Melt for me

Chapter twenty

                                                          **Elsa**

I look around the kitchen with a complete and utter look of 'what-the-hell-is-this', look.  The kitchen is gleaming from whoever cleaned it last and now I feel like a jerk because knowing me, I'll make a mess of it five seconds flat.  I have no idea where to start with this whole, cooking thing. Anna learned how to cook, I however did not.

Gavin nods at the servants to leave, I am not allowed any help with this.  They all bow to me as they scurry off to whatever duties outside of the kitchen they have been given. The old cook needs help up the stairs, she gives me a small pat on the arm when she passes me. "Its alright my dear. Goodness don't look so pale, your Father was the same way when he had to make his first dish," She shakes her head. "Honestly when will they learn, the young heirs need to be taught to cook so it isn't so much a joke when they serve the dish they cooked."

I picture my Father, young and confused at what to do in the kitchen, it brings a small smile on my face. "What did my Father make?"   The old cook scrunches up her face at the memory as if it pains her to even think about it. "Your Father made a horrible dish called 'fish de chocolate.' It was fish coated with chocolate, it made all the guests sick including your Mother."  

I giggle, just imagining the sight made me laugh.  The old cook wags her finger at me. "You laugh now but you might be the next bad meal story, my Queen."  You would think I would be surprised at her boldness but really that's just her.   She pats my cheek once last time and heads up the small flight of stairs.

Gavin sighs; "Sorry about my grandmother.. she can be... well she just doesn't think before she says anything."    "She's your Grandmother?"  Gavin titles his head, like a confused cat. "You mean you didn't know?" I should have known really. Most servants are related, they find it a honor to serve the royal family and thus its carries as a family tradition .  

Gavin doesn't give me time to answer but instead bows. "I wish you the best of luck, your Majesty." With that he exists the kitchen, closing the door softly behind him.  I look around, feeling more lost than ever.  Pots, pans, boiling water? Where the heck do I start?  I pick up a piece of garlic and sniff it. I make a face, I never did like garlic. The taste is too strong for me and when added to a dish, it over powers everything else. 

 I roll up my sleeves , glad that I changed into something a lot more comfortable. Its an airy dress that I would have never worn or noticed unless someone pointed it out to me. Its simple rosy colour that looks like a the colour of a sunset. To put it bluntly it looks like something Anna would wear. And yet I love it. The wonderful soft light fabric, how it goes straight down but puffs up a little at the waist. I was also given a cute little apron to, with a snowflake design in the corner.  Lady Aries gave me a quizzical look when she saw me but other than that no one said anything.

I look around the kitchen for some kind of cook book or anything to help me in this other wise impossible task of the dreaded (cue fake scream) cooking with Elsa. Sure enough on a dusty shelf sits three coking books. Even though I stand on my tippy toes, I'm still too short to reach the books. If only Jack was here then he could fly up and- no enough about Jack. He left like a spoiled child... even though it was partly my fault for teasing and ignoring him. No matter Jack is probably far, far away and there's nothing I  can do about it.

I drag a stool up to the shelf and climb up on top, carefully getting the books. I'm lucky no one is here to see how stupid I look right now. I step back down and put the three books on the table. Wow they really are old. Probably haven't been touched in years in fact. The first one  has its front cover ripped off and its first recipe is for a family of ten. Not a dessert book so no thank you, so I push it aside. The second on is so water damaged that I can't even read one word. The third (thankfully)  is in great condition and has the recipes  that I want.