All citizens of this great and wealthy town gathered in the palace that Christmas eve to celebrate the holiday season.
This was a usual tradition every year, everyone gathered in the palace hall to celebrate Christmas with the royal family. It brought the town together.
They all shared good will and testimonies.
The hall was decorated with lots of bright lights, so bright elderly people had to wear shades to protect their eyes. Beautifully decorated Christmas tress filled the hall with lots of gifts to go around.
They called it the "festival of lights" .
Every year the king would order for all the lights in town to be turned off.
Only the lights in the palace were allowed to be turned on for the night.
The palace was located at the top of a hill, overseeing the whole town, so it's lights could brighten up the whole town at night.
)
Children ran around in the hall playing and exchanging gifts, their parents also exchanged gifts too while having drinks.
They were lots of assorted food and drinks available for everyone. It was a happy and blissful eve in the town of Nirne.
Around midnight when the party was about to kick start fully, something happened.
A scout ran into the palace hall, he was badly injured, he was so weak he couldn't walk properly. He announced that he was attacked by bandits who where on their way to town.
The town of Nirne was located in a very popular trading route so it was a wealthy and prosperous town. Every now and then they got attacked by bandits and thief's seeking to steal their wealth and goods.
It was a regular occurrence but this time no one expected them to attack when they did.
Something had to be done.
According to the scout, They were not only interested in the goods and wealth of Nirne, this time they where interested in the city itself. They meant to take it over permanently.
A season of joy had suddenly turned into a season of fear.
The king had to address his people.
King Felix - My dear citizens of Nirne, Let's not let this bad news spoil our night, let's celebrate this immortal holiday without fear and doubt in our hearts. I know it sounds scary, the news we just heard but The defense of our great town is always in the hands of God and our great warriors, so let's enjoy ourselves and leave the case till tomorrow.
King Felix ordered for the party to go on, but he also ordered for extra guards to man the entrance of the town and palace.
He ordered that the elders of the town should follow him into his study to make a decision concerning their impending disaster.
Every titled chief and elder gathered in the study, they was noise and confusion in the air. "Quiet!" King Felix suddenly thundered.
We as the elders of this town should never show fear, we would be setting a very bad example for our wives and children. There was sudden silence and still in the room.
"I called everyone here so we can suggest unique ideas to prevent our town from been taken over by bandits and thief's ", "everyone is expected to give one idea each, we have just about 2 hours to think of something before the bandits arrive " the king said.
For minutes bright ideas where brought to the table, some elders suggested that the Warriors be sent out to confront the bandits before they reached the village, while some suggested that they flee the town before they arrived.
But when it was the turn of a younger chief to speak, he got up and he surprised everyone with his idea.
He suggested that they should allow the bandits into the town and into the palace to join the party, after which they would be treated as normal citizens and given places to live.
The idea sounded so stupid and reckless that some elders laughed at him, they said he was unserious for suggesting something like that.
"Do you want all of us to die!!" one of the elders shouted.
"Silence!" King Felix replied. "his idea might sound risky and stupid but we might as well just give it a try".
"But my king, we will loose our town!" "They would be no buts, send words to the scouts and guards to leave the gates open " the king ordered.
The king and elders went back to the party, they kept their plan to them selves, they didn't want to make the citizens scared.
Two hours later, the bandits in their huge numbers approached the city gate, they had terrible weapons of destruction. They were not smiling 😢.
When they got to the gate, they noticed their was no guard or centurion on station, the streets where empty and deserted. But from afar they could see a building it stood at the top of a small hill , it was different from any other because it was decorated with so much Christmas lights and trees. Even for bandits it was a beautiful sight to behold.
They approached the building with caution, it Could be an ambush.
But as they got closer they noticed nobody stood guard at the building too. They just heard soft sounds of Christmas hymns coming from inside the building. The bandits where confused.
The bandits then opened the door of the palace. They saw a large multitude enjoying and making merry. They immediately drew their weapons.
All the citizens of the town where scared, but no warrior of Nirne attacked. They where all under strict orders from the king.
That's when king Felix spoke from his throne.
King Felix- My dear friends!
Welcome to the town of Nirne, you are all highly appreciated here, we all welcome you to join us in our Christmas festival of lights. We promise you shelter, land and food for the rest of your days, let's not be violent today, for today is a day of blessings and peace!!.
Everyone in the room was so surprised at what they just heard. "Did the king actually mean what he just said" , everyone thought.
Leader of the bandits- How are we to trust your words, so called king!. We are bandits, we never seek peace, we come for destruction.
King Felix- I give you my assurance and word as king, you will all be respected and treated as special citizens of this great town. Just lay down your weapons and join in the fun!!.
Suddenly the bandits started to drop their weapons. They pledged peace and joined the festival of lights.
They where now citizens of Nirne!!!!...
THE END..............
Thanks for reading....
