Jess relaxed and smiled as she spoke, moving to sit on her left and she could feel the tension going out of her guests as soon as they had some idea of where to go. Jess’s mother even seemed pleased at the mention of being at the head of the table; it was a meaningless honor in this particular house but Allie didn't see any harm in letting her feel special.
As soon as everyone was more or less settled Allie and Jason began serving themselves from the nearest dishes, but Allie quickly realized that none of the elves were moving, even Bleidd. She cleared her throat, “This works something like a buffet, where everyone serves themselves whatever they like and the dishes get passed around the table.”
Bleidd nodded, grasping the concept immediately and began spooning mashed potatoes from the closest bowl onto his plate. The other three elven men looked a bit perplexed but started to reach tentatively for the bowls closest to them. Jennaessiya though did not, “Isn’t that for a servant to do?”
“We don’t have any servants,” Allie said, puzzled since that should have been obvious. Then she caught Jess’s mother glancing at Jason, and had to throttle down a surge of anger. Trying not to let her feelings show she said, “Everyone here is a member of this household or a guest.”
At that Jennaessiya looked truly bewildered, her eyes tracking from the depths of the kitchen to the food to Jason and back to Allie. But she didn’t argue, instead she reached for the closest bowl and began to slowly serve herself, looking thoughtful. Beneath the table Jess reached out and squeezed Allie’s leg, speaking into her mind “Relax my heart, please, she means no harm. Nor is she trying to insult Jason. Things here are very different from the Holding and she doesn’t understand why he would be in the kitchen all day cooking unless he was a servant duty bound to do so.”
Allie took a deep breath aware of Bleidd watching her out of the corner of his eye. She replied to Jess in kind, still struggling with the childish urge to throw a spoonful of peas at the elven woman. “Doesn’t anyone at the Holding do something like cook just because they enjoy it?”
Now Jess was the one looking confused, even as he moved several slices of turkey onto his plate, “Servants do what they are bound to do, it is not a choice.”
Allie frowned down at her plate, not sure how to respond to that. Honestly she wasn’t even sure what to think of that. Yet another reason why I could never live in a Holding again she thought privately. I don’t remember most of this stuff from when I was little but now, as an adult, so much of it kind of horrifies me…
After a few minutes of awkward shuffling and passing of plates everyone seemed to have gotten what they’d wanted. Allie had taken more than she’d realized, her plate almost overflowing with food; she doubted she’d be able to eat it all but she didn’t even care. She felt her spirits lifting, despite the rough start to the day, despite the unwelcome guests.
At first everyone ate in silence, the elves focusing on the food and Allie and Jason unsure how to start a conversation. For the elves eating without speaking was the norm, as meals were usually enjoyed this way and then followed by comfortable conversations afterwards. To Allie though the sound of silverware on plates started to grate and after a minute or so of it she looked down the table at Jason, “You really outdid yourself this year Jase. If I hadn’t been here to see it all day I wouldn’t have believed you’d had any problems.”
Her guests look surprised, pausing when she started talking and looking uncertain, but she ignored them. Jason smiled widely, “Thanks Allie. That means a lot to me. For a while there I really didn’t think I could pull this off.”
She chewed quickly and swallowed, “Oh you’d have managed somehow. When it comes to food I have confidence in your ability to pull off minor miracles.”
He blushed at that but looked pleased at the compliment. “If you consider shaping ground hamburger to look like a turkey and cooking it a miracle then sure, because that was my backup plan until Jessilaen showed up with the real turkey.”
Bleidd smiled, “Knowing your skill with seasoning hamburger that actually does sound quite appealing and it would certainly have made for a unique experience.”
Allie giggled a bit at that, picturing it, and Jason smirked between mouthfuls of stuffing. Then unexpectedly Jess ventured a question, “I have been wondering about something – why this insistence on a turkey?”
Allie and Jason looked at each other for a moment, then Jason said, “It’s traditional.”
“Yes, I gathered as much,” Jess said drily, “But why that particular bird? You do not ritually sacrifice it or do anything ceremonially with it except cook and eat it. So I was wondering if the animal itself held some significance?”
“Ah,” Allie said realizing what he meant. Among the Fey there were some festivals and ritual occasions that required specific food to be served and in those cases the food itself was highly symbolic. So what he really wanted to know was whether the turkey held some deep meaning that he wasn’t understanding. She took a deep breath gathering her thoughts as all the other elves looked on curiously. “Well, this holiday for Americans, which we are technically, represents a, um, kind of memorial or re-enactment of a meal that was supposed to have occurred between two groups of people, opposing groups of people, when Europeans first came to America about 400 years ago. And you may find this strange but it, ah, that is the actual history doesn’t matter so much as the sort of myth that grew around it, representing people overcoming differences to get together and help each other in difficult times and the center part of the story was the one group of people bringing food, and sharing a meal, with the other group.”
“Yes,” he said, “You explained that to me, and said that is why the day represents a time for families to gather and for people to be grateful for the blessings in their lives.”
Allie nodded slowly, aware that Bleidd was highly amused by all of this and suddenly wondering if he could have explained it all. “Right, but in the story people came to say that the meal featured turkey and I guess it just kind of became this idea that what you do on the holiday is eat turkey and foods like mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, and pies, harvest foods. But the turkey became the center piece.”
“Because of the myth?” he said looking thoughtful.
Allie felt like she was explaining this all badly, but no one had ever asked her tell them why you had to eat turkey on Thanksgiving before, and Jason was keeping his mouth full of food to avoid answering. “Right. Because of the, er, myth.”
Bleidd was smirking down into his plate now and she wanted to smack him, suddenly sure that he could have given a better, more coherent, answer. Instead she scooped up a big spoonful of sweet potatoes and ate it to keep her mouth full and out of trouble.
“Well the food is delicious,” Brynneth said, smiling at Jason, who flushed. “Allie and Bleidd are right to praise your skill, and I admit I am impressed that one person accomplished so much alone in such a short time.”
“Thank you,” Jason mumbled, flattered.
Jennaessiya cleared her throat slightly, drawing everyone’s attention. “Indeed this is very good. I have never eaten human food before and I was uncertain what to expect, this is quite delightful. Have you trained long for this job?”
Allie blinked in surprise to realize that Jennaessiya had never eaten human food before and she suddenly found herself wondering if this was Jess’s mother’s first time out of the Holding. That was a really strange thought.
“Oh,” Jason said, wide eyed, “ummm, well it’s not my job or anything. I’m actually a firefighter, you know, for a job. But I love cooking that’s my hobby.”
Seeing the blank looks on her guests’ faces and fighting a sigh Allie added, “A hobby is something you do just for fun, you know for relaxation.”
“Fascinating,” Zarethyn said, sounding like he meant it. Allie almost asked if elves really didn’t have hobbies, but stopped herself, realizing that even Bleidd didn’t have any recreational activity he enjoyed that could be
called a hobby. When she stopped and thought about it, besides enjoying sensual pleasures like eating, drinking, sex, dancing, basically anything sensory and pleasant, she couldn’t think of any Fey who had hobbies. Things that directly related to their jobs or training, yes, and things that were necessary skills, yes, but the idea of doing for fun what someone else did for work, she could not think of one example, not just for the elves but for any Fey. Even Ciaran’s love of books was only a vicarious enjoyment of the pleasures described in them, and like Jess and Bleidd watching movies was a type of pure entertainment. And when she thought about it his love of chess was only a reflection of the way all Fey seemed to obsessively love the game as one of skill and strategy, and often used it as a substitute for actual combat. She couldn’t think of any full Fey she knew who engaged in anything without a direct purpose for their life unless it was pure sensory indulgence. She certainly didn’t know any who played golf, or other sports, or built things, or collected things, or obviously took on a task for fun that would normally be someone else’s job, like cooking or even playing music. It was a truly bizarre thought.
“So you do this by choice, because you enjoy it?” Jennaessiya said, as if this was the most novel thing she’d ever heard of.
“Ah, yeah, just because I like to,” Jason said, glancing at Allie.
“Mmmm, this squash is really good Jason. What’s in this? Nutmeg?” she said trying to look innocent.
“Yeah and some cinnamon,” he said looking relieved. The amusement Bleidd was radiating next to her was starting to get really annoying.
“Aliaine do you have any of these…hobbies?” Jennaessiya asked, still looking intrigued.
Allie looked down the table at her future mother-in-law, wishing she’d been quicker to take another bite of turkey. “Ah, well…sure. Sure I have hobbies. I mean I don’t have much free time because of the store, owning the store, that’s quite time consuming.”
“Yes,” Jennaessiya said agreeably. “I don’t know much about shop keeping myself but I imagine it would be a demanding profession. Although now that you have a position in the Elven Guard and will be wed you must be looking forward to being free of that obligation.”
Allie frowned, her head tilting unconsciously indicating the other woman had her full attention, but before she could respond Jess quickly said, “I believe I shall start a hobby. I have long missed carpentry since joining the Guard and woodworking would make a good hobby I think.”
“You were a carpenter?” Jason said, his eyebrows disappearing under his bangs.
Allie held up her free hand, “Wait a second, what do you mean ‘free of that obligation’? Free of what obligation?”
Jess’s panic was palpable now and Allie shot him a suspicious look even as he did his best to ignore her, “Indeed Jason I was apprenticed to a master wright and had achieved the rank of journeyman before it was decided that I should find a place in the Elven Guard instead.”
Zarethyn was nodding in agreement, and Allie could feel Bleidd’s amusement turning to real surprise at Jess’s words, but she would not let even that revelation distract her, keeping her eyes fixed on Jennaessiya. The elven woman also waved away the men’s conversation. “Well shop keeping is certainly a necessary profession, but it is hardly a prestigious one. A place in the Elven Guard however is much sought after and very dignified. There wouldn’t seem to be any reason to continue as a merchant when you have a better position elsewhere.”
Allie didn’t think she’d ever felt so insulted in her life, and that was saying a lot. She could feel Bleidd tensing next to her as a dozen scathing replies went through her mind but what actually came out of her mouth, in a slightly breathless voice, was, “My grandmother opened that store, it’s been passed down in my family from her to me, and it’s how I support myself.”
Jason was looking at her in real alarm now, and even Brynneth and Zarethyn seemed to have realized that she was genuinely upset. Jess’s mother however pressed on, oblivious, “I can see that there is some sentimental value, but whatever paltry income it offers must be eclipsed by the pay the Elven Guard offers, and naturally being wed you will claim your husband’s income as well.”
“Paltry?” she said, then as Jess put his hand on her leg and said her name, his voice quiet and desperate, “Wait why would I claim Jess’s income? That’s his.”
Every head swiveled back from Allie to Jennaessiya who laughed aloud at Allie’s words, “Oh my dear, of course a wife is entitled to any income her husband makes. Whatever he earns is hers by the Law.”
The heads all turned back to Allie, who could not entirely keep the shock off her face, “That’s…you just expect him to hand everything over to me?”
On cue they all looked back at his mother who was looking almost pityingly at Allie now, “I realize the ways of the human world are…different…but surely they are not so vastly different as all that. And you seemed to have a good grasp of Elven ways, I had thought you understood all this. When a couple weds anything the man had earned previously remains his of course, set aside for the time when the two part ways, but while they are wed a couple’s property and incomes are joined and naturally it falls to the woman as the head of the individual – I’m not sure what it would be called in your language?”
“Family unit is close enough to bronfinne,” Bleidd murmured his voice thick with amusement again. Allie turned and leveled a glare at him which only seemed to amuse him more although it made Jason wince.
“It falls to the woman as head of the individual ‘family unit’,” Jennaessiya continued, not even thanking Bleidd for giving her the right vocabulary, “to be responsible for all the finances and property.”
“But it’s his money,” Allie said, knowing she was perilously close to losing her temper, something that she dared not let happen.
His mother’s expression was skeptical, “What is his is yours, to do with as you see fit. If it worries you so then be sure to handle it well, although I have little doubt that having been a merchant you are very good with finances.”
Allie was speechless at that and turned to Jess who had remained silent throughout that entire exchange. He took her hand and squeezed it, his love flowing around her, and in her mind he said, “My heart it’s the way of our people, and it has been the way for as long as anyone remembers. I do not begrudge you anything that is mine.”
It turned out that it was possible to grit your teeth mentally Allie realized as she responded, “I’m not taking all your money” Before he could speak again she turned back to his mother, aware that Zarethyn and Brynneth were still eating and watching this conversation, and trying for their sakes not to start acting like a petulant teenager, “Well, I’m certain Jess and I will work this out later, but I’d hate for our whole dinner conversation to focus on money.”
She managed a few more bites as her future mother-in-law smiled brightly, “Indeed, there’s plenty of time to discuss all of this in the future. Now that we know there are certain things about elven culture you are ignorant of we can be sure to remedy that before you come to the Holding.”
Allie’s fist clenched around her fork at the word ignorant, a term she had always especially loathed, and Jason, perhaps remembering that stood up and began getting a second helping for himself, nervously saying, “Not to compliment my own cooking, which would be egotistical, but I think this is so good I’ll have seconds before we think about getting dessert.”
“I believe I will have more as well,” Brynneth said, smiling at his one-time lover.
“The meal is finished with dessert?” Zarethyn said, looking genuinely interested.
“Yes, I made three different kinds of pie,” Jason said proudly. “And we have ice cream and a fruit tart as well.”
“Humans like to finish large meals such as this with something sweet,” Bleidd said, still oozing amusement.
The reasonable part of her knew she should let the conversation drop and allow the men to sidetrack things, but Allie was sti
ll miffed and so into the slight lull she said, “Anyway it’s not likely that I’ll be visiting the Holding proper any time soon, especially with the pregnancy and then, well, travel with an infant will be difficult as well I imagine.”
Jennaessiya looked up, alarmed, “But my dear certainly you plan on moving to the Holding as soon as you get everything settled here?”
“Settled? What settled? I mean I am settled here,” Allie said, flustered. “This is my home, here.”
Total silence fell as everyone looked back and forth between the two women who were staring at each other, both completely baffled. Finally, cautiously, Jess’s mother said, “This may be your home, but this is not any kind of support system to raise a child in. There are no other women, no kinswomen, to help you. And there are so few of you here, it must be terribly lonely with what less than a dozen people? Don’t you miss the community of a household in a Holding?”
“If I wanted kinswomen I’d have to go back to my mother’s Holding,” Allie said flatly.
“Oh no, no you’d be welcomed in our household, as our kin,” Jennaessiya said, and for all that Allie disliked her she could not deny the real concern and care she felt from the woman. “As would your other betrothed and your, ah, carid if you’d like. I can see they mean much to you.”
“They do,” Allie said reflexively. “They are my family, even if the concept is different from the elven one.”
Jennaessiya nodded, “And we would welcome them along with you in our household. You may be surprised to find that it would not differ so very much from life here, except that you would not be so isolated.”
That much at least Allie knew was naiveté on Jennaessiya’s part; she may have been young when she left but she did remember enough about life in a Holding to know that it was vastly different from life in Ashwood. “I’m not sure life in a Holding would suit me very well. Plus it’s an unrealistic commute to and from my store, especially with a baby.”
Fairy Gifts: A Between the Worlds Anthology Page 12
