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The two elves were lounging in Aegis’s archmage quarters (where they had made their home together), drinking the night away. It had been a long week of traveling the wilderness of Skyrim, clearing out bandit dens for bounties and delving into dwemer ruins to study their magic. At this point, Teldryn wasn’t sure whether his lover did the bounty hunting for the money or for sport. Besides, he was living comfortably here at the college, money not seeming to be a problem. What more could the literal Archmage of Winterhold want?

Maybe it was all for Teldryn, who hated being dragged around Skyrim just to watch Aegis scribble incomprehensible notes in his journal and pick at flowers; perhaps Aegis took the bounties so Tel had something to do in between his mage studies. If that was the Archmage’s idea of a romantic outing, Teldryn would take it. Aegis’s love languages were sometimes strange, things he didn’t necessarily explain out-loud and assumed Teldryn would figures out, but that was what the Dunmer loved about his dearest. His awkward, nerdy mage boyfriend...

Nevertheless, the two were enjoying some hefty drinking with some mead from the Frozen Hearth, bought with a portion of the money they got from the bounties and dungeon delving. Aegis always got easily drunk from the Nords’ drinks. It took stronger substances for Teldryn to get off his rocker, however. They were seated across from each other at Aegis’s desk, by the entrance to the quarters. Usually the desk was covered in books, but now several empty mead bottles sat between them on it, most of which Teldryn had not touched.

The Dunmer looked up at the windows above them. The light of the stars and twin moons shone through, illuminating the dark space that was only lightened by a few candles and magelight. Wind whistled against the outside walls, the only noise besides Teldryn’s own humming or Aegis’s slurred mumbles. Teldryn didn’t really see the appeal of the college at first, often saying sarcastic remarks about it that pissed off Aegis, but after living there for awhile with the Archmage he came to really admire its spectacle and magical homeyness. It was… home. Teldryn hadn’t considered anywhere his home for decades.  

“You know, Teldryn,” Aegis slurred after taking the last swig from his current bottle of mead. “I think that one of these days, when we have time to settle down— you know, somewhere nice, maybe a manor, we probably have the coin to afford one— I think we should get married.”

Teldryn blinked away his revery, his breathing hitching. His gaze fell from the window above to the mage seated across from him. The Dunmer narrowed his eyes at the flushed Altmer across the table, a pathetic drunken mess. He looked one more swig from passing out.

“You’re drunk,” Teldryn scoffed. “I think it’s time for you to go to bed.”

“I mean it.” Aegis looked directly at Teldryn this time. His brilliant green eyes pour into him. It was always like staring right into a vast forest looking into them, their stunning shine and impossible to resist charm. The mercenary looked away, face hot. He dug his nails into his forearms. Even wearing a sweater, in the magically heated room, he felt cold.

“What is this, a proposal?” It was only a mindless comment. Teldryn had thought about officially marrying Aegis before. He wasn’t sure what had been stopping them when they first realized their mutual feelings for each other. Perhaps Aegis was still afraid of commitment...?

Maybe Teldryn was the one who was afraid of commitment, and the consequences he was afraid of coming with it. The spellsword immediately shoved that thought back into the recesses of his mind. He was drunk, and prone to overthinking...

Aegis seemed to think for a moment. He put his head to the table, raising it so his bearded chin rested on the wood. He hiccuped a few times before saying, “Hmm. I suppose so. Do you accept?”

The spellsword couldn’t take it. He slammed his hands onto the table, a bit too hard than anticipated. Aegis instantly jumped up, yelping. He almost fell out of his chair, but he somehow managed to hold onto the table despite being so drunk.

“I think it’s time to call it a night.” Teldryn made his way towards the bedroom, staggering slightly. He should’ve known better than to stand up too fast, especially after having something to drink. The Dunmer was mostly suggesting that Aegis needed to sleep, but he most definitely did too; he always got too anxious if he drank too much. It was supposed to be a fun night sharing drinks, and here Teldryn was suddenly filled with anxiety.

He wouldn’t admit it so easily to Aegis, but he did want to marry him. He thought they had been together long enough to tie the knot. Teldryn was certain he’d spend the rest of his days not tied down by anyone, it just wasn’t the life for him, but... if it was Aegis, he’d do it in a heartbeat. He’d drop everything to run away anywhere in Nirn the mage wanted.

But he couldn’t accept it. Not now. Not while they were both under the influence and were prone to do something they’d end up regretting the next morning. What if Aegis was just joking, anyways? The Altmer was truly an enigma— it was evidently clear he had grown up in a strict society that forbid much social interaction. It had taken them long enough to get where they are now— boyfriends living, adventuring, and sleeping together. From mercenary and boss to friends to lovers. Teldryn honestly had no idea why he didn’t quit after witnessing Aegis defeat a group of ash spawns on Solstheim by... setting himself on fire. Then proceeding to sample the remains of the ash spawns by eating the ash. The mage was surely dropped on his head when he was younger. Multiple times. It was all just part of Aegis’s lovable and unique charm Teldryn couldn’t resist.

Teldryn splashed his face with some water from the washbin by the bedroom archway before settling into the bed. The sheets were soft, and smelled of both him and Aegis; campfires, rain, wildflowers— it was a comforting smell. After a brief moment, Teldryn felt a weight beside him and long hands entangling around his figure.

“Why must you be so distant, Teldryn?” Aegis whined, stuffing his face in the Dunmer’s back.

Teldryn scoffed. “Go to sleep, you drunkard.”

“Mm. You never answered my proposal.”

The hands around Teldryn felt heavy and confining. Usually, they were familiar and gave him a sense of belonging that filled something deep and empty within him. The unusual feeling unnerved him, right to his core. He felt safe with Aegis, always, it was just... difficult, mulling over all that the Altmer just said.

Aegis must’ve felt his lover tense, because he sat up suddenly. “Is there something you’re not telling me?” he asked, hiccuping. “You’re more moody than usual.”

“Let it go, Aegis,” Teldryn dismissed. “I’m just... tired. We’ve had a long week. Now get back down here, I’m cold.”

“So needy. You’re lucky I love you.” The mage laid back down, wrapping his arms around Teldryn again. This time, the Dunmer relaxed into them as he’d done countless nights already. He put a hand over the larger golden hands laying on his stomach, feeling their boney structure.

“Goodnight, love,” the spellsword whispered.

Aegis placed a sloppy kiss to his ear. “Just marry me already,” he pleaded, still hiccuping.

Teldryn forced a chuckle, wanting so badly to accept the Altmer’s proposal; but he couldn’t, not when they were both drunk.

Teldryn kept on tracing the structure of Aegis’s hands, raising them to kiss them occasionally, until sleep overtook him in the whistling wind.

It had been six days since Aegis’s... proposal. Neither had mentioned it since that night. Teldryn assumed the mage was too drunk during the whole matter and had forgotten all about it the morning after. The mercenary himself barely remembered it, thinking at first it was just a dream.

It eased Teldryn a little. So maybe Aegis didn’t want to marry him, yet. Marriage just didn’t seem to be fit their nature. Even if they did live together at the Winterhold College, they stayed there for five days tops every month. Settling down didn’t really fit into their lifestyle of constant traveling. But what if that could change?

But would that really be a possibility, sometime in the future? When the two could really settle down, take a break and properly live in a nice manor... Could the two Mer really live like that? Together?

The two had travelled to an old cave nearby Winterhold, which was occupied by necromancers. Aegis had heard a rumor of the necromancers having a bunch of numerous spell tomes. At Aegis’ level of magic, he surely knew the majority of spells the times could offer (it wasn’t like he couldn’t just craft his own). Yet, he seemed Oblivion-bent on finding every single one possible.

Teldryn hadn’t really been feeling up to traveling lately (with all the damn walking and he felt so exhausted and old, if only Skyrim had Silt Striders), but since it was Aegis, he came along. And besides, he couldn’t just let his love walk into an enemy fortress alone, where he could potentially get killed (or kill himself; Teldryn had seen Aegis walk directly into many hazardous dungeon traps. It was a surprise one of them hadn’t lopped his head clean off yet; it didn’t help he had to sample everything even remotely edible he found).

Clearing the cave was a breeze; it was a bit slow going, Aegis wanting to check every single bookcase and every single book they found, but the necromancers were no match for the power couple. As Teldryn exited the cave, prepared to march straight back to Winterhold so he could get a chance to rest his aching legs in a nice magically-heated room on a soft bed, he almost failed to notice his lover was not following pursuit. He turned around when he didn’t hear the Altmer’s nagging of “no actual substantial loot being found” and “necromancers being the plague of Tamriel.” Swallowing a gasp, he saw Aegis leaned against a boulder near the cave entrance. He was clenching his chest, blood spooling out into the snow, turning the white powder a deep red. Teldryn came running back, his mind unable to decide whether he wanted to berate the mage or comfort him.

“I’m out of magicka and potions,” Aegis groaned. “One of those last bastards hit me pretty bad with a mace. At first I didn’t feel it, but… Think you could lend a hand?”

Teldryn immediately summoned some magicka into his right hand, preparing a healing spell. He was used to this, the mage being reckless and the mercenary having to help him up; at this point Teldryn was pretty sure Aegis did it on purpose, to get his attention.

“Take off your robes,” the spellsword said. “I’ll be able to heal it better.”

“You just want to see me naked, huh?” Aegis teased, not without wincing at the pain of the wound. “No need to be so horny.”

Teldryn rolled his eyes, moving to remove his lover’s robes and lifting his shirt himself. Underneath, he revealed a particular amulet—

An amulet of Mara. The rose gold color of it was unmistakable, with the green blue jewel in the middle. It shone beautifully in the midday sunlight, even being covered in blood.

Teldryn froze. He forgot all about the matter at hand, mind racing back to six nights ago.

Do you accept? Aegis’s drunken voice rang in the Dunmer’s head.

“What, distracted by my pecs?” Aegis said incredulously. He looked down at his exposed bare chest to see what Teldryn was looking at. He smirked. “Oh, this? I really do want to get married. One of these days.”

The image of the woozy, barely conscious Aegis flashed through the spellsword’s mind.

“You weren’t kidding,” Teldryn said, barely above a whisper. He cast a restoration spell on his lover’s wound, not without looking away, unable to stay calm under the gaze of those emerald orbs that saw all. Even if he wasn’t much younger than Aegis, Teldryn still felt so naive and young when he was with the Altmer.

When Aegis’s wound was fully healed, he lifted his robes back on and lowered his shirt, muttering about having to fix them up later. He stood up, offering a hand to the Dunmer still seated in the snow. Teldryn took it, still not meeting Aegis’s eyes. The mage didn’t stop holding Teldryn’s hand when he got up, and the mercenary didn’t fight it. He rubbed his thumb over Aegis’s hand, biting the inside of his cheek.

Neither said nothing for awhile; Teldryn wasn’t sure where this would go. The trees rustled around them in the wind, as if impatient and eager for the two Mer to say something, anything. 

“I mean,” Aegis said thoughtfully, tapping his finger on his bearded chin, “if you don’t want to get married, I can always ask someone else—“

“Wait,” Teldryn snapped. He took a deep breath. “I never said... no.”

“Oh? Are you interested in me, then?”

Teldryn clutched his fists, swallowing his pride. “I always have been, you s’wit.” He felt his face heat up. Thank Azura he was currently wearing his chitin helmet, or else Aegis would’ve surely teased him about it.

“So do you accept? Make things official?”

So it was happening. The moment Teldryn had been waiting countless sleepless nights for.

Teldryn sighed, lightly punching the taller Mer where his wound had been. He reeled.

“Impudent n’wah. Of course I do.”

The spellsword went through the trouble of removing his helmet, throwing it to the ground, and lowering his scarf to place a soft kiss to Aegis’s lips. He had to strain his neck and stand on his tippy-toes, but at this point, he was used to it. Aegis smiled into the kiss, gratefully returning it. He cupped the Dunmer’s face in his hands, thumbing over his facial hair.

The two Mer kept on kissing, each time deeper and embracing more; they were both smiling, like the idiots they were. Aegis and Teldryn were enveloped by love, the trees swaying around them in content. Teldryn forgot all about wanting to relax in a warm bed; he got his warmth and comfort from Aegis.

They pulled away for breath after a few moments, resting their foreheads together.

“I should’ve married you the moment I saw you,” Aegis whispered, his brilliant green eyes seeming to shine as Teldryn met their gaze. “I’m... I’m sorry for taking so long.”

“What do you mean?” Teldryn snorted. “It’s not your fault we’ve always been busy and haven’t had time to think about settling down.”

Aegis shook his head. “I guess you’re right. I must say, this feels... right. I know we’ll do just fine, being together until the end of the line.”

Teldryn kissed the mage again before saying, “I’ll be with you. Now and forever.”

“Oh, you sap.”

The spellsword jabbed his lover’s healing wound again. They both laughed it out.

It wouldn’t be long before the two made it to the Temple of Mara in Riften, scheduling their wedding during the next month. That would give them plenty of time to get suits and invite guests; Teldryn hadn’t seen his family in years, so he thought it might be good to rekindle with them and invite them to his wedding. They’d never met Aegis, so he hoped they would like him. Since Aegis wasn’t close to his family, the spellsword assumed he was going to invite his colleagues at the Winterhold college.

There was a lot ahead of them; planning a wedding, buying a house, perhaps raising a family...

Teldryn had never thought he would settle down— he never thought he’d meet someone as perfect as Aegis. He always thought soulmates were a load of crap, but he genuinely believed Aegis was his. His crusty, lovable mage... He was a moron, but he was Teldryn’s moron.

Friends to lovers, now lovers to husbands...

“Does that mean I’ll take your surname?” Aegis asked as they left the Temple of Mara. “I... haven’t had one in ages. I lost my family name when I was ostracized.”

“Aegisthus Sero,” Teldryn said, mulling over the sound of it. “I like it. We’re finally together, huh?”

The Altmer smiled, whispering his new name to himself a few times. “I’m chuffed to be yours, and you are mine. Forever—“

Teldryn playfully hit Aegis on the back, causing him to cough. “Save your sappy vows for the wedding, s’wit.” The Dunmer may have been being playfully rude, but he was smiling from ear to ear. He couldn’t help it; even if he was stubborn in saying so, this was the best moment in his life. He was sure Aegis felt the same.

Hand-in-hand, like they always walked, they journeyed out of the city and into a pink sunset, towards a life of new beginnings.