Of Gingerbread and Magic
"There! This one's done," Sofia announced proudly, holding up the gingerbread man she'd just finished decorating for Cedric to see.
The sorcerer stared at the cookie in amazement. Sofia was gifted at most things she did, and this apparently included food art. The cookie was clearly supposed to be him, evidenced by the purple icing robe and yellow bowtie. She had even taken the time to add in a green shirt and red vest. The face was a typical gingerbread man face. Black icing on the head with white streaks for hair completed the look. "It looks… um… cute…"
The princess smiled. "I'm glad you think so. It's supposed to be the cute sorcerer I love dearly." She giggled merrily and set the cookie aside on a tray, missing the light pink flush that appeared on his cheeks.
They were currently sitting at the dining room table with a plate of gingerbread cookies Chef Andre had made. It was a few days before Wassailia, and Sofia had offered to decorate the cookies so the kitchen staff could keep working. Andre had happily agreed, providing her with bowls of colored icing and a variety of decorative candies to use. And somehow she had managed to talk Cedric into joining her, though the sorcerer wasn't going to complain. It wasn't like he had anything better to do. Plus, he got to sit next to his beloved, so he was content.
"How are you doing?" Sofia asked curiously, reaching for another cookie to do.
"Oh…" He looked down at his cookie and shrugged. "All right, I suppose." He held it up for her to see.
She blinked at the gingerbread woman, who wore what appeared to be a light purple tutu and nothing else. A small dark pink candy underneath the cookie's face was a clear indication of who it was supposed to be. "Is that supposed to be me?" Unable to help herself, she fell into a fit of giggles. "Is that how you imagine me? In just a tutu?"
He blushed furiously. "Er, um…" The truth was that the purple icing was supposed to be a dress, but he was so horrible at this type of art. He set the cookie down and pulled out his wand, murmuring a spell. The cookie's tutu was replaced by a proper dress with white candy flowers across the bottom. The gingerbread woman now had brown icing on her head, along with a candy tiara. "There! That's so much better." He grinned, quite pleased with himself.
Sofia beamed as she picked up the cookie, setting it on the tray next to her Cedric cookie. "They're so cute together," she cooed. She then turned back to the sorcerer, a mischievous smile crossing her lips as she leaned closer, causing him to gulp nervously and lean away. "If you really want to see me in just a tutu, we can go to my room right now."
"Erm…" Cedric could feel himself growing very hot, and he was certain his face resembled some sort of pointy tomato. "O–Oh… Th–That isn't necessary, Sofia."
"Maybe someday." She winked and moved closer, giving him a quick kiss before sitting back. She hummed thoughtfully as she looked at the plate of cookies on the table in front of them. "I think we should do a cookie of everyone in the castle. I'll do the girls, and you do the boys."
"Oh, goody," he smirked. "I rather like the idea of designing a new outfit for Baileywick."
The princess rolled her eyes but smiled. "Be nice, Cedric. It's Wassailia."
"Fine." He reached out and took a gingerbread man from the plate. "Am I allowed to use magic?"
"Sure, if that's what you want to do." A playful grin crossed her face. "I'm not sure if Dad would like seeing his cookie in a tutu."
"Cheeky girl," he muttered as she snickered. "And what are you planning to do with these cookies? Serve them for dessert?"
"No." She shook her head as she reached for a tube of pink icing. "I was actually thinking of preserving them and hanging them on the Wassailia tree." She started to apply the icing to the cookie she'd chosen a few minutes ago. "I think everyone will enjoy finding cookies that look like them."
"That sounds like a good idea. I do believe I have a preservation spell. I'll go get my spell book when we finish."
"Awesome!"
They spent the next hour decorating cookies, both with magic and by hand. Each cookie was a masterpiece, and Sofia was glad she had thought of preserving them. There was just no way she could have eaten a cookie that resembled someone she loved, as silly as it might have sounded.
That evening, the rest of the royal family and some of the castle staff were pleasantly surprised to find cookies that looked like each of them hanging among the other ornaments on the Wassailia tree. The Cedric and Sofia cookies hung side by side near the top.
A/N: Yes, I know I participated in two gift exchanges, BUT I like writing for my friends, and I had the gumption to do some extra stories this month. I hopr you liked it, Nerdi!