Chapter 1
"Which one are you?"
The words dripped with scorn and venom.
" Who are ye today? In the now? "
Before Llew could form a reply, a sharp crack and loud thud accompanied the impact of a bowl that once held sausage gravy. The bowl had broken upon impact with Llews head.
Confused, Llew did not know the tiny woman that had thrown the bowl of gravy at him. She raised both hands in the air as if in surrender , spun about and kicked her way through the swinging door into the kitchen.
Some of the peppered gravy dripped, oozing slowly down his face. Hooking a finger, Llew scooped it away in a futile gesture. Examined his catch, then licked it from his fingers. " This is really good, though not quite how I would prefer to serve it. " Llew dead panned.
The furious Macha, with a quivering red faced Badb stared momentarily in surprise. The hostility visible, shimmering in the air between them.
Laughter exploded. A giggle grew into gasping belly laughs. Llew nonchalantly continued munching at gathered gravy . " This is too good to be wasted, this is not the recommended way to eat breakfast I expect. Or is it some new fad thing I haven't heard about? " The wry comment unleashed more intense laughter. Now all three of the Morrigna were laughing intensely. Michael stood still silently watching the scene playing out. A moment before Michael had been sure he was about to witness the dismemberment and destruction of Llew by Macha and Badb. Now the trinity were openly weeping, gasping for air.
Elspeth, seeing the impending violence hurled the bowl of gravy knowing it would either trigger the violence or diffuse it.
Hopefully diffuse the violence. Cleaning up a bowl of gravy and broken porcelain would be much simpler than cleaning up Llews entrails.
She had read the room correctly, smiling Elspeth set about making more gravy. There was still plenty of sausage ready and the Biscuits warming in the oven. Breakfast for five.
This was the first time Macha had brought Guests to her cabin. Elspeth happily busied herself preparing the breakfast. They could clean up the mess while she made more gravy. Chuckling lightly, Elspeth grinned. The look on all of their faces had been priceless.
Llew realized that the angry little woman had likely just saved his life from an excruciating destruction. The question that riddled Llews mind, was it intentional?
Elsie swept back through the swinging doors, coffee cups dangling from her fingers and a black cast iron kettle which she carefully placed on the hearth. Spacing cups out beside it.
" Michael, could you help me get the rest? "
"Umm, of course!"
Elsie hurried back into the kitchen, Michael reluctantly followed her. Even though there was laughter, the room still vibrated and a chill held the air.
" Just take your time, here try this," Elsie waved bacon under Michaels nose. When he opened his mouth to answer her she shoved the hot greasy bacon into his mouth. It was hot. Fresh from the frying pan. Michael felt his mouth and tongue burning. But, it was bacon so no harm no foul.
Elsie watched the expression flow across Michaels face, surprise morphed into anger into pain into pleasure as he began chewing. Elsie began to giggle herself. Michael munched on bacon while watching the tiny woman silently. His attention was direct. Elsie giggled uproariously, Michael swallowed bacon and stared at her.
When she had the ability to get self control functional again, Elsie laughingly told Michael to take his time, those four have a lot of baggage to unpack and sort who's what's whys, and hopefully not bathe the room in Llews interior parts. " Theres more bacon" Elsie picked up the frying pan and waved it towards Michael, " Biscuits are hot and theres fresh coffee. It will be safer and less messy in here regardless of them murdering him or not. "
Michael grinned realizing the depth of astute manipulation Elsie had used in keeping the relative peace. The whole bowl of gravy thing was deliberately executed. Michael should have known that anyone associated with that unholy trinity would be devious as well.
There are few things better or more comforting in life, than being fed biscuits and bacon with rich strong sweet coffee by an hobbitish grand-motherly type. Michael happily munched, sipped, and kept an ear out for smashing noises or cries for help. So far, it was quiet in the big room. Michael was certain only that quiet was as potentially destructive as noisy. While the children raged in the big room. Michael contentedly munched and sipped his coffee. " You're right! Let them sort it out. Hmmm this is really wunnerful, hey wheres the mop? Do you think that or the snow shovel? " Before Elsie could reply, Michael continued, " no your right! They tend to be abundantly enthusiastic. Both. Snow shovel and a mop! " Elsie sipped her own coffee eying Michael closely. This one was not stupid after all no matter how brainless and giddy he appeared while Morgan twisted him around her fingers.
Elsie wondered, just who was leading the dance there in fact. Thinking about it, Morgan had been doing her own share of the brainless giddy routine. This suddenly did not seem so predictable. Elsie resolved to bake a lot while she tries and keep the peace with biscuits, bacon and pastries. Definitely less work than ten minutes stuck in the big room with those focussed four hellions would be. Truthfully, far less stressful as well. All in all, not the most terrible of portents, far from the best as well. Elsie briefly considered retrieving her body armor and shot gun.
No, she would fight this battle with biscuits and bacon not blade and bullet.
A crash and tinkling of broken glass rang out like four gunshots from the big room.
Elsie rolled her eyes. This would require the powers of fried pies. Eying the various jars of home made preserves. " Seven of each I think, " removing seven random jars and arranging them on the counter. She had grabbed 3 jars of Apples, two peach, a plum, and black berries. Not just flank em, surround them and massacre their mayhem. Elsie shook her head woefully muttering about irresponsible girls, no respect, etc etc, as she poured flour, mixing the sweet biscuit dough that she made her fried pies from. Elsie muttered " The power of Pie compels you! "
Michael spluttered snorting coffee out of his nose. Elsie watched him smiling.
