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Juniper was expecting the worst when it came to her first winter in Waterdeep. When Gale was yearning to return to his home city during their adventures, he would fondly speak at length about anything that came to his mind regarding the place of his birth. It was during one of his many soliloquies that he waxed on about the horrible winter weather that would shut the city down until spring. She had quickly added it to her growing list of the many reasons as to why she had not wanted to make Waterdeep her home.
For some time, Juniper had been able to avoid the city. She knew Gale missed his home as they adventured out on the road together, but the druid could not see herself trapped in Waterdeep. The wilderness and countryside was all she had ever known. However, upon discovering that she was unexpectedly pregnant, she had no choice but to abandon her plans. Now she found herself in the predicament of not only living in the city, but being trapped inside all winter with no chance of a reprieve.
Looking out the frosted window, Juniper let out a deep sigh. Not even days into the winter season and the ground was already covered in snow. The windows were already beginning to grow icy from the cold temperatures. How long before they became so opaque that she would no longer be able to see?
Placing her hand on her stomach, the midwife waited to see if she felt anything from the baby. Just the tiniest movement from the child growing inside would at least help her not feel so alone. Yet even the babe seemed to be hibernating as she felt no stirring from within. “I don’t blame you, little one. I should probably just go back to bed too,” she sighed.
“What is this nonsensical talk, my love? There will be no going back to bed.” Gale had seemingly misty stepped into the room behind her, startling Juniper at the sudden sound of his voice. “I have quite the adventure planned for us today!”
“Where did you come from? And what do you mean? It’s colder than Auril’s tits out there!” Juniper was quick to protest, not ready to head out into the winter air no matter what kind of adventure her new husband had planned for them.
The look Gale was giving her made her realize she was not going to be able to get out of whatever he had planned so easily. A mischievous gleam sparkled in his eyes as he came to place his hands on her hips. “My dearest love, I know you are questioning your decision to move here with me. I love this city, and I want to show you the reasons why in hopes that perhaps you can eventually come to appreciate it too,” he explained, his deep, dark eyes staring into hers.
Damn, why did he always give her that face? Those great, big, brown eyes were part of the reason she found herself in her current predicament. Leaving out a deep sigh, Juniper shook her head. “Fine. I’ll go out there in the freezing cold just for you. But I will remember this later when I’m craving something we don’t have in the larder and you need to go out to get it.”
A grin came to Gale’s face at her acquiescence before he placed his hand on her growing belly. “I promise you, my love, I would venture anywhere in the realms to retrieve whatever it is you crave. Besides, you know my larder contains everything your heart could possibly desire. I have no fear that whatever it is you and the babe hunger for will be down there,” Gale said as he placed a happy kiss on her lips.
Bundling up in their warmest clothing, Gale was extra doting as he made sure that she was layered and ready for the cold. He gave her growing bump one more extra loving rub before they left the tower. Immediately, the cold was biting, and Juniper almost turned to march right back inside. However, Gale looped her arm around his and began to stroll down the street with a completely contented look upon his face. “Are you not cold?” Juniper asked, squinting up at him in disbelief.
“The wind may be biting, but I have my love on my arm and that is enough to warm my heart,” Gale replied shamelessly.
Juniper rolled her eyes at her husband. He could be so very sappy, though she had to admit that was one of the reasons she had fallen in love with him.
The snow was piling up on the streets, and so they had to wind their way around some of the bigger piles that blocked their path. A particularly well hidden ice patch almost made her slip, but Gale was quick to catch her. She grumbled under her breath, still not feeling any love towards the city.
After seemingly walking for a short eternity, Gale looked around and gave a nod. “Not far now,” he murmured.
Juniper’s brow furrowed as she glanced up at him. “You never told me where we were going on this mysterious adventure of yours. Care to elaborate?”
Gale, however, only clucked his tongue and shook his head. “It’s a secret. You will have to be patient.”
It took a lot of patience from Juniper not to tell her husband where to shove it. Still, she kept her thoughts to herself even as it was beginning to feel as though Gale was leading them on a very bad adventure. They walked for a few more city blocks, the houses becoming spaced further and further apart.
Rounding a corner, it suddenly seemed as if they had walked into another city altogether. As far as the eye could see, the streets were completely packed with people. Vendors with colorful tents and banners lined each side of the street. Every building was decorated for Yuletide, with greens and candles on doors and in windows. Many of the stands had their own evergreen tree, decorated to entice buyers to browse their wares. The sounds of Yuletide carols filled the air as bards waltzed through the crowd. And the smells! Her stomach began to growl as soon as she inhaled the aroma of sizzling meats and cooking baked goods.
When Juniper turned her head to look up at Gale, she found he was already gazing down at her with a smile. “Welcome to your very first Yuletide Market, my love! Every year at Yuletide, Waterdeep holds a market for its citizens to gather and celebrate the season, and now I get to share it with you,” he explained.
For a few moments, Juniper found herself speechless. She had never seen anything quite like it in her life. Being raised in the Druid Grove, she had spent Yule deep in meditation by herself or sat by the sacred bonfire late into the night. Here, everyone seemed to be celebrating together as if they were one big family. A smile began to turn up the corners of her mouth as the spirit of the Yuletide Market seemed to be thawing her frozen feelings towards Waterdeep. Still, she did not want to give in so quickly. “Good thing there seems to be food. The baby is saying they are hungry,” she told him with a pat to her belly as a way to divert his attention away from asking her thoughts.
Gale, unfazed by her words, gave her a nod. “Then let us find you something delicious to eat!.”
With that, he swept her towards the street full of people. They were immediately swallowed by the crowd. The cold no longer seemed so bad as mages had set spells along the streets and stalls to keep the frigid temperature at bay. A warm glow came from each stall with the colorful enspelled lamps they had installed over their wares, adding to the cozy feeling.
As the couple passed through the crowd, they were greeted by strangers as if they were the greatest of friends. They soon found a stall selling freshly prepared lamb on a stick that immediately made Juniper’s stomach growl. Gale ordered each of them a serving before presenting it to his wife. “A Yuletide Market speciality. Be warned. It is quite spicy, much like my famous Hundar sauce. We here in Waterdeep do like our spices,” he explained with a wink.
She took a bite of the meat and before she could stop herself, left out a groan of delight. “That is so good,” she muttered without care as she continued eating.
Gale chuckled, a happy glow on his features. “I was fairly certain you would like it.”
Taking her hand, Gale continued showing her through the Market as Juniper ate greedily. It surprised her how hungry she truly was. When she was finished, she found herself more willing to take part in what was happening around her. Her husband pointed out a few stalls as they passed them, telling her more Waterdeep traditions. They stopped to shop every so often, finding a beautifully bound book for Gale and some soft yarn for Juniper to use in her knitting. She found herself tasting more Waterdeep delicacies, and with each bite she found herself looking forward to the next one. A warmth was seeping into her heart that seemed to have been missing since moving to the city.
At the end, the street opened up into a small park where a temporary pond had been constructed. Couples and children were ice skating together, laughing and having fun. Pointing to a bench, Gale suggested they sit and watch the ice skaters. Juniper was more than glad to take a break, having found herself growing weary at a much faster pace as her pregnancy progressed. Cuddling into his side, she relaxed against her husband as she took in the calming sight of the skaters gliding along the ice. He placed his arm around her shoulders, holding her tight. The couple sat in peaceful silence until Gale finally broke it. “Enjoying yourself, my love?” he asked quietly.
Juniper nodded. “I will admit, I am enjoying this. Thank you for bringing me here,” she told him truthfully, placing her head in the crook of his neck.
“I am glad to hear. I must admit I was beginning to grow quite worried that you would find moving her a mistake,” Gale confessed, a sadness in his words.
Juniper did not respond for a few moments as she watched the children skating by on the ice. Her hand went to her own belly, her thoughts moving to the baby growing inside. No matter her feelings on the city, she knew that the best thing for her child would be for them to have a safe place to grow up. As much as she loved adventuring, it would be unfair to their child to force them to grow up on the road. Lifting her head, she pressed a kiss to his cheek. “It would never be a mistake to be by your side. I love you, Gale Dekarios,” she told him softly, hoping that one day her heart would feel the same about Waterdeep.
With her words, Gale seemed to soften. Placing his hands on either side of her face, he pulled her into a kiss. “And I am more than happy to be by your side, Juniper Dekarios,” he murmured, placing their foreheads together.
The couple sat together on the bench, snuggling together as the winter world around them hurried on.