Solstice in Sonheim: Violet's Feast

This is one half of a pair of stories for Solstice in Sonheim. If you wish to read the other side of this tale, please feel free to look through Zach's Gift
Sonheim, 1535
Chapter 1
Evening, Solstice Eve
Violet tugged on her cloak, wrapping it tight around herself as she walked along the canal. The cold had never agreed with her and the wintery gusts of wind weren’t providing much reason for her to change her mind. Nor did it help that she wasn’t in the best of mood to begin with. She’d had a harder time than expected when leaving the Solstice party at the theater and cursed under her breath at how late she was already thanks to it.
It wasn’t that Violet disliked the other actors and stagehands at Winrose, in fact she got on rather well with most of them. The issue was that the guest list wasn’t exclusive to members of the theatre company. Prominent patrons, often with connections to noteworthy merchant or even noble families, were also invited. Most seemed to attend out of genuine support in the arts, but there were always a handful more interested in finding someone new to have on their arm.
Despite literally dancing between patrons, the party hadn’t been a complete waste of time for Violet. She’d been able to talk with Thomas from the wardrobe department and sort out what she needed before departing into the frigid night.
At least she clothes for the season were better than what she wore as a child. She’d even paid that merchant the extra silver for a fur-line hood in her cloak. It had been an expense that her purse still felt, but one that Violet felt had been worth every cent. Besides, it was easier to stick with a hood than hunting around in the hopes of finding earmuffs suited for Elven ears.
Despite the insulation her cloak provided, Violet still all but sighed in relief when she rounded the corner and caught sight of the winking rabbit engraved on the sign swinging in the breeze. The tavern windows were aglow with light and only succeeded in muffling the ruckus of however many patrons were getting an early start on their celebrations.
Arthur's doing a good business from the sound of it, Violet thought with a grin as she turned down the alleyway and came to the back of the pub.
There were fewer windows on this side of the building, but luckily some well placed lamps proved enough to make up the difference so Violet didn’t trip down the stairs that lead to the tavern’s basement.
Finally out of the wind, Violet lowered her hood and fixed her hair before wrapping her knuckles on the cellar door. A beat passed before the door opened to reveal a tall, gangly man sporting the dark grey vest that seemed to serve as uniform for bartenders the city over.
“Ah, Ms. Kosaka,” the man greeted with a polite bow before holding the door open. “Please, come in.”
“Thank you, Devan,” Violet said, walking into the cellar.
Once inside, the sounds from the taproom above drifted more clearly through the floorboards. Someone was plucking notes away on a mandolin while others sung along. The music was fairly pleasant, but whoever said that alcohol could improve one’s artistic ability must have never heard a half-dozen men trying to harmonize while three drinks in. Violet had to keep herself from bristling as she heard the performers butcher the chorus.
“It’s not that bad once you get used to it,” Devan remarked, walking along one of the shelves.
Violet followed close behind. “How can you get used to…” she cringed as one singer tried and failed to hit a high note. “That?"
“It avoids repetition,” Devan replied as he came to a door at the other end of the cellar. “You can hear the same song a dozen times and it will rarely sound the same.”
“Or on key.”
Devan chuckled. “Touché.” He fished a key out of his pocket and inserted into the door. “Now if we’re done discussing barhopping bards, I believe Ms. Blake is expecting you.”
To most people, the door would have likely appeared as that of a supply closet or the like with its dilapidated frame and hinges that almost seemed to squeak even when stationary. Which was why those same people would be surprised to find a lack of supplies, shelves, or back wall behind the door. Instead, a tunnel carved its way through the earth and into darkness.
Devan unhooked one of the lanterns from the ceiling and stepped into the tunnel. “Right this way.”
Violet followed, ducking under the beams that shored up the tunnel’s walls. She knew from past visits that the tunnel could be walked in less than a dozen paces, but it still amazed her how quickly the light from the cellar dropped off past the door.
Keeping the lantern out where it could illuminate the short tunnel, Devan turned the handle on a second door and the sounds of the Burrow filled the air. He stepped through and turned, offering his hand to Violet as she came down the steps.
Much like in the Black Hare above, the under-tavern was full of patrons and drinkers celebrating the coming Solstice. The revelry was more subdued here as most had their attention focused on the performance on the far stage of the tavern.
The young woman was twisting and dancing as she strummed a rapid tune on her lute. As she moved, streams of water floated out of bowls set up around the stage. The snaked through the air and around the musician, who barely paid the liquid any mind as she twirled about. Instead, the water and the dancer moved as if in a duet with the other, never colliding or intersecting. Even the swish of the woman’s blue dress or her sable hair as it fanned out with her movement seemed to evade the water coiling in the air beside her.
Glad I didn’t miss the show, Violet thought before bidding Devan away and making her way to the bar. No one seemed to pay her much notice, too busy watching the performance on stage and Violet wouldn’t have had it any other way. She’d had enough attention for one day.
“Violet, you made it,” one of the bartenders said as she took a stool.
“Hey, Himiko,” Violet returned. “Did I miss much of the show?”
“A bit, but you’re just in time for the finale.”
Violet looked towards the stage and, sure enough, the performer’s music had begun to build, both her movements and those of the water floating around her seeming to match the crescendo. As the music gained in intensity, the water rose up and slightly out from the stage, twisting and swirling around itself. The dancer spun and twirled, her fingers giving their own performance on the lute.
As the song reached its peak, the performer gave one last spin and rested her hand on the neck of the lute, silencing it. In the same instant, the water that had collected above her exploded out in a fine mist over the tavern, causing the light from the lanterns overhead to sparkle and dance as it refracted through the droplets. There was a beat of silence as the audience gazed at the display before applause erupted through the under-tavern.
The performer gave a theatric bow before stowing her lute behind the curtain and making her way off stage as band of musicians struck up a new song. She smiled and quickened her pace when she looked to the bar and saw who was waiting for her.
“Vi!” she greeted, wrapping Violet in a hug. “I was worried you wouldn’t make it.”
“It’s great to see you, Cassie,” Violet said returning the embrace. “And sorry I’m late. It took me forever to get away from the party they had at the theatre.”
Cassandra gave a sigh. “Don’t know why I’m surprised.”
“Either of you want a drink?” Himiko asked. The girls gave their orders and with a swish of her ponytail, Himiko turned and went to work.
“Hey, I still made it in time to see your show,” Violet said as she and Cassandra waited. “Your new routine is amazing! How long have you been working on it?”
“Just a few weeks,” Cassandra replied, smiling at her friend’s praise. “I’ve been practicing on my lute for months and wanted to work it into my act. I couldn’t wait to show you and Janise.” She glanced around. “Did she not come with you?”
“No,” Violet sighed. “She was chatting up some merchants at the party last I saw her. She sends her love, though.”
Cassandra rolled her eyes. “I see her routine hasn't changed much then.”
“Come on, you two,” Himiko remarked as she set down their drinks. “Let Janise have her fun. Gods know she deserves some happiness in her life.”
“Fine,” Cassandra conceded before taking her glass. She must have worked up a thirst during her performance because she gulped down half her drink in one swig.
Violet showed a bit more restraint as she took a generous sip of her drink, savoring it as it chased the lingering chill from her.
“Are we all still going to the Feast tomorrow night?” Himiko asked.
“Wouldn’t miss it!” Cassandra cried as set her near-empty glass down. “Please tell me Janise still remembers the plan.”
Violet nodded. “She knows. I reminded her before I left the party.”
“Okay. Us with her make four. You bringing anyone, Himiko?”
The bartender cocked her head. “Who’d I bring?”
“Oh, you know,” Cassandra replied coyly. “Just wondering if you asked Toliver to come along. He might be interested, especially if you asked him, Himiko.”
Violet had never seen Himiko’s face turn so red. Even the points of her ears couldn’t escape her blush.
“I…” Himiko feigned a cough as she tried to collect herself. “I did ask him, if you must know.”
“You did?” Violet said excitedly. “What did he say?”
Himiko’s shoulders drooped. “He said he already has plans with his family for tomorrow night.”
Violet gave the Elf a sympathetic look. As much as Himiko tried to downplay it, she knew the girl was disappointed in getting turned down. It wasn’t like she could be mad at the guy, anyway. The Solstice was a time to spend with family, something Violet would never fault someone for choosing when given the chance.
“I guess it’s the four of us then,” Cassandra declared. “Do you want to meet up here on the way to the feast?”
“Sounds good to me,” Himiko replied.
“Sorry,” Violet sighed. “But I’ll have to meet you at the feast. With everything I’ll be carrying, I’ll probably just take a carriage most of the way.” She still needed to go to the market and buy something to bring to the feast. Violet had to stifle a groan at the thought.
Cassandra shrugged. “Fine. Just make sure Janise remembers to take a break from Charlie for the night.”
Now Violet did let out a groan.
Himiko chuckled. “Okay, be nice, Cassandra. Violet’s got enough on her plate as is.”
“Fine, fine,” Cassandra relented before picking up her glass and what little drink was left in it. “Then how’s about a toast to the end of another year?”
Violet smiled and raised her own glass. Himiko made do with an empty mug she pulled from beneath the counter. The three clinked glasses as their Solstice finally began.

Chapter 2
Afternoon, Solstice Day
Violet sighed in relief as she shut the door behind her.
“That you, Violet?” Janise called out from the alcove she and Violet called a kitchen.
“It’s me, Janise,” Violet replied as she hung her cloak on the rack by the door.
“How was the market?”
Violet gave a groan as she collapsed onto the faded sofa that made up their parlor, too exhausted to give a more articulate answer. She had meant to get to the market early to avoid the crowd. After her night out with Cassandra and Himiko, though, she’d overslept and had to dash out to have any chance of getting there before the other last-minute shoppers rushed in. Needless to say, she hadn’t made it.
Janise walked out of the kitchen with a pair of steaming mugs, surprisingly already dressed in a sweater and a thick pair of tights instead of the night clothes she usually lounged around in.
“That bad, huh?” she said.
“How do so many people seem to forget when the Solstice is?” Violet huffed.
Janise gave her one of the mugs and joined Violet on the sofa. “Probably the same reason why I’ve yet to meet a man who can remember his anniversary without his wife throwing a fit at him.” She grinned as she managed to get a laugh out of Violet. “Did you at least get everything you needed done?”
“Yeah,” Violet replied after taking a revitalizing sip of her tea.
She pulled the basket onto her lap and pulled off the cloth hiding a box of Dorayaki on top of the rest of her shopping, each little pancake-red bean sandwich sheathed in its own paper wrapper. It had been a special order for Mori, but the baker had truly outdone himself. Violet wished she could throw more business his way. After dealing with the mob outside, it had been both a relief and a shock to find so few in Mori’s bakery.
Janise took a whiff of the pastries, humming as she picked the box up. “Oh, these will be a hit at the Feast!” she declared. “We planning on picking up Cassie and Himiko on the way tonight?”
“No, they’ll meet us there.” Violet glared at her roommate. “You know, Cassie noticed you weren’t at the Burrow last night.”
“I’d be surprised if she didn’t,” Janise sighed. “How was her show? I heard she’d been working on a new act to cap off the year.”
“I was a bit late,” Violet admitted. “But what I saw was fantastic.”
“Really? Pity I was busy last night.”
Violet rolled her eyes, having a good idea of what business Janise had been up to. She loved the woman like family, but good grief were there times she wondered about her priorities.
“Oh, don’t give me that look,” Janise remarked. “Some of us actually like attention from the occasional gentleman, you know.”
“Hmm, hm,” was all Violet gave as a response.
Honestly, she didn’t mind the attention all that much, provided the gentleman in question remembered to keep his hands to himself. It was more the ever-present question of what the man was looking for that put her off.
“Would it help if I said I’d got us a carriage for tonight?” Janise mused.
Violet instantly looked at the woman. It did help, especially after the markup she’d had to deal with coming back from the market. At least that young man had offered to divide the fare…
The look on her face must have been enough of an answer for Janise. “Don’t look so surprised,” she laughed. “I just asked if he could help a couple nice, young women like ourselves stay safe while out on town tonight and he generously offered his carriage. He said it should be around by sunset.”
“That’s one less thing to worry about,” Violet said, unable to hide her smile. She leaned back as she mentally went over the rest of her list of tasks. “I think all that leaves is picking up the clothes from Thomas.”
“Already done,” Janise sang, gesturing to bulging sack in the corner. “I took care of it while you were out. Consider it an apology for not going out with you and Cassie last night.”
Violet chuckled. “Okay,” she said. “You’re forgiven.”
“Thank you,” Janise chimed, taking a satisfied sip of tea.
The two women chatted a bit more before Violet let out a considerable yawn. It could have been the pass day finally catching up with her or simply the warmth of the tea letting her wind down, probably both. Either way, she decided to take advantage of having her tasks done early and get some rest in before the Feast.
Violet retreated to her bedroom and shut the door. She walked to her nightstand and pulled open the bottom drawer. All that was inside was a box containing some pieces of jewelry and other trinkets she never wore, lighter now than it had been that morning.
Removing the box and setting it aside, she took off her hairclip and inserted the tip of it into a pinhole on the underside of the drawer, prying up the false bottom and revealing a second, flatter box. Producing a key, Violet opened the box and stowed most of the coins from her purse inside before resetting the drawer and its contents back to how they had been before.
Violet shook her hair loose and climbed into bed, enjoying the warmth under her covers. Even during the day, the frigid winter air had made its presence known during her trip to the market.
She must have drifted off to sleep soon after because Violet found herself being roused by a knock on her door. "Get ready, Violet," came Janise’s voice, muffled through the door. “The carriage will be here any minute.”
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Violet rolled out of bed and gave her limbs a stretch. She made a quick change into a fresh set of clothes and joined Janise in the parlor, where the latter was fixing her hair in a mirror hung on the wall.
“All set?” Janise asked, glancing at the Violet reflected in the mirror.
“Almost,” Violet replied. She grabbed her shopping basket and added the contents to that of the sack Thomas had donated. Carrying the bag along, she pulled on her boots and collected the box of Dorayaki from the kitchen.
Soon the two women were hustling down the dormitory’s steps, Violet shouldering the sack while Janise carried the pastries. Waiting for them on the street was a well-lacquered carriage manned by a driver who tipped his hat as they approached, his coat a similar shade of black as the fur on the pair of horses pulling the vehicle.
“Happy Solstice, ladies,” he greeted. “Might one of you be Ms. Thompkins?”
“That I am,” Janise said, cradling the Dorayaki in one hand as she gave a small curtsy to the driver. “Would you be a dear and get the door for us?”
She had barely finished the question when the river hopped down from his seat and opened the door to the coach. Janise pulled herself in with little difficulty, but Violet had to have the driver hold her sack as she climbed aboard.
“Where might I be taking you ladies this Solstice?” the driver said as he passed the sack back to Violet.
“The Elven Quarter, please,” Janise replied. The driver nodded and shut the door, giving the women some privacy.
“You didn’t tell your ‘gentleman’ where we were going tonight?” Violet asked as the carriage lurched into motion.
Janise shrugged her shoulders. “It didn’t really come up. I just told him we wanted to do some charity and could use some safe transport during the long night.”
Violet sighed and shook her head. Part of her wondered how the carriage owner would react once he learned they had gone to the Elven Quarter instead of one of the Lothnic Churches around the city. By that point, though, the Feast would be over, so it didn’t really matter.
Dropping the subject, Violet peered out at the street as the carriage rode along. Her mind soon began to drift, recalling years past when she and her mother had gone to the Feast together. There certainly hadn’t been any carriage back then, even if they might have had the coin for it some years. If her mother was here now, Violet hadn’t a clue how she would react to riding in a private coach like this.
Still, it gave her a smile to try an imagine it, anyway.
The carriage soon slowed to a stop, pulling Violet out of her nostalgia and back to the present. She and Janise disembarked and, after telling the driver to pick them back up in two hours’ time, walked the remaining distance to the city square where the Feast was being held.
An assortment of tables had been set up in the middle of the square, red and white tablecloths draped over in as much an attempt to blend the shapes and sizes together as adhering to tradition. Various foods were stacked on the tables. Mostly different forms of baked goods, but pots of stew, vegetables, and even the occasional plate of meat dotted the offerings.
Paper lanterns and flags, adorned with Daien symbols, were hung from lampposts and buildings. A few flags bearing the flower of Kyama could also be seen, no doubt hung by the more patriotic in the community.
Throughout it all, people milled about, talking and sharing drinks as they waited for the Feast to begin. Children, some wearing clothes in varying degrees of repair, ran around and played with each other while the adults quietly made sure none tried to sneak an early snack from the tables.
A few heads turned as Violet and Janise passed by, the latter smiling despite the guarded looks directed their way. Violet pulled her hood off and tucked her hair behind her ears, letting the onlookers know that one of them was indeed an Elf. It seemed enough to quell most of the looks as she and Janise made their way over to one of the tables and set down the box of Dorayaki.
Violet did a quick scan of the crowd, ignoring the lingering looks she was given, and spotted Cassandra and Himiko standing along the edge of the festivities. Adjusting her grip on the sack, she and Janise crossed the square over to them. “You made it!” Cassandra cried as she saw them approach.
“No need to sound so surprised,” Janise remarked, embracing the girl. “I’m sorry for not making your performance last night. I’d love to hear about it later.” She turned and bowed at the waist. “Hello, Himiko. How’s your family?”
Himiko returned the bow. “They are well, thank you.”
“Good to hear,” Violet said, rubbing her shoulder as she sat her sack down. “You bring everything, Cassie?”
Cassandra nodded and pointed behind her to lute lying beside a small sack of her own. “I wasn’t able to find much,” she said. “But I brought what I could.”
“It’s plenty,” Violet assured.
She carried her sack over to Cassandra’s and, after a few minutes of sorting through what each of them had brought to the Feast, the four women split into pairs. Violet and Himiko took smaller sack while Janise and Cassandra stayed with the larger one, the latter strumming a tune on her lute.
The Elven pair made their way over to where the children were playing and began pulling scarves and knit caps out of their bag. It didn’t take long for the children to approach as they handed the clothes out. A few parents joined in, helping corral the kids so that Violet and Himiko weren’t mobbed by eager little hands.
The caps and scarves were all various colors, most looking a little faded to some degree. Nobody acted surprised or even seemed to mind. Most were used to secondhand clothes and knew better than to expect much better as Violet and Himiko dug around in their sack. No one made a fuss over what color or pattern they were given beyond a few children trading their caps as they moved along.
Behind them, a small crowd of adults had gravitated towards Cassandra’s music, staying just long enough for Janise to hand out whatever clothes Thomas had donated. While the main wardrobe of a given play’s star performers were usually made from scratch to suit the role, lesser roles weren’t paid the same level of attention to detail. Being a lower priority meant designers could save time and resources by tailoring secondhand clothes into whatever was needed to fill the background of a scene.
The nature of the practice being what it was, it only took a few quick questions for Violet to learn of the surplus that accumulated every year in Winrose’s wardrobe department. It had been easy enough to get Thomas to part with the excess clothing, especially after she gave him a couple silvers to make up for what he might have gotten for selling them back. Between negotiating with Thomas and hopping from one shop to another for caps and scarves earlier that day, it had been a test of Violet’s patience as well as her savings…
She passed a scarf to little girl, whose mother gave a grateful bow to her before helping tie it around her daughter’s neck.
… And she would say in a heartbeat that it had been worth every coin.
It wasn’t long before a gong resounded around the square and everyone turned towards the Daien priest stood at the apparent head of the food-laden tables, his white and crimson robes reflecting the tablecloths before him. The crowd quickly reformed around the tables and settled before the priest gave the prayer reserved for the Feast of the Slumbering Sun; thanking the Night god, Yurogami, for watching over Taiyo, the Sun goddess, as she rested and asking for the blessings of both as they all prepared for the rest of the winter.
Violet listened as the prayer went on, her mind once more drifting to thoughts of years gone past, when she had been one of the small girls with her mother. She wished she had understood then how much her mother had needed the gods’ blessings.
Caught in her memories, Violet didn’t notice when the prayer had ended and the crowd began to move on the table. It wasn’t until she felt a tug on her sleeve that she was stirred from her thoughts.
“Come on, Vi,” Cassandra said, practically pulling her along. “You’re gonna miss all of the best pickings if you don’t hurry.”
Violet blinked and smiled at her friend. “Okay, okay,” she said. The two hustled to catch up with the rest of the crowd.
Happy Solstice, mom, Violet silently prayed.

---

Author's Notes:
This is my first attempt at a holiday story as well as my first outing with these characters. I've been recovering from burn out since the summer and writing this was a great way for me to get back into the swing of things. I've been tooling around with the characters and world of Vestria for a couple years now and it feels so good to finally put a story to page.

While Vestria is still one big work in progress, a lot of what I put in here should still track with what I have for the main story. Thanks for reading and Happy Holidays!