Indebted

49

Esti approached the front door of the home. Hesitating. She had never once tried to visit someone in their own home.  Never done anything like this. She was alone and had no guide or rulebook. The Fowler residence was the only one aside her own she had seen inside before Atticus had mated her; brought her back to Lady Myrrh's apartments. Esti had no formal invitation. Just a vague welcome. This wasn't court, and it wasn't a movie, or a book. Esti wasn't sure what to do at all now.

There wasn't a butler, or a door guard. There wasn't even a brass knocker. Esti did not know what to do. She had been invited, was she maybe just supposed to walk in? Thankfully while her mind was continuing to race to try and parse what she should do. Evaluating a near million options; the door opened from the inside.

A round woman, with rosy cheeks, and straw colored hair in loose, natural curls opened the door. "Ah y'must be Holly. Come on in the house now, dinner is fresh up." Dumbfounded and still very much out of her depth Esti did as she was told. Her dragon was content they were safe. Esti had no idea how she would have managed without that small reassurance in her mind.

Remembering she was indeed supposed to be Holly. The lie and name now cut like a knife as a reminder of all the lies, and things left undone. All the things she still wanted to try, to experience. All the unresolved threads of her life, those she knew back at court. Esti knew her life was too incomplete. This wasn't anywhere close to the end.

Esti followed Terrance's presumed wife up a couple of steps from the side door entrance up into a warm kitchen. A feast of roast beef dinner steaming on serving trays along the counter and stove top. A tall stack of plates waiting with green napkin wrapped sets of utensils. "I see my 'better' half wasn't good enough to let you know my name m'hunny," Esti did not miss that the woman who looked at her with nothing but warmth and welcome, could shoot a look sharp enough to kill a lesser man, at her husband.

Esti watched. Terrance feigned a look of pain. Hand over his heart in response to just a single look. "Dorothea, but you may call me Dot." Ushering Esti towards the carved roast beef, quartered roasted chickens. Smooth, light, buttery mashed potatoes, a rainbow of veggies, american biscuits. Esti's mouth was watering before she had sat down to eat, Dot encouraging her to load up her plate higher and higher the entire time she had been near the serving dishes and plates.

A delicately painted china gravy boat was still steaming hot on the table top. A unique arrangement of floral painted as decoration. Esti picked up the china dish. Immediately knowing the gravy boat was layered in spells to ensure the gravy inside the bowl never went cold, along with anything else served alongside. The matching pieces all tied to this one center. A simple beautiful little rune that told a story through the painted lines and flowers sealed under the glaze.

Esti was caught off guard as the spell revealed itself. Nearly screaming at her; it wanted to be seen, to be known. It wanted to be remembered. So long as my chalice is filled in love and generous spirit so long may the meal last for all to enjoy. A spell crafted with so much love, strength through family and community the spell tied to the magic of the earth itself. Reminding Esti of her father's spirit, the heart of him that was the reason for all his lessons. A table welcoming everyone should be the center of any community, living in a family heirloom in the home of her latest rescuer. "The gravy boat has caught yer eyes I notice." Dot pressed towards Esti. Inviting a response.

Uncertain if the older woman, who radiated the feelings of comfort and welcome as brightly as the sun shone, was human or a witch or goodness could even be a hidden Fae either of the last two could cover their magic. Could know more than they revealed. Esti decided to tell only truths, just in case. "I love asters, I'd never seen it painted so nicely on china before." Esti explained away her interest in the clearly magical artifact. She did like soft purple aster flowers and hadn't seen much real English bone china in person. There was but one set of plain style at court. No lies told, no secret truths revealed.