Cauldron

Eethyl sat on a post looking over the fields behind the cottage and imagined home. The fields reminded him of the sprawling pastures north of the burrow just after the spring rain radiated out over the land and painted the bright greens and pastels of new life. It was his favorite time of year there. The Mogwai’s play had them running circles in groups with incredible speed around the small mounds. The bright colors of their blossoms that sprouted from their antlers streamed together like a living painting of flower fields next to the river. He smiled to himself when he thought of bringing some of them home and allowing them to multiply there. Surely someone there would stamp them out of existence or exploit them without the magic of the Feywild to prevent such a tragedy. He sighed and hopped up. Nell would return soon and have reason for her ire to be directed at him if he wasn’t busy about his work.
Walking back to the cottage and taking to the back steps he pulled out a couple samples of greenery Amal had given him and examined them one last time, carefully taking in the details of the seed stalks, petals, and the feel of the dried roots. He tucked the folded cloth with the samples back in his pocket and looked at the cottage's cluttered interior again. She must have another hiding spot somewhere he was sure. It was here in the house, he was sure. He was missing something…but they would find it.
The brew burbled and cast a chuckle echoing around the room. He knew it wished it bothered him but he had long grown accustomed to it. “Did you bring me any mheeeeeeat?” It asked before a concave gap formed in the mixture in the shape of a tiny humanoid closely resembling the gnome it addressed.
“No but I’m sure Nell will have something for you.” The gnome replied as he set a basket next to the cauldron. He took out some of the longer reeds and fed them in around the edges of the warm black metal and the tops of them hissed as they lowered into the heat. The hissing changed to a satisfied sigh as the perpetual stew absorbed them into itself and gurgled impatiently for more. Eethyl made his way over to the cupboard and pulled out several cobs of corn that glimmered somewhat in the hearth light and unceremoniously chucked them in. He pulled a small clay flask of oil from his sack and used a cloth to rub in spots of oil on the outside of the cauldron.
Part of the stew threatened to boil over the side, trying to get a glimpse of what the gnome was doing. He stood back up and grabbed a couple more thin logs for the fire and acted as if he was just tending the fire and the stew settled back in place again with a disappointed hiss.
“Simmer down you.” the gnome scolded. “Nell will be back soon and may have demands of you and I both. I suggest you be ready this time and not let her down again” he said as he sprinkled a bit of herbs from a clay pot on the shelf above. “Speaking of, I recommend you give back the ladle so sh…”
A large wooden laden was spit with force at the gnomes head, though he managed to spot the movement and lean to the side just in time to prevent being hit in the face. The large stirring ladle clattered to the cottage floor and Eethyl acted perturbed for the creatures benefit and retrieved it with a huff and hung it back on the nail above the cauldron. The creature cast the eerie sound of laughter around the cottage again thinking its games were bothering him.
“Try that with Nell and see how long that fire is kept hot, I dare you” The gnome warned it.
He wiped his hands on his apron and looked around the work area again. Perhaps he would reorganize the components again and find something...