Page 67 of Journey to the Elderoak
“Yes.” He looked at her, ochre eyes bright with joy. “Go on,” he urged.
Clearing her throat, she looked around the table and caught Raine on the verge of laughing. “I…um…I made dinner.”
Thorne raised his eyebrows. “You did? By yourself?”
“Uh—” she began, but was cut off by Derris.
“She did everything, Your Majesty. We just followed her instructions if she needed help.”
Everyone turned back to her, waiting for her to finish. “I made dinner for all of you.” Her hands shook and she pleaded with herself not to drop the dish. “To show my appreciation.”
Thorne grinned widely. “Thank you, Ava. Now why don’t you sit before you pass out?”
“Yep.” She nodded and leaned over the table, setting her dish in the middle.
She walked to her usual spot next to Thorne and across from Casimir and lowered into her seat beneath the glow of the chandelier.
“You look like you’re about to throw up,” Raine said.
“If I do, I’ll make sure to do it in your wine,” she replied, batting her eyelashes.
The rest of the food was brought in and laid before them.
“I take it you don’t like talking in front of groups?” Quinn asked.
Ava shook her head. “I hate it.”
“You did it in Saxumdale,” Raine said.
“And I hated it then, too.”
Jorrar chuckled. “Well, you’d best get used to it. It won’t be the last time you have to address a group. Besides, you’re beingpresented at the Solstice Ball soon. That will be a large audience.”
“Don’t remind me,” she mumbled as she sipped her wine.
Raine turned to her, about to say something when he noticed her outfit. The dress was full of greens and browns, with multiple skirt layers and embroidered flowers throughout. It was the one Raine had picked out when he took her on a tour of the city.
“You’re wearing my dress, dainty human!”
“It looks much better on me.” She winked, giggling as she glanced at Casimir who had barely been able to take his eyes off her since she walked into the room.
“I think Cas likes it,” Raine whispered.
She blushed and looked away.
Once the food had been laid out, Thorne asked her to explain the dishes. She listed each one, laughing at their attempts to pronounce ‘ravioli’ and ‘focaccia’ since there didn’t seem to be any fae words for these, and waited for them to try it.
“Whoa,” Quinn said as she took a bite of ravioli. “What’s in this? It’s delicious.”
“The outside is a thin dough, and the inside has cheese and other herbs. Then you boil it in water and make a sauce.”
“I love it,” Quinn said, and everyone murmured their agreement.
“It’s alright.” Raine shrugged. She pinched him.
They continued their meal, everyone commenting on how much they enjoyed her ‘human food,’ and Ava warmed at the companionship and kindness hovering around the table. There was no talk of war, no mention of Deidamia, the Elderoak or their mission to retrieve the book, though she knew they were making plans.
They just enjoyed each other’s company, and something more healed inside her at the laughter; the fellowship; thefondness everyone showed each other. Exactly like at Jorrar’s house.
