A week later and Caeli was able to walk around her room unassisted. Einar had allowed her a light wooden sword to use but Caeli, still unable to use her right hand, would have to learn with her left. Einar, realizing he had taught her defensive stances for a right handed person, started her training from the beginning once more.
Caeli's body felt stronger, her mind more sure, the waves of conflicting memories easier to endure each time they happened. But her arm would not improve. She was able to feebly lift it above her waist in which it would shake and twitch with the effort and pain.
She still struggled to do prolonged tasks such as brushing her hair or eating a whole meal. Getting into a tub full of water was next to impossible.
The sleep paralysis came twice weekly, and had done so since her arrival. She was simply thankful that the frequency was not increasing.
Caeli's strength of body and mind had improved enough that she began seeking other activities in the castle, her room stifling in its familiarity.
The four friends still met once more for tea and conversation, which she enjoyed immensely, but she needed a change in scenery.
One day she wandered to the kitchen hoping to find Dorn. She had wanted to make a special dish, to thank Raven for all he had sacrificed and his kind treatment. A sweet rice cake with a sticky texture, a staple among her people. Often topped with caramelized sugar.
She was unsure of whether or not the items she required would be attainable in this kingdom, but she hoped to find out.
She needed to know where the ingredients could be bought, and she would need to ask permission to use the Master Chefs equipment and space.
She was still unsure of how she felt about the situation between her and Raven but she regretted her often cold behavior.
She felt hurt because of what he had done, frustration at his avoidance, and heartache at his kindness. And many other things, of which made little sense. She found herself feeling things contradictory and without logic. She had never experienced such a situation before.
She wondered often if it was a symptom of her "illness". Not the wound in her shoulder but the gap dividing her mind.
She still was experiencing flash backs, some repeating, a few others seemingly new, and less common.
Raven had given her space in hopes of not pressuring her and allowing her to become comfortable in a space that she would need to spend an extended amount of time in. He was considerate and caring, attempting to involve her in every decision made. Going out of his way to encourage her free will.
Something he had taken from her when he trapped her in the past with him.
She knew that there was more discussion that needed to be had between the two. She also knew that her hurt would not dissolve over night. But she still wasn't sure what she wanted when it came to him. Some days she was thankful for the space, and others she found herself waiting for him to turn every corner.
What she knew for certain is that she had many questions for him.
Was it true that he was the First? The First Child of the Goddess of All?
And if it was, the implications alone would birth an entirely new category of inquiries.
But the more days that passed, the more often she found herself searching for him on her rare outings. Or hoping that he would come through the door with each knock.
She wanted to talk to him, perhaps attempt to make her feelings less complicated, perhaps to discover her true feelings.
As if summoned by her thoughts, Dorn appeared waving his hat through the air, his face a particularly pretty shade of purple.
"The shipment was meant to be 200 NOT twenty! I'll hang ye by ya toenails you little runt!", he shouted.
The young gentleman he spoke to rolled his eyes with a roguish grin. His hair was shorn short but was bright white. His eyes the same color, his skin like that of a dark starry night.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say.", he chuckled dismissively.
His laugh halted abruptly at the sight of the creature before his eyes.
Her long white hair, loosely braided down her back. Impossibly long. Her tan skin the more vibrant for the contrast of her pale hair.
She smiled hesitantly and both Dorn and Alioth felt heat radiate from their cores.
"My lady!", Dorn shouted bowing unnecessarily low, then reaching for the boys sleeve, pulling him along. A wooden box full of onions spilled to the floor. "Forgive the boy my lady, he was born with little to no sense.", Dorn said without lifting his head.
Caeli's brows rose slightly. She was unaccustomed to strangers bowing to her. All her life, the circumstances being the very opposite.
"Now, now. Let's have none of that. I simply came to ask a favor. And please, call me Caeli.", she said with a nervous smile. The courtly gesture making her feel uneasy.
The boy named Aolith was actually a man. He seemed boyish in his features but was two feet taller than the dwarf, and at least a foot and a half taller than Caeli herself. His muscles lithe but his shoulders wide.
He gave her the same boyish grin.
"Welcome Caeli. I am Aloith, Junior Chef, soon to be master chef in training.", Aolith said with a sweeping bow.
Dorn snorted in a sardonic chuckled.
"Junior Chef in training my arse, sonny. Not while I'm kickin'", he grunted. "Don't mind the boy. He's my dishwasher.", Dorn said giving Aolith a firm elbow.
"WAS. I was the dishwasher.", Aolith replied, noticeable embarrassed.
Caeli laughed, they were quite the pair. It reminded her of a father and son dynamic.
"I am pleased to meet you Aolith.", Caeli dropped a shaky courtesy.
Aolith noticed her unsteadiness but said nothing.
"And what can we assist you with today miss?", Dorn said, just as sweetly as it was honest.
"If it wouldn't be too much trouble, I was hoping to prepare a dish from my home. I suppose I pine for it since it's been so long.", she said wistfully, almost confused. And she was. She hadn't realized the things she HAD enjoyed about her life before leaving it behind.
She saw the shattered look on Dorn's face.
Her face flushed.
"Of course, the food here has been beyond compare. Truly. I look to each and every meal. I could simply use something from home, something comforting.", she finished softly.
Her wistful look clapped chains onto the hearts of the kitchen staff, Dorn and Aolith included.
"Of course my lady! Anything! If it is within our power we shall make it so!", Dorn said exuberantly.
"Here, let's get you a seat.", Aolith said softly as he offered her a hand.
*She's struggling to simply stand. I can't imagine what's happened to the poor girl*, Aolith thought to himself sadly.
The idea of such a beautiful creature suffering pain seemed tragic. Almost criminal.
Like the stories Aolith remembered about a wounded unicorn. The story had always made him ache for the injustice of it all.
Something so rare and beautiful, so heartlessly mistreated.
He brought Caeli to a bar stool at one of the high counters. He instantly wished they had better seating in the kitchen.
He steadied her atop it and only pulled away once she'd given him a nod and a knee knocking smile.
"Thank you Aolith.", she said, turning to face Dorn. "In my home land, we make a dish of rice and sugar. It was my favorite dessert. You steam and boil the rice, mixed with sugar, into a porridge. Then you bake it topped with more sugar that becomes caramel. I think you all would enjoy it immensely as well. Although I'm not sure how easily it would be to obtain the ingredients.", she said, turning her head to notice most of the workers had stopped their duties to stare in their direction.
Dorn clapped his hands loudly in front of himself.
"We do indeed have these things my lady. The rice maybe a different variety than what you use but we do have rice. Of course, teach me how to prepare it and we shall assist you.", Dorn said proudly.
Caeli thought to object, she didn't want others making the food she hoped to share with them. It seemed selfish.
She attempted to lift her bad arm and it shook frighteningly the whole way.
Aolith reached out and steadied her hand, replacing it in her lap.
"Next time you can show us yourself.", he said with a charming half smile.
Caeli smiled reluctantly and nodded.
The following hours she instructed the gentlemen on how to execute the recipe that she had learned from her mother. A dish her aunt and uncle had also occasionally made, rarely on her birthday.
She supposed they'd feel sorry for her every once and awhile and they would take the extra time to make it.
Once it was done, Aolith pulled the pan from the oven. The smell of caramelized sugar and creamy rice filled the air.
Dron inhaled deeply.
"Delightful.", he whispered curiously to himself as he watched Aolith set it in front of Caeli.
"What now?", Aolith asked, his hands sheathed in fabric gloves that he fisted against his hips.
Caeli laughed at the two men staring interestingly at the dessert.
"We wait. Just wait boys. this will be the last time you'll ever be able to wait so patiently for this particular sweet treat. The next time I make it, you'll hardly be able to help yourselves.", Caeli said wiggling her brows at them.
The three laughed.
As they waited, they cleaned dishes, Caeli, insistent about helping, was given the duty of drying the cutlery to keep it from developing water stains. She knew that the job was entirely invented to help her feel included, but she enjoyed the busy work nonetheless.
She learned that Dorn had lived at the castle for many years, his family had escaped to the refuge earlier on in the war. Aolith had been born in the refuge city, never having known any other life. The idea of traveling to see other continents seemingly incomprehensible due to the possible dangers. Many of the other workers introduced themselves and told similar stories.
The knowledge saddened Caeli.
After an hour of chitchat and cleaning, Caeli announced that the dessert was ready.
Everyone gathered around her excitedly.
Caeli had asked for cooking leaves to line the pan with and to also use to serve the dish.
"This is the traditional way of eating it.", she explained as she handed a piece to Dorn who gingerly took it, his eyes wide and curious.
She handed Aolith a piece next, he smiled warmly and took it from her carefully. He was grateful everyone was so preoccupied with watching her, that meant they wouldn't catch him doing it either.
He watched as she smiled her brilliant smile at the dirty kitchen workers. Her joy at sharing genuine. The idea of it moved him. As did her extraordinary beauty. He had never seen anyone like her.
After a few minutes, he realized that he was being rude, and turned his attention to the dessert.
The top layer was a rich brown color, presumably the caramelized sugar. The rest of it was white and held shape.
He touched it with the tip of his finger to find it sticky.
"We typically eat it with our hands but I will warn you, it is sticky.", she said as she rubbed a chunk between her fingers to pull them apart, the dessert sticking tenaciously at both finger tips. She caught a chunk mid-air attempting to keep from losing it. She laughed and stuck her finger in her mouth to keep anymore from falling.
Aolith and Dorn thought assuredly that their current condition would become abundantly clear if they didn't reign their thoughts.
Aolith looked around the room abashedly, attempting to clear his mind. It helped to see the others struggling with, probably, the same issue.
Dorn cleared his throat heavily before taking a bite of his own piece.
He chewed for just a moment before his eyes began to sparkle.
"Stupendous my lady! The texture is revolutionary, chewy and sweet. The creaminess of the rice giving it a milk like quality. And the sugar on top!", he said. His excitement preventing him from going on, instead he raised the dessert above himself in comedic worship.
Everyone in the kitchen laughed and tried their own.
It was agreed that it was one of the most wonderful things they had ever had.
Caeli wrapped two large pieces in leaves before announcing that she would return to her quarters and leave them all to their work, feeling as though she were in the way.
She thanked the staff at length as they all said their goodbyes. Many of which stating that they hoped she would visit again and show them more recipes. She joyfully accepted their invitation before moving to stand and leave.
Aolith offered to escort her back to her chambers but she insisted that Bat would likely find her before she made the full trek back.
Aolith would have been lying if he said he wasn't disappointed. He bid the lady farewell as she moved towards the exit.
He wondered who the two pieces were for.