[For Daisy]
For the first time in what felt like a very long time (though time had become somewhat relative to the pie maker, who'd spent twenty years miserable and a year happier than he'd ever been), Ned was in something of a good mood. That largely had to do with not having to trudge through the snow anymore and not having a bear rug staring back up at him every time he was home.
Ned took to the kitchen as soon as there was space enough, and settled into a routine he'd finally found comfortable in a place he still wasn't entirely comfortable in. Digby, having tired himself out chasing the returned bees in the garden, immediately found himself a corner in which he wouldn't be accidentally poked, stepped on or prodded, and promptly fell asleep.
A pie was merrily baking in the oven (or not so merrily, at those temperatures) as Ned began slicing apples for the next. He may have even eaten a slice or two as he worked. After the slicing was done and Ned washed both the knife and his hands, he turned back to the counter to begin working the dough for his crust, and stopped short.
There were a pile of books where his flour and dough was supposed to go.
Tilting his head, Ned considered his options. There was no one within reach to have placed them there when he had his back turned, and Digby was fast asleep. That left magical means, which was not something the pie maker was comfortable with, despite his own previous ability. Magic finger or not, the unexplainable made Ned twitch.
It was with a tentative touch that Ned opened the top one, and he frowned. Whoever the books belonged to seemed to have a busy social life, though he couldn't for the life of him figure out what ETD was supposed to mean.
Ned took to the kitchen as soon as there was space enough, and settled into a routine he'd finally found comfortable in a place he still wasn't entirely comfortable in. Digby, having tired himself out chasing the returned bees in the garden, immediately found himself a corner in which he wouldn't be accidentally poked, stepped on or prodded, and promptly fell asleep.
A pie was merrily baking in the oven (or not so merrily, at those temperatures) as Ned began slicing apples for the next. He may have even eaten a slice or two as he worked. After the slicing was done and Ned washed both the knife and his hands, he turned back to the counter to begin working the dough for his crust, and stopped short.
There were a pile of books where his flour and dough was supposed to go.
Tilting his head, Ned considered his options. There was no one within reach to have placed them there when he had his back turned, and Digby was fast asleep. That left magical means, which was not something the pie maker was comfortable with, despite his own previous ability. Magic finger or not, the unexplainable made Ned twitch.
It was with a tentative touch that Ned opened the top one, and he frowned. Whoever the books belonged to seemed to have a busy social life, though he couldn't for the life of him figure out what ETD was supposed to mean.