Following a spritely holiday elf‘s recent visit, a touch of Yule cheer has not been gently laid upon the Freehold… rather, it has been poured on by the bucket-load.
Large satin ribbons are spots of brilliant red along one wall, accented by one in green over the mini-fridge, and strings of lights spread across the booths. Tinsel icicles of silver adorn the wingback chairs around the Bale, and mistletoe is scattered overhead.
A hat with foam reindeer antlers was left abandoned, until someone has given it a place of honor: atop the head of the statue of Chieftain Brekke.
As if the hold itself understands, though some of the mistletoe has been forcibly removed, more still sprouts above, springing from the beams overhead as if growing from the very wood. The windows are frosted with delicate snowflake patterns, and the Garden has a nip in the air, promising cool weather to come…
Though hooves may make one think of Krampus, it was a more cheerful satyr who has hung up stockings all along the walls – all handmade, festively decorated, and each with the name of a Freehold visitor upon it.
The decor is not the only thing updated, as the hold has also had a long-awaited visit by the local boggan beertender, which has left the bar bursting with a bounty of beverages.
Tall bottles of cherry mead, pumpkin porter, an earl grey infused IPA and an apple ale, joined by mead, frambois, dandelion wine and Scottish ale.
The lower shelves, those at childling-height, are stocked with sodas; birch beer, ginger ale, sarsparilla and ginger beer.
Holiday Cheer for some, and enough good beer for the others to drink away any recognition of it.
