Chapter Text
It's the perfect plan!
Arendil found himself sitting on the stone floor of the lighthouse courtyard. The battle was over, the team victorious and the Dread Wolf tied to the Fade. Now, Arendil was looking forward to the future.
Our future. Hopefully.
Arendil looked down at his lap, where his fingers lightly stroked the small, wooden box he had acquired from Nevarra. A fine jeweller had made it for him when he approached with a passionate desire. Being the leader of the team that saved the world has its perks. He carefully lifted the latch that held the box shut and opened it to reveal the treasure inside.
Emmrich was no stranger to jewellery. His fingers adorned with multiple rings, the bangles he wore along both his wrists and, through a romantic gesture, a small, emerald amulet Arendil had gifted him. Here was another piece to add to his collection. Except this one, held a different meaning than the rest.
The ring was solid gold, moulded into the shape of a skull. It's eye sockets held a lavender jade and a pearl, matching their favourite colours. Well, non-colour for Arendil. He still chuckles at the memory of their first dinner date, how Emmrich has immediately told the elf his favourite colour wasn't really classed as a colour. At least Emmrich appreciated the imagery he had proposed.
Now I have another image to propose.
He lifted the ring out of its cushioned confines and let it sit on his palm. He turned it at different angles, letting the light from the Fade around him brighten the gemstones and highlight the carved words on the inside of the ring. 'Never to part, together in every world.' Arendil felt a smile pull at his cheeks as he quickly placed the ring back into the box, put it in his pocket and lifted himself off the floor. With a nervous but lovestruck flutter in his heart, he began to make his way to the laboratory, where he knew the necromancer waited.
He had a grand plan. He was going to take Emmrich to the Necropolis, back to the statue they first kissed under. He was going to have some wisps play a sweet melody, he'd pull Emmrich into a dance. He would be romantic, he would be honest, he would kiss the necromancer silly. Then, he would get on one knee and propose a future together. One where the two would raise Manfred in their own home, they would share a kitchen, library, bedroom. It would be theirs, and theirs alone-
That went out the window. Immediately.
Arendil was stuck at the door, frozen in place at the view before him. It seems that Manfred had gone flower picking before he got here, for Emmrich was a sight of beauty. The man was holding a bundle of flowers, lilacs, roses, primroses, even some Shroud's Kiss. There were multi-colour petals in his salt and pepper hair, his hazel eyes were soft and the smile on his face was radiant. Those eyes quickly found him and the necromancer's smile became even brighter.
"Hello, dearest."
"Marry me, Emmrich." Arendil slammed his hand over his mouth, eyes wide with horror. Did he really just do that?
He must have, if Emmrich's response was anything to go by. The necromancer had dropped the flowers, petals scattering all over the floor, but the man remained standing, eyes wide and mouth agape. Arendil wanted the world to swallow him whole. He let out a groan and clenched his eyes shut. "Shit! I can't believe I did that!" He started pacing, hands tangling in his caramel locks. "I had a whole plan! I was going to take you back to the Necropolis, I was going to dance with you! I even had a whole speech prepared! I was going to be all smooth and sweep you off your feet and then I just...blurt it out because you looked so beautiful just then, and I..." Arendil huffed in frustration. "I just couldn't help but see you like that and I just...saw what I wanted my future to be." Firm hands grip his shoulders and stop his pacing. He tensed up and refused to look up at the other man.
"What was your speech?" Emmrich questioned, his voice soft and watery.
Well, if this is how it was going to go, might as well do it. Arendil lifted his hand and took hold of Emmrich's, sliding down onto one knee. "Emmrich Volkarin, you are the rarest gift this world has given me. When we first met, I never knew how quickly I would fall for you. Your words caught my attention first, confident and passionate. Always formal and spoken with truth. Then, came your mannerisms. You speak with your hands, your body and every action you do has become a comfort to me. Knowing when you're happy, when you're sad, or my personal favourite, when you're excited." He felt Emmrich's hand tremble, and he gave it a little squeeze. "Your eyes light up when you discover something new, or when you come up with a new theory to test. I could lose myself for hours in those eyes of yours. And your smile, gods, your beautiful smile. I live for it, Emmrich. If I'm the one who can make you smile for the rest of our lives then my life will be complete."
Arendil raised his head then, looking up at the necromancer. Emmrich was softly crying, his gloved hand covered his mouth to muffle his shaky breaths. Tears rolled down his cheeks in small streams, and his composure was starting to shatter. Arendil smiled.
"You're all I think about now. I think about how much I treasure waking up besides you, how you curl up around me when you don't want to wake up and leave my side. How you spend every second touching me before we eventually have to separate to do our jobs. I think about how excited I get when I head home, back to you. I never want to go another day without you. I waited for thirty years to find you, and I know you've waited even longer for me. So let's not wait anymore. I love you, Emmrich Volkarin."
Arendil lifted the wooden box out of his pocket and quickly flipped the latch open. He lifted the box lid and presented the ring to Emmrich.
"Will you marry me?"
Emmrich let out a choked sob, before tackling the elf to the ground. Petals were flung into the air to land around the two men as they fell. Arendil grunted as his back collided with the floor and the air left his lungs for a moment before he wrapped his arms around the other man's waist. He carefully sat them up, letting Emmrich stay in his lap. The necromancer had his head burrowed into the elf's neck, his hands trembling from where they were clinging onto Arendil's shirt.
"Yes, my dearest. Of course I'll marry you."
Arendil started laughing with joy, bringing his hands up to Emmrich's cheeks and gently moving his head away from his shoulder. "I never thought I'd have this. I never thought I'd find someone who'd want me for all eternity," Emmrich choked out, causing more tears to fall. Arendil reached up and wiped away the tears still rolling down the necromancer's cheeks, pressing kisses against his nose, temple, and eventually his lips. The two shared kiss after kiss for a long moment, allowing Emmrich's tears to dry and for his hands to loosen their grip. Arendil slowly pulled back, smiling as Emmrich chased his lips for a second before he opened his eyes again. "Forgive me, dearest. I'm a bit excited." The elf lifted the wooden box up and gestured for Emmrich to look.
The necromancer gently took the box and gasped softly at the ring inside. He hadn't truly looked at the ring before, partly because of his tears and partly because he was desperate to hold onto the man he loves more than anything. He'd never seen something so perfect. He immediately could tell the care and craftsmanship that went into the ring, as well as the meaning behind the two gemstones that made up the eyes of the skull. One of his fondest memories, one that he hopes to never forget. He had worked hard on that dinner date, hoping to woo Arendil with a hearty meal and a peaceful atmosphere. And now, here they were, with the elf wanting to spend the rest of his life with him. Him.
"May you put it on me, dearest?" Arendil immediately nodded, taking the box back and removing the ring. He placed the box down and gently took hold of Emmrich's left hand. He brought the hand up to his lips and placed a soft kiss onto Emmrich's ring finger before he slid the ring on to settle alongside the others he wore. He places another kiss on the ring before he gently sets the hand down into his lap.
"Never to part, together in every world." Emmrich's eyes lit up as Arendil spoke. The elf chuckled at the spark in the necromancer's eyes. "That's what it says on the inside of your ring. I wanted you to have the truth with you, wherever you are." He brought his hands to cup the necromancer's face once more. "That no matter what happens, I believe that we'll find each other again and again, in every world and every timeline. We were made to find each other, and we always will. My love, my heart, will always be yours."
"Darling, you must stop." Emmrich chuckled as tears formed in his eyes once more. "You're going to make this old man cry again." Arendil shrugged with a smile. The necromancer sighed and buried his head back into the elf's neck. "Now I need to get you a ring. I'll make sure it suits you perfectly, and I'll definitely make sure it's indestructible. I know what line of work you're getting into now that the world is no longer on the verge of an apocalypse." He started leaving little kisses along Arendil's pulse, running his lips up to the elf's pointed ears. He nibbles gently on the tip, smirking as he feels the man shiver. "Shall we celebrate this new chapter of our lives, dearest?"
"Maybe you should get those petals out of your hair first...and put the flowers in a vase?" Arendil moaned softly as Emmrich increased the pressure of his kisses, feeling teeth start to nip at his skin.
"No need, I'll use the flowers to decorate the bed. You'll be a beacon of beauty surrounded by all these different colours as I ravage you." Emmrich slid his hands under Arendil's shirt, making sure his new ring glided over the elf's heart. He smirked more as the elf arched his back and shivered.
"Oh sweet maker, Emmrich..."