"There you are!" Anora, draped in her own plush housecoat and a smile as beautiful and brilliant as the winter morning, sat comfortably at the tree's base surrounded by a mountain of festively wrapped parcels. "I thought you might sleep forever."
Alistair rubbed his eyes with one hand and descended the short stair which led from the bedchamber to the floor. "I would have, but my wife mysteriously vanished. That's not the kind of thing you can take lying down." He grinned at her.
Anora graciously laughed at the offensively bad joke. "Come sit with me," she patted the rug beside her. "I have a gift for you."
Blinking bewilderedly, Alistair gestured at the tea service which had been set out for them near the sitting chairs (as it was every morning). "Don't you want tea first?"
"No, I want you to open your present," Anora insisted, her hand resting atop a large box by her knee.
"Let me just get a cup and I'll be right there, my love," Alistair waved her off, turning towards the steaming pot.
"I really must insist!" Anora half-shouted, nearly pushing to her feet, but thinking better of it at the last moment, her hand still clamped to the top of the present.
Starting slightly at her volume, Alistair slowly turned back to the tree and took a hesitant step towards her, eyeing the parcel with renewed distrust. "Okaaaaay."
Anora huffed. "Oh Alistair, you're being absolutely ridiculous. Just sit down."
He did, the pinch of Anora's mouth giving him the sudden impulse to kiss her. A quick peck on her pouting lips. She started slightly, then smiled, a pretty flush running over her cheeks.
"That's better." Using both hands, she pushed the large box in front of him, giving Alistair the distinct impression that whatever was in it was more weighty than he would have guessed. "Now open it."
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