"What are you giggling about?"  Amelia asks, looking up from her book.  "I thought you were working on that thing for the Queen."

"Some boys just dared each other to explore the yard, it took them all of two minutes to get hopelessly lost."  I project an image of four kids huddled together as they try to find their way out.  "I've been messing with them, lights in the corner of their eyes, sounds that only one of them can hear, stuff like that.  I was just about to have them meet a grasshopper."  Giggles escape from my lips again.

"Look, they're headed towards Mega-Mittens, you gotta do something with that."  Apricot dropped her game to fly over and see what was going on.

"Heheh.  You two are so mean."  Amelia shakes her head but doesn't stop watching.

"They see him.  Yeah it's just a statue guys, you can relax."  I taunt their unknowing forms.  Then, once their shoulders sag in relief.  The statue turns its head to stare at them while licking it's lips.

""""AAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!""""  Their screams can be heard from all the way in the house.

""Hahahahah!""  Apricot and I laugh our heads off, even Amelia grins while letting out a couple low chuckles.

"Alright, you've had your fun.  Time to let them go."  She returns to her book, and I open a path for them to escape.

"Oh, that was good."  Apricot sigh in contentment.  "Can't wait until you get those golems set up.  Just imagine people’s faces when they see meters long dragonflies buzzing around the cattails."

"That's why I want to get these defensive charms out of the way first."  I nod at her.  "So that I only have to worry about the stuff that I want to worry about."

"How's it going?  You've been working on it for most of the day."  She leans over and peers at my worktable.  "Well, I see you've cracked the miniaturization problem."  She shrinks down to get a closer look.  "Gods damn Sorrel, this is beautiful work."

"It's all thanks to Mana Mastery."  I say humbly.  "I can now directly adjust a materials Mana conductivity.  I can even make due with cheaper materials, and don't need all that expensive stuff that's been slowly infused over years or decades, anymore.  Though, I did use it in this case because I'm sure Oliver will want have it checked out."  I avoid using Deluca's name, but the pixie still wrinkles her nose in distaste.

"It looks like you're almost done."  She finishes tracing out all the enchantments, and looks up at me.

"Yeah, just making a few last adjustments, then I need to mount it all."  I project an image of a triple layer necklace in the air.  "I'm thinking this for the Queen, and either a broach or charm bracelet for Faye."

"Shit!"  She swears.  "Amelia, get over here.  Sorrel's been holding out on us."  She beckons our lover over.

"How beautiful."  She leans over to get a better look at the necklace.  

A simple gold chain, the top layer is round with five evenly space Mana Gems made to look like clear diamonds.  Each separated by three smaller black 'diamonds'.  The second row is pulled to a 'V' at the collarbone by a copy of the Royal Seal.  The last layer is pulled down to settle just inside the cleavage by a teardrop cameo of The Queens' dancer tattoo.  Both the Seal and cameo are also done in Mana Gems.

"She'll love it.  But, why haven't you made us any jewelry?"  She plays at being offended.

"Oh shit!  I never even gave you wedding bands."  I exclaim.  And then, at their confused looks.  I think back and realize that people don't seem to follow that particular custom here.  "Old tradition from Dirt."  I explain.  "Couples would give each other matching rings at their weddings, then wear them on the third finger of their left hand.  There's also engagement rings, but those were typically just for women."

"Me want."  Apricot growls.

"Me too."  Amelia adds.

"Well, I've been wanting to push myself down to the atomic scale."  I grin.  "Time to make some diamonds.  This... may take a minute."  I pull out some graphite and quickly lose myself to the magic.

Mastery makes it almost easy to work with single atoms, easy but not fast, it still takes a few attempts to find the right lattice shape.  Once I have it down; I make three large, perfectly clear diamonds.  This is where it really gets tedious, I need to make thousands of minute changes to the regular lattice in order to produce the colors I'm looking for.

I have no idea how long it took me, but I finally have a deep ocean blue, a forest green, and an apricot orange.  Now, that I know what they look like, I can shape them into the rings I have in mind.

Starting with their engagement rings, I twist the three diamonds into a tight spiral around each other.  Coating them with a clear Mana Gem, I then enchant the rings for durability.  Diamond may be hard, but it is also fragile.

Coming out of the magical zone, I look up to see my lovely wives staring at me with tears in the corner of their eyes.  Taking a knee, I hold the rings up and say.  "Will you marry me?"  When they nod, I use magic to slide them onto their fingers at the same time.

"Oh, Sorrel.  They're perfect."  Amelia manages to say, but Apricot seems to have lost her voice.  She's just sitting on Amelia's shoulder, staring at her finger.

"That's just your engagement ring."  I smile up at them, and fashion three gold bands with raised edges.

Between those edges I lay down a layer of black diamond, one of the many colors that I was able to come up with during my experimentation.  On top of that layer I braid our three colors together.  I also add copies of their spiraled engagement rings next to my ring's braid.  Before coating all three in Mana Gem, and once again enchanting them for durability.

Sending the rings to their fingers, I can only say.  "I will always love you."

Apricot shifts to human size before taking Amelia's hand and working together to place the last ring on my finger.  ""We will always love you.""

***

"Oliver."  I answer the phone in good cheer.  "Good timing, I was just finishing the last round of testing for those defense Runes."  A smile can be heard in my voice as I think about why I didn't get around to it yesterday.  "And, was about to call you myself."

"That is excellent news."  His own smile leaks through.  "But, I was actually calling to ask you for another favor.  Nothing major."  He's quick to add, as I sigh in disappointment.  "We were just hoping that Stanwood and some people from the guild could come over to examine the Well."

"Oh, that's fine."  I breathe out in relief.  "Though, could you leave Deluca behind?"

"Ah, I heard about that, is there any way to change your mind?"  he asks, with a hint of trepidation to his voice.

"I'm already over it."  I say flatly.  "But, she pissed off the girls.  I may be new to the whole marriage thing, but I know enough not to walk into that hornets' nest.  She's gotta find some way to make it up to them, I'm staying out of the whole mess."

"Well, damn."  He chuckles ruefully.  "You're already wiser than I was during my first... and second marriages.  Okay, we'll leave her behind, and I'll tell her to find some way to mend broken fences."

"Alright, I'll lay in a big lunch for everyone."

"Thank you.  We'll see you in a little bit."  He disconnects.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

About an hour later I sense several carriages come near The Garden.  "Oh man, did they bring the whole guild?  Good thing I put in that parking area, otherwise no one would be able to get past if they all parked on the street."  I open the camouflaged door on the end of the branch and project a series of "Parking this way" signs in mid air.

"She's not here is she?"  Apricot doesn't even want to say Deluca's name.

"No."  I shake my head.  "I told Oliver to leave her behind, and it looks like he listened.  We do have a couple royal guests, though.  Maybe the princess will be too caught up in the garden to pester you."  Seeing the look on her face, I offer up, hopeful that Faye will, but knowing that it's not likely.

"..."

"I know, I've got the perfect movie to distract her."  A smile breaks over my face.  "It's called 'Honey, I Shrunk the Kids'.  It's about a crazy inventor that builds a shrinking ray, and accidently turns his and the neighbor's children even smaller than pixie size."

"A crazy inventor that likes to make people change size?"  Amelia smirks.  "Where have I heard that story before."

"Hah!"  My orange haired love barks out a laugh.  "She's got you there."

"Yeah, yeah."  I rub the back of my head embarrassed at the all too apt description.  "Now, come on.  Let's go greet everybody.  I really gotta work on those golems, nothing better to keep people away than some giant insectoid terrors."  I grumble as the thought of dealing with everyone swiftly become a reality.

"You're too young to be a grumpy old man, babe."  Amelia pats me on the back before grabbing my hand and pulling me to the door.

Taking a deep breath to steel myself, I then open the door and offer Vivian a flowing bow.  "Good day, Your majesty.  Welcome to our home, The Garden."

"I know that you said you always wanted a big garden."  She says with an amused smile.  "But, I must admit we weren't quite expecting this."

"I love it."  Faye chimes in.  "It's like we're all pixie size."  She stares around in wonder.

"That was my intention."  I smile at the little princess as she swoops her doll around like it's flying.  "Please come in.  There's a scale model near the stairs where you can see what it looks like from above.  Everyone else too; please come in, make yourselves at home."

"Thank you Marquis Rumex."  Stanwood, the guild leader gives me a small bow.  "Sorry for bringing so many, but Oliver let slip that you would be serving lunch.  And well, they all came out of the woodwork after that got out.  Likely hoping for a taste of that chocolate of yours."

"That's quite alright."  I nod to the Mage.  "There's plenty of refreshments for everyone, including lots of chocolate."  A cheer goes up from the crowd at that.

***

The Queen indicated that she wished to speak with me, so Apricot and I took her and Faye to the theater room while Amelia got to play host.  After getting the princess settled in with a bucket of popcorn up front, we sit in the back of the room.

"Oliver told me that you finished the protection runes."  She says hopefully.  "I can't express how grateful I am for everything that you've done, not only for me and Faye, but for all of Larendath."

"Ma'am-"  I start only to be interrupted.

"Vivian, please."  She says emphatically.  "At least when we're in private, you've more than earned it."

"Vivian, then."  I take a breath.  "I just want to start a family, and live in peace.  I can't do that if the country is in chaos.  So, if that means I need to smack down some bullies, or offer up a few trinkets, then I am more than glad to."  I hold out two velvet lined, cherry wood cases containing her necklace and Faye's charm bracelet.

Her face goes slack once I open the cases.  "Oh, Sorrel.  You've out-done yourself."  She fingers the cameo.  "However did you manage to  fit all those protections into such a tiny space?"

"I've been working on Rune miniaturization for a while."  I smile lovingly at my pixie as she snags a handful of popcorn from the Princess.  "And, I had a breakthrough recently.  Everything I talked about before is in there, including a panic button activated by squeezing the Royal Seal.  But, the poison detector is still fairly basic.  So, I recommend that you pick up the Analyze skill from Temmie."

"I already have."  She says sadly.  "My food testers have been tutoring me on which substances are dangerous."

"Good, I've also included a list of all the poisons I know about, and at what dosages they become dangerous."  I lift up the tray the necklace is sitting on to reveal a small booklet.  I may have had a fascination for deadly plants, and poisons in general, when I was a teenager.  "I've double checked all names with Temmie, and it's as complete as I could make it.  Though, hopefully you'll never encounter any of these."

"That is a lot of poisons."  She looks at me inquiringly after flipping through the book only to find page after page of extremely small writing.

"I've been drawn to and studied plants for my entire life."  I explain.  "They are a lot more vicious in fighting for resources and against pests than people might realize.  And, many of the compounds they create can be used to harm humans.  Even seemingly beneficial stuff like the caffeine in coffee and tea can be toxic if too much is taken."

"I do wonder just what your background is, all these things that you know and can make..."  She leaves it as an open ended statement.

"Rather ordinary, to tell the truth.  I was just lucky enough to have access to a vast amount of knowledge that I availed myself upon as much as possible."  A somewhat sad look crosses my face.  "Unfortunately, aside from what is stored in my head, that knowledge is now so far from my grasp that it might as well be considered lost forever.  I'll admit I have a bit of a knack for Runescript, but aside from that I'm actually a rather poor maker."

"After seeing that car of yours, and the armor samples, I find that very hard to believe."  She gives me an incredulous look.

"If you had seen all the changes and revisions I went through to get there, you wouldn't.  I just have the ability to make those changes at a lightning pace.  Anyone could look like a genius if they could cram a few years worth of trial and error into a day."  I shrug not sure what else to say.

"And you say that doesn't make you a genius."  She laughs.  "Fine, I can tell it makes you uncomfortable.  How about we return to the group and see how things are going?"

"Thank you, Vivian.  That would be lovely."  I smile at her as she uses her magic to put the necklace on.  "It looks like Oliver and them are congregating in the game room, trying to figure out how to play pool.  Apricot doesn't mind watching Faye, at least when there's a movie to distract her."  I add after getting a look from the pixie in question.

"She can be a handful"  The woman gives her daughter a loving look.  "Especially when it comes to anything to do with the Fae."  She walks over to her Faye, and hooks the bracelet on to her wrist.  "Look what Uncle Sorrel made for you, Dear.  You can thank him later, just watch your movie for now, we're going to go mingle.  Just be good and listen to Apricot."

"Okay, Mommy."  Her eyes barely leave the screen.  "Thank you Uncle Sorrel."

Her mother, The Queen, smiles fondly down at her daughter before heading for the door.

***