Marty was getting frustrated, he was almost sure that it was the correct time of year. And he also had counted the days with his greatly improved memory. Now he was a pile of jittery nerves, unsure if he should go ahead with his plans.

He watched Rosita flit around the cave and two of his rose dryads play with the young runners. He thought of the help the elves had been so willing to give him, and that decided him.

He started out in his home cave. Holly and Ivy grew around the walls of his home and some suitably enchanted mistletoe over the entrances to his heart room. After looking round he became even more convinced that this was the right thing to do.

Next he grew an appropriate pine tree and covered in shiny baubles and glittering fluorescent berries. A little more effort and some of the berries learned to blink on and off. Next he added gifts for all his intelligent guardians and placed them under the tree. After a bit more thought he replaced the decoration on the top of the tree with a silver star.

Next he basically duplicated the decorations and the tree in the final room on the first level of his dungeon. He placed paper wrapped gifts for all the elves he knew under that tree. The only difference was that the mistletoe was not enchanted.

Then he waited for the morning. He found himself growing increasingly nervous as he waited.

The first to discover his decorations was one of the young runners who was being followed by Petal. Petal’s squeal of surprise on discovering her present woke Rosita and Thorn.

To Marty’s relief the gift unwrapping party that was taking part in his home seemed to be well received. Then his nerves made themselves felt again as the first of the elves and runners arrived to tend their crops.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Then he waited, and waited until, finally some elves arrived who wanted to tend their plants on the second level. The threesome who entered the end chamber on the first level were chatting about the cherry trees they had planted on the second level. On spotting the decorated Christmas tree they examined it curiously.

“Firomeena, one of these wrapped boxes has your name on it,” exclaimed Eriissa.

“What,” said Firomeena as she looked at where Eriissa was pointing. She knelt and picked it up. “There’s one for lord Berthold and there is even one for Slasher. Oh look. This one is yours.”

Marty heard a delighted giggle and realized Rosita was sharing his viewpoint. Absently Marty relayed the scene onto the screen he had set up for these instances.

« Why are they being so careful with the wrapping paper? »

“Because it is very good quality paper. Hadn’t you intended it as an extra gift?” asked Rosita as she carefully folded hers up.

« Huh! But— »

“Yes, and it is all beautifully white on the other side, the scribes will love it,” asserted Thorn.

« You mean— I can give PAPER as treasure! »

“Huh huh, it really is valuable to the right person Marty,” Rosita explained.

* * *

Throughout the day every person that had a gift under the tree filed through the first level to collect his or her gifts. Lady Rivanna took Queen Aldrya’s with her thanks, and an explanation as to the fact that Marty couldn’t expect the queen to collect hers in person.

Towards the end of the day Marty watched as Firomeena and few other elves collect a few of the florescent berries from the tree. He knew that for Firomeena, with her druid like powers, the berries would prove perfectly viable seeds.

It was almost inevitable that they next collected cuttings and seeds from the holly, ivy and mistletoe.

« The tree I could understand Rosita. But why are they collecting the holly, ivy and mistletoe? »

“Marty, Marty. You imbued those plants with the symbolic powers of the festival you were recreating. The local versions of the plants don’t have those properties. I guess Firomeena is curious.”

« Oh! I see, I guess. Well I wish you and everyone Seasons Greetings. »