A/N: Number six. I don't own Queen's Thief, or the song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" which is where the title is from.

The hook ought to be behind bulletproof glass, layered with alarms, and probably locked in a vault somewhere. Since they'd only just recovered it, however, for now it was merely laid out on the restoration table and protected by the fact that it was in the middle of a military camp. A military camp that was on the verge of its final victory, no less.

The young aide she'd brought in to see it leaned in for a closer look. "Amazing," he said in a low voice. "To think it could have survived this long."

She leaned against the table. "Isn't it? Of course, it's only one of many that King Eugenides undoubtedly owned, but best we can tell, this is the one he killed Nahuseresh and the Mede Emperor with."

"And a hundred others. You'd almost expect it to be still dripping blood."

She laughed. "I'm sure the rebels have all sorts of stories about it doing exactly that. Of course, we're only concerned with the other stories."

He finally glanced up. "Other stories?"

She leaned in even closer. "Eugenides was the greatest king to ever rule the Peninsula, at least according to the stories."

"At least half of which have to be myth, surely."

"Oh, of course. But those foolish enough to resist the occupation have latched onto those myths. They think their kings and queens of old are going to rise again and save them if they can only get the hook to the remnants of their 'Sacred Mountain.'"

He snorted. "That's ridiculous."

"But might affect their morale," she pointed out. "So we'll just have to hang onto it, won't we?" She'd leaned in closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. She was almost close enough to kiss him now.

He leaned back slightly. "Girl back home, remember?" he said ruefully.

She pouted. "And can she get you in to see priceless relics?"

"No," he admitted with a grin. He leaned in closer.

She closed her eyes.

"But she is far more beautiful."

Her eyes snapped open.

The aide snatched up the hook, gave her a slightly apologetic smile, and ran for the window.

She froze for a moment before regaining her voice. "Guards!" She didn't wait for them, instead running after the aide.

He was already out the window and running along the ledge that ran outside it. Just as she poked her head out it, still shouting for the guards, he leaped for the next building over.

He wasn't going to make it. Halfway across, that became abundantly clear.

Good. she thought viciously, cheeks flushed with humiliation. Let him fall. Then they could get the stupid hook back and -

He reached up into thin air and caught - something. She couldn't see what, but he must have hung something out there somehow, because he caught hold with his free hand and swung himself forward, using the momentum to make it to the next roof.

"Traitor!" she screamed out.

"No," he shouted back over his shoulder. "Thief!"

Shots rang out at him as he raced across the roofs, but he wasn't particularly worried about them. He was almost to his point of exit, and he wasn't going to die by bullet anyway.

He'd died from a fall once, and someday he would again.

But probably, he thought as he clutched his hook tighter, probably not today.

Alternate Title: In which Gen and Co. pull a King Arthur.