He moved back to stand next to his mother to watch her open her gift, declaring, “Look how thick they are, Mama. They’ll keep your feet warm this winter.”
Bella squealed and said, “I love them. They’re perfect.” Then she gave him a big hug.
Loki watched the delight on Kenzie’s face as he did his best to watch everyone open their gifts: Uncle Alex and Aunt Maddie’s tapestry, Aunt Caralyn’s special satchel for her healing tools, Uncle Robbie’s new dagger, ribbons for Kyla and Gracie, and so on.
When everyone was finished, he stood in the hall and enjoyed his hugs of thanks from everyone. While the others pitched in to help clean up, Kenzie quietly made his way over to his Grandmama. He said, “Now I understand what you meant about giving and receiving love. Giving the gifts was more fun than getting gifts ever is. I hope we can do it again next winter solstice, Grandmama.”
“Of course, we will. But are you not upset that you did not receive a gift from anyone?”
He thought about that for a moment and replied, “Nay, ‘twas more fun choosing the gifts with Papa.” He glanced up at Loki, who smiled down at him. But the lad’s smile quickly turned to a frown. “Papa, I did not get you a gift.”
Loki knelt down in front of him. “Think on it, lad. Did we not both receive a few gifts this solstice?”
Kenzie glanced around the great hall and nodded, “Aye, wee Ami and Bor and Fergus and Davina. We are growing, just like you hoped.”
Once the hall was clean, the group gathered together near the hearth, moving stools and chairs close by so all of the guests could sit together.
Loki asked for everyone’s attention and said, “I finally found out the answer to a question that’s bothered me for some time, and I wished to share this with all of you. I’ve often wondered why I am called Loki instead of Lucas, the name my mother gave me. Father Bor was the one who found me in the woods after I’d been beaten and left to die. He took me to his cottage to help me heal. I would take my anger out on a certain tree, swinging an axe at it as many times as I could. Eventually, I knocked myself out in some way, which made me forget my history. I am the one who named myself Loki after the Norse god. When I came around, I claimed that I, Loki, would make Blackett and Hamish pay for what they’d done to me and to my mother. ‘Twas then I traveled to Ayr.”
“May I tell them the sad part of our journey, Papa?”
Loki gave him a long look, but then nodded. “Go ahead.”
“We stopped in Ayr, where Papa and I both lived in crates. There was a lad who had been living in our crates, but Father Bor found him and took him home because he was sick. The boy died. I understand now that my first mama and papa would never have wished for me to die out there. I know they are glad I was adopted.”
No one said a word until Celestina spoke. “Is anyone else aware of Norse mythology?”
“What is that?” Kenzie asked.
“I had to learn about the Norse, and they believe in an entire group of gods that lived many years ago. They say those gods brought the world to what it is today. Is anyone else familiar with their mythology?”
“What does mythology mean?” Kenzie asked.
“Mythology means the study of a group of gods who lived in their own world. In Norse mythology, there is a god named Loki, and we all know that he was considered the wee trickster.”
Brodie stood up and announced, “And Nicol and I can attest to the fact that he was a wee trickster when we met him in Ayr.” Laughter echoed through the group at this declaration. Loki couldn’t help but grin at his adoptive sire. “In fact, he played a few tricks on a couple of evil Norsemen, which is quite fitting, in my mind.”
Celestina continued, “Since no one else knows, allow me to explain what I recall. There is a god name Bor or Bors who was the father of Odin and others. Odin is considered to be the father of all knowledge, and he’s father to several other gods, Thor being one of them. He also brought the yule, or the celebration of the winter solstice, to the Norse.
“In the myths, Bor was married to a woman named Bestla.”
Kenzie jumped out of his chair. “That was her name. The old woman who took care of the orphans! She was Bestla.”
Loki almost jumped from his own chair. “Bor used to tell me tales of the gods, mostly about Thor and Loki. ‘Tis why I chose that name. Are you saying that you think Bor and Bestla are gods who came here for some purpose, Mama?”
“Did they ask you to do anything for them?”
“Aye, Bor wants us to take over his life purpose when he goes. He asked if we’d travel to Ayr and Edinburgh at least once a year and bring homeless urchins back to Castle Curanta. To make a home for all the wee ones who don’t have families.”
Aunt Maddie clutched Uncle Alex’s hand. “Oh my, Loki. Many would not believe all you’ve said, but I do. For my part, I will declare winter solstice to be a time of merriment and gift giving for our clan. Of course, I will assist you with the wee ones at any time.
“My mother was from an area near London, and she believed in the Christian winter holiday of Christmas. ‘Tis why we have the decorations and feasting. Now ‘tis time to make it an even more special celebration.”
Kenzie jumped up and down. “Guess what, Papa? I had another dream last night. I almost forgot it, but Grandmama just reminded me. ‘Twas my true papa. He said he was proud of me, and I could love you all forever.”
Alex raised his glass and said, “Here’s to the yule, for the Norse, the English, and the Scots. To Bor and Bestla and Loki and Kenzie. And to two wee lassies. Abi, whom we’ll all meet again someday, and wee Ami, who has found her new home. We’ll celebrate together.”
Celestina climbed out of her chair and embraced Loki. “That just solidifies something I knew all along. You are a verra special man, Loki Grant. All in the land know it.”
The End
Dear Readers,
I hope you enjoyed my fanciful tale of Christmas in the Highlands and how it could have all started. This is a complete work of fiction. True, there are Norse gods named Bor and Bestla, but their vocation to care for the wee ones is strictly my creation.
There are stories of Christmas in England during the 1200s but not of the traditional Santa Claus. The tradition of Father Christmas did not arrive until much later in the seventeenth century.
The Norse did participate in revelry for many days around the winter solstice, which is where the term Yuletide developed.
But who is to say where the idea of Father Christmas started?
My world of the Grants and Ramsays does stretch history a bit at times, but I hope only to create more enjoyment.
May all your holidays be as wonderful as Loki and Kenzie’s.
Keira Montclair
www.keiramontclair.com
If you want to know more about my novels, here are some places for you to visit.
Visit my website at http://www.keiramontclair.com and sign up for my newsletter. I’ll keep you updated about my new releases without bothering you often.
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NOVELS BY KEIRA MONTCLAIR
THE CLAN GRANT SERIES
1- RESCUED BY A HIGHLANDER-Alex and Maddie
2- HEALING A HIGHLANDER’S HEART-Brenna and Quade
3- LOVE LETTERS FROM LARGS-Brodie and Celestina
4-JOURNEY TO THE HIGHLANDS-Robbie and Caralyn
5-HIGHLAND SPARKS-Logan and Gwyneth
6-MY DESPERATE HIGHLANDER-Micheil and Diana
7-THE BRIGHTEST STAR IN THE HIGHLANDS-Jennie and Aedan
8- HIGHLAND HARMONY-Avelina and Drew
THE HIGH
LAND CLAN
LOKI-Book One
TORRIAN-Book Two
LILY-Book Three
JAKE-Book Four
ASHLYN-Book Five
MOLLY-Book Six
JAMIE AND GRACIE- Book Seven
SORCHA-Book Eight
KYLA-Book Nine
BETHIA-Book Ten
LOKI’S CHRISTMAS STORY-Book Eleven
THE SOULMATE CHRONICLES
1 TRUSTING A HIGHLANDER
THE SUMMERHILL SERIES- CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
1-ONE SUMMERHILL DAY
2-A FRESH START FOR TWO
REGENCY
THE DUKE AND THE DRESSMAKER
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Keira Montclair is the pen name of an author who lives in Florida with her husband. She loves to write fast-paced, emotional romance, especially with children as secondary characters in her stories.
She has worked as a registered nurse in pediatrics and recovery room nursing. Teaching is another of her loves, and she has taught both high school mathematics and practical nursing.
Now she loves to spend her time writing, but there isn’t enough time to write everything she wants! Her Highlander Clan Grant series, comprising of eight standalone novels, is a reader favorite. Her third series, The Highland Clan, set twenty years after the Clan Grant series, focuses on the Grant/Ramsay descendants. She also has a contemporary series set in The Finger Lakes of Western New York.
Her newest series is The Soulmate Chronicles, historical romance with a touch of paranormal.
Copyright © 2017 Keira Montclair
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