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VEILED NIGHT AT MEADOW BROOK COTTAGE (DAY 5, LETTER V)

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SANGEETHA KAMATH

 


                           CHAPTER 5 

     VEILED NIGHT AT THE COTTAGE 

As the moon rose high above the elms, Goldwynn surrendered to the woods' mystery. Ravenous, she gave up waiting for the Bears to arrive and scavenged the kitchen. She helped herself to a medley of goodies – jars of sugared plums, pickled berries, and a chunk of savoury herb bread. 

The pantry was a treasure trove, but her stomach grumbled for something more filling. She slathered a generous amount of homemade butter on the Herb bread and took hungry bites of it. The crust crackled even as and the softness melted in her mouth.

"Oh my, this bread is amazing!'

She tore off a chunk of bread and dipped it into the bowl of homemade walnut butter. The rhubarb tarts in the oven had cooled by now and the apple pie on the window ledge was tempting to the bone. These would do for a fine dessert.

She fetched it inside and sliced herself a hearty piece suddenly remembering something.

"Wait, wasn't there a bowl of whipped cream? I could've sworn... Ah, there it is!" She grabbed the bowl from the kitchen counter and slathered a generous amount onto her pie.

“Mmm..." She closed her eyes, relishing the tart-sweet flavors. "This is heavenly. This apple pie is TO DIE FOR! Maybe they left for a holiday? But why's everything so... abandoned? 

She brewed a cup of Chamomile tea, taking a sip as she settled back in. The tea was warm and comforting, sweetened with a spoonful of honey from the honeycomb-patterned jar.

Goldwynn savored her impromptu feast, feeling a strange sense of contentment amidst the mystery. 

She polished her plate clean and pushed back her chair, the scrape echoing through the kitchen. She gathered the plates, the clink of silverware on ceramic as she stacked them by the sink. A quick rinse, and she left them to soak – after all, the mystery of the cottage was more pressing than dirty dishes.

A yawn caught her off guard as she wiped her hands on a sunflower-printed towel. Time to lock up for the night.

She checked the back door, the wooden latch clicking into place as she secured it. A quick glance out the window showed the moonlit woods all around. As she patrolled the ground floor, tugging on windows, she drew the blinds.

Upstairs, in the library, the moon cast a silver shine on the scattered books. A breeze whispered through the trees, rustling the papers on the desk. Goldwynn leaned out, the night air cool on her face. The stars twinkled like diamonds scattered on velvet.

Satisfied, she pulled back, securing the latch of the round window. The narrow stairway groaned beneath her feet as she descended to the living room.

As night deepened, she stoked the fire, coaxing it back to life. Cherry wood logs crackled and the fire was a merry glow. She fetched some blankets from the Bears' bedroom, wrapping herself in their softness. The couch seemed to envelop her, and she felt a strange sense of belonging.

Goldwynn sank deeper with a plush bear pillow hugging her.

"Guess I'm staying here tonight," she whispered, eyes heavy.

The library upstairs tempted, but her lids drooped. She'd explore tomorrow. For now, she'd let the cottage's lullaby rock her to sleep.

The clock ticked,its pendulum swinging in a soothing rhythm and she felt a strange sense of comfort, as if the cottage had adopted her.

Somewhere in the darkness, an owl hooted softly. Goldwynn smiled in her half asleep state. Her breathing slowed down, feeling the wild magic of the Brambleshire Woods.

As she drifted off, the fire crackled softly.

The darkness claimed her while the cottage fell soundly asleep under the lively sky holding twinkling stars like beacons and the gilded lantern of a Harvest Moon.

In the library upstairs, a book slipped out from the shelf thudding softly on the floor, its pages rustling open in the silence.

To Be Continued....

Image Courtesy: Pinterest 

This post is part of the Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2026

https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogrolls/veiled-night-at-meadow-brook-cottage-day-5-letter-v


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Comments

  1. deepti menonApril 8, 2026 at 5:59 PM

    What a lovely retelling of the old fairy tale, Sangeetha! The food descriptions made me drool and the beauty of your language is heartwarming. Great going!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sanguine AllegoryApril 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM

      Thank you so much for reading and appreciating, Deepti ma'am 💜

      Delete

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