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She loved the view from up here. Rook rested against the headboard of the large bed in their temporary residence near the Nevarran Circle. From under her half-lidded eyes, she watched Emmrich watch her from where he was draped out over the bed, his feet just hanging off past the edge due to his position. There was something so charming about this man; even if he had just finished rutting her while providing a decorative smattering of dirty talk throughout. Rook was deliciously sore. The soft sheen of sweat on her body left the small hairs along her temple damp and clinging to her skin. Emmrich was in roughly the same shape; his hair disheveled from her fingers clutching at the roots while she’d ridden his lap a few moments before.
The fine sheets were severely mussed.
Emmrich kissed her stomach just to the right of her bellybutton, looking up at Rook and locking eyes. He luxuriated with his chest between her thighs, head on her stomach, and one hand just below her breast. Even disheveled he looked like a statue.
“Something on your mind, my darling?”
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little surprised that you ambushed me at the door,” Rook teased, running her fingers through Emmrich’s hair. “All I asked was how the first talk went.”
“The talk was wonderful,” he answered, grinning up at her. There was something sparkling in those eyes; a mischief Rook was starting to see more often. He was plotting. “I simply saw something more wonderful when you opened the door.”
“I’m just not exactly connecting how that question leads to….”
“I missed you,” Emmrich said. “And with Manfred spending the night at the Circle, I simply could not forgo the opportunity.”
“You just saw me,” Rook laughed. “And I came along with you to the capital for your talks. Can you imagine if I was still back at the townhouse? Or worse,” she lowered her voice. “I could be in Treviso.” Rook pretended to be scandalized.
“I have something for you,” he whispered, that mischievous smile never fading.
“Is that why you’re suddenly so…”
“Hmmm?”
“Amorous?” She waved her hand around his face. “This whole keyed up, hyperactive thing you have going. You just took me apart and you’re still looking at me like you want to eat me instead of dinner.”
“You are quite scrumptious, my darling.” Rook blushed. She didn’t know she could even still do that after everything they’d done in the past few months. “And I promise to take you to a real meal once we pull ourselves together.” He seemed to be practically vibrating. “I know it hasn’t been very long.”
“Long enough for what?” Rook asked, stretching her arms over her head.
Emmrich rolled to the side, climbing up the bed to sit alongside Rook at the headboard. He pulled her to rest along his body, her face gently resting against his cheek. “I’ve been thinking about this for longer than is likely healthy.”
“Me following you on your lecture circuit?”
Emmrich gave her a good-natured smile. He reached one of his arms over the side of the bed, taking hold of his pants from the floor and dipping his hand into the pocket. He handed her a delicate gold bangle. She extended her left wrist, allowing Emmrich to slide it over her hand.
“Wonderful! A perfect fit,” he said. “I wanted to get you something that you could wear, even if you got into another scrap in the future. Something lovely, but low profile.”
“Oh, Emmrich. Why such a lovely gift?”
“There’s an inscription on the inside.”
She slid the bracelet off, reading the markings on the inside.
Nunc scio quid sit Amor
“It means, ‘Now I know what love is’.” Emmrich pulled her close again as she slid it back on. He kissed the side of her head softly. Rook’s single tear caught him off guard. “My dearest heart, did I do something wrong?”
“Not at all,” Rook said shakily, using her now bangled hand to wipe away the tear. “I wasn’t expecting…” She swallowed. “Emmrich, this is my first piece of grave gold. I didn’t expect it to mean so much to me, or that it would be from the deepest love I’ve ever known.”
He gently turned her face with his fingertips, guiding her lips to his.
“I wanted it to be special,” he whispered against her temple. “I’m well aware that it is often more traditional to supply your own grave gold, but I couldn’t resist.”
“You know me. I’m not usually one for tradition. That’s one of the reasons I’m so surprised I’m crying.”
He said something in ancient Tevene. One word sounded like something Dorian had said to the Inquisitor in the Shadow Dragons hideout. Emmrich had learned the combination of phrases simply to allow himself to blow off the stress, instead of blurting out a proposal. With his nerves, he’d come so close to asking her lately that he was, as she said, “keyed up”.
The whole carriage ride he’d thought about tonight. Frankly, he’d been thinking about it for months. When she appeared at the door in her dressing gown, Emmrich had simply had to touch her, and he’d lost all thoughts of control. It still seemed so strange to him that she was here in her arms and seemingly content, even with how often he was letting his baser nature take control as of late.
“Hmmm?” she asked.
“Nothing,” Emmrich said. “Shall we dress for dinner?”
“Sure. I don’t think anyone in this part of Nevarra would allow us in without clothing.”
Emmrich laughed. “Don’t spend any amount of time in the Orlesian attaché's rooms, my love. It will quickly dispel you of those notions.” He suddenly looked startled. “Forgive me; I don’t mean to scandalize.”
“I’m far from scandalized, Emmrich.”
“Would you like to be?”
“Dinner first. Scandalized after.”
“Of course my love.”
Nevarran dining had the delightful aspect of Emmrich not having to select from only one vegetarian option on the menu or awkwardly apologizing to a waiter and asking for meatless substitutions. At least that had him at some semblance of ease.
Rook looked stunning across the table from him. The candlelight glittered off her new grave gold as she braced her face in her hand. How did he get so lucky? He’d taken a sabbatical to save the world and found the love of his life. It was a fine thing that Manfred had asked so sweetly to stay with his new friends. Well, they were young students at the Circle fascinated by the magic behind Manfred, but he was in a safe place. It allowed Emmrich to worry about the second surprise of the night.
“Are you okay, dearest?”
“That’s the third time you’ve asked, Em. Everything okay?”
“You just appear to be lost in thought.”
“I’m not the only one, it seems.”
“My apologies,” he said, sipping his wine.
“No apologies. A coin for your thoughts?”
“I’m debating with myself, if you care to know.”
“And what is the debate?”
“Declarations of love. Are they meant to be public or is it perhaps better to luxuriate in private?”
“What kind of declaration?” Rook took a sip of her wine. “Do you mean like sex?”
Emmrich briefly choked on his wine. “Not in this instance.” He paused. “We haven’t always been as discreet in that department.”
“Should we be more so?”
“I hardly think a turn or two in the Memorial Gardens to be too scandalous, provided there are no visitors there on a pilgrimage.”
“Got it. Sex in the Necropolis is still allowed. Provided the spirits are the only witnesses.”
“Dearest, please.” It was his turn to develop a bit of a blush. Davrin had taught Emmrich the words to a Dalish proposal. He muttered them under his breath. Soon. He would ask directly soon. He could do this.
His debate was interrupted by the appearance of their meal. Emmrich had always enjoyed the finer things in life, but somehow being with Rook made everything seem brighter. Food tasted better. Wine tickled the palate again. He was alive and delighted to be so. Courage, Volkarin , he thought to himself. You can do this.
The streets of a weeknight in Nevarra were far less bustling than after the final work shifts at the end of the week. While they passed the occasional odd resident or tourist, for the most part Emmrich and Rook had almost the entire walk back to their temporary residence in peace. Emmrich delighted in the sound of their grave gold clinking together as they walked holding hands. He could go through more languages, or he could confront his fear and finally ask. They were close to the residence. He would do it now. He had to before he lost his nerve.
“Rook?”
“Hmm?”
“Emmrich!” Lucanis jumped down from his perch along a wall. He hugged both Rook and Emmrich with delight.
“My dear boy! What are you doing here?” Emmrich's surprise was evident.
“For your sake, it’s best you don’t know the target,” Lucanis advised, giving his friends a wink.
“Oh, right,” Emmrich said, tapping the side of his nose. “Discretion. I quite understand.”
Rook looked at Lucanis like they were sharing a secret. It didn’t take long to figure out what.
A crash came from a side alley, followed by the sound of someone muttering “Fuck.” Taash stumbled out from the alley. “Sorry.”
“Taash?” Emmrich gasped.
“At least I didn’t trip on corpse stuff.” Taash shivered. “Your city is so weird. Even your planters look like skulls.”
“What’s ‘weird’ is you appearing from an alley, Taash,” Rook said between clenched teeth, rolling her eyes.
“Then I guess there’s really no point in us staying hidden?” Davrin moved out of the alley as well. “Lucanis surprising them was believable. Taash, not so much.”
“Sorry, Rook,” Bellara offered sheepishly. Neve followed out silently behind them.
“Remind me to never take you on a stakeout, Taash,” Neve offered. “Alright, Fred. Cover is blown.”
Manfred stumbled out with a cheerful hiss.
“Rook, did I forget that we had plans?” Emmrich asked.
He turned to find her taking his hand and kneeling on the ground at his feet.
“I thought for sure I’d missed my shot this afternoon,” Rook admitted, smiling up at him. "Was sure you're beat me to it."
“Darling? What is this?”
“I was surprised by the grave gold. Thought you’d gone snooping in my pockets last week. Even gave it to Davrin for safekeeping.”
“Snooping?” Emmrich seemed confused. “Safekeeping?”
Davrin tossed a small lilac colored velvet bag over to Rook. She caught it easily, slipping out a simple gold ring from inside the bag. She held it out to Emmrich.
“Like you said. It may not have been a long time, but I’m sure. Funny that we’re both the type to get things engraved. It says Memento Vivere . I figured, ‘remember to live’ was probably a good lesson for us both.”
Emmrich kneeled beside her on the pavement, knees be damned. He slipped his mother’s ring from the box in his pocket and held it out to her.
“I believe we may have had the same thought, my heart’s flame.”
They exchanged rings, which took a bit longer than expected as they both had shaky hands.
“Just to be clear, I am asking you to marry me,” Rook said, once they both had rings on their fingers. “Not sure I actually got around to asking.”
“I was as well,” he smirked. “Just to clarify the situation.”
"Well, that clears it up," Rook laughed.
Emmrich kissed her before standing and assisting Rook up from the ground. He dusted dirt off of his knees, before taking another look at the ring. It fit his tapered finger perfectly, and it didn’t clash with his other rings. Rook had chosen well.
“My love, how in Thedas did you know I was going to ask?” Emmrich was beaming.
“Em, love, you’ve proposed to me about four times in your sleep just this week. Also, part of my extracurricular courses was on ancient Tevene.”
The blush rushed up his entire neck. “I thought I had been so careful.”
“You were,” she said. “I just like to watch you sleep sometimes when I have trouble doing it myself.” She paused, looking down at the ring and bangle. They my did look beautiful together. “Wait. Is this?”
“My mother’s ring,” he answered, kissing her forehead. “I’ve never doubted our love, Rook. She would be delighted to see it on your hand. I like to think her spirit is rejoicing in the Fade.”
“Speaking of celebrating?” Bellara began.
“So, are we getting drinks?” Taash asked. “Like, I feel like we should celebrate.”
Neve dipped back into the alley and pulled out a bag with several wooden cups. “I came prepared. Lucanis?”
Lucanis reached behind a skull planter and pulled out two bottles of Antivan bubbly. “Way ahead of you.”
“When did you have time to plan this?” Emmrich asked.
“And you’re not disappointed? I’m a bit worried I stole your thunder.”
“Not in the slightest,” he laughed. “It was perfect.”
“Part of this is Manfred’s doing,” Rook admitted. Their magic flinging skeleton son hissed something that sounded like ‘yeah’ as he approached and put one skeletal hand on the forearm of both of his spiritual parents. “He’s quite good at sneaking out correspondence, if it’s something that will benefit his father.”
Manfred stepped back, looking proper pleased with himself.
“And who can resist and invite from Fred,” Neve said, handing wine to Emmrich and Rook. “Sorry, Fred. I’m afraid this would just go right through you.”
“You’ve been spending too much time with Viago,” Lucanis groaned to Neve.
“I’ll have you know, my terrible jokes are my own.” She handed glasses to Lucanis. “Pass these around, would you?”
“Decided not to go with the Dalish,” Davrin teased, taking his wine from Lucanis.
“Oh, he did it at dinner,” Rook admitted.
“I had several more phrases prepared,” Emmrich admitted.
“And I’ll let you ask me with all of them, but the answer will always be ‘yes’.”