Let Men Their Songs Employ: a Holiday Timeline

Once more Nicholas went to the hellscape of northern France. Once more he carried supplies for the battered soldiers. This time, however, the elves he took with him were all known to be loyal. One of them was Cornelius Candycane.

They tried to find a place to land. As Claus ordered the reindeer to descend, he begin to think about something or other, some miserable thing in the context of this war (but what wasn't miserable in this war? In any war?), that made him lose concentration for one moment.

The reindeer panicked as they swerved away from a biplane.

Modernity was rearing its ugly head today.

Nicholas adjusted himself back into his seat as the sleigh realigned itself. He once again began swooping down, seeing a clearing beyond these British soldiers.

As he descended, there were orders being given, increased by the minute by more and more sergeants making the order, although what it was was unclear to Nicholas. He was within a minute or so of touchdown when he glanced down at the British faces and saw one he recognized.

Tommy Waldrop.

The two made eye contact for the briefest moments. Tommy's face contained the utmost of scorn for the man in the sleigh, and he began to say something.

But Tommy, in that moment of angry catharsis, did not realize that his squadmates were putting on their gas masks.

The air was filled with gas, and Tommy began to itch himself frantically.

Once more, Nicholas had no answer. He flew away, for he knew he would die there if he stayed.