Annika threw open the kitchen door, and smiled brightly, fully prepared to greet the five overworked servants that the cook had selected, only to find that the room was completely empty save for the Fin himself. The man threw a casual glance at her with a small nod of his head, instead of the customary bow, before turning back to what he was working on. His white tunic sleeves were rolled up, and he was in the process of tossing a salad that consisted of what looked to be green beans, peppers, and cheese.

“Where are your aids?” Annika questioned as she strolled to the front of the cooking table, and placed her riding crop down along with her gloves.

She wore a rust colored vest with matching trousers, and a snowy white ruffled lace cravat at her throat. She had her hair piled high atop her head, with the only piece finery being an emerald broach at her throat that glimmered darkly. The Lady Jenoure was well aware of the smart figure she cut in it, and raised an expectant eyebrow as she squared off in front of the cook.

“Outside washing dishes and cutlery.” He answered tightly glaring at the riding crop and gloves she had just placed down on his work table. He remained oblivious to her charms, much to the woman’s chagrin.

“Why aren’t they inside washing them?”

“Because the dishware will dry faster outside, and the staff will stay out of my way.”

The Lady laughed. Normally the sound of her laugh made men stop in delight and awe at its enchanting notes, but Fin only shot her a sardonic glance as he set the salad aside, then picked up a black loaf of bread which he sliced in a blur.

“Wow, you really do move quickly.”

“When I’m not interrupted.” He uttered tersely under his breath.

Annika folded her arms over her chest, and jutted her hip out.

“You have no fear of reprimand for speaking so rudely to a member of nobility?”

Fin clapped his hands together as he dusted his floured hands off, not caring that the cloud drifted onto Annika’s impeccable riding gear. He then placed his hands on his hips, and gazed at her levelly.

“You won’t do anything to me until you get what you want.” He didn’t shy away from her gaze, or show any sign of intimidation, which drew an incensed laugh from her.

“What could I possibly want from you?” Her eyes were bright, and Fin couldn’t help but feel a small tinge in his chest when the spark appeared in their dark depths.

“Whatever it is, you’ve wanted it from me since you first smiled at me yesterday.” He answered evenly.

“I smile at everyone.”

“No. You were trying to be affable to me for no obvious reason.”

“The word ‘affable’ is quite complex for a lowly cook.”

“Would you like me to use shorter words for you?”

“Perhaps I was trying to appear friendly to a newcomer when I smiled.” Annika fired back, ignoring his earlier insult.

“When someone doesn’t smile with their eyes, it’s because they want something, and or are hiding something.” Fin leaned his head forward during his explanation, and waited.

“You think I’m hiding something?” Annika demanded her volume climbing rapidly.

“-Or you want something, or both really. You keep avoiding saying what it is, and I really do not have time to wait around for you to get to it.” Fin continued staring and waiting in silence, as the Lady gawked at him while trying to form words.

“I could have you rot in a cell for the rest of your life for the way you’ve just spoken to me.” She pointed out, sounding somehow both impressed and appalled.

“Something tells me it’d take a lot more than a few words from a ‘lowly cook’ to really bother you.”

Fin turned around, poured a cup of tea, then handed it to her.

“What is this?”

“A special tea too many people in this bloody castle need to drink.”

“Why?”

“It’s a Goddamn sedative.”

“I… beg your pardon?” Annika managed stunned.

“Peppermint, and chamomile. Same ingredients used in a relaxing tea one commonly consumes before bed. Once the lavender comes in this year it will round out the flavor-Good Gods, did you think I meant I was poisoning people?!” Fin demanded looking disturbed and exasperated.

“No one you’ve met so far would be surprised.” She snapped back defensively slamming the cup down onto the table.

Fin didn’t say anything to that, and instead waited a moment of silence then asked again;

“So are you going to tell me?”

“Tell you what?”

“For the love of- What do you want from me?” While he didn’t raise his voice, he didn’t hide his impatience in the least. “I don’t think I will! I think I will just take what I want.” Turning on her heel, Annika gracefully strode towards the door.

Then, she did something she had never done before.

She glanced over her shoulder to see the effect her words had had on him.

It was a great surprise and annoyance to her, to find that the cook had resumed preparing the meal as though there hadn’t been any interruption at all.

*

The King stroked his Queen’s hair lovingly as they sat in the slightly chilly early May evening, watching their son rush about the gardens trying to catch fireflies.

“The roses will be spectacular this year in the maze.” She said looking at the plump blooms at the hedge to their backs.

“It seems so, love. Surprising given the cold spring we’ve been having.” The King murmured into her hair. “How have you been feeling?”

The question hung in tense silence for a moment before the Queen answered.

“I… I don’t like getting our hopes up, Norman. We haven’t had a successful pregnancy since Eric.”

“That isn’t what I asked though.” Norman pointed out gently taking her white hand with their long artistic fingers into his own.

“I don’t want to disappoint you, I-”

Norman kissed her lips, silencing the choked words coming from his wife.

“Ainsley, you haven’t disappointed me a day in your life. Having Eric nearly killed you, and if we are only meant to have one handsome- albeit spoilt child, then so be it.”

The tears welled in the Queen’s eyes as she bent over her lap, and broke down weeping.

“I want-” She started, then hiccupped. “I want to admit I’m feeling good. But I’m scared. I’m scared that I’ll be wrong again.”

The King pulled her into his chest, and continued stroking her gray streaked hair without speaking. He simply allowed his pregnant wife to sob out her fear, while holding his own hammering terror away.

He didn’t want to lose her.

Ever.

“You know,” The King pulled away, forcing back the strong emotions back down. “The new cook has all the maids attentive in… womanly ways I’m told.”

She laughed, her sharp bark of a joy never failed to make him smile.

“He’s handsome? Or is it that he has a sonorous voice like Lord Martins?” She asked leaning her head on his shoulder.

“I cannot say I have laid eyes on him, but shall I arrange a formal introduction so we can see what all the fuss is about?”

She chortled, her watery eyes bright with fun, and the King’s heart nearly exploded.

“You are far too busy for that frivolity.” She managed as she wiped the last of her tears from her face.

“I might make an exception for this, as he has caused quite a stir. Ruby is beside herself, and even Lady Annika- I do not think I have ever seen that woman look so preturbed, but lo’ and behold, I caught sight of her on her way back from her ride-”

“I’m sorry to interrupt you my love, but speaking of Annika’s ride, did she meet with him?” The Queen impatiently distracted the King from the lighter topic.

“No. He wasn’t able to meet her this time. Besides, I do not want her far from your side until I am more confident about the new staff additions. We cannot be too careful with these rumors circulating.”

The Queen nodded solemnly, then turned the topic back to subject of the new cook.

“So the cook managed to even rattle the unflappable Lady Annika?”

“He did! It’s incredible. Those who work under him appear happy and relaxed, but anyone who tries to tell him what to do leaves half-mad.” The King chuckled to himself at recalling Ruby’s latest rant about the Cook.

“Best be cautious with dealing with him then. We can’t have the leader of this continent losing any part of his bright mind.” The Queen tapped a finger to the King’s forehead before continuing.

“I must admit… he seems to be quite controlling for his position. He has already insisted I eat specific foods that differ from everyone else. He even threatened the poor pitcher boy to never serve me a drop of ale or wine.” The Queen remarked with a thoughtful expression.

The King frowned.

“What were his reasons?”

“Apparently his mother was a healer back home, and she claimed that these substances were harmful to expectant women- especially if they were already risky pregnancies. I checked with the court physician, and he said that this is a part of newer beliefs and studies, but he applauds the extra caution.”

The King shared his surprised expression with his wife.

“I must say that the lad just earned a little more of my gratitude. If he is doing everything possible to protect you and our babe, I am inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt despite his brusque tendencies. Though even just making the best food I’ve ever tasted has earned a good deal of credit from me.”

“I know. You have never slept better than last night after that meal. You slept half the day away, and awoke a new man!” The Queen teased poking a knuckle into his side.

Norman smiled, and kissed the top of his wife’s head.

The peace he felt in that moment, he knew he shouldn’t fall into. He knew it was only a simple evening with his family, and that larger threats and evils lurked around, but… he held on to the passing minutes as long as he could.

In the future days should they grow dark, then at least…

At least he’d have this memory.

*

Fin lay on his pallet in front of the kitchen hearth that barely glowed aside from the orange coals. He was beginning to fall into a doze with the smell of the freshly baked loaves still wafting over him for the next day’s luncheon, and was welcoming his descent into warm nothingness.

In the silence, the kitchen door leading to the gardens suddenly burst open, and in stumbled a cloaked stranger, whom was muttering quietly to themselves.

“Good Gods do these people never sleep?” Fin groaned as he slowly sat up, then used the table to finish pulling himself into a slumped, but standing position.

The cloaked figure stumbled over a potato sack a few feet into the room and cursed.

“Kitchen is closed. Please show yourself out.” Fin croaked rubbing his eyes.

Another curse came from the figure, and that was when Fin saw the knife appear.

Now wide awake, he automatically opened his palm and the iron skillet that rested cleaned and cooled on the nearby ledge flew into his hand, while his broom sprang to life from beside the garden door, and swept the legs out from under the assailant.

The stranger threw the knife at Fin’s face during their fall, which he blocked with the frying pan.

The figure was knocked down for only a second before they leapt nimbly back onto their feet. Fin immediately launched the pan towards the shadowed hood, but they easily dodged from its path, and even managed to duck its return as it flew back into his hand.

In the silence, there was only the gentle panting of the two opponents breaths, until a soft mewl broke the tense silence.

Fin waved the hand not holding a frying pan, and suddenly every candle burst into flame, illuminating the room in a warm glow.

The figure placed down something black on the outer ledge of the kitchen, and dashed out the door before Fin could decide what to do with them.

He ran to the doorway to try and glimpse or stop them before they got too far out of his reach, but the mysterious assailant had disappeared into the darkness.

With an aggravated sigh, he began to ponder what the attacker wanted, and begrudgingly admitted to himself that he would need to address the incident with Ruby in the morning. Another soft mew that had distracted the fight before broke through his thoughts.

Walking slowly over to where the figure had placed something down, Fin stared with a frown at the black shadow. He didn’t understand what he was looking at, until a pair of tiny green eyes suddenly popped up along with a pair of distinct ears.

“A… kitten?”

The tiny creature mewed once more.

Fin blinked stunned, and before he registered what he was doing, went and retrieved some clean water from the kettle he had boiled before going to bed that had already cooled.

As soon as he placed the dish down, the little creature dunked its fluffy black paws in and immediately began to lap it up.

“They… that person brought you here because you needed help.” He reasoned slowly, his mind still trying to piece together the sequence of events that had happened in the past ten minutes.

When the kitten appeared to have had its fill, Fin carefully lifted it up, and checked as his mother had taught him to discover the gender.

“Well, sir, you are too young to be from your parents.” Fin announced after putting the tail back down, and offering his palm as support for the tiny paws.

The kitten immediately nestled against Fin’s chest, his tiny face turned into the rough wool tunic.

Fin gave him an absent minded scratch along his chin, when a sudden jolt in his chest froze the movement.

Fin glanced down immediately as the kitten looked up just as surprised.

“So. I must have made the right decision coming here if you, my familiar, have appeared.”

The kitten mewed again as though in agreement.

“I guess I will have to figure out a name for you tomorrow.” Fin yawned, then walked over to the open kitchen door, and closed it.

There was much he had to think about with the intrusion into the kitchen, and the strange behavior of the individual.

Why be in disguise when delivering a kitten? Why attack someone if there was no ill intent?

Fin rubbed his face with his free hand before gazing back down into the tiny green eyes that blinked sleepily up at him.

He couldn’t deny the strange sense of peace that had formed after he had recognized his familiar. Somehow the connection made any concerns or worries feel distant to him…

His mother had always said that finding ones familiar would be of significant comfort.

It was strange.

The feeling of responsibility for a life that was not his own, and one that was completely helpless without him…

It should have been a nuisance, but instead it brought a strange sense of being grounded, and important.

Fin lay back down on the floor in front of the hearth, so completely soothed that he even forgot to charm the kitchen door to the outside to remain locked until he opened it the next day.

Instead, he fell into a deep peaceful sleep, with the kitten curled up beside him, and he couldn’t remember ever feeling more at one with the world.

In the haze of tranquility, he forgot another important detail of the evening that would later cause him great anxiety and stress…

Someone nearby knew he had magic.