Dem felt nervous energy from Egfor the moment he walked into the common room of the Pony. Egfor wore his lavender shirt and a flower crown he had started the night before introducing his grandfather to Dem. Dem looked at him, thinking he was the luckiest man on Middle Earth. Egfor was indeed quite handsome tonight.
“The crown of flowers looks good on you, my prince.” Dem could not help but call him the name he oft called him in his mind, instead of lover. For in his mind Egfor was a prince. Egfor’s emotions flowed through the ring on his finger, no not a prince but his prince.
They sat at a table and talked about various things, Egfor seemed to be leading the discussion to a certain end, and Dem let him.
Dem took a sip and went back to the dream Egfor’s grandfather shared with him the night before. "I figure he was showing me what I want. Letting me know he could see that in me. But like I said...I have nothing to hide, and I am fine with what we have."
Egfor hummed softly, shifting a bit, "That's kinda what grandfather and I spoke of, actually." He peered at Dem, smiling a bit, "You want a wedding gown?"
Dem gave Egfor a curious look.
Egfor said, “I can lend you mine.”
Dem set his spoon down and took off his left glove, "This is plenty for me."
Egfor said, “Do you up in a wedding gown, pretty flowers in your hair and beard...'
Dem buried his head in Egfor's hair, "I want you to be happy. That is all I want."
Egfor said, “And I am happy if you are happy...”
Dem chuckled, "Then we're both happy with the way things are."
Egfor said, “And if things changed in a good way, would you still be happy?”
“I'd be silly if I weren't now, wouldn't I?”
Egfor hummed, "Still... Don't want to change things if it causes unhappiness, even if it is a good thing."
Dem looked around to Egfor's face. "Yes, if it is a good thing that you are afraid of, we can wait. I thought I made that clear."
Egfor said, “You know how impatient I am...”
Dem smiled, "I can think of many things more patient than you. Aye." He kissed Egfor gently on his jaw, it being the closest he could come to Egfor's lips by the way they are seated with Egfor in his lap.
Egfor twisted slightly to capture Dem's lips with his own. He sipped his coffee after their kiss. Egfor hummed softly, picking apart his flower crown, and starts making something else with flowers. He fiddled around with the flowers and leaves,
Dem watched what Egfor did carefully. However, he could never hope to repeat the actions himself.
Egfor created an incredibly tiny flower crown. He smiled at Dem, working to put back together his flower crown, setting the very tiny one aside.
Egfor slid off Dem’s lap and turned to face Dem; Egfor straddled the bench
Egfor took one of Dem's hands in his own, lifting it and kissing it gently.
Dem raised an eyebrow and looked at Egfor.
Egfor lifted a brow, "What's that look for?"
Dem grinned, "You have aroused my curiosity.
Egfor gently pulled off Dem's glove to hold his bare hands in both of his, "Aye, I reckon... I gotta say, I've been shite at telling you how much you mean to me."
Dem shook his head. "Your actions speak quite loudly, my prince. They tell me the truth always."
Egfor said, “Aye, aye, but if you are anything like me, it helps to hear it as well, to reaffirm things...”
Dem squeezed Egfor's hands, "I am yours, always and forever. You are stuck with me, my prince."
Egfor squeezed his hand back, "And I am yours." He paused, taking a sip of coffee; it appeared as if he had a lot to say.
Dem leaned forward and kissed Egfor's forehead. He said softly, "Only if you are sure, my prince."
Egfor set his coffee down and focused on Dem, "I am sure. I am yours, always. I ah... Thank you for loving me. I thought it was impossible for someone to love me genuinely. Scared for the longest time that something bad would happen if I say 'I love you' to you..."
Dem squeezed Egfor's hands, but he did not interrupt with his own words.
Egfor continued, "I was scared to let someone into my heart, my life, and my daughter's life. You broke down all my walls and barriers and replaced the cold stone with your warm embrace."
Egfor looked away for a moment, "Maybe I am rushing some things, but a wise wall elf once told me 'the heart knows when it's ready'... I've been ignoring and trying to shut up my heart for a long time now."
Dem continued to look at Egfor, but he is ready to embrace Egfor should he feel Egfor needs to be held. He lifts Egfor's hands to his mouth and gently kisses the knuckles of each hand.
Egfor steeled himself before looking back when Dem lifted his hands. He smiled, "Never really pictured me becoming old men with someone... Till you, that is. Never really wanted to have a family with someone before you either."
Dem rubbed the knuckles of Egfor's hands with his thumbs. "Nor have I, my prince."
Egfor laughed a bit, his nerves shooting up. "Ah, some may judge me for asking you this here, but... This is where we met, and this all started. Well, not quite here, but." He glanced over briefly at the stairs, looking back at Dem, "What I am really trying to say is..." His nerves skyrocketed, and he kinda feels like he might faint, but he pushes forward. He rose off the bench and knelt on the ground with that tiny flower crown/ring. "ER, I kinda ran myself into debt; flower rings the best I got right now." He started again, once more saying Dem's full, proper name to show his seriousness, "Demlemoth... I hope I'm not rushing this too much... But I want to become old men with you, as my husband... Will you marry me?"
Dem nodded slowly, "I will." He cupped Egfor's face, and he began his well-prepared, this time, spoken feelings. "I must admit, I thought of asking Jae to be my husband because it was something I felt he wanted, but I never did. When I first met you, I almost told you to go to Mordor in a handcart. But instead, I told you my name. I fell in love with you even though you warned me repeatedly not to. I had troubles with the men you still were involved with, I have never been that kind of man, but I could not make myself unlove you. I knew you would choose one day and settle for one man. I prayed, night and day, it would be me, but I never believed, so I figured none would listen. Did I think it was selfish to pray for the gods to interfere and make you mine? Aye. Would I change what I did? Only if it would have changed one event. Your great loss. But I don't believe the gods did that because of my prayers. I don't believe they even listen to us. I watched you go through phases and cried at night when I felt you pulling away, but I will never change what we have gone through. I believe it will make us last past old men into the realm of the ancients. With my confession said boldly unto you, will you marry me and be my husband, my prince, my best friend, and my dearest love?" He looked like he held his breath.
Egfor listened to Dem with wide eyes. The more the other man spoke, the more his eyes watered and teared up. He feebly nodded and murmured, "Yes, of course." Before throwing his arms around Dem and burying his face in his shoulder.
Dem held Egfor tight against him and let out the breath he was indeed holding. He buried his face in Egfor's hair. Perhaps shedding a few tears of his own.
(From Egfor's Gallery (https://laurelinarchives.org/sites/default/files/gallery/2021/04/02/two-lovers_57067.png))
Egfor laughed softly, leaning to kiss Dem's cheek, "Could've been more romantic setting but..."
Dem looked over at the hearth and the stairs, "Why this is where we met for the first time? How is this not romantic?"
Egfor glanced over at the fire. He snorted softly and looked back at Dem, "True, true..."
