———— 0008. d e c e m b e r   0 8.

my favourite things

Seydisfjörður is a town of around 668 people in East Iceland, sitting at the inner corner of a fjord of the same name. The main economy of Seydisfjörður has primarily been the fishing industry throughout its history, but it has seen increased tourism in recent years. The town has a sizeable harbour, and the ferry Norræna is operated from here, sailing over to Scandinavia.

In that 668 inhabitans… there were Bryn's grandparents. 

And their family Tomten they didn't even know existed. Tomtens had a way of hiding themselves from the humans. This is why they could be able to live in their barns for… For a whole eternity, if they chose to. 

"What do you know about this Tomten guy?" Bryn asked. We've reached Seydisfjörður just in time for sunrise. Bryn drove for nine hours from Reykjavík in two stage. It was hard but she didn't complain. Not even for a second. 

"Nothing, basically. I've never met a Tomten." I shook my head sadly. I didn't know everything. Not by far. And it hurt me, because I knew she counts on me. 

"Then… Welcome to the sweet ignorance of humanity, Ash! Now you know what the humans feel like." she patted my shoulder with one hand as she turned right around the city centre. "Okay, now… Head's up! I've told my grandparents I'm coming over with my roommate. Who I've met at university. So… Just imagine that you are some average uni student, figure out yourself a major and… Drop some of that ancient phrases you use daily!"

"That's the way I talk!" I insisted as I chuckled. She nugged me constantly about my use of language. I picked up some 21st century slang, that's for sure. 

"Okay then… Say that Norse mythology and Edda studies is your major! That makes your language a little bit more believable!" she lifted her hand, showing me a tiny space between her thumb and index finger, representing a little bit. 

"I'm fine with that!" in my thoughts, I repeated the informations she gave me. Roommate, know each other from university, Norse studies, cut back on the ancient. 

And I thought that finding the Tomten would be the hardest part of our day. 

"Relax. My grandparents are cool!" she parked in front of beautiful, enormous, colorful house, close to the town church. I loved the vibe it radiated. Is this how Gen Z talk? 

She honked after she applied the handbreak. And her grandparents appeared at the front door a second later. They smiled. So kindly. Warmly. They've been waiting for Bryn. They've looked forward for her. 

"Brynhildr!" her grandmother exclaimed loudly and happily.

"Don't even say a thing!" Bryn slapped me on the arm, before I could actually say a thing. "They are the only ones who won't stop calling me Brynhildr!"

"And me. In my head!" I added with a big smile, can't keep my thought to myself.

"Oh yeah? Then you should teach me your full name!" I froze. Even elves couldn't really remember each other's full name. Because one's full name… has a power. A great power. If someone says or even knows your full name… has a power over you. 

"And you… Are you a too cool complex female character for a fancy full name?" I avoided answering and got back to her full name. 

"Shut up!" she shoved my side lightly. 

"Brynhildr, why are you tossing that kind girl! Haven't you heard of good hospitality?" her grandmother basically run to us, teasing Brynhildr. 

"It's Ash, ma'am!" I added with a light smile, and without thinking, in my awkward-ness, I brushed the hair out of my face. 

In the next second, an arm dropped on my shoulder from my side. I froze as her skin met with mine. Even if it wasn't her skin, just her jacket. But she… Her fingers were just… Light breeze in my hair, she caressed and stroked my skin and my face. And then… I realized. 

When I brushed my hair over, my elf ears became visible. Too visible for a mortal lady. 

"Well… Welcome at the nest, Yndið mítt!" 

I knew I will like her in the second she called me sweetie. 

__________

Einar and Kristín welcomed me in their home instantly. Warmly. With such… good cheer and welcome. I've never felt a thing similar like that before. Especially not at the Toy Shop. 

When the grandparents left for the fjord and to the fish market, Bryn and I thought that there won't be a more perfect time to look around the barn. We made sure that the grandparents left and then… Sneaked out to the barn. The place was rather out of service. It was basically storage, with some leftover straw and hay, with beautiful wooden beams. Beams that there absolutely perfect for a Tomten. 

We didn't know how to… Convince the Tomten to reveal himself. We talked around a few times, quietly, just communicating with looks maybe the Tomten would… recognize our smell or something like that. 

But nothing happened. 

And then I figured… Tomtenissens and elves are similar creatures. Christmas creatures. We are built the same way. 

So… I spoke out. 

"Tomten of the Sigurbjörnson family!" I tried to sound… Confidently and threatening. But in reality… I had goosebumps. Because I knew… There was no coming back from this. If I say it… But then… I said it. I had to."I am Arnþrúður Glyrandottir, Christmas elf of Santa Claus! I seek your help with a girl you suppose to be guard! Help us!"

It sounded more like a beg, a plea, rather than… Any confident shout out. 

But then… Out of thin air. The Tomten appeared. 

They are generally described as being short, having a long white beard, and wearing a conical or knit cap in red or some other bright colour. They often have an appearance somewhat similar to that of a garden gnome.

He was not an elderly man. He was not ugly. He was not bearded. 

But… At least the description of his clothes were accurate. Dressed in the traditional farmer garb, consisting of a pull-over woolen tunic belted at the waist and knee breeches with stockings. Similar style as I had back home. 

A young man who looking no older than me, sat on one of the beams with a light smirk, clearly amused by my shouting. 

"Wow. An elf saying her full name. Must be the end of the world!" He grinned at us from above. His voice was… Like silk. I saw Bryn gulp. So I gulped too. And blushed. 

Does Bryn think he is handsome? I mean… He is handsome. Infuriatingly handsome. Intimidatingly handsome. 

"Well… It kinda is. Because… as a matter of fact… Santa is gone! And you have to help us find him!"

a/n : hey hey, christmas folks ❤❤❤

ash is gay panic is reaaaally visible i think 😂😂 what do you think about their little banter?

and now, we have our tomten here too, sassy little bastard. at this last scene, i couldnt help but thinking about mushu and his scene with the guardians of the family fa 🤣🤣🤣

yeah... I think Tomten is kind of like Mushu 😂😂