Apple Muffins 

Chapter 40: Dragon Expansion 

Everett was soon a regular addition to Svend and Mirabel’s cottage and though he thought their tender attention to the rather large egg next to their ever-present fire, he said nothing of it. Everett was a fast learner and Mirabel was training him in their dragon orders so she would be ready to take time off and tend to her little one when the time arose. Try as he might to give Svend and Mirabel their own space, sometimes he saw moments of raw vulnerability from his sister and he did not quite know what to make of it. When he saw Mirabel openly weeping next to the gently rocking egg he decided a gentle inquiry would not be out of place, this was his dear sister after all. 

“Mirabel, is there anything I can do for you? You seem unusually upset over this…. Egg.” Everett probed softly. 

“Oh Everett. I know it makes no sense to you but I promise, these are good tears. I have waited for so long to have a child and then this egg came into our lives. I know it will not be a normal child like my sisters have brought into the world, but it means so much to me. I am so excited! But there is so much unknown, I am, admittedly, terrified. I don’t know how long our little egg will take to hatch. I don’t know what “normal egg development” looks like. I don’t know if this rocking means the baby is healthy and strong or if they are struggling. I just don’t know, and that is why these tears come so quickly these days. Thank you for your concern dear brother. I am grateful you are here with us.” Mirabel explained as coherently as she could without exposing their dragon secret. 

“I know I’m in your space Mir, but I’m just so happy to have purpose again. I was floundering at home and here I feel like I’m actually needed. I’m really enjoying baking with you! I wish I didn’t have to make the journey to Mom and Dad’s house every day, but with you guys home it really isn’t feasible for me to stay here.” Everett knew he was an interloper but he had gone from basically an unemployed homeless squatter to Mirabel’s Sous Chef and he was very pleased with that turn of events. 

“It is quite a walk. I wonder if we could find you somewhere closer to live?” Mirabel walked over to the smithy and called out to Svend. “Hey Svend, do you know of any homes closer to us that have an extra room Everett could rent? It’s getting a little ridiculous for him to walk here from Mom and Dad’s every morning and night. Or maybe Gregory knows somewhere? He’s back from his trip home now, isn’t he?”

Svend emerged from the smithy all hot and sweaty. He was hard at work re-establishing his forge after their extended absence. “What did you say about Gregory? Man, I haven’t heard from him in ages. We should have him over! He and Everett would surely get along great, their both wandering bachelors that love to invade our home.” Svend gave Everett a little good-natured push on his shoulder as he walked to the sink to wash up. 

“I was just wondering if maybe you or Gregory know of a place that Everett could stay.” Mirabel patiently repeated, she knew how loud the smith was. 

“Huh. I haven’t heard of anything. We could ask around, but what would be really fun would be to build Everett his own place! There’s a clearing not too far from here that would work nicely. Then he would be ready to start his own family if the opportunity arose.” Svend turned to wink at a tomato faced Everett, turning away with a cough to hide his embarrassment. 

“Uh…… I don’t think I will be needing my own place anytime soon…. I’m only 17! Also, there are not exactly a myriad of options in the village. Especially since half the women are related to me somehow.” Everett just wanted to live closer, how did they end up talking about marriage?? 

“Maybe you and Gregory need to go on a little adventure of your own to find some ladies!” Mirabel was fully distracted from the housing situation now. She knew Everett was still young but Gregory? He really needed to move on from his past heartbreak and betrayal, as difficult as that was to do, it had been a very long time. Centuries. Come on Gregory, get a move on. 

“Well, you know what they say honey, fortune favors the prepared! Let’s get Gregory to help us build Everett a cottage and then we will have time to convince him to open up his heart again and take Everett to visit Fiora and Leoric! Heaven knows I had better luck there, maybe the boys will too!” Svend smiled conspiratorially at Mirabel. 

“That is an excellent idea. Let’s go tell Gregory he’s been conscripted into cottage building. He needs something to do with his time anyway. We can pay him with baked goods, he’ll be thrilled!” Mirabel knew Gregory’s weakness for baked goods had recruited him to many a project in the past.  The crew whipped up a little snack to take over to Gregory to demonstrate all the good things to come if he helped them out. This is the snack they made!