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“The new year will be upon us soon, I think.”
The Lady’s voice brought you out of the world of the novel you had plunged yourself into. After her daughters had settled into bed for the night, the two of you had retired to the library where, such as was your tradition every night, you stoked the fire while Alcina piled the couch opposite with pillows and fluffy blankets. There, with the fire roaring and the snow falling gently against the library windows, you would spend hours upon hours reading, until you fell asleep with your head on her shoulder and woke up curled up beside her in her bed.
At this moment, though, she had lifted her gaze from the pages of her novel – an ancient tome written solely in Romanian – and was gazing pensively out of the nearest window.
“My love? Are you okay?”
“Hmm? Oh, I’m fine,” She responded, waving her hand dismissively. “It’s just… An emotional time of year for me.”
You placed your book down to your side, folding your hands in your lap. You looked up at her and ventured, “Would you like to talk about it…?”
Alcina started to shake her head, then paused, thinking. “That would be… Nice,” She admitted. She placed her book to the side and held her arm out to you, inviting you to nuzzle up against her side. She pulled one of the fluffy blankets over you and tucked it in, idly trailing her thumb across your skin. “New Year’s celebrations were a rather grand occasion, back when… Well, back before I met Miranda.” She sighed dreamily, letting her head fall back as she spoke. “Grand parties and balls, elegant gowns, smoking lounges, and of course, the singing. Oh, the singing. I haven’t sung since…” Alcina trailed off, then shook her head a little before continuing. “And the fireworks, of course. They were magnificent.”
She gazed into the fire with a faraway look, falling silent. You let the silence stretch on for a while, and then, your voice barely above a whisper, “Well… Maybe we can celebrate together, sometime.”
Alcina’s husky laugh reverberated through your chest. “That is sweet of you, draga, but we simply don’t have the space or resources for such an undertaking.” Her gaze fell back to the book in her lap, and that was the last she spoke of it. Book long forgotten to your side, you gazed into the flames of the fireplace, mind whirling with ideas. For the first time, you weren’t the first one to fall asleep. In fact, sleep evaded you tonight, as you laid beside Alcina and stared up at the ceiling. Her arm was thrown over your torso and her soft, purr-like snoring vibrated through you and while it would normally soothe you into a slumber, you were restless. Taking care not to wake her, you slid out from under her arm and softly padded to the door, heading towards her daughters’ rooms.
***
“A New Year’s Eve party?” Bela asked, her eyebrows raised. “Here, in the Castle?”
“A party sounds amazing!” Cassandra was practically bouncing off of the walls with excitement. “We’ve never had a party here before! Just dull meetings with Miranda.”
As you had hoped, the three girls were still awake in their respective rooms. It hadn’t taken much convincing to corral them all into Bela’s room, where the four of you now sat cross-legged on the floor. Papers were strewn before you, some scribbled with brainstorming notes.
“Do we even have anywhere where we could set something like this up?” Bela asked. She picked up one of the pieces of paper, on which you had jotted down the key elements of a New Year’s celebration. “Food, we can do. Music, too. But… Fireworks? We would need to be outside for that. We can’t go outside in this weather.”
Your shoulders sagged a little. “Right. I’m sorry, I didn’t—”
“Wait,” Daniela piped up. She scooched over to Bela and read over her shoulder, chewing her lip in thought. “Not necessarily. There is one place in the Castle where we could do this. It would be like being outside without actually being outside.”
Bela’s eyes widened slightly. “You mean…? No, it won’t work. That place is a mess!”
“What? What place?” You looked between the three of them, hoping for some elaboration.
“The atrium.” Cassandra, who had been trying to do handstands against the wall, fell to the floor with a thud and a soft oof before coming to join the three of you again. “We haven’t used it for decades. It’s so dusty, and full of boxes, and probably spiders—”
“The new year is a week away, though,” Daniela interjected. “If we’re quick, we can get it cleaned out in a few days, and have the rest of the time to set everything up.”
The sounds of a pencil scratching quickly over paper joined the chorus of their overlapping voices as you hurriedly tried to jot down everything they said. By the time you had left Bela’s room and settled back in Alcina’s sleeping arms, the four of you had hatched a flawless plan to ring in the next new year with a bang. As your eyelids grew heavier, you gazed at Alcina’s sleeping form and your heart swelled with excitement and love as you imagined the look on her face when she walked into the biggest celebration the Castle had ever seen.
Over the next week, you and Alcina’s daughters worked hard with clearing out the Atrium. You didn’t even know the Castle had one – the door to it was hidden down the far end of a cobweb-covered hallway, and your feet kicked up dust from the carpet runner with every step. There was a moment of uncertainty when it seemed that the four of you might have to work around Alcina’s presence, but thankfully, Bela managed to talk to Miranda, who requested Alcina’s ‘invaluable assistance’ at her estate. You felt bad, in a way – you would normally never try to get Alcina out of the house for a day, let alone a week, but the thought of her joy as she walked into the party made it all feel worth it. With that in mind, the four of you worked as a team of sorts – Daniela carted old boxes and wooden crates from the atrium into the Castle’s dungeons, Cassandra and Bela dusted, swept, mopped and cleaned the large glass panels, and you walked around the space as it cleared out, jotting down notes and quick sketches as you planned out where to put what.
After three exhausting days, you found yourself laying on the floor of the atrium, staring up at the stars through the glass. Cassandra and Daniela were curled up together, Cassandra’s snoring echoing around the empty space, while you and Bela passed a bottle of water between the two of you. There was still much to do before the turn of the year, but the pride you held for the four of you clearing out this space was immense.
“So, hey, I’ve been meaning to ask… Where did this idea even come from?” Bela asked. She took a gulp of water and continued, “We’ve never had a celebration here, at least not for as long as I can remember.”
“Your Mother told me,” You responded. “She seemed kind of sad that she hasn’t celebrated for so long, and I wanted to surprise her. So don’t tell her, okay? Please?” As you grabbed the water bottle from Bela’s hand, there was something indecipherable in her eyes. She nodded, a small and rare smile on her face.
“I won’t. Promise.”
***
The Duke’s carriage was parked in its usual spot just outside the Castle’s doors, the doors closed tight against the chill of the snowy weather. Paper in hand, you rapped on the doors with your knuckles and stood back to wait. There was a shuffling and a clattering inside, followed by a long, pretentious, “Yes?”
“I have an order request.”
“I’m not taking orders until the snow thaws, I’m afraid. Too hard to get the carriage—”
“It’s for the Lady.” The clattering and shuffling noises became louder, almost frantic, and the doors to the carriage slammed open. The Duke poked his head out and looked directly at you, his usual smarmy grin pasted on his face and making you shudder with discomfort, just the very same as every time you saw him.
“An order for the Lady, you say?” He drawled. “Well come on, come on then, let me see.” You had barely held the list out to him before he snatched it from your grasp, eyes scanning the scribbled contents. “Hmm, I see… This won’t be easy to retrieve, not easy at all, and especially not before this date you’ve written here… Are you absolutely certain you need this?” The Duke’s eyes widened in glee at the bulging bag you thrust towards him. It was filled to the brim with packages of meat, Lycan teeth, some golden goblets from the village, and some harvested wheat from the nearby farm, along with some choice herb mixes from Donna. The Duke snatched it from you and slammed the carriage doors closed again, calling out, “I will return with the items you requested in no more than two days! Cheerio!”
An unpleasant shudder shot through you at his departure and you turned, not at all expecting to run directly into Donna as she stood silently behind you.
“Jesus!” You yelped. “Donna, hi. I need to put a bell on you.” The faintest of smiles flickered across her face, before she beckoned you into the Castle with you. You followed her unquestioningly as she strode through the Castle’s doors, winding her way through the halls.
“Dani told me about your plan,” She spoke over her shoulder to you, her low and husky voice barely louder than a whisper. “I hope you didn’t mind me adding a floral touch.” She led you to the atrium and pushed open the door, and the sight inside made you gasp. Gazing around in utter awe, you had to remind yourself to breathe as you admired her work. You looked at her, shyly standing near the door and awaiting your feedback.
“It’s beautiful.”
***
“Draga?”
While the last few days had been busy, they had been, admittedly, rather lonely. You missed feeling her presence beside you in your shared bed, you missed reading with her until you fell asleep, and you missed the click of her heels as she strode the Castle halls. At the sound of her voice, you sprinted out of your room and barreled into her, wrapping your arms around her. She let out a laugh, a sound that was rare to grace your ears but never failed to make your heart skip beats.
“I missed you!” You said brightly, relaxing into her embrace. “Gods, I’m glad you’re home. How was your time with Miranda?”
“Exhausting.” Alcina pulled the woolen scarf from around her throat and hung it up beside the door, her coat following suit. “I’m not even entirely sure what Miranda required my assistance with. It was all very disorganized. It was as if she simply just wanted me around.”
“Careful, love,” You teased her. “I’ll get jealous.”
“You know that I have eyes only for you, draga mea,” She responded, leaning down to kiss the top of your head. Her eyes roamed over you, drinking you in, before she added, “What in the world are you wearing?”
You blushed, completely forgetting for a moment that you were clad in a white tuxedo, something looking like it was straight out of the 1940’s. On the lapel was pinned a brooch, the three metallic flowers mirroring the three black roses she wore on her shoulder every day. The tux had a golden trim, and it shimmered under the flickering light of the torches that lit the entryway. Heart racing in your chest, you took her hand and slowly led her towards the bedroom.
“Oh, my,” She chuckled. “You really did miss me, hmm, draga?”
“I did, yes, but there’ll be time enough for that later,” You teased, blushing deeply. “No, there’s another surprise in there. I’m very excited to see your reaction.”
With a quirk of an eyebrow, Alcina entered the bedroom, closing the door behind her. You leaned against the wall beside the door and took a deep breath. Out of the corner of your eye you could see Daniela at the end of the hallway, giving you a thumbs up and a goofy grin. You flicked your hand at her in a shooing gesture – and just in time, too, because just at that moment Alcina emerged from the bedroom, and gods, was she a sight. Your eyes widened and your lungs forgot how to function as she towered over you, her golden dress clinging to her. It shimmered with her every breath, the gold the same colour as the trim on your tux and the white trim on her gown matching with you. She gazed at you quizzically, and it took immense effort to pull yourself out of your trance.
“You look absolutely breathtaking, my love,” You murmured. And then, more playfully, “And, if I may say, absolutely ravishing.”
Alcina chuckled at hearing the line you stole from her, reaching to take your outstretched hand. “This is lovely, draga, but I don’t quite understand.”
“Oh, but you will.” You took a few steps back, leading her along the hallway. “Do you trust me?”
“Of course.”
“Then close your eyes,” You whispered. “And trust me.”
As much as she knew the layout of the Castle like the back of her hand, you still made sure to say ‘doorway’ every time, just out of courtesy. There was a faint smile on her lips as you led her through the winding hallways, eventually reaching the atrium doors. Alcina hummed thoughtfully, brow furrowed. “Draga—”
“You can open your eyes now, my love.” She did so and gazed down at you with intrigue and confusion. She glanced around the hallway, behind her, and then back at you.
“Beloved, you do know this leads to the atrium? This part of the Castle hasn’t been used in—”
“Decades.” You smiled up at her and rested your hand on the door handle. From behind the closed doors you could hear the faint sounds of music and chatter, but you hesitated, gazing down at your watch. It was almost time. “Until tonight. I think it’s about time that my beloved Lady sang once again.”
And with that, you leaned back, pushing the doors open and stepping though, Alcina in tow. The chatter died down, everyone in the space turning to look at the two of you with bated breath. Alcina straightened up after going through the doorway and stopped in her tracks, looking around, her lips parted very slightly in surprise.
“Draga…” She breathed.
The atrium was glowing with the light of elaborate lanterns and sconces, the ceiling of stars visible through the glass covering of the atrium. Bundles and bouquets of flowers and vines donated by Donna lined the walls and decorated the tables and stage, their sweet scent permeating the air and strong enough to make one dizzy. The stage itself was adorned with gold and silver ribbons, and the jazz band that was playing onstage wore golden outfits that perfectly complemented Alcina’s. Everyone had arrived to join the celebrations – even Moreau had managed to swap out his usual green-grey attire for a formal emerald green tailored suit. Alcina looked as if she might fall as she took everything in, and you reached up to place your hand on her hip to steady her, drawing her attention back to you.
“Draga, it… how…?” She gazed down at you, her eyes filled with emotion.
“You told me that you hadn’t celebrated New Year’s for a very long time,” You began. “And I know that you said I didn’t have to, but, well… You looked like you really missed it. I got Bela, Dani and Cass to help me clean out this place – which, by the way, now its cleaned out we are definitely going to use this place more often—” Alcina laughed at that. “—and Donna brought the flowers. Everything else I got with the help of the Duke. Which reminds me…” You glanced at your watch again and hurriedly tugged Alcina’s hand, pulling her to the center of the room. “Right about… now.”
High in the night sky, there was a trail of sparkling light soaring towards the stars. As you all watched, it exploded into a ball of gold and white, fading shimmering lights falling to the earth again as another trail of fire zoomed into the sky, and another, and another. Alcina’s arms wrapped around you as you watched the fireworks, and as you glanced around at the small crowd, you felt a sense of pride and accomplishment – it was all worth it. All of the work, the long week of organizing and tidying and cleaning and decorating – all of it was worth it.
As the fireworks whistled and popped high above the atrium, you felt gloved fingers on your chin, turning your head sideways and upwards. Your lips met Alcina’s in a sweet, tender kiss, and when you pulled away you could see the barely contained emotion shimmering in her eyes. You kissed her again, and again, the fireworks in your sky becoming fireworks in your chest.
“Happy new year, my love,” You whispered when you finally broke apart, breathless and lightheaded, lips tingling.
“Thank you, draga,” Alcina whispered.
You could get lost in her gaze in this moment, and you very nearly did, until footsteps to your left caught your attention. Miranda, normally cold and impassive, had a smile on her face as she held something out to you. You took it with a nod of thanks and turned back to Alcina, holding it out to her.
“Now,” You murmured. “I do believe it’s time for you to reclaim your glory, my love. It’s long overdue.”
Alcina took the microphone from your hand with a smile, and kissed your forehead before turning to the stage. You fell in love with a new of her that night, somehow even more confident and bold than usual, as she led the band in a jazzy rendition of Auld Lang Syne. She sang long into the night, and looking around at the small crowd as the atrium filled with her throaty, husky voice, you knew all over again that this is where you were meant to be.
You were home.