One month before the drought...
Eira was in the kitchen cooking. The aroma of fresh bread baking and the scents of sweet refreshing berries wafted from the kitchen. Noise flooded the room as Nimraph jogged up the stairs after Dammon. The boy darted towards Eira and giggled. Poor Nimraph tripped, his arms windmilling before he faceplanted onto the ground.
Eira hastily thrust her bowl on the counter and darted towards Nimraph, "Nim! Nim!"
Nimraph pushed himself up, chuckling, "I am fine, ah, clumsy me..." He rose to his feet and dusted himself off.
Eira smiled softly as Nimraph proved to be fine. Dammon reached for Eira and she could not help but pick the boy up. Dammon giggled as he gave Eira a hug, then plucked a berry off her apron and ate it. Behind Eira, multiple items appeared to be in the oven. Multiple. As in many. Indeed, so many different smells were competing for the honor of blessing the senses at this moment.
Nimraph sniffed the air and hummed, "Someone's been busy."
He stepped towards her and kissed her forehead, "What's the occasion?"
Eira smiled as he kissed her. She pulled one mit off and rubbed the back of her neck, holding Dammon with the other, "Well, I couldn't take the needlework lesson today because Egfor's sister was busy, and really there's not much I can do for the garden. And I was bored, and all these recipes looked so good, and I got carried away..."
Already on the table were assortments of seed cakes and honey-cakes; a plate of strawberry scones and a spiced apple pie. And more was in the oven...
The Angmarim chuckled and nodded, "No shame on that... Thought you were preparing for a wedding or something..." He watched her carefully, as if testing her reaction to a certain subject.
Eira lightly blushed, her pale skin betraying even the smallest flushing in her cheeks. She looked away, blinking, and turned to take care of more cooking, "I do wonder what kinds of foods would be good for weddings. I never went to any ceremonies here."
She pulled a baked pear pudding from the oven and placed it on the counter. Her eyes darted a moment to Nimraph, then back to the food.
Nimraph notes her reaction with a raised brow and a small hum, "I wouldn't have a clue... I suppose we would need to find out..." He watched her agian.
The Half Nurnhoth blushed more, "Our friends in relationships are either already married, or too early in their relationships to probably get married." She then paused, "Wait, Seregrian is actually engaged. But like we could attend her wedding, with us hiding and all..."
She continued to prepare the many treats she had prepared, leaving the pudding to cool and turning to check on the scones.
Nimraph nodded a bit, "Anything can happen in a month, we could be safe by then. Whenever we can attend any wedding, wouldn't hurt to gent inspiration for ours..."
Eira paused for a moment, a wistful look in her eyes, before she spoke, "It would be lovely."
Nimraph nodded slowly, taking in her reaction, fiddling with something in his pocket, "It would, wouldn't it?"
The young woman smiled, "Yeah." She then turns to the oven and darts towards it, crying out in Aduniac as she pulled an oliphaunt ear tray from the heat. "Oh, please don't be burnt!" She darted over to the counter and placed the treat down, inspecting it for damage.
Nimraph emitted a soft snort, folding his arms with a smile.
Eira sighed in relief, looking over to notice Nimraph had a hand in his pocket. She blinked, as if pushing a fantasy away, and turned to the final pot on the oven to check on it. "I needed to make something more meal focused over here..." She babbled.
Nimraph picked up a muffin and looks it over, "Perhaps something simple so you aren't too tired after cooking all this."
Tired? Eira? Never! She took a large pot out and carried it to the table. She set it down with a huff and removed the lid, revealing apple and pear Soup.
"Well, everything is finished now."
She looked up to Nimraph.
Nimraph was staring at her with a furrowed brow. He realized Eira was looking at him. He cleared his throat and nods quickly, "Smells delicious!"
Tacita Eira blinked in confusion over Nimraph's furrowed brow. She did however bounce right to her cooking, "I think this is enough for everyone in the house, plus perhaps Egfor and Demlemoth. Or, we could store a lot for left overs."
She looked over to the soup and pudding, "The soup and pudding will make a great dinner." She then paused and looked to Nimraph, "Do you want meat with it?"
Nimraph drooled a little at the mention of meat, "I mean, it is not neccesary."
Eira waved her hand a bit, "I know cats are canrivors, so I feed Fisher and Obsidian meat alongside fish and carrots. I can make something for you really quick if you want." She turned to find what kinds of meats were stored in the kitchen.
Nimraph said, "I certainly wouldn't object, if it's not too much work."
Nimraph furrowed a brow. He was an incredibly impulsive man. He took a breath and walked around the counter, aiming to rest his hands on Eira's hips, "Ah, love?"
Eira was pulling ingrediants out when she felt Nim's hands on her hips. She blushed, turning to see if Dammon was here, when she saw he had run off, she rested one hand over Nim's, pulling out a bag of turnips.
Nimraph tried to turn Eira to face him, "Have I ever told you how much you mean to me?"
Eira's blushing was turning her face red as she turned around, still holding the turnips, "You told me you love me."
Nimraph gently took the turnips from her and set them aside, "Well, I do, most definitely..." He takes a breath, "You taught me what love is. You give me hope for each day, I know each day I wake up beside you will be a good one..."
The former Mordorim smiled softly, blinking away, then back to him. "And what is love? I still don't know myself. I have been told by I was loved, but treated in ways you vowed never to."
Nimraph hummed and nodded, "Love is an ongoing, lifelong learning, I discovered, that you learn with someone... And, I would like to keep learning with you."
Her face ever so red, she leaned in a bit closer, "Of course." She sounded eager yet slow, and a bit dreamy, "Always."
Nimraph pulled out an elegant gold and blue topaz ring, "I... would like to learn this and walk with you, Sari Mosa..."
He cleared his throat, "Tell me how I am to earn your hand and prove myself worthy of your hand."
Tacita Eira teared up, pulling a hand over her mouth, the oven mit still on. She gasped lightly, gazing upon the ring. She then flung herself to Nimraph, hugging him tightly, "You've already earned it!"
Nimraph blinked and hugs her tight, "I... wait, I have?"
Eira beamed, burying her head in his chest, "You have done nothing but love me, even when we were at odds. You chased me, even when I ran away. You always believed in me, even when the others thought I should stay back." She continued, "You have been gentle with me. We are both monsters from darkness, for every foul deed I have commited you could give me two more. But it doesn't scare me. It comforts me. You truly understand what I'm going through. The shame, guilt, anger, injustice, wasted years..." She shivered, hugging him, "You are a light to me. You left the Enemy far more recently than I, yet have made leaps and bounds. And you are the first person who made me feel like I was not alone, when all I ever felt my whole life was isolated and cold. You comfort me, guide me, keep me company. You have seen all my body's scars and still count me beautiful. And you have witnsessed my mind's scars and are patient in my recovery. Nimraph, you have more than proven you are worthy of my hand. For the first time in my life, I have tasted real love."
Nimraph blinked a few times, hugging her tight and burying his face into her shoulder, staying quiet for a moment.
Eira lifted her face and kissed his head, eyes closed as tears fell. She hugged him tightly, yet gently, and soothingly the best she could be.
"One of my greatest fears," She admitted, "Was us becoming what my parents were. In love, but too divided and apart to ever wed. But now, I know that fear was only a dark fantasy. I trust you, Nimraph. I will marry you."
Nimraph sniffled a little. He totally wasn't crying, nope. He straightened up to look at her, smiling, "And it would be an honour to call you my wife..."
Eira chuckled a bit, lifting the hand with no oven mit and wiping a tear from below his eye. She gazed into his eyes, "I will be joyful, calling you my husband. Forever and always, beyond the breaking and reforging of Arda."
She bent forward to kiss him. He smiled, kissing her back softly. He reached to take her hand when they parted the kiss and slowly slid the ring onto her finger, smiling.
Eira beamed as the ring was slid on. She giggles and hugged Nimraph again, looking behind him to all that food, "I think I have a use for all that food. Should we announce this?"
Nimraph wrinkled his nose, "We have a lot of planning to do yet, I want this to be big and special. That food may spoil before then."
"You have a point." She paused, then points to the food, "Then we can taste test! All this, and more cooking, to see which deserves to be on the table when the announcement feast is on!" She bounced a bit as she took a skip towards the table, trying to gently pull Nimraph towards it.
Nimraph chuckled softly as he was pulled along, "True!"
Tacita Eira picked up a scone and handed it to Nimraph, then started cutting the cakes and pie.
Nimraph smiled widely, starting to nibble on the scone.
Eira slid a plate with pieces of the honey and seed cakes, plus the spiced apple pie, and a small oliphant ear, towards Nimraph. She then workee on dishing out the soup and pudding as a proper meal. "Try them!" She encouraged in excitement. She was already eying the cook book she has been using for more ideas.
Nimraph started sampling a little of everything, musing, "I am one lucky man."
Eira giggled, blushing yet again, and reached to push some hair behind the ear. She finished the plate of food and slid it towards Nimraph. She was not about to admit how hard it was cooking something with the word 'pear' in it, due to a torture device she learned to use - and horrifically felt herself - in Mordor long ago. She turned to get another two plates, getting her own desserts and actual meal.
Nimraph took the plate with a smile, leaning on the counter and starts to eat, not even waiting for her.
Eira started eating after Nimraph had already started. She eagerly ate the desserts first, "Hmm, the oliphant ear is a bit messy for announcement feasts and ceremonies."
Nimraph hummed and nodded, "Yes, that is true. But it is a delightful snacking food."
Eira chuckled, "Indeed. But is the seed or honey cake better?"
They continued to test the food into the night, Eira's mind buzzing with what foods could possibly be fit for a wedding... their wedding at that.
