Maea
My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on the limb
Light spilled from windows into the blue twilight, illuminating a light snowfall that had begun to cover a dormant garden. The Guardian's Treehouse had been decked out in lanterns and wreaths, a line of torches guiding visitors away from the main road, up the winding stairs and in through the front door. Warmth was the first thing greeting the guests, as lit candles, lanterns and fairy lights combined with a roaring fire in the hearth banished the season's chill. Every square inch of the room within had been scoured, cleaned and decorated with evergreen wreaths, lending a festive air to the open space. In the new workshop upstairs, a dance floor had even been prepared. While small and as of yet unfurnished, the hired troubadour struck up a merry tune whenever someone stepped inside, and the fireplace kept the space just as comfortably warm as the rest of the house.
On the dining table, a feast was being set out. The hostess was not known for her cooking prowess, so the dishes remained modest in nature; but there was plenty of it. Hearty venison stew and mushroom soup sat alongside a tray of flaky hand pies filled with juniper-spiced boar. There was a green salad with kale, apple and walnuts tossed in honey vinaigrette and a mound of fresh bread pulled from the oven, alongside crocks of butter, berry preserves, syrups and other dressings. With young mead and fruity cider and fresh spring water spiced with mint and cinnamon to wash it all down, and dessert still baking in the oven, surely there was something for everyone, so that no one would leave hungry.
It was a celebration of the past season's bounty, and of her decision to put down roots in this house, in this forest, together with Liam. For the longest time Maea had wished to share her joy with the people she cared about, and now was the time. Bustling to and fro in the kitchen dressed in a cozy knitted dress of midnight blue with embroidered chamomile falling from one shoulder, she greeted any new arrival with a warm smile and open arms.
"Welcome! Thank you so much for coming - make yourself at home!"
And for every new guest, a candle was lit within an arrangement set out on a side table; a nudge of magic applied in honor of the guests, and to confirm to herself that she really could do more with it than hurt and destroy. Had all the food not been prepared with the aid of her flames? Was it not a source of joy, and warmth, and beauty? Thus she would celebrate her magic, too, if in a quieter, more personal way, this evening.
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Welcome to Maea's belated housewarming event! Anyone she knows or have met will have received an invitation and plus one's are also most welcome. There's food and drink to go around, so make yourselves at home!
On the dining table, a feast was being set out. The hostess was not known for her cooking prowess, so the dishes remained modest in nature; but there was plenty of it. Hearty venison stew and mushroom soup sat alongside a tray of flaky hand pies filled with juniper-spiced boar. There was a green salad with kale, apple and walnuts tossed in honey vinaigrette and a mound of fresh bread pulled from the oven, alongside crocks of butter, berry preserves, syrups and other dressings. With young mead and fruity cider and fresh spring water spiced with mint and cinnamon to wash it all down, and dessert still baking in the oven, surely there was something for everyone, so that no one would leave hungry.
It was a celebration of the past season's bounty, and of her decision to put down roots in this house, in this forest, together with Liam. For the longest time Maea had wished to share her joy with the people she cared about, and now was the time. Bustling to and fro in the kitchen dressed in a cozy knitted dress of midnight blue with embroidered chamomile falling from one shoulder, she greeted any new arrival with a warm smile and open arms.
"Welcome! Thank you so much for coming - make yourself at home!"
And for every new guest, a candle was lit within an arrangement set out on a side table; a nudge of magic applied in honor of the guests, and to confirm to herself that she really could do more with it than hurt and destroy. Had all the food not been prepared with the aid of her flames? Was it not a source of joy, and warmth, and beauty? Thus she would celebrate her magic, too, if in a quieter, more personal way, this evening.
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Welcome to Maea's belated housewarming event! Anyone she knows or have met will have received an invitation and plus one's are also most welcome. There's food and drink to go around, so make yourselves at home!
And I remember thinking — I want to be like them
