AUTHOR's NOTE: Special thanks to my friend Chi who came up with the theme and inspiration for this chapter. Enjoy!
Riftan and Maxi sat together by the warm dwindling fire in their chambers.
Maxi worked on a small craft for the baby's room and Riftan inspected his armor but was often distracted by the cats who sought his attention.
It was a peaceful but chilly day and Maxi had asked that he stay inside and rest. Riftan of course couldn't refuse her and had enjoyed a relaxing afternoon spending time with his wife, happily tending to her every need as she was heavy with child, due to arrive any day now.
A small knock at the door broke the tranquil silence that had fallen over the room.
Maxi smiled warmly knowing that the soft knocks could only be from two people, her son or her daughter.
"Come in," Maxi calls sweetly.
The door opens slowly and their gazes drop to see a tiny figure step into the room.
"Hello Victoria," her mother said. "What have you been up to?"
"Andrew and I have been playing games in the garden." the little girl said cheerily. "He's still outside but I needed to come inside for a moment."
The girl stood a few paces away from her parents holding her hands behind her back, clearly hiding something.
Maxi glanced over to Riftan who was gazing fondly at their daughter with pride. Proud of her curious and adventurous mind. Let her be curious and carefree for as long as she can. He had been forced to grow up quickly working in the smith shop and he wanted his children to cherish their childhoods, one he had never had.
"Did you find anything interesting in the garden?" Riftan asked, watching the child shift from foot to foot with excitement.
"I did!" Victoria squealed gleefully.
She raced forward towards her mother and held out her little hand proudly. Maxi held out her hands to receive the small gift that her daughter had brought.
Several small hard pebbles in a variety of hues of red and brown and gray fell into Maxi's hands as her daughter let go of the items she had found.
"They're beautiful," Maxi said as she smiled warmly at her daughter. "I'll add it to my collection."
Victoria squealed with glee. She was proud beyond words that her mother cherished each of the treasures she had brought to her.
Riftan sat quietly, as he watched the precious moment unfold before him. He couldn't help the quiet smile that slowly formed on his lips.
Victoria had brought Maxi lots of treasures as of late. Last week she brought her mother a tiny handful of flowers, and the week before she brought her acorns from the oak tree.
She's just like you Maxi.
Riftan leaned back in his chair as he thought back to when Maxi was a young girl, lonely but content collecting different colored pebbles and stones as she wandered around the gardens of the Duke's estate. He frowned as he relented how quickly that happy little girl became withdrawn due to her father's cruelty that the rest of the world was left unaware of for many years.
He was drawn out of his thoughts as he teetered on the edge of darker memories, by another happy yelp from his beloved child.
Victoria quieted down when she felt her father's eyes watching her intently. She turned and gave him a bright smile that could rival the very sun and stars.
Riftan smiled back at her before clearing his throat.
"And where's my gift, sunflower?" Riftan asked teasingly.
Victoria immediately bowed her head as she knew she was a deep shade of red. She adored when her father called her his sunflower. She had only recently gathered the courage to ask him why he called her that. He said it was because she was like the sun, bright and happy but also sweet like a flower, therefore he chose to call her his sunflower.
"I um I just, I mean I was..." the young girl said bashfully, still staring down at the floor. She fell silent for a while, staring down at her boots deep in thought.
Suddenly her dark eyes flew up to meet his own. His daughter's eyes sparkled with glee. Riftan simply tilted his head, curious as to what was racing through her mind.
Victoria stepped forward timidly, taking small quiet steps before finally standing beside his chair. She reached up, grabbing a fistful of his shirt and pulled slightly, silently telling him to lean down. He did as she asked and leaned down so that their faces were level. She stepped closer and Riftan expected her to whisper her idea in his ear.
"Close your eyes," Victoria said innocently.
A bit on an odd request but he nonetheless complied with her demand and shut his eyes. A moment later his eyes flew open, wide with surprise as his daughter had not in fact told him a secret. She had instead planted a tiny kiss on his cheek. Riftan brought his hand to his cheek where she had just kissed him. He looked down at his little girl. He was still a bit in shock, eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. She had nothing to give him and yet she had found a way to give him the most precious gift. He smiled at her as he closed his eyes once more and pressed his hand more firmly against his cheek as though he were trying to push the gift she had given him further into himself so he could keep it safe.
Victoria let out yet another happy squeal as she leaned forward to hug her father's legs which was all she could reach as he was sitting down. Riftan hugged her back tenderly.
"Thank you Victoria," Riftan whispered, "I will treasure it always."
The pair hugged a moment longer before Victoria became restless with the relentless energy of a child and began to squirm in his arms. Riftan ruffled her curly locks before telling her to continue exploring with her brother. Victoria quickly rushed out the door to continue exploring.
Riftan and Maxi continued to stare at the warm fire and a comfortable silence fell over the room once more.
"Not that there's any competition," Maxi said cheekily, "but I do believe you got the better gift."
Riftan simply chuckled to himself at her teasing but otherwise kept quiet. He thought about how similar his wife and daughter were. They were kind, selfless, beautiful, brave and could, at times, be more stubborn than mules. And they were his, his family, and he loved them more than anything in this world.
——
About a week had passed since Victoria had given him his surprise gift. She was running late to lunch but with good reason. She had finally found the perfect gift for her father.
She burst into the dining hall which was surprisingly quiet. The Remdragon knights had been dismissed and were already practicing in the training grounds. Her mother and father sat together and her brother was nowhere in sight, likely working on his sparring in the grounds with Uncle Heb and the other knights.
Victoria raced over to her parent's end of the table and stood next to her father.
"Hold out your hand!" Victoria shouted, barely containing her excitement.
Riftan did as she asked and held out his hand for her.
He felt something hard, smooth and cold land in his palm. When Victoria pulled her hand away she revealed a smooth white stone, slightly dirty having been recently pulled from the ground. Looking at the stone in her husband's hand, it reminded Maxi of the white mana stone Ruth had given her when she started learning magic many years ago.
Victoria nervously played with her hair while looking up at her father with anticipation.
"Do you like it, Father?" Victoria asked, worry creeping into her voice as Riftan had remained silent. "I know Mother and Andrew and I have mana stones to help us channel our magic and I know you don't use magic, at least, not in the way we do but...but I didn't want you to feel left out so I looked all morning to find you the perfect stone, your own honorary mana stone."
"I...I um," Riftan was truly at a loss for words as his eyes shined with unshed tears of gratitude. His daughter had done her very best to ensure that he felt included. The young boy inside him who had been alone for many years rejoiced at this simple but thoughtful gift.
"I love it, Victoria," Riftan said fondly. "I will always keep it with me wherever I go, to remind me that even if we may be far apart physically sometimes, I will hold you and your brother and you mother close to my heart and this stone will remind me that I am never alone."
"Yayyy!" Victoria shouted happily, jumping up and down with excitement and pride before she leapt forward into her father's embrace.
"You'll never be alone again." she muttered into his shirt as she hugged him, "We will always be with you Father."
Riftan and Victoria continued to embrace as the light snowfall began to drift down on the winter air outside. Maxi smiled at them as she began to quietly hum a sweet lullaby, gently caressing her large bump and pondered what other happy and exciting surprises the holidays might bring...