As Meleri and I entered the kitchen, I went into the pantry and grabbed some flour, water, salt and tomatoes. "So the reason I need your help is that you’re better than me making tomato purée." Meleri’s face lit up. “You’re making pizza.” I gave her a quick thumbs-up. “That I am. It’s one of Miva’s favorite meals and tomorrow is her last day here, so I figured I’d get her something she really likes, today and tomorrow. You know, spoil the kid a little.”

  Meleri looked at me, then chuckled. “You really treat her as a niece, don’t ya?” I shrugged. “Or nephew, should she decide to take on a boy’s form. Some shapeshifters change that stuff with the same frequency they change clothes. Honestly, Miva might have taken a boy’s body a few times already. Hard to tell with how young Miva is, after all. That will become more obvious once she gets into her teens.”

  Meleri didn’t respond, as she was focusing on preparing the purée while I mixed the dough together. I could use magic for it, but it was more fun this way. Besides, I got a distinct feeling Meleri would give me the stink eye if I used magic for something so simple.

  With the dough done, I grabbed some meaty sausage and sliced it into thin pieces, while Meleri diced some onions and, once that was done, began mixing spices into the ground meat. It was clear she was a professional, as she was working way faster than I was and with the confidence that was only earned from years of experience and training.

  I went into the pantry and grabbed the cheese. “How much of this thing do you think we need?” I asked as I showed her the massive cheese wheel. It was almost half as tall as I was. “Huh, what do you… - YIKES! Damn, that cheese is big. You made that yourself?” She looked at it in abject disbelief. I gently put it down on the table. I knew the table wouldn’t break. After all, I reinforced it with magic myself long ago.

  “This one? Nah, bought it from Apple Ridge. They are great for more than just fruits and veggies.” I grabbed a knife and started eyeing how much cheese to cut off, while Meleri eyed the wheel with open interest. “I gotta go with you the next time you head over. If they are that great at producing stuff, I want to meet them.” She took the cheese I cut off and shredded in a cheese grater so we could put it on the pizzas.

  As the pizza came together, I would hear voices from the living room. I poked my head in. “I’m surprised you could drag yourselves away from the chairs.” Jaira looked away from the conversation and leaned forward in the chair she was sitting in as she gave me a bored shrug. “Dinner is eaten in the living room when there are guests around, it's always been that way. Besides, there are far too many of us to fit around the kitchen table right now, and I know you would never expose your precious books to the danger of food. Heavens know I got an earful the few times I brought food into the potion room.”

  I arched an eyebrow. “Need I remind you that tossing random items into a potion can have very weird results? For instance, those bread crumbs that fell into the potion when you entered with that damn sandwich changed what was supposed to be a simple potion of healing into a literal mess of random effects. Including literally exploding in our faces. Then you turned purple for hours, while Midnight turned into a dog!”

  At the mention of that, Jaira flinched. “Yeah, yeah I get it, and once again, Darling, I apologize, to both you and my darling Midnight.” Midnight yawned and rolled over in her lap. “It’s fine. It was an interesting learning experience that taught everyone involved an important lesson, like never add random stuff to a potion just to see what happens.” I pinched the bridge of my nose., “That’s a massive understatement, Midnight. If I’m being honest, given the sheer randomness of it all, you’re lucky the effect wore off rather than just sticking around permanently like an elixir.”

  Midnight flicked one of her ears. “Oh, I am certain you could have fixed it. You would have found a way. It would have likely been unpleasant, but you would have. I’m certain of that.” Well, at least one of us was confident about it. Trying to clear off random potion effects was… not something I was confident in. That sort of chaotic magic was usually… sticky.

  “Well, anyway, we have pizzas coming, so I hope you’re all hungry.” That got a reaction out of Miva, who, until now, was looking to be half asleep in her chair. “Pizza? WOOHOO!!” She danced happily around the living room floor. “Yeah, yeah, you little rascal. We know you love pizza. Now calm down, or you’ll pass out before you can eat any.”

  Meleri joined me in the living room as we waited for the pizza to finish baking. As she sat down, she looked thoughtful. “You said that the entire volcano thing became messy. How come?” Above me, I could hear Soot chuckle. I gave him an annoyed look. “Well, I could tell you now, but I would be interrupted by the pizza needing to be taken out, so why don’t we wait until it’s done, and we’re eating?” Meleri scrunched her mouth in the cute way she always did when she was annoyed, but didn’t argue.

  Once the pizza was done, Meleri bolted into the kitchen ahead of me and between the two of us we were carrying in plates of food for everyone. As always, when food like this was served I cut the ones for Midnight, Soot and Winter into proper sized pieces, since the cheese would be hard for them to contend with otherwise. One incident of Midnight nearly choking on molten cheese was enough.

  "There we are. Everyone got their food?" No replies. Everyone was too busy eating. “Good, then I will resume the tale while eating, unless there are any objections?” Again, no replies, as expected. I took a bite out of my pizza and leaned back in the chair. “So, a mess, well…”

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  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  As I stepped away to give the three pixies some alone time, I was immediately swamped by various Fae from both sides of the court. The summer Fae were as jovial and outgoing as Ilmahir, while the winter Fae were more reserved and polite in their approach. I couldn’t even move an inch from my spot as fae of both sides were surrounding me so tightly. Personal space just didn’t exist at all.

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  I could see Meleri freeze up. She could guess what was coming once I mentioned the crowd.

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  Too many people, far too close. Too many people, too many people, too many!… There was a burst of magical energy and suddenly, there was lots of space, as all the Fae that were pressing in on me, as well as the nearby tables were hurled away, leaving a circle five meters wide around me that only contained me, Soot, Midnight and the trio of pixies. The entire clearing went quiet as everyone looked at me. "Lady Morgana…" “… That was uncalled-for.” I looked at the two. “Well, I apologize, but I don’t really like crowds at the best of times and getting swamped like that…”

  The two eyed me silently. "So a panicked…" “… Response, we take it?” I nodded in response. “It’s one reason I prefer to be left alone as much as possible. I can barely tolerate a crowd as long as it doesn’t press into my personal space, but getting swamped like that causes certain responses I have little to no control over. Honestly, I am relieved this happened and not something worse.” I looked at the two, trying to gauge their response. “So it…” “… Would seem.”

  Neither showed any emotion, but ordered some of the fae to clean up the collateral damage from my magical outburst. Tables were upended, chairs sent flying, food, cutlery, plates, cups were scattered everywhere, and more than a few fae were injured.

  Nettle looked at the mess. “So that’s why you always insisted on your seat being outside the major crowd during the festival.” She seemed calm, but I could have sworn she was suppressing a smile. Lily was also keeping her expression neutral, but Ivy was laughing so hard she was forced to land.

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  Ivy looked up from her plate as she swallowed a piece of meat the size of her own head. “Well, I thought it was hilarious, though in hindsight I guess it wasn’t much fun for you.” Soot looked up from his own plate. “I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I am pretty sure that Mistress was just relieved she didn’t cause any serious harm to anyone. Besides, it served a rather fortuitous purpose. It demonstrated that Mistress was powerful enough to not be messed with by fae who wanted to climb the court ladder, and she was favored enough to get off without a punishment despite causing such a disruption at the banquet. As far as I know, the only one who has managed that before her is Nettle.”

  Ivy looked thoughtful for a moment. “Huh, I guess you’re right, although Nettle made more of a scene, as she outright yelled at Ilmahir.” She turned back to her pizza slice and resumed eating again, pacing herself so she wouldn’t have to wait for the others to have seconds.

  Speaking of which… I rose from my seat. “Seconds anyone?” Ivy’s pizza slice vanished. “Me, me, me! Two more, please!” “I would want another slice as well, Mother.” “Same here, Meowstress.” Meleri got to her feet. “I’ll help you carry the plates, as I want another piece myself. Jaira, Miva you want more?” The two of them handed Meleri their plates in silence, their mouths too full of pizza to answer. I looked over at Soot. “What about you?” Soot picked up the plate in his beak and flew over to my shoulder. “Sounds good to me.”

  Soon after, I was back in the living room, everyone with more pizza and ready to hear more. “Now then…”

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  The reminder of the party was… tense, to be mild about it. Aside from the pixies of Nettledale, and a few select fae here and there, no one wanted to get close to me for fear of a repeat. After a few hours, I figured I’d done my due diligence on the social front and excused myself. I could have sworn even Ilmahir seemed relieved as Ivy, Lily and Nettle led the way back towards the fairy circle.

  Ivy seemed in a good mood. “That was hilarious, although how come the three of us weren’t blasted away too?” I turned to her. “Good question, it might have been because I recognized you as friends, since I already know the three of you.” Lily seemed skeptical. “Friend-foe effects on magic used in a panic is… unusual. Unless…” She eyed me, suspicion obvious on her face. I gave her a pleasant and perfectly neutral smile.

  She pinched her nose. “You realize that the two probably realized that too, right?” I shrugged as I stepped up to the circle. “Even if they did, they would have no way of proving it. Besides, if I have gotten the correct read on Ilmahir he was more amused than anything.” I didn’t immediately get a response as the three opened the way back out. I stepped through the portal and the others followed. Ivy flew over and landed on Soot’s head. “Say Nettle, mind if I go with Soot and Lady Morgana?” Nettle looked over at Lily, who seemed to not overly care either way. “Sure, but don’t stay too long this time. You have duties around the village as well, you know.”

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  Meleri looked over at Ivy. “What about now? You have been here a while now, haven’t you?” Ivy looked up from her plate of pizza. “My job these days is to be Nettledale’s envoy to Lady Morgana first, messenger second. I spent so much time here anyway that Nettle and Lily decided it was easier that way. Lady Morgana even made me a small bed and stuff!” she pointed to the shelf where her small bed was.

  Meleri eyed her for a moment before leaning back in her chair with a small chuckle. “Essentially speaking, you live here now, that it?” Before Ivy could answer, I spoke up. “Not really. The only reason she is sticking around so much is that she wants to keep listening, isn’t it?” Ivy nodded. “Besides, everyone in Nettledale’s fine with it, as I asked for permission. It’s a… whatcha call it again? Oh, right, a vacation!”

  Meleri opened her mouth to respond, but then closed it again. “At any rate, why don’t you guys relax for a bit? I have a present to finish for Jaira, seeing as she won’t be here around her birthday this time, given her early arrival.” There was disappointed booing from Ivy and Miva, but no one refused the suggestion as I left for the Potion Room. Better get that repellant done, as Jaira would be leaving soon.