Worth more than you were given

She makes it no more than a few paces in from the door before Erik is up and coming towards her, his massive form quickly closing the gap to bring her inside into the warmth and shelter of his den. Ember smiled up at him, willingly let herself be led deeper inside with his arm around her. It's strangely comforting, feeling him beside her, around her. His overly concerned hospitality earns him an airy laugh from the Carpathian girl and a sweet smile flashed up toward him, stepping up beside the brazier to unclasp the brooch holding her cloak around her neck and slide the snow-soaked garment off her lithe body with a little wiggle and shimmy to dry by the fire. With the cloak gone, the necklace he gave her was now visible hanging low around her neck. She had worn it every day since he gave it to her. "I'm much better now, thank you," she replied, lingering by the brazier while he fed a fresh log into it to let the heat seep into her body and chase away the winter chill. Watching him while he worried himself silly over playing host to her. Em couldn't resist the lopsided smirk; he was very cute and amusing when he got like this.

The fire rose, adding more light and heat to the cozy den. It also allowed Ember a chance to admire Erik in the firelight, watching the way the dramatic shadows played on his rugged features, seeing how the crystals around his neck seemed to shine against the fire. It reminded her of when they snuck into the armory... when they'd shared their first kiss. Her cheeks warmed at the memory, but she didn't get a chance to dwell on it. Erik's rushing about again, offering her tea while putting a kettle on to boil. Em had to keep the giggle out of her voice when she replied, "I'll have some if you are. Whatever you're having, surprise me." The Hallows had a very limited selection of tea available, all acquired through trade. She was sure someone of Erik's background would be far more familiar with the intricacies of growing and producing top quality tea, so she left the choice in the paws of the expert.

While he was clambering about his den in an almost comedic fashion, Ember decided to take the time to get a look around his den. She had expected it to be somewhat sparse given that he'd only been in Hemlock a short time, but it still surprised her how men could be so content to live in a space so utilitarian and be happy with just a pile of furs on the ground. It reminded her of her brothers' rooms—all functionality. Erik had his bed, a nest of blankets and furs, some bamboo shoots trying their darnedest to grow near the warmth, and an impressive collection of what Ember assumed was his teas given the grassy and floral smells coming from the containers. A set of leather armor was pushed off to the side, half finished and clearly what he had been working on before her sudden intrusion. It was all very Erik, very much the hallmarks of her viking mountain man. Despite what he thought, Em quite liked the simple charm it had. It was a whole new world from what she'd grown up with, and the more time she spent out in wild lands and with Hemlock, the more she was growing to like the simplistic aesthetic of the mountainous wolves.

Ember turned back to find Erik and- oh, he was scrambling to pull out some snacks now for them. The display of awkward urgency to be a good host was so endearing and brought another smile to the fae's lips. "Hey, mountain man," she called out to him, moving over to her big, burly viking with smooth, graceful strides of long legs. She pulled him away so she could rest her dainty paws on his chest and lean up to plant a gentle kiss on her brute’s lips, wanting to distract him before he went manic trying to put together a small feast for them. That should snap him out of it. "You're very cute when you're flustered, but don't go crazy treating me like I'm royalty, okay? I'm happy just being here with you." Em lifted a paw to gingerly stroke his cheek before sliding back down to her paws to let him continue putting together their snacks and tea while she made her way over to his bed, ever so carefully removing her bag from around her neck to set on the floor with another clink of glass. "Besides, I brought some good stuff from back home that'll maybe help ease some of that ego bruising from today." And another something special for you... Em thought, her paw resting on her bag almost protectively that contained the promise she had made to him a year ago, a promise now finally kept.

"Ember Carpathius" | "Carpathian"