Thirteen Years in One Hundred Steps: Theme 87 – Food

April twentieth once again. Another year of childhood gone, another year of adolescence in. Marth still loathed this day, this day when people swooned unreasonably over him, showered him in more attention than necessary, one of the only days when he was pampered and babied like a prince. He hated this day with all his heart, and yet people persisted.

At least the babying was less than before, he supposed, and he was glad for it. Getting older meant a little less immature attention.

Turning fifteen felt nice, actually. It was a year away from being a legal adult in Altean customs. Now he was treated more like an adult, and not like a kid.

Oh, and the banquets were bigger. Marth supposed that was one thing he liked about this accursed day. Mark had told him to be a bit more positive. He tried, but of course, it failed. Looking for anything positive on his birthday was a lost cause.

He thought so now as he sat miserably near the foot of the long dining hall table to his father’s left. Marth’s friends had also been invited to this banquet, but he had seen no sign of them as of yet. Well, he saw Mark with Ellis, but that was about it. No Aliana.

He seized the most opportune moment – when Cornelius was blissfully drunk with wine and good food – to slip away from the table and out to the balcony. The fresh air was a relief compared to the stuffy air inside the castle. Not that it smelled bad – it was leaden with the smells of quality food: smoked and marinated salmon, chicken pies filled with turkey gravy, sautéed garden vegetables spiced with lemon pepper and scampi sauce, baked trout next to fried potatoes, onions, and carrots, seasoned with salt and lemon juice…

That was only some of the many, though. At this point, Marth had no care for them. Where was Aliana?

Then again, the aromas wafting in from the dining hall almost seemed too much to bear. Roasted venison aplenty, imported shrimp buttered and seasoned to an amazing finish, sausages sautéed with onions, bell peppers, and potatoes, juicy meatloaf coated with apricot-pineapple preserves…

(Authoress kbxshadow interrupts for this important message: I am seriously starving and drooling everywhere as I write this chapter…)

Marth decided getting sidetracked by the scintillating smells of the banquet would have to wait. He caught sight of Mark taking a little of everything, politely wolfing down anything that came his way. One would think he had not been fed much of anything during his training.

He took a breath of fresh air again, clearing his senses of the aromas. Now clear of the smells, Marth quickly noticed another presence with him on this balcony. He looked to the curtains on either side of the balcony entrance. The set of curtains on the right side seemed off. He cautiously approached the curtains, and slowly drew them away to reveal a curled-up Aliana hiding away.

He was definitely perplexed. “What are you doing here?” he asked. “There’s a seat open for you next to Master Jeigan, you know.”

“I know,” she grumbled. “But I’m not going in.”

“Why not?”

She stood up, brushing herself off. “This is why,” she stated, indicating her garments. “I’m not going in with a dress on and my hair tied up. It’s just not me.”

Marth felt his heart race upon seeing her in her formality. A dress, a real dress, he thought to himself, she’s wearing a dress…! He glanced over her, making sure to not make it obvious that he was interested.

As a whole, it was a pale pink color, like the rosehip cordial children were allowed to drink. The dress was a flowy one and laced extravagantly, like the cream lacings of the strawberry and cream cake. Half of her back and some of her chest and shoulders were revealed, and the sleeves were also flowing and open. Her hair was tied back into a neat ponytail by a piece of gold lace, and her ears were actually pierced with small golden globes. From the way she stood a little higher than normal, Marth could guess she was wearing high heels.

It was hard to believe that the usually rough Aliana could look so delicate.

He gulped and gathered himself. “No one’s going to mind,” he reassured. “I mean, I don’t think anyone will believe it weird of you to be in a dress. Especially because it’s for tonight…”

She leaned back against the wall behind the curtains, shaking her head. “I don’t feel right…I don’t think I can eat anything tonight…”

“You just haven’t seen what’s out for the banquet,” Marth suggested. “Your appetite will come back when you see what they have.”

Aliana shook her head, still looking rather sick. “Really Marth. Leave me alone.”

“At least come join us at the table. It’s not the same for me without you around.”

She paused, thinking about what she could possibly do at the table, as she was determined to not eat. Her stomach grumbled in response to that thought, but it only made her feel more ill. She wrapped her arms around her stomach. Damn corset…she cursed inwardly. Why did Master Jeigan make me wear this damn thing?!

She felt herself swaying, dizzy from lack of air. Her thoughts wandered back to food though. She momentarily supposed she could have a bit of soup. What did they have? Leek and celery soup, clam chowder using the imported seafood, beef stew chock-full of carrots, onions, potatoes, and beef, chicken broth with wild rice and celery, tomato soup with hints of cheese and basil, shrimp and hotroot soup for the truly daring…

Hmm. Sounded good so far.

Beef broth with wide pasta and carrots, creamy chicken soup with basil, a thick, cheesy soup with basil and parsley…

Aliana felt herself retch at that moment, and sank to the floor again. No, food would have to wait until this damn corset came off. Until then, she would have to deal with this insane dizziness and nauseousness.

She breathed, trying to get oxygen through her system before she fainted.

“You’re not well,” she dimly heard Marth say. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head, not wanting to worry him.

Of course, fifteen is when one experiments…Marth was that “one.” He was cautious, of course, but seeing her in this dress solidified his decision to reach out for her now.

Did he feel awkward? Not really. She was almost fourteen, first of all. And second of all, it was a given fact that she at least somewhat liked him. He decided he would not kiss her – he did not want her to taste the strawberry cordial on his lips, lest she became even sicker – but just hold her.

That was going pretty well. He had his arms around her lithe form with his head resting on her shoulder. She did remark on how he smelled like his most recent drink – that notorious strawberry cordial – but she did not seem to mind. Nor did she mind that Marth was so close to her either, and really allowed him to fill her senses with his presence.

Until, of course, Mark ambled out to the balcony, thoughtfully chewing on a piece of bread, more specifically, a wheaten loaf with cheese, mushrooms, carrots, and onions baked inside. Hazelnuts crusted the ears of the bread. He silently regarded the two: Marth in his celebratory white clothing lined with gold, and Aliana in her pale rose-colored dress, holding each other so closely…

Mark bit into his bread again, heading back into the banquet hall. It burned him up in the inside, but seeing those two like that…

It somehow promoted a feeling of content.

Yes, he decided, biting again into his bread, I’ll let them stay like that. I’ll let them love each other like that, and I’ll be there for Aliana and Marth when they need me. He took his seat, sipping on his pear cordial as he continued contemplating. They need each other, and they can love each other. He swiped a nearby tomato slice, letting it flop from his lips as he thought on. Sure, I’ll be there for those two. I’ll still love Aliana…but those two are probably meant for each other.

A slap from Ellis made Mark promptly swallow the tomato slice and smile sheepishly. Then taking a plate, he began putting little bits of the served deserts on it.

Pear flan with damson glaze, rhubarb and blackberry crumble with arrowroot sauce, apple and rhubarb crumble, meadowcream trifle garlanded with pink rosebuds of almond icing, cream and strawberry cake…

One plate would not be enough. Mark went for another plate.

Hazelnut and honey turnovers, bilberry scones, hazelnut muffins, oatrose turnovers, and sweetened ryebread with thick honey, chopped hazelnuts, cooked apple, and blackberry…

Some of the puddings would be nice.

But which three to choose? Dandelion custard, bread and butter pudding, plum pudding, chocolate pudding, summer pudding, tapioca, flan, custard, bread pudding…

Mark looked at the two plates of desserts he had at his seat, then the various puddings set up on the table. Taking three spoons from the table, he ventured to the pudding table.

Bread pudding, with its bread, golden syrup, spices, and dried fruit all baked together and sprinkled with powdered sugar…That’s something Marth would probably enjoy.

Summer pudding, with its layered white bread and macerated berries – blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries, and sprinkled with powdered sugar…Aliana’s kind of pudding.

Bread and butter pudding, Mark’s personal favorite, with layered pieces of buttered bread with raisins sprinkled all over with custard on top and nutmeg seasoning it, along with hints of vanilla…Mark did not hesitate to take some.

Hmm. But carrying these three puddings and three drinks? Mark decided to cheat a little, working his wind magic to cause the items to levitate as he went to gather the drinks: a pear cordial for himself, a strawberry cordial for Marth, and a lemon fizz for Aliana.

And now holding his pear cordial and bread and butter pudding, Mark ambled out to the balcony, glancing again at his two friends cuddled closely together. Setting the deserts and drinks on a nearby table, he gave a purposeful cough, but stopped before giving another one.

This was Marth’s birthday, a day – Mark knew – he hated with all his heart, and anything that could possibly make it better was warmly welcomed. Marth had kept himself from doing or anything that pointed in his affection for Aliana for Mark’s sake. Marth had dealt with Mark’s selfishness for long enough, so letting him finally reach out for Aliana seemed plausible enough.

Especially tonight, mostly because she was wearing that dress, that outfit so unlike her but so fitting at the same time. Pale pink and lace tightly fitting around her slender body…Marth only deserved to be so close in proximity to her, such a beautiful girl…

Another levitation spell brought the sweetened ryebread with thick honey, chopped hazelnuts, cooked apple, and blackberries from before to Mark’s hand. He bit into the bread, silently chewing. Such a beautiful girl…Mark swore he could watch her forever as long as she was in that dress. A dress that fitted tightly around that absolutely lovely body…

Mark stopped, mulling over this.

That dress made her look smaller than normal, almost too small…

He looked to the desserts and drinks set on the table, then back at Marth and Aliana.

Taking his share of desserts, he went back to the banquet hall. Ample amounts of food still waited for him.

Hopefully Marth knew it was that corset she wore that made her refuse any and all food or drink that came her way.

Mark bit into his ryebread again. He did not suppose Marth had any idea.