Hikenai
Inna said,
Quote:
I also love the sound of the children's laughter. It has been a while since I've spent the holidays with a family.
Listening to Inna express her happiness at being with the family for the holidays gave Hikenai a warm feeling for the young woman. She could see that love of family, and an appreciation for the home, and for children were important to Inna, and Hikenai smiled at Oblio, and knew he was a fortunate man to have found such a gem as was Innacognito!
"Now, don't fill up on those pies for the dining room is already set for our feast!"
She teasingly chided Oblio as he looked plaintively at Inna and made his way back to the kitchen. Hik knew Alice May would shoo him away before he could ruin his appetite should he 'taste test' the dishes she was preparing for their holiday feast.
"Inna, I am not sure where Kel has gotten off to! I hope Oblio finds him and brings him on to the dining room. Alice May will have the servants bringing up the trays from the kitchen soon." Hikenai laughed and bounced on the balls of her feet. "Ah, here come our musicians now! I have arranged music for our evening, too.....though no music they provide will be as touching as the song Neo sung earlier." The last of the comment Hikenai tactfully whispered so as not to give the musicians a reason to feel badly----but it was true----none of their songs would equal Neonea's sweet melody!
http://youtu.be/nYmrUmRsATI
O Come Emmanuel
Celtic Christmas Carol
Sarah Warkick, vocalist
_________________
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..............
