A million voices filled the area, each one more excited than the other. Small children ran through the Christmas maze in hope of finding presents, their exclaims of pure happiness enchanting the city of Gloria with cheer. It had become that time of year again, the time when nothing else mattered other than family and fun, when all else was forgotten about. It was Eve. The event that came right before Christmas, what every fae in this city looked forward to. I stood from the throne, looking over the balcony onto the hundreds of acres that were crowded with rides, stalls and all else. The smile never left my face, as this was many fae’s favourite times of year, it was also mine. The joy that was spread was endless, and as my dream had been so many years ago when I was a young child eating as many chocolates as possible, I was now the orchestrator of Eve. That alone was enough to make my heart swell a thousand times bigger. As I watched the Fae of Gloria become anointed with exhilaration, there became footfalls behind me, in an instant they were beside me.

      ‘Are they having fun?’ My husband asks, and I feel the warmth in my heart envelope me softly. Archer was the king of Gloria – which made me the queen. He was the one who stood beside me through everything, and the one who helps keep the magic of Christmas alive every year, and he has never failed. Still wearing the biggest grin on my face, I turn to him, and into his embrace. He feels so warm that I live with him in this moment for eternity.

      ‘Yes, they are.’ I tell him, whilst losing myself in those big blue eyes, big enough to fit a whole sea. Archer’s hair was styled so perfectly, with the black ends leaving loose around his eyes, adding to the effect that is him. He smiles back, holding me closely.

    ‘Well, I guess the next question is, are you having fun, Freya?’ He says my name so effortlessly, I break our contact to look at the amazement that we together have created, and just when I think my smile can’t grow any bigger, it does.

      ‘Yes, yes I am.’ I lean back into him, ‘after all, this is my favourite time of year.”’ I sing. 

      Archer’s chest shakes in a chuckle and his voice vibrates through me. ‘Would you like to see something?’ 

      ‘Of course.’ my voice lights up with delight as Archer brings his hand from my back, his black and red suit fitting to him so well, like the wizard of Eve he is, he snaps his fingers. Out of nowhere, little white specs of snow fall from the sky. Each one was bigger than the other, and soon enough the ground below us was covered in white snowflakes. The children are able to pick up balls of snow, tossing them at one another whilst the adults laugh at the show. Archer’s hair caught some specks too, the sight so perfect that I could stare forever.

      ‘This is perfect.’ I whisper into his pointed ear, my arms wrapped around his shoulders.

      ‘I have another surprise.’ Archer whispers back, and suddenly, we are no longer standing on the balcony of our room overlooking the guests, now we are down on the ground with them. The lullaby of Christmas carols is closer than before. I realise that Archer is no longer standing beside me. Searching my surroundings, I am met by a hard cold slap. That sounded like a crunch of snow hitting my face, followed by the sound of laughter. Archer’s laugh. He stood a few feet away from me, behind some children who stared, gobsmacked. He threw a snowball at me. His smile was the size of

Gloria.

      ‘I hope you know what this means–game on.’ I yelled out to him, trying to cover my smile with an angry look.

      ‘I wouldn’t expect anything less, Freya,’ he yelled back, already throwing another snowball at me. I dodged just in time, seeing that the intended snowball hit someone behind me, causing a yelp to spill from their lips. 

      ‘Sorry about that, my husband has a really bad aim.’ I call out sincerely, turning back around only to be met with another snow avalanche. That was it, I would get him back. Taking some snow into my palms, I shape it into a perfect ball and use my wind magic to hit my target, but Archer puts a shield up using his own magic.

      ‘If that’s how you want to play, so we shall,’ he indulges. Then in one sweep move, without using his hands, he has a whole pile of snowballs beside him, ready to launch. I quickly did the same, then glancing beside me, we had attracted an audience. 

      Looking at the children, I called to them, ‘Would you like to help?’ They all nodded and charged over, the snowflakes still falling, heavily. Each of the young fae’s take a white ball, readying themselves. I met eyes with Archer a few feet away, squinting them in challenge, he did the same, both of us with a grin.

      ‘Ready,’ I start, taking a snowball for myself, ‘Fire!’ I shout, all of the children charging with their snowballs, as they came flying back at them. Archer used his mind magic to control the snow towards us and away from him. Clever, I thought, but not clever enough for me. I use the snow still falling to my advantage, making an image in my mind and turning it into something real. Snow swirled like a tornado, and in its form came a snowman, every quality made just right. I commanded him to follow, out of his mouth he was shooting snowballs, I couldn't hold my laugh in as they finally hit Archer, snow latching onto his once clean outfit, and just like my matching ball gown, he was soaked. The children still fought, though they were no match, then I noticed a creature form beside him, different to my snowman, this took the form of a snow reindeer, launching snow from his antlers. We both moved forward, until we met in the middle, our hands intertwining as did our magic, both Christmas creatures swirling together around us, meshing to make snow. As it still swarmed around us, I took the opportunity to reach my hand and grab a hand full of snow, quickly smashing it into Archer’s face, I let out a contagious laughter, his face covered in snow, he reached up to wipe the remains off and looked me deeply in the eyes, smile still remaining. 

      ‘Having fun?’ He asks, but it comes out as more of a statement, because he knew I was. I nodded. I looked around us, past the swarm of snow circling us, everyone was admiring us – the King and Queen. 

      ‘Do you want to do something?’ I ask, and he nods, confused. ‘Follow my lead.’ I tell him, and as I rejoin our hands, I feel the power of our magic becoming what I will it to. After a few seconds, the snow that was once wrapped around our bodies was now up in the air, in the shape of fireworks, ones that let out vibrant colours of red, green and white, Christmas’ traditional colours. The booms were a sound of pure celebration that Christmas was arriving soon. The fae of the city glanced up in awe, the young ones cheering. This was everything that I had wished for, and more. The whole city brought together to celebrate the biggest event of the year. Some things never changed; this was one of them that I wouldn't allow to change. Whilst everyone watched the fireworks in the air, I was looking at Archer, and he was looking back at me. 

      ‘You're amazing.’ He fuses, and I know he truly means it as he looks at me with such admiration, the same way I look at him, longingly. 

      My eyes flutter, ‘I know, but so are you.’ I lean close. He pulls me into an embrace, both of us watching the remains of the firework display we put on.

Once the fireworks come to an end, there is a massive round of applause that is given to us, the King and Queen of Gloria. We thank them all for coming to Eve and that we hope to see them all again next year, and once that is over, Archer takes me around the Christmas carnival, trying every ride and contest. It is everything I love to do. We finished off with the Ferris wheel that had garlands wrapped around the entire thing, candy canes filling the spaces, making it all magical. Now, we sat back on the balcony, watching as every fae of Gloria left the gates, the elves directing them. Then looking out and knowing that everyone will have a merry Christmas after this year's Eve.

The end.