Hikenai
"Come, my lovies! Let's go show Papa your new Christomas suits!" Sara Cat and Matthew would both be one year olds come Twelfth Night, and Hikenai was filled with awe each time she held her babes. They were so healthy and happy! They brought such joy to the family and each day with the two rambuctious twins was a day for laughter and fun. Hikenai was enormously proud of Matthew, for although he was only one, he was a big strong lad who looked to be older than twelve months. Matty had walked early, and was already babbling in babyish fashion calling his papa 'Da' and Felix, the tavern cat, 'Fee'. He had yet to say Mama but Hikenai knew it was only a matter of time before he began to speak in full sentences, for all he was only a year old. She suspected he inherited his vocal proclivity from Kelster, with a smattering of her brother Chrisiusmaximus thrown in!
The twins were dressed in outfits of red, and Neonea had a new crimson dress, as well.........
Lady Penningdam had washed the little girl's hair and brushed it, as they sat before the hearth, and the long finger curls were completely straightened out, fanning Neonea's shoulders delicately.
"Darling, you are very lovely!" Hikenai murmured to the child, kissing her little forehead and hugging her gently. "Neo, we must begin our invitations to the Wallace house party and ball we shall have during Christomas season! And then.....the grand finale will be the birthday of the twins, the day after Twelfth Night." For a moment, a dark look passed across Hikenai's face. They were not sure of Neo's birthday, had never learned of it, and had not, during the entire year she had spent with them, celebrated the child's birth! Well, we shall have to fix that, Hikenai thought adamantly. But she turned her mind back to the matters at hand. "Let's go find Papa, children, and show him your Christomas finery, and then we will begin making our invitations!"
Hikenai and the children hurried into the foyer, and proceeded up the stairwell to find Kelster. She was happy that the castle was so beautifully decorated for the season.
_________________
Wife to Kelster Wallace; Baroness of Hawkshead, Viscountess of Whitehaven; Goodbye my King!
The twins were dressed in outfits of red, and Neonea had a new crimson dress, as well.........
Lady Penningdam had washed the little girl's hair and brushed it, as they sat before the hearth, and the long finger curls were completely straightened out, fanning Neonea's shoulders delicately.
"Darling, you are very lovely!" Hikenai murmured to the child, kissing her little forehead and hugging her gently. "Neo, we must begin our invitations to the Wallace house party and ball we shall have during Christomas season! And then.....the grand finale will be the birthday of the twins, the day after Twelfth Night." For a moment, a dark look passed across Hikenai's face. They were not sure of Neo's birthday, had never learned of it, and had not, during the entire year she had spent with them, celebrated the child's birth! Well, we shall have to fix that, Hikenai thought adamantly. But she turned her mind back to the matters at hand. "Let's go find Papa, children, and show him your Christomas finery, and then we will begin making our invitations!"
Hikenai and the children hurried into the foyer, and proceeded up the stairwell to find Kelster. She was happy that the castle was so beautifully decorated for the season.
_________________
Wife to Kelster Wallace; Baroness of Hawkshead, Viscountess of Whitehaven; Goodbye my King!
) and we waited for entrance. Donal, wanting to be just like his dad, tried to pound on the door as well, only eliciting a small knock.
This be Neonea Wallace, my cousin! She is Uncle Kel and Aunty Hik's new daughter! They asked her if 
James loved squirrels! A band of squirrels for Uncle Kel's tavern! 
)
Smiling that at last she could do more than sit sedately in the sleigh and watch, Hikenai emerged from the warm covers long enough to place the holly and mistletoe Kelster had found in a bag. The snow was deep in drifts around her feet and she was glad Neo had stayed in the sleigh. She watched as Kelster selected an enormous tree for the castle, and was happy to see Henry rush over to help Kel handle it. The great tree fell quickly, and while sad to see it come down, Hikenai knew it's beauty would soon fill the hall in Wallace castle. 
This was Hikenai's favorite time of the day, when she and Kel would rinse the scent of ale and whisky from their hands, would hurry to the stables where the young boys would have the horses saddled and ready, and they would mount them quickly, sometimes only breaking their clasped hands long enough to get settled in their saddle. Then Hik and Kel would ride back to Wallace Castle, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, but always with one aim in mind.
Then they would file from the church, and down the steps to the gazebo in the church yard, where Kelster would stand waiting for Hikenai to take her place next to him. This was Hikenai's wedding day and she could remember no other day in her life, in which she had felt so beautiful, so loved, and so full of hope for the future. When she and Kel returned to Wallace Castle later that night, it would be as husband and wife!
Seeing one missive having arrived from the south, Hikenai broke open the seal and began to read news of another couple, newly married, enjoying their...............and Hikenai's face fell. She sat blankly for a moment and then picked up Kel's quill and ink pot. There was already clean parchment before her, so Hikenai began, hand writing invitations to close friends and kin. A tear slid down her cheek and splashed on her collar bone, as she whispered a prayer for two she knew would not be in attendance at her wedding, the groom having entered death's corridor, leaving his bride alone and grieving. As Hikenai shook her head at the unfathomable loss, she knew she would not forget this man..............
