The Oak King and The Holly King

gathered coats and gloves and the men went out to their vehicles for saws and clippers. Nola, Taisie, and Jane were all given large baskets to carry their yule branches and holly berries. Then the group scattered out the back to head for the nearby woods.

  Nola swung her basket, loving the snow crunching under her feet. Her past winters under the curse meant that she had headed south for the cold season and did not get to see much snow. Owen loved the way her cheeks and the tip of her nose got red to match her hat.

  "Gilly said that we could find some nice pine trees, small ones, up this hill a short way." Nola smiled as Owen held a branch back for her to climb past some low-lying trees. She stopped and pointed. "Owen, look at those. One of those would be perfect."

  They circle a small group of pines growing in a clump in a clearing. "Which one, Nola?" Owen asked.

  "I think this one is perfect." Nola clapped her mittens together, then began to clear the branches of snow. "Yes, this is the one."

  Owen had to admit that the small tree was perfect for them. He readied his saw, but stopped when Nola's face fell. "What's the matter, love?" he asked.

  "Owen, do you think we could dig it up? We could replant it at our house. Then we'd always have our first Christmas tree." Owen hesitated, but he gave into the plea in Nola's blue eyes. He kicked at the dirt around the bottom of the tree.

  "It doesn't seem too frozen. Let me borrow a shovel from Gilly and see what I can do. It still might not live, Nola," he warned, "just so you know."

  "I know, and thank you." Her smile warmed Owen right to the bones. "I love you."

  "I love you, too. I'll be right back."

  By the time he got back with Gilly's shovel, it was almost dark. Nola had been busy and her basket was full of pine clippings and holly berries. Gilly had a section of bushes just past the pines and Nola had been busy. Owen noticed that she also had some branches from an oak tree, the leaves brown and dry and barely hanging on.

  "What are you doing with the oak leaves?"

  "I told you. It's part of Solstice, the Oak King and the Holly King."

  "Oh, right." Owen really did not understand, but he needed to get the tree dug up before it got too dark. Fortunately, Finn came along and between them the two men got the tree out and wrapped in some burlap that Gilly had found for them to use to gather dirt around the roots of the tree. The frost had not yet sunk so low.

  Owen found that it was not as heavy as he thought so he let Finn carry the tools and Nola had her basket as they started back down the hill to Gilly's house. In the back there was a roaring fire with chairs set nearby. The snow had been cleared away and Gilly had set out a table filled with food and drink, aided by Taisie and Jane.

  There was hot stew in hollowed-out loafs of fresh bread and beer and wine to drink. Jane had brought a plate of brownies and Taisie and Nola had made a variety of cookies. Gilly slapped at Finn's hand as he tried to sneak a brownie with his stew. Owen helped Nola gather her food and utensils and got them seated, then he went back to get them something to drink. He grabbed a beer for himself, then paused. He should probably ask Nola which she preferred. He'd have guessed the wine, but every once in a while she would have a beer.

  "Sweetheart, what did you want to drink?" he called over to her.

  "I'll just have water for now."

  "Okay," Owen answered, but he was surprised. Nola was not a heavy drinker, but it was a party after all. Fortunately, Gilly had a pitcher with ice cubes so he poured it into a cup for Nola.

  "Are you feeling all right?" he asked as he handed to the cup and sat down.

  "Sure, just saving my voice for the story. This is delicious. Eat while it's hot."

  Owen shrugged and dug in. It was delicious, filling and flavorful. He ate all his stew and then the rest of the bread, licking his fingers when he was done. There was not much conversation as everyone was too busy eating. Nola passed him her half-eaten bread bowl.

  "Here, you can finish mine."

  "Nola, are you sure you feel okay?" he asked, concerned now.

  She nodded. "I'm fine. The food is delicious, but it's filled me up."

  Owen studied her and then finished off her portion. He could feel eyes on him and looked up to see Finn watching every bite he took. Gilly was sitting next to him and she gave him a push.

  "There is more in the house and you can have some if you want. But I thought you might be ready for dessert."

  Finn was out of his chair so fast that he almost tipped it over. Everyone laughed, but the rest of the men were right behind him to fill up their plates with brownies and cookies. They were smart men though and made sure that they brought back enough to share with their women.

  Nola thanked him and nibbled at a cookie. Owen was starting to get concerned. Nola always had a healthy appetite for such a petite girl. He hoped that she was not getting sick with since they had such a busy week coming up. She had been pushing pretty hard the last week or so.

  Finally everyone was done eating. Finn sat back, his hands crossed across his stomach, apparently full at last. "Come on, Nola. It's time to start the stories."

  The talk quietened down as Nola sat up in her chair. She glanced at Gilly as if she suddenly realized that the older woman had seniority, but Gilly motioned her to go on.

  "We are here to celebrate the Winter Solstice, or Alban Arthan as we knew it in ancient times. For this purpose, we will set the Yule Log to burn. It will be lit by the remains of last year's log." Nola waited, her face glowing in the fire light while her brothers got up and brought a log to the fire. It was not very big, but heavy enough that Conn stumbled and Henry jumped up to help him carry it. Gilly muttered some words in Gaelic and they placed the end of the log into the fire.

  Nola gave a sweet smile. "Here it will burn and the remains will be saved for next year."

  She turned to the basket that was sitting next to her chair and pulled out some greenery and holly berries. "We will decorate our houses to celebrate the season. The boughs will protect our homes and remind us that even in the dead of winter, Albun Hefin, the Summer Solstice, will be celebrated again in the warm months and bring back the growing plants." She looked at the circle of people around the fire. They were listening to her closely, even her brothers and Gilly who knew the story well. Jane and Henry were huddled together under a blanket yet paying close attention. And Owen had his arm on the back of her chair, his knuckles brushing against her collar as if he could not bear to let her be any further away from him.

  "It is the time of the eternal battle between the Oak King and his twin, the Holly King. They are twins like Hugh and I, or like Finn and Conn, but two sides of the same coin, light and dark. The Oak King reigns throughout the summer while his brother lays weak, nursing his wounds. But his strength wanes as the days grow shorter until the Winter Solstice occurs."

  "The Oak King is fair and wears an oak crown. He is sometimes called the Green Man and represents fertility and the growth of living things. The Holly King has dark hair and a stern mien. The two brothers meet and fight a fearsome battle to determine the ruler for the next six months. Every year the Holly King proves the stronger and the Oak King must depart to rest in Caer Arianrhod and gather his strength until Midsummer comes and the battle is fought anew. The Wheel of Life turns. This is how we celebrate new life at the seasons of the year."

  Nola took the branch of dead oak leaves that she had collected earlier and tossed it into the fire. As the branch was consumed Conn pulled out a tin whistle and played a plaintive tune. The stars were out and Nola could see her breath, but she was not cold. She had her family and friends with her, though she sent a thought wafting through the air to her twin, Hugh, away in the Other Worlds with his new wife. It was time for Owen's surprise.

  She leaned over to Owen and whispered into his ear. For just a moment he was still, then he jumped up, pulling her up into an embrace.

  "When?" he asked. By now the others were standing, questioning the couple's behavior.

  "
May," Nola answered and placed a hand on her stomach. The women understood before the men, although Gilly probably knew anyway and had not spoken until Nola announced it. They gathered around Nola, pushing Owen aside. Finn and Henry thumped him on his back and elfin Conn just beamed at him.

  "It appears that my Aobh will soon have a cousin to grow up with," he said with a grin, then gave Owen a hug.

  "I'm going to be a father," Owen gasped and abruptly sat. Nola came over and he grasped her hands. "We need to get married right away. I don't want to wait."

  Nola laughed. "We can talk about it. We have time." She ran her hand through his hair. He had lost his hat somewhere in the confusion of her announcement. "Are you happy, love?"

  "So happy I can't believe it." Owen pulled her down onto his lap. "Sorry, I didn't hurt you, did I?"

  "Of course not. I'm fine. I have an appointment for tomorrow morning to be checked at the doctors, but I've been feeling great. He's sneaking me in before we leave for Canada."

  "My family is going to be so excited." Owen shook his head still trying to absorb the news. He looked up as Gilly came over and sat in the chair next to them.

  "Congratulations," she said. "I am very pleased for you both."

  "I think you knew all along, Gilly." Nola grinned at Gilly. "You probably already know the sex of the baby."

  The small wrinkles at the corner of Gilly's eyes crinkled as she smiled back. "Do you want to know the