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The kitchen fireplace was lit, the flames bathing the room in its warm glow, decorations for satinalia hung from the mantlepiece, Lucanis was humming softly as he worked.
He was cooking a feast for satinalia, it was a balancing act, making sure everything would be ready on time.
He basted the bird, making sure the skin was going a nice golden brown, he made sure all the roasted vegetables and potatoes were cooked to perfection.
He moved back and forth, so focused on his task, he didnt even notice when Freya entered the kitchen, curious as to what he was up to. They had been relaxing in the library, but then he had slipped out, telling her he had something to prepare before the evening snuck up on him.
This was their first Satinalia together, and he wanted it to be perfect. Everything had to be just right. Freya was the love of his life, he wanted to show her just how much she meant to him, and he had always found that actions spoke louder than words.
He smiled to himself, remembering the desert he had made her when they had been fighting gods, hoping that this small act of giving and care would show her that he wanted to commit to her, that he was ready, that he wasn't going to hide his feelings anymore.
They have been together for almost a year now, and it felt right to renew his devotion to her. and She loved his cooking, and satinalia was the holiday for giving, he wasn't into the more elaborate parties some liked to throw for the holiday.
He knew the celebrations would last all week in Treviso, but at least for tonight, he wanted something quiet and intimate.
A throat clearing behind him, nearly startles him, he grips the bag of flour tightly and turns on his heel to face the sound of the voice.
"Freya, I didnt hear you come in." He says softly, and she smirks.
"I thought the First Talon had sharper senses." She chuckles
KNEW she was THERE, Smells LIKE honey, cinnamon and AMUSEMENT
Why didnt you tell me she was there?
He frowns. Spite was being strangely quiet and well behaved this evening, it was making him nervous. He shook off the feeling from his mind, he shouldn't be looking a gift horse in the mouth.
"I wanted to cook something nice for dinner tonight, for satinalia." He smiles.
"Everything you cook is nice." She grins, and he pouts playfully.
"Come, sit, keep me company while I cook." He says, ushering her to a stool by the kitchen island. She does as requested and rests her chin in a palm, watching him move about the kitchen.
He floured the counter and began kneading some dough for fresh bread.
"So, what's for dinner?" she grins, watching his hands as he works, her gaze following the corded muscles of his forearms shifting under his bronze skin as he kneads the dough, using the flour to stop it from sticking to the counter.
WHAT'S white stuff?
Flour
What's Flour?
It is wheat ground into a fine powder
WHAT'S Wheat?
Lucanis groans in annoyance. And pinches the bridge of his nose.
"Everything ok? Is Spite being loud?" She asks in amsuement.
"He is very curious about everything lately. I think he is bored, so he is pestering me to amuse himself." He sighs, adding the dough to a bowl to rise, he places a tablecloth over the top and puts it to the side.
"Anything I can help with?" She asks, but he shakes his head.
"This is for you, I want you to have a good satinalia." He smiles.
"I get to spend it with you, that's already a better satinalia than I've had in a while." She chuckles, hopping off the stool, rounding the counter and pulling him into a hug.
He smiles, his arms wrapping around her and holding her close, he rests his chin on the top of her head and sighs happily.
He releases her and ushers her back around the counter.
"Please, I won't be much longer." He says, quickly checking on everything, the kitchen smelled wonderful, whatever he was cooking, she was certain it would be delicious.
He returns to the kitchen counter and is about to put the flour away when Spite surges forward and blows the flour still on the counter everywhere. Freya sputters, getting a face full.
"It's snowing." Spite cackled, amused as the white settled on every surface, Lucanis's beard and hair now looked grey, and Freya's face was white.
"Prety." Spite grins before receding.
Lucanis sputters and wipes his face.
"Maker, Spite, why did you do that?" He groans in annoyance before his gaze settles on Freya. He cant help the laugh that escapes him at the look on her face, the utter surprise, the white flour on her face, shoulders and hair. Spite had made a complete mess.
Freya joins him until they're both holding their sides, as they wheeze.
"Flour isn't snow, Spite." She scolds, but theres no heat to her words. She smiles as Lucanis hands her a wet towel to wipe down her face. While he wipes his own with a spare dishcloth.
Once satisfied he was clean, he put the dish towel in the sink and sighed.
"I should have known his silence meant he was up to mischief." He chuckles.
"You missed a bit." Freya grins, sauntering closer and reaching for his face, her thumb wiping some flour from his cheek. He freezes in place, his gaze warm and full of affection.
"Maker, I love you." He whispers, and she pauses mid stroke and smiles, leaning up on her tiptoes to kiss him. He sighs, pulling her closer, kissing her back before pulling away. He rests his forehead against hers and chuckles.
"I love you too." Freya smiles.
He releases her reluctantly and pulls the roast bird from the oven. He checks that the juices are clear and nods to himself.
"Could you set the table?" He asks, and Freya nods, heading out of the kitchen to do just that as he loads the food onto a trolley to cart it to the dining hall.
He smiles as he enters. Freya had picked a seasonal tablecloth and used the finer silverware, making an extra place for Spite, even though he couldn't eat.
Include SPITE?
Of course, this is your first satinalia, too, right?
WHAT is satinalia?
Maker, dont start that again.
He feels Spite's amusement as he manifests and sits in his place, watching Lucanis lay out the feast on the table. He sniffs the air.
Smells LIKE warmth, Family.
Lucanis smiles, finishing up, he pushes the cart to the side, and they both sit. Lucanis serves Freya first, then himself, they eat in companiable silence. Spite seemed pleased to be included, his gaze flickering between Lucanis and Freya.
GIFTS Soon
Yes
MINE first
I suppose so
Lucanis chuckles at Spite's pout and tidies away the empty plates. They retire to the sofa in front of the fire.
"That was delicious, Lucanis. You outdid yourself." Frey smiles, taking his hand before reaching behind her and handing him a small package.
"What's this?" Lucanis asks curiously, cradling the small package in his hands. Frey chuckles.
"Open it." She says, watching him closely.
He opened it, carefully, and folded the paper before opening the small box. Inside was a small, delicate glass bookmark in the shape of a feather.
He lifts it up, admiring the delicate glasswork, how it reflected the firelight. He smiles warmly and kisses her cheek.
"It's beautiful, thank you." He smiles, leaning back.
"We have gifts for you, too, Spite insists I give you his first." He hands her a small box. He was unsure how she would take the gift. Spite had insisted he give her a gift, not wanting to be left out of the tradition.
She opens it and smiles, a single purple feather, which glows softly as she picks it up to look at it.
"Is this one of his feathers?" She asks, and He nods.
"That's very sweet of you, Spite." She smiles.
The demon preens at the words and settles down happily, content to let Lucanis have the rest of the evening now that he has given her his gift.
"He is pleased you like it." He chuckles before reaching for his own gift. He felt his heart race. He had been wanting to give her this for months, but there had never seemed to be the right moment, but tonight, it felt right.
He stands and then kneels in front of her, handing her a small black velvet box. Freyas eyes go wide as she takes the small, delicate box from him. She feels her heart flutter in her chest as she opens it, nestled inside on a silk cushion was an ornate silver opel ring. She lifts the ring, her eyes meeting his.
"It was my mother's, I...wanted you to have it...Freya, will you..." he trails off and swollows as his gaze meets hers.
"Will you marry me?" He asks, he does not know why he fears rejection, their relationship had gone from strength to strength, but some small part of him still felt like he wasn't good enough.
"Lucanis..I," She suttters, lost for words, then she sees the look of worry on his face and smiles, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him.
"Yes," She breathes against his lips. He lets out a laugh, feeling tears spring to his eyes as he slides the ring onto her finger.
"I cant wait to spend the rest of my life with you." He says, his voice cracking with emotion.
"I cant wait to spend the rest of my life with you, too." She sniffs, wiping at her eyes.
"Thank you." She whispers, and he tilts his head in confusion.
"Why are you thanking me?" he chuckles.
"Because you made this the best satinalia ever." She grins, and he smiles, leaning in to kiss her once more.
They hear the sound of fireworks outside, and Lucanis reaches for her hand, tugging her to her feet and towards the balcony. He opens the doors, and the sky is a light with colours, the festivities in full swing in the streets below.
Dancers lined the streets, masks of every colour hiding their faces, and they moved to the music. he placed his arms around her, watching the sky, the stars sparkling in the sky.
He smiles, he had never thought he could have this, not after all he had been through, but Freya, like those fireworks, lit up the dark, she was his guiding light through all the pain and betrayal. She had remained at his side.
And tonight they made a promise to spend the rest of their lives together, and he made a promise to himself. to make her smile like she was now, taking in the display in the sky with awe, her lips in a soft smile.
GLOWS like the SKY
She does
He smiles. He knew if he could do it all over again, he would make every decision the same, because to him, she was inevitable. his destiny, his love, his everything.
And he wouldn't have it any other way.