My Sweet Darling: Soup for the Soul

The gentle sunlight streamed through the window, only partly obscured by the curtains Lance had drawn by his beloved’s request. The one and only left well before the sun had rose mere hours earlier but came back quickly, feeling unwell much to Lance's worry. 

 

It was silent, save for the gentle bubbling from a pot on the wood burning stone in the corner of the room, with the blue fuzzy man watching over it diligently. He had a mission, not really though but he was sure treating like it.“I'm going to lay down, could you make me something to eat please.. if it's not too much to ask.” Nettie had whispered to him. Oh she looked so pale- it hurt. He hurt. Call him selfish or an in love idiot, but seeing her in pain made him stress so much he felt weak. 

 

Carefully, a worn wooden spoon pushed the thick red contents of the pot in slow steady circles. One of his ears was turned to listen to the stew and the scrapping of his stirring, and the other was turned in the other direction. Listening to the gentle inhale and exhale of the sleepy woman laying down on a big sunken mattress covered in blankets. Quilts. Lots of quilts. Smaller floral patchwork designs in bright autumn colors, a few patterned ones with fabric from her home country, and.. a noticeably more novice attempt of a blue and white snowflake pattern. Given all the wonderfully cozy options, her hand was clinging to the messy blue one, holding it to her face comfortably as she dozed. She mumbled drowsily and scrunched her legs closer to her fluffy body as she settled under the blanket. 

 

“Need something.? Aww.” He chuckled softly as he turned to take a small glance at her, worried at first but soothed seeing she was just getting comfortable. I should take this chance, he thought to himself. He put a lid over the pot but left a small crack on the side for steam to pour out. 

 

The man stood up carefully, one strange hoof at a time, shaking out his body before trotting to the door. The guild must still have the apple tea she liked in the communal kitchen, just something sweet and warm for her to drink when she's up. It must, right? He was overthinking things. 

 

Clop clop clop, thunk.

 

The door shut behind him.

 

“Mh.?” The sick woman stirred, fluffy brown and cream ears turning to the door. 

 

“Lance.?” 

 

No answer. That's all she needed to know. The pale woman pushed her hair from her face as she sat up, rubbing her eyes with the blue blanket still in one hand. He must have stepped out for a second, I can thank him lat- ohhh what is that smell? Her nose twitched, tilting her face up to smell the savory comforts that lingered in the air from the pot. Already salivating, she wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and clambered up to get a closer look.. and maybe a taste. 

 

Onions. Celery. Potatoes. Tomato soup. Cream. And.. meat.? Maybe beef or veal? Oh it all smelled so good. Especially the last thing she could discern from the list. The reindeer woman looked around before grabbing a bowl from the rack next to the wood stove and scooped herself a portion. She sat herself in the spot lance was once in, easy to tell by the cool spot his body had made in the wood floor. “Hm, silly boy.” She chuckled to herself as she took a bite of tomato drenched meat. 

 

Right then.. the door opened, to a very confused Lance. Nettie just looked at him with a surprised look, spoon still in her mouth.

 

“...Nettie? Nettie! Darling, you should be in bed.” 

 

“Mh- I'm okay! I just.. it smelled so good.” She mumbled back, partly hiding her face behind her bowl. 

 

“As long as you're okay, just please be careful. How's your head?” 

 

“Better, my stomach is still-” she shakes her hand back and forth for emphasis. “- ehhh. I think a little more soup should do the trick. Where did you head off too?”

 

“the kitchen. I got you a few kinds of tea, I'll put on a kettle when you're done.” He says, holding up a few boxes of ginger and spiced apple tea. Her favorite. 

 

How did I end up with such- her heart was melting at the sweet gesture. “Thank you, min kjærlighet. You know me too well. Come come, sit with me.” The now seemingly shy woman says, opening her arms with the blanket still around her, making her look like a comfy blue and white bat. 

 

“Gladly, my sweet.”