#Hope Cyr

[elegancemultimuse]

"No, you're right I don't want to be manipulated." Hope agreed as that was the last thing she wanted. "But showing emotion also isn't manipulation. Being calm is fine but it just isn't what I expected." Hope added as it just seemed a little odd to her. Hope nodded her head as she pulled out her sweater from the pile. "Thank you, you didn't need to do that."

opal has another bite, taking a few seconds to swallow her food. "you don't wanna be together. i can't control how you feel." she shrugs. "what i can control is how i respond. and i choose to be calm. and look at the bright things in life." she grabs a glass and fills it with lemonade. "i'm sorry it's not the reaction you wanted, but i'm not going to beg and manipulate to you to stay with me-cause it's not what you want." she points the hamper. "it's in there. i washed it for you last night."

[ghost-bxrd]

Cyr here to report, ma'am. You ask, I deliver:

A Challenge To The Dark

shot in the eye shot in the brain shot in the ass shot like a flower in the dance

amazing how death wins hands down amazing how much credence is given to idiot forms of life

amazing how laughter has been drowned out amazing how viciousness is such a constant

I must soon declare my own war on their war I must hold to my last piece of ground I must protect the small space I have made that has allowed me life

my life not their death my death not their death…

my life not their death

my death not their death…

[andrewknightley]

crying in hawke family feels

[chewingonsneakers]

guys liten true gay love is whenyoure cleaning his vomit off the bathrooms floor because he drank too much ever tho you are very very emetophobic

[elegancemultimuse]

Hope hadn't expected the spicy pic from Dean when she received it, and she hadn't expected him to bring it up now. She was personally hoping to forget it happened ass Dean had always been off-limits to her. "You are the one who is making things weird. I've been acting completely normal."

open: anyone! muse: dean ellis. hockey player. plot: connection utp but could be friends or best friends sibling (21+ only) but dean being an idiot snapchatted a spicy pic meant for someone else and this is their first interaction since

"it was an honest mistake! your name was right next to their name and i didn't realize i had clicked it." dean let out a frustrated sigh as he rubbed the migraine that was starting to form. "stop making this weird between us."

[bugstung]

Being into horror but for fandom content is fun actually, I've not done that in like. Quite a few years actually

[drivingthesehillsaway]

.

[jabynounouille]

The ends of the Marshals

We know a lot about our marshals of empires, but for some their existence ends in 1814, I did some research and I did all the dates of death of the 26 marshals of the empire with their age of death and some information that I had, do not hesitate to say other information if you have any, when we look closely Lannes was the first to die and at a young age while the one who spent the most time on earth is Moncey who lived until 87 years old, yet it is Marmont who will be the last to die in 1852, I hope that this will be useful for some.

Shot:

-Murat, October 13, 1815 (trying to recover his former kingdom of Naples …) at 48 years old

-Ney, December 7, 1815 (judged as a traitor for having joined Napoleon in 1815) at 46 years old

Defenestrate: (throw at a window)

-Berthier, June 1, 1815 (suicide or murder?) at age 61

Killed in combat:

-Lannes, May 31, 1809, wounded in the leg, dies of his wounds, at age 40

-Bessières, May 1, 1813, wounded by a cannon (no chance of survival) at age 44

-Poniatowski, October 19, 1813, drowned during the battle of Liepzig, at age 50

assassinated:

-Brune, August 2, 1815 (victim of the white terror of 1815) at age 52

-Mortier, July 28, 1835 (killed in an attack) at age 67

illness:

-Davout, June 1, 1823 (probably of tuberculosis) at age 53

-Augereau, June 12, 1816, at age 58

-Masséna, April 4, 1817 (long-term ill) at age 58

-Gouvion Saint-Cyr, March 17, 1830 (stroke) at age 65

natural causes, old age: (Here it is mainly deaths from natural causes)

-Perignon, December 25, 1818, at age 64

-Serurier, December 21, 1819, at age 77

-Lefebvre, September 4, 1820, at age 64

-Kellermann, September 14, 1820, at age 85

-Suchet, January 3, 1826, at age 55

-Jourdan, November 23, 1833, at age 71

-MacDonald, September 25, 1840, at age 74

-Victor, March 1, 1841, at age 76

-Moncey, April 20 1842, at age 87

-Bernadotte, March 8, 1844 (died of a paralytic attack at age 81)

-Grouchy, May 29, 1847, at age 80

-Oudinot, September 13, 1847, at age 80

-Soult, November 26, 1851, at age 82

-Marmont, March 2, 1852, at age 77

[elegancemultimuse]

"You're my ex's best friend, that is the very definition of wrong." Hope countered as it was surely complicated.

“    there’s    nothing    wrong    with    wanting    me.    ”

open to m, f, nb

[bahfreak]

hi hello! could we request a brainmade alter that's like. the definition of a "cringe" 2020/2021 dream smp kid? chrono 17 + xenoages mayhaps? go wild on trans/tris/cisids genders + pronouns!! no paras please :3 + a more lowkey tq iykw i mean? like. nothing extreme yk dauwdhaiuwhad

yr blog looks cool asf btw!! (and waow we share a lot of interests fnefnjsf 👀)

YES !!!!!!!! & thank yu so much !! i hope yu enjoy ;3

xe is under the cut because i put maybe too many genders & pronouns . woops ( ´ ▽｀; )

room 016 ,, CRICKET . . .

names : cricket , bug , critter , allium

pronouns : he / him , they / them , it / its , xe / xem , bug / bugs , sil / silly , fae / faer , pix / pixel , flue / fluer , flor / flora , petal / petals , sprou / sprout , stem / stems , faun / fauna , paw / paws , pup / pups , kit / kitty , bun / buns , lea / leaf , bow / bows , zomb / zombs , end / ender , voi / void , boo / boos , partic / particle , cy / cyr , wei / weird , nor / mal , star / stars , fun / funs , yip / yippee , fool / fools , joy / joys , meow / meows , woof / woofs , zip / zips , pop / pops , funk / funky , grr / grrs , bark / barks , woo / woos , boop / boops , ding / dong , scrimb / scrimblo , scrunk / scrunkle , scroi / scroink , zoom / zoomie , sap / sapling , seed / seeds , gro / grow , daisy / daisies , sun / suns ( / sunray ) , sol / sols h3 / h1m , th3y / th3m , 1t / 1ts , pog / pogs , peep / peepo , :3 , OwO , uwu , ⭐️ , 🐾 , 🌱 , 🍄

terms : masculine or neutral

genders : transgender , non - binary , visgender , genderfloren , quoimasc , quoineu , hofemian , genderfluid , girlboy , genderhoarder , catgender , doggender , straydoggender , strangespiritic , depreneu , foggender , gendervague , axenlector , collectine , inkonflux , genderconfusum , flowercoric , cadensaesic , plantgender , mossgender , mereviec , noxiousweedcenic , foggyforestcoric , mushikenic , nyctylviarestic , forestgender , florovergrownian , naturecoric , noxalistic , skullgender , florengender , catkritagender , yellowfleuric , genderfleur , raccoongender , musefluid , cavetowngender , girlinredsongic , anaheartemojic (🫀) , headphoneemojic (🎧) , rainbowaxeemojic (🪓🌈) , foxplantemojic (🦊🌱) , gendercaro , kidreamcoric , autunostic , verninostic , deaflorloveic , fleshcute , honeycatgender , creepycuticgender , frankencutie , lovecoricedgecute , foxcute , luflorerean , cutesynotic , squishgender , cutenic , comfinoctic , moofloric , flowerwalkgender , angelboy , mrkittygender , weirdcoric , plantcatgender , scribblecatgender , sleepypurric , medicattic , dulcreepic , peopleeatergender , plantcorpic , oddcoric , horrorjoygender , happihoarder , hayloftIIsongic, &songic , atexture , colorhypenergygender , femarneokidtvic , raincozysleepvir , bataesic , candygothic , pasolitudic , pixstelian , cuteacatic , stellvulpian , weirdkidgender , forestruinic , happydizzyic , puppylovin , lightlambian , cloudbreadiyn , obscurumystic , sunboy , boyfluff , vagalumen , cringeXDcoric , punkcandic , neonrotgender , miserymeatgender , vibeneonpopic , clowncatgender , catdoodlegender , pastelgoric , sleepyenbycatgender , genderpurr , lovelazic , minecraftgender , musiccomfgender , fnafgender , manglegender , sundropgender , moondropgender , cottagecoric , sillything , cookiepawic , cervimasc , zombicoric , pinktiredcatgender , rainbowstaric , royalgothlita , noctofloric , magimasc , pixelartgender , moonbloomic , glowbutteric , boyfreak , keysmashgender , boybugheliavir , biomecraftic , verinix , sparkledogic , lycyngender , songecatgender , cutempthic , kitluvollic , blackvoidic , xenoeyxis , stickerhoardic , halloweencoric , firegender , fogcatgender , sleepypurric , kittenscratchgender , gothcattic , lunchboxtic , rainbowteddybeargender , sillypixelcatgender , dumbpupgender , furpawstimmic , genderfluff , cutesyic , softbunaestic , cutsmilex , sillyboygender , beinglexic , carnicannic , blackhoodiecomfic , sweatercomfic , drawnselfaesic , labelfuck , noxiousgardenic , yourcitygavemeasthmagender , prettyboylexic , dielexan , deathlexan , boolexic , staticlexic , gorelexan , spookylexic , anonlexic , gooplexic , lovesicklexic , bloodlexan , ghostlexic , sourcrawlergender , mothcattic , fckucringix , gofenian , mewygender , fluffcatic , catcute , feliwarmic , pastelcolorgender , catplaboxic , hypekitgender , simsseagulgender , huglovegender , moonrisian , factexic , gendershare , syndethesian , morassian , playfulspitegender , starraindreamic , :3gender , poprockic , sillypersongender , cocoacatgender , spiralgender , fuckgender , staticgender , arcaderatgender , mogaicringic , softwaregoric , ghostix , quirkycringic , ratgender , eyestrainsorex , pastelgoregender , hypergoric , cryptidglitchic , ghostsleniac , sleepything , angechic , raingender , xenocheer , sillygoofygender , starraincoric , aggrobloodygender , goreic , icongender , charactergender , pfpcharagender , gendernom , contrastgender , popsodagender , xenohide , demi-genderforgotten , dreamycatcoric , happymealgender , evilthing , antagogender , cannibalcute , ambimeaten , killlexan , bloodyknifegender , lovegoreic , havocgender , bloodoric , aerogender , rotcoric , gorecoric , carnigender , slaughtergender , poppapinkic , mewgender , egogender , PLURgender , catstimmic , spidercatgender , cathoarder , fuckyougender , littleguyic , meowstimmic , sillymemecatgender , kitrecolbellic , rosequartzgender , shadowfacic , kiddielotlic , boycatthing , boything , foggyboything , raccogender , starryslumberic , sheepgender , pinwebtigender , cybercatgender ,

traitblur , flufstimwag , cutecoric , angelgender , pixaesic , hologramcatgender , batdollicattic , mysticatgender , visnovelconic , txtgender , sortaboy , stargender , voixeur , autumncute , summercute , glitzic , gummysharkic , pixelduckgender , chaosgender , allwormic , 🐾💤neumojic , onlineboyic , bloomboy , tangygender , vulpisgender , drelightconic , boxplushic , gremlingender , mossygoatgender , tesseractean , browpagreenishic , anxstalygender

( these don’t have links because i 1 : don’t have time for that & 2 : don’t know if links even exist for most of these { copy - pasted from a hoard note from 2022 } . . sorry for any inconvenience )

orientation : lesboy , aegosexual , questioning

species : shapeshifter ( human , cat , dog , raccoon , fox , demon )

cis - ids : cringe , monster / energy drink addict , kandi maker , dream smp fan , anxiety , short fluffy hair , can tab collector

tris - ids : autistic , adhd , short

trans - ids : perma - 2020 , perma - lockdown , perma - bleeding , null - depression , null - blink , null - dysphoria , happy childhood , agefluid , shapeshifter , character ( c ! tommyinnit , c ! tubbo , & c ! ranboo ) , enderwalker , severiamnesia , severitrauma

roles : autism holder , stim holder , cringeorma

source : N / A

typing quirk : i = ⟟ ( example : “ ⟟ drew fanart!!! “ )

[help-an-alter]

hi! so we have this guy, he popped up in headspace like a week ago. i (admin) asked his name, and he wouldnt give me one, he just went "im just a silly guy!!:D" and disappeared. we haven't seen him since, but we've been thinking about him..... so much ??

he was so silly. please, give us the silliest names + pronouns for him. we're not even joking we dont have much to go on for that guy. maybe like circus vibes.

thank you sooo much:3

-🦴🎧 anon (if its available!)

hihi anon!!! i hope this can help mr. silly guy!! :P

names: pippa, dazzle, giggle, philomena, squeaks, flutter, chuckles, loko, marble, topsy, wiggles, patches, cookie, mickey, silly, jester, hum, junebug, fidget, chester, fizz(y), jinx, joke, whimsy, flapjack, fizzle, folly, snicker, amuse, kerfuffle, tart, bubbles, muffin(s), doodle, mime, joker, masquerade, mime, mimic, frisk, dance, skip/skippy, drippy, pie, bizarre, hysterics, ditzy, goofy, daffy

pronouns: kae/kaez/kaezself, bzz/bzzself, fizz/fizzy/fizzyself, silly/silly/sillyself, fun/funs/funself, cir/cus/circuself, honk/honks/honkself, jo/ke/jokeself, frolic/frolic/frolicself, jest/jester/jesterself, juggle/juggles/juggleself, fool/foolish/foolishself, trick/trick/trickself, trick/ster/tricksterself, vent/ventril/ventrilself (alt. ventriloquismself), jolly/jollies/jollyself, doll/dolls/dollself, ve/ven/venself, say/sair/sairself, cy/cyr/cyrself

[impetuous-impulse]

At What Point Did Ney and Soult's Relations Become So Embittered?

The more I find out how Ney and Soult are mentioned and perceived (in relation to each other) in the Napoleonic timeline, the more I am convinced that they were on decent terms up until the Empire was well-consolidated. This is mostly a response to this episode, which takes place four days before Napoleon's coronation. During that time, Soult was commandant-in-chief of the Camp of Boulogne and Ney was commandant-in-chief of the left wing of the army at the Camp of Montreuil. They mst have corresponded and cooperated well with each other on various matters, at least on a professional level. Attridge’s Ney biography has an episode about a hay bale conspiracy by the English that necessitated communication between both camps. Hayman, in his Soult biography, even hedges that they were willing to play court with each other through the unpublished correspondence of General Marchand (which he frustratingly paraphrases and does not give a date for).

[...] Marchand accompanied his own chief, Ney, to dinner with the Soults, indicating that these two rivals from the Sambre-et-Meuse were still on social terms. The dinner was followed by a magnificent ball given in honour of Louise Soult, who appeared in an elegant black dress covered with diamonds. The ball cost some six million francs to which senior officers were asked to contribute. Marchand hoped that a similar ball would not be given in honour of Madame Ney since he and his comrades just would not be able to afford it! (p. 50)

We can infer from this letter that around 1803-1805, Soult was still civil with Ney by inviting him to a dinner, and Ney still had some sense of being an equal to Soult despite being the Commander of Montreuil. I wonder if Ney himself contributed to Soult's ball (and if he was willing).

If the primary sources these biographies use are not all too reliable, at the very least, the first big rift in Ney and Soult's relationship that I found was in Saint-Chamans’ memoirs, quoted in Gotteri's Soult biography. This was after the battle of Eylau, 3 February 1807, when Napoleon held a meeting with his Marshals to discuss objectives. As I translate in approximation below:

Marshals Murat and Ney wanted to march onto Königsberg; marshal Soult held that it was necessary to retire behind the Passarge (a small river which was difficult to pass, fifteen miles behind Eylau), to fortify the points of passage, and wait in this position so that the troops can alleviate the fatigues they had accumulated, and so the reinforcements who, in our depots in France, were in route to come join us, would arrive; the discussion was lively, and the opinion of marshal Soult prevailed; marshal Ney was very offended by this [the original word is "piqué", lit. stung], and, from this moment, they were completely at odds [lit. they always made quarrels]. (p. 181)

And even then, Ney would make his remark about borrowing Soult's culottes to Soult himself just four months later, around 6 June 1807. They were evidently still able to joke around with each other after their military disagreements, which always happens on campaign, even between civil colleagues (examples I can think of include Lannes and Murat or Desaix and Saint-Cyr). Or maybe Soult did not reciprocate Ney's jokes by 1807; I have no way of knowing right now.

[hearts401]

IT IS SO FUCKING OVER FOR ME

"she misses when he didnt care o much. when he didnt care about being feared, or respected" IMG OING TO DIE

i was thinking abt that one tiny line in tttb that said michael used to let elizabeth paint his nails but then he stopped... so uhm michael if he let himself be a free creature (<- and by free i mean neurodivergent and probably queer)

[bow-and-talon]

The trotting of a horse could be heard from a distance as it approached the front of the marshal's estate.

Once it stopped, it was followed by the sound of its rider dismounting, then footsteps promptly approaching the door.

[*knock-knock-knock-knock*]

Four precise knocks echoed from Saint-Cyr's front door.

Outside, stood a cloaked silhouette. Fidgeting with a knapsack and a separate bag in his hand, and shifting in his feet awkwardly. He looked around the area curiously, hoping for a sign of life.

Despite the shadow cast over his frame in a concealed and rather intimidating fashion, the reflection of two round lenses and the discernable bicorne could be made out of the looming figure.

A certain spectacled marshal is finally making good on his promise, it seems...

He stood patiently, and waited for a response.

((@perdicinae-observer))

Saint-Cyr hears the knocking, but something else has come up of considerably more dire urgency.

Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he realizes he probably should have given her a proper name instead of simply referring to her as the owl who had decided his house was her house and was refusing to leave it. Because, apparently, he is an owl now too. A proper name would have been a distinction, at least.

(A name also implies that she's a pet. Which he still emphatically denies. He doesn't want a pet!)

SHE is now perched on the mantle above the fireplace, HER feathers fluffed up in a threat display. HER beak snaps and SHE hoots at this tiny intruder into HER domain. SHE is eyeing him like a snack, and not in a complimentary way.

"Oh no no no no no," he admonishes. "I am not food!"

SHE lunges.

He screeches in indignation and tries to scramble off the top of his desk. Inkwells, quills, and papers go flying everywhere. Oh, look, there's the window he's left open for HER to come and go as SHE likes, because otherwise SHE justs breaks the glass to get in.

Well. Shit.

Wings. How do they work? He sort of wishes he had a little more time to ponder that question.

That open window is coming at him awfully fast.

[solreads]

Any Other City - Review

Title: Any Other City

Author: Hazel Jane Plante

Genre: Contemporary

Audience: Adult

Format: Novel

Representation: Trans woman POV character

    Trans women supporting characters 

Summary: In a fictional memoir, Tracy St. Cyr, the lead in an indie rock band, tells the story of her rise to fame as an artist and her journey to understand her gender and find her community. Split into two halves, Tracy first recounts her arrival to an unfamiliar city as a twenty-year-old. While still unaware of her own transness, she falls in with a group of trans women artists. In this new community, she slowly starts to build and interrogate her own identity, exploring what she wants to express and how she wants to be perceived both as an artist and personally. Then she skips forward to her return twenty-six years later, now semi-famous for her music and living as a woman. Once again, though, she is in need of healing and kinship, which she hopes to find in the city where she once came into her own.

Reflections: All the characters felt like real, messy people. The exploration of this segment of punk trans femme queer culture was great - gritty, soft, and funny in balanced portions. The first section, in which the main character has not yet figured out that she’s trans, but is both beginning to have a gender crisis and getting her first connections to a trans community, was the most compelling to me. The way Tracy’s insecurity and denial of her own identity made her made her think and do some pretty unpleasant things to the other trans women in her life and the way they still recognized her before she knew herself were painfully real experiences to read about. The second section started to lose me for a while, but it came back to being touching and raw by the end.

Warnings: Depictions of transphobia, misgendering, dysphoria. MC has transphobic beliefs about other trans characters before realizing she's trans. 

Notes on Rep: The MC identifies on-page as a trans woman.

[glitterandmoondustofficial]

And Onto Further Stillness

Chapter 11

Notes:

Characters: Gale, Yrelia Rating: Mature Warnings: sexual themes, nakedness, past relationship pains, some lightly described injuries Notes: was originally going to rate this as teen because it’s mostly lighthearted but then I remembered that nope that’s not right lol Yrelia lore dropped and Gale loves her to bits

“Oh!” Gale heard Yrelia yelp. “Tara! Um, sorry! Do-Don’t-”

He heard the panic in Yrelia’s voice so he did his best to rush into his bedroom. He opened the door and saw Yrelia covering her naked chest and Tara staring at her with a confused expression. Yrelia looked terribly flustered. She clenched her jaw and ground her teeth together.

She looked at Gale with tears in her eyes and he knew she was begging him to save her.

“Ah, Tara,” Gale called and Tara looked to him. “Do you mind? I was hoping to have a private conversation with Yrelia.”

Tara stared at him and he knew she didn’t believe him, but he also knew that she respected him enough to let it be and leave the room. “Of course, Mister Dekarios,” she turned and flew out of the room. He hoped that she thought that Yrelia was as nervous about being naked around others as he was.

And she was, in a sense.

Gale closed the door and Yrelia wiped her face. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice strained with embarrassment.

“Don’t apologize,” he said softly. He walked to her and wiped a tear that fell down her cheek. He very gently pulled her arms away from her bare chest. He held her hands firmly in his and kissed her forehead. “I suppose I hadn’t realized that Tara had never seen them.” He sighed. “That was a foolish thought. I should have warned her that you don’t want others around to see you change.”

She swallowed. “I,” she sighed. “I really should be over this by now. It’s been nearly six years.”

Gale released her right hand and brushed his knuckles against her cheekbone. “Some things take a long while to heal. You can take as long as you need. I will stay by your side as you do so.”

“Thank you,” she whispered. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “I know Tara wouldn’t…” she trailed off. “It’s so ridiculous. In this day and age, when there’s so many end of the world events and stories and adventures you would think some scars wouldn’t matter.” She sighed. “But they do to some people.” She released his hand and rubbed between her breasts.

“It is quite unbelievable,” Gale agreed. “What happened to you was terrible,” he said, anger causing his chest to burn. “You were simply trying to protect someone you love, there’s nothing more honorable than that.” He reached for her face and cupped her cheek. “You saved Cyr from certain death,” he said softly. “If that man couldn’t see how wonderful that was then perhaps it was best he moved along.” He paused when her eyebrows twitched. “Not that I believe you should have been hurt so deeply by someone you loved. That is completely unforgivable. I simply meant that-”

She cut him off with a soft kiss. “I know what you meant,” she said and gave him a small smile. “I’m glad I have you now, someone I can trust completely.”

Gale blinked when the closed flap of his tent was brushed open. He turned and saw Yrelia walking into his tent.

“Lia,” he breathed her name. It had only been a day since they had left the shadow cursed lands. Only two days since he had defied Mystra and found himself very alive and with a new enthusiasm for his life.

He quickly looked Yrelia over. Her black hair was in a bun. She wore black cotton pants and a white shirt that was laced up. This was her normal camp attire. Nothing at all out of the ordinary.

And yet he found himself thinking that something wasn’t normal.

“Gale,” she said his name with a quick quirk of her lips. A bit of a teasing smile. Something that said “you usually have far more to say than not even my full name”. Which was true, he usually did have far more to say. Especially to her, the one always so willing to listen.

Except not today.

Today his mind had been incredibly preoccupied with thoughts of her, of their night under the stars together. The way he could remember the inflection in her voice when she said that she loved him. The soft, gentle, but hungry way she had kissed him.

He would very much like to kiss her again. He would like to kiss her a thousand times more.

“What brings you to my tent?” He asked as casually as he could while also being as…quiet as he could. He didn’t want the whole damn camp to know that Yrelia had slipped into his tent and definitely didn’t need anyone to know that he was barely restraining himself from kissing her until he couldn’t breathe anymore.

Yrelia’s brows twitched and her smile turned to amusement. She hummed but didn’t answer him. She reached around to her hair and let it down from the bun, letting the waves fall down her back. It was long. Had it always been that long? He couldn’t remember if she or anyone else had cut it these past months.

He wanted to run his fingers through it.

He wondered what it would look like to see her hair fanned out on one of his many pillows on his bed in his tower, while he hovered over her, their lips centimeters from touching.

“Why indeed,” she spoke, breaking him from his thoughts of her naked body under his. It was all fantasy after all. He hadn’t truly seen her —what he assumed— incredibly attractive naked body. Based on the freckles on her face he was sure her whole body was covered in them. He was very curious to know how many she had. If he could kiss every one of them.

She took off her shoes and that was when Gale realized exactly what she was doing. She was going to sleep with him. She wanted to have sex. Completely normal in a relationship. Which is what they were in. A relationship. A loving, hopeful relationship.

He wasn’t nervous. He didn’t get nervous. Certainly not anxious or timid. And definitely not shy.

He nearly groaned at himself.

None of that mattered. What mattered was the woman in his tent who looked so pretty with her hair down and her shoes off.

He should kiss her. He was the one who said that he needed practice and now they had some time to do exactly that. To press his lips against hers and pray that she didn’t find his very pathetic attempts to please her laughable.

He grabbed her callused but delicate hand and brought it to his lips. Her amused gaze softened and she stepped close to him. So close that she leaned against his chest and he had to wrap his arms around her. His heart thumped his chest and he brushed his lips against hers softly. She responded with a smile and a gentle press into his lips.

He had almost pulled away when she immediately pulled him back in. She took his bottom lip in her teeth and pulled with a chuckle.

“Come now, my love, I know you can do better than that.”

He was out of practice but she didn’t seem to mind. Not when she responded so enthusiastically; her fingers in his hair, her body pressed against his, her tongue meeting his in a way he hadn’t realized he had missed. A breathless declaration of love to his lips had him weak in his already questionable knees.

It felt like it didn’t take long for them to be on the ground and with her in his lap. His hands found her hips, his thumbs slipping under the hem of her shirt. Touching her skin brought that emotion back. The not nervous, anxious, timid, or shy emotion.

He wasn’t sure if he would be…sufficient. Surely what he had to offer would disappoint her. He was dreadfully out of practice. He had already given her what he was good at, how could he possibly think she would be satisfied with him as he was now?

But he didn’t dare stop kissing her. He didn’t want to be without her weight in his lap. She whispered that she loved him again and he very eagerly repeated the words back to her. What he would give to live in a world where he could tell her that he loved her all day, press kisses onto every freckle on her body, make love to her until their bodies were completely spent.

His hands slid under her shirt, needing to feel more of her skin. Of course, that wasn’t nearly enough. He needed to see what he felt, he needed to taste what he felt. A longing need to kiss her bare skin nearly overcame him.

He kissed her with a blinding passion, so intensely aroused by the feel of her skin under his fingertips. He had been so confident when he was with her before, but this was different, this was physical, this was seeing the woman he was wholly in love with completely naked. He would see every freckle. He would press his lips to her skin and leave marks in a way he hadn’t done in years.

He knew she would be stunning and that no one could compare to her. His hands moved to lift her shirt off of her but the way she hesitated had him more than mildly concerned. He pulled his lips away from hers and breathed.

“My love,” he called her. “Are you alright?”

“Yes,” she said. “Just, um, sorry,” she apologized. “It’s just…that’s not…necessary…right?”

That gave him pause. “No. No, of course not. We will do whatever you’re comfortable with,” he said before kissing her softly. She immediately relaxed, her fingers softly pressing into his shirt. “However, if I’m being honest I would like to see you bare for me.”

She let out a breath. She gave him a nervous smile. “I’m just a bit nervous,” she tried. “It’s been…five years since anyone has seen me naked.” She swallowed.

“I assure you that I will be nothing but grateful to see you as such.”

Her smile relaxed. She leaned in and kissed him chastely. “Just…tell me right away if you’re disappointed.”

His brows furrowed. “Lia, why would I ever be disappointed? It’s you.”

She clenched her jaw. “It’s better if you see for yourself.”

He saw the anxiety shining in her eyes. He saw her begging him not to leave her. This was beyond just being insecure about being naked. He let out a breath and slowly lifted up her shirt off of her. He blinked at the gnarled scars across her torso, skinned ripped by some manner of beast, tearing into her skin and breasts without discrimination. She had been mauled and mutilated. He could see where the clerics had to heal where the sutures could not.

He reached out and brushed his fingers across one of the scars, feeling her formerly torn skin under his fingertips. He whispered her name and she frowned.

“I-I understand if you’re no longer interested,” she said softly. She covered her chest with her arms and had a worried look in her eyes.

He looked up at her face. He took in a deep breath and let it out. He reached out and cupped her cheek, turning her gaze to him. “I love you,” he said. “And you’re absolutely stunning.” Her eyes widened. He kissed her. “I love you,” he said to her lips before kissing her again. “I love you.” He laid her down, her hair spreading across his mat. “I love you.” He kissed her deeply and she responded in kind.

“I love you, too.”

Gale blinked out of his memory. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “Why don’t you finish getting dressed?” He suggested. “We have a busy day ahead of us, my love.”

She let out a shaky breath and nodded. “Yeah. Yes. I will,” she sniffed and wiped her face. Before she pulled away from him he kissed her knuckles. She relaxed with a small smile. “Thank you.”

Gale watched Yrelia slip on a lavender colored dress. A wonderful thing that came to her knees and had the dainty puffed sleeves she loved so much. She adjusted the top so it covered most of her chest and let out a sigh. Gale smiled at her.

“You look stunning,” he said.

She looked over to him with a soft smile. “You’re the one who bought me the dress,” she said with a chuckle.

“Yes. I am intelligent enough to know what would look stunning on you,” he said with a grin. He walked up to her and picked up her hand. He kissed her knuckles and she smiled.

“What were you thinking so hard about earlier?” She asked as she reached for his collar and adjusted it.

“Ah, I was thinking about the first time I had seen you naked.” An amused grin spread across her face but she didn’t say anything. “It took every ounce of the gentleman in me to not completely ravish you.”

She laughed. “Darling, you nearly did.”

He hummed. “Can you blame me?” He lifted her hand up and twirled her. She giggled. “I was alive when I didn’t imagine I would be, you were absolutely beautiful, and,” he kissed her brow, “and I was deeply in love with you. I still am, of course. Moreso, actually.”

She laughed again. She leaned in and kissed him. “I was happy that you didn’t reject me,” she said softly. “I knew that you loved me.” Her brows knit together for a brief moment. “But supposedly so did he.”

Gale sighed and then kissed her gently. “He was unworthy of you,” he murmured to her lips. “Anyone who would be so callous to reject you for something like your scars will never be deserving of your affection.” He pressed his lips to hers again.

“I know,” she sighed with a smile. “As much as it had hurt, and even though I still don’t show my scars to anyone…” she rested her forehead against his. “I have you now and I’ve never been happier.”

Gale smiled and kissed her again. He placed his hands on her hips and squeezed gently.

Gale watched as Yrelia unlaced her shirt in his tent. It was after she had decided she didn’t want to sleep without him, which he had heartily agreed to. The idea of sleeping next to her every night felt like an impossible fantasy that he was lucky enough to indulge in.

She lifted her shirt above her head and he stared at her bare chest. He let out a breath, thinking of the previous nights. Her nervousness, the way she automatically accepted that he didn’t want her after seeing her scars. It was ridiculous, of course. She was so utterly beautiful, he would never ever send her away for something as simple as horrible scarring.

But that caused an annoying and persistent question in his head. If he didn’t ask her then he was sure it would burst out of him at an inopportune time.

“Lia,” he called her name and she looked at him with a curious smile. “I wish to ask you something.”

She blinked. “Of course. I will answer anything you have for me.”

He stepped towards her and she immediately reached for him. Her fingers rested so gently on his arms. “It’s about your previous relationship.” Yrelia’s hands loosened on his arms, her brows began to knit together and he could see the anxious hesitation in her eyes. He could see the pain in them. “The man you had been in a relationship with five years ago, you said that he became unimpressed with you and no longer wished to be in a relationship with you.”

“Yes.”

“Yrelia, did he abandon you because of your scars?”

He watched as pain spread across her face. “Yes,” she said, and it was said with so much pain and so much weight that his own chest began to hurt. “He no longer found me attractive so he ended things between us.” A sorrowful frown played on her lips. “Please don’t misunderstand me, I haven’t had feelings for him in years but…it still hurts to think of how I was abandoned when I needed his comfort.”

She let out a sigh and went silent. Gale thought to respond but the look on her face told him she wasn’t finished. She was simply trying to find the words to say. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. She relaxed and let out another sigh.

“He had come by to check on me for the first time since I had been attacked. Cyr brought him to my bedroom and I was so happy to see him. I was lying in bed barely moving. I sat up and the blankets fell off me.” She frowned deeply. “He saw my chest and I swear it was like blowing out a candle. I was in so much pain, I had just wanted the person who loved me to comfort me and instead he decided that he couldn’t even look at me anymore. He interrupted me when I was trying to convince him to lie with me and told me he never wanted to see me again.” Gale felt her fingers put pressure on his arms. She took in a breath. “Even now I can still picture his face like it had just happened. I don’t think anyone has ever looked so disgusted at me.”

“Oh, Lia,” he said softly, his heart breaking for her. “I am so sorry, my love.” A sad smile spread across her lips as he pulled her into an embrace. “I will never treat you so poorly.”

She let out a breath that was close to a chuckle. “I know. I trust you.”

Yrelia had elected to never be in a relationship again after the previous one because it had hurt her so intensely. Gale remembered her surprise when he started to sweet talk her, when he would reach for her hands, when all he wanted to do was have conversations with her. She had been so cautious with him, especially after Mystra had tasked him to detonate the orb.

She had been, not cold to him, but her warm smiles she had for him had faded. She had kept him at arm's length after he had been given his mission and that horrifying loneliness crept into his heart. He had already fallen for her and she had started to act as if their feelings for each other didn’t matter anymore.

He hadn’t realized at the time that it was because she had been hurt so deeply by someone she had loved and didn’t want to be hurt again.

“Tell me,” Yrelia said after they had left the tower hand in hand. She looked so pretty in the sunlight. Her black hair that was tied up with a silver bow shined beautifully. Her lavender dress looked so flattering on her body. The short heels that she wore made her look very elegant. Her glossy lips looked so kissable. “Where are you taking me that you’re so excited about?”

“My darling, as I said, it’s a surprise.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “But first, lunch. No tasks should be done on an empty stomach.”

“Ah, so it’s a task that you’ve set me on,” she teased him. “I wonder if I’m wearing an appropriate outfit? Perhaps armor should have been better?”

“As much as I enjoy seeing you in armor, I assure you that it is unnecessary.” She giggled in response. “It is a simple errand, my love, nothing that will cause a bead of sweat to drip down your tantalizing body.”

“Gale!” She laughed. He pulled her in, bent her back, and buried his face in her neck. “Oh gods, darling, we’re in public,” she giggled.

“You’re irresistible,” he said to her throat before pressing a kiss into it. “I have half a mind to take you back to the bedroom and-”

“Tie me up with my pretty silver bow?” She suggested.

“That is certainly an option. A bit primitive compared to what I could conjure for you but it does have its worth.”

She laughed and stood up. “Hmmm, or perhaps I’ll do that to you.” She kissed him before turning and walking off. “Come on, Gale! Before I ruin your plans and choose where we eat!”

Gale followed after her with stars in his eyes. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in close. She laughed and wrapped her arm around him as they walked together into the city.

“Where did you get those earrings?” Gale asked curiously as he watched Yrelia eat her salad.

She hummed. “Your mother gave them to me. She supposedly bought them for herself but didn’t like the way they looked on her. Allegedly.”

““Supposedly?” “Allegedly?” Darling, are you calling my mother a liar?”

She gave him a flat look. “I’m calling your mother someone who would tell her daughter in-law that she happened to not like the earrings but thought that said daughter in-law would,” she said with an eye roll. She pointed her fork at him. “You will not ask how much these are worth and then tell me.”

“I will not ask how much they’re worth and tell you. Lia, I’m sure my mother just wanted to gift something to someone she loves.”

Yrelia sighed. “I know, but these are diamonds, Gale.”

“Well, of course! Did you think my mother would give you costume jewelry?”

“I didn’t think I’d get any jewelry,” she said with a small smile. “I’ve never worn much jewelry. There’s always the risk of it being lost or broken while working or hunting. I’m terrified I’ll lose my betrothal ring when ours are fused,” she sighed. “So, you know, no one ever gave me jewelry because it would be wasted on me.” She resumed eating her food like that statement didn’t bother her.

Gale didn’t like how casually she said that. “Wasted on”! The nerve of people making the love of his life believe that gifts would be wasted on her.

“No gift would be wasted on you, Lia,” he said. “The Dekarios clan is quite enthusiastic about gift giving. I’m afraid we’re all addicted to the thrill of it all. Jewelry, flowers, clothes, expensive spices, it’s all part of a grand plan to show others the love we have for them.”

She snorted. “Hm, yes, I’ve gathered that,” she said with amusement in her voice. “Darling, all I said is that jewelry isn’t the best gift for me.”

“Ah! No, you said “wasted”! Which is exceedingly untrue.”

“Gale-”

“Yrelia,” he said her name softly and slowly. She stopped talking and she even stopped tapping her heel anxiously. “You must accept that we love you and that part of love is receiving gifts.”

“I know. I will eventually become comfortable with your family being excellent gift givers,” she chuckled lightly. “But you know, Gale, I like it when you read your poetry to me more than anything.” She smiled at him. She reached for his hand and touched his fingers.

He immediately responded and entwined their fingers. He let out a sigh, accepting that she always knew exactly what to say to make her point clear. She was so ridiculously and sweetly endearing that way. His wonderful fiancée. The love of his life and the fire within his heart.

Gale led Yrelia down a busy Waterdeep street, holding onto her hand firmly, making sure that they wouldn’t be separated in the hustle and bustle. He stopped in front of a building and Yrelia grabbed his arm, squeezing and rubbing it with her thumb.

“Tydan’s shop?” Yrelia questioned curiously.

“Yes, that was our errand for the day,” he said with a warm smile.

Yrelia blinked. “Are our rings ready?”

His smile grew. “They are.”

Her eyes lit up. She jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed him in a way that made his head spin. He held her up and spun her.

“I love you,” she kissed his cheeks. She kissed his forehead. She kissed his nose.

“Dearest,” he chuckled. She kissed his lips and he grinned into the kiss. “Shall we head in?” He asked as she nuzzled his nose.

“Oh, alright,” she laughed and he set her down.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her into the shop.

“Can I help you?” A dwarf asked from the counter. Gale didn’t recognize him so he must be the new hire Tydan spoke about.

“We’re looking for Tydan,” Yrelia said and swung Gale’s hand back and forth.

“I’m afraid he’s quite busy,” the dwarf said. “I can always have him reach out to you at a later date.”

“We’re his in-laws,” Gale said and the dwarf blinked. “He called us here.”

“I see. Let me go…retrieve him.”

Yrelia bounced on her toes as they waited. She held his hand while she looked around the shop from her spot. Gale could tell she was overcome with elation and a bit of nervousness.

“If it isn’t my favorite in-laws!” Tydan, a stocky dwarf with long black hair and braided beard came in with his arms spread out.

“Tydan, it’s good to see you,” Gale said and released Yrelia’s hand to shake Tydan’s. Instead, Tydan hugged Gale and picked him up.

“Come now, Gale, we all know that hugs are the only greeting for family!” Yrelia giggled as Gale was set down. “Ah, dear Lia, you’re looking more radiant with every day that passes,” Tydan said and picked her up in a hug. “It must be the weight that you’re gaining! Oh, and of course, Lilypad’s advice on your hair! Your curls shine and bounce with elegance!”

Yrelia laughed. “Thank you, Tydan,” she said and he set her down.

“You’re quite welcome, my dear,” Tydan said with a grin. “You know, the boys couldn’t stop talking about you! You’ve been an excellent babysitter for Lilypad and I! It almost makes me think you’ve raised your own children!” He laughed heartily.

Yrelia smiled and then shifted in the slightest way. Gale watched Yrelia grab his hand and squeeze gently. He sighed with a smile.

“You want to know about Cyr?” Yrelia asked as she attempted to wash blood out of her shirt. She wore a camisole and Gale stood nearby as a somewhat, sort of guard for her, making sure no one who passed by would see her chest.

“Yes,” he confirmed. “You mentioned you have a large family but you’ve only spoken of Cyr and your grandparents.”

Yrelia sighed. “Um, yeah, Cyr and I are much closer than anyone else,” she said. She smiled up at him. “What did you want to know?”

“It’s…a somewhat uncomfortable question. One that I’ve been pondering on ever since you first mentioned your younger brother and I think of it every time you mention him.”

“That’s awfully cryptic, beloved,” she said with a curious smile. “You can always ask me about anything. I love you and I’m an open book for you to finger through.” She paused. “Wait…”

He huffed a laugh. “Darling, shall I begin?”

“To save me from my failed metaphor? Please.”

He let out a breath. “You have mentioned more than once how you took care of Cyr when he was a baby,” Gale started. “And you have plenty of stories when he was young.” Yrelia stopped washing her shirt and sighed. She closed her eyes, no doubt understanding what he was about to ask her. “Lia, did you…raise Cyr yourself?”

Yrelia sighed and then frowned. Gale watched her, not moving to press her.

But her silence also answered his question

“Yes,” she quietly answered him after the silent moment. “Cyr wasn’t planned. When he was born our parents were uninterested in raising him but wouldn’t give him up for adoption out of pride. My grandparents were too old to take care of him and I couldn’t let him be neglected so I…” she clicked her teeth. “I raised him as if he was my own child.”

He stared at her, expecting her to continue, wanting her to continue. “I suspect you were at a loss,” he prompted.

She snorted. “I had no idea what I was doing. I was so young and had barely any support, especially after my grandparents died.” She frowned. “When I was eighteen I started my first serious relationship. She had helped me out with Cyr and I thought she was happy to.” A bitter laugh came from her throat. “We used to talk about the three of us running away and being a family together but apparently she hadn’t been serious about it. What she had actually wanted was her own children and when she realized she wouldn’t get that from me because I had Cyr she left me for someone who could give that to her. Not without sleeping with that person before she had broken it off with me of course.” She sighed. “I was hurt and then it became harder to raise Cyr without her. That combined with the loss of my grandparents I really struggled. I had put my entire life on hold to raise him. I did what I could for him hoping that it would work out when he got older.”

“I’m sure he’s a fine young man,” Gale said confidently. “But if you raised him I suspect he’s as stubborn as you are, dearest,” he teased.

Yrelia snorted. “You’re not wrong,” she said with a grin. “He really is such a good kid. He was always so willing to learn, if I could have afforded tutors I would have thrown them at him. He could have done something great with a real education. But I couldn’t do that for him so I taught him everything I knew and he always seemed so happy to learn,” she had a strained smile on her face and a look in her eyes saying that she felt unnecessarily guilty over how she raised Cyr.

“I don’t know him, but I would assume that he’s grateful for you,” Gale said softly. “Anyone who would step up the way you did deserves such gratitude.”

She smiled. “He was a pretty happy kid. He didn’t let our parents distaste bother him the way it bothered me. He never let it be known if he was bothered by the fact I couldn’t afford much for him.”

“Then why does it haunt you still?”

“Because parents are supposed to want better for their children,” she said and Gale’s brows twitched. She sighed. “I know he sees me as his mother and, truth be told, I see him as my son.” She chuckled bitterly. “Imagine me, a teenager just trying to be a kid when a baby is dropped in my lap!”

Gale thought back to his teenage years where he spent most of the time getting in trouble, mastering spells, and adding more greys to both Morena and Tara’s hair. They had completely different lives. Gale wondered if that would be a problem for her. Their experiences were so different, maybe they were too different for her and they had only bonded through shared trauma.

“You see him as your son,” Gale said with a clear of his throat. “Does that mean you want children in the future?” If Yrelia said she wanted children Gale was certain he would come to want them too. He didn’t believe he was father material but he would be for her.

Her lips turned into a frown. “Gale, you can never repeat what I’m about to tell you,” she said. “Swear to me you won’t.”

“Lia, of course I won’t. You can tell me absolutely anything and even under pain of death I won’t utter the words.”

She smiled at him tiredly. “I don’t want children.” She let out a breath. “I don’t want children because I don’t want to go through pregnancy and I never want to give birth nor do I want to spend the money on adoption,” she sighed. “I love Cyr, I really do, but I don’t want to raise another child. I lost so much of my young life to raising him and I don’t want to lose more of my life to raising another. I don’t think I have it in me to love another child the way you have to love one. I don’t want to do that.” She frowned deeply. “Isn’t that horrible?”

“No,” he said with a shake of his head. “No, Yrelia, it’s not horrible. You’ve had to mourn your young adult life,” he took in a breath, his confidence and boldness shining through. He would hint at the future he was wishing for for the two of them. “I would never want you to mourn any part of our life together.” He smiled at her, hoping that it was comforting. “Your guilt is unnecessary, my love.” He bent down to pick up her hand and kiss her knuckles. “And as promised, we will never have to speak of this topic again and you can count on me to never repeat your words.”

A smile spread across her lips. “Thank you. You’re so good to me.”

“You deserve this and so much more.” He kissed her knuckles again. Her warm smile grew. “My love, your strength is magnificent and incomparable, and I am truly humbled that you have chosen me to bring you comfort.”

“Well, yeah,” she said, the sorrow in her voice had nearly vanished and was replaced with affection. “I love you. There’s no one else I’d choose over you.”

“Here they are,” Tydan presented two ornate wooden ring boxes. “And I cannot thank you two enough for choosing me to fuse your rings together. I’m honored.”

“You are the best smith I know, Tydan,” Gale said. “And you are family. I’m the one who is honored.”

Tydan chortled. “Hard to believe that you’re finally getting married!” He smacked Gale’s back. “I remember when you were just out of university and-”

“Tydan,” Gale chuckled nervously. “I’m not so sure that Yrelia would like to hear about my young adult…exploits.” He knew that she didn’t care and he knew that she loved hearing stories about him when he was younger, but he didn’t necessarily want to share how he…

Well, he just wasn’t sure if Yrelia wanted to know of his previous “relationships”.

“Oh! No! Do tell me more,” Yrelia teased. “I am quite curious about my fiancé when he was young and reckless.”

“Well,” Tydan said with a grin. “There was this one time-”

“Please, you two,” Gale groaned with a blush.

Yrelia and Tydan laughed.

“Oh, love, we’re just teasing you,” she giggled and kissed his cheek. “You don’t have to tell me how you couldn’t be tamed when you were young.” Tydan guffawed and Gale groaned again. “Alright, I’m done. I suppose it’s a bit silly to talk about such things while we receive our betrothal rings.” She kissed his cheek twice.

He sighed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her forehead. He and Yrelia took the ring boxes from Tydan and he smiled at them, his wide eyed joy turned into warmth. “I will let you two have some privacy,” he said. “It was good to see you two. We’ll see you in a couple days for dinner with Morena.”

Gale smiled and thanked Tydan. He stared at the ring box and then to Yrelia, who was tracing the engravings on her box. Gale opened the ring box and let out a breath that he hadn’t realized he had held in. He looked at his beautiful betrothal ring. His betrothal ring. His! He was getting married.

He picked up the ring and it took everything he had within him to not cry. He never thought this was in the cards for him. He never, ever thought he would find himself in a smith holding a ring that he would wear on his middle finger for the rest of his life. The two rings welded together to represent his bond with the love of his life.

He had told Yrelia of the Waterdeep tradition of fusing two rings together for betrothal rings while on their trip home from Baldur’s Gate. They had been laying in bed together, her loose hair on the pillow as he wrapped it around his fingers. She had hummed thoughtfully.

“I don’t have any rings, though,” she had said lightly.

“Then I will buy you one,” he declared. “You can pick out any ring and I will purchase it for you.”

She laughed. “How about you pick out one and surprise me?” She turned into him. “And I will pick out one for you. A fresh start for the both of us.”

Gale couldn’t be happier with the result. Such a beautiful piece of jewelry that he would wear for the rest of his life. One that filled him with so much joy he barely knew what to do with it. He became misty eyed and quickly rubbed his eyes with a smile.

He looked at Yrelia and let out a soft sigh. Her eyes were dancing as she delicately opened the ring box. She gingerly took the ring out of the box. She breathed for a moment, tracing the engraved flowers on her half of the ring. She rotated the ring to his half and fingered the small stars.

She brought the ring to her eye level and read the inscription on the inside of the band. He prided himself on the inscription. It was quite simple, nothing too descriptive, but it said everything that he wanted her to know.

In vita et morte

Gale watched Yrelia as she held her ring in her fingers. He could tell she was thinking intensely about something, she had such a thoughtful look on her face. She stopped rotating it and wrapped the chain that it was on around her neck, pressing the ring into her chest. She let out a breath, something close to relief and disbelief.

He reached for her hand and she looked at him. He brought her knuckles to his lips and kissed them. Her gaze softened and she smiled. “My lady,” he said, his voice soft and calm. “Are you ready to return home?”

Her smile brightened. She took his ring in her fingers and wrapped the chain it was on around his neck. She leaned towards him on her toes and kissed him so incredibly softly that he felt himself become misty eyed again. “I’m ready, my beloved.”

They left with her arm wrapped around his. Gale hadn’t felt this elated since…ever. He couldn’t think of a time he had ever been as thrilled as he was in that very moment. He’d like to think that when he came into his own magic, when he was so deep in research he had been this ecstatic. Or maybe when he was a Chosen of Mystra, when she called him special, when she entertained him.

But, no, this was the happiest he had ever been. Yrelia was holding onto his arm as he wore his union ring around his neck. She looked so happy to be with him. She looked so pretty in the autumn sunlight, her silver bow shining. He was going to be married to someone who he loved so unconditionally. He was going to be married to someone who loved him.

She rested her head on him and hummed. Her heels clicked on the stone pavement. He became misty eyed again and rubbed his eyes. Yrelia pulled away from him and took his face in his hands with a soft expression. She pulled him in and nuzzled his face. He gently took her wrists in his hands, holding onto the woman he could no longer imagine life without.

And he cried.

How long had he buried the desire to be wed in favor of his goddess? To no longer search for something that he had so deeply longed for?

The dreams of coming home with flowers and wine, soft kisses in thanks turning into barely held back desire. Dancing to no music, tasting each other’s food, sitting on the balcony watching the sunset together. Not getting out of bed until late morning, holding hands while walking in the city, reading poetry to one another.

He had that now.

He wasn’t alone anymore.

His love kissed his forehead and then his lips. She rested her forehead on his.

“Pardon me, my lady, I’m afraid there’s dust in my eye,” he whispered.

A light giggle came from her throat and she kissed his closed eyes. “Ah, of course, my beloved,” she said, her voice soft. “I’m sure the autumn dust is terrible here.”

He chuckled. “It is,” he confirmed and kissed her lips. He looked past her and his heart felt light. “Follow me,” he said and took her hand. “We’ve arrived at the stop I wanted to go to before we went home.”

“Oh? I wasn’t aware that there would be a stop!” She giggled and allowed him to lead the way.

“Usually I would pick this up on my way home from the Academy but I assumed you’d be interested in picking out your own this time.”

“Picking out…?” She looked ahead before blinking. “My love, you just bought me a very expensive piece of jewelry, there’s no need for flowers,” she said but continued to follow him.

“Darling, if I do not buy you flowers when appropriate then assume that I have been abducted and are in need of rescue!”

She let out a loud, joyous laugh. “Gods, Gale, I love you so much.” She stood next to him and wrapped her arm around his. “I think I want daisies this time.”

“Then that’s what you’ll have.” He kissed her temple. They stopped in front of his florist and he smiled at the wonderful floral sculpture in the window. He turned to her and his brows rose in shock. “My lady,” he whispered. He reached for her dress and pulled it over her chest, where a scar was starting to show.

She blinked and placed her hand on her chest where he had lifted the dress. She let out a breath before smiling gracefully. They leaned in and kissed. “I love you,” she said before kissing him again. “And I am so happy that you’re the one I’m going to marry.” She kissed him one last time. “Now, show me these daisies you’re buying for me.”

He took her hand from her chest, kissed it, and started to lead her into the shop. “Whatever you desire, my love, consider it most eagerly done.”