On the bed, Eira cuddled close to Nimraph. He slept soundly as she buried her head in his chest, clenching his silk evening wear as she smiled. She had never felt so much joy in her life. She pulled her head up, uncurling her hand. On her finger dazzled a wonderful ring with a blue gem. Nimraph had proposed to her. Of course Eira had accepted.
She smiled, gazing at the ring for another long moment as the fireplace crackled across the dark room. At the edge of the bed, Obsidian the kitten was curled up in a ball fast asleep. This moment was so peaceful, so lovely. Was this truly her fate? To live with a man who truly loved her, to cherish the simplicity of this life? After everything she had suffered and endured, she found herself yearning for moments like this more than anything else.
Yet, she knew that as long as Mordor existed, she could never truly rest. As long as Lord Sauron threatened the free peoples, she could never truly be at ease. As long as her people in Nurn were still enslaved, she would never truly be at peace. The restless and dangerous lifestyle of battle still called to her. The wistfulness and yearning of adventure and learning still burned in her heart. She would always be out in the wild. She would always be searching for something more. She frowned, looking over to the sleeping man she had just given her life to. He slept, but did he sleep soundly? She pulled her body up and gently stroked his face. Her finger traced the scars on his head. She stroked his black hair. As their heartbeats aligned in the calm room, Eira wondered if he felt the same. They found serenity in each other, but the world outside still raged. She sighed, lowering her head and kissing the scar over his eye.
Someday, they would truly live in a world of serenity. Someday, these moments of pure peaceful joy would be normality. As of now, she laid beside him and wrapped an arm around his waist. She would enjoy every second of this. This night, the night he asked for her hand, marked the most joyful moments in her entire life. She was genuinely happy, which she had never thought possible. The past faded into mist as she shivered in excitement. Their future awaited.
Would they raise Dammon, Briar, and future children in the countryside? Would they help people like in the Lost Ones to find their way? Would the couple visit the Prancing Pony in the night after adventuring with swords drawn on a bounty for extra coin? She would happily be his bride. She would joyfully live as his cherished wife. And she would forever cherish him. Yet, nervousness flooded her as well. Joy and happiness butted heads with anxieties and worries. How would their conflicting tastes in decor and design manage under the same roof? Did Dammon and Briar truly accept her as their mother? How would the young woman fair bearing Nimraph's future children? Ah, but how many hours would they spend locked in massive libraries reading together? How many miles would they travel on trips for more knowledge?
How many times would they cozy up with each other and cuddle next to the fire in the night?
"I love you." She whispered as she huddled close to him, "I love you so much. No matter what happens, I will always be there for you. In joy and sorrow, in sickness and health. I will love you, until and beyond death."
She rested, falling asleep to her betrothed's steady breathing. A tear of joy slipped down her cheek as she closed her eyes.
