“It makes sense!” Elina says excitedly. “Our gifts are evolving as they need to. That’s why the baby is so strong! It is how she survived when the others didn’t. She will need to be protected until she is old enough to be trained.” Hugging Varena, she tells her friend, “Everything is going to be alright. You just have to put your faith in God. Are you okay?”
“I think so. It is a lot to take in at once. I felt this pressure growing before but I always held it back. I was afraid of what would happen if I let it go.” Horror fills her eyes when she wonders if she could have saved her family. “Elina if…”
“Don’t go there, Varena! Do you know how many times I have asked myself that question? Could I have saved you all? It is my failure not yours. We can’t change the past, but we can make a difference here and now.”
Varena looks at her daughter and says, “I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe from him, how long until I can travel?” Relief fills Elina’s heart, and she sits to make plans with her.
Twenty_Five
The burden of all that has occurred and the battles to come, weighs heavily on everyone’s minds. A quiet descends over the house as they all drift apart, finding solace alone. Doubt, fear, and worry do a victory dance as the joy of the season is stolen away.
In the distance the sound of sleigh bells rings out. Softly the jingling of the bells drifts through the woods growing louder by the second. Alex is the first to hear the sound. He follows it slowly to the window in the living room. Elina smiles from her room and comes running. She knows that sound! Grabbing Alex’s hand she laughs.
“Come on, little brother!” dragging him behind her. She throws open the door and runs down the steps. Jake and Elsbeth hear a commotion and watch as Elina runs outside, dragging Alex. Hunter hears Alex laughing and he and Varena follow slowly with the baby.
Polly watches as they all trickle out front, and she looks at Ruby and smiles. “I love that man.”
Laughter bubbles out as the mood lifts. Joy fills the hearts of all who watch as “Santa” comes out of the woods. He wears a red and white Santa hat and around his neck is a single sleigh bell. Over one shoulder he carries an axe, and he walks slowly, smiling, dragging a large Christmas tree behind him. Jake is the first to help, followed by Hunter.
“It’s huge!” Alex says excitedly.
Elina laughs watching “You never bring home a Charlie Brown tree, do you, dad? One year we had to cut two feet off the bottom just to get it in the door.” Ruby laughs as they all look in wonder at the tree.
“How could we forget it’s Christmas Eve?” Elsbeth asks.
Varena holds the baby wrapped tightly in her blanket and asks quietly “What is the tree for?” Elina turns to look at her in horror. They all realize just how isolated she has been.
Hunter smiles as he sees the look on Alex’s face. “This is the baby’s first Christmas! We have to do this right!” he demands.
Rejuvenated, they all move at once. Jake calls out, “I will make a tree stand.”
“I will get some hot chocolate brewing!” Elsbeth calls out. Polly and Ruby move off to get the boxes of ornaments out of storage. Hunter helps shake the tree to get any loose needles out, and Ronnie stands back smiling at his daughter. Walking closer she moves into his waiting embrace.
“Thanks, Dad” she whispers and squeezes him tight. “We needed to remember to honor our Father for his gifts to us this year. It is easy to forget with everything that has happened.”
The rest of the day is spent decorating, laughing and sharing Christmas memories. The lights are hung on the tree and Uncle Ronnie snuggles in the recliner holding the baby and watching Alex show Varena how to hang ornaments on the tree. Looking at the beautiful infant in his arms, he says, “I do believe this little angel needs a name. Have you chosen one for her yet, Varena?” Softly smiling she turns and everyone moves closer.
“Her name is Alexandria Hope.” Looking at Alex, she smiles, “Alexandria to honor the one who saved us, and Hope because that is what you gave us.”
Smiling with pride, Alex responds “Perfect just like she is.”
“Merry Christmas, little one” Ronnie says with a soft smile.
Christmas Day
When the sun breaks through the morning fog, Elsbeth gathers her wrapped gifts and places them around the base of the Christmas tree. With a hand on her crystal heart, Elsbeth smiles and slips back to her room excited for everyone to wake up.
Polly walks to the kitchen to start the morning coffee. She feels him watching once again. Grabbing her coat, she steps out onto the deck and stares at the woods. A tear slips down her cheek for she feels his longing in her soul. It rips through her spirit with every breath she takes. “Merry Christmas, Nameed” she says softly and she walks back inside with a lonely heart.
Ronnie watches his wife sleep with a heavy heart. His family is in trouble and he knows they have to leave. The nightmares will not leave him alone. With a trembling hand he scrubs his face, trying to erase her screams from his mind but remembering them clearly;
They are all trapped inside the burning house, and he can hear Ruby screaming. Elina’s hand is pushed through the rubble and she reaches for her dad. Ronnie fights to pull them out, but with every board he pulls, more tumble in. Screaming for Malach, he watches as the dragon lands.
“Help me, they are trapped inside!” he screams frantically pulling at the boards. He turns when he
