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The night before Wintersends the weather was neutral. Granted in the lighthouse there was no way to tell the difference between night and day or any changing weather. Muffled laughter and falling pots echoed softly through the courtyard behind the closed dining hall door. The door creaking open in the late hour of the night, its occupance blissfully unaware.
“Lucanis, this is the last of everything. We are so close to making this edible.” Zea’s voice was bright and hopeful.
“Yes now if only you could stop dropping the eggs. We could’ve had at least two more attempts.” Lucanis’ sounded playfully annoyed.
“To be fair, I was nervous and it only happened….four times.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest, a spirited and bright smile etched across her face.
Her face dropped when she turned towards the door, finally noticing the figure standing by.
“Em….Emmrich? Wha…What are you doing up?” Zea let out a small nervous chuckle. Emmrich was rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Messy hair and his sleeping shirt was buttoned haphazardly. Clear indication he dressed with his eyes closed.
“I remember falling asleep with you in my arms and I awoke to find myself alone and cold.” His voice was low and gruffed as he shuffled closer towards her still trying to clear his blurry vision. “What are you doing at-” The smell hit his nose, answering him before he could finish the question. His nose flared, taking a deep breath. Eye widened in surprise as he recognized the scent. “Are you baking a hazelnut torte?”
Zea let out a heavy sigh, shoulders slumped in defeat as her arms fell to her side.
“I wanted it to be a surprise. I can’t bake for shit but Manfred showed me an old recipe for this and…” Looking back towards the little kitchen area where Lucanis pretended to be ‘busy’ and not listening. “Lucanis has been helping me to make it just right.”
“More like trying to make sure she didn’t accidentally poison you.” Lucanis chirped, not looking back as he pulled the hot cakes from the oven.
“Wait. Manfred showed you a recipe for a hazelnut torte and you have been trying to make it? For me?” Emmrich’s brian finally woke up enough to put all the pieces together. The messy state of the kitchen, her absences at night, the random bits of flour that was caked on her from time to time.
Lucanis strolled over, placing a hand on Zea’s shoulder.
“The cakes are out and cooling. I think it would be good for you two to finish it. I’m gonna grab some coffee and go bother Neve.” With that Lucanis departed the hall.
The fire crackling filled the air as the couple silently stared at each other.
“Well.” Zea started. “Surprise?” She shot him a skittish smile as her shoulder hiked up to her ears.
Emmrich stared at her, sleep still in his face when a small smile crept across his face. Moving swiftly towards her, he grabbed her face pulling her into a deep kiss. Her hands on his waist, clenching her fist in his shirt. He pulled away looking into her eyes.
“Thank you. I’m sure it will taste magnificent.”
The couple spent a few moments waiting for the cake to cool, cleaning and chatting away. Emmrich would regale her with some tales of his youth during the holidays. Finishing with one his first memories of his family around the diner table during Wintersends and his first taste of his mothers torte.
Once the cake cooled, Zea assembled the rest. He noticed her hands trembling as she pipped on the filling before carefully placing the second cake on top. Asking him to sit down as she nervously cut him a slime slice and placed it in front of him at the table.
She stood by observing his every movement. Picking up the fork, stabbing it into the cake and bringing it to his mouth. Every movement made her heart quicken until the piece on the fork disappeared into his month. Her heart pounded in her ears as she held her breath waiting for his reaction.
Emmrich closed his eyes as a low soft moan escaped him. Opening his eyes, they glistened with unshed tears.
“This…was extraordinary, my dear.” She let go of the breath she held with great relief.
“Really!? This was my last try. I’m so glad it came out decent.”
“Decent?” Emmrich looked up at her, amazed. “My dear, this was amazing for someone who can not bake.” He stood up, wrapping his long arms around her, pinning her arms to her side. “I do not know why Manfred decided to share my mothers recipe with you, but I’m glad he did so. It had been too long since I tasted my mothers dessert. This was the most splendid gift I have received. Thank you.” Burying his face in her neck.
She managed to wrap her arms tightly around his waist, returning his embrace. Feeling his tears wet the crock of her neck, she relaxed in his arms.
“You’re welcome, Emmrich. I’m not great at a lot of things but I wanted to do something special for you.” Lifting his head, he stared at her with such sincerity and tenderness.
“Darling, your mere existence in my life is something special. The fact that your peaceful sleeping face is what I see first thing in the morning, sends my soul soaring.” Releasing his hold on her, he turned back to his chair to sit. Patting the chair next to him for her to sit. “This is too good not to share.”
Zea and Emmrich sat close, legs tangled in each other as they took turns feeding each other forkfulls of the sweet treat.