178 She Makes Chocolate (1/2)

Robin blinked. ”He's back? Already? Didn't you say...”

”Ah said anywayer from two weeks to a month, Deary. It must've been uneventful, as it's only been a week, but isn't that good news?” Queen Ayva asked.

”Hmmm, well, I suppose now is as good a time as ever.” Robin sighed. She had almost forgotten why she had come, these last seven days had been so eventful.

”What do ya mean? Do you think I'd allow him to cause any harm to mah new nephew?”Ayva asked.

Robin shook her head.

”It's not that....It's just....how is he gonna handle the news about his brother?...Not everyone can take....such news...well.” Robin's darkest memories began to surface.

The betrayal of her uncle's family...

The greed of her cousins...

The indifference of those she once considered her friends....

Robin's breath shuddered as she clutched at the clothing above her heart. Her eyes stared emptily at the ground. She once again felt as if she were drowning in emotions, and unable to breathe.

”Oy! Robin!” A hand smacked her flat on back, startling her out of the shadows of her mind.

”Ow! What was that for!?” Robin glared at Christian, who then ruffled her hair.

”The past is in the past.” Christian said.

”Thorn was foolish enough to be poisoned, played around, and petty enough to chose his own route. It's not your fault. That kind of person, even if it's you that's meddling, he will stubbornly follow his own path. Unless they require our help, we have no real reason to butt in. Leave the dwarves' matters up to the dwarves, okay?” He smiled at Robin, and patted her shoulder.

”Trust me, they're a stubborn lot. And it's gonna take more than a betrayal to shake the mighty Throm, that's for sure!”

”Aye, he be right about that, he be.” Ayva laughed, patting Robin's hand. ”More importantly, Ah'm glad yer safe, deary.”

”You two...” Robin sighed and smiled again. ”Okay then! To celebrate a special occasion, I'm gonna go all out to make the best chocolate ever! Count on it!”

Christian just smiled, watching Robin cheer up again.

”About that, you should probably get started on that chocolate as soon as possible. I don't think you can be late to the king's summons, after all.” Quinn pointed out.

”Ah! You're right! See you later, Aunty! I'll come by later with some snacks!” Robin raised her hand in farewell while Quinn transported the both of them back to the tavern.

Ayva chuckled as she watched them leave.

”Queen Ayva?” The stonemason boss asked.

She turned to look at him. ”The work here is nae so urgent now. Ya kin go an' check on yer second cousin if'n ya want.”

”Thank you, Queen Ayva!” The dwarf boss bowed before hurrying off.

By this time, the hot noon day sun had burned a hole in the steam, showing a patch of blue sky overhead. Ayva looked up at that patch and sighed.

'Robin, I hope you can find some way to open up to yer friends. Otherwise, that darkness you carry might destroy you one day.' She sighed, and continued towards her carriage. It waa time to meet with her husband to talk about their new niece-er....nephew for now. She chuckled.

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Robin knew that Christian wanted to ask about earlier. But, she didn't give him that opportunity. Instead, she dragged Ponzu off to the kitchen to get started on making chocolate.

”Do you know what is necessary to make a good chocolate?” Robin asked Ponzu.

”Well, I honestly don't understand what chocolate is, so, no.” Ponzu replied.

Robin smiled. ”Actually, chocolate only uses two ingredients to make.”

”What? Really?” Ponzu asked.

”Mhmm! But, it takes a lot of work. Here, try tasting a raw one.” Robin smiled.

Ponzu nodded and tasted it. His back shuddered, as his mouth puckered.

”It's bitter, right?” Robin asked.

”Um, I think this is better off as a spice than a sweet, to be honest.” Ponzu softly suggested.

”Yet, making a sweet out of that is exactly what we are going to do.” Robin replied. ”It'll take a few processes, but after we're done, you will agree that it is one of the best ingredients for a sweet.”

”So, how are we going to do that?” Ponzu asked.

”First, we're gonna separate the good ones from the bad ones. if it looks shriveled or bug-bitten, we're tossing it. If it looks good and whole, we're keeping it. The rejects get thrown in the trash. The keepers we'll put in this bowl.”

It took them about half an hour to finish going through the beans.

”Next, we're gonna roast them. Do you want to know why?” Robin asked.