Ropes of twinkling fairy lights along the banisters of the upper balcony illuminate the room, joined with the candles in the chandeliers, to much brighter levels than were usual for the place, and the soft cloth-of-gold bunting joined with holly and ivy vines gives the light a warm feeling. Fine china and silverware sit upon a crisp linen table cloth of deep green, and Fancy cannot help but grin at the sight of all twenty-six immaculate place settings. A smaller round table is set off to the side, set with six places for foals.
“Golden Ladle says dinner will be ready around nine-thirty, my dear,” Fancy says as he exits the kitchen, nimbly dodging the various household staff dashing around and through the dining hall to prepare for the rapidly approaching party.
Fleur gives her husband an absent-minded nod. “Good good…” she says before turning her attention to the butler as the stallion passes by with a long bough of holly. “No, Fresh Cut! That needs to be in the ballroom on the fireplace mantle!” Obediently, the stallion turns around and leaves the dining room as Fancy finally arrives at his wife’s side.
“Fleur, darling… I’m sure the staff have everything well in hoof. Why don’t you and I retreat to the sitting room with some eggnog and keep Monkey Wrench’s family company?” Fancy suggests with a fond smile.
“What?! They’re here already?! Oh no!!!” Fleur moans, and would have immediately run off to grab a tray of refreshments but for Fancy stopping her.
“Fleur, they’re fine… I saw them before I spoke to Ladle. Dust Bunny was taking them to their rooms and they should be in the sitting room soon,” Fancy states comfortingly, putting an arm around Fleur’s shoulders and guiding her at a more sedate pace from the dining hall.
The ballroom, decorated in much the same way as the room before, is dominated by a large pine tree, decorated with tinsel and baubles and hundreds of tea lights and brightly wrapped presents piled beneath it, in the center of the room. Spare couches and chairs set in conversation groups dot the room.
“I see Witch finished arranging the ballroom before she left for the play,” Fancy comments, looking around with an approving eye.
“For the fifth time…” Fleur retorts dryly, with a smirk. “It took the combined efforts of Lady Fine Brew and Monkey Wrench to pull her out the door in time.” The mare allows herself a slight chuckle. “Honestly, with how much she’s been fretting about this party, I wonder why she decided to make the guest list so large…”
“You can hardly blame her for having a large heart… Monkey Wrench hasn’t seen her family since she moved here, and -”
“And her coworkers having almost nopony else to spend it with, I know,” Fleur cuts off Fancy’s explanation with an addition of her own. Leaning against him slightly as they enter the sitting room, Fleur smiles. “I’m glad we offered our help as hosts.”
“As am I, my dear,” Fancy agrees, smiling fondly at his wife. “As am I.”