Crossword Genius

What provides some light at the end of three darker months? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ember

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'what provides' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'some light at the end of three darker months?' is the wordplay.
'some' says to take the centre.
'light' becomes 'torch' (type of light).
'at the end of' says to put letters next to each other (some letters go at the end of others).
'three darker months?' becomes 'embe' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
The central letter of 'torch' is 'r'.
'r' after 'embe' is 'EMBER'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ember that I've seen before include "Smouldering piece left over from a fire" , "Cryptic question" , "Glowing coal; prayer (Days)" , "Glowing coal; type of goose" , "One smouldering" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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