21 Chapter (21): Gauge

They crossed the forest for almost twenty minutes to reach the Riverside and surely Lisa discovered about this. The wolves and other wilding beings would come to hunt for Winter and the girls had made a risk for going there. She probably scolded Charles for not following them.

"The garden had become all a mess! Jason needs a long time to trim the extra branches." Elizabeth remarked while she peeked around.

"Tell uncle to hire some employees for him."

Luna suggested.

"I think we need a gardener here! We can't rely everything on these people because uncle dislikes having more workers."

Ell nagged, it was time that someone should protest about the strict laws of the lord's mansion.

"I'm curious to know if the Queen asked him to marry her daughter, or the princess did it her own," Luna noted, thinking what else they would ask in the future to put them on spot.

"We are inevitable to be silent about uncle's proposal, No one likes them."

As Elizabeth breathed out the words, the door got open before she could even knock on it.

A furious face came to view, that was Lisa. They forgot to inform her about going to the Riverside so she could send Jason with them.

"Well, get in first!" She told them.

Luna tried to keep her smile faded. Stepping inside, the wind lashed their hair as she hardly slammed the door.

"Explain!" She folded her arms and stood for their explanation, shaking her after seeing their blushed cheeks.

The amazing scent of the good and fresh bread made Elizabeth hungry, it wasn't yet lunchtime but she felt being hungry with Margaret's cooking. Maybe she was doing some magic in her kitchen to keep them always starving.

"Yes, we went to the riverside! But we came back with a fool who was tending to leave us!"

Elizabeth abused the moment but Lisa knew her tricks very well. She shook her head saying, "that is not the matter, why did you step on a hazardous road when you were aware of it!"

"Ah, please, Lisa! We couldn't let him go."

Luna declared.

Elizabeth's mouth dropped, peeking at her sister said, "did you know that?"

Luna shrugged, "you did too!"

They chuckled but washed them down as they discovered Lisa being still like a furious bull that was watching red banners.

"Alright, we are merely sorry for scaring you and I promise that we would not do this again, besides! I have always this dagger with me."

Elizabeth tabbed her hand on her lap, she always carried the dagger of Griffin tamers that uncle Miguel had given her.

"Ah, girls! You are causing me headaches when I can't overcome you! Barbara and Margaret are preparing Lunch. Wash your hands and join us."

She pointed to the dining room, which its corridor could lead them to the kitchen. They followed her lead. Luna swallowed the warm air then sneezed, they halted.

"Bless you, sister." Elizabeth's eyes drifted on scowled Lisa while washing their hands near the door of the dining hall.

"Do not scold me! She wished to bring him back and I fulfilled it."

She added due to how Lisa was glaring at her.

"And you received another wolf curse from him, sorry Ell!"

Luna noted.

"Forget me please, there are more important things. Did you talk to the old woman? I really want to dance at a bridal ceremony. We can invite many people." Elizabeth asked.

Lisa raised an eyebrow! "Old woman! Gods' sake! If she hears that then you will be tormented by those flaring glares."

Then her expression soothed, lowering her voice continued, "she might cook you for that wedding, and yes, I did!"

Luna and Lisa burst out laughing when Lisa grabbed the door handle and turned it.

Luna closed her eyes as the delightful odor of bread and food danced and embraced her face. They crossed the hall and went to the kitchen.

"Gods! Margaret, you are the God of cooking!"

The excited Elizabeth chanted and surged for the stove and the boiling food inside the pot, sniffing the steam.

"Gods forbid, Lady Elizabeth, are you a heretic? I am a low human, how can I be a God?"

"You feed my bottomless stomach and I am grateful for having you." She roamed ahead and hugged the old woman from behind.

Margaret smiled and peeked at Luna who was approaching them.

"Lady Luna, come I cooked you the roasted Chicken that you love to eat at the beginning of a cold."

Luna sniffed, could it be always like this? She hoped to find a cure as soon as possible and could see the beautiful chocolate face of Margaret who was exactly like their grandmother.

"Thank you amazing Margaret." She drew her head away from that table which she had put the roasted chicken.

Barbara was washing the dishes when she chimed in.

"I didn't prepare the cherry jelly!"

Barbara's hands were tied so Elizabeth strode to help.

"I will make it, do we have hot water?"

"Yes, darling! Check the kettle."

Margaret pointed.

Lisa made Luna have her seat, then she took out the bowl of cherries that Margaret kept frigid.

"They look fresh!"

Lisa noted, putting it in front of Elizabeth, to hand her for making the dessert.

"My favorites!" Luna reached her hand out, following the scent, she picked one and thrust it in her mouth. Its taste gave her heart a calmness, a hope of freshness when Elizabeth and she ran wild in the cherry garden in the season of harvest. Their dress was full of bloodstains that the cherry syrup had left, and they laughed, running away from Lisa.

"Do we have that old cherry wine?"

Luna asked Margaret.

"Which one? The one you made ten years ago? Or the seven years one?"

Margaret asked.

"The seven years one! The one that Ryan smashed them."

She couldn't forget that windy day that Ryan made his first wine.

"Yes, I think three bottles had left in the barn."

"We would go and bring them after making the dessert, what do you think, sister?"

Elizabeth told, pouring the hot water on the jelly power that Margaret used to make, she began to mix it.

"Sounds fantastic, it has been a long time we didn't fool around inside that barn."

Luna said, laughing with the others.

"Gauging how many times we troubled Lisa can't respond to my math."

Elizabeth remarked.

"Do you ever like math?" Barbara jested. But honestly, Elizabeth hated math instead loved painting.