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“And that was why our tassels were switched.” Qifrey twisted his hands in the blanket covering his lap, refusing to meet Olruggio’s eyes as finished explaining the pact they made as teenagers.
Olruggio carefully gathered Qifrey’s hands in his and gently kissed the back of each hand, “I am sorry I left you to carry that burden alone for so many years. That was shortsighted and cruel of me.”
Qifrey’s head snapped up, “Olly no! It wasn’t your fault, I took advantage of your kindness.”
Olruggio stared into Qifrey’s eyes, “The way I understand it, I made you swear not to die. And then I spent the better part of two decades blissfully unaware as you drowned in guilt and burdens to keep that promise to me. It sounds like if anyone took advantage of the other it was me taking advantage of you.”
Qifrey sobbed, “But if we hadn't I would have died! And you would have been free!”
Olruggio scoffed, “Free? Try untethered. I would have been lost without you. Don’t you get it you idiot? I’ve been half in love with you since I jumped in a pit of sawbush leaves to get to you as a child. You were everything to me back then and are everything to me now!”
Qifrey stared in shock as tears dripped down his face, “That long?”
Olruggio dropped one of Qifrey’s hands to brush the tears off his cheek, “Have I never told you I love you, that I’m in love with you? In all these years, not once until the silverwood removal?”
Qifrey sniffled, “The first time you told me was when I returned from my solo wanderings. I was unaware how longheld your feelings were. Olly, I'm so sorry.”
Olruggio leaned his head against Qifrey’s “Ah hell, Don’t apologize Qifrey. You only ever removed my memories about the Silverwood and related things. I remember this. I didn’t want to ruin our friendship when we were teens. But I missed you so much while you were gone. Now I guess the real question is when did you fall for me? I won’t try to understand how you can love me after I burdened you so. But you know when I fell for you and I want to know.”
Qifrey clutched Olruggio’s shirt with shaking hands, “You didn’t burden me. You saved me.”
Olruggio sighed deeply, “Agree to disagree. Tell me.”
Qifrey took a shaking breath, “I’m fairly certain it was when you refused to let me give up. Made me watch that pyreball while you ran back to the Tower and dug out that spell. Not that I understood my feelings then. I don’t think I understood my feelings until we were fifteen? I would seethe whenever anyone flirted with you.”
Olrugggio snorted a laugh, “Seething with jealousy while you were the only person to ever turn my head. What a pair we make, ey love?”
Qifrey’s voice cracked, “Love?”
Olruggio cupped Qifrey’s face and they stared into each other's eyes, tears flowing down their cheeks. Olruggio swallowed heavily, “I love you. Have for nearly two decades, through thick and thin. That pact doesn’t change my love for you. I made that pact because of my love for you. I'm certain of it. I carry the guilt of what my choices caused you to suffer, until I feel you are as happy and loved as you always should have been. But I love you with everything I have. And you love me, aye?”
Qifrey nodded, pulling on Olruggio’s shirt, “Yes. More than I knew I could love anything or anyone. My Olly. My star. Do not feel guilty.”
Olruggio pressed their foreheads together, “I’ll do as I please Qi. I love you. You love me. The Silverwood is gone. You don’t have to suffer anymore. So yes, love. My love. My sweetheart. My partner. If you’ll have me?”
Qifrey rested his head on Olruggio’s shoulder, “It’s all I ever wanted. But I’m scared.”
Olruggio wrapped an arm around Qifrey, “We take it one day at a time love. You just woke up a few days ago and you’ll be healing for quite some time. We can take it slow. Find out what being together looks like for us. But we try, hand in hand.”
Qifrey nodded sleepily, “Hand in hand.”
Olruggio smiled, “Let’s get you lying down. You need your rest.”
Qifrey whined softly, “I don’t want to move. Want you to hold me.”
Olruggio eyed the bed, “Let go for just a minute, love. Let me take off my cloak and shoes. Then I’ll join ya in bed.”
Qifrey pulled back with a pout and Olruggio swiftly removed his outerwear before climbing into the bed. The moment he was under the covers Qifrey was plastered to his side, head pillowed on his chest.
Olruggio wrapped his arms around the white haired man with a soft sigh, “I’ve got ya, love. Sleep. I’ll be here when you wake.”
Qifrey began to recover. Slowly but surely. After nearly a month in the Healing Spire, he was cleared to return to their atelier.
Qifrey clasped his hands and nodded, “My deepest thanks Sinocia, Ermile. You took such good care of me as I recovered. If there is anything I can ever do to assist either of you, send a letter to my atelier.”
Sinocia grinned, “Just take care of yourself Qifrey! Recovery is a lengthy process, you must take it seriously.”
Olruggio stepped into the room with a bag over his shoulder, “Don’t worry Sinocia, I’ll make sure he takes care of himself.”
Sinocia raised an eyebrow at him, “I would trust that more if you didn’t end up as my patient quite so often, Olruggio.”
Olruggio groaned, “Fair enough. The apprentices have been plotting anyway. They are determined to help Qifrey heal. Pretty sure Beldaruit is helping them.”
Qifrey’s eyes widened, “Oh dear. That cannot be good.”
Olruggio smirked at him, “Might be safest to take care of yourself love.”
Qifrey stuck his tongue out at him, “Take me home Olly.”
Olruggio smiled softly and placed the bag down on the bed, “Thought you might want to change first.”
Qifrey flushed, “Yes, can you give me a hand dearest?”
Sincoia giggled, “We will give you the room to change. Your medicines are in the bag with a note reminding you of the doses and timings. Take care you two!”
The healers left the room with a wave. Qifrey smiled at Olruggio as he stood and removed the healing spire gown.
Olruggio nodded, “Can you get your small clothes and trousers by yourself?”
Qifrey nodded and accepted the garments when they were handed over. Next Olruggio helped him into his undershirt, buttoning the collar before kneeling to buckle the leg straps. Qifrey shrugged into his dress before sitting so Olruggio could slip his boots on.
Olruggio stood and offered a hand, “Time to go home love.”
Qifrey smiled and accepted the hand up, “Home sounds lovely.”
Olruggio wrapped an arm around his waist and guided the two of them through the Great Hall to a window way. Qifrey let out a breath and slumped onto Olruggio’s shoulder as they stepped foot into their atelier. Olruggio pressed a kiss to his cheek, “Brace for impact love.”
Qifrey smiled as his apprentices rushed around the corner. He leaned back against Olruggio and opened his arms. The girls quickly ran into his arms, hugging him tightly. He felt himself pushed back against his partner who huffed softly but held firm. He wrapped his arms around the girls and sighed in contentment.
Olruggio clicked his tongue, “Gentle, girls! He’s still healing.”
Qifrey held onto his apprentices until they chose to step back, “Hello darlings! It is so good to be home.”
Olruggio gently herded them all to the sitting room, “Lets get you sitting down while you catch up with the girls.”
Qifrey grinned indulgently as Olruggio settled him on the couch and tucked a blanket around him, “Thank you Olly. Now girls, how are your lessons going? I will be back to teaching some of them in a few days.”
A calm afternoon and evening passed in the small countryside atelier. As the stars shone outside the atelier was mostly quiet, all the apprentices asleep. The Master and Watchful Eye curled up in front of the hearth.
Olruggio gently ran his hands through Qifrey’s hair, “I have a present for you.”
Qifrey tipped his head back to glance at him, “Oh? Color me intrigued."
Olruggio pulled a small wooden box from under the table, “Open it love.”
Qifrey sat up and leaned against his partner before opening the box. Inside the box was a new ribbon tassel, similar to the one he wore on his cap. A long black ribbon, but this one was embroidered. Along the length of the ribbon were small blue forget me nots and trailing ivy vines.
Qifrey gasped, “Oh Olly, this is gorgeous!” He gently lifted the end of the ribbon from the box and ran his fingers along the embroidery.
Olruggio smiled and hooked his chin over Qifrey’s shoulder, “Now that the Silverwood is gone, I was hoping you could have a happier memory of me to associate your ribbon with.”
Qifrey smiled and kissed his cheek, “I love it. I also seem to remember something you told me about when we were teenagers. A Northern tradition. Not always practiced anymore but well known to those who grew up in the North. Flowers of Intention, is what you called it I believe?”
Olruggio groaned and buried his face in Qifrey’s shoulder, “We had one discussion about that. Once. A decade and a half ago. How the hell did you remember that??”
Qifrey giggled, “Because you were so animated talking about it. It was cute. Now lets see, forget me nots and ivy vine. What did those two mean? Forget me nots have something to do with love, correct?”
Olruggio looked up at Qifrey intently, “Forget me nots mean true love and memories.”
Qifrey flushed, “Olly….”
A smirk grew on Olruggio’s face as he took the end of the ribbon in his hand and interlaced his fingers with Qifrey’s before beginning to gently wrap the ribbon around their hands. He pressed a kiss to their ribbon covered hands, “And ivy vine. Ivy vines mean matrimony and marriage.”
Qifrey’s flush darkened and tears began to gather in his eyes, “Olly?”
Olruggio disentangled their hands and slid out from behind Qifrey to kneel in front of him. He cradled Qifrey’s hand and kissed his knuckles, “Qifrey, love of my life, my one and only, will you marry me?”
Qifrey nodded as tears streamed down his cheeks, “Yes Olruggio I will marry you. You ridiculous man. I love you so much.”
Olruggio leaned up and pulled Qifrey into a firm kiss. He pulled back and rested their foreheads together, “I love you too.”
Qifrey nuzzled their noses together and whispered, “We will have to tell the girls.”
Olruggio smiled, “They’ll be so excited.”
Qifrey nodded briefly, “Wait, did you tell Beldaruit you were proposing?”
Olruggio shuddered, “He’s your mentor and the only thing resembling a parent you have any memory of. We had a discussion. Permission was granted. If I see him again this moon I will run away screaming.”
Qifrey leaned back, hand on his mouth to muffle his giggles, “Oh dearest, you didn’t have to put yourself through that.”
Olruggio buried his face in Qifrey’s chest before glancing up, “I know. But it was the proper way to do things. Also gives him less ammunition to be annoying and petty with than if I skipped it. Will you wear the ribbon?”
Qifrey giggled and pressed a kiss to his hair, “With pride dearest.”
Olruggio grinned and leaned up so they were face to face, “ I can’t wait to see it. Now I want another kiss from my fiance.”
Qifrey rolled his eyes, “Greedy. Greedy.”
Qifrey wrapped his arms behind Olruggio’s neck and pulled him into a deep kiss bathed in the soft glow of the hearth.