The Alfheim Archives

A Military Recruit Who Can Cook....

  I entered the kitchen as he was setting down on one of the counter stools. I grabbed an apron from the drawer, tied it on, and set to cooking. Halfway through, the major spoke up, getting my attention. "You sure can cook kid. You said your mom taught you how to cook them fajitas?" I nodded as I put the chicken into a tortilla that I had melted cheese into. I then filled it with some salsa, sour cream, hot sauce, steak and bell peppers, and a variety of onions. I set the plate in front of the major and watched as he observed every square inch of my fajita. Handing him a fork, he started to eat it, chewing slowly. His first bite told me I hadn't lost my touch in my time of sleeping in the wilderness. He closed his eyes and let loose a sound of pleasure, smiling as he enjoyed the bite of the fajita. I turned around and made my plate, making mine with a little more sour cream than I had put in the Major's. Turning around, I caught a glimpse of the Major's plate and couldn't help myself and grinned. "Good, wasn't it?" He had cleared the plate and was staring down the food that was currently sizzling and popping on the stove behind me. "Might I bother you to make me another one, Levi? That was one mighty fine fajita, kid." I set my plate down and made Alistair another fajita, making it slightly larger than the last one, and handed him his plate, once again. 

He was apparently going to take his time with this one, so I grabbed mine and sat next to him, enjoying mine as we sat in companionable silence. He finished his plate and stood. I looked up and watched him as he walked around the island, placed his plate in the sink, and rinsed it off. Alistair looked up at me and smiled. "Thank you kindly, Levi. Those were pretty good fajitas. Haven't had a decent fajita like that since I was yay high to a jackrabbit and still living with my mother." He chuckled quietly to himself. Glancing at me, he spoke again. "Don't worry about the dishes. Carlisle comes in and rinses them before he puts them in my dishwasher. I believe I am going to retire to my room now. Carlisle will come to see to you after he has made sure I'm settled. Levi, I wish you a good night and at least a decent night's sleep. I will see you in the morning." With that, he walked out of the kitchen and strolled down the hallway in the direction of his room. I glanced down at my plate of food and realized that I was suddenly full. Since I was decidedly done and didn't want any more, I walked to the sink, washed my plate off, and stacked it neatly on Alistair's. I walked around turning off lights as I went. Before I started off to my room, I stopped and took a long glance at the house's interior. It was spotless and shone with the gleam of a brand new house.

 As I considered how high of a possibility there was that I would ever have a place as nice as this, I simply shook my head at the thought and walked down the hall to the room Alistair had let me borrow. I walked to the nightstand that was set right next to the bed and set the alarm up for five. That way I could get up, get showered, shaved, dressed, and have had a full meal on my stomach before I went and brushed Moonshine down and prepared her for the walk to the military base. I simply laid on the bed and pulled the covers over me. Just as I started to doze off, I heard a sharp rap on my door and a slight clearing of the throat. I opened my eyes and sat up. There in my doorway was who I would guess, was the butler Carlisle. As he stood in the doorway, he seemed to notice my dumbfoundedness and began to introduce himself. "Sorry if I woke you up Nicholas, sir. I am the butler, Carlisle. I am sure Master Drofyn has already forewarned you of my appearance before you went to bed?" He stood patiently until I realized he was waiting for an answer from me. I shook my head and responded with a simple "Yes. Yes, he did." He nodded and began to speak again. " Alright. In that case, then you should know I am here to see if you need anything before you go to bed." He seemed regretful and sorry that he had possibly awoken me and it made me smile.

 "By the way Carlisle, you did not awaken me. In fact, I was only just closing my eyes when you knocked. I did know that you were to appear before we go to bed and also, there is absolutely no need to call me sir. I am simply a stranger staying in the house for the night. However, I am thankful for the initiative to see if I need anything. As of now, there is nothing I need though so there is nothing for you to worry about. Now if you will excuse me, I need to sleep for I have a long day ahead of me. If it would be alright, I would like to see you again before I head off tomorrow morning. Have a good night, Carlisle." With that he bowed his head in a classic butler bow and stepped away from my door, leaving me in peace. After that, I dozed off into a night of dreamless slumber.