Many hours later Li was walking home. Pain ran up both legs and his back was stiff from the long hours bent over in the field. But at least it had stopped raining. Already the days were getting longer with the new Season and Li smiled as the dying rays of the sun lit the new leaves on the trees. It felt like the whole world was coming back to life after the long winter. The smell of new growth was everywhere and the calls of the birds grew day by day as the earth slowly warmed again.

He had worked by himself for many hours in the field until eventually the Sidhe had returned. And it had even helped, a little. Li had hoped to get it to clear the whole field for him but had to be content with a few extra rows of weeds destroyed. Still it means he was finished before sundown and that was cause enough to be cheerful.

He pushed open the door to the hut he shared with his brother and was immediately surrounded by the sights and smells of good food cooked well. His mouth watered as he recognised the rabbit stew he particularly liked and the lovely warming aroma of a fresh loaf of bread. Some of Zen’s customers must have finally paid up. Li had seen Tim Og with a bag of flour earlier in the day. He guessed he was smelling the result right now.

“Hey Zen. Got the top field weeded” he called out as he pulled off his shoes. Zen was obsessed with keeping things clean and would be very unforgiving if Li tracked mud across the floors.

“Sounds like a long day” came a female voice from behind him.

Li turned in surprise and then grinned as he recognised his soon to be sister in law Shauna.

“Didn't realise we got to see you today” he said tuning back around to pull off his other boot.

“Just for dinner. I'm giving Zen a hand with the bread”.

Li smiled even wider. Zen was a great cook but his baking left a lot to be desired. Shauna on the other hand produced the softest breads. They practically melted in the mouth. Li’s stomach rumbled as he looker forward to a great meal. And not just this one. In a couple weeks, after the wedding, this would be the new normal.

Finished with his boots Li went over to his alcove. The hut was bigger then the name suggested. A central space with a hearth was surrounded by three nooks - not quite separate rooms. Two of those were used by the bothers for sleeping with the last being a storage area, There was a separate small kitchen space through a low door and a privy in the garden. It was warm in the Summer and cold and drafty in the Winter but it was still home.

Li reached in behind his sleeping mat and shoved his knife in with the rest of his bundle. He had been getting ready to go fishing for some time. The plan was to take himself off for a two weeks after the wedding and go fishing at the big lake. He could use the smoking shack there to keep the fish and it would give the newly weds some time alone together before he came back. They would all be living in his parents’ house after that. Zen and Shauna both had made it clear that this would remain his home and he would always have place there. But Li knew a few weeks of just the two of them together would be good for them both. And he was planning on trying to build his own place sooner rather than later to get out from underfoot.

Zen called that dinner was ready from the kitchen and Li turned back to the hearth. As usually when Shauna was here Zen had pulled over a third seat in front of the fire and soon the three were tucking into big bowls of spicy stew with thick slabs of bread and butter that Shauna had cut for them.

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“So how was your day Li?” asked Zen in his deep rumble.

Li smiled over at his brother who as always couldn't take his eyes from his betrothed. Shauna sat glancing over at him now and then while make a big display of looking at Li. The two of them were great together and even as wrapped up in each other as they were Li knew that both his brother and Shauna were always going to be there for him. They were family.

“It was long. That thieving Sidhe is getting fat on all the gifts Ive left it and yet it still wont do what I want it too.”

“Hmmm” said Shauna nodding her head like an elder. “Yes. Of course the wee ones are known for their diligence and obedience”.

Zen laughed loud and long and Li joined in. Shauna managed to keep her face straight for a moment before laughing along with the others.

“OK. OK’ said Li. “I know what you are going to say. But I ended up weeding most of that field by myself. And it could have done it in seconds.”

“Yes, yes. And it could have grown the plants faster to or just made food appear out of thin air. But just because it can doesn’t mean it will.”

“Says the man who spent the day carving a table in a fraction of the time because of his legion of Sidhe helpers”.

Shauna gazed fondly at Zen. “He has got you there love”.

“Well… They do help but you know as well as I do they could be gone in the morning. And anyway the table is special. We three will sit there and share our meals for years into the future. The small folk pick up on things like that and are quicker to share their strength.”

“They are always quick to share with you” said Shauna. “Must just be that you love your work.”

Zen looked up from his bowl to reply but paused as he caught sight of Li’s face.

“What’s wrong. What happened to you? Were you fighting again?”

Li squirmed. His brother cold always read the guilt on his face.

“Not fighting. It’s nothing. Simon came by the field and we had a few words. And, well, nothing happened.”

“Again Li? You can’t keep getting into fights. I know those kids are no good but it doesn't help you always losing your temper. Don’t react. Don’t give them a reaction and they will less interest soon enough.”

Li looked down into his bowl, his stomach souring. Zen meant well but he only saw a fraction of what went on in the village. As someone with a gift for both woodwork adn with the Sidhe he was held in high regard. No one was going to risk offending him. But that respectability didn't rub off on his younger brother.

“Li. You have to learn more control. Don’t let them get to you. And definitely don’t let them prey on your mind. It’s no wonder you are having trouble with the Sidhe if you are steeping yourself in those kind of negative emotions.

And speaking of small folk - have you left a gift this evening Li”

Li gave a glare at his bother from the side of his eyes. “Not yet. I’ll do it now.”

“No - relax and finish your dinner.”

“I’ll do it now”.

Li got up and fetched a slice of bread from the sideboard and filled a cup with milk. He also took a few of the sweet biscuits he had baked earlier in the week. They weren't great - bad baking seemed to be a family trait - but the sidhe seemed to like them.

Pulling on his boots he went outside adn walked around to the back of the hut where a low table stood open to the wind with the view out to the woods. He put the food on the table stepped back and concentrated on the face of the Sidhe that had helped him during the day. After a few moments a group of leaves blew form a nearby bush and swirled around tm make the image of a face. It smiled and eyed the food. With elaborate courtesy Li gestured to the gift and stepped back as the Sidhe swept forward and surrounded the food which glowed briefly before fading away like mist. As always there was an electric feel to the air as the Sidhe gathered its meal. Li nodded to the Sidhe and felt an answering wave of contentment before the it faded away, the leaves that had been swirling in place to trace its features falling back to the ground.

Sighing Li took a moment to soak in the view. He shouldn’t be arguing with his brother. But there was no way he was going to let the rest of the village push him around his whole life. There had to be more to life. He found his eyes pulled in the direction of Bolann. There were leaned men and women there who would know the answers to all his questions. He stood gazing into the distance for a few more minutes before the chill of the evening breeze had him hurrying inside to finish his meal.