Chapter 7
"Hmm, I love this movie,” Kieran announced happily.
Donnell glanced sideways at the mage, who was sprawled out on the couch beside him. They were watching what Kieran claimed was the greatest Christmas movie of all time - A Christmas Story. His companion was also sipping from a plastic cup half-full of egg nog - a beverage that he’d urged Donnell to at least try. The taste of the rich stuff still lingered on his tongue even now. The vampire felt bemused and a little out-of-it. Had Kieran really kissed him under that sprig of mistletoe dangling above the door no more than a few hours ago? The feel of the mage’s mouth seemed to linger on his lips. His first kiss in such a very long time - he’d almost forgotten what one felt like.
He looked back at the screen, seeing that the blonde boy Ralphie was waling on the local bully while spewing obscenities. He had to admit, this movie was rather amusing. He was surprised that he’d never seen it before…or he would have been, except for the fact that he never watched Christmas movies or specials on TV because they depressed him too much. He heard Kieran laugh beside him, and that sound made warmth coil in the pit of his belly. Having someone to be with at Christmas, for the first time in his long ‘life’…he’d never felt like this before.
“After this, I thought we could watch ‘A Miracle On 34th Street’,” Kieran commented. “Sort of have a Christmas movie marathon. But no ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’, though. I hate that one, its so sappy.”
“As you say. I have no idea what you’re talking about, having never seen any of the movies in question,” Donnell pointed out.
“You poor, deprived thing.” Kieran said sympathetically.
He rolled his eyes. The mage chuckled and patted his knee, his long fingers squeezing lightly. It made Donnell feel rather breathless. Being touched so casually…he wasn’t used to that at all. But his body liked it, oh yes. He felt as though he were hyperaware of each little touch. The warmth of Kieran’s fingers almost seemed to burn his skin, even through his trousers. He shivered, which Kieran felt. His fingers stilled, but he didn’t remove his hand.
Blindly Donnell stared at the TV screen, although anything could have been happening there. He cleared his throat. “This isn’t fair, you know,” he pointed out in a husky voice.
“I know. I’m sorry,” Kieran withdrew his hand at last. “But its really hard not to touch you, Donnell. You can understand that, can’t you?” he said softly.
He nodded. “I do,” he replied. “And I feel the same way. I’m just afraid…” he bit at his lower lip in distress.
Kieran’s fingers cupped his face tenderly. “I know, Donnell. I don’t expect you to get over being afraid right away. I’m just hoping that you’ll be willing to try, if nothing else.”
He let Kieran turn his face so that their eyes could meet. “I will,” he said hoarsely. “I will try, Kieran. I want…” he swallowed.
The mage nodded. “I want too, Donnell,” he agreed. His fingers stroked over the vampire’s chin. “So much. But I’m willing to wait, so that you can see that you can trust me.”
He took in a deep breath. “I don’t…know that I’M willing to wait,” he rasped. “I just…its been so longgg…” he moaned, squirming a little as his body reminded him of just how very long it had been since he’d had any sexual relief of any kind. He’d been so depressed that even masturbation hadn’t been that interesting to him.
Kieran’s eyes began to darken. “Donnell,” he groaned. Then he leaned forward and kissed the vampire hungrily.
He moaned and crowded closer to the mage’s tall form. Hands cradled in the small of his back. A tongue slid into his mouth and caressed over his. His own hands clutched at Kieran’s shoulder and his tail of hair. He found himself moaning helplessly as a hand slid up his back and then around to his front. Fingers ghosted down the front of his shirt, then wormed their way under it to stroke over his bare skin. He shuddered into the kiss at this touch, then whimpered a little as those same insouciant fingers wriggled under the waistband of his trousers and rubbed at his lower belly.
Kieran pulled back a bit, looking into his face as he continued to move his fingers under the waistband of the trousers. “Can I touch you, Donnell?” he asked breathily.
Even though he already was, the vampire understood the question anyway. “Yes,” he sighed, wanting nothing more than for Kieran’s hands to touch him more.
Kieran smiled - a slow, sensual thing. He never looked away from Donnell’s dark gaze as he deftly managed to find the fastenings on the trousers. The vampire drew in a trembling breath as the zipper was drawn down, each sound loud in his ears. Kieran began to worm the trousers down his narrow hips. He made some small sound as he was set free into the open air. Finally the mage looked down, studying his erection. His parti-colored eyes were full of interest and lust. “Red,” he said, noting the color of the fluids leaking from the tip.
“All of…my bodily fluids…are red…” Donnell gasped.
“Cool,” Kieran said with a flashing grin. “Hmm…maybe I should find out if it tastes like blood, too?”
Donnell shuddered a bit at his words. “I…” he stuttered.
Kieran chuckled. “Its Christmastime, Donnell,” he purred. “Can I suck on your candy cane?”
Donnell normally would have given him some sarcastic answer over this ridiculous statement, but he had been rendered mute. Kieran leered at him and pushed him backward on the couch, straddling his body with his arms on either side of Donnell to hold himself up. “So cute,” he murmured, leaning down to kiss the vampire thoroughly.
Donnell felt breathless by the time that his mouth was released again. Kieran kissed his neck, biting delicately at the skin. He nibbled at Donnell’s jaw line. “Well, I like how you taste so far,” he chuckled, kissing the vampire’s chin.
“You are…foolish,” Donnell managed to husk, but lost his train of thought when Kieran winked at him and proceeded to move downward until he was over Donnell’s lower stomach. He pushed the vampire’s shirt up to admire his belly, with a charming treasure trail of curly dark hair leading down toward his groin. Kieran swooped down with a happy cry and began to nuzzle his nose into this hair, blowing on it at the same time. Donnell protested, pushing at the top of his head. “Stop it!” he cried, then began to giggle helplessly.
Kieran looked delighted by his laughter. He licked at the curls, running his tongue down the trail. Donnell’s giggles turned to little gasps as the mage lapped at his lower stomach, perilously close to his rigid cock. His hips lifted involuntarily in a desperate surge. Kieran blew on him, making it twitch. He cried out wordlessly, as the mage finally gave him some relief and licked a trail down the shaft as he curled his fingers at the base to hold it in place.
“Mmm, uhh!” Donnell couldn’t speak coherently anymore. A tongue lapped delicately at the tip of his cock, gathering up some of the reddish fluids.
“Hmm, interesting,” Kieran remarked from between his thighs. “Tastes a bit odd, but I like it. I think I’ll have some more,” then he was sinking down on Donnell’s cock, taking it into his warm mouth.
The vampire stared blindly at the ceiling, his body jerking as Kieran began to suck at him. A much better form of sucking than the kind that he usually did, he thought dimly. Then he couldn’t think at all, because the mage was bobbing his head and rubbing his flattened tongue along the bottom of his shaft. He thrust upward, moaning, his whole being aflame. His fingers spasmed and flew down to bury themselves in Kieran’s hair.
It was too much. It had simply been too long for him! Donnell cried out, arching, and came with a forceful rush into Kieran’s hot mouth. He fell back, panting, his mouth open as luxurious aftershocks raced through him. The mage licked him clean, looking decidedly pleased with himself.
Kieran sat up and reached out to run a hand down Donnell’s thigh. “I really enjoyed that,” he commented. “Did you, Donnell?”
Somehow his mouth was working again. “I-It was…very pleasant,” he replied.
Kieran lifted a brow. “Pleasant? Seriously? That’s the adjective you’re going with? I think I’m insulted,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest and pretending to pout.
Donnell struggled to sit up. “I’m sorry,” he said contritely. “I…am not good at expressing myself. It was wonderful, Kieran. Thank you. I have not felt like that…in so very long…”
Kieran stared down at him, then he smiled and reached out to pull Donnell up to smuggle against him. “I’m glad that you felt so good, Donnell. I really enjoyed doing that to you. So how long has it been for you?" he asked curiously as he ran a hand through the vampire’s black curls.
Donnell had to really think about that one. “Over a hundred and fifty years,” he decided.
Kieran stopped petting his hair in shock. “A hundred and fifty…Are you serious?!” he blurted. “Oh, my God!”
Donnell shrugged uncomfortably. “After Vassily…I just…didn’t want to be with anyone else,” he explained sadly.
Kieran looked grave. “Poor, poor thing,” he crooned sympathetically. He put his arm around Donnell and hugged him close. “But you should forget that jerk if you can,” he told the vampire. “Anyone who could so casually walk away from such a special person doesn’t deserve any good things. I hope he’s caught the vampire version of a venereal disease and that his junk has rotted off.”
Donnell found himself laughing at this indignant statement. “Daft Merlin,” he said, shaking his head.
Kieran grinned down at him. “Yes, I am,” he agreed. “Crazy about you, most definitely. And just plain crazy, which is why you’re probably a little nuts yourself to have anything to do with me.”
Donnell snorted. “Perhaps,” he conceded. “But sometimes a little madness is no bad thing at all.”
Donnell finally stirred. “Kieran?”
“Yeah?” the mage glanced down at him questioningly.
Donnell was frowning a little. His dark eyes darted downward to Kieran’s lap, where the green, black, and white tartan fabric was bunched up a little. “Do you want me to…?” the vampire asked uncertainly.
Kieran laughed a little and shook his head. “Nah,” he replied. “Believe me, I’d love to get some ‘personal service’ from you, Donnell. But I don’t think that you’re ready for it yet, and I don’t want you to do something just because you feel obliged to do it. I want you to really want to do it, not just offer because I gave you a blow job. I loved doing it to you; I couldn’t wait to get my mouth on you. That’s how I want you to feel before you return the favor. Anything else would feel too impersonal…and just wrong, to boot.”
Donnell relaxed, feeling relief flow through him. “I’m sorry that I don’t feel that way, Kieran…” he began apologetically.
The mage waved his apology away. “I get it, Donnell. You’re coming off a bad relationship with somebody who hurt you. I think that you’re the kind of person who can’t be really intimate with someone unless there’s trust involved. And how can you trust me? As you said, you barely know me. Also, the last person that you trusted did something awful to you and broke your heart. Its never easy to get over that kind of thing. While I believe that you can, and that you will…I also know that its going to take some time. I’m willing to wait,” he said, smiling down at Donnell.
He shook his head. “You are an extraordinary person, Kieran,” he remarked in awe.
The mage grinned cheekily. “I know,” he said, making Donnell roll his eyes. He chuckled and patted the black curls at the base of Donnell’s neck. “Shall we watch another movie now? And have some more egg nog? I can’t wait for tomorrow - Christmas will finally be here! I want to watch you open your presents,” Kieran said gleefully.
“Has anyone told you that you’re nothing but a child?” Donnell said severely.
“Yes. But I’m an extraordinary child, as you yourself just said,” Kieran pointed out complacently.
Donnell padded barefoot into his bedroom that evening. He hesitated in the doorway, thinking about what Kieran had said about it being Christmas Day tomorrow. The vampire turned to look at the little wire tree standing on the side table, the golden star atop it glowing gently. His eyes roved over the small pile of presents that the mage had deposited at its base. While it hadn’t bothered him before that he had nothing to give Kieran in return, suddenly it did. Very much. But it was almost midnight, and all of the stores would be closed. Nor would they be open in the morning, either. What should he do?
After a moment of thinking, he walked over to his dresser and retrieved a box form the top. It was a carved and gold-inlayed wood box, a special keepsake holder. He swung the top open and peered inside at the jumble of things inside. Much of it was jewelry, dating back from the time when he and Vassily were still together. Back then he’d wanted to look good for his lover, to entice him with pretty trappings to enhance his allure and desirability. Not that that had worked, he thought dryly as he stirred the heap with a finger. Ah, there was what he wanted!
He reached in and withdrew a single piece of jewelry, a silver Celtic cross on a chain. While not as elaborate as many of the other pieces, it had always been one of his favorites. It always made him think of his former home whenever he saw it - and it had always deeply amused him to wear a religious icon around his neck, since legend said that his people were burning by holy artifacts. He’d even had it blessed at a church to make the irony stronger, and had had to contain his laughter the entire time that the priest was praying over the cross and dipping it into holy water.
Kieran would like this piece, Donnell was sure of it. And it would suit the mage down to the ground. This would be his Christmas gift to Kieran, he decided. Draping the cross’ chain over his fingers, he went looking for something to put it in.
It didn’t take him long to find something. There was an embellished silver box on his dresser that he’d once used to store rings in and had kept for sentimental reasons. It was large enough to house the cross, and the top of the box was enamel with flowers and greenery painted on it. That seemed apropos for a druid, even if Kieran was only one because he happened to have been born a Merlin. He lay the cross inside the box, seeing how well it looked against the red velvet lining. Pleased, he closed the box and considered how to wrap it since he had no wrapping paper of any kind.
Ah, he knew what to use! He pulled out a silk handkerchief and wrapped the box carefully in it, then tied it up with a length of ribbon from the clothes box at the foot of his bed. He’d always kept everything from his past, and that included things like hair ribbons(which had once been common and popular among men just as much as women). As he tied the ribbon into a neat bow, Donnell reflected that he’d have to start donating some of these things to museums and the like. He was tired of living in the past. Now, with the arrival of Kieran, he could start thinking about the future instead. It made a very nice change of pace for him.
He carried the silk and ribbon wrapped parcel out to the tree and set it down near the other presents. It looked quite nice, if he did say so himself. He touched the present with his fingertips, then went to bed to get the few hours of sleep that were all that his kind required.
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"Hmm, I love this movie,” Kieran announced happily.
Donnell glanced sideways at the mage, who was sprawled out on the couch beside him. They were watching what Kieran claimed was the greatest Christmas movie of all time - A Christmas Story. His companion was also sipping from a plastic cup half-full of egg nog - a beverage that he’d urged Donnell to at least try. The taste of the rich stuff still lingered on his tongue even now. The vampire felt bemused and a little out-of-it. Had Kieran really kissed him under that sprig of mistletoe dangling above the door no more than a few hours ago? The feel of the mage’s mouth seemed to linger on his lips. His first kiss in such a very long time - he’d almost forgotten what one felt like.
He looked back at the screen, seeing that the blonde boy Ralphie was waling on the local bully while spewing obscenities. He had to admit, this movie was rather amusing. He was surprised that he’d never seen it before…or he would have been, except for the fact that he never watched Christmas movies or specials on TV because they depressed him too much. He heard Kieran laugh beside him, and that sound made warmth coil in the pit of his belly. Having someone to be with at Christmas, for the first time in his long ‘life’…he’d never felt like this before.
“After this, I thought we could watch ‘A Miracle On 34th Street’,” Kieran commented. “Sort of have a Christmas movie marathon. But no ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’, though. I hate that one, its so sappy.”
“As you say. I have no idea what you’re talking about, having never seen any of the movies in question,” Donnell pointed out.
“You poor, deprived thing.” Kieran said sympathetically.
He rolled his eyes. The mage chuckled and patted his knee, his long fingers squeezing lightly. It made Donnell feel rather breathless. Being touched so casually…he wasn’t used to that at all. But his body liked it, oh yes. He felt as though he were hyperaware of each little touch. The warmth of Kieran’s fingers almost seemed to burn his skin, even through his trousers. He shivered, which Kieran felt. His fingers stilled, but he didn’t remove his hand.
Blindly Donnell stared at the TV screen, although anything could have been happening there. He cleared his throat. “This isn’t fair, you know,” he pointed out in a husky voice.
“I know. I’m sorry,” Kieran withdrew his hand at last. “But its really hard not to touch you, Donnell. You can understand that, can’t you?” he said softly.
He nodded. “I do,” he replied. “And I feel the same way. I’m just afraid…” he bit at his lower lip in distress.
Kieran’s fingers cupped his face tenderly. “I know, Donnell. I don’t expect you to get over being afraid right away. I’m just hoping that you’ll be willing to try, if nothing else.”
He let Kieran turn his face so that their eyes could meet. “I will,” he said hoarsely. “I will try, Kieran. I want…” he swallowed.
The mage nodded. “I want too, Donnell,” he agreed. His fingers stroked over the vampire’s chin. “So much. But I’m willing to wait, so that you can see that you can trust me.”
He took in a deep breath. “I don’t…know that I’M willing to wait,” he rasped. “I just…its been so longgg…” he moaned, squirming a little as his body reminded him of just how very long it had been since he’d had any sexual relief of any kind. He’d been so depressed that even masturbation hadn’t been that interesting to him.
Kieran’s eyes began to darken. “Donnell,” he groaned. Then he leaned forward and kissed the vampire hungrily.
He moaned and crowded closer to the mage’s tall form. Hands cradled in the small of his back. A tongue slid into his mouth and caressed over his. His own hands clutched at Kieran’s shoulder and his tail of hair. He found himself moaning helplessly as a hand slid up his back and then around to his front. Fingers ghosted down the front of his shirt, then wormed their way under it to stroke over his bare skin. He shuddered into the kiss at this touch, then whimpered a little as those same insouciant fingers wriggled under the waistband of his trousers and rubbed at his lower belly.
Kieran pulled back a bit, looking into his face as he continued to move his fingers under the waistband of the trousers. “Can I touch you, Donnell?” he asked breathily.
Even though he already was, the vampire understood the question anyway. “Yes,” he sighed, wanting nothing more than for Kieran’s hands to touch him more.
Kieran smiled - a slow, sensual thing. He never looked away from Donnell’s dark gaze as he deftly managed to find the fastenings on the trousers. The vampire drew in a trembling breath as the zipper was drawn down, each sound loud in his ears. Kieran began to worm the trousers down his narrow hips. He made some small sound as he was set free into the open air. Finally the mage looked down, studying his erection. His parti-colored eyes were full of interest and lust. “Red,” he said, noting the color of the fluids leaking from the tip.
“All of…my bodily fluids…are red…” Donnell gasped.
“Cool,” Kieran said with a flashing grin. “Hmm…maybe I should find out if it tastes like blood, too?”
Donnell shuddered a bit at his words. “I…” he stuttered.
Kieran chuckled. “Its Christmastime, Donnell,” he purred. “Can I suck on your candy cane?”
Donnell normally would have given him some sarcastic answer over this ridiculous statement, but he had been rendered mute. Kieran leered at him and pushed him backward on the couch, straddling his body with his arms on either side of Donnell to hold himself up. “So cute,” he murmured, leaning down to kiss the vampire thoroughly.
Donnell felt breathless by the time that his mouth was released again. Kieran kissed his neck, biting delicately at the skin. He nibbled at Donnell’s jaw line. “Well, I like how you taste so far,” he chuckled, kissing the vampire’s chin.
“You are…foolish,” Donnell managed to husk, but lost his train of thought when Kieran winked at him and proceeded to move downward until he was over Donnell’s lower stomach. He pushed the vampire’s shirt up to admire his belly, with a charming treasure trail of curly dark hair leading down toward his groin. Kieran swooped down with a happy cry and began to nuzzle his nose into this hair, blowing on it at the same time. Donnell protested, pushing at the top of his head. “Stop it!” he cried, then began to giggle helplessly.
Kieran looked delighted by his laughter. He licked at the curls, running his tongue down the trail. Donnell’s giggles turned to little gasps as the mage lapped at his lower stomach, perilously close to his rigid cock. His hips lifted involuntarily in a desperate surge. Kieran blew on him, making it twitch. He cried out wordlessly, as the mage finally gave him some relief and licked a trail down the shaft as he curled his fingers at the base to hold it in place.
“Mmm, uhh!” Donnell couldn’t speak coherently anymore. A tongue lapped delicately at the tip of his cock, gathering up some of the reddish fluids.
“Hmm, interesting,” Kieran remarked from between his thighs. “Tastes a bit odd, but I like it. I think I’ll have some more,” then he was sinking down on Donnell’s cock, taking it into his warm mouth.
The vampire stared blindly at the ceiling, his body jerking as Kieran began to suck at him. A much better form of sucking than the kind that he usually did, he thought dimly. Then he couldn’t think at all, because the mage was bobbing his head and rubbing his flattened tongue along the bottom of his shaft. He thrust upward, moaning, his whole being aflame. His fingers spasmed and flew down to bury themselves in Kieran’s hair.
It was too much. It had simply been too long for him! Donnell cried out, arching, and came with a forceful rush into Kieran’s hot mouth. He fell back, panting, his mouth open as luxurious aftershocks raced through him. The mage licked him clean, looking decidedly pleased with himself.
Kieran sat up and reached out to run a hand down Donnell’s thigh. “I really enjoyed that,” he commented. “Did you, Donnell?”
Somehow his mouth was working again. “I-It was…very pleasant,” he replied.
Kieran lifted a brow. “Pleasant? Seriously? That’s the adjective you’re going with? I think I’m insulted,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest and pretending to pout.
Donnell struggled to sit up. “I’m sorry,” he said contritely. “I…am not good at expressing myself. It was wonderful, Kieran. Thank you. I have not felt like that…in so very long…”
Kieran stared down at him, then he smiled and reached out to pull Donnell up to smuggle against him. “I’m glad that you felt so good, Donnell. I really enjoyed doing that to you. So how long has it been for you?" he asked curiously as he ran a hand through the vampire’s black curls.
Donnell had to really think about that one. “Over a hundred and fifty years,” he decided.
Kieran stopped petting his hair in shock. “A hundred and fifty…Are you serious?!” he blurted. “Oh, my God!”
Donnell shrugged uncomfortably. “After Vassily…I just…didn’t want to be with anyone else,” he explained sadly.
Kieran looked grave. “Poor, poor thing,” he crooned sympathetically. He put his arm around Donnell and hugged him close. “But you should forget that jerk if you can,” he told the vampire. “Anyone who could so casually walk away from such a special person doesn’t deserve any good things. I hope he’s caught the vampire version of a venereal disease and that his junk has rotted off.”
Donnell found himself laughing at this indignant statement. “Daft Merlin,” he said, shaking his head.
Kieran grinned down at him. “Yes, I am,” he agreed. “Crazy about you, most definitely. And just plain crazy, which is why you’re probably a little nuts yourself to have anything to do with me.”
Donnell snorted. “Perhaps,” he conceded. “But sometimes a little madness is no bad thing at all.”
Donnell finally stirred. “Kieran?”
“Yeah?” the mage glanced down at him questioningly.
Donnell was frowning a little. His dark eyes darted downward to Kieran’s lap, where the green, black, and white tartan fabric was bunched up a little. “Do you want me to…?” the vampire asked uncertainly.
Kieran laughed a little and shook his head. “Nah,” he replied. “Believe me, I’d love to get some ‘personal service’ from you, Donnell. But I don’t think that you’re ready for it yet, and I don’t want you to do something just because you feel obliged to do it. I want you to really want to do it, not just offer because I gave you a blow job. I loved doing it to you; I couldn’t wait to get my mouth on you. That’s how I want you to feel before you return the favor. Anything else would feel too impersonal…and just wrong, to boot.”
Donnell relaxed, feeling relief flow through him. “I’m sorry that I don’t feel that way, Kieran…” he began apologetically.
The mage waved his apology away. “I get it, Donnell. You’re coming off a bad relationship with somebody who hurt you. I think that you’re the kind of person who can’t be really intimate with someone unless there’s trust involved. And how can you trust me? As you said, you barely know me. Also, the last person that you trusted did something awful to you and broke your heart. Its never easy to get over that kind of thing. While I believe that you can, and that you will…I also know that its going to take some time. I’m willing to wait,” he said, smiling down at Donnell.
He shook his head. “You are an extraordinary person, Kieran,” he remarked in awe.
The mage grinned cheekily. “I know,” he said, making Donnell roll his eyes. He chuckled and patted the black curls at the base of Donnell’s neck. “Shall we watch another movie now? And have some more egg nog? I can’t wait for tomorrow - Christmas will finally be here! I want to watch you open your presents,” Kieran said gleefully.
“Has anyone told you that you’re nothing but a child?” Donnell said severely.
“Yes. But I’m an extraordinary child, as you yourself just said,” Kieran pointed out complacently.
Donnell padded barefoot into his bedroom that evening. He hesitated in the doorway, thinking about what Kieran had said about it being Christmas Day tomorrow. The vampire turned to look at the little wire tree standing on the side table, the golden star atop it glowing gently. His eyes roved over the small pile of presents that the mage had deposited at its base. While it hadn’t bothered him before that he had nothing to give Kieran in return, suddenly it did. Very much. But it was almost midnight, and all of the stores would be closed. Nor would they be open in the morning, either. What should he do?
After a moment of thinking, he walked over to his dresser and retrieved a box form the top. It was a carved and gold-inlayed wood box, a special keepsake holder. He swung the top open and peered inside at the jumble of things inside. Much of it was jewelry, dating back from the time when he and Vassily were still together. Back then he’d wanted to look good for his lover, to entice him with pretty trappings to enhance his allure and desirability. Not that that had worked, he thought dryly as he stirred the heap with a finger. Ah, there was what he wanted!
He reached in and withdrew a single piece of jewelry, a silver Celtic cross on a chain. While not as elaborate as many of the other pieces, it had always been one of his favorites. It always made him think of his former home whenever he saw it - and it had always deeply amused him to wear a religious icon around his neck, since legend said that his people were burning by holy artifacts. He’d even had it blessed at a church to make the irony stronger, and had had to contain his laughter the entire time that the priest was praying over the cross and dipping it into holy water.
Kieran would like this piece, Donnell was sure of it. And it would suit the mage down to the ground. This would be his Christmas gift to Kieran, he decided. Draping the cross’ chain over his fingers, he went looking for something to put it in.
It didn’t take him long to find something. There was an embellished silver box on his dresser that he’d once used to store rings in and had kept for sentimental reasons. It was large enough to house the cross, and the top of the box was enamel with flowers and greenery painted on it. That seemed apropos for a druid, even if Kieran was only one because he happened to have been born a Merlin. He lay the cross inside the box, seeing how well it looked against the red velvet lining. Pleased, he closed the box and considered how to wrap it since he had no wrapping paper of any kind.
Ah, he knew what to use! He pulled out a silk handkerchief and wrapped the box carefully in it, then tied it up with a length of ribbon from the clothes box at the foot of his bed. He’d always kept everything from his past, and that included things like hair ribbons(which had once been common and popular among men just as much as women). As he tied the ribbon into a neat bow, Donnell reflected that he’d have to start donating some of these things to museums and the like. He was tired of living in the past. Now, with the arrival of Kieran, he could start thinking about the future instead. It made a very nice change of pace for him.
He carried the silk and ribbon wrapped parcel out to the tree and set it down near the other presents. It looked quite nice, if he did say so himself. He touched the present with his fingertips, then went to bed to get the few hours of sleep that were all that his kind required.
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