Haven i Jerne

The early morning was quiet and peaceful, but an air of anticipation lingered. Lucia Day had finally arrived, and Lystig and Fjære were ready to make it a day the garden would never forget. They had worked hard to prepare the lights and ensure everything was perfect. With the Christmas Spirit as their guide, they knew this day would be something truly special.

Lystig stood outside the den, gazing at the magical light of Lucia’s flame still burning in the lantern atop the old oak. It cast a warm glow over the entire garden, and even the cold snow seemed to shimmer.

“Are you ready, Fjære?” Lystig asked, turning to his faithful friend.

Fjære, busy polishing a small mirror to reflect the light, nodded eagerly. “Ready as a starry night! What’s the next step?”

Just as they were preparing for the day’s work, the Christmas Spirit appeared once again. She shone with a special brilliance in honor of the occasion, her voice gentle yet powerful.

“My friends,” she began, “Lucia Day is a celebration of light and hope. You’ve already done much to spread this magic in the garden, but today, we must bring all its creatures together for a shared celebration. Light is strongest when it is shared.”

Lystig’s face lit up. “A celebration? How do we make that happen?”

The Christmas Spirit raised her hand, and from her fingertips, tiny sparks of light flowed, landing on the snow and forming glowing paths. “Follow these trails and invite all the garden’s inhabitants. At sunset, we will gather by the old oak to celebrate Lucia’s light.”

Wasting no time, Lystig and Fjære followed the glowing trails, which led them to every corner of the garden. They knocked on the hedgehog’s burrow, where a tired but curious mother hedgehog poked her head out. They waved to the old badger, who was usually unsociable but nodded solemnly and promised to attend.

Fjære flew up to a few hidden bird nests, singing a little tune that quickly roused chirping excitement among the small birds. Even the shyest creatures, like mice and squirrels, emerged from their hiding places to follow the glowing paths.

As the sun began to set, the garden buzzed with anticipation. All the creatures gathered around the old oak, where the lantern holding Lucia’s flame still shone brightly. The Christmas Spirit stood in the center of the assembly, raising her arms.

“Welcome, everyone,” she said, her voice filling the air like a beautiful melody. “Today, we celebrate not just the light but also the community that makes it stronger.”

With a gentle motion, she allowed Lucia’s flame to split into tiny, floating lights that drifted around and perched like little stars on the branches of the surrounding trees. The garden transformed into a magical wonderland, with every branch twinkling like a Christmas garland.

Lystig and Fjære stood together, gazing at the scene with a mix of pride and awe. They had never seen the garden so beautiful and full of life.

“It’s more than I could have ever imagined,” Lystig whispered.

Fjære nodded. “And look, everyone’s here. Even Max is standing there like a starstruck pup.”

Max, the family dog, stood at the edge of the gathering, his tail wagging. He had followed the glowing paths and seemed just as captivated by the magic as everyone else.

The Christmas Spirit continued, “Let us sing Lucia’s song together, so the light can reach beyond the garden.”

The birds began a melody, carried by the wind and weaving through the trees. Hedgehogs, squirrels, and even the badger joined in with small sounds and gentle taps of their paws. Lystig and Fjære danced around the base of the oak, laughing as they felt more connected to the garden and its magic than ever before.

As the song faded, the entire garden seemed to hold its breath in a moment of perfect peace. Lucia’s flame flared brightly one last time before its light gently settled into the snow and earth, ready to protect the garden in the days to come.

The Christmas Spirit smiled at them all. “Thank you for your light and togetherness. This Lucia Day will be remembered for a long time.”

As the creatures began to return to their homes, Lystig and Fjære lingered a moment longer, savoring the quiet.

“We did it, Fjære,” Lystig said. “We spread the light.”

“And this is just the beginning,” Fjære replied with a grin. “Christmas is still waiting.”

They returned to their den, tired but filled with deep satisfaction. Lucia Day had ended, but its magic would live on in all of them.