An Atterberry Christmas by Leah Price

Author:Leah Price
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christmas, Renaissance festival, Magic, middle grade fantasy, short story, Fairies, Renaissance fair, renaissance faire, Kids fantasy friendship, Fantasy books for girls, Children fantasy books
Publisher: Leah Price
Published: 2015-11-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THREE

Everyone lingered around the tree until the wind picked up and the snowflakes became thicker and wetter, sticking to the trees and ground once more and causing every branch to bend, save the branches of the Christmas tree.

Glenna hurried inside along with the rest of the guests and went straight to the back window. Grasping the rough ledge in her fingers, she peered outside.

Despite the storm obliterating everything outside, the tree shone through. Perfectly swathed in shining light, it remained still and calm, untouched by the storm raging around it.

"Well, that's it then," Glenna heard Ash say.

"What's it?" Glenna asked, turning to face him.

"No one else will be able to make it. Surely not the knights on a night like this. They'll rust! And so many other creatures and things." Ash sighed, a disappointed look on his face.

"What other creatures and things?" Glenna asked, curious.

Ash opened his mouth to reply, but Atterberry clapped his hand on his shoulder before the boy could speak. "Time for more carols," he exclaimed cheerfully.

"Atterberry," Glenna asked. "Don't you think the storm is getting worse? Maybe everyone should go home while they still can."

"Go home?" Atterberry exclaimed. "Rubbish! Tis nothing but a sprinkling of snowflakes."

A particularly mournful howl from the wind shook the house at the moment and the windows filled with swirling snow. "See?" Atterberry asked. "Absolutely nothing to worry about!"

And indeed, it appeared as if no one else was worrying. Everyone was too busy singing carols and lifting their goblets of spiced apple cider and hot chocolate into the air.

Atterberry's cake was almost entirely gone, along with all the candied nuts and fruit in the various bowls covering the table. The bread and jams, jellies and pastries, and candies and cookies were left only in crumbles. The table was bare.

Or at least, that's what Glenna thought. With a flourish, Atterberry flung open cupboard shelves, pulling fresh bread from the pocket of a cloak, three jars of jam from an empty teapot, and a huge bowl of nuts from under a napkin.

"Please everyone, help yourselves!" Atterberry said, marching over to a large pot simmering above the fire and thrusting a spoon into the depths. "There is also hot soup for anyone who is hungry."

Glenna watched the people begin to feast once more. Despite how delicious the food was, Glenna was too full to even consider eating another bite. Many of the guests sang as they waited in line. Atterberry was one of the loudest, and though he wasn't always quite in tune, he made up for it in enthusiasm.

Glenna sank into the red overstuffed chair now pushed into the corner and curled up in a ball. She felt her eyes growing heavy with sleep and she yawned. And the next thing she knew, it was morning.

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