*Anders*
“Bundle up,” I tell Eleanor as I put another layer of clothing on the baby. “Mani is helping the children.”
“Why?” she asks.
“It’s a surprise,” I tell her with a smile.
I couldn’t sleep last night, and when I walked out into the main room, I found Catherine awake as well. She told me about what Eleanor had told her, and I realized that the tree may be more important to her than the entire celebration. That’s how the whole thing began.
The children groan about being dragged out into the snow, except Ansuz, who stands silently and watches over the smaller children.
“Shut up,” he finally tells them, continuing before Eleanor or I can admonish him. “Anders said we need to go outside, so just shut up and do it. We’re going to be stuck in the long hall soon anyway.”
Elea
