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Visions of ancient carved stone haunted her dreams and echoing with it was the voice of a man who told her the story of the prophecy that led to all this happening. Logically, she knew she had a place in the world and if being the dragonborn was her place she supposed she should take it with grace; but at this point, being curled against her newlywed husband, she wasn’t so sure she should ever take her place again. Why should the fate of the world be placed above her own happiness? Alright, she knew deep down that she could never do that or think like that, but with the knowledge that she could possibly never return echoing in her mind, she felt like she was allowed to be selfish. With a quiet groan she rolled over and buried her face in the crook of her husband’s throat, nerves making her tired limbs twitch every so often.
It seemed Revyn was a light sleeper that night for he awoke when he felt movement next to him. A hand sleepily carded through Elruin’s messy brown hair and when he heard a quiet hum, he gently kissed her temple. Careful to not wake up the two children who had been adament in sleeping with them in their bed, he whispered to her, “What’s wrong, merdekhes ? Does sleep evade you?” When he got a tired nod he nodded in return, his mind began thinking of ways to help soothe his wife’s nerves but knowing what she would be doing was making it hard for him to stay calm. There was a very good chance he would lose her so soon after their wedding and be left to raise their children alone. He was truly terrified to lose her and he knew she knew it. He could tell she was just as scared but knew she’d put on a brave face for everyone but herself. He sighed when no reassuring words reached his sleepy brain and instead wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her reassuringly. He hoped she understood his unspoken words and his hopes were realized when he felt Elruin tuck herself even tighter into his embrace. Sleep managed to claim both of them again but they knew they'd be up again all too soon.
“I don’t want to do this…” She murmured to him later that day, purple under her eyes that were dull from fear and sadness. He simply lifted her chin and smiled as reassuringly he could before kissing her long and hard, trying to convey his pride and own reluctance to let her leave through his actions. She seemed to get the memo and when it was time for her to leave, too early for the kids to be awake, she left with only two of her friends for protection as she headed off to Whiterun. It wouldn’t take her very long if they went by carriage and he knew the day would be full of him and the other men answering angry childrens’ answers. But at least at the end of the day he could feel their kiss on his lips; if it was their final kiss goodbye, he’d treasure it and if it wasn’t then he’d have plenty of time to kiss her more.
Nearly a century later their no longer small family sat around a bed in the little home they had in Elden Root, Elruin’s hometown, as they paid their goodbyes to the dying Dragonborn. It wasn’t an attack or injury that had done this to her, but rather an illness, and even with her incredible prowess in Restoration magic, nothing could be done to heal her. It broke his heart to see both his adopted children and his biological children grieve. The grand and great-grandchildren were off in another part of the home with the in-laws and any friends who wished to say goodbye. It almost seemed as if the prophecy of his wife's birth came true finally. Not many people outside of her family knew of it but he knew it was fulfilled seeing all the people who treasured and loved her as much as he did.
“Papa, Mama’s asking for you.” Came the tired and aged voice of Lucia. The imperial woman before him was no longer the little 9-year-old Elruin had introduced to him, but rather a 90-year-old woman with more wrinkles and joint pain than he had. He knew he would be losing both his non-elven children soon after their mother, all three were about to be on their deathbeds as well but neither would go until Elruin was at peace and no longer hurting. Revyn got up with only some mild resistance from his creaky knees and he walked over to the hunched woman and helped her walk back to the chair she had risen from. With a pat to her snowy hair (and a faux-annoyed groan Lucia made), he sat down by the head of his and his wife’s bed, taking the pale hand in his own grey one. Tired and hazy honey-gold eyes found his and his heart lept into his throat at the tired but overall gorgeous smile his Elruin gave him. Even with her illness keeping her from talking as much as she would have liked and her being kept bed-bound she still managed to smile. But he knew her as well as she knew him and he could tell by how the corners of her mouth quivered that it was the end. She was going to die and it would be very soon. It seemed all of their children noticed and bowed their heads as a sign of respect as they let their mother spend her final minutes with her husband.
Blinking back moisture from his eyes, always trying to appear stronger for his wife and kids, he smiled back as much as he could. “Hello there Merdekhes .” He whispered, “Does sleep evade you?” He added, a joke in his tone as he quoted his younger self all those years ago. Though not loud, he got a laugh out of his wife and that was all he was hoping to accomplish. Elruin relaxed even more and faintly squeezed his hand, “I don’t want to do this…” She murmured, parroting her younger self in such a way that a tear of nostalgia made its way down his face before he could catch it. It seemed she thought the same because tears fell down her own cheeks, though she stubbornly kept that tired smile on her face.
Just as he had all those years ago, he lifted her chin with a reassuring smile and kissed her long and hard but unlike that first final kiss, tears were present on both of their faces. Their love had grown so much over the years they spent together after Alduin’s defeat and he was the happiest man ever to have loved her. Their lips parted and Elruin nodded with the surety she had had when she was leaving the house for the final fight, her eyes closing slowly before letting out her final breath.
The room went dead silent, waiting to see if she’d breathe again and when her chest stayed still they knew she had passed.