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Everybody knew Midri worshiped Mara. She was a firm believer in everyone deserving love and compassion. Had she not joined the Companions at Uskerva’s suggestion, she likely would’ve wandered off to Riften and became a priestess.
Which is exactly why it wasn’t a surprise for Midri to wander around Whiterun with an Amulet of Mara. However, there was a reason deep in her heart that she wore the amulet. She had her eyes set on someone special, and the Companions all knew it well.
While Midri and Vilkas were once caught in a whirlwind of mutual hate and disdain for one another, the winds eventually calmed into a gentle breeze of mutual love. The two kept their hearts from each other, fearing for so long that the feelings would not be reciprocated. But they were urged on by their shield-siblings to confess, and eventually, they became open with their love. Today was a test to see how far that love truly went.
Midri knew Vilkas would be out in the yard at this time following breakfast, and she knew what would make him happiest: to don the Wolf Armor she was granted instead of her “silly” mage robes. She had a troublesome time getting up the stairs, clanking around awkwardly in the armor. It felt like it had been an era since she last wore it. She even nearly tripped, but Ria was there to help her up and keep her steady.
At that very moment, the cheery Imperial woman helped her tie her hair into her signature “battle bun”, as her hair was much too long to let it flow in battle. Though today, the only battles Midri faced were mental and emotional. Tying her hair back better showed off her amulet as well.
“How do I look?” Midri squeaked when Ria finished fussing with her silky hair.
“You look amazing,” Ria brightly replied, “and he’s going to love this.”
“Oh, I sure hope so,” Midri moaned. “If he doesn’t, I may-”
“Ah, no no, remember what we talked about.”
“Sorry,” she said while bowing her head.
Ria patted her back to reassure her. “I’ll see you out there, okay? I need to get out there myself or else he might come looking for me.” With that said, she gave Midri a thumbs up and a wink before jogging out the back door, leaving the Dunmer all alone with her thoughts and her amulet.
A shaky sigh. Fidgeting with the amulet. A threat of nervous tears choking her.
What if he said no?
“Then it was never meant to be…right?” Her mind did not want to focus on the positives, in the event where he says “yes”.
There was only one way to find out which way it’d go.
“Mara, preserve me,” the elf whispered to herself, clanking her way slowly to the back doors.
With calloused hands already sweating in the gauntlets, Midri pushed the doors open and was hit with an instant breeze. Today seemed to be on the colder side. Pushing the doors further revealed the skies overcast and the yard populated. It would appear, intentional or not, that she had an audience. She couldn’t get cold feet now, she just couldn’t. All the time spent dressing into the armor and the time Ria spent hyping her up would go to waste.
So she pressed on instead. She passed by Uskerva, the Harbinger, having her late breakfast and watching with a careful eye what went on in the yard. She saw Torvar and Athis throwing punches at one another, Farkas advising the two. Aela and Njada were gone, out on a job to kill encroaching wildlife.
And then, her magenta eyes caught Vilkas. He seemed bored as he conversed with the much more lively Ria, and had not yet caught on to the fact that Midri had come outside.
Before Midri could take another step further, Uskerva’s hand intertwined with the elf’s, anchoring her to stay for a moment. The redhead Orc put her fork and eggs down to turn her attention to Midri entirely.
“Are you okay?” She quietly asked, so as to not surprise anyone.
“As okay as I can get,” Midri nervously laced a chuckle between her words.
“You’re gonna kill it. I just know it. Good luck.” The Harbinger gave her hand a squeeze, then returned to her food.
The elf continued her trudge down the porch and closed in on Vilkas. She could tell that out of the corner of his eye, he noticed her. His demeanor changed from bored to attentive and warm in an instant. Then, those icy eyes of his widened tenfold, mouth slightly agape. He recomposed himself into a more tempered state, straightening his posture, tucking his fluffy hair behind his ears, and holding his arms out to her.
Where Midri would usually run to him, she awkwardly shuffled to receive his affections. He took her into his grasp tightly and did not let go for a couple seconds.
By this time, Ria had backed off and watched with a content smile.
“Midri, oh Midri, what brings you to me today?” Though he kept himself calm and well-mannered, there was a sparkle in his eyes.
Midri shuffled her feet and put her hands behind her back shyly. “Well, we’ve been together a couple months now, right?”
“That would be correct, yes.”
“And we’ve come to know each other rather well, right?”
“I…I suppose, yes.”
“I know you can give me a better answer than that,” she teased with a lilt in her voice.
“Well…” His composure suddenly fell apart. The beast inside of her could sense his heart beating fast, faster than a Whirlwind Sprint. He gasped to try collecting himself once more. “Oh, by Ysmir, Midri, you really mean it, don’t you?”
“Mean…what?” Though she could likely grasp what he was trying to say, she wanted to hear him say it.
“This,” he said, gesturing wildly to her amulet, “isn’t for your worship, this is…”
“Yes?”
Everyone in the yard had turned their full attention to the two lovebirds now.
The corners of his lips curled into a nervous smile, shaking his head. Vilkas took her hands in his own ever so gently. “You wish for us to be wed…is that right?”
“Aw, you found me out. The jig is up,” she said with a devious giggle, ear tips twitching.
“With the Gods as my witness, I never thought I’d see the day…” In a rather brute act, Vilkas swept her up into his arms and embraced her tighter than he ever had. “Midri Shalithe, my heart bleeds for you.” Though his words were muffled by her pauldron, she heard him loud and clear.
“I love you, Vilkas,” she whimpered through a strained chest, “but you’re killing me right now.”
Instantly, Vilkas set her back on the ground. “Sorry, my dear. I just couldn’t help myself. I was overwhelmed with excitement…” He scratched at the back of his neck, face now beet red.
“See, I knew this would go great!” Ria cheered from a few feet back.
“I…you planned this with the others?”
Midri laughed. “I don’t think this would’ve been possible without the help of Uskerva and Ria.”
“That’s fine. Farkas has been my own personal wingman behind the scenes.”
From afar, Farkas raised his hand and waved.
“Well, looks like we both were too nervous to go into this alone.”
“Perhaps that makes it all the more sweeter.”
“Can you two kiss now?” Uskerva called out.
They both laughed, and Midri leaned into his embrace yet again for that delightful kiss.
In that moment, they were one entity, together.
And they would remain that way until death did them part.