#fenixtj

"I.. am glad, I think, that they don't entirely understand how cold it is?"

"Sometimes I worry thats because so many have become allies to the cold" She says

She frowns and shakes her head. "No, I don't believe so."

"Enough of us, too, have turned cold and dark."

"We must not " Vaeltilde says "We cannot lose the fight against Endless Winter!" She raises her voice and strikes a pose , then blushes "It would be cowardly to give up"

"And we certainly aren't scaredy-cats!"

"Nuh uh and Nay!" The Aesin hurumphs

the Marranitos are ready for them, and Maria says "how did the battle go?"

"We were glorious" Holger says, but does not claim victory

"it was." Vaeltilde is proud, but says "Holger won the day, but I gave him fair contest"

"It was a match of paired skill!"

"Bueno , Holger, and Bueno, Baroness" Maria nods "If the Countesa praises it, then I know it was something to see." the cookies are handed out to each "Now, we have milk to wash it down. But who wants strawberry milk, who wants chocolate, and who wants regular?"

"Horchata?" Puppy eyes. She does seem to have a soft spot for cinnamon.

Maria fusses "Oh the eyes you make, Of COURSE you may have Horchata." Ever prepared, she was ready for this.

"Oh, gracias!" Maria gets a hug!

"Aesin love strawberry milk... we conquered Vinland for it" The little baroness says

"Chocolate, por favor" Ariel says

Maria bends to give the girl a hug back, "Oh I think you have gotten taller, little countesa."

"Really?" She beams, and streeetches up.

"It must be the horchata."

"Oooh hoo ho" She laughs "So you think you need it more often then? I am not so sure, we do not want you taller than Holger"

She does make some for her though and hands it over

"That would be MOST strange' Holger admits

Ellie giggles.

"And Si, I am sure you have grown a whole inch " Maria answers "Enjoy your Horchata!"

"A WHOLE inch" Ariel says to Ellie proudly

"Next, it'll be TWO, and then I'll be as tall as Rosa!"

"Oh We boggans are used to that" Maria chuckles

"Oh, but let me sing of your cookies, Maria. I made up a song on the way here" Ariel insists

"And this is why Ariel is our troubadour."

Ariel begins her heartfelt song while everyone gets their milk of preference and their cookies. Marranitos are immortalized

(Fade to horchata and Marranitos!)