Holiday Hijinks (Alarian)

 Prompt: holiday hijinks 

A/N: Satinalia in Thedas according to the wiki is a holiday of gift giving and celebration named after the second moon, in this fic it is analogous to Hanukkah. Not to be confused with Saturnalia- the Breton New Life festival, or the actual Roman Saturnalia which it is based on. Happy holidays!

The holidays come and go quickly, as soon as spring holidays are over one begins to look toward the summer, and the high holidays, then soon after come the few winter ones, and the year repeats all over again in an endless cycle. Being on a lunar calendar there is the additional added confusion of the ever changing dates with the Elven calendar which is now used only in the community, when the new year occurred this year was different to last year, and the year before that was another day as well. “When is Satinalia this year?” Alistair asks, he looks forward to the latkes…and the present or two, I guess that’s what happens when you grow up deprived of your heritage and celebrations. “In 5 days.” I reply, sitting down next to him on the ground and he looks at me with a surprised and concerned face. “Five days…I thought it was at least a week.” Drawing symbols in the dirt I shrug “Time is a construct, and the calendar changes every year. I only found out because Fenris told me yesterday and that was only because Hawke is wondering what’s on the menu this year.” We don’t have as much time to prepare as we typically do, between eradicating remaining darkspawn and other world saving things, along with attempting to generally avoid being noticed for our own good, Alistair and I have been busy. Being in Kirkwall this time of year isn’t something we’d usually be doing either, but duty, and Hawke, called. Leliana and Zevran originally came along as well, with Leli heading to Orlais for some official business, and Zevran stopping in to see Isabela before heading back to Fereldan to rejoin the rest of our motley crew. Hawke was nice enough to give Alistair and I a place to stay that wasn’t some rundown inn, the house is large enough for it. “Why are you on the ground?” a voice asks, as a foot nudges my leg lightly, looking up it’s Hawke himself. “Cleaner than any nearby chair.” to that response he nods in agreement and helps Alistair and I up and I notice Fenris in the background, they must have gone to the market. Once back at the house I help unload the groceries with Fenris while Alistair and Hawke discuss something about Fereldan that neither Fenris nor I will ever understand. “What are we doing this year for the holidays?” I ask, putting away a sack of potatoes. “What do you want to do?” I think for a moment, I’m not entirely sure. “Make food and open gifts?” A rather unoriginal answer, but an answer nonetheless. “That reminds me, I need to get Hawke something.” Fenris murmurs. “Any thoughts?” I have many thoughts, if they’re useful or not remains to be determined. Hawke, unlike Fenris, has a more obvious sense of humor. By saying the white lie that we forgot something Fenris and I head back to the market, this time gift shopping instead of food shopping. Making the rounds from shop to shop we eventually find Hawke a rather ridiculous sweater, something that will be good to wear under his bulky armor, and Alistair a stuffed nug…because he gets occasionally jealous of Leliana’s. With the stage set now it is just a waiting game until sundown in a few days, then the true holiday hijinks can begin, and how I am looking forward to them.