Author's Note: I've decided to do something a little different. Beginning with this chapter and all the way up to chapter twenty-nine or something, Aceline ages one year. So in this one, she's fourteen, in the next, she'll be fifteen, etc. Get me? Got me? Good.
I'll slow down things a bit. Sorry I've been speeding things up.
Queen Emily the Wise: Whoops. I'll fix that error later. Didn't realize she was fifteen.
Quote from Chapter: "That sounds like a splendid idea!"
Chapter Twenty-Five: A Culinary Catastrophe
"Aceline!" This was the shout that greeted the Princess as Dar, Darrin and Artymis ran down the gangplank of the Wind Painter, an Archenlandian ship. The female was in the lead, her black hair bouncing with every step she took. The hem of her red dress trailed in the dust in an un-ladylike fashion. But no one thought about it as the four hugged each other fiercely.
"It's good to see you again," Aceline said, pushing a stray lock of hair away from her face. She had her hand on top of Darrin's shoulder as she looked at each of her friends. Artymis laced her arm with hers.
"I like your dress," the Archenlander commented. Her golden eyes were staring at the lovely, blue velvet that covered her friend. The dress was in a style that left half of her arms bare. The twins looked disapproving as they observed the length of the neckline and hem.
"What's with the dress style?" Dar asked, his green eyes narrowed. His twin crossed his arms. Aceline rolled her eyes and ignored them. As if it were my fault the only dress that I liked only just passes my knees.
Artymis and Aceline walked arm-in-arm as friends usually do. Dar and Darrin trailed behind them, their arms still crossed.
"You didn't answer the question," Darrin said, grabbing Aceline's shoulder.
"This is the only dress I liked," she said stiffly. Behind her back, the young men shared a look of disgust and observed the dress once more. Artymis grinned and looked behind her before looking forward.
"They can be a bit annoying sometimes," the Princess whispered.
"Like the brothers you never had?" she asked.
"Edmund and Peter have taken that spot," she giggled. But her heart gave an unexpected lurch as she said the High King's name. Her friend, who was an observing young lady, gave her a worried frown.
"You're still thinking about him, aren't you?" The question received a nod, followed by a "Sometimes, yeah". By now, they were yards ahead of the twins, for you see, the girls hadn't realized they had been walking quickly.
"I have an idea!" Artymis suddenly exclaimed, abrupting to a halt.
"What?" she asked curiously.
"Why don't we make ourselves a lunch? My father says that a good meal can cheer a person up."
"That sounds like a splendid idea!" Aceline grinned.
"What sounds like a splendid idea?" The twins had caught up to them. The girls looked at each other for a moment and then looked at the youths.
"We're going to make lunch," the Princess said. "Do you want to help?" They nodded, shrugging.
--------
"Need any help?" Lucylita and Filia appeared at the door of the kitchen. Dar and Darrin were making (or trying to make, at the very least) bread. Aceline and Artymis were picking out fruit to eat. Darrin looked up and nodded.
"If you could," he said. The black-haired girl and the brunette walked in. Lucylita helped the twins with the bread while Filia helped with the fruit.
A few moments later, however, Lucylita picked up the recipe.
"How much yeast did you put into it?" she asked, glancing at the males. Dar wiped his hands on a wash cloth and looked over the girl's shoulder.
"Exactly the amount is says. Three two square pounds," he answered.
"That doesn't make any sense," Filia said, crossing her arms.
"Let me see that," Aceline said and Lucylita handed her the paper. Her purple eyes grew wide as she stared at the measurement.
"That stands for three teaspoons, not three two square pounds," she exclaimed, looking at them. The twins glanced at each other.
"Oops," they said. Everyone glanced at the bread and saw that it was rising at an alarming rate. Filia was the first to speak.
"I think we should duck," she said. Suddenly, they all ran and overturned a bare table. Aceline just managed to fall into Darrin's arms when an explosion like that of a firework going off sounded in the kitchen. Hesistantly, Lucylita and Artymis glanced up over the edge of the table.
"We should start cleaning up," Artymis said. She extracted herself from Dar and stood up. Darrin waited for Filia and Aceline to get off him while Dar waited for Lucylita to follow suit. The Princess picked up a rag.
Wordlessly, they all started to clean.
--------
"Your Majesty, what are you doing?" A servant - Aceline's maid, Felicity - stood at the doorway, looking aghast. The redhead had seen the girl ringing out a wet cloth and then wipe a dirty table. Aceline looked at her before turning away.
"Cleaning," she said simply.
"Not anymore," Lucylita said, throwing down her rag. "We're done."
"Remind me never to try to cook again," Dar said, straightening his tunic. Felicity raised her eyebrows.
"You were cooking?" she asked, astonished. The Princess nodded, sitting down in a chair.
"It was an absolute chaos. Our bread blew up," she said. Now, perhaps there's nothing funny about bread blowing up, but the way she said it and how she said it, made everyone roar with laughter.
"Shall I make a lunch for you?" Felicity asked, drying her tears with her apron. They nodded, castin her appreciatively.
A good thirty minutes later, the teenagers were 'feasting' on a lunch of sandwiches and wine. But everyone agreed that it was better than the flat mound of bread that sat in one corner.
(winces) Wow, that was horrible. I feel horrible. It's so short. But I have so many things going on right now. I'll make the next chapter longer. If you guys have any suggestions for the next chapter, please tell me.
OCs Used:
Artymis Wolfe - Dark Wolf Goddess of the moon
Lucylita Temple - Queen Emily the Wise