“I am Liam, does this gem I hold belong to you?”
They quickly nod, and he sighs as he looks down at Serenity, “Tis truly lucky you are, to be gifted with such a rare treasure. Take good care of her, Michael.” He walks forward and gently transfers her to Michael’s arms.
“Thank you, Liam,” he replies hoarsely.
Liam touches her forehead and a sparkle appears at her neck. It is a snowflake necklace with a silver cross on top. “The Winter Queen will live. Should she ever need my help again, use the necklace to call me.” With a rush of his mighty wings he is gone.
Michael’s forehead touches Serenity’s and his tears drop to her face, “Take us home, Dad.”
Chapter 16
“She’s like Snow White, Dad, you should kiss her,” Sincere demands for the fifteenth time in two days.
“We need to be patient, Sincere. She will wake up soon. Until then, we need to let her rest.” Michael says trying to hide the desperation in his glance when he looks at her. It’s been two days, and the Saints and Guardians have all been waiting to hear the condition of the Winter Queen.
Nathan stands at the door and smiles, “She will be okay, dad. I know it.” Sincere jumps up and runs to his brother, “Nate maybe if we tickle her toes she will wake up?” Baron pushes into the room past the boys and pads over beside Michael. He glances at Serenity and whines.
“Not you too? Maybe she is just trying to find a minute of peace. All of you out, come on boys.” Michael says pushing them from the room.
“Your father is right, give her some quiet. I made cookies, and if you wish I will tell you the story of Saint Nicholas,” Noel offers. Nick will be busy tonight and she knows Michael is tormented by guilt.
“Thank you, Mom.” He whispers and then he sinks into a chair by the fireplace and listens to the story he has heard since childhood.
“Once upon a time there lived a little boy named Nicholas, who wished more than anything to dance among the stars. Each night he would look up at the stars and pray for a miracle. One special night, long ago Nicholas was squeezing his eyes tight and praying just as hard as his little heart could pray, when a special light danced around him. With wide eyes, Nicholas reached out and touched the ribbon of light that had found its way inside his room. The ribbon danced on an unseen wind until, finally, it wrapped its way around the little boy, and then something magical happened.”
Sincere bounces on his knees and giggles “I know, I know!” he interrupts and looks at his father. Michael smiles and grabs Sincere, squeezing him in a big hug.
“The light gave him a hug and melted straight into his body.” Sincere giggles and squeezes his dad back and snuggles into his lap. “It was a magical hug, warm and soothing. This time when Nicholas closed his eyes,” Sincere squeezes his eyes shut tightly, “he could see it! A magical doorway leading straight up to the stars!”
Nathan smiles and his father continues, “Nicholas had a pure heart, and he did not know that every night the stars waited and prayed, hoping that this would be the night he would come and dance with them! Being a strong brave boy, he stepped straight through the doorway and ran up to the stars. With every step he took a ribbon of green, purple, and white, seeped from beneath his feet creating a sea of special lights in the sky.”
Serenity hears the melodic rhythm of Michael’s voice and she struggles to find her way back to him. Her head moves side to side as she fights with her eyes to open.
“Did he dance, Daddy?” Sincere asks with chocolate crumbs on his face.
“He danced among the stars, spinning, and twirling creating a magical show in the sky. Finally, exhausted he lay among the stars looking down at the earth, when something catches his eye. Far below his bed of stars a little girl is walking with her father through the village square. She wears tattered clothes, and has no shoes upon her feet. It was cold and the first snow was upon them. She hurried after her father, who carried one day’s worth of wood to warm his small hut, outside of town.
‘Hurry child!’ her father snaps.
‘Yes, Papa,’ she whispers and follows behind him, trying not to cry at the pain in her feet.
With each step she took, Nicholas cringes as though feeling her pain. She looks up at the sky and gasps in delight. ‘Papa, look!’ she cries pointing up at the night sky.
‘What is it child!’ He looks at the direction she is pointing and stares open mouthed at the sky. Ribbons of colors, blue, green and white dance across the sky in a display never before seen! ‘Amazing! We should get home to the others, Noel. Hurry, they should see this!’ with that her father hurries through the woods to the little hut that is their home. Michael sips his coffee and continues the story.
‘It’s so beautiful!’ When she takes a step she cries out in pain. Drawn by the light of the beauty above her she stepped on something sharp. Looking down she sees a rock imbedded in her foot. She drops to the ground and looks for her father. When he doesn’t return she takes a breath.
Nicholas takes a step towards the door, drawn by the beautiful little girl. His heart breaks for her. ‘What can I do?’ He asks his new friends. They dance and ripple around him and he laughs in delight when he is gifted a small purple bag, tied with a silver rope.
Noel rips a piece of her
