrapped package contains a brand new, soft black leather bridle and reins.

[kitchen_maid]

"Thank you."

Amy sets it under the tree because that is just way too much to deal with right now.

"Peter Aurelious really did find us the perfect tree, didn't he?"

[called_lioness]

"It's lovely," Lucy says honestly. "It makes me miss home, a bit. It's done so nicely."

[kitchen_maid]

"Thank you. Caspian was kind enough to take Anne and I to get one. I have no idea how we'd have managed without him. There's still some decorating left, if you'd like to help. I never thought it really felt like Christmas until I'd hung something on a tree."

[the_seafarer]

"Well, what's Christmas without a tree? And you two really have done a marvelous job with your room. I hardly recognize it. How are the animals holding up?"

[kitchen_maid]

"The squirrels have made a lot of friends," says Amy, cheerfully. "I think Simon Perryvall is begging food, and I've given up on keeping Mr. Pemberthy out of the tree. And Peter Aurelious just sit there in the wreath and watches us all."

[called_lioness]

"As is right," seriously, nodding.

Trying not to giggle.

So very hard, trying.

[kitchen_maid]

She's welcome to giggle. Amy giggles at the critters most days.

"I think Peter Aurelious is annoyed by the bow."

[the_seafarer]

Caspian shakes his head.

"Poor old Peter Aurelious. He does look terribly unhappy.

"But festive."

[kitchen_maid]

"And that's the idea," she says, cheerfully. "He can survive the loss of a little dignity in the name of holiday cheer."

[called_lioness]

"It's a fiendish disguise, too. No one will suspect him this way."

Suspect him of what, Lucy doesn't go into. Minor detail.

[kitchen_maid]

"Precisely," says Amy, wildly inaccurately. "And heaven help us if he does get up to something, because we'll never recognize him later."

"Qwa!" says Peter Aurelious, loudly.

[the_seafarer]

"I think he heard you," Caspian points out, laughing.

[kitchen_maid]

"He usually does. Peter Aurelious has a tendency to pay very close attention to me, and likes to interfere. And I'm rather certain," she says, lowering her voice a little and "confiding" in Lucy, "that Caspian put him up to it."

[called_lioness]

"Oh, he's horrid that way," "confiding" back. "But we can get him back, I'm sure."

[kitchen_maid]

"Oh, yes, I'm sure we'll think of something."

Amy doesn't even bother to try to look innocent this time.

[the_seafarer]

"You know, I'm standing right here," he says, exasperated.

[kitchen_maid]

"Well, yes, Caspian," says Amy, reasonably. "That's why we were whispering."

[called_lioness]

"Don't be silly," Lucy says just as reasonably, rolling her eyes at him.

[kitchen_maid]

Really, Caspian, it might be time to stop letting your sister meet your friends.

Amy just grins at him.

[the_seafarer]

He throws up his hands in defeat, laughing.

"Alright, you win. Both of you. But, here, you've other guests to attend to, Amy. We can catch up with you later easily enough."

[kitchen_maid]

"Of course," she says, cheerfully. "Do enjoy the party, and don't forget to try Phil's chocolate cake. Merry Christmas."