A warm welcome to season two of this fantasy sleep saga,
Where you are the main character.
Throughout this bedtime story series,
You will spend autumn and winter in the rolling hills of your homeland,
Celebrating all of the festivities.
You will also delve into the deep dwarven kingdoms,
Embark on another adventure with the wizard and the ranger,
And visit an enchanted little village that is hidden away from the rest of the world.
Here,
There is magic,
Wonder,
And mystery waiting around every corner.
But first,
Let us take a moment to relax.
We will do a short,
Guided breathing pattern called 3-4-5.
This will allow you to slow down and relax,
Preparing your body and your mind for a wonderful,
Peaceful rest.
When you are ready,
Breathe in through the nose for three,
Hold for four,
And breathe out for five.
Let all of it go now,
Again that's in for three,
Hold for four,
And release,
Blowing away the thoughts of yesterday,
Today,
And tomorrow,
Again in for three,
And let it go.
Continue to breathe in this way in your own time,
And with each breath out,
Allow your body to sink just that bit deeper,
And gradually allow the breath to fall back into a natural rhythm.
Enjoy this new peace flowing through your body.
And now,
Let us continue our fantasy sleep saga,
And enjoy Season 2,
Episode 13,
Christmas Eve in your house under the hill.
As the last of the lanterns begin to fade,
The lights of the shire flick back on in perfect timing.
There is a beautiful heaviness washing over you now,
With a quiet fulfillment and peace.
It has been a night to remember,
One that will stay with you forever.
And now,
Your two halfling companions give a wide yawn,
Tired out from their day of mischief.
They bid you a warm goodnight,
And reassure you that they will see you tomorrow for a Christmas walk through the shire.
They turn to the wizard and the old halfling and bid you all a very merry Christmas,
Before trotting off down the hill,
Humming a happy tune together.
As a gentle snow begins to fall,
And the night air starts to cool,
You think it might be time for a Christmas nightcap.
You place your arm around the old halfling,
And walk side by side with the wizard as you make your way back across the hill and towards the loveliest house of them all.
You take a moment to really appreciate the night sky,
Full of a magical starlight pulsing above you as the gentle snowflakes pepper your cheeks.
One or two shooting stars pass overhead,
And you cannot help but wonder if these might be more Christmas wishes on their way to loved ones around the world.
And then,
Just as you round a corner and approach the top of another hill,
You see a beautiful homely hut waiting for you.
The garden is lined with a brown wattle fence made of thin branches weaved together.
A wooden gate sits in the middle,
Sealed with a metal latch.
From the gate are a series of stone steps,
Rising to the left and leading all the way up to a perfectly round emerald door with a brass doorknob in the exact middle.
There is a soft glow coming from the two porthole windows on either side of the door.
For one last time tonight,
You turn and gaze out over the majestic hillsides,
Dotted with round doors and golden lights enmeshed with a falling snow.
There is the distant noise of halflings bidding each other a merry Christmas and a warm goodnight before the land finally falls into silence and the village enters a peaceful slumber.
The old halfling opens the gate as you and the wizard follow behind now up the shallow stone steps,
Arriving at the front door.
As the door swings open,
A beautiful warmth envelops you and you step inside the perfect little home.
With the door firmly closed behind you,
You take off your thick snow boots,
Your woolly hat and your jacket,
Hanging them on a wooden coat rack in the corner.
You gently remove your squirrel from your pocket and place them on a small coffee table,
Fast asleep.
The old halfling produces a mini blanket and places it over your furry companion,
Keeping them cozy tonight.
The rich crackle of the fire fills the air and the wooden floor is toasty under your feet.
The gentle ticking of an old clock rounds off this perfect atmosphere.
The wizard lights one or two oil lanterns and they give off a soft glow through the rustic living room,
Illuminating the dark oak beams arched above you.
Outside the porthole windows,
The snow falls thick and heavy,
Creating a pile on the window ledge.
Meanwhile,
The old halfling has disappeared into the next room,
Only to return a moment later holding three Christmas stockings with your names stitched across the top.
Then,
From his pocket,
He pulls out a tiny stocking no bigger than your palm – a gift for your lovely little squirrel.
With a quiet excitement,
You hook them over the mantelpiece,
One by one.
The halfling then pours you and your wizard a drink of your choice,
And the three of you share a warm smile.
You clink your tankards together and bid your friends a Merry Christmas.
Then,
You slowly bring it to your lips and enjoy your first sip of this delicious Christmas drink.
The wizard sits back in one of the two armchairs and takes from his back a large leather-bound book with thick pages of old yellow parchment,
And he flicks through in a comfortable silence.
You wander over to the big,
Comfortable sofa – the sofa you have fallen asleep on many times.
As you sit down,
You feel all the weight leave your body.
Your dear halfling sits next to you in a second armchair,
Twice the size of him,
And his feet wiggle above the floor.
With a satisfied sigh,
He picks up a large red journal and begins to write,
Occasionally chuckling to himself as he ponders his own wonderful memories of tonight.
You take the time now to just enjoy this peaceful atmosphere and to simply be.
The sound of the halfling scribbling away,
Mingled with the presence of the wizard,
The ticking of the clock,
And the warmth of the fire is utterly enchanting.
You take in this wonderful cottage,
With dark oak beams curved across the roof,
The beautiful stone fireplace,
And the magical snowfall just outside the window.
With a smile now,
You recount every little detail from today and reminisce on what has been a magical Christmas Eve,
Full of joy,
Laughter,
And friendship.
Your thoughts turn now to the lighting of the lanterns and to that special someone who you have sent a Christmas wish this year.
You keep this person close to your heart tonight,
Knowing that they will always be with you,
No matter what.
Just then,
The halfling stands up and rummages through a small chest.
Finally,
He pulls out a thick red blanket with white stitching along the edge.
You know this blanket very well,
It is of elven make and deeply enchanted.
Many times when you have slept in this house before,
The halfling has laid this blanket over you,
And its magical enchantments have relaxed your body and melted away all of your worries.
The old halfling passes the blanket to you and whispers that this is yours now.
He knows how much you love it and would like you to keep it,
An early Christmas present,
He adds.
This truly is a special gift,
And not one given lightly.
You bring the halfling into a warm hug and thank him for this wonderful present as the lizard watches on with a soft smile.
You lie down on the sofa now and pull your warm blanket over you.
Instantly,
There is a warmth and heaviness filling your body.
Your feet become soft and your ankles are loose.
The muscles in your calves soften and relax.
Your knees release and a warm vibration runs into your thighs,
Melting away any tension in your legs.
This warmth moves into your buttocks and softens your lower back as you feel yourself sink deeper and deeper into the sofa.
A gentle heat trickles up and down your spine,
Relaxing each vertebra bit by bit.
Your stomach becomes soft and your chest is open and free as you breathe slow and deep.
Your arms hang heavy by your side and a soft vibration runs through them,
All the way into your hands and your fingertips.
The muscles in your shoulders let go of all tension and a new warmth runs up into your neck,
Softening each muscle like butter melting.
The muscles in your face are completely relaxed.
Your jaw is loose,
Your lips are soft and your eyes are heavy.
Any remaining thoughts,
Worries or concerns are falling away from you and fading out of sight.
There is no need to think about anything at all.
Your body can be heavy and your mind can be free.
The wizard places a gentle hand on your forehead,
Reminding you that you are safe here and that he will watch over you tonight.
You have so many adventures ahead of you and tomorrow you will spend a magical Christmas day in the heart of the Shire.
But for now,
It is time to rest.
You are safe,
You are cozy and you are completely at peace,
Tucked up in the beautiful home of your dear old halfling.
It is time now to dream of beautiful things and to be filled with all the wonderful memories of the day as you give thanks for a magical Christmas Eve in the Shire.
