It was the coldest winter Greenwood had seen in a decade - or so I was told.

The snow had come and this was a rarity and a treat, especially for little elflings. It lay in thick blankets like glistening white bundles of cotton wool. It clung to the boughs of the great firs of the forest, burying the trodden paths and outlying villages in its picturesque beauty.

It reminded me of home, of the cold frostbitten evenings when I played out in the frozen fields until I couldn't feel my very toes. It reminded me of Christmas; of all the lights and the sounds of our local town, the smell of mulled wine, and the excitement of Santa Claus and presents.

I knew that 'Christmas' meant very little here, and things like Saint Nicholas crossing the skies, in a sleigh pulled by magical reindeer bringing gifts to all good little boys and girls, was a foreign concept. I was, after all, from another world and the memories of that world seemed to fade away with every passing day...except for Christmas.

I wasn't so sure if it was because I had my own little family now, or if maybe it was the nostalgia of home on my very first Christmas with my new husband that brought about my festive longing. But there was little denying it, I was homesick and I missed the familiarity of the things that I knew...so maybe it was time to bring Christmas to Greenwood?

*****

Winter Solstice - GreenWood the Great - SA 3427

"Hark how the bells, Sweet silver bells, All seem to say, Throw cares away..."

I sing with such giddy excitement, my hands outstretched, my head thrown back, as I spin in circles feeling the snowflakes stick to my eyelashes like I am living in the inside of a perfect snow globe;

"Christmas is here, Bringing good cheer, To young and old,Meek and the bold..." I chime in a breathy voice, and catch Legolas as he wraps his little arms around my waist to spin in unison, ringing a set of tinkling silver bells that one of the minstrels gave him after supper.

"Ding dong ding dong, That is their song, With joyful ring!" He proclaims as he excitedly rings the bells above his head, and little puffs of cloudy air escape his lips and ruddy button nose. I am of course suitably impressed by how quick he picks up my native, and admittedly primitive, songs. His enchanting little elven voice so angelic and exquisite in the evening air, no human could ever sound so perfect.

'All caroling, One seems to hear, Words of good cheer, From everywhere Filling the air!" A stunning feminine voice to my left bursts fourth, the very sound bringing a bright smile from my lips as I spin to dance right up to my closest friend.

Oliel giggles in her usual optimistic fashion, her turquoise eyes shimmering in the fading light as she reaches for my arm and we link them to dance, kicking up sprays of crisp fluffy snow, whilst Legolas continues to ring his set of bells gleefully. He is so preoccupied with his musical endeavour that he barely notices the shadow that creeps up behind him, and with a shriek his father lifts him into the air and joins in our performance;

"Oh how they pound, Raising the sound O'er hill and dale, Telling their tale. Gaily they ring, While people sing," Thranduil croons so perfectly, in that stunning elven articulation that it amazes me that this is his first time hearing such foreign notes.

I waste little time sliding across the icy covered forest ground, and straight into my husband's arms to bring about the crescendo of our little chorus of carolling, with Legolas' help of course; "Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here. Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas!"

The song is finished with much breathless laughter and cuddling, as Thranduil works hard to keep me standing upright in the slippery frosty ground and an energetic Legolas still in his arms...he does have enviable balance.

"I have not the slightest notion what this 'Christmas' is," Oliel giggles as she shrugs her grey fur cape tighter around her shoulders and sways happily, her eyes so wide and filled with mirth as always; "but mellon nin, I truly love these wonderful songs!"

"Me too!" Legolas squeals with delight and wrestles his way free of his Adar's arms to scamper across the distance to join Oliel in her happy humming, vigorously ringing those bells with all his might.

"Well, I have lot more where that came from," I chuckle and tap my head, winking at Thranduil as I do. He lets out a deep and throaty laugh before sweeping my feet out from below me and drawing my lips to his to kiss affectionately.

I barely have time to gasp as his lips form around mine, the intense heat of his skin mingled with the warmth of his breath against my frozen - almost blue skin - sends electrifying shivers down my spine. We have only been wed a few months and still I cannot curb my racing pulse and rising blush every time he douses me in his passionate affections, and he is passionate. No request of mine is to silly or unrealistic, everything I could want or think I want I am given. Thranduil makes no secret of his happiness in our union, and as with everything, when the prince is joyful the mood of the very kingdom and forest lifts and lightens.

"My peculiar fallen star," he murmurs gently, as he inconspicuously nips my bottom lip cheekily, and that smirk of his causing my voice to get stuck in my throat.

His mischievous grin lights his whole face so it reaches his ethereal eyes. The icy silvery blue of them matching the winter wonderland that we are surrounded with, successfully muddling my thoughts. "The cold only seems to make that blush of yours so much more alluring," he tells me softly, using the index of his thickly gloved fingers to trace the heated skin of my cheek before he picks fresh snowflakes from my unruly blonde curls.

I nearly find my voice, I almost get to give a flirty little retort about seeing more of that blush later, but I am interrupted with a freezing slap of icy snow.

I give a shocked cheep as I try to remember how to breath, the chilly powder melting against the warmth of my skin and running down the gap of my fur lined sleeves and high collared gown. The sensation an entirely unpleasant experience compared to the one just moments perviously.

Two sets of cheering voice is what first alerts me that we have been well and truly assaulted. The second thing I notice is the thick layering of snow on Thranduil's head, were he has taken the brunt of the snowball attack. The long strands of his immaculately kept hair are now tousled about his shoulders, and he wears a faintly peeved look underneath his frosty crown. I suppress a gleeful laugh before shifting my gaze sideways, because there is only one elf that I know that could take Thranduil off guard.

True enough, by the far end of the clearing we occupy, stands one very smug captain.

A devious smile plays on Aradan's lips as he eyes us up like he would a challenger in battle. Thranduil gently eases me to the ground and begins to dust himself, a calm but deadly silence emanating from him.

"Uh Oh..." Legolas gulps, and tiptoes behind Ollie's skirts, getting out of firing range as quick as possible...smart boy...perhaps I should be doing the same?

"You have fifteen seconds, captain," Thranduil hisses evenly, and Aradan shifts stealthily to his right his lip twitching excitedly. 

I roll my eyes towards Ollie, who winks knowingly.

"As long as that, Prince?" Aradan taunts, "you are getting slow."

"And you are getting more dull witted," Thranduil reminds him with an equally teasing voice. Aradan's face contorts in confusion, as he opens his mouth to articulate his response...

Whoooosh

A snowball whizzes through the air and smacks Aradan straight in his open mouth, and Thranduil doubles in two with his obnoxious cackling, whilst I just look on in bafflement...where did that come from?

"Well done my boy," Thranduil barely manages to wheeze out between rib tickling laughter, as Legolas trots out from behind Ollie armed with another snowball grinning victoriously.

Aradan scowls at our imperious little elfling, who boldly sticks his tongue out at him as he passes, then bravely darts for cover under his father's velvet cloak.

"I thought you were on our team?" Ollie cries in faux despair, as she tries vainly to hide her glee. Legolas simply attempts his most innocent smile, shrugging his shoulders and staying very close to the protection of his smug Ada.

"He is a little snitch, told you not to trust him!" Aradan accuses, pointing towards a giggling Legolas, "I knew he would rat us out!"

"He knows the winning side," Thranduil chortles haughtily, "he is cutting his losses...wise move little leaf."

"Oh come on everyone, lets stop the trash talk." I attempt to calm the brewing snowball war, mostly because when it comes down to it I will fare the worst. That, and Thranduil is so bloody competitive that he will abandon me to my doom within minutes...I slow him down apparently...charming!

"Nana!"

"One moment Legolas, Nana is speaking."

"But Nana," whoooossh, "nevermind..."

Ollie's tinkling laughter only adds insult to injury as I shake off the freezing snow facial. I glower furiously in the direction of my entirely guilty best friend, who seems utterly delighted with herself. As I stand and attempt to regulate my breathing - and body temperature - after such a violent and unprovoked attack, I find that Thranduil has made me a decent sized snowball and is waving it under my nose.

"Do it," he encourages, with no small amount of excitement in his voice; "take them out."

And, that is when I realised I was prone to revenge...cold, unforgiving, revenge. Oh, and that I was a little bit of drama queen too, but I think everyone had that figured by now.

So our snowball war was fought under the trees, but it took very little time for it to dissolve into every elf for himself.

Of course Legolas won, but only because he was an elfling...or so that is what his father kept trying to say in defence of the sneaky blow that won the battle. Secretly we all know that Legolas has the best shot, no matter what Thranduil claims.

************************************

Song 'Carol of the Bells' preformed by Pentatonix

Hark how the Bells,
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say
Throw cares away
Christmas is here
Bringing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold

Ding dong ding dong
That is their song
With joyful ring
All caroling.
One seems to hear
Words of good cheer
From everywhere
Filling the air

Oh how they pound, Raising the sound
O'er hill and dale
Telling their tale.
Gaily they ring
While people sing
Songs of good cheer
Christmas is here

Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas

So who do you think this song represents in the story?