The Twelve Days of Christmas (Part Two)

The Twelve Days of Christmas

PART TWO

Day Four

A high, cheery voice broke Princess Avianna’s slumber.

“Merry Christmas!”

Curled into her sheets and blankets, she twisted away from the sound.

Just a few more minutes…

“Come on, Princess. It’s Christmas. Time to rise.”

Avianna groaned.  “Not again…”

“The Lady’s Ride happens every year, princess. Up, up!”

Avianna obediently went through each motion, dressing in the same riding outfit, enduring all the same conversations. During the ride, she respectfully let the conversation with her Grandmum go as it had originally.

The princess often fantasized about different things she could do to buck the day’s rhythm, but her thoughts settled on the claustrophobic feeling of being trapped. Even riding in the wide open field and forest, Avianna felt enclosed.

Magic was afoot, but what could she do? Nobody would listen to her, and even fewer would believe. Something is making Christmas repeat, and something is clouding Prince Lennon’s memory, and there’s nothing I can do about it. I can’t keep doing this same Christmas again!

And if the magic is broken, what then? She didn’t even allow herself to consider what waiting another year could be like. Would her father ever change his mind? Will I ever marry the man I love?

These worries continued to gather and churn like a thundercloud, and they must’ve been showing on her face because Mora said she looked unwell while she got dressed for Christ Mass.

“I’m just tired,” Princess Avianna said. Thankfully, Mora didn’t press the issue.

Mora tied the blue sash around Avianna’s red silk dress. “There,” she said, “you look like a present, Princess.”

Avianna laughed and gave her maidservant a hug. Mora hadn’t said that before, Avianna realized, and her smile lingered.

They exited her chambers, descended two flights of stairs, and walked across the courtyard toward the basilica. From here, she could see its smooth stone reaching to the sky. Its obeliscal bell tower was sharp and angular, the dark stone contrasting with that of the gray castle.

Though the basilica resided in the castle complex, it held an otherworldly quality and aura that seemed to seep from its stones.

King Caledon had told her that the massive church was built within the castle’s walls during the reign of a particularly religious king generations ago. Avianna had never believed the tale. She thought it more likely that the castle walls were built around the basilica.

Regardless, the church was old and sturdy. Her father called it The King’s Chapel, but nothing about the basilica suggested that the King held any sway. Theoretically, the king could order them to do things a certain way, but Avianna doubted it would work. The church’s traditions were even stronger than the building, and they strategically used custom as a shield to keep them as far from the king’s influence as possible.

She’d heard her father complain about it, but he never did anything rash while here, with the very stones in earshot.

Princess Avianna climbed the basilica’s small, rounded stairs up to the massive wooden door, which had been propped open by a priest. The foyer was bright and warm, but Avianna could never find any torches or gaps for skylight. Father Gryffan, the basilica’s head priest, had once told her there were hidden skylights and that hidden mirrors diverted and diffused the sunlight throughout the whole building.

These things fascinated Avianna—so much so that she often struggled to focus on the right things during mass. She was often the last to stand, sit, or kneel, especially when her brain wouldn’t stop thinking about how the water flowed in the priest’s basin, or how the sanctuary’s many statues were carved and placed just so.

Her mind wandered even more today as she found her seat. Her chair was special, almost a throne, and it was positioned to the left of her father’s. Thankfully, Grandmum was on her father’s right, so she didn’t have to worry about her prying eyes. The three royal chairs stood near the front on the left side of the sanctuary. Their backs were to the wall, and they faced both the priest and the congregation, though they were stationed to face the priest almost head on.

She sat and readied herself for a fourth day of this ritual. Don’t fall asleep…

Her worries had been building all day, and she found the prospect of proper spiritual focus out of reach. Lord, forgive me. She blinked a few times and tilted her head.

Is God doing this to me?

She’d been so focused on Prince Lennon, and on her disappointment with her father, and on living the same Christmas over and over again, she hadn’t even considered God having a part in this catastrophe.

Is He keeping Lennon and me apart? Is He making a way for us to be together?

Over the course of the mass, Princess Avianna did what she realized she could’ve been doing from day one. During the mass, she started to pray.

Father Gryffan led the ceremony. He wore thick, white robes with a silver cross stitched across the front. He spoke in a warm, deep voice, and his presence was a comfort to Avianna. Through confession, she’d confided in him more than she had with anyone else.

At his prompting, everyone stood and sang Christmas hymns. They knelt and repeated a prayer, thanking God for the blessing of the Christmas season. Then, Father Gryffan led them all in Holy Communion.

The previous three days, Avianna had participated, but her focus was far away, her heart even further. Today, she engaged her heart and spirit. Avianna actually listened to the words Father Gryffan spoke.

And when she drank the small cup of wine, something strange happened.

The world rippled.

Avianna could only compare it to when she’d thrown a rock into a still pond, only the shimmering ripple was in the air. It flew across the sanctuary, and then it was gone.

Something new welled up inside of her. Is this joy? Hope?

Princess Avianna’s despair was gone, but her determination remained.

I will find out what’s going on with Prince Lennon.

Then, a new voice spoke in her head: Yes, and Father Gryffan will help you.

She scowled. Where did that thought come from? It was more intrusive than her normal thoughts.

Whether by divine intervention or personal intuition, Avianna knew she should pursue the idea.

There was always the chance that Father Gryffan wouldn’t believe her.

There was always the chance that he’d call her a heretic and have her excommunicated.

There was also the chance that he could help in a way she didn’t know about.

And, she reminded herself, there’s the near certainty that the day will start over in the morning.

That consideration emboldened the princess.

At the conclusion of Christ Mass, after her father and grandma left the sanctuary, Avianna walked straight towards Father Gryffan, who stood at the back, wishing each parishioner a Merry Christmas on their way out.

Avianna approached and cleared her throat. “Excuse me, Father Gryffan.”

“Yes, child?” The remaining people filed out the door.

“May I have a word with you in private?”

“My dear, I don’t want to take up all your time on Christmas. Shouldn’t you be making merry this day?”

“There’s something I need to tell you. It can’t wait.”

“A confession, I see. Well, come with me to the booth and—”

“Father. This is urgent.” She looked around and confirmed that they were alone. “Can I please just tell you here and now?”

“Here.” He led them to sit side-by-side on one of the wooden pews in the back. “My old bones need to rest…Yes, child, what is it you’d like to say?”

Speaking this close to him without the confessional’s ornate privacy screen, Avianna felt that she could truly see the man. Each wrinkle seemed to tell a story, not of a frail man, but of a weathered one. He’d surely seen some storms in his day, she thought. I can trust him with this one.

“Father, I am not sure where to begin. But you need to know, something strange is happening in the kingdom. I don’t know if it’s of good or evil intent. I think there’s magic.”

His eyebrows rose. “Magic? That sounds serious indeed! Child, what do you mean by magic?”

“What is today, Father?”

“Christmas Day, of course.”

“Is it?”

“It must be. I know a Christmas when I see it. I feel the Christmas magic in the air, and it smells something luminous.”

“Okay, it might be Christmas, but what if I told you it’s not the only one?”

“Well, we have Christmas every year. I’m sure that’s not what you mean.”

“Father, I mean yesterday.”

“What about yesterday?”

“Yesterday was Christmas. As was the day before that, as was the day before that.”

With that proclamation, she thought the father’s eyebrows would jump off his face just to fly even higher.

“My child, what do you mean? You felt the Christmas magic on Christmas Eve and the days before?”

“No, I mean actual Christmas. This is the fourth consecutive Christmas Day this year. Each morning, I’m the only one who remembers it. The day just starts over.”

“Like magic?”

“Yes, like magic!”

She thought he wasn’t getting it. She thought he was about to chide her for wasting his time. Instead, he said, “I want to believe you, Princess, but I need you to start from the beginning. Tell me everything and leave nothing out!”

That’s exactly what Avianna did. She left out no detail she could remember, starting with the first Christmas morning all the way up to Christ Mass, even the feeling she felt during Holy Communion.

“Princess, this is the most extraordinary, fascinating tale I’ve ever heard. You jest not? No, nobody would jest like this…”

“What should I do, Father? I’m the only one who remembers. Lennon has something affecting his memory. Something needs to be done!”

Father Gryffan rose from the pew. “Walk with me, Princess.”

She stood and followed as they walked around the sanctuary’s perimeter.

“Princess, what do you know about magic?”

“Not much. Mainly just what I’ve read in stories. It never seemed to be a topic of serious discussion, except for my Grandmum warning me to avoid any sort of witchcraft. Do you think there’s a witch at work?”

Father Gryffan stopped at a basin and washed his hands with what Avianna assumed to be Holy Water.

“I suppose it’s too early to tell, but right now I think not. Witches tend to do their work in the shadows, subtle and unseen. They’re also cunning and brutal. If Prince Lennon came across one of those, I don’t think he’d be left alive.”

“Maybe a sorcerer?”

“Again, we can’t know for sure. However, I think you’re drawing too much from the stories. Can I tell you what I know about magic?”

They continued their circuit to the front of the sanctuary, where there were altars for kneeling at the base of the dais.

“Magic is everywhere, woven into the fabric of creation of our world. When used rightly, magic is a power that bears witness to the most important forces from our Creator—faith, hope, and love.”

Avianna looked around at the various tapestries and statues—each seeming to bear their own witness to something, each seeming to hum a note unheard.

“In our world, acts of faith, hope, and love summon magic from the bones of creation. The created world wants to bear witness, and that witness manifests as an energy. This energy is true magic.”

“Our world?”

“There are many worlds, Princess, and the presence of magic is different in each. The Christ Mass, you must know, is celebrated in each, but the Christ was actually born in a world near our own, separate yet unreachable except through magic.”

Avianna had been told that the very scriptures had come from a distant land, one not identifiable on a map, but not from another world. Her mind spun.

“So, in our world… magic is an energy present in nature… and it ‘bears witness’ to faith, hope, and love?”

“Precisely!”

Avianna looked thoughtfully over the sanctuary. “Father, I’m the one with the ridiculous story, but now I’m finding it hard to believe you. How do you know all this?”

He laughed. “The order of priests in which I was trained imparted certain knowledge: knowledge of the Scriptures, facts about the worlds of creation, and the basic laws of magic. The priesthood bears witness to many things, including God’s covenants, so in our world, any priest will have at least a cursory experience with magic.”

“I’m still a little confused. What does that mean, to ‘bear witness’? What does one do to bear witness?”

“Here, open this.” Father Gryffan led Avianna up onto the dais to the large, leather book on his lectern.

“What is this?”

“A hymnal. Did you know hymnals carry a form of magic?”

She gently opened it. She started slowly looking through the pages, reading song titles and examining music notes.

Father Gryffan continued, “These songs each bear witness to something. It is a testimony of the Lord and what He has done in our world. As we sing these songs, the very ground beneath us acknowledges its magic, and it resonates with a power that reaches far and wide.”

“Is Holy Communion magic?”

Father Gryffan furrowed his brow. “That is an interesting question.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t know the precise answer.” He laughed. “Perhaps it would suffice to say, magic is in the realm of mystery. It crosses with religion, it crosses with philosophy, and it crosses with what the scholars call science. But it is part of the world our Lord has chosen not to fully explain.”

She nodded. “The ripple I saw during Holy Communion, I don't know what it was, but I think it's important. Have you seen Holy Communion cause a ripple through the world?”

“No, but I must admit, your eyes might’ve been the only ones open at the time.” He sighed. “I’ll attempt to actually answer your question: To my knowledge, Holy Communion is not magical. Neither is the act of singing hymns, or even prayer for that matter. However, each sacrament in and of itself is an act of faith, hope, or love, which means magic must bear witness to its presence.”

“So, there’s no way anything here in the basilica is causing the magical spell to repeat Christmas every day?”

“If a simple mass could do that, I think it would have happened long before now.”

Avianna nodded.

Father Gryffan stroked his chin and continued. “That being said, I think the magic you saw here at Mass today is interacting with other magic cast upon the kingdom. Whatever spell or enchantment strong enough to cause Christmas to repeat must be layered. Though mass by itself isn’t breaking this magic’s stronghold, it would be foolish to say that it isn’t fighting. The sacrament of holy Communion bears witness to the greatest reality of all. The natural magic surrounding it must have some sort of weakening effect on the strange magic we’re seeing.”

Princess Avianna gasped. Lennon’s memories!

A plan came to her all at once. She shared her idea with Father Gryffan and bid him farewell.

Moving on from the basilica, Avianna arrived a little late to greet the arriving guests, but nobody seemed to notice her tardiness.

The sun moved gingerly across the sky. To Avianna, time went faster than normal as she eagerly awaited her prince’s arrival. The feast and merriment came just as before.

Finally, at the same time as each night before, King Caledon commenced the giving of gifts.

Avianna thankfully received her dress and birdseed and waited near the door for Prince Lennon’s arrival.

Knock, knock, knock.

King Caledon stood, face unflinching, and called, “Enter, guest.”

The opening door revealed Prince Lennon, right on time, and just as handsome as before.

He entered, and an entourage of servants followed behind.

He bowed for a minute and stood straight. “Dear King Caledon, I apologize for my tardiness. I wish you a Merry Christmas. I’ve brought many gifts for you and your guests, but before the Giving of Gifts ends for this year, I have a public gift to offer.”

The king nodded. “This is the time to offer public gifts. You may do so.”

“Princess Avianna. This gift is for you, to be opened in the presence of the entire kingdom.”

She stepped forward.

“On this fourth day of Christmas…”

He winked. The room buzzed again. Magic, again.

“…I give to thee, four calling birds, three french hens, two turtledoves, and a partridge in a pear tree.”

The servants entered with the potted tree, the doves, the hens, and four new servants entered who hadn’t been there the day before. They each had a beautiful blackbird perched on their forearm. The blackbirds stared at Avianna, and they crowed in unison: “Roooook!”

Prince Lennon continued. “Let these calling birds remind you, my love, that you can always call on me. I will always be there for you, day and night.”

He smiled at her, and then he faced the king with a serious look.

The unspoken question hung in the air for what felt like forever.

“Prince Lennon, I thank thee. But my answer this Christmas remains the same as the last. Your gift is not enough for the hand of my daughter. You are denied.”

The crowd clamored in a predictable fashion, but this time Avianna did not. Without turning to see her father and grandmother, she ran to her true love. She locked arms with him as he exited the hall into the courtyard.

He looked down at her, smile warm. “My true love.”

They embraced for a time. “Come with me,” she finally said, her breath misting into the night.

“I can’t linger, my dear. I must go back to my ship. It’s c——”

“Custom,” she interrupted. “I know, I know, but we can’t go back to your ship yet. This way, my love.”

Avianna pulled Lennon towards the basilica, a shadowy silhouette flanked by stars.

“Wh-where are we going?” asked the prince, barely keeping his footing.

“Trust me. We’ll be there soon.”

He slowed and yawned. “My love, where are we going?”

“DON’T yawn! Don’t stop, my prince. Trust me!”

As they approached, Father Gryffan opened the door for them. Avianna pulled Lennon, and he slipped on the stairs leading to the entrance.

He yawned again.

“NO! Get up, my dear. No time to sleep.”

He crawled over the door’s threshold, but then he curled up, eyes closed. “What are we doing here? I need—to—get to—my ship!”

Avianna yanked his arms with all her might, pulling him mostly to his feet. He stood the rest of the way, but he wobbled and yawned.

“Sorry, Avi, I don’t know what’s happened to me. I think I need to—”

“No, my prince, you can’t sleep. We have a curse to break.”

“A curse? What—are—you—talking about?”

“Curse, enchantment, spell, or some other kind of magic! Whatever’s hurting your memory, we need to break it.”

“I—I can’t seem to stay awake.”

“This way, to the front. The father has a special Holy Communion for us.”

Prince Lennon looked at the priest. “I’m sorry, Father. I, I–”

Before Avianna could do anything else, Prince Lennon collapsed, fully asleep.

Father Gryffan muttered, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

“No!” she screamed, just as Prince Lennon’s servants entered the sanctuary.

“What are you doing?” Avianna demanded.

The tallest servant said, “We’re instructed to stay close, especially as the night grows late. Come on, men!”

Six of them picked him up and delivered him to his ship.

Before she left the basilica, Father Gryffan tried to encourage Avaianna. “We will try again tomorrow, Princess. I know you will discover the mystery of this magic that ails him.”

She bid the priest farewell, and when she stepped into the cold of the night, she screamed.

Fuming and exhausted, Princess Avianna returned to her chambers to formulate a new plan.

Within the hour, she was asleep.

Day Five

A high, cheery voice broke Princess Avianna’s slumber.

“Merry Christmas!”

Curled into her sheets and blankets, she twisted away from the sound.

Just a few more minutes…

“Come on, Princess. It’s Christmas. Time to rise.”

Princess Avianna groaned. “I’m sick, Mora. Please leave me.”

Avianna hated to lie, but she knew she couldn’t do this Christmas ride again. At least not with Grandma’s morning lecture.

“Please wake, Princess. You don’t want to be late for the Lady’s Ride. I’ll fetch some tea.”

Mora left, and by the time she returned, Avianna had her new plan.

She coughed, and Mora stifled a laugh. Not convincing, then.

“I’m sorry, Mora, I really don’t feel up for a ride. My sleep was fitful. I feel like I’ve had the Lady’s ride four days in a row already.” Her muscles were sore from her frequent rides. She wondered if her energy was supposed to reset with the day, or if it was all in her head.

No, not in my head. Don’t break, Avianna.

Mora held an unconcerned air while doing her cursory health check on the princess, feeling her forehead and whatnot.

“You show no signs of sickness, Princess. If you don’t go on the ride, Queen Mother will be greatly displeased.”

“I really can’t ride today, Mora. I’ll give Grandmum my regrets later.”

After more discussion, finally Mora left Avianna to rest in peace.

Which meant Avianna could sneak away.

Avianna dressed herself in a simple red dress with a warm cloak. She slipped a coin purse into the cloak’s deep inner pocket.

She listened at her door for footsteps. The fastest way to the courtyard was to the left, straight down the hall, through a door, and down two flights of stairs.

Can I get past Mora and all the servants without being seen?

Though she wasn’t a prisoner, she knew she didn’t want her father to know that she was dodging the servants and sneaking around.

Hearing nothing beyond the door, Princess Avianna took a deep breath and burst into the hall. She sprinted all the way to the cold courtyard. She didn’t look back at her chamber windows, scared she could still be discovered by the servants.

Just keep walking, just keep walking…

A snowball pelted her face. The princess yelped.

She turned to see a couple of kids playing in the snow. They were frozen and pale, but based on the snowballs in each of their hands, she knew one of them had accidentally hit her.

Avianna smiled. Don’t make a scene. “You kids should really make a snowman. Hit the wrong person, they might get you back when you least expect it.” She winked and kept walking, hoping the threat worked.

Walking through the snow, Avianna steered clear of the stables and wound her way towards the market near the entrance of the castle complex. She hoped she could avoid the ladies returning from the ride, but she knew she had at least an hour before that became a danger.

The market square was large but dwarfed by the castle walls. Avianna walked through a maze of merchant stalls, carts, and wagons, but most of the merchants had their wares locked away for Christmas.

Avianna knew what she was looking for, but she didn’t know where to find it. She didn’t need last-minute holiday supplies or trinkets; she needed help.

She weaved among the merchants for a third of an hour, but finally she found what she’d been hoping to see: an unpatronized merchant with few wares and a high possibility of closing early.

“Excuse me, sir. What is your name?”

He blinked out of his reverie, stood, and straightened his brown cloak. “My apologies, miss. I expected most ladies to be out riding. Sumol’s m’name.”

“Why are you out here, Sumol?”

“It’s why anyone’s out here, me thinks. I need money for m’ family.”

“On Christmas?”

“We work on Christmas and celebrate on Saint Stephen’s Day.”

“You are a good man, Sir Sumol. A hard worker, caring for your family.”

“Miss, you are too kind. I just do what I can to get by.”

Avianna pulled out the pouch of coins. As she did, some of her red dress shone in the morning light. His eyes went wide. He dropped to his knees and put his face in the snow.

His muffled voice said, “Your Highness, I didn’t recognize ye.”

“Rise, sir.”

He uneasily stood again, trembling.

Princess Avianna held the coins aloft. “If you help me, sir, I can make today your best Christmas yet. Perhaps tomorrow will be the best Saint Stephen’s Day.”

“What d’you need, Princess? Anything y’like.”

She led him to the docks and explained on the way.

If he did his job right, Sumol would find Avianna once Prince Lennon’s ship arrived. She would go to him before the Giving of Gifts, and maybe, just maybe, they could break the magic on his mind.

By the time she’d finished explaining everything to Sumol, the sun had climbed higher. Avianna could see the ladies’ horses returning through the castle gate and trotting to the stables.

I need to get ready for Christ Mass!

She walked towards her quarters as fast as she dared so as not to make a scene. Even so, as she drew near, she could see Mora standing with her hands on her hips, along with five other servants and three soldiers.

Soldiers?

“Princess!” called Mora. “The Queen Mother is worried sick. You wouldn’t believe how concerned she got when she returned from her ride, went to check on her poor, sick granddaughter, only to find her quarters empty.”

Mora grabbed Avianna by the arm and pulled her inside, all the way to her rooms.

“The Queen Mother has given strict orders. You are to rest this Christmas. She’ll come to check on you during the feast to see if you’ll be well enough to attend the Giving of Gifts.”

Mora all but threw Avianna onto her bed.

“Mora, be gentle. You forget yourself.”

“You forget yourself, Princess. The Queen Mother did not hold back on my maids and me, so neither will I on you.”

“I’m sorry for sneaking out, Mora. Would you please help me get ready for Christ Mass?”

She shook her head. “It ’s too late for that now, Princess. You are sick, so you need to rest.”

“I don’t have time to rest! I need to talk to Father Gryffan.”

“I’m sorry, Princess. It’s the Queen Mother’s orders. If you obey, I’m sure you’ll get to enjoy some of your Christmas.”

Mora slammed the door and ordered the soldiers to keep watch at the door and at both ends of the hallway.

Left alone, Avianna had a sad realization: she had no choice but to sneak out, again.

After all, her plan with Sumol depended on her going about her day. If she stayed quarantined in her room, there’s no way he’d be able to find her in time to help Prince Lennon. There’s also no way Father Gryffan would help her if she didn’t talk to him again. More than likely, he’d awakened this morning with no memory of the day before.

I have no choice… I need to get out of here, Lord forgive me.

Avianna assessed her options.

She considered starting a fire, but she figured it would be too dangerous. Though the stone castle wouldn’t ignite, they had enough furniture and tapestries where she knew it would be a bad idea.

She considered calling for help and asking the soldiers to search her rooms for an intruder. She also knew they were far too bright to fall for such a ruse, and even if they did, they wouldn’t just let her walk away.

She even considered tying her clothes into a rope and jumping out the window, but most of her windows were in full view where all passersby on a Christmas walk would certainly notice her.

How do I get out of here?

Princess Avianna’s chambers included her bedroom, a washroom, a clothes room, a personal dining room, and a small balcony (too tall to safely jump from) that extended a few meters over the snowy courtyard. She examined each of the conjoined spaces, and she prayed for some kind of inspiration.

“Maybe the passersby would help me, not turn me in…but I can’t be suspicious.”

She dressed in her most comfortable, least expensive outfit. Mora would be appalled that she’d even consider leaving her chambers with this outfit. Avianna looked in the mirror. Simple black shirt, trousers, and a long, heavy black cloak.

“Good.”

She walked to her balcony and stood near the stone railing along the edge. There—just a few dozen meters away, the kids she had seen earlier had made their snowmen. Each snowman had some kind of hat or scarf, and their stick-arms were spread wide, taking in the joy of Christmas. The boys were nearby, rolling in the snow and laughing.

Avianna gathered a snowball from the stone railing, took aim, whispered a prayer, and threw.

Her shot landed, exploded over one boy’s chest. It couldn’t’ve hurt, but he bellowed in surprise.

“Hey, kids!” she yelled.

The boys saw her and closed the distance, each one packing a new snowball.

Right before they could throw she called, “Truce!” and held up a pure white pair of panties, the first white piece of clothing she could find.

That also got their attention. They dropped their snowballs, pointed, and laughed.

Avianna could feel her cheeks darken. “Truce! I need your help, and if you agree, I’ll throw down all my Christmas candy.”

“And what if we don’t want to help?” one of the kids asked, looking up at her, licking his lips.

“You’ll miss out on whatever confections the castle kitchen has prepared. I know I saw some caramel in here. And peppermints. And fudge.”

Both boys were rubbing their tummies. Now for the clincher.

“Besides,” Avianna continued, “if you don’t help, I’ll make sure your parents know you threw snowballs at the princess…”

They gasped.

“…AND that you looked at her underwear!”

“No, no, please, Princess, we’ll help!”

She checked that they weren’t being overheard, explained their part in the scheme, and set the plan in motion.

Princess Avianna knocked on the door and opened it to see the first soldier standing guard.

“Help me, soldier!”

“Er, um, I can call a servant.”

“No, no,” she said. “I need your help. I’m feeling a little better, but I can tell my body needs sunlight. Can’t you escort me outside?”

He scowled. “Your Highness, you have a balcony.”

“It’s much too confining. And the castle casts a shadow over the whole thing. Can’t I just stand in the sun for a quarter of an hour? You and the other men can keep me safe, and I’ll lean on you for support until I’m better.”

It didn’t take much more convincing after that.

In a few minutes, she stood a few meters away from her quarters, leaning on a soldier in the sun, and flanked by two more. The quaint, peaceful scene was destroyed by a barrage of snowballs. The two boys and all their friends ambushed the soldiers from behind.

All three soldiers faced the kids and gave chase, which gave Avianna her perfect opening. She sprinted to the snowmen and grabbed a hat and a scarf. She completely covered her hair, and she shuffled along the courtyard’s walkway and blended in with others walking in the direction of the basilica.

She pressed forward, no turning back, and she didn’t stop until she’d climbed the basilica’s rounded steps.

She entered the foyer and found the sanctuary doors propped open. The congregation sang a hymn while she filed in the back and found an empty pew.

In all that, she’d only missed about a third of the service, which she was starting to memorize from these repeating days.

This time, none of it felt tedious. Experiencing the mass from the back, with the commoners, far away from her father and grandmum up front, gave her a new appreciation.

Also, Father Gryffan’s conversation with her yesterday colored the entire service with a new sheen of previously-unrecognized magic.

Everything they did bore witness to faith, hope, and love. Everything they did hummed with an energy Avianna hadn’t felt before. Maybe she’d felt it but never paid any attention?

Again, the world rippled when she received Holy Communion.

And again, she waited until everyone else had left to speak to Father Gryffan.

“My child, I did not recognize you. What happened to you? I heard you’d fallen ill.”

She explained her day to him as well as she could, and she told him all about their conversation yesterday, which he indeed remembered nothing about.

After a long talk, they were interrupted by running footsteps bursting into the basilica.

“Princess,” a low voice called. “Princess, are you here?”

Sumol! She called, “In the sanctuary, sir!”

He entered, saw Father Gryffan, and diverted his eyes to the floor. “Excuse the interruption, Father. I have urgent business with the princess.”

“You may proceed,” Father Gryffan responded.

“Princess, your true love’s ship is docked. I went to great pains to confirm it.”

“Father,” Avianna said, “this is the part where we need your help.”

In a matter of minutes, Princess Avianna and Father Gryffan set out for the docks with a covered basket in the priest’s hand. Avianna sent Sumol ahead to them to help scout for any soldiers. She did not want the Queen Mother ruining her plans.

They made it all the way to the harbormaster’s gate. He let them in when he saw Father Gryffan, and Avianna followed close behind, lest she be recognized in spite of her commoner’s clothing.

They walked along the docks and approached the ornate, brown ship. Father Gryffan called to the deck.

“Prince Lennon, we know who you are. You will welcome us aboard as your guests.”

Lennon appeared on deck, and he stopped cold, his warm eyes meeting Avianna’s.

After several seconds, the prince said, “My love. I wasn’t expecting you. I only just arrived. I see you brought the Father. Are we eloping?”

She laughed. “No, my prince, but this is serious. I know it’s not custom, but please let us aboard.”

They boarded, Lennon led them to a table, and Avianna explained what she knew.

“This is your fifth day of Christmas?”

“Yes, and you’re going to wink at me, and give me five birds of some kind.”

“Ha! Not all birds.”

“So far, it’s been all birds. Each day, the gift gets bigger, but everything else repeats. The same Christmas each day.”

“This is strange. I do believe there’s something unnatural. Those gaps in my memory…I wouldn’t have even realized had you not said anything.”

“So, we’re going to fix that.”

Lennon looked at Father Gryffan. “I gather that’s why you’re here, Father?”

“Indeed. If any nefarious magic is afoot, it can be grounded and counteracted through the sacraments.”

He uncovered the bag to reveal bread, glasses, and a wineskin.

“Holy Communion bears witness to the greatest event in human history. Participating on Christmas gives it an extra potency.”

Father Gryffan led Prince Lennon and Princess Avianna through the ceremony, just as he’d done earlier at mass. When they ate the bread, another ripple jolted the air in all directions. When they drank the wine, the sky rippled again, the entire boat shook, and Lennon screamed and held his ears.

Avianna grabbed hold of his arms. “Lennon! Are you okay?”

Father Gryffan leaned over and touched his shoulder, and Lennon’s eyes shot open. He calmly let go of his head, but he started to shake.

Avianna said, “My love, talk to me. Did it work?”

Tears streamed from his eyes, and he continued to shake. “I—I, I remember. I’m so sorry, my love. The magic, the Christmas repeating every day—it’s all my fault. All of it.”

“What do you mean, my prince? Please, can you tell me?”

“I—”

A trumpet sounded three short notes and one long.

A voice from the docks below: “Hear ye! Hear ye! By orders of the king: Surrender the princess, or forfeit your lives!”

Avianna ran to the edge of the boat and looked to see a whole company of fifty soldiers crowded on the docks. She gasped. “Wait, I haven’t been kidnapped! He’s innocent!”

“Princess,” the captain called, “you are hereby ordered to your rooms for bedrest. You will have a guard with you at all times.”

“Go,” Lennon whispered. “You risked a lot coming here, but we shouldn’t press our luck.”

She turned to him. “I can’t leave now. We need to work together to break this magic.”

“We’ll talk later. After your father accepts my proposal.” He winked.

Princess Avianna embraced Prince Lennon, and Father Gryffan helped her disembark.

She followed the guards and obeyed every order, not even thinking to step out of line again. They confined her to her rooms, and she wondered if this were the worst Christmas yet.

At least Lennon remembers.

She was given soup in her quarters, and the guards didn’t take her to the King’s Hall until the evening. Princess Avianna was brought up onto the dais to sit with King Caledon, and he didn’t acknowledge her. He commenced the giving of gifts. After several minutes, he finally looked at her and said, “You will receive your gift tomorrow, privately, when you’re feeling better.”

She stifled a cry and observed others giving and opening gifts.

Finally, Prince Lennon made his appearance.

He entered, and an entourage of servants followed behind.

He bowed for a minute and stood straight. “Dear King Caledon, I apologize for my tardiness. I wish you a Merry Christmas. I’ve brought many gifts for you and your guests, but before the Giving of Gifts ends for this year, I have a public gift to offer.”

The king nodded. “This is the time to offer public gifts. You may do so.”

“Princess Avianna. This gift is for you, to be opened in the presence of the entire kingdom.”

She stood beside her father, and the soldier guarding stepped closer.

“On this fifth day of Christmas…”

He winked. The room still buzzed with magic.

“…I give to thee,” he paused, then sang, “five golden rings!” He then continued in his regular speaking voice, “four calling birds, three french hens, two turtledoves, and a partridge in a pear tree.”

The servants entered with the potted tree, the doves, the hens, and the blackbirds, but a new servant also entered with a shiny, flannel pillow. On the pillow were fine rings of pure gold.

Avianna didn’t understand how, but the rings seemed to stare at her.

Prince Lennon continued. “These rings represent forever, like the circle’s endless turning. One for each finger because I want your hand. Every finger is special, golden to me, and I will hold them all my days.”

He smiled at her, and then he faced the king with a serious look.

The unspoken question hung in the air for what felt like forever.

“Prince Lennon, I thank thee. But my answer this Christmas remains the same as the last. Your gift is not enough for the hand of my daughter. You are denied.”

Avianna stepped forward, but the king grabbed her hand.

“Stay.”

She saw a fire in his eyes. “Father, please let me go to him.”

“You are sick, my dear, and must remain under observation. The soldiers will lead you to your room now.”

“But Father!”

“Merry Christmas.”

He let go of her hand, and the soldier pointed her to the end of the hall, through the merriment and away from her love.

“No!” she yelled, but she had no choice but to follow, all the way back to her chambers.

Avianna went to sleep as quickly as possible, eager for the day to start anew.

Day Six

A high, cheery voice broke Princess Avianna’s slumber.

“Merry Christmas!”

Curled into her sheets and blankets, she twisted away from the sound.

Just a few more minutes…

“Come on, Princess. It’s Christmas. Time to rise.”

Avianna obeyed and prepared for the Lady’s Ride. After pushing so hard yesterday to do things differently, today she decided to go through the motions. Though she didn’t regret doing what was needed to help her true love, she sharply remembered the cost of those choices. She’d have much more freedom to solve the next part of this mystery if she did what’s expected and didn’t have to be retrieved by soldiers.

On the outside, she appeared unbothered, but to herself, Avianna worried about Prince Lennon. Does he still remember everything, or does the magic return in the morning? He says it’s his fault, but how could he be responsible for the continual Christmas reprise?

At the stables, Avianna mounted her horse and followed the ladies on their trail, just as before. She looked over the frozen lake, just as before, and she spoke with her grandmum, just as before.

She returned to her quarters, dressed for Christ Mass, and went to the basilica. Just before Father Gryffan stood to begin the ceremony, something different happened.

Prince Lennon entered and sat on a pew near the back.

For a moment, Avianna lost her breath. Without asking, she stood, left her chair at her father’s right hand, went to Lennon’s pew, and sat next to him.

Of course, it wasn’t illegal for royalty to sit with the commoners and nobles in the congregation. Even so, King Caledon and the Queen Mother took turns giving Avianna an icy stare with a reproving scowl.

Lennon whispered, “I remember.”

Before Avianna could say anything, Father Gryffan commenced the service.

Though she had a greater appreciation for the mass yesterday when sitting by herself in secret, today her appreciation was unmatched. For the first time in over a year, she got to sit with her true love!

Together, they sang, they knelt, they stood, and they received Holy Communion.

When Christ Mass finished, they lingered to speak with Father Gryffan.

The Father had no memory of yesterday or the day before, but he assured them that he believed their story and would continue to help when needed.

Princess Avianna said, “I was hoping you’d help us know what to do next. Can Prince Lennon share with you everything he remembers?”

“Indeed, he may,” Father Gryffan said.

Avianna looked to her true love. Finally, things will start making sense.

Prince Lennon spoke. “Last year, I left to seek my fortune. I was determined to return wealthy enough for King Caledon to accept me. A few months ago, I did just that. In a distant land, I found a treasure and worked closely with a wealthy noble. Altogether, I had more than enough to make a proper proposal.

“During my return journey, I came across a man. He calls himself The Bargainer. One night over drinks, I told him my story and my intentions. He convinced me that there’s no chance King Caledon will ever accept my proposal, no matter how much wealth I amass.

“He said as The Bargainer, he makes deals to help people achieve their goals and obtain their desires. His bargains are like business contracts, only with each agreement, he binds them with magic.”

Father Gryffan said, “You made a deal, didn’t you?”

Lennon nodded.

Father Gryffan said, “I’ve heard of this Bargainer before, methinks. Very crafty.”

“That’s him,” said Lennon. “The deal seemed very innocent and clear. Barely any magic involved. Only now do I realize how wrong I was.”

Avianna asked, “What do you mean?”

“For starters, this Christmas every day fiasco is my fault. It’s a direct result of my agreement with The Bargainer. In the agreement, he gives me twelve chances to change King Caledon’s mind and to accept our engagement. In return, all my remaining wealth is on the line, including my princely title. If the king accepts the proposal within the twelve days, Christmas will stop repeating. If he does not, the Bargainer can keep repeating Christmas for as long as he desires, but I will be disallowed from ever proposing again.”

Father Gryffan said, “Son, that is a terrible risk. You endangered the whole kingdom.”

“I mean, sure, he can repeat the day, but there’s no discernible reason I could see why that would be an advantage to him. His biggest advantage in the whole bargain was the wealth I gave him up front. I figured if I fail, he would eventually get bored, move on, and I would find another way to marry Avianna.”

“You made an agreement, Prince. It’s a bargain sealed with magic. If the king doesn’t accept your proposal, all the latent magic in nature will keep you from marrying her in the future.”

“Oh.”

Father Gryffan continued, “And it was foolish to enter into any agreement with Christmas restarting every day. You think he’ll get bored? Christmas is the most powerful, magical day of the year. Every time Christmas repeats, it’s more magic he can harness for himself. He has every motivation to not help you get what you want.”

Prince Lennon blushed. “I…didn’t think it worked like that.”

“Wait,” Avianna said, “how is it that I remember the days?”

Lennon said, “I built it into the agreement. I couldn’t deceive you. I needed you to see what was happening. But I suppose I should’ve included my own memory in the contract. I thought that was implied.”

“Assume no implication when dealing with a Bargainer!” Father Gryffan said.

Avianna said, “So, what you’re saying is, we have until the twelfth day of Christmas for my father to accept your proposal. If he doesn’t, the Bargainer can keep repeating Christmas, and he’ll get an endless supply of magic?”

“Yes,” said Prince Lennon.

“Then I guess we need to do everything we can to convince my father to accept you.”

From there, Prince Lennon stayed with Princess Avianna throughout the remaining activities of the day.

Together they greeted the arriving guests, and together they attended the feast and lamented the failure of the Boar Hunt. They even sat with Lennon’s parents. As music began, they danced with full stomachs and light hearts.

All the while, King Caledon and the Queen Mother glared at them whenever they could see them.

“Let them see our love,” Lennon said early in the night. “Let them see how good we are together, and how good we are for each other.”

Avianna never remembered a Christmas so joyful, so filled with laughter.

Right before the King commenced the Giving of Gifts, Prince Lennon left to meet his servants and prepare his next proposal. Avianna waited near the door, excited to see what he’d bring her next.

She opened the same gift from her father, and for the first time in a long time, he looked at his daughter warmly and fondly. His ice returned immediately when the knocking echoed through the King’s Hall, once again bringing the party to a standstill.

King Caledon stood, face unflinching, and called, “Enter, guest.”

The door creaked open, and there in the cold stood Prince Lennon.

He entered, and an entourage of servants followed behind.

He bowed for a minute and stood straight. “Dear King Caledon, I wish you a Merry Christmas. I’ve brought many gifts for you and your guests, but before the Giving of Gifts ends for this year, I have a public gift to offer.”

The king nodded. “This is the time to offer public gifts. You may do so.”

“Princess Avianna. This gift is for you, to be opened in the presence of the entire kingdom.”

She stepped forward.

“On this sixth day of Christmas…”

He winked, magic emanating from his eyes.

“…I give to thee, six geese-a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three french hens, two turtledoves, and a partridge in a pear tree.”

The servants entered with the potted tree, the doves, the hens, the blackbirds, and the pillow with the five rings, but a new group of servants also entered, each holding a leash tied to a goose’s neck.

Each goose stared at Avianna, each one honking in turn.

“My princess, my true love,” Prince Lennon said, “the geese you see lay a new egg each day. They will bring prosperity to our home, and they represent the profitability to all the business we will do together with our estate as a couple. Our estate will see economic stability, and so will you as my wife.”

He smiled at her, and then he faced the king with a serious look.

The unspoken question hung in the air for what felt like forever.

“Prince Lennon, I thank thee. But my answer this Christmas remains the same as the last. Your gift is not enough for the hand of my daughter. You are denied.”

Avianna ran to her prince. “Don’t leave. Let them see how good we are together. There’s nothing he can do to keep us apart.”

The minstrels’ music continued playing, and Prince Lennon took Avianna’s hand. “Let’s dance.”

If yesterday was a defeat, today was a protest. Ignoring all others, they sang, they danced, they played games with other nobles, and they made merry late into the night.

For the first time since Avianna’s Christmas started repeating, she was still awake when the clock struck midnight. When the first bell tolled, they were in the middle of a dance. As the twelfth bell tolled, she pulled Prince Lennon into an embrace and kissed his lips. “See you tomorrow, my true love.”

As the bell echoed into the night, a swirling magic surrounded them, and in the blink of an eye, she was in bed.

Christmas began again, for the seventh time.