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Landsbyen -Into the North- An Epic Poem 43

Ceridfen had little trouble adjusting her menu to accommodate the new arrival.  She brought out a terrine of pumpkin soup, savory with a hint of spice and honey.  A casserole of squash and zucchini followed with a light green salad mixed with three different types of tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and multi-colored sweet peppers.  The main course was stuffed giant mushroom whose cap covered the entire plate.  It was stuffed with smaller mushrooms that were diced into a spiced  bread stuffing, crushed pine nuts and walnuts were added to create a paste to hold the stuffing together a hint of horse radish was folded in to tingle the tongue, a bit of spaghetti squash
was incorporated with slivered purple carrot and radish and parsnip.  This mixture was braised to bring out the sweetness and her homemade Rosemary Deer Butter was melted into it.  Finally, a light mushroom gravy was poured over the dish and a bit of deer cheese was melted, golden brown on top.
     “My, oh my,” Seileach exclaimed as each dish was presented. “What a feast.  I have not eaten like this for,” he thought for a moment, “I don't remember the last time, maybe seventy or eighty years.  Certainly not since the grand banquets that Erlenkönig threw after settling in the north region.”  He glanced at Joulupukki but saw no reaction.  He meant no offense to the young half elf.  “Everything tastes excellent, the soup, creamy with just the right spiced seasoning, and where did you get the fresh vegetables and apples for the salad.?”  
DynDoeth was smiling, 
     “We have a small garden on the side of the barn.  We have seeds sent to
us from the North and South Clans.  No human in this part of the the world has ever tasted a tomato or pepper.”
He replied, as he put one on his tongue, then softly whispered,  
     “Don't tell anyone,” he placed his finger on his lips,
“but we have a Garden Elf who helps us.”  
Seileach's eyes grew large and he gasped in surprise,
     “Noooo,” he said.”
     “Yes,” DynDoeth exclaimed.  Ceridfen slapped him on the shoulder and gave him a look, warning him not to say anything else but DynDoeth ignored her.  “He was abandoned, I guess, six hundred and eighty human years ago, as the Village floated off of the Southern Continent when Erlenkönig's father was King.”  He looked at his hands, “A time when I was much younger.  It seemed that he was the only one left in his hamlet after a human raiding party came through.  He was very young but was already strong in the magic of the earth.  We invited him to join our little hodgepodge of a family.  There were only three young ones with us when he agreed.  He has been with us ever since.  As he has grown older he has become very much of a recluse, spending his entire day buried in the soil, infusing it with his magic.
With few exceptions he does not like being around other elves so we seldom
talk about him to others.  During times of strife, on several occasions we have suggested to him that he might be better off finding other Earth Elves to live with, but he just shakes his head and gives us a smile and goes back to work.
     “I have never met a Garden Elf before,” responded Seileach, “I understand
that they may be an offshoot of the Southern Forest Elves; although, I can't be certain of that.  They keep to themselves and hide when other elves are present, coming out mostly at night.  Is that true?”
     “I think our elf is a bit more sociable than the average Garden Elf.  Although moving to the north has taken its toll on him.  He created magic suns to help regulate the plant growth and that seemed to help him.  He loves the company of Gwaldon.  He presents his magic to the Elder in various ways and Gwaldon uses his to transform the Garden Elf's into strange and unusual plants.  It is quite interesting to watch.  He is an amazing creature.  The apple that you ate?  He grew the tree from a seed in a single day.  The next day it flowered and we were picking apples before evening meal.  It must be three hundred years old by now and still grows strong, producing the sweetest fruit.  
Do apple trees usually live that long,” he pondered?
Seileach turned to Ceridfen and offered a heart felt thanks to her for the meal as he finished the wonderfully tasty main course and helped himself to another apple.
     “Your mastery of cooking magic is unquestionable dear lady,” he complimented her.
     “Cooking magic,” was her response!  “I made all of this without a hint of magic.”
She corrected him.
     “Indeed!?” He responded.
     “Indeed!” she insisted as she grabbed his plate and took it to the kitchen.

Copyright © James Inman | Year Posted 2021

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