Lexius leaned against the door and tapped against the wood absentmindedly. The Redguard grimaced as he watched the woman across the room pulling her hair back in a quick braid. She fussed as she tied it back while Lexius felt his anxiety double by the second.
"Come on, Val. We don't have all night."
"Just another second," Valleri mumbled, putting on some lipstick. She checked the mirror for a final time before pushing getting up and pushing past Lexius. She shot him a smirk, "All right. See? Only another second!"
The Redguard only shook his head with a laugh. "Hardly at all! Besides the whole point was to get out of here before Alastaros or Skeeva realized we're gone."
Valleri spun around on her heel to face him as the duo waltzed out of the manor. "Right! I keep telling you they don't care!" She pointed to Lexius with another smirk, "Now, I'd be more worried about Rostam figuring you out."
Chest tightening, Lexius nearly stopped in the road. His hand went to the small bag in his pocket. It was still there. "It's not bad luck proposing the night before we leave, right?" he asked, face contorting into an unsure frown.
Valleri sighed, "Listen, I'm acolyte of Dibella, not Mara."
The Redguard narrowed his eyes in a glare. "You're the only one who knows I'm doing this. I thought I had your support."
The Imperial tilted her head thoughtfully. Valleri bit her lip before she started speaking, "No. You do, you absolutely do! It's just when you talk about bad luck like that it sounds a bit superstitious to me." She smiled at the ground and shook her head. "I'm sorry! I don't mean to sound dismissive. But just if you want to marry them, then how is that bad luck? I've seen the two of you together. None of that is bad luck in the slightest."
Lexius didn't say anything for almost a solid minute. Valleri had a good point. It wasn't as though his relationship with Rostam started by luck. No, that was his choice to approach Rostam in the first place. It was Rostam's choice to give him a chance too.
Valleri may have pushed him a bit, but he wasn't about to admit that.
The Redguard closed his eyes and started back down the street. "Come on. The night's still young and we've got a lot to do tonight."
He heard the Imperial woman laugh after him. "Of course, we do!"
…
Lexius watched from the two of them from the widow, preferring stay out of the wind outdoors. Valleri gave Vilkas a quick kiss on the top of his head with a smile before sitting on the wooden bench next to him. Vilkas didn't say anything to her but made an effort to stay closer to her. In another moment, Vilkas was braiding some of Valleri's hair back while she talked.
The scene warmed Lexius' heart for a moment. He never really thought Valleri would have found someone to care for like that considering all that happened. But then again, he was happy for her.
The Redguard breathed out as he stared down at his lap. He missed Rostam. Seeing Valleri get all chummy with one of the locals made him realized how long it had been since he last saw his fiancé. Valleri already broached the subject of him leaving for home.
Looking back out of the window, he continued to watch the two of them. Vilkas was done with his handiwork. Somehow Valleri was left speechless as she stared back at the Nord. She was wearing that familiar, pleasant grin that always lit up the room.
She had a good point. Rostam was waiting for him in Anvil. And they were probably worried sick too. Lexius had no idea what Valleri wrote to them, but it couldn't have been at all good. Besides, Valleri seemed like she would tie off their loose ends up here.
Taking a deep breath, Lexius stood up form his seat by the window. His mind was made up.
Lexius had to see Rostam again.
