this is a long post, 4215 words

Sara woke the next morning and limped over to the bathroom to find a dress waiting by the shower and some socks that had to be her fathers. She showered and dressed, but went with an old pare of low slippers instead of her boots, then headed to the kitchen and put the tea kettle on, and the small pan of biscuits. Then she got out the tray and the old pan. After that storm the gnomes and fairies would need warm drinks. There had to be a lot of there own to set right besides what they did to help the town.

She had just finished the drink for the woken ones and taken down three tea cups when Anna and a grumpy Hanna entered.

Anna said. “I should have known you would be up. How’s the foot?”

Sara said. “It is sore but not to swollen. The biscuits should be ready to come out and the tea water is just about hot.”

Hanna said. “I still don’t see why I have to get up. And mom said from now on!” She went to lean on the counter leaving Anna to get the bread out and put the next pan in. “What is that sludge? Those are burnt. I thought you said they were just done.”

Sara said. “They are, they need to cool a bit then I will take them up. Now then.” She reached over and added a few spices to the pan and put it back on the stove. “That can just finish up as we fix these. Usually just butter, but today they need a bit of honey as well. Then you can help me take them out. This is for the garden not for the table. Didn’t you wonder why ours did so much better than others? It is because the gnomes and their helpers assist with it. In return for a few well done buttered biscuits. I add honey to them on Saturdays, planting and harvest. As well as any time the garden is disturbed. I just feel they need the extra sugar those times. Usually they are fine with water to drink, but sometimes I make them a hot drink. I know it seems silly, but the wealth the garden gives us, as well as the other things I have found waiting on the table tells me they do like the offerings.” Hanna had just been watching her. “There we go, Hanna you have to carry the tray, and see to the chickens. There is no way I can make it though the coop after them. Given the storm there is not likely going to be eggs, but they need fed and watered. There are to small rows in the middle of the coop for the water and grain. There should be enough there to tell what goes where.”

Anna said. “Hanna you will do the carrying and feeding, but I will come along so you can know how it is done. Sara are you sure you can make it to the table? I could set the food out.”

Sara said. “I need to see how bad the damage is. This is the best time for me to try it, as you are here should I need help.”

Anna nodded. “But you are not going to carry the tray. Hanna can, it will do her good to learn how to.” She looked and Hanna tell the younger girl sighed and picked up the tray. The headed out, kept at Sara’s slower pace, she couldn’t help limping heavily.

When they reached the table Sara said. “Just set the tray in the center and I will take carry of it as you see to the chickens.”

Hanna looked at the table with its tea pot, cups and plats. “Really, dose mom know you play out here? I doubt she would think it fitting. Why even chairs!”

Sara said. “Father placed the rock here. The woken ones made the dishes, I used leaves tell they appeared here. The chairs I am not sure if the boys or the gnomes placed. I think Mom knows, she must know a few rolls go missing each morning. The chicken house is right over there.” Sara took the lid off the tea pot and filled it then started setting out the bread. “I do hope her mood doesn’t upset the hens to much, but she needs to learn how to care for them.”

A high voice said. “They will be fine, we look after and fix up. Let me fix foot?”

Sara said. “I can’t let you heal it. that would be magic, and it is to minor to need it. Thank you though.”

“No heal, treat with ointment. Sit” Sara shook her head but sat down and held out her foot. The little fairy flitted around it. “Not good, but can help. Keep this on it tell morning. Be sore and sting, but you can walk. Now then come back afternoon and find charms and some fresh salad greens. Young are out picking over what can be saved. There will be enough to share with you.”

Sara said “Thank you, I am sure that fresh greens will be most welcome. I fear there are going to be a lot of storms.”

Hanna said. “Who are you talking to?”

Sara said. “The woken ones. They said there will be some fresh salad greens for mew to collect this afternoon.”

Anna frowned. “Do they often do that?”

The gnome dropped the glamour. “We stay hidden more so you not fear. But the damage did a lot of plants in and don’t want to waste the good. Don’t want you thinking bright one is hearing what is not.”

Hanna backed up Anna said. “Forgive me, but she had a rough day.”

The gnome said. “My fault for not telling her you were there. My job to fix the fear. Run on now before you have bread not fit to serve. Sara remember no matter how ankle stings you must leave that on tell morning.” He winked and said, “Now get in there and sit down. Being on it won’t help.”

Sara said. “Yes elder, thank you.” She walked back to house, Hanna had got there ahead of her and Anna. She had the first pan out and the next one in. Sara climbed on a stool. “So do we have instructions on what to fix?”

Hanna said. “What kind of monster was that and what was it doing in the garden?”

Anna said. “Ham, eggs and hash browns. You just stay put I will get this pan washed. The potatoes are ready to be graded so that can be your job as it can be done sitting.” She set out the things. “Now the blue box on the left is your morning tea right?”

Sara nodded. “Yes pleas, thank you. Hanna that was just a gnome, they take care of growing things and love gardens.”

Anna said. “Why did he call you bright?”

Edith could be heard coming down stairs. Anna took out another tea cup. Sara said. “I am not sure, they won’t explain the title. I guess it has something do with how they see me.”

Edith came in. “I am going to miss this when you go to the guest house Sara. You have me spoiled. Coming in to find tea waiting and breakfast going. Slippers? And what is all over your foot? A wreath?”

Sara blushed. “I couldn’t stand the though of trying to get my boots on. It is some fairy ointment. They wanted to help my ankle. They said no magic just herbs so I thought it wouldn’t hurt. There will be fresh salad greens for supper, they are going though storm damaged plants and will share the good with us.”

Edith said. “What next. Well the greens will be welcome. But talking with fairies, that is a bit much.”

Breakfast done and the kids off to school Edith turned to Sara. “Why don’t you go play with your old books in the office? Anna will bring lunch to you. Just keep that foot up on something.”

Sara knew that meant get out of here and don’t bother me. Her mom often sent her out after something when there wasn’t school. “Yes ma’am, if you are sure there is nothing I can help with. It feels odd to sit around when I know there must be a dozen things I could be doing.”

Edith said. “You are better off in the office getting those old things dealt with and out of the way. That is the best way you can help.”

On the way to the office he was glad to see her grandfather. “Granddad, I was wondering do you or any of your friends keep a storm journal? Just like the date of storms and the damage they have done? Would they be willing, you think, to copy that out for me?”

He said. “I think Rig’s dose. He is usually writing something. But he will want to know why before he shares anything.”

Sara said. “I have found a pattern in the old storms and want to see if I can use it to predict which years will have a lot of big storms. But I need something to test against. I have what I recorded, but that is to few years to be of much use. See if it works there might be away to warn a bit, but I don’t want to without more evidence. I didn’t think of running the numbers ahead until last night and so it will be a few days tell I have it done.”

Her grandfather laughed. “Good, you have the bug all right. Bout time you got really into something enough to babble. Yes I will see what I can get from them. They might want a copy of your findings.”

Sara said. “That is only fair, now of course it won’t mean much until some else has verified what ever I find. But I will make them a copy.”

He nodded. “Good enough, with that I should be able to get you what you want. A list of storms and the damage done.”

Sara nodded. “That includes lives lost, and any thing they wrote down about how long the storm lasted.”

He said. “Well see what I can do, now go get off that foot. You had better take it easy.”

Sara smiled. “Mom ordered me to the office to deal with the old papers, so that is where I am headed. I am hoping I can find enough in them to know if the pattern is just a local thing or wide spread.”

“Have fun, just try and stay off the foot. I know it bugs you, but you will hate it more if you have to stay home another day.”

Sara said. “I think I will have plenty of reminders should I not do so. Thank you.”

Sara headed in to the office and surrounded the big chair with baskets. She had avoided that chair before as it was the one her father liked best, but it all so had a foot rest near it, so she hoped he wouldn’t mind. She set down and started to work, and lost her self to books. She jumped when Anna spoke. “Mom wasn’t joking when she said they had filled the office with baskets of paper. Finding anything good? Did those just move?” A fairy filtered by and dropped a paper in a basket next to Sara, not the one she had seen move, though it then went over to it. “Fairies? What is going on in here? If I didn’t know better I would say that one was scolding the basket?”

Sara blushed. “Is it lunch time all ready? Sorry I didn’t realize, I meant t come and help. Yes I am finding some good stuff. I was trying to sort and not read but the date on this made me look close and then I got caught up in it. I have to make you a copy of this for your intended. The date of the first entry was around the time the first sentiments failed and it explains why Dawnton didn’t. I think some of there ideas might help other towns. The fairies were sent to help me, I guess someone wants to make sure I get though this. I gather there is something I need to see in here, but they don’t know what it is. That basket goes back to recycle and it has the love notes and such in it. Things no one would want publicly known. One of them love that stuff.”

Anna shook her head. “I will go get some more salad for your helpers. And yes anything you have on why the sentiments made it would be welcome. Josephus has been looking for information, but there is not much.”

Sara said. “This is the first I have found that really details what was done. I have been looking, that is one of the topics I am working on. I will try and get this book copied, then you make sure I have your address so I can pass on what I find. I would offer to let him read it, but the writing is bad and I don’t know that he could unless he is used to the old spellings and forms.” She held the book out for Anna to look at.

Anna said. “That is writing? I will ask, but I am sure a copy will do just fine. Now remember to eat, and mom would have just sent you away had you turned up. She wasn’t upset you weren’t there. Now remember you have food there.” A fairy with red wings flitted over the plate then to Sara and back to the plate. Anna said. “You will see she eats? Thank you, then I shan’t have to worry as much. I will be back with more salad and tea.” She walked out. Muttering as she went. “Fairies in the office what next? Hope Mom doesn’t find out.” Sara did not notice when she came back, but Anna could tell that she had touched her lunch.

Sara was not sure how much time had passed, but the lunch was gone, when a fairy said. “Charms and greens here. Take a walk, try stairs, don’t forget book. Just go slow.”

Sara stood and stretched. “Thank you. I have completely lost track of time. I will go slow.” She took up the book and took a step. “The ankle feels a lot better than it did. No I won’t try running. I promise I will go slow.” She gathered up the lunch dies and tool them to the kitchen and got out a big bowl for the greens. At the garden table she found enough to make two days worth of salad and a bowl of barriers. The charms were on a leaf and they sparkled now, looking nothing like the plain stones and cords she had left. “Thank you, you have done more then I asked. They are lovely.”

The gnome said. “Was fun making them and they will work good. Make sure your sister is the first to touch one. Ask that they be warn for a day straight, though an hour is long enough. The more time worn the better they will bond to the wear. If she wears it a day, you will be able to get a since of her even if she isn’t touching the stone. It will let all know how each other is and carry messages. As you get used to it you will be able to do more. I will see every one know you are pleased. We checked out the one your sister will be with, he is a good man and will treat her right. He is young, but has respect.”

Sara felt tension leave her she hadn’t known she felt. “Thank you that means a good deal. Thank you for the food as well.”

“The kitchen is empty we will take the food in you just carry the charms.” He left with it before she could say anything.

Shaking her head she went to the house and found the basket and bowl on the counter. It would be fine there so Sara went to the stairs and slowly walked up them to her room.  there she carefully set the charms on top of the basket she had for Anna then put the old book by the computer. “Do one of you know if my mother is with Anna?”

A fairy said. “No, she in the back, looking at table covers, will be there for a bit. Anna is in her room, now good time. We help carry basket.”

Sara said. “Thank you.” She went to pick up one side of the basket only to find it floating. She smiled, took the handle and went down the hallway.

She knocked on Anna’s door and was told. “Get in here and sit down. What are you doing trying the stairs alone?”

She entered and winced a bit seeing Anna was not alone. “I took it slow.  I have some things here for you, some you might not want.” The basket set down just to one side of the door, and she took the leaf out of it.

Mrs. Istcon said. “I was going to yell at you for carrying that down the hall, but I don’t think you were carrying it at all.”

Sara blushed. “Um no, the fairies wouldn’t let me. They have been watching me for a long time, but recently started letting me know they were. I think it is because of the food I leave for them. Well when I first came back I had a hard time sleeping Grandfather told me that the fairies and lawn gnomes would keep the monsters away. So I started giving them the old rolls I was to feed to the cats, that is I would set them out on this bit of clear land and invite them to help their selves. Then out in the fields one day they uncovered a big flat rock that looked like a table. Father put it at the bottom of the garden for me, and I would take the old bread and set up breakfast for the gnomes. Grandma found out and so suddenly there were always a few rolls that were just to dark to serve. The garden started giving us more so no one complained. I kept it up ever since, so they keep an eye and help me when they can.”

Mrs. Istcon said. “I bet that is why my garden improved as well. I will have to ask the boys to set me up a place as well. The more of the friendly folks we can have around the better the town will be for it. Now what have you there?”

Sara said. “I wanted a way to know Anna would be all right, and though I know mother and father don’t like them. Well I found some stones and asked the fairies to enchant them. Well go I made them a feast and then asked everyone there. This is what came of it. They will send messages and let each person know how the other is. Know I am not sure just what that last meant, if you will get actual fillings or just a since of the person. You need to ware it for a full day before you take it off the first time. That will make it yours in full, and see that it can’t be lost. What other things it will do I don’t know. The gnome said the longer I have it the more I will learn to use it. So will you pick one Anna?”

Anna hesitated a bit then nodded. “They are lovely, and Joe did say he had no problem with friendship charms or feeding fairies. I told him about you table and he has one at our house. Did I just say our house? Mother would not be happy.” She picked one of them and put it on.

To Sara’s surprise Mrs. Istcon took one of the other two. “I wanted a way to keep an eye on you two. This will work just fine. These are lovely. How did you attaché the cord and were did you find such pretty stones?”

Sara said. “They didn’t look like that, and I just had the cords with them. It is the woken ones work. Anna I um copied down the recipes I left you for them, it is tucked in one of the books in the basket. I was hoping you would use them at your new home.” Sara put the remaining necklace on, and was surprised to feel a tingle from it. The gilded leaf she tucked in to pocket, she wasn’t sure why but was sure she was meant to keep it.

Anna smiled. “I was going to ask if you mind if I copied it and some of the other recipes of yours.”

Sara said. “You will find a copy of the family cookbook there. Uncle Ab did the binding work, and there are blank pages so you can add to it.”

Anna smiled at her. “I should have known. What else do you have in there? Sit down and get off that foot, then I will look.” Sara shrugged and took the chair. Mrs. Istcon pointedly pushed a stool over. Anna turned to the basket, as Sara had used the cloth to cover it that was what came out first. Anna shook it out and was just staring at it.

Sara shifted a bit. “I expect that a new house will need curtains and being that far away you and him might want a touch of your old homes in your new. The other is some I thought you could turn into quilts and such. Just some that I thought you might like. I know it is close to time to be sewing, but curtains Grandma said that you couldn’t make curtains right tell you saw where they were going.”

Anna shook her head. “No it is perfect I just. Where ever did you come buy it? Fabric like this.”

Sara shrugged. “It just took a bit of hunting. Good handmade cloth like that is a lot cheaper in Bixter. Guess they don’t use it. They practically gave it to me.”

Anna said. “I don’t get them city folks. This will be perfect Just the thing to make us feel more at home.” She set the fabric aside and went back to the basket and took out the packets and jars of spices. She smiled spices were the traditional gift of a younger sister.

Edith cam in with the table cloths and frowned at Sara. “These are the ones I was thinking of. They are a bit frilly, but should brighten things up. They are fitting for a new home. What is that? Sara that is a good bit much.”

Sara said. “Well there won’t be many traders out there so I wanted to get enough to last her. Being so far away, and a brand new house, I thought it best to get everything, Like I said Anna you might not want all that is there and you need not take what you don’t want. The basket is yours as well.”

Anna said. “So far I have found nothing yet that I wont be glad of. I never thought of spice jars and it is hard to buy glass out there.” She reached in to the basket again and came out with a large wood box, made to be hung on a wall. Sara bit her lip and waited. This was the touchy item. “What on earth?” Anna opened it and her jaw dropped. It was full on neatly labeled herbal medicines and on the door were two books, one on common illness and one on wound care and first aid.

Sara said. “Things happen out there, and sometimes it could be a bit before the doctor gets there. Mother keeps a few herbs around, and that was what I was after. But when the herb seller leaned what I wanted them for. Well he told me that chest was what you really needed. I well I want you to have what you need. That is one of the things I worried most about. It is really for you and your intend both, but I wasn’t sure how to.” Her mother’s glare silenced her.

Mrs Istcon said. “That will be handy. I can’t count the number of times I have had to fix something for a bad cold, or hold a wound closed tell someone got the Doctor to us. Out there where they are still getting set up it will be more important. I am surprised you were able top find an herbal chest. All I could find were magic ones. Nothing useful.”

Sara said. “I understand that as the explores push further out there is more interest in non-magical items. So kits of herbs are making a come back.”