"Greetings, Lord Othen." Biechta said as she stood on the open doorway between Othen's music room and his office.

"Greetings, Biechta. I'll be finished in just a few moments, go ahead and get settled and let me listen to you run through your practice Melody's while I finish up here." he said from behind his desk.

"OK." She nodded and then walked to the piano, pulling out the bench and placing her music copies on the built-in stand above the piano keys. With a deep breath and a glance across the room at the open door, she placed her fingers above the keys and exhaled as she pressed her fingers down and began the first notes.

She only made it a short way in before she pressed the wrong key. She paused for a moment and began again, but again messed up quickly. She grunted in frustration and started over from the beginning. Going more slowly, she made it a little further in but still, her fingers pressed the wrong keys as she fumbled through the first tune.

She stopped and let out a long sigh as she closed her eyes and then drew in a deep breath.

"Is everything alright?"

She opened her eyes to see Othen entering the room walking toward her. "I promise I've been practicing, just as you instructed." She looked down at her hands that were now down in her lap.

"And how has that been going?" He said as he crossed his arms over the top of the piano, leaning lazily against it.

"I actually thought I was doing well. But now I can't seem to do anything right."

"Why do you think that is?"

"I don't know." She huffed.

"Here. Try one of the other runs." He said as he rearranged the papers to show one of the other three tunes he'd shown her. "Just take your time and don't forget to breathe."

"Okay." She drew in a deep breath through her nose and then exhaled slowly. She began the tune but felt her fingers slightly tremble. She hit three wrong notes back to back and stopped to draw in a breath, trying to calm her frustration.

"Are you nervous?" He asked, moving to sit on the bench beside her.

"Oh." She thought for a moment and realized that is exactly how she felt. "Yes." She replied quietly. For some reason, the realization that she was nervous made her feel even more anxious.

"But you weren't nervous before? Is it because I am here?" He turned to face her more fully. "There's no need to be nervous playing in front of me. I've been with you since the beginning, right?"

She simply nodded.

"No need to be nervous. And even when you do make mistakes, no need to feel embarrassed. Do you Remember what I said last time?"

She nodded again. "Everyone makes mistakes in the beginning, so I must be patient and not give up."

"Exactly. Now, try again."

She flexed her fingers as she raised them above the keys before setting them down and starting the run of notes again.

"Better. Good."

"I still messed it up. When I was practicing by myself I could get through all of these with no mistakes."

"How often were you practicing?"

"I came several times both days."

"You're pretty dedicated to this."

"Yes, I really wish to be able to play."

"Have you done anything else over the last couple days?"

She thought for a moment as she continued pressing the keys. "I had afternoon tea with Ashima the day before yesterday."

"Oh, that's nice. Are the two of you getting along well?"

"Yes. She is definitely different but I really like her."

"Yes, me too. I'm glad to have her as a friend. And as my future sister in law."

Biechta sighed in frustration as she continued to mess up the notes while they spoke.

"Come on, stand up." Othen said as he stood and took a couple steps away from the piano. "Have you been doing any of the exercises I showed you?"

"Yes." She replied as she stood and faced him.

"What else have you been doing with your time?"

She shrugged. "Mostly reading."

"Ok. Let's go, then."

"Where are we going? She asked, confused.

"I don't know yet, not exactly."

"What... What do you mean?"

"You need a break. You need to do something exciting, break up the monotony."

"I don't understand."

"You will see. I promise. Now let's see..." he thought, as they walked down the hall. "You've already seen a lot of the arts, and you've gone on how many hikes now?"

"I went on one with Lord Kietnan and Ashima. And then went on another one with only Ashima. Oh, and I have gone with Lord Kahal through two different gardens."

"OK. If you like spending time with Ashima, I suggest you get her to take you to do something outside at least once a week. More would be even better."

"Really? Once a week would be much more than I am used to."

"Exactly."

She didn't respond, everything he said was confusing her so she followed silently instead.

"Outside of court, educational studies, what type of life skills did you learn at home?"

"I was taught proper etiquette for a lady, of course. For socializing, dining, and how to dress appropriately for different occasions."

"What about sewing? Cooking? Or things like that."

"Oh." She said quietly, feeling embarrassed yet again as she shook her head.

He gave a slight smile. "I know exactly what we are going to do then."

Biechta felt uneasy as she followed him in silence. He had already shown her so many things she had never gotten to see before, or experience. The mix of excitement, and feeling like a disappointment to everyone, had honestly been exhausting. But she couldn't refuse him. That would be rude. And if she were honest with herself, a part of her wanted to experience more. If she could just calm her anxiety.

Othen glanced at her. "You're not going to ask where we're going?"

She shook her head. "I trust you." She whispered. And she did. It was herself she didn't trust since she had done nothing but make a fool of herself since she'd arrived here. She took in a deep breath and remembered she had just found her courage and asked to extend her stay so she could find herself. She would simply need to channel that courage now.

A few moments later they were approaching a large open doorway with many people coming in and out. Most of which were carrying trays or pushing carts. Othen worked his way into the chaos and easily slid into the doorway. Biechta, on the other hand, kept stopping as soon as she tried to take a step, because another person would work their way out of the kitchen. Realizing her situation, Othen stepped back out, and grabbed her hand, leading her into the doorway. Her eyes rounded as she walked inside. It was even more chaotic and loud than the doorway. She clung tightly to Othen's hand as he led her through the enormous kitchen prep area, and then into the kitchen.

"Lord Othen!" Biechta watched in amazement as nearly every person within the kitchen greeted Othen warmly, like they were old friends, and Othen would respond in kind, knowing every person by name. She had never seen the inside of the kitchen back at home, let alone meet any of the kitchen staff.

Othen stopped to speak shortly to a few of the people. He asked them about their families, or something personal that he seemed to know about them. Still holding her hand as she continued clinging to it, he led her all the way through the kitchen and out an adjoining door. She looked around to see what looked like another kitchen. But she was confused as it looked like it was really several smaller kitchens. Set up inside of one big room.

"Oh good, it looks like we lucked out and there's not a class going on right now." Othen commented.

"This is a..... school?"

"Yes, not only do the main kitchen staff here go through the school, but many chefs and cooks that work throughout the entire homeland, come here to train."

"Oh." Was all she could think to say.

"Here we are." Biechta looked down as he released her hand and turned on a sink. He washed his hands and then dried them on a nearby towel. "I'll go grab us a couple aprons while you wash your hands. I'll be right back."

While she was washing her hands, what he said actually sank into her mind. He walked back into the room holding two aprons, handing her one. "Aprons?" She asked in confusion

He chuckled. "That's right. Now, would you rather do a savory dish or a dessert?"

"Oh... I don't know, you pick." She said nervously, hoping she wouldn't disappoint him.

"OK... Are you hungry?"

She thought for a moment. "I did eat a rather light breakfast." She said sheepishly, wondering if that was because her subconscious was already feeling nervous about the practice with Othen today.

"Well, then. Let's make something savory for an early lunch. Sound good?"

She nodded eagerly.

He led her over to a pantry and stood there, rubbing his jaw as he looked through its contents. "What should we make?" He seemed to be asking himself more than her.

She glanced around, seeing no one else in the area. "Do you cook?"

He shrugged. "I'm no expert, but yes, I do enjoy cooking when I have the time. It may not be officially under the arts department, but cooking and especially baking are definitely forms of art."

"How so?" She asked as he started gathering items into an empty basket that was sitting on a shelf.

"Anyone can learn to cook some basic dishes with the proper training, but there are certain people born with special skill. Join that special skill with the proper training and you have a real master. Just as an artist mixes paints to put on a canvas or a sculptor works with clays to build a statue, a chef mixes ingredients in new and different ways to create surprising and exciting things that can excite your taste buds."

He continued as he took the ingredients to the closest station and placed them on the counter before turning and leading her to a nearby walk-in refrigerator. "With cooking there are so many things to consider, so many factors. Not only do you have taste, but you have texture. Heat level, smell. In some ways, I think it's the most difficult and magnificent art form of them all."

"I've never thought of it that way." She said quietly as she took in his words. "Of course, I've never cooked anything either."

"Well, we are about to fix that." He said, in a cherry manner. "Do you see anything here that you really like?"

She glanced around to see various vegetables along one wall, fruits in another section, various products like cheese, and then, along the back wall were many types of meat.

"Do you like these?" She asked as she held up a deep blue root vegetable.

"Do you like these?" He asked back.

She bit the inside of her cheek, wondering how to answer. She wasn't used to being asked what she liked. She didn't want to pick something he didn't want to eat.

He finally grabbed them and put them in his newly empty basket. He grabbed a few fresh herbs as well. "These pair well with that particular vegetable. Any specific protein you prefer?"

"I'm fine with anything you like." She said sheepishly.

"Biechta, help me out here." He shifted his weight as he turned to look at her. "You are going to pick the protein and we are going to make it. Don't think based on what you think I would like, I promise I will eat anything. Look through these and pick out the one you actually want to eat."

She chewed on the inside of her cheek again. Why did she feel so nervous? She stared at the meats in front of her, not sure what most of them even were. She had never seen any of them in this form, unprepared. Embarrassment filled her all over again, and she felt herself getting emotional. She glanced up to find him still standing there, staring at her and patiently waiting. Emotion filled her and she suddenly felt like she was suffocating inside of the small space. She turned and fled out of the cooler, rushing over to the table where he had left the pantry items and grabbed onto the counter, steadying herself.

"What's wrong?" Othen said from behind her. "I apologize if I pushed you, that wasn't my intention to make you upset." She turned to look at him, but didn't realize how close he was standing to her. Her shoulder brushed against his chest as she turned and her knees felt suddenly weak. He reached out and grabbed her upper arms, studying her. "Are you feeling unwell?"

"I'm..." Words left her as she stared into his eyes. Why was he being so nice to her? So patient? Surely he had better things to do? She was pathetic.

His right hand reached up to wipe a tear from her face. She hadn't even realized she was crying. She closed her eyes and exhaled. Truly pathetic, she thought to herself. No Qarthan worth anything would cry over anything so trivial.