For the peoplespalace 12 Prompts of Rahlmas

Title: Secret Ingredient

Prompt: Cookies and Milk

Milk and cookies were a fine winter tradition. Rahl, not oft given to sentimentality, had confessed to Cara that one memory above all stood out regarding his mother. Once, on the eve of the Solstice, she had dismissed the cooks and she, herself, had baked the most wonderful cookies. He'd never tasted their like since.

Cara was determined to help Rahl experience this delight once again. So far she was having no luck. This year, five cooks had given him their best offerings. None were right and Rahl's fury had meant none had been given a second chance.

Cara scoured the library, hoping to find some clue as what the recipe might have included. She visited the area Rahl's mother had grown up in and after some inquiries returned with a probable recipe, one that had been a favourite in the woman's household.

Problem was, it was exactly the same as the first recipe that had failed to please Lord Rahl - a record had been kept of all the attempts. Cara frowned.

"Maybe it's magic," Dahlia suggested, eating one of the last of the previous batch of cookies. The Mord'Sith weren't so picky about the baked goods.

"Unlikely."

Dahlia shrugged. "A secret ingredient then. One that was never written down."

At the back of her mind, Cara felt a nagging memory of her own mother. The secret ingredient of her baking was always love.

Cara sighed. It was her duty to love Lord Rahl. She wasn't sure it was enough.

Nevertheless she cooked up a batch of cookies, alternately helped and hindered by an enthusiastic Dahlia. The kitchen was covered in batter when they'd finished and there was flour in Cara's hair and egg on Dahlia's leathers.

Cara put the still warm cookies on a tray along with a glass of warm milk topped with cinnamon. It was one day before Solstice Eve. She presented her offering to Rahl.

The moment he tasted the cookie his eyes lit up.

"This is it!" He ate the rest of the cookie. "Tell me, who is the wonderful cook who has so perfectly recreated my mother's recipe?"

Cara looked at the floor. "She would remain anonymous, my Lord. Let her serve you in secret rather than boast of her accomplishment."

Rahl lifted one eyebrow. "Very well. But keep an eye on her, Cara. The woman who can bake like this is very dear to me."

Cara fought the blush from her cheeks. "Yes, my lord. As you say."