Page 123 of Labor of Love

“So, about the chandelier,” Laney said, so he wasn’t the one getting lost in thoughts he shouldn’t be having.

These gargoyles were mated, even if they hadn’t found all of them yet, he knew he shouldn’t be hoping for something just because they’d rescued him and were providing him with a home and job so he could support himself and his little one.

“Yes, I am eager to hear about this chandelier, I could use a good laugh,” Marcus admitted.

Laney knew from experience that many treated the gargoyles as if they were cold, emotionless beings, like the stone they could turn into. Laney knew that wasn't true and hated that they’d come to expect that kind of treatment, even from those who, to humans, would appear more monstrous than any gargoyle had ever met. They were warm and some of the fiercest protectors and loyal beings he had ever known.

Marcus smelled of cedar and pine, his body all solid plains of muscle shifting beneath Laney as Marcus engulfed his wrists in one fist, holding him secure that way.

“It wasn’t funny in the moment,” Laney explained. “But afterwards, Draken found a few things to chuckle about, especially the expressions on the faces of those who witnessed the event. He was one of my closest friends, but he was massive, even by gargoyle standards, because he also had stone giant in his family line. Because of that, he came by the back window of the kitchen to collect his meals because the ceilings weren’t designed for an individual his size.”

“I bet,” Truett chuckled.

“We had a new kitchen manager take over. She didn’t like the back window, said that it felt too much like a human drive threw, so she closed it and made it an edict that everyone had to come the dining hall even if they didn’t intend to remain inside to eat their food.”

“I bet that went over well,” Marcus muttered.

“Like a ton of bricks and chandelier,” Laney explained. “Draken wasn’t exactly thrilled about going in, not just because of the ceilings, but because a lot of the others gawked at him and made him uncomfortable by the open way they sized him up. Some even made inappropriate comments which made him uncomfortable. When he finally came in, five days and severalburned attempts at cooking his own meals following her edict, he wasn’t exactly subtle or mindful about the path he took when he went to speak to her.”

“Oh boy,” Truett muttered.

“Yeah,” Laney said. “He stomped right under the giant silver chandelier designed to look like a woven ring of wild roses, complete with thorns. Between them and the points on the pedals, his hair got caught. Instead of pausing, he just shook his head from side to side, trying to break the strands free only to make a bigger mess of it by snaring it more and gashing his head. That just made him start bellowing and thrashing around more, pissed and tugging at the chandelier until he yanked it from the hooks in the ceiling. Stone and wood beams and all. He literally let the whole mess dangle from his hair as stomped the rest of the way across the room, roaring for her to come have a conversation with him. The chains were so long he dragged them across the floor as he stormed over to where she stood watching everything take place with this stunned look on her face.”

“At least she remained standing,” Marcus said. “A human would have fainted on the spot, or run screaming, leaving a wet trail in their wake.”

Truett and Laney shared a laugh at that as Laney sighed and turned his head, so he could see the large circle of storytellers and listeners as they flew over them. There had to be dozens of individuals there, large and small, some even watching from perches in the trees surrounding the circle.

“If he wasn’t working, this is where Elden would have been tonight,” Truett said. “He loved listening to the storytellers weave their tales, old and new. It’s an activity we try to accompany him for whenever we have time off together, which isn’t as often as we’d like.”

“I’d be happy to come with him whenever he doesn’t wish to come alone,” Laney offered.

“Make sure you tell him that,” Marcus encouraged. “He doesn’t often ask for a companion’s time.”

“Why not?”

“To leave more time for the rest of the household to enjoy them,” Truett explained.

“Oh, I see,” Laney murmured, wondering how lonely the other fae was when his mate’s couldn’t be with him. “I’ll make sure to mention it.”

“Thank you,” they both replied in near harmony.

Silence and the wind descended between them for several moments as Marcus ran his hand lightly up his forearms, before gripping his wrist again.

“What happened?” Truett asked, startling Laney, who didn’t realize he’d started drifting off until the words snapped him back awake.

“Ohh, yeah, umm, well, Draken pointed out that the dining hall wasn’t designed for someone his size, that there were no chairs that would hold him without smashing beneath his weight, and that there was clearly an issue of clearance in regard to the ceiling. He wasn’t the only one to speak up either, several began lodging complaints, until there was a crowd around her, not that she was willing to give in. She told Draken he’d have to be more careful next time, while chastising the others for their complaints as well.”

“How typical,” Marcus spat. “So, I take it the kitchen window remained closed.”

“Oh no,” Laney replied, giggling a little. “The window to the kitchen was reopened two days later, after an separate incident, with one of the stone giants, who decimated part of the wall by buffet when he smashed into it with his shoulder. A shower of dust and brick fragments wound up getting into the food, forcing them to redo everything and her to rethink her stance on forcing everything to come into the dining hall to get their food. Therewere a few broken chairs involved in that week’s incidents too, so for the sake of the kitchen coffers, there was little choice but for her to give in. Not that she lasted long. There were menu issues that followed and far too many complaints for her to remain in the kitchen for more than the three months before being reassigned to a different position.”

“It’s good they recognized her inefficiency and the problems she was causing for the people there,” Marcus said. "But one would think they’d have vetted her better before allowing her to step into a role like that.”

“Yeah, one would at least hope so,” Laney said. “But her family wanted her out of the human realm and was willing to pay to see her bestowed with a position that would entice her to return to them.”

“I see,” Marcus said. “More proof of how bloodlines were the only thing that truly mattered to them.”

“You know, weeks ago, I’d have said unfortunately and felt bad for myself for being cast away through no fault of my own while someone with so little caring for the comforts of everyone was welcomed and placed in a position of leadership. But now, I think I’d like to forget about them, and get some sleep so I’ll be ready tomorrow when the household needs me,” Laney declared.

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