The characters are from Sentinals Banished, the 5th book in the Sentinal series- though these events are all made up for the #12DaysOfTurvywriting challenge and are out of sequence and do not exist in the book.
Chatacters:
Leyarille is Jerrol and Taelia’s daughter, born at the beginning of Book 4, Sentinals Across time. She is now 17, as is Jared, Alyssa and Jennery’s second son.
Marianille and Birlerion are Sentinals, and step-brother/Step-sister.
Niallerion is a sentinal and Marianille’s husband.
Dec3. Decorations
Early the next morning, Marianille was organising her work party. She would accept no excuses and soon everyone was bundled up against the cold. “I spoke with the Father, and he said the trees in the west of the garden need pruning. We need to cut enough boughs for the temple as well. I need those frothy ferns that grow at the base of the sentinals trees, the ones with the fine leaves, and some evergreen boughs. I want to dress the windows and make a wreath for the door. If you can find any colourful berries or cones, they would be ideal.”
Niallerion rolled his eyes. “You’re not asking for much, are you?”
Patting his cheek, Marianille said, “You have to earn your dinner,” and she kissed him.
“In that case …” Niallerion hustled Jared before him into the temple gardens. Laughing, Marianille followed him.
“After you,” Birlerion said as Leyarille entered the gardens. Flashing him a smile, Leyarille scuffed her way through the snow. It covered her boots, and coated the trees.
“Do you miss, not having your sentinal here?” she asked as Birlerion followed behind her.
“Sometimes. But now Marianille and Niallerion’s trees are here, the temple doesn’t seem so lonely.”
“Lonely?”
“I suppose it’s what people get used to. When we moved to Stoneford, everyone said they missed my sentinal and the temple didn’t look right.”
“Why do the ferns grow around the sentinals?”
“I expect because Leyandrii always loved them. She used to decorate the palace with fronds of the stuff.”
“Is that where the tradition came from then?”
“No doubt,” Birlerion replied. “Ah, look. This tree has lots of red berries. Marianille will love this.” Birlerion reached for a branch and pulled it down so Leyarille could cut off some branches. A shower of snow descended on them and he cursed as Leyarille jumped back, laughing at him.
He scraped up a handful off the branch and threw it at her.
Leyarille ducked.
“At this rate we’ll never collect enough greenery to satisfy your sister,” Niallerion complained.
Birlerion raised an eyebrow. “Oh, so when Marianille wants something, she’s my sister is she?” He scraped more snow up, compacted it into a ball and threw it at Niallerion.
“Hey!” Niallerion retaliated and yells and shrieks of laughter rang through the gardens.
Helen Garraway 