Chương 3: Reunited

"I don't know where he is but I think he might be with one of the servants in the kitchen, he'll be excited to know that you've arrived" Anna's mother said while handing her clothes to change into, she didn't question her male outfit and she wasn't planning to, there's always a reason for everything.

"There's a bath behind the wooden divider, you can wash up and change there. I'll go find your brother, I'll be back."

"Okay mama" with that, Merina set out to find her younger child while giving the older one the space she needed. She headed towards the kitchen with a sure guess that Vincent might be playing around with his new found friend.

"I'd have super powers Odin, you really should believe me," a twelve year old whined in the kitchen when his fellow companion turned to the oven to steady its temperature.

"Who says I don't believe you, of course I do. Now if you'll keep mute so I can finish my job here in kitchen, I'd be grateful" Odin said in a soothing voice rather for the little boy to hear which in turn turned the little one sad.

"Mama doesn't believe me, now you too" Vincent whined again loud enough to be heard from the kitchen corridor. Odin eyed the boy who sat on a stool in one corner of the kitchen and said, "Why don't we concentrate on how I'm mixing my ingredients so that you'd learn, we'll talk about that later yes?"

The boy turned hesitant at first before agreeing to what the older one said. He scooted closer to where Odin stood, straining his neck to observe how Odin turned flour to the crisp delicious biscuits and short breads which he enjoys all the time. This was one of the main reasons the little boy hovered around the palace baker, also because he always gets to be the first to taste the cookies.

"Now gently take two pieces of biscuit , you know this is the dessert after dinner for the royal household" Odin instructed which immediately brightened the mood of the boy. He gingerly took the biscuits blowing a mouthful of air in an attempt to lower the temperature before throwing one of them in to his mouth, "Thank you Odin, will I get to turn flour into biscuits and cookies too when I grow big as you are" Vincent asked in all innocence.

"Yes, you just have to set your mind to it"

"I am trying, how did you learn?"

Odin smiled, "I learned from my own mama, she was very good at it you see"

"I'll go ask my mama so I can learn from her too" Vincent chimed in happily.

Before he could go further, Merina entered the kitchen, her eyes scanning the kitchen to see her son standing beside his new found friend.

"Mama, can you believe Odin's mama taught him how to make these biscuits? Will you teach me how to do that too?" Vincent said before his mother could say a word.

"My baking skills are not so sharpened dear, you can learn from him" Merina replied to her son's childish remarks.

"I can?" The boy frowned and Merina came forward to caress his face, "Of course you can".

"Mama, Odin believes I have super powers. You just don't want to believe me too"

To this, the woman sighed taking hold of her son's hand to say to Odin, "I know he has been a nuisance especially now that you're busy, I'm sorry".

"Of course not, he has been a good companion" The baker smiled at the boy to which the boy smiled back tipping his chin triumphantly.

"Your sister has arrived Vincent, won't you like to say hello?"

"Anna is here? Where is she mama?"

"She's resting in my quarters, she has been asking of you since she arrived" Merina urged the little boy.

"Of course she has, she loves me" Vincent said walking as fast as his little legs could carry him in eagerness.

He pushed the door ajar to find his sister folding some clothes, at the same time, Annalise turned to see her younger brother squirming in happiness. She stood immediately taking him up in her arms while kissing his cheek before giving a tender hug.

" I have missed you a lot Vin" Anna said while still having Vincent in her arms, "meanwhile, seems you've grown a lot and gained a lot of weight as my arms are already aching me" Anna laughed putting him down.

"Yes, I'm a man now" Vincent replied his sister with his little voice which had Anna and their mother who stool by the door laughing.

"But still cute as always" Anna added to have him frown, "A real man isn't cute sister"

"You are to me and you'll always be" Anna said lovingly.

"Here take this, eat it. My friend made it" Vincent offered which his sister took, placing it in her mouth to taste the flavours.

"Your friend is really good, it is good to know you're making friends Vin" Anna smiled at her brother.

"He works in the kitchen, you should come see him" Vincent chimed dragging Annalise out of the room leaving their mother who had to give Annalise a knowing look not to wander into the palace yet.

"Slow down Vincent, we'll still get there" Anna said considering the pace which the boy was walking but he wasn't listening.

"Odinnnnnn!" Vincent shouted once he got to the kitchen's entrance. "Meet my sister Odin, isn't she the prettiest?" and Annalise had to blush at the words her brother chose to use in front of the young man.

"Yes she is" Odin concurred before turning his attention to the young girl stretching out his hand which was previously covered in gloves, "Odin and you are, milady?"

"I'm Annalise, you can call me Anna" She said politely taking his handshake.

"I work here, mainly in the kitchen. You're welcome, please have some of my freshly baked biscuits"

"Ahh, thank you very much" Anna smiled taking the biscuits offered.

"My pleasure…" but before Odin could continue, Vincent had already beat him to it to request for the same piece of biscuit he gave to his sister earlier on the ground that she had gotten hers. Anna smiled lightly knowing her brother hasn't changed much from the last time, she placed two pieces of biscuits in his hands which had Vincent smiling boyishly.

"You didn't have to, he ate his share of it" Odin cut in.

"Don't worry, he's my brother and I can always share with him" and Vincent made a face to which Odin sighed before continuing his work.

"I'll leave you to your work, take care Odin" Anna said taking her leave with her brother to lead her back to the room since she wasn't familiar with the palace yet.

"A pleasure to meet you Annalise" Odin replied going back to work.

The two strolled down the corridors slowly unlike earlier when they made their way to the kitchen. Vincent tattled continuously on how life has been here and how happy he was that she had arrived to keep him company. He kept on going on how he had only two friends, one being Odin and the other one turning distant everyday. This had Annalise wondering who the second person might be.

"He's a life saver, he saved me a long time ago from an accident" he continued as if reading Anna's mind while Anna turned to look into her brother's deep red eye which turned distant as he was recalling a distant memory.

"I woke up that night feeling tasty and mom had forgot to refill my jug before bedtime so I went to the kitchen that midnight to drink from the container which contained a stored blood for the royal members. The container was placed on the counter which was a bit higher than me then so I tried stretching with my hand which held a cup and I had the container almost turn over ready to fall over me and splatter on the ground, I looked up when I felt nothing hitting me or the ground that was when I saw a hand holding it steadily" Vincent looked up to see his sister stare at him.

"Mama knows about this?" Anna asked a little surprised at the revelation.

"No, I didn't tell her. Partly because she would be mad when she discovers that I sneaked in to the royal kitchen and almost toppled over the blood container. The man gave me the cup of blood I wanted and sent me to bed. This happened about a year ago"

Anna shook her head in wonder "So your mystery man lives here?"

"Ahh" Vincent laughed, "he's no mystery man though he seems weird sometimes, his name is Elvis and he's the first prince of the palace, I guess that's why he's so busy to keep me company sometimes" his shoulder slumped.

Annalise who had been listening upto this point wasn't expecting the saviour to be the king's son. "I guess he's a kind soul, God bless him" Annalise said to have her brother stare at her briefly before stepping into the room to meet their mother who had a worried look on her face.

"I thought he had gotten you into some sort of trouble, he's wonderfully very good at it" Their mother said to have Annalise counter immediately, "of course not mama."

"I guess you'll be starting your work with me tomorrow Anna dear, I had promised the king that you'll be an extra help to me and the palace which was why he had agreed to let me bring you in, are you sure you can endure this type of life?" Merina asked her daughter in concern.

"Yes mama, you don't have to worry. I am content and happy here as long as I have you two"

Merina turned emotional to her daughter's reply, "Only God knows how much I've missed you these years"

"Me too mama" Annalise scooted closed to hug her mother. Vincent coughed to remind the others of his presence in the room which had Anna draw him close too into a tight hug.

"I'll find you a slot in one of the rooms after sometime just like the other maids here, but for now, you'll have to stay with me" Merina continued, telling her things to do and what not to do while staying in the palace.