“Have you ever heard of a wedding?” asked Alison.
“No,” said the spriggan. “What is this ‘wedding’?”
“It’s where two people that love each other make each other promises and exchange rings.”
“But you already have a ring.”
Alison smiled. “This is an engagement ring. It symbolizes an intent to marry.”
“So much jewelry. So many rocks. I can see why you like the ornaments on the tree. Very well. Why do you tell me of this ‘wedding’?”
“It’s customary to invite people who mean something to you to a wedding. I’d like you to come to my wedding to Keir.”
“But I am not a person. Do I mean something to you nonetheless?”
Alison laid her hand on the spriggan’s shoulder, grateful he was in his smaller form today. “You do. You’ve helped us quite a lot. We’re grateful.”
“And Keir? He would like me to be at this wedding even though I tried to kill him?”
“He would.” Alison knew Keir wasn’t quite as fond of the spriggan as she was, but he had come back here after the first time. He knew the spriggan no longer posed a threat.
“Very well, Alison Lennox. I will come to this wedding.”
Alison Lennox. She hadn’t heard her full name in a long time. After the wedding, she supposed she would be Alison Ainsley.
She would have to give up her name. Her father’s name. It was all she had left of him.
“Have I said something wrong? You are upset,” said the spriggan.
“No, no,” said Alison, although she could hear the tears in her voice. “I’m sorry. It’s nothing you said. Just something I hadn’t thought of yet. There are lots of feelings around weddings.”
“As long as I have not caused you offense. I will let you go now, Alison Lennox. I will bring the tree at sunset so that youmay cover it in jewelry. I would like to see if once it’s wearing its jewelry.”
“Of course,” said Alison. “Come see the lighting in—” Alison counted on her fingers, “—four nights.”
“In four nights,” said the spriggan.
Back in town in the afternoon, Alison caught up with Gwenla and Rinka at Weyland’s forge.
“Oh, you’re back already,” said Gwenla, her hands full loading a cart with shiny silver ornaments as big as her head. “Did you find the spriggan?”
“The tree should be arriving shortly,” said Alison.
“Excellent news. Finnli, did you get the star?”
The little dwarf boy slowly came over holding a brass-coated star that was half as big as he was. “It’s heavy,” he said, tilting a bit as he walked.
Rinka rushed over just before he toppled. “Maybe you can help with the tinsel.” Rinka gestured to a box filled with light strands of silver foil on string.
“Okay!” said Finnli.
“Do you think it’ll be enough?” asked Strelka, Weyland’s orc apprentice. “Do you know how big the tree will be?”
Alison realized she hadn’t specified that with the spriggan. “I’m not sure. I forgot to tell him. He seemed somewhat confused by the entire ritual…”
“Well, we’ll just have to make do with what we get,” said Gwenla.
“It doesn’t take long to make the ornaments. If you think we’ll need more…”
