"That guy was cute," Avery said, stepping out the inn's front door.

Ahead of her, Noelle finished zipping up her new coat. "Who? Piet?"

The receptionist they'd met an hour or so earlier was nowhere to be seen when they left to find dinner, instead being replaced by a matronly type woman napping behind the check-in counter.

"No, I meant the other guy. Nick I think it was," Avery said as she bent down to scoop a handful of fresh snow off the deserted street.

Noelle shrugged. "Eh."

Avery laughed, balling the white crystals between her gloves. "I should have figured you'd go for the brooding one."

Noelle put up a warning finger. "Hey, you know nothing about me. And if you even think about chucking that snowball in my direction, I swear I will feed you to the first wolf I find."

"Fine," Avery ruefully relented, turning away and aiming at a black metal box labeled 'Post,' instead.

"Hey. Was that there before?" Noelle asked, pointing to the first of a succession of wintergreen garlands streamed between the two sides of the narrow street, decorated with red and gold ornaments and glowing lights. She could have sworn they weren't up when they'd arrived.

Avery shrugged while sweeping the snowball's remnants off her hands. "I don't know. Probably. It's almost Christmas so I can't imagine who'd be putting up more decorations this late."

Piet had given vague directions, but as they neared the next intersection, there was no mistaking the tavern. Akin to a Viking-era great hall, its A-line roof loomed over the surrounding structures, while real torches flickered in front. Here too were countless wreaths and garlands, but there were also decorations of nuts and dried fruits. Inside, both the trimmings and mood were just as festive.

Goat puppets made of straw and Yule log centerpieces with lit candles adorned the rough-hewn tables, while sparkling glass balls of silver and blue hung from the antler chandeliers. The air smelled of cinnamon, pine, and citrus while simultaneously conjuring images of roast duck and cranberries. Groups of six or eight sat on communal benches sharing family-sized platters of food and drinking from elaborately painted mugs and goblets. The ones who appeared to have been there the longest (their plates were the most empty and their cheeks were the most rosy), sang boisterous, folksy songs in a language Noelle didn't recognize.

"Table for two? Follow me please," said a young woman with hair so light it was almost white, grabbing the duo before they had even properly entered. Leading them to a table smack in the middle of the tavern, she handed over a couple of menus and promptly disappeared.

"Please be in English," Avery whispered as she opened the leather-bound menu.

Noelle followed suit, scanning the contents.

APPETIZERS

Pheasant rillettes – salted breast meat served with juniper berries and apples on rye

Toast skagen – shrimp in a dill mayonnaise sauce on toasted wheat with whitefish roe

Traditional smörgåsbord – jellied pigs feet, ham, and lutfisk served with bread, cheeses

Salmon gravlax – fish cured in salt, pepper and dill

SOUPS and SALADS

Nordic winter vegetable soup – celery root, parsnips and barley in a rich broth

Endive and pear salad – with goat cheese, grape and walnuts

MAIN COURSES

Crisp crackling pork – roast served with braised red cabbage and caramel potatoes

Pickled herring – with mustard sauce and beetroot salad

Spiced quince ham – with potato and carrot casserole

Meatballs – braised in wine and lemon

DRINKS

Elderflower glogg – spiced warm port and rum, flavored with citrus and elderflower

Eggnog cocktail – bourbon and amaretto in light cream with cinnamon and nutmeg

Hot chocolate – Belgian chocolate with whipped cream and peppermint sprinkles

DESSERTS

Rissalamande – Danish rice pudding with cream and almonds

Pepparkakkor – traditional sugar and spice cookies

Almond cake – delicate loaf with a sugar drizzle

Lussekatter buns – yeast buns with saffron and cardamom served with lingonberry jam

Gingerbread bundt cake – soft and spicy with a warm chocolate glaze

Applesauce trifle – Belle de Boskoop apples with oat and spelt in whipped cream

Noelle's stomach rumbled as she got to the end of the list. "Do you think I could just ask for a pepperoni slice and a beer?"

"You must be joking. Who put a lump of coal in your stocking when you were a kid?" Avery looked at her incredulously.

"No one. Can't a girl want some comfort food after travelling all night or day or whatever we did?" she asked, slamming the menu shut.

Avery frowned. "I can't believe that you have this amazing selection of food and you're craving pizza. You know, I've actually noticed a distinct lack of holiday cheer with you even before we got here. Why are you so bah-humbug about all things Christmas?"

"First of all, I'd appreciate less of the seasonal idioms. And second, there's nothing wrong with me. I just don't like all the fuss everyone makes this time of year," she said, leaning back in her chair. But when Avery continued to stare, she continued. "If you must know, we didn't have much money when I was growing up so instead of stupid decorations or presents I'd tire of in a week, my parents would treat me to experiences."

"Oh yeah? Like what?"

Noelle recalled some of her favorite memories. "Like climbing the Pitons on St. Lucia or swimming with sea turtles in Port Elizabeth," she said. "Nothing beats those times we had together."

"I admit that sounds pretty cool, but you can't fault people for wanting to celebrate in their own way," Avery countered.

"I'm the last one to judge. Honest. But don't pull me into your nineteenth century bastardization of various pagan beliefs that have become increasingly commercialized so companies can sell more stuff in their fourth quarter."

Avery grimaced. "And there she is again. Just when I thought you were mellowing out, you go back to being a Debbie Downer."

"Call me what you want, but don't sound so shocked. I'm not exactly the poster girl for Christmas," Noelle said, making a gesture around her face like a game show model who's pointing out the grand prize.

"You mean your piercings, dreads and tats?" Avery asked, raising an eyebrow mischievously. Looking over her left shoulder, she nodded toward a boisterous table. "Like Erik the Red over there?"

Noelle had to lean in her seat to get a good look, but the large Scandinavian man with russet locks in multiple braids and beads woven into his bushy beard was hard to miss, even without the holly crown on his head.

"Touché," she said, placing her hands on the table before standing. Grabbing her coat off the back of the chair, she began dressing. "You go ahead and order for yourself. I need to get some air. I'm not hungry anyway."

Avery's eyes widened in surprise. "I didn't mean to be rude, I swear. Where are you going? Aren't you worried about the wolves?"

"Wolves?" asked the waitress who'd just returned to take their order. "There are no wolves here for one hundred kilometers in either direction."

Noelle smiled. "See? I'll be fine. I'll meet you back at the hotel."

This is my #NaNoWriMo2019 project and while I absolutely love all of my silent readers, I would LOVE to get your encouragement while writing this story. So please, please, please add it to your libraries, vote on the chapters (updates daily!) and leave me comments. <3

Researching the food for this chapter made me so hungry! Do you see anything on the menu you'd eat?